The course of true love...

I took a delightful old couple out to lunch today. It was their wedding anniversary a few days ago, and later this month, Bert has a special birthday, so we thought a nice little outing right in the middle of the two dates would be the thing to do.

We were collected and taken to a very old country pub, somewhere the young Bert had taken his pretty girlfriend Ann to, to do a bit of courting in the old days. On the way they remarked upon all the changes to the surrounding countryside - and told me what used to be where, and chatted about how much development there had been since they days Ann rode the country lanes on the back of Bert's motorcycle - something which had then to be kept a secret from Ann's strict policeman father... if she ever had any hope if his agreeing to the wedding Bert had asked for.

Ann's dad had given Bert an audience, and allowed him to ask for his daughters hand, but gave him a set time to save up enough to get a home together - or else that was that. In the event, Bert did whatever he could to raise the cash - and was rewarded for his endeavours not just by getting the girl - but also by the father doubling Berts money - to give them a better start.

Seems he wasn't wrong in placing his confidence in Bert to do the right thing by Ann though....

These two have just celebrated 68 very happy years of married life together - and you can believe me when I say I have never met such a devoted couple. They still hold hands as they sit side by side in the lounge. If we have a sing-a-long, Bert will turn to Ann, and with a twinkle in his eye, sing to her as though they were the only people in the room. And today... today, we spied Bert giving Ann a little kiss as they waited for the community bus to come and take us home... ah.. you can't beat true love.

By the way....Bert's 90 next week, and still tells his lovely wife how beautiful she is every time she walks in the room.

Congratulations to Bert and Ann - who got it right.

Now you know why I love my job.