Nigel and I celebrated 50 years 'together' this year of 2010. Nigel 14 years older. We met when I was just turned 21 years. Nigel was a force not to be ignored. He had managed the Petersham Odeon Theatre, in which I at that time was working as a cashier. We seemed to click immediately. I enjoyed a Christmas drink with him. But timing was not right for either of us. We accidently met up 2yrs later in the middle of Pitt and Bathurst Sts [literally in the middle of the busy street] Sydney. My legs went to jelly..we never lost contact after that meeting. We went on to enjoy many enjoyable adventures together, camping, shooting, boating, fishing. Purchasing our first 'holiday home' in Noosaville, Queensland. Followed on by the purchase of our second holiday units in Shoal Bay. We spent many weeks enjoying both depending on what type of holiday we wanted at the time. Camping still from time to time. Then came the time to build our home in Killara. Nigel was a very successful car salesman by this time. We spent many enjoyable, but hard working hours, collecting rocks from bushland, putting them on the trailer and bringing them home to form our rockery around the front of our property, on which stood the split level home we had chosen and built together. We would be out working on the property until 1 or 2am under floodlight digging and picking up stones, so we could have the perfect lawn. You see, Nigel always wanted things to be just right. Even when he allowed me to refurbish the interior of our home only two years after moving in. I did not like the colour scheme. Even then, although I was the one buying, paying for and, doing all the changes, he INSISTED I know how to apply the paint work [from scratch], preparation, cleaning, undercoating....No job was to be done half heartedly. He was a man who never put off till tomorrow, what he could do today, and then some. Nigel was not an easy man with whom to live, but we thought alike on so many leevels. Unfortunately, whilst we had some really fantastic times together, including visiting Selly Park in Birmingham, UK. Touring all over England, Scotland and Wales. Meeting and talking with the ordinary people. Visiting some of tourist spots, to please me. Meeting his sister Gay, husband Jarka and sons Nigel, Anthony and daughter Gaiety. Spending lots of happy days and evenings with them. Gay and I would have shopping or movie days. Nigel and I divorced in 1981, having spent 18 years together. A little time went along...we just fell into the friendship we had before marrying. We lived the rest of our lives as if married, just living separately. They were such good years, some not so good, but we retained a love for each other that could not be ignored and endured 50years, until his passing. Even through all his illnesses, I shared his pain. I was never able to leave the hospital during his various surgeries, until I was convinced by his surgeons he was OK. and surgery had gone well, and he would recover. What was so sad was watching, over the past 6 years, this strong, adventuresome, spontaneous man deteriorate in his latter years. But still through three amputations, only two months later, major heart surgery, he remained strong, positive and 'pushed the envelope' to be up and doing, more than anyone I have ever known in my entire life. Even after we found he had cancer of the spine...still he would not give in. He was a proud man! I learned so much about life from this man, that will sustain me now and in the years to follow without him. I loved him like no other. He WAS, and will remain, THE LOVE OF MY LIFE! Rest in Peace Nigel...I miss you terribly, and something inside me still refuses to accept I will not see you again on this earth. With all my love -- even in times when I could have strangled you -- you have taught me so much. Your wife, [ex-wife] friend to the end. Vera xxoo