Just as well love was all we ever wanted, It was all we ever had (Paul McCartney)

Off on our mystery ride, 1984.

Wie gehts?

Welcome to the first of a two-parter to commemorate our ruby wedding anniversary. First part takes in the first 20 years from 1984 to 2004.

April 21, 1984 has been the subject of a few posts over the years. Brief summary - the two of us lived at 31C Lorna Street in New Plymouth. There were no children yet. Doesn't seem real in many ways.

I was into my second year of teaching at New Plymouth Boys' High School, Jacky was modelling and working for Whites Department Store in New Plymouth.

Our first decade saw us up to our elbows in dirty nappies - literally. It was one after another until four sproglettes invaded our space. So, it was a decade of sleepless nights, single income struggles, cloth nappy rotation (if disposal nappies were around we never used them - crazy but our belts were tight. Good thing we were both skinny to start with), and vehicle upgrades.

When I first met Jacky, I drove an orange Mini. We'd moved from that to inheriting mum's Chevette, then buying a station wagon and by 1994 we needed a white Ford van. We had bench seats fitted so that we could fit our family of six aboard. This was also useful when we added Annette Sivak and her two kids to the car-pool into work while living in Wakefield.

Second decade, still smiling!

Our second decade April 21st, 1994 - 2004 and our four millennials had joined us in Wakefield, in the South Island of NZ: Keegan 9; Adam 7; Samantha nearly 5; Jade 2.

During that first decade I'd gained a promotion after working at Macleans College in Auckland. So, we'd moved to Nelson for me to work at Waimea College. After ten years of babies, babies, and more babies Jacky was thinking about retraining as a nurse. Fair enough! We'd soon be on the move - back to Auckland.

We had made some great friends in Nelson and had some terrific holidays with them and our old Auckland friends. In terms of parenting, we were all flying the plane while building it. The kids were about to turn into teenagers - were we prepared? Were we eck as like!

Embarking on our third decade in the UK, 2004

On our 20th anniversary, April 21st, 2004, we were living at Alpha St in Cambridge, but after our trip to Edinburgh in 2003 we were keen to move to the UK. Leigh-on-sea in England (Victoria Road to be precise) would become our home by the end of 2004. Keegan was now studying at Waikato University, Adam and Samantha were at Cambridge High School, Jade was about to start secondary school.

So, at the time, it seemed an ideal opportunity for a gigantic upheaval. We sold up pretty much everything and set sail for blighty with a suitcase each. I soon found that shedding a skin is a fine abstract idea but it gets messy in practical terms.

As soon as we landed, half the family wanted to go 'back home'.

In the UK I began work at The King John School in Benfleet and Jacky was a nurse at a variety of London hospitals.

Our third decade ahead had plenty of challenges but we managed our way through them together. Somehow.

Next up - the second part taking in 2004 to 2024.

Love and peace - Wozza