So, how did you meet up with your other halfs then?

So, who's willing and able? :D

To any NOOLers happily settled with partners or spouses or whatever..... when and where did you first get to lock horns and what actually took place that meant that first meeting was ultimately fated? It's time to share it with the rest of us.....if you want to.

Solitary bedsit rug-chewers need not apply.... ;)

I first met Lorraine back in 1993 when I was 20. She was on a psychology course at Manchester Uni back then and she was one of about seven students we used to meet up with for drinks and chat afterwards, traipsing around some of the pubs in the area. (Lass O' Gowrie, Abercrombie, O'Sheas, Peveril Of The Peak, etc). I lived in Bolton at the time and would never go out locally but always travel into Manchester for my social meets. I started taking a liking to her cos she had this ace top with a huge smiley orange on it. She was also a massive Smiths fan which amused me no end cos when I told her I was a Bunnymen obsessive, she laughed and said they were the worst band in the world, how Ian McCulloch was such an egotist and how Mozza pissed all over him as a singer and songwriter.

I then reminded her about the time in the mid-80s when both singers would often be regarded as rivals - indeed Smash Hits once did an article on who was the lippiest gobshite of all - Moz vs Mac - that was funny! She had no answer to that. I then tried to woo her by telling her that my only claim to fame to date was getting photographed with Frank Sidebottom at gig a couple of years ago. She had no answer to that either, but she might have spat an ice cube back at me. I can't remember for sure though, I was a bit pissed that evening.

Anyway - we kept meeting up for months afterwards whilst we were still studying. I was doing an art history course at Bolton Institute back then, having lived in Morecambe for a couple of years before, but we became really good friends and kept seeing each other loads until 1997 when we got engaged and moved to the other side of Manchester - first to Sale then, after we got married, to Tytherington, just outside Macclesfield. A couple of years ago we moved again, to Bollington. Lorraine actually spent a while working evening shifts on the Samaritans phonelines - but went under the assumed name Jeanette (some volunteers do this to effectively become just ears at the other end of the line) - whilst I eventually found part time work as an art teacher at the local college.

We don't have any kids though - but our two labradors Checkers and Marbles more than make up for that! :)

I met Mrs SHEDi at teacher training college... Through mutual friends, the usual story...

SHEDi xxx

So you admitted to reading Smash Hits and you still pulled!!

I guess there's hope for us all.

Asked her,all romantic like with a rose between my teeth.... if she could cook, fuck, and do the washing up! and here we are,head over heels 2 out of 3 aint bad...Cookings a bit ropey!

I met Sara at a party 15 years ago. I had some other girls after me at that party, but I felt for Sara. I had just split up with my girlfriend, mother to my daugther Amanda, and was in a bad mood. I hoped for a one night stand, but Sara refused. She was together with another bloke.

2 weeks later, she called me. She had broked up with her old boyfriend, and now she wanted some more from me....

It took 3 years before we moved together though. We saw each other in periods. I needed some time to forget my ex, and to feel ready. Sara waited, and it all went out just fine. We are now married.

First time I met my mother inlaw was not a very good experience. Sara was pregnant. On that evning, her mother had a big party, turning 50. I had been to another party that evning. Got my self really drunk, and took a cab to her mothers party at 11:30PM. Asked her mother for a dance, when I hardly could stand up straight. Sara talked me out of it, and gave me a glass of water....

I met Farah online, on a website called AsianEuro, where westerners can meet Asians. After a few months of emailing every day, I finally took the plunge and flew to Bangladesh. I spent a week there with her & her parents. After I got back, we continued to email every day, and we started the paperwork to bring her here on a fiancee visa. She came here last April, and with a fiancee visa you only have 90 days to get married or send her ass back! So, we got married a couple of months after she moved here. I was nervous about marrying someone I had only been with face to face for a couple of months, but it has worked out great! As to boatraceface's 3 criteria, she's not much of a housecleaner, but 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

Rian wrote: First time I met my mother inlaw was not a very good experience. Sara was pregnant. On that evning, her mother had a big party, turning 50. I had been to another party that evning. Got my self really drunk, and took a cab to her mothers party at 11:30PM. Asked her mother for a dance, when I hardly could stand up straight. Sara talked me out of it, and gave me a glass of water....

very classy

I guess it all worked out in the end then

pen pal when i did 6 years bird.

