It was our thirty eighth wedding anniversary yesterday. Shirley worked at the health centre all day. As a nurse in various guises, she has worked for The National Health Service for forty two years. It is a wonderful organisation that has thrived for seventy years, providing good quality health care to all - no matter what their social status or financial circumstances. All British citizens pay for The National Health Service through taxation that reminds us that together we are all part of a society in which we look after those in need, regardless of our own situations.
The vast majority of British people are immensely proud of the N.H.S. because every family in the land has stories of how the service has helped them. I myself can recall that it has saved my life on two occasions. Sadly and insidiously, its continuation as a free service at the point of need is under threat while Johnson's Conservative Party remain in power. There are cunning plans afoot to erode the N.H.S.. - bringing in sub-contractors and business services that naturally put profit first.
Anyway, we had booked an anniversary meal at The Dore Moor Inn on the edge of the city. We were placed by a roaring log fire.
I have contributed three hundred reviews to TripAdvisor so I am always taking mental notes of hotels and restaurants for later reference. I am happy to report that our dining experience at The Door Moor Inn was excellent.
We had a charming and helpful waitress called Lottie and time intervals were good. There was none of that lengthy thumb twiddling that can often mar a good dining experience. Above all, the quality of the food and drink was splendid.
My starter was pancetta, black pudding & mozzarella on mixed leaf with toasted walnuts & honey mustard dressing. This was earthy and delicious. My main course was a medium grilled rump steak with fries, grilled tomato and rocket salad. For dessert, I had the triple chocolate brownie with fudge sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. To drink, because I was driving, I just had one glass of prosecco but we also had a jug of tap water on the table.
The bill came to a most reasonable £48.50 ($62 US) with a £5 tip for Lottie. A decent meal for a decent price and a good way to celebrate thirty eight years together.
We have travelled so far, through thick and thin and Shirley has been the love of my life. Our wedding day that blustery October afternoon in Owston Ferry, Lincolnshire seems so long ago. I had just turned twenty eight and she was twenty two. Yes - we have travelled a long way. The world is different now.
I have wiped a tear away.....
ReplyDeleteMany congratulations to you both!
We've been married for almost 38. He is the love of my life.
Marriage is hard work of course but the sense of companionship and security are wonderful rewards.
Both myself and my husband worked in the nhs for many years.
I too owe my life to the many talented people who work for it.
I never,ever forget to be grateful on both counts.
It sounds as if you had a lovely evening. Long may they continue!
Parallel lives Christina...parallel lives. Thanks for calling by again.
DeleteA very uplifting post. My very best wishes to you both and congratulations to you on your 38 happy years with many more to come.
ReplyDelete...but I doubt that there will be another 38 of them JayCee.
DeleteCongratulations! That's a lovely wedding photo.
ReplyDeleteWe have the same problem with our universal health care. Chronic underfunding by the government who then wants to allow private health care to come in and cherry pick the best and easiest cases. Health care should never be about profit, it's about patients.
Why should a rich family's child be more deserving of good health care than a child from a poor home? In health we should all my equal in my humble opinion.
DeleteCongratulations to you and Shirley. Your dinner sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt seems we share a wedding anniversary...it was our 27th (been together 34). Second marriage for me, first for him. He took on not just me, but my four children and has been a good dad to them all. Now reaping the rewards of six grandchildren. :)
You hooked a good one there Mary! Is he a saint?
DeleteCongratulations to the two of you! You make a lovely couple - not only in that picture, but from all I know about your lives through your blog, you still do.
ReplyDeleteWere I still married to my first husband, we would have had our 30th anniversary next year in May; we were both 22 when we got married. My first marriage ended in divorce, the second one 10 years ago with the death of my husband. I know that, even if I should get married again tomorrow, it is highly unlikely I'd make it to 38 years like you and Shirley, or to the 54 years my parents have under their belts now.
It is an achievement to be proud of, and I am glad you had such a good dinner to celebrate it.
Thank you for your continuing friendship through blogging Meike. It is precious to me. OK is taking his time - he may need a push!
DeleteCongratulations Mr and Mrs Pudding. Paul and I were married at Salisbury Registry Office 35 years ago on the 12th October; it was a very warm, sunny day - unusual for October.
ReplyDeleteOctober can bring beautiful weather...but not today!
DeleteCongratulations on your wedding anniversary. As for the wonderful NHS, you can bet your bottom $$$$$ that any future trade agreement with the US will mean them having their eyes on the NHS. Maybe not immediately but ultimately. I hope to God that NEVER happens, particularly having lived in the US and seen how financially devastating chronic illness has been to some of my ex' family over there!
ReplyDeleteI fear that your suspicions are well-founded Treaders.
DeleteTO RHYMES WITH PLAGUE (Bob)
ReplyDeleteYou may understand why I deleted your comment. I hope so.
