Marriage survey in Jingle bells, batman smells while shepherds wash their socks (winter 2015/16).

How long have you been married?
This coming summer will be our thirteenth anniversary.

Is this your first marriage?
On paper, no. But emotionally, yes.

Is it how you imagined it would be?
We knew each other so well by the time we married that I would say definitely yes!

What would you change?
I’m looking at him now and wondering. The thing is, I’ve always believed that if you want to change the person you’re with you’re with the wrong person and the best piece of relationship advice I’ve ever had is that you should like the basic model and accept the extras. This goes with marriage too, in my opinion.

Are you married to your soulmate?
When we were first together we decided we were split aparts. If you’re interested…

‘The Split-Apart Theory

The first ever written reference to each person having a destined mate was given from the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato (427 BC-348 BC). Plato’s theory was that each human being is part of one soul, in which they only have half of. The idea is that the soul was “split-apart” and separated from each other– and, since that time, the two halves have been forever searching for one another in order to join together and regain their sense of original created wholeness.

Many serious theorists propose that each of these alleged halves of the one soul learns all of life’s lessons at their own pace, and if the two halves happen to cross paths at some point during life, they may have a powerful bond; because they are each other’s “split-apart”. They find a truly genuine connection, they’re so alike in emotions or issues, that in some cases it’s too much for them to handle. ‘

‘What do you argue about the most?’ We rarely argue but when we do it’s about utterly ridiculous things, I can’t even remember those things after the argument!

What do you see eye to eye on the most?
Most things.

Where did you meet your spouse?
We met online at thé original diary site, Open Diary and met in real life in a Wetherspoons pub in Victoria Train Station. We saw each other for the first time, smiled and hugged.

Where was your first date?
For the start, see above, we travelled by train to see Crystal Palace v Huddersfield play, via a pub or two whilst being assalted by Dorothy of Wizard of Oz fame!

Where were you when you became engaged?
On top of Glastonbury Tor. The sun was failing to rise on the summer solstice, 2002, due to heavy cloud cover. I nodded and said “yes please.” We then watched Brazil knock England out of the World Cup.

Did you live together before Marriage?
Yes, I moved from London to his flat in a town 80 miles away, we lived together for 2 and a quarter years before we got married.

What was your wedding song?
Dick Dale and his Deltones - Let’s Go Tripping.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W1gskj1VQR0

Who was in your wedding party?
Our wedding was very small and about us so there were no bridesmaids. We had a best man who was certainly not best!! That’s another story though..

Do you get along with the in-laws?
Do you mean apart from being banned from their house for two years for being different and being allowed back when they discovered my grandma was loaded? I’ve had to forgive but, to be honest, I’ve never been able to forgive completely.

What’s your view on children?

Right now my view of children is two blondes in onsies who are procrastinating over bedtime! I wouldn’t be without them 😊

Does your spouse feel the same way?
He’s asleep right now so his view is of whatever he’s dreaming of! He also wouldn’t be without them.

Are you a 2 peas in a pod or opposites attract couple?
Utterly both! He’s nocturnal and I’m not, he’s a neat nick and I’m not, he’s patient and I’m not. But on many, many things we are the same.

*Do you go out without your spouse.

Definitely, I meet up with a friend once a week as does he, it’s a shame that we can’t do it on the same night so we had more evenings together during the week.

How long are you away from your spouse before you start to miss him/her?

Not a huge amount of time, although I take great pleasure in sleeping like a starfish when he’s away 😊

Have you ever compared your spouse to someone you have dated in the past?
There’s no comparison. He’s my split apart.

Do you trust your Spouse?
Yes, of course I do.

Does your Spouse trust you?
He’s never suggested he doesn’t 😊

How well does your spouse know your favourites?
He never fails to remember that I once mentioned that I don’t like cut flowers. In nearly 17 years together he’s never bought me any!!

Do you get along with your spouses friends?
In a casual way. We don’t socialise as a couple with other couples.

Does your spouse get along with your friends?
As above.

Did you go on a honeymoon?
We went to Glastonbury for the solstice then flew out to Ibiza for 10 days. It was all really lovely.

Do you watch the same TV shows?
We don’t watch a huge amount of telly and our tastes cross over in some areas and are far apart in others.

Can you agree on Pizza toppings?
He doesn’t really eat pizza.

Who takes out the trash?
Whoever is around when it needs to be done (usually me) .

Who does laundry?
After an argument sixteen years ago, me!

Who is the first one to wake up in the morning?
Depends on who needs to be up first!

Do you have any traditions?
Many, many traditions.

Is there anyone in your spouse’s family that you cant stand…
Hmmm. Can’t stand is extreme.

Anyone in your spouse’s family you adore?
Uhh.. no

Do you know your spouses passwords/pins?
I know his although he doesn’t know mine, mainly because he doesn’t remember them!

Does your spouse know your social security number?
We know where our National Insurance numbers can be found but we don’t know them.

Do you ever nag your spouse?
Yep.

Do you admit wrong doing?
Yes, although not always straight away..

Does your spouse?
Tricky one. Your see I’ve never heard his mum apologise. Even when she hit newborn Talaia in the head with her handbag she said “ooh look, you got your head in the way of my bag!” Therefore he wasn’t brought upto apologise. However, my upbringing involved accepting and owning your mistakes so he has learned through being with me.

When is the last time you or your spouse bought each other flowers?
Ha ha, see a question above somewhere! I do buy flowers for myself sometimes though.