J.A.K wrote: pen pal when i did 6 years bird.

hahahaha

what were you in for?

..pissed!!!! i apologised for my drunk mate saying rude things to her mate . sat down next to her on a bench and got chatting. but her mate did have nice tits!!!!

cuddles wrote: but her mate did have nice tits!!!!

aaahh...usually a great USP for any bird.

ChrissMari wrote:

J.A.K wrote: pen pal when i did 6 years bird.

hahahaha

what were you in for?

I got 6 years for something i didn't do.

J.A.K wrote:

ChrissMari wrote:

J.A.K wrote: pen pal when i did 6 years bird.

hahahaha

what were you in for?

I got 6 years for something i didn't do.

Isn't that your tribe's most common excuse?

i never got to the get-away car fast enough.

J.A.K wrote:

6 years for something i didn't do.

Brake at the school crossing?

CM, that's MY tribe yer thinkin of.

J.A.K wrote: i never got to the get-away car fast enough.

Why? Did they drop loads of marbles onto the pavement to hamper you or summat? ;)

ChrissMari wrote:

Rian wrote: First time I met my mother inlaw was not a very good experience. Sara was pregnant. On that evning, her mother had a big party, turning 50. I had been to another party that evning. Got my self really drunk, and took a cab to her mothers party at 11:30PM. Asked her mother for a dance, when I hardly could stand up straight. Sara talked me out of it, and gave me a glass of water....

very classy

I guess it all worked out in the end then

Yep, it did. Not very fond of her though. She can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.... Not Sara, her mother....

Rian wrote:

ChrissMari wrote:

Rian wrote: First time I met my mother inlaw was not a very good experience. Sara was pregnant. On that evning, her mother had a big party, turning 50. I had been to another party that evning. Got my self really drunk, and took a cab to her mothers party at 11:30PM. Asked her mother for a dance, when I hardly could stand up straight. Sara talked me out of it, and gave me a glass of water....

very classy

I guess it all worked out in the end then

Yep, it did. Not very fond of her though. She can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.... Not Sara, her mother....

Mothers in Law have always been my downfall

I always wind up with guys whose moms are too overprotective

I am lucky. My mother in law is 10,000 miles away in Bangladesh.

Wife #1: a co-worker of mine Wife #2: a co-worker of mine

Do I sense a pattern here?

So, how did you meet up with your other halfs then?

I promise you lot will be the first to know if I ever do.

Monsieur Round & Round wrote: Wife #1: a co-worker of mine Wife #2: a co-worker of mine

Do I sense a pattern here?

2 wives?? Where the heck do you work?

She was one of my students. And my moral, professional and ethical integrity are all firmly intact, ta very much!

Met Karen on her first day at our workplace. Two weeks later I clubbed her over the head and dragged her off to monkeyworld, and the rest is history! Living together after 4 months, engaged after 6 months, married after 13 months. Several NOOLers came to the wedding

Just had our third anniversary, and I can honestly say I have never been happier in my entire life!

oldmonkey wrote: Met Karen on her first day at our workplace. Two weeks later I clubbed her over the head and dragged her off to monkeyworld, and the rest is history! Living together after 4 months, engaged after 6 months, married after 13 months. Several NOOLers came to the wedding

Just had our third anniversary, and I can honestly say I have never been happier in my entire life!

Nice one squire! Great to hear that things are going well - and belated best wishes to you both on your 3rd anny too! :)

Shellshocker wrote:

Monsieur Round & Round wrote: Wife #1: a co-worker of mine Wife #2: a co-worker of mine

Do I sense a pattern here?

2 wives?? Where the heck do you work?

I wasn't married to them at the same time and I didn't met them at the same workplace!

Monsieur Round & Round wrote:

Shellshocker wrote:

Monsieur Round & Round wrote: Wife #1: a co-worker of mine Wife #2: a co-worker of mine

Do I sense a pattern here?

2 wives?? Where the heck do you work?

I wasn't married to them at the same time and I didn't met them at the same workplace!

Ok, I confess...

