So we started a bit of a long distance relationship, I was living in Hull and Hales was living near Ipswich. We started writing to each other, yes it was proper letters in the days before emails and stuff!
It was quite lucky that at that time my dad was in a relationship with Hales mother, so he was visiting Ipswich fairly regularly. I think he was also doing western shows in the Ipswich area as well at the time. It meant I got chance to travel down to Ipswich fairly soon after Hales had visited Hull.
I think the first visit I was staying at my cousins and borrowed a push bike to travel across to see Hales. I can’t really remember much more about the trip, my memory is not great nowadays.
I know we definitely started writing to each other regularly and I remember going to a phone box near my flat quite a bit to ring Hales.
I’m not sure how long dad was seeing Hales mother, but at some point the relationship ended as I don’t remember visiting many times with dad. I do remember hitch-hiking to Ipswich and back a few times so I could spend time with Hales.
At some point Hales must have come to Hull to visit as I have pictures of us together in Hull.
I remember visiting Hales quite a bit in that first year. I fell deeper and deeper in love with her, I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her fairly early in the relationship.
I do remember that early in the relationship I really believed that I was punching above my weight, and that Hales would probably find someone better than me. I was an unemployed ex squaddie from Hull, I really didnt think I was good enough to have found someone as good and beautiful as Hales! Luckily I was totally wrong and our relationship just got stronger and stronger.
I think I was down visiting Hales for a week early in 1993, I can’t remember if it was her Uncle or Dad that told me of somebody they knew looking for staff at a new parcel delivery firm. I went for an interview and I got a job there straight away! I actually started work there the next day and spent the last 3 days of my visit working.
I went back to Hull at the weekend packed up a few things in my flat and moved to Ipswich. I remember just telling my dad to get rid of all my furniture, gave him the keys and asked him to hand them back to the council!
I know it wasn’t much of a life that I was living in Hull, but I didn’t think twice of giving it all up just for a chance of a life with Hales!
I will continue this story next time
Rob
My Life and My MS 