30 YEARS OF LOVE

July 31st 1980 - Mandy was away staying with my Mum for a week. I had started a new job that week and on the very first day I knew I had made a mistake and should a) never have left my old job and b) started the new. I was feeling down, so July 31st I popped into my old work premises in the evening. I was lucky in that I hadn't given in my security pass yet and was still able to use the social club (which, believe it or not, I had never used before as with a 12 year old to look after I was always at home in the evenings). Well, there was Neil sitting in the bar. I already knew him a little of course and so we got chatting. He invited me to go for a meal (little did I know then that he had just had some fish and chips and wasn't really hungry!). I knew he had a motorbike and so I suggested he drive my VW Beetle and we drove off to a Greek restaurant in Southampton. We had a great evening and on the way home he suggested we stop off so he could show me the house he had just bought and have coffee. He then suggested I could stay over while he slept on the settee!!! I declined. Knowing him now, I laugh - he never had any ulterior motives - not his style. So I drove myself home and was very pleased to note he'd left his motorbike gloves in my car and so I knew he would contact me again. He did and the rest is history. We married 15th February 1986 and so far have chalked up 30 years since that first evening. 30 years of being loved by Neil - how lucky am I? Today we are going to go out to lunch to celebrate.