I work at Victoria's Secret

Susana and I met at my 31st B'Day Party through mutual friends, we hit it off, moved in together a little over a year ago and all is well

oldmonkey wrote: Met Karen on her first day at our workplace. Two weeks later I clubbed her over the head and dragged her off to monkeyworld, and the rest is history! Living together after 4 months, engaged after 6 months, married after 13 months. Several NOOLers came to the wedding

Just had our third anniversary, and I can honestly say I have never been happier in my entire life!

Congrats. That's always great to hear. I can say the same though I've only been maried 11 months.

Our 8th anniversary will be in mid-October..... I hope it's a good un anyway! I still look back on everything and think that I was tad young getting hitched at just 26, but there you go.... :)

Dad at 20! I still can't get away with those rubber blobs things...Like taking a bath with your socks on!:\ohwell: my sperm is too powerful for the pill to work,sadly! Might have the snip soon:( ...I really don't want the snip

Boatraceface wrote: Dad at 20! I still can't get away with those rubber blobs things...Like taking a bath with your socks on!:\ohwell: my sperm is too powerful for the pill to work,sadly! Might have the snip soon:( ...I really don't want the snip

So how many hellspawn (sorry, offspring, Floydian Slip) do you have now chuck? That little rebel in your pic there - how old is she? ;)

We are the Pushchair Posse...We deal in nappies not numbers!

Edit: You mean Freudian slip sir,surely?

Boatraceface wrote: We are the Pushchair Posse...We deal in nappies not numbers!

Edit: You mean Freudian slip sir,surely?

Haa haa haa haaaaaa....

No! FLOYDIAN was what I said wasn't it?

;)

Went to England with my best friend when I was 17. We stayed with her Aunt whose son happened to be rather cute. Was only there 5 weeks and came back to Oz not really expecting anything. A few months later, just before Valentine's day came I decided to send him a card. What I didn't realise was that he had the same thoughts and had sent me one too. From then on we wrote for about a year a then he came over. We
got married within 3 months of him being here, I had just turned 19, and we have been together for 22 years. We have two wonderful girls and I really can't imagine being with anyone else (except Barney ha ha :D) . Of course we have had our ups and downs but hey, doesn't everyone?

STD clinic...

I was working there, she was visiting a colleague of mine!

Mutual friends... he took me for sushi on a blind date (which is the quickest way to my heart).

We're a terrible couple though. The only things we have in common are sushi and football.

Been together for 11 months..living together 5ish. only 2 weeks of that not fighting.

ChrissMari wrote:

We're a terrible couple though. The only things we have in common are sushi and football.

and combined sweat!!

Barnette wrote: Went to England with my best friend when I was 17. We stayed with her Aunt whose son happened to be rather cute. Was only there 5 weeks and came back to Oz not really expecting anything. A few months later, just before Valentine's day came I decided to send him a card. What I didn't realise was that he had the same thoughts and had sent me one too. From then on we wrote for about a year a then he came over. We
got married within 3 months of him being here, I had just turned 19, and we have been together for 22 years. We have two wonderful girls and I really can't imagine being with anyone else (except Barney ha ha :D) . Of course we have had our ups and downs but hey, doesn't everyone?

Wow! 22 years!! Could this be the most stable NOOLer marriage here of all? Or can anyone else surpass this? Good on you both!

Mind you, one thing Lorri and me never ever bothered with was Valentines cards.... not a single one was ever exchanged. I think both of us saw through the artifice of all that baloney!

J.A.K wrote:

ChrissMari wrote:

We're a terrible couple though. The only things we have in common are sushi and football.

and combined sweat!!

not lately ;) hahah

ChrissMari wrote: Mutual friends... he took me for sushi on a blind date (which is the quickest way to my heart).

Nice to hear that you've got one!

Met in a Church! - she was singing in the folk group, I was dating one of the other singers. Realised very quickly whose vocals I prefered, but it took 10 months to persuade her to give me a try. That was 1991, married in '95 - nearly 11 years ago 4 beautiful kids too

Wednesday was our 7th anniversary, celebrating it tonight, as it's really hard to celebrate when you have to wake up at 4 am the next morning.

Have typed the story before, so I won't bore everyone again. . .but it was fate that brought us together as both of us were "forced" to end up in the place we met. Proposed after knowing her for 3 months (was being restationed at a last minute notice), and married 4 months later (because of immigration rules). Pretty amazing we've been together for 7 years since my longest relationship prior too that was 3 months! How she puts up with me I'll never know.

