Today I was chatting to an acquaintance, who is becoming a bit of a friend. She is about 10 years younger than me, an ex-pat too, and in the process of leaving her husband because she does not love him anymore.
I was fascinated as she opened up to me about the fact that she and he were living together like brother and sister. They did not have sex anymore, and hadn't for a few years other than once to produce the second child. It all sounded so familiar.
She is very attractive and outgoing, and all the guys where I work would throw themselves at her feet.
She has 2 young children aged 3 and 6, she feels they are young enough to cope with this. She said that one day she just realised that she did not want to carry on in a loveless marriage, so she drank a bottle of wine, and broke the news to her husband. He, of course, was shocked, not realising that his ignoring her and disinterest would end in this.
This was a year ago, and she is now at the stage where she will move out to an apartment in the same village, so the children can move between the house she and her husband built together, and her flat. She can live her life, and hopefully find new love. She and her husband remain best of friends, there is no animosity, but they are moving on with their lives. Her husband does not think he will marry again. He is not "Partnerfähig" he feels, which means he does not know how to deal with a partner. Yet now he brings her tea in bed every morning, and takes the children, so maybe she has trained him for the next woman.

This was so heartening to me. She made the move, shouted stop, I want my life back, I want to be loved, I don't want this. And it is going to work for her. She has managed to stay friends, the children will grow up without the bad atmosphere and without a mother who is frustrated.

On the train home, my husband got on part way. He was unshaven as ever. We talked stiffly on the way home. At home we had an argument about something, which he then tried to make up to me with cups of tea and being helpful. He upset our eldest and had an argument with her in the stairwell. I don't need this either.

where is that corkscrew?
No, it won't be tonight, and it won't be tomorrow, but the day is coming, when I also will point out that we are living as housemates, and we need to move on. I just hope we too remain friends.

or is there actually quite a resemblance between President Sarkozy and Stan Laurel? Especially when he is larking aroundD

well not right now, but in November. R has booked us tickets to fly to the Canaries, for a whole week together. I am so lucky. And I don't have to organise a thing, he wants to do it all. Did I say how lucky I am?

I still have to come up with an excuse for home, but I will find one, no worries. Nearer the time

In other news, but of course related, the nest has been getting some good use recently. I am always impressed by R's stamina, and how he can hold back again and again in order to give me the maximum pleasure. We were there on Friday for most of the day, and yesterday I did have rather stiff legs! I almost gave myself away by commenting on it to hubby, but got away with it.
We will be there again on Tuesday for a whole day and a night, after which I probably will be incapable of walking unaided.
It is his birthday soon, but unfortunately I will be away on family holidays at the Ostsee so cannot celebrate it with him. He reckons it is not important anyway, but I think all birthdays are important. I will give him his gifts on Tuesday, and it is up to him if he wishes to open them later when I am away.
I will miss him like crazy when away, it will give us a 4 week gap almost before we can meet again, which is a lot these days for us.
All this time with R is having a wonderful effect on me. I can tell from the reaction I keep getting from other people when they see me, always telling me how happy I look, or how well I am looking. Especially the men - I do have a feeling that some might just be able to guess why

not sure if I should convert, so can anyone who has, tell me what are the benefits? I just checked out the blog for converters, and they seem to be having nothing but trouble!

Apparently this is so, cos I read it in the paper. It was started in the UK, and has spread - can imagine why

So, a few facts about kissing:

1. it is good for you.
2. It uses 29 facial muscles and burns 4 kcals per minute.
3. A kiss also swaps 60 mg water, 0.7mg protein and ft as well as 0.4mg salt per minute
4. Our blood flows stronger, and the heart beats quicker as well as we release certain hormones.
5. On average, up to the age of 70, a person will spend 110000 minutes kissings ( that is 76 days) - not sure how they worked that one out
6. According to a survey from a New York state university 60 % of those asked lost the interest in their flirt partner after the first kiss.  Apparently we are not just kissing but also sniffing out the Pheromones being released, so we can tell if we are genetically suited.
7. Kissing is for 80% of women a prerequisite for sex. For men just 50%.
8. There is a legend that kissing started in ancient Rome: Women were not allowed to drink wine, so men would test this by kissing their lips
9. Since the 80's the average length of a kiss has increased from 5.5 to 12 seconds.
10. Kissing releases pain, reduces stress hormotes, relaxes us and stops us feeling depressed.

So, what more reasons do you need to get kissing your favourite kissing partner tomorrow, or even today? Shame I am not seeing my kissing partner until next Friday. We will have to make up for missing international kissing day then