Realwomen.co.nz

I am a born-again cook.

For years, cooking has been something I have had to force myself to do.

Force, as in I have only had myself to cook for and, hey, it was easier to buy something on the way home and either, not have to cook OR had to "assemble".

But now I have a receptive and complimentary audience (of one) who thinks I am The World's Best Cook ~~~ in truth because his ex-wife had 30 years of the boredom/same-same-ness. Take-it-or-leave-it, I fully understand that having had to cook for so many for so long, she would feel this way.

Go Suse Go !
Cooking a lovely meal IS very satisfying ! Hehe.. pardon the pun.
I am sure that there are many among us though, whose eyebrows will shoot up into their hairlines at the chosen heading for your thread. It would be " Drudgery more like" , to many of them and that all starts when there is no grateful, appreciative, or admiring recipient . Hang on to that man Suse, it is a rare animal who doesn't take it all for granted. ! !

OOOOppps, posted too soon.

While she (a woman I much admire) is now freed from the tedium of having to cook for someone (no longer the family) each night, it is a novelty for me and, surprise/surprise I am revelling in it ...

I do not do so nightly, hence the novelty value; ~~ hey, wouldn't mind doing so but his working in another, albeit, neighbouring city, intervenes ~~ but am absolutely loving trying new recipes, baking, wearing my aprons, plotting/planning/refining recipes ... and generally being admired for being a domestic goddess.

'Scuse my whilst I polish my halo.

My dear late mum ~ who left me 13 years today ~ would be so proud of me. Better late than never, mum.

You go for it, Suse. What sort of things are you into cooking? And may I say it's lovely to hear that you are so happy with the Man of your Life. Maybe there's hope for me yet.

Hi AJ.

Well, while he lives (has a home) here in Auckland, his v v v demanding business (with antisocial hours) is another city away. He commutes the 200+ km every second day, arriving home about midnight on Auckland nights. So time together is very precious. We only get to have evening meals together once or twice a week. I get huge pleasure from doing a big cookup each Sunday ~ several freezer meals and baking treats. I've always done the Sunday freezer/fridge meal preparation for myself anyway but now devote more thought and care to the process, and do the baking part.

When we first got together about 17 months ago I would go all by preparing elaborate and impressive (and unncessarily expensive and OTT) meals, but of course normality intervened ~ I found the pretentiousness hard to maintain and he actually appreciated simple meals much more.

So last night for example, I didn't get home from work until 6ish and he arrived at 9 ... fairly typical for a Monday night. We had chicken cordon bleu, steamed veges, baked potatoes and Maggi chicken gravy ~ simple, easy and yum. Then (for him) a mini Betty Crocker instant pud (nuked in microwave) with nuked frozen berries.

Shared work-morning brekkies just don't happen ~ he's out my door and on the motorway (via his place to feed his cats) by 6.30 and I am on the motorway in opposite direction by 7.15. But weekend breakfasts .... bliss! Again, in the early days I would mix and lovingly make pancakes, or cook bacon, mushrooms and eggs ... but his brekky of choice ~ Weetbix and nuked frozen berries ~ are just as appreciated.

Yes, AJ, keep the hope!

I must say that I would never ever have contemplated a long-distance relationship. While G technicaly lives in Auckland it is essentially a long-distance relationship. I agreed to meet him ~ got together via internet dating (of course!) ONLY because his business was on the market (still is). Had I known initially that over a year later he would still be unavailable in the traditional sense, I'd not have been interested. And for many months in the first year I had doubts cos I wanted "normality". Then I calmed down and realised that I'd been out with many men who lived half an hour away but made themselves available only a few times a week. But, more importantly, he is my other half. I have NEVER before felt as complete or happy or young or understood. Yes, I want much much more physical contact and do not want to be daily separated by 100k for much longer. BUT (and I say this v v quietly lest G realise) while my job is stupidly busy and demanding, there is something to be said for our being-together-but-apart arrangement. Every time we see each other is special/romantic/ and features the music/the candles/the wine .... that's not real life. But hey, in the meantime, why would I complain?!

Lovely Suse. and Yes ! Do be encouraged by Suse's experience AJ . I know that Internet dating definitely can work well for many. I know of several happy relationships which came about through encounters on NZ Dating . I am sure that there is someone there for those who have desire enough to patiently persevere and be proactive too.
Good Luck and happy, happy days ( and nights) to both of you.

That's so lovely Suse, you have found your soul mate.

Love is stronger than time & distance, & the business will sell, & you'll be together, as you should be.

In the mean time,...relish all those new meeting moments!

Oh Suse love, is this the one , how wonderful I have to add that a distance relationship with regular sleepovers can be far more romantic stimulating and ongoing than the everyday live in, depending of course what one really feels more comfortable with.
.
Just Happy to hear your love and joy all the way acdross the Tasman