Before and After, part 2

The next step in our relationship was THE FIRST VISIT. I had used my numerous Star Alliance miles to fly free from Arizona, USA to Frankfurt, Germany. I remember the flight was long and uneventful, but what kept me awake throughout was the thought of seeing Christian again.

Christian had planned a road-trip, and one of our first stops was Heidelberg. This is the small restaurant where I had the best bratkartoffel (pan fried potatoes) I ever ate!



This is just Christian driving. Which he did a lot. Without smiling. He is the most austere-faced person I know. Really. Whenever he concentrates when he drives I think the world must be falling apart for him to frown that much.



Meet the Funkes. Nice, smart, funny and welcoming. I was nervous for only the first five minutes before they put me at ease by making fun of Christian.



We were in the south of Germany enjoying the river; at one point we even went rowing and visited the famed Neuschwanstein castle, which inspired Walt Disney's Cinderella castle.



Another airport, another goodbye. Smiling through the tears. Already starting to wait for the next time we would see each other again.

Yeargh

That's it for today. I promised I wouldn't be bitter and complaining and will not look a gift horse in the mouth...

So.

Yeargh.

Before and After, part 1

As we are nearing the date of the civil wedding, I thought it would be nice to take a stroll down memory lane. I'm hacking into Christian's computer to get some of the earlier pictures, but so what if I get caught? These are my images too...

Our first foray as a group into the desert that was Arizona. This was taken on our first road trip from Glendale to Vegas, passing by the Hoover Dam on the way. his shirt is made of the same material as an 80's car interior, but who's looking?



Our first (and last) drinking game. Christian managed to snatch a shot away from me until the crowd booed him into giving it back. I wish he didn't but it was nice of him to do so. Next day he had the most awful hangover while I suffered no such effects. We then went on to go sky diving at 7am.



The picture that spoke a thousand words. Our friends took one look at this shot of us resting on a cliff edge in the Grand Canyon and said we were going to be a couple soon. How true...



A walk on the wild side... the only reason I look absurdly happy is because I love the guy taking the picture. This was taken during one of our roadtrips around Arizona just before he was due to leave for Germany.



Saying good bye is never easy, and the smile on my face is hiding the uncertainty of whether the relationship would last or whether it was the end of something great.



Of course, the story went on, as you all know... watch this space to see how it unfolded!

Nervous, Excited

Two words to describe how I am feeling about the upcoming civil wedding, in a nutshell. Now, onto deep breathing and other calming excercises...

A Sense of Family

In preparation for the wedding, I am going through some physical and philosophical transformations. Or rather, attempts at transformations. One, I am working out regularly on a weekly basis with a personal trainer. Two, I am making a conscious effort to be home earlier to experience three, more family moments with my little family here in London.

First off, my personal prosecutor, oh, pardon, I mean trainer, is a smashingly cool and extremely fit mother of one, who encourages me to no end and has a body to die for. I told her that my short term goal was to lose two dress sizes by the date of the church wedding. I also told her that my long term goal was to end up as good looking and as fit as her... that said, I have a LONG way to go!

Secondly and thirdly, I find myself rushing home to spend more time with my two babies, Christian and Warrick. Whereas before Christian and I would work or watch tv until we were tired, nowadays we make it a point to spend time together, playing with Warrick. Or, of course, watching tv while cuddling with our little dog. It´s quite strange to think that I am actually rushing home not because of a curfew, but because I want to go home. I want to be with my small family.

I think we aren´t even worried about preparations for the wedding at this point. We are just being ourselves, being relaxed and enjoying this period together. Who knows, maybe the wedding will be rubbish and nothing will happen according to plan or schedule, but whatever does happen on that day, we´ll be fine. We´re no longer worried about the day itself , because we know the wedding is one day, but the marriage will be cool forever.

Or as far as we can tell, anyway!