Join me first please in the city of Bristol
where I am living my single life;
never thinking even for one moment
that there I would meet my future wife.
I saw her sitting there with a friend
when we first met at a dance one night.
I fell in love with her and without a doubt
I knew I’d met Mrs Absolutely Right.
Well, then several months passed by
while she had to go quite far away,
over in New Jersey and I felt, well,
sort of miserable I think I can say.
Her early return meant that happiness was restored.
Soon, once more we became reunited.
Our wedding followed, a humble affair;
we could only afford to have a few invited.
We lived in Easton-in-Gordano, in a little bung
and in a winter made memorable for its snow and ice
we were soon joined by our first son, Robert,
and that was really rather nice.
As is the way, nothing stays the same for long.
Adrian arrived to make our family four.
Two boys together, they grew up fast,
but the question was – should we have any more ?
At about that time we moved to Hereford
and that became the city where Martin arrived.
There could be no happier sight than to see him lying content in his pram.
We were never to claim that he made us sleep deprived.
Events moved on and for quite a short time
we took over a house from my Mum and Dad.
We lived in Hove where we could go down to the sea,
but leaving again so soon left us feeling rather sad.
Back we came to Hereford again
and the boys went to school in a Welsh sounding place.
Jutta meanwhile had become more beautiful still,
always supporting me with her charm and her grace.
It was at this point in our lives that we moved to Ross.
Woodlands became our home – it was so meant to be.
The years passed by and the boys grew up.
Eventually they left home leaving, my darling, just you and me.
When I retired our partnership changed
since we decided to swap the breadwinner role.
This was the chance for Jutta to fulfil her dreams,
creating the best B & B in the land, for this was her goal.
These were busy years, but happy and fun;
and family matters were happening, some more important than others.
Robert met Diane at Uni – Cupid at work I think,
and in marital terms he stole a march on his brothers.
Yes, a happy connection was formed between the Brads and the Shads.
We rejoiced and celebrated the marriage together.
Let me pause a moment and say more about this pair.
They are both active souls and really quite clever.
They moved about too in their early years of marriage.
But that is not my story to tell.
More important is to mark the arrival of our first grandson.
Oliver joined the world and that was really swell.
The story doesn’t end there, another tale to be told.
But that cant stop me from welcoming Jason, Olly’s new brother.
You might think that the two would be quite a handful,
but wait – my goodness – here comes another!
Yes, Cara now joined the family throng.
Such a quiet and docile child.
The three of them were great together
and only occasionally they let rip and run wild.
Back now to the main point of this narrative of mine.
The two of us, getting more ancient now,
yet remembering always the good fortune we had
to get to meet up in the first place somehow.
I want to thank my sons for the joys they have brought me,
and Jutta for her love and devotion.
Of course we have had our moments,
the odd crisis causing temporary commotion.
But this anniversary is about our marriage,
about my love for my darling wife;
and when I look at you dear, I know I can say
you have my heart and you are my life.