JHC

Pat McCrotch wrote: thanks for reminding me I ain't got an other half...

rat bastard!

yeah, same here. damn shiny happy people!

68Pontiac wrote: Wednesday was our 7th anniversary, celebrating it tonight, as it's really hard to celebrate when you have to wake up at 4 am the next morning.

Have typed the story before, so I won't bore everyone again. . .but it was fate that brought us together as both of us were "forced" to end up in the place we met. Proposed after knowing her for 3 months (was being restationed at a last minute notice), and married 4 months later (because of immigration rules). Pretty amazing we've been together for 7 years since my longest relationship prior too that was 3 months! How she puts up with me I'll never know.

JHC

Good to know. My longest relationship prior to getting married last year was 3 or 4 months, so there is hope for me! :happytongue:

Very long (and possibly boring) story, but basically at work. The catering industry is known for a high rate of 'affairs' and divorces due to the hours involved....anyway, both single(ish) at the time; went out after work (my Boss acted as Mystic Meg and predicted the whole thing).............romantic bit coming up........went for a Meal, onto a Club, he leaned over and said 'do I smell of garlic'?...........I leaned over and before I could say no, he kissed me! (What a chat up line....)

Moved around a bit with the Company, came back to the Midlands, got married.....had children......we've known each other for 20 years and despite many opportunities ............

Haven't committed murder.

Or Suicide.

Yet.

Aaww that's lovely

Usual story, in a pub mutual friends etc.

A funnier tale; while at college the girlfriend of one of the lads on our course came to visit. We asked her how they'd met, her reply was that she'd found him on a pig hunt and won!

Digital Mike Binoshed wrote: Aaww that's lovely

It's the way I tell 'em!

By 'Eck! My Neck! wrote:

Barnette wrote: Went to England with my best friend when I was 17. We stayed with her Aunt whose son happened to be rather cute. Was only there 5 weeks and came back to Oz not really expecting anything. A few months later, just before Valentine's day came I decided to send him a card. What I didn't realise was that he had the same thoughts and had sent me one too. From then on we wrote for about a year a then he came over. We
got married within 3 months of him being here, I had just turned 19, and we have been together for 22 years. We have two wonderful girls and I really can't imagine being with anyone else (except Barney ha ha :D) . Of course we have had our ups and downs but hey, doesn't everyone?

Wow! 22 years!! Could this be the most stable NOOLer marriage here of all? Or can anyone else surpass this? Good on you both!

Mind you, one thing Lorri and me never ever bothered with was Valentines cards.... not a single one was ever exchanged. I think both of us saw through the artifice of all that baloney!

Cheers By Eck My Neck (or can I call you Mark?!). I can't quite believe it's been that long myself. You made me laugh about the Valentine's baloney. I reckon we only ever sent those cards the one time. Mr B always had the attitude that if he wanted to shower me with flowers etc it would be when he wanted to do it and not just because it was Valentine's day. On some occasions I'd get a love note wrapped with my sandwich. Once I bit into the sandwich and wondered what the hell was in there. He'd put the note in the bread!!

AgentWood wrote:

Pat McCrotch wrote: thanks for reminding me I ain't got an other half...

rat bastard!

yeah, same here. damn shiny happy people!

yup harmony? ewwww makes me wonder if I have repllent on me

Barnette wrote:

By 'Eck! My Neck! wrote:

Barnette wrote: Went to England with my best friend when I was 17. We stayed with her Aunt whose son happened to be rather cute. Was only there 5 weeks and came back to Oz not really expecting anything. A few months later, just before Valentine's day came I decided to send him a card. What I didn't realise was that he had the same thoughts and had sent me one too. From then on we wrote for about a year a then he came over. We
got married within 3 months of him being here, I had just turned 19, and we have been together for 22 years. We have two wonderful girls and I really can't imagine being with anyone else (except Barney ha ha :D) . Of course we have had our ups and downs but hey, doesn't everyone?

Wow! 22 years!! Could this be the most stable NOOLer marriage here of all? Or can anyone else surpass this? Good on you both!

Mind you, one thing Lorri and me never ever bothered with was Valentines cards.... not a single one was ever exchanged. I think both of us saw through the artifice of all that baloney!