Regards,
Neil
Congratulations on your anniversary! I love the wedding photo. You both looked like babies! So what meal did Shirley have?
ReplyDeleteFrench onion soup
DeleteCod loin
Vanilla cheescake
Congratulations. Agree entirely about the NHS having worked a good chunk of my professional life in the mental health field, as indeed has my wife too. Your post provides an opportunity to confirm I am inordinately fond of black pudding and commend on your choice of first course.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot beat good quality black pudding! (No hidden message here) Good on you and your wife for your dedicated service to the NHS!
DeleteCongratulations. Owston Ferry: a Lincolnshire yeller belly. Only just, it's almost in Yorkshire. A quick check reveals they moved it into Boothferry 1972-1996 so you're just about OK.
ReplyDeleteYou might ask where Mrs D originates.
DeleteI suspect that you got Mrs D on the internet. Is she Nigerian?
DeleteOh dear! St. Albans.
DeleteDon't worry, I won't tell anybody.
DeleteSo wonderful for you both. congratulations.
ReplyDeleteIt's not easy to stay together for so long and there has to be a lot of give and take and understanding doesn't there.
You both look so innocent .
Briony
x
Thank you Briony. A nice comment from a nice lady! lol x
DeleteCongratulations, Mr and Mrs YP, on your special occasion . . . may you have many more. The missus DID have something to eat as well, didn't she? Inquiring minds want to know what it was :)
ReplyDeleteSee reply to Jennifer Barlow above.
DeleteHappy anniversary. Here's to many more years of happiness.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sir Redness.
DeleteCongratulations to you both! The wedding picture is wonderful. I am proud to know, by way of your blog, such a fine couple! We will celebrate our 40th anniversary this January. Time has moved quickly and yes, the world is a different place now.
ReplyDeleteYou are fortunate to have the health care you have in your country. Health care is a bit more in reach for us now that we are retired and I am grateful for that. We have gone through many difficult and expensive situations in the past due to the money hungry health plans here. We still find some medications out of our reach due to cost.
Wow! Forty years! That's a hell of an achievement. In England a 40th wedding anniversary is called a Ruby Wedding. Tell hubby that that is what you expect - a ruby - perhaps on a gold chain.
DeleteA very Happy Anniversary to you and Shirley, Yorkie. Together you have faced adversities and won...shared love, happiness0 and continue doing so...and you have raised two children who, I am sure, are very proud to have you both as their much-loved parents.
ReplyDeleteYour meal was indeed very reasonable priced.
I wish you both happiness and good health. :)
Your kind wishes are precious to me Lee. Thank you.
DeleteHappy Anniversary. Sounds like a lovely dining experience. I waitresses a good deal in my life and, not being familiar with your area, I am wondering why your tip was less than 10% and not 15% or better for perfect service? Here in America, that would be a slap. Servers are charged 10% for every ticket written, plus are expected to share with other staff. So perhaps servers deserve a better tip. Usually, their wages are much less. As you are so experienced in the hospitality field, perhaps you can enlighten us on why you left such a low tip?
ReplyDeleteIn Britain, waiters and waitresses do not rely upon tips as they are paid a proper wage. Tips are discretionary and waiting staff do not necessarily expect to receive them. As it happens I did leave Lottie a 10% tip as I was pleased with the service she provided. £5 is a little more than 10% of the £48.50 meal bill.
DeleteThank you for answering my question. It is so good servers are paid better in your area than here. That would make a huge difference. And I apologize for my math..I had converted and then multiplied..then failed to edit. I am enjoying your blog. A new reader and new to blog world. Winter is coming here in Montana.
ReplyDeleteOooo! Montana. How I would love to visit your state and Wyoming too. I forgive you for your arithmetical confusion Penelope. And welcome here.
DeleteCongratulations. Glad you had a lovely day. Greg and I made 34 years and I recently celebrated our 40th without him. Time seems to fly and it doesn't seem possible that all those years have passed. Look after her!
ReplyDeleteI will keep her in a box, surrounded with cotton wool.
DeleteCongratulations! Funny that we both have anniversaries so close together.
ReplyDeleteHow I wish the US had a NHS but the US has never shied away from putting profits before people.
A national health service needs to evolve over time. To suddenly ditch present arrangements and move to free health care for all is a huge ask. There are so many vested interests. Could Elizabeth Warren make it happen?
DeleteHappy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that "we are all part of a society," with the NHS as a reminder of that fact. I couldn't agree more, but coincidentally I'm reading a book now that takes Margaret Thatcher's famous quote, "there is no such thing as society," to crazy extremes in a wildly dystopian future. It's an interesting book, called "Individutopia." (And very anti-Thatcher.)
I will look out for that Steve. Like most northerners I still hate Thatcher and what she stood for - even though she is dead.
Delete