ANNIVERSARY HIJINX

Recently my husband and I had our fourth wedding anniversary. While life before I met him is like some foggy dream, or a memory from when you were three years old you're not even sure you really remember or just made up after looking at a photo, at the same time, four years of marriage has passed in the blink of an eye.

When our first anniversary approached, we decided we waste enough money on each other buying extravagant gifts, so instead we decided to institute an Annual Running Away.

First year it was camping at Lerderderg Gorge (I feel like the Swedish Chef Muppet when I say that out loud). We were so unorganised it was getting dark when we arrived, and we walked for about five minutes down the main path before going, 'Um... let's just set up here'. So we set up the tent in the dark, on the path (and when I say "we", I mean he set up the tent while I sat on a log and contemplated how he was going to chop firewood in the dark after he'd set up the tent).
The next morning we awoke to the sounds of people walking along the path around our tent. Ah, the romance.

Second year we were in India, and while I would like to say we went there specifically for our anniversary (hey, if you're going to run away, India is generally the modern-day country of choice), it was just a coincidence. It is possible I spent a good part of our anniversary inadvertently cuddling with an old man, five Indian children and a goat on a train.

The third year we went down the Great Ocean Road, our all-time favourite place. Anywhere.

This year, we have a four-month-old mini person, and decided it probably wasn't fair for his source of physical sustenance to run away, especially as he is SO fond of it. That, and it keeps him alive. Taking him with us on our romantic getaway? I hear the muffled snortings of parents everywhere.

Another plan had to be devised...