Cheers By Eck My Neck (or can I call you Mark?!). I can't quite believe it's been that long myself. You made me laugh about the Valentine's baloney. I reckon we only ever sent those cards the one time. Mr B always had the attitude that if he wanted to shower me with flowers etc it would be when he wanted to do it and not just because it was Valentine's day. On some occasions I'd get a love note wrapped with my sandwich. Once I bit into the sandwich and wondered what the hell was in there. He'd put the note in the bread!!

Mark / Marky is fine - it's preferable to some of the names my wife calls me. I have to also say that flowers have also been banned in our household ever since year dot - Lorraine has a terrible allergy to blooms and pollens. Her hayfever is really hell for all of us....

For us both - Valentines day usually means......yup you guessed .... loads of chocolates. Chocolate = Love = Sex ! (According to a t-shirt Lorri once got when she went to see a band called The Field Mice). No wonder I was so overweight at one point but for the past four years I'm a far more respectable 13 stone. ;)

By 'Eck! My Neck! wrote:

Chocolate = Love = Sex ! (According to a t-shirt Lorri once got when she went to see a band called The Field Mice).

The Field Mice

'Chocolate Love Sex' is a sample used on a track called Humblebee... I have that very same T-Shirt somewhere... Well not exactly the same one... :)

The Field Mice did some quite New Order-y tracks at some points... LTM have reissued their albums...

SHEDi xxx

13 years... Do less for manslaughter as Mrs BRF says

Gnome Alone wrote:

By 'Eck! My Neck! wrote:

Chocolate = Love = Sex ! (According to a t-shirt Lorri once got when she went to see a band called The Field Mice).

The Field Mice

'Chocolate Love Sex' is a sample used on a track called Humblebee... I have that very same T-Shirt somewhere... Well not exactly the same one... :)

The Field Mice did some quite New Order-y tracks at some points... LTM have reissued their albums...

SHEDi xxx

Don't I just know it? The Mrs was just crazy over them Field Mice people - she has all their records - and a fair few of those other Sarah bands as well. She's seen them live a couple of times too.

Was their artwork influenced by New Order / Factory in any way? I assume so, cos there's so little information on the sleeves and just plain colours and abstract shapes.

Talking of whom, "Missing The Moon" is actually rather fucking fabulous - Lorri has converted me to that song persuading me to listen to it cos it sounds just like New Order. And it does. But then the bass line on one of the songs on that first (pink sleeve?) album of theirs is pure Peter Hook anyway. :)

But their weirdest record is a 5-track EP with a green Mondrian sleeve (can't remember the title) but it's so diverse - acid-house electro pop, country & western, janglepop, thrashy rock, and some weird sound collage.... know which one I'm referring to?

Boatraceface wrote: 13 years... Do less for manslaughter as Mrs BRF says

One thing I've always wanted to know - what the hell made you come up with the name Boatrace Face??

I met Brandon basically at a squirrel house frequented by squirrels and so began a relationship, that I'm battling to keep, cos' his parents don't like me very much- they're a little on the nutty side- I mean something , by observing, is not quite right about them. His older brother has a wife, and Brandon's mother keeps bringing her up. Well, I'm sorry but I can't be like her. I'm me, damn it. And I can't "esplain"(accent) very well, the situation....its something you'd have to see. Its like she's saying one thing to your face and then her actions are totally different from what she's saying(like she thinks I'm nice and sweet-which I am and then she locks me out of the house then goes and slams things around in a room against a window, when I try to come back in, she smartass-ly replies " Oh,someone locked you out of the house"- I live on my own,for the record). Her son having ADD, and being her youngest son....she fucking babied him and still does. He's 32, goddam it. I care for him deeply, but I'm not marrying and having kids with someone who's mother and father acts negatively toward me. His father, thats another weird story.... So this is going to either end soon or suffer til' its untimely death.

What would you guys do in this situation from what little I've explained....?

