Forty-nine years ago today

[johnboy]

June 24th 1967 Monica Rosalie Jennifer Young said "I do." and agreed to become my wife.

Forty-nine years later not only are we still together; but we think more of each other than we did initially.
We've been very fortunate in that we grew up together; we didn't grow apart.

And we're still good friends! We tend to enjoy the same things, and the same places and people.

If we meet friends and we're alone, they tend to ask "Where's the other one?"
What do you mean?
"Well if I meet one of you the other one is usually not far away!"

Thanks for forty-nine great years Rosie!

[TooMany2count]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DINuAWoxy4Q

[CR55]

Congratulations! That's quite a feat especially in today's world!

[rspears]

Congratulations, my friend (oops! - guess that's "mate" down there)! That's a great milestone, only to be topped by next year's Golden. Good on ya'!

[Bob Parmenter]

That girl must have a constitution of iron..............

You've brought joy to my breakfast again jb......more so than ever! Bless you both, and keep on being madly in love with one another........it only seems right.

[Rrumbler]

Most hearty congratulations Johnboy and Rosie. We have a few years on you, but the story is the same; we liken us to two sides of one coin.

May you have many more good years together.

.

[40FordDeluxe]

Congrats to you and Rosie and I wish you many, many, happy years to come!

[Whiplash23T]

Like Uncle Bob, I too look forward to your posts, especially your holiday travel logs, as you are a truly gifted wordsmith. I too congratulate you both on your wedding anniversary. Take care and enjoy a few beers over the weekend.

[Matthyj]

Congrats, Glad its been a great trip!

[johnboy]

Thank you very much for the kind words people.
We went to the finest eatery in our vicinity for a meal, and yes; I paid!

When we got back home I clicked on here, brought up this page, and showed She Who Must Be Obeyed your messages.
"There are some very good-hearted people out there," was her comment.
I agree.

So once again, we both say a very sincere thank-you.
It is appreciated.

Since we retired we've taken an overseas trip every (our) winter to the northern hemisphere, usually to European countries one year, and the US the next.
But it won't be happening 2017 - we'll be staying here in God's Own country to celebrate our 50th with friends and family. Many of our Wedding Party are still extant, although not now living in the vicinity.
But that's alright; over the last few years we have established a great venue for a party right here on our own property, so people can come party here and there will be sufficient beds/bedding/toilets/showers for everybody.
There's seven toilets, four showers, when the Young family reunion was held here earlier this year about 140 people sat down to lunch with sufficient tables, chairs, crockery, and cutlery for all...around 80 people overnighted, and everyone got a bed.
It's going to be a glorious shindig!

So...if you're in the vicinity...call in for a beer!

[Rrumbler]

That reunion sounds like some my family used to have when I was a kid. At one of them, a bunch of us cousins about the same age got our heads together to try and count the number of people there, and who were kin, and who were just not; I think we counted some 110 kin, and about 50 hangers on.

.

[johnboy]

That reunion sounds like some my family used to have when I was a kid. At one of them, a bunch of us cousins about the same age got our heads together to try and count the number of people there, and who were kin, and who were just not; I think we counted some 110 kin, and about 50 hangers on.

.

I walked myself straight in to hosting this one.
Long story.
One of She's nephews, Michael Young, was the eldest of seven kids to her brother Barry and his wife Marie. With seven kids under ten yrs old, Marie found it hard to cope; so we regularly looked after the three oldest at our place. So they grew up a bit more 'special' to us than the other nephews and nieces.
Mike shifted to Australia in his late twenties, and become an extremely successful business man, a multi-millionaire. He was also a bloody good bloke, we were very proud of him; even though he wasn't really one of our own.
Unfortunately he died at an early age.
The family were all out playing on jet-skis, suddenly realised Mike wasn't with them, went back, and found him dead on his ski from a massive heart attack.
It was decided to bring his ashes back to NZ to be scattered at sea from the beach at Matata, where Mike had spent a lot of his younger days.
So virtually the whole Young family gathered there for the ceremony.
Mike's younger brother, Barry-Robert (Rupert,) turned to me and said, "Ya know, this is good to have all the family gathered together like this; it should happen more often."
I agreed with him.
"Right; your place January next year."

Bugger!

We already had most of the infrastructure here to be able to host such an event; but the following twelve months were a bit of a scramble to ensure everything was in place and functional.
Larger water tanks, drains fenced to keep kids out, more toilets, another shed with concrete floor to congregate in, tables, chairs, beds, mattresses, crockery, cutlery...crikey; we plundered the Salvation Army stores!
But we did manage to get it all together; and we will be able to utilise it again in the future.

And the event was a success...with only the one punch-up.

All good.

Hamilton is the venue next year, hosted by one of She's cousins.

[techinspector1]

johnboy, I am overwhelmed when two people are able to stay together for this many years and still be in love. Good on both of you.

.