I"m getting married in November, and last night attended part 1 of a pre-marriage course encouraged by the Australian Government. It started out negative with lots of stats about 45% failed marriages, and 25% of the rest not being happy. It got interesting with talks about differences between women and men and the diversity of couples in the room added a lot of spice. There were 3 siblings who are all getting married in the next 9 months. One was so scared of a huntsman spider way up on the high wall that she started crying.

The facilitator was nice but a little like the mum out of Meet the Parents.

Interesting that the govt promotes it. I guess low divorce rates make for a good country....

Another 5 hours on Sunday.

I'll go out on a limb here... the one crying about the huntsman spider.... destined to go through a troubled life...married or not.

Phobia's aren't something to be sniffed at of course... but way up on the wall? .... if she was that troubled of a pretty tame species, she should have removed herself from the room I should think rather than disturb the whole group... I wish her well, but..

A cynic would say the gov wants you together long enough to produce more tax payers....after that ????

The cynic will hold her tongue...

Another cynic would say that there is a government department behind the scenes doing what it can to justify the wages it pulls from the economy. Pre-marriage counseling is a little like pre-war counseling. It gives you an idea of whats coming certainly, but numbers and statistics do little to prepare you for even the first salvo fired at you across the beaches, let alone prepare you for drawn out trench warfare...

A non-cynic on the other hand would not bother to comment on the stupid formalities but would wish to congratulate you instead, because even though his wife shits him off occasionally he thinks that overall she's pretty cool and that being married to your best friend is a pretty awesome thing.
 

So, congratulations man. Hope things go really well.

btw. I'd take a plastic spider with me on Sunday...

might liven the class up a bit

HAHAHAHAHAHAH

Excellent idea!

I've got a plastic cockroach at home if you want

In NY, as you know, showing our baby. Happy to give you lots of advice Mick.

Yes, as we all know, Alex is the resident pioneer, and the man to go to for all sorts of advice!

do they have pre-defacto counselling? i guess its a bit too late after eleven years one baby and two mortgages.

the big question is - do they give you a rebate after going along? and why not if they don't?!

what they should have is pre-baby counselling. marriage is one thing, then you have the kids and forget about the marriage for the next couple of years.

sorry richie.

hehehe That's true.... No one really knows what they're in for right?

I certainly didn't! And what's more is that you forget after a while how hard it was - and then you have another one... Not me yet, but I certainly am thinking about it!

Sorry if I'm turning anyone off here! Babies are a beautiful blessing, really.

Just out of interest, how do the Australian Government encourage pre-marriage courses? Is that nice way of saying they make you do it? Or are their benefits to turning up?

Fading memories.... sigh, where would the population be without it?

Yeah, good point RP.... I don't recall seeing any ads for it either

i can only assume that it is a requirement to be told when registering to be married (and of course all religious groups are most likely advertise).

Mick I think you would appreciate  the new movie out with Robin Williams "License to Wed

Thanks... It's all scary.

3 months till I'm married from today.

RichardPendergast Bricoleur

You're both entertaining and write well to boot.

Thanks Alex

Thanks for the compliment.... I'm having fun here !

So does it feel real yet? It was only after about the 30th or 40th time of saying "my wife" in conversation that it actually started to feel real for me. Couldn't help but feel like we were kids playing house until then. Now I can finally use that old line, "That's no lady that's my wife"

I'll get smacked around a bit for that later, but it's funny nonetheless

Why would you get smacked around for that? *scratching head*

Bric - bad link there