Grateful Shed wrote:

AgentWood wrote:

Pat McCrotch wrote: thanks for reminding me I ain't got an other half...

rat bastard!

yeah, same here. damn shiny happy people!

yup harmony? ewwww makes me wonder if I have repllent on me

If anyone needs me I'll be down at the end of the bar with this sorry lot...because I'm not just a member, I'm also the club president

Here's to '07 (maybe) because '06 has been a wash so far and don't see it panning out anytime soon

Pat McCrotch wrote:

stellarbassist wrote: I met Brandon basically at a squirrel house frequented by squirrels and so began a relationship, that I'm battling to keep, cos' his parents don't like me very much- they're a little on the nutty side- I mean something , by observing, is not quite right about them. His older brother has a wife, and Brandon's mother keeps bringing her up. Well, I'm sorry but I can't be like her. I'm me, damn it. And I can't "esplain"(accent) very well, the situation....its something you'd have to see. Its like she's saying one thing to your face and then her actions are totally different from what she's saying(like she thinks I'm nice and sweet-which I am and then she locks me out of the house then goes and slams things around in a room against a window, when I try to come back in, she smartass-ly replies " Oh,someone locked you out of the house"- I live on my own,for the record). Her son having ADD, and being her youngest son....she fucking babied him and still does. He's 32, goddam it. I care for him deeply, but I'm not marrying and having kids with someone who's mother and father acts negatively toward me. His father, thats another weird story.... So this is going to either end soon or suffer til' its untimely death.

What would you guys do in this situation from what little I've explained....?

I would run...far far away...

I guess that depends on which relationship matters most to him. . .yours or his mother's?

JHC

Spotnick wrote:

By 'Eck! My Neck! wrote:

Barnette wrote: Went to England with my best friend when I was 17. We stayed with her Aunt whose son happened to be rather cute. Was only there 5 weeks and came back to Oz not really expecting anything. A few months later, just before Valentine's day came I decided to send him a card. What I didn't realise was that he had the same thoughts and had sent me one too. From then on we wrote for about a year a then he came over. We
got married within 3 months of him being here, I had just turned 19, and we have been together for 22 years. We have two wonderful girls and I really can't imagine being with anyone else (except Barney ha ha :D) . Of course we have had our ups and downs but hey, doesn't everyone?

Wow! 22 years!! Could this be the most stable NOOLer marriage here of all? Or can anyone else surpass this? Good on you both!

Mind you, one thing Lorri and me never ever bothered with was Valentines cards.... not a single one was ever exchanged. I think both of us saw through the artifice of all that baloney!

Geri might not be too far behind that? I believe she has teenagers... ?!

I'm not far behind!

Been together 21 years, 19 of which as a married couple.

Met Derek at the International Students House bar in London, although neither of us were students at the time. He was working behind the bar, and I went along with a (student) friend to check out her new boyfriend (yes, Derek). Anyway, I was getting hassle from a guy and I asked if I could borrow Derek to walk me home which of course she generously agreed to. Needless to say, she never got him back .... He moved in with me exactly two weeks later after getting thrown out of his digs and I remember my housemates telling me I was mad, and nothing good would come of it. I'm really sorry I never kept in touch with them, if only to show them what we are today: very proud parents of a cracking son aged 11, and a lovely daughter aged 8. And still going strong ...

stellarbassist wrote: I met Brandon basically at a squirrel house frequented by squirrels and so began a relationship, that I'm battling to keep, cos' his parents don't like me very much- they're a little on the nutty side- I mean something , by observing, is not quite right about them. His older brother has a wife, and Brandon's mother keeps bringing her up. Well, I'm sorry but I can't be like her. I'm me, damn it. And I can't "esplain"(accent) very well, the situation....its something you'd have to see. Its like she's saying one thing to your face and then her actions are totally different from what she's saying(like she thinks I'm nice and sweet-which I am and then she locks me out of the house then goes and slams things around in a room against a window, when I try to come back in, she smartass-ly replies " Oh,someone locked you out of the house"- I live on my own,for the record). Her son having ADD, and being her youngest son....she fucking babied him and still does. He's 32, goddam it. I care for him deeply, but I'm not marrying and having kids with someone who's mother and father acts negatively toward me. His father, thats another weird story.... So this is going to either end soon or suffer til' its untimely death.

What would you guys do in this situation from what little I've explained....?

That's nothing compared to my mother-in-law,who is Beelzibub! Often the bane of my life...but faint heart never won fair maiden,and Mrs BRF could'nt get away from her fast enough to fair.Her sisters and dad are ok though,and I never considered letting the nightmare-in-law scare me off.Guess nearly everyone has to make allowances for in-laws,if you don't own a gun!

Good for you Geri, I can relate to the doubters. Wouldn't it be nice to say "I told you so"!!