Fantastic.

That said it took the best part of 10 years with the wrong woman for me to really understand what I wanted/needed and what I was capable of giving/doing for the other half.

Now with a woman who finds my idiosyncracies, inconsistencies and downright idiocies endearing (so far anyway) as opposed to annoying and exasperating. We’re best mates, lovers and companions and I wouldn’t wish it any other way.

Can’t be too bitter about the “lost” decade. We were just so wrong for each other it’s untrue. And we have two beautiful, well adjusted, intelligent (blah blah blah) kids to show for it. See them 3-4 times a week and me and the ex have for the most part managed to deal with things in a positive way (so far…)

Sometimes I wish I’d known 10 years ago what I know now, but in truth that’s a non-starter as that would rule out the kids and I would 99.9999% have never met the future Mrs Rodent 😀

Weekend away with no kids starts tomorrow approx 3.30pm. Taking the bikes just for a laugh. I’ve reserved 80 mins to watch the rugby so we’re gonna hopefully ride to a pub and just have a real good laugh hopefully.

Sometimes I wish I’d known 10 years ago what I know now

I certainly wish this – then I would have been with the woman I love for many more years, rather than having to wait whilst she married & divorced someone else, in fact maybe go back 30 years & could have saved her two & me one failed marriages 🙁

I love mine to bits and she’s genuinely my best friend. Been together 11 years in April and still to have a proper argument. I consider myself incredibly lucky!

My hubby is very laid back which is just as well as I can be a fiery cow at times. seriously though we have been together 14 years and it will be 10 years married this year. We have had our ups and downs the major one was nursing our daughter through cancer, where unfortunately she passed away but we have stuck together and we are stronger for it where most couples would split up under the pressure. We have a lovely Son who is the light of our life and he is very supportive of me trying to make it as an artist. He loves mtbing even when the bike throws him off and the sickening thing is he so good at riding up hills while I struggle up in granny ring.

Things haven’t been great for a time and a couple of weeks back the conversation went along the lines of “it’s my house, it won’t ever be Our house and you’re name won’t ever be on the mortgage.” We’ve been together 8 years, lived together for 7, but now cant shake the feeling we’re living on borrowed time.

Which is a bit poo really.

I’ve given up, and will spend the rest of my days with my children and bicycles for company (and a few cheap and meaningless flings when I feel the need)

Bah humbug an all that

But nice to see others have met the people right for them 😀

@twin very happy for you and all the other good stories (btw re patio I think @binners is implying his mrs is under it ). @retro those must have been very tough times, yours sounds like a relationship worth keeping.

Got my Decree Absolute 2 weeks ago, pretty volatile 27 years, relationship had been unworkable for last 7 of those I’d say. Long time to unwind and bloody expensive, worst part is you cannot get that time back. Kids wonderful thankfully, smarter and better balanced than their dad ! Things going well with new GF, haven’t lost hope or my romantic optimism.

Mrs S is my soulmate, who I found at university in 1982. I was single for 2 weeks at uni and that was that. We have been married 29 years this year and it’s been mostly fab (except where I was an arse/ill).
Our empty nest has seen things get better as we have a bit more time for each other.

Me and my wife are like chalk and cheese, have very little in common yet get along very well, and make each other smile and laugh every day. Couldn’t ask for more to be fair

I’ve given up, and will spend the rest of my days with my children and bicycles for company (and a few cheap and meaningless flings when I feel the need)

Bah humbug an all that

But nice to see others have met the people right for them

You say that, but if I get to be a mum then I hope I’m a mum like you 8)

I love mine to bits and she’s genuinely my best friend.

+1

We’ve been together for about 17 years since we were at school. Not been all plain sailing but very happy indeed.

Been together 11 years in April and still to have a proper argument.

-1

Sorry to those whose life ain’t worked out as planned – but congrats to this who’ve used this to move on to better things. More so though, special thoughts and respect to retrogirl.

For me, my relationship is great. Me and the wife have enough in common to make it work, but enough differences to make it interesting. Both love spending time together, but both give the other the space they need. That’s space for socialising, working, biking, running, whatever. Works because there is mutual trust and respect. Plus she’s still pretty hot 😉

Put it this way… When I came home and suggested moving to Australia, the first thing she did was get online and look at perthjobs.com.au. Love her lots.

Been together 25 years, married for 15. We have arguments sometimes, sometimes they’re really big ones. Sometimes she’s a complete pain in the arse, sometimes I am. Sometimes we fall out for days. So what? We make up and get on again. We have mostly different interests. All seems to work in the end.

Compromise. If you want your relationship to last, understand that sometimes you need to give a little. Expecting it to be perfect is just doomed to fail.

What a wonderful thread. So ace to see everyone’s different lives. It’s so sad when it doesn’t work and even after so many years of trying so hard! But as some have said…. It’s been the right thing to happen even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time! Because things happen when you least expect it you know!…
I’m nearly 40…. I never thought it would happen to me. But it did! He is the most amazing person I’ve ever met! We don’t argue much & when we do it’s always sorted before going to sleep. I find it easy to compromise with him because it’s clear he’s compromising with me!…. I feel equal with him and that’s real important. I love the way he has an opinion!
I’ve never felt so complete in all my life. I couldn’t be happier! I believe it all to be down to ‘brutal’ honesty, genuine communication, good compromise and STRICT rule of not going to bed unhappy. Talking is always good…
Ps; he makes my bike feel brilliant, look good & stay clean THEREFORE he’s a keeper !! 😉

What kind of relationship do you have?

Whatever kind my OH tells me I have! 😆

he makes my bike feel brilliant, look good & stay clean THEREFORE he’s a keeper !!

For sure.

Whatever kind my OH tells me I have!

🙂

There’s a nice saying about marriage.

It’s a good way of finding out what your wife expected a perfect man to be like.

😉

I’m five years in with 2 kids. Honestly, I feel like leaving at times and we do argue quite a lot but I don’t really see any good coming of me leaving, so for now I’m carrying on because I do love her but can’t say I truly believe that we will always be together.