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Published: July 28th 2014
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This is a bit of a random post, but since I'm away travelling I thought I'd ask my (wonderful, patient!) boyfriend back home for his thoughts on me being away. Turns out he's a bit worried I might forget him (er, likely!)... When I tell my friends that my girlfriend is travelling through South Asia, Australia and New Zealand for a year after finishing her degree, I get the usual jokes about Oz being full of ripped surfer guys who like nothing more than short-lived flings with backpackers. And whilst I trust the girlfriend implicitly, these comments do tend to play on my mind.
Additionally, I like to do nice things for her because she is lovely. So, I have implemented a few (maybe sneaky) techniques throughout her travels to ensure that she doesn’t forget about me and what a sweet bloke I am.
As a going-away present, I bought her a refurbished iPad from the Apple store to help her keep connected with her friends and family (but more importantly, me). After installing Skype and adding myself and her other favourite people as contacts, I made a few playlists for her to listen to whilst on her
travels. While the technology may have improved beyond recognition, the concept and effect of the mix tape remains the same.
Although she didn’t have concrete plans for the majority of her trip, rather letting herself go with the flow, she had planned for a bit of pampering in Goa to kick start the trip. Her school friend has been working as a resort dancer in Candolim, Goa and managed to book her into a room at the Whispering Palms Beach Resort in the village.
Unbeknownst to my girlfriend, I phoned the hotel beforehand to arrange a few surprises for her - as a ‘Good luck on your travels’ wish, I bought her a room upgrade and paid for her and her friend to go out for a meal in a local restaurant. I got my first Skype call that night and coolly played down her appreciative claims that she “doesn’t deserve someone as sweet as me”.
(note from Laura/me - I LOVED this - so sweet!) I understand that her travels around the Southern Hemisphere are about experiencing the delights of the world as an individual, rather than as one half of a couple. With this in mind, I am letting her initiate Skype chats and catch ups. In layman’s terms, I’m playing it cool. Akin to a cucumber.
Since reaching Australia, these chats have often come in fits and bursts depending on internet connectivity and the myriad of odd jobs she has undertaken to fund her trips. When she was in Sydney, I was getting calls almost every day as she would declare her homesickness before attending a rooftop party at Darlo bar or sneaking more than four drinks after midnight (Sydney has this year introduced a bizarre law restricting people to no more than four alcoholic drinks after midnight and two after 2am).
These calls were the perfect opportunity for me to demonstrate emotional value and tangible support. Even if I wasn’t there to give her the hugs she coyly claimed to miss, I could send her the superficial items she also missed.
The Scot in her was missing Irn Bru and Tunnock’s Tea Cakes, so every time she could guarantee a steady address for the next fortnight, I’d send her a care package with these Scottish treats. After one misadventure to the post office wherein I paid a ridiculous amount to ship a few sweet treats the length of the world, I decided to see if any independent courier services could do me a better deal.
For the next few deliveries, I exhaustedly searched all courier services for the cheapest option. Then better-late-than-never, I found Rapid Parcel – a website where you enter your address, the recipient’s address and the package details and it tells you the cheapest courier. I’m currently saving about £25 a delivery, making it cheaper to be a decent boyfriend.
It all seems to be working like a dream - I received my own care package complete with Sweet Sour Feijoas and Pascall Jet Planes (she’s thankfully remembered that I have the palate of an 11 year old) and I fully expect her to come back in two months’ time completely unaware that Australia even has blokes.
Helpful stuff: Apple Store,
Whispering Palms Beach Resort ,
Darlo Bar,
Rapid Parcel
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Good for you
Being supportive is tough but the right thing to do. Good for you.