Today is the anniversary of our civil partnership ceremony, though it’s well over twenty years since we knew we were partners for life. We had already exchanged rings - in Martyn’s old red Peugeot in the station car park at Brighton - and our partnership ceremony was also a quiet and intimate event.
Over the years we have travelled, socialised, gardened, studied, painted and enjoyed making our home together. We have also been there for each other in times of bereavement and illness, so our love for each other is strengthened by the odd bit of scar tissue. Martyn still has post-shingles pain well over a year since onset, but is coping very well. He is also having to cope with my gradual recovery from recent surgery, but we’re both encouraged by the advice that I need no further treatment. We were already very lucky to have each other - even more so now.
Autumn is certainly here. We haven’t yet had frost, but I’d better not delay the geranium cuttings much longer. We have started clearing and re-planting containers for winter colour, and mentally listing all the other jobs needed before winter. Some will get done…
