Whilst we're off-topic - CS, an introduction.

I'm not very good at that whole 'relationship' thing.  It's quite difficult when your main focus is 'me me me' as, by definition, there are (at least) two people in a relationship.

I don't mean to be like that, but it is so hard to manage my diabetes, work (a bit) and try at triathlons, let alone get dressed in the morning.  If I'm honest, I have hardly any energy left for anything else.  Except wine of course.

2010 was a year and a half (not literally of course).  Three major things happened - 

1. I got diagnosed with diabetes (and almost died)
2. I got married for the third time (and almost died) 
3. I got hit by a truck (and almost died)  

I've brushed with Death so often, I should start giving him high-fives when I pass.  

One small thing also happened.  When I returned to work, the grumpy bastard who sat in the corner of the office gave me a luminous orange rucksack.  Just like the ones that he gives to all the staff working on the railways.  I asked him why, and he said "Because now trucks will see you coming".   He then grunted and went back to his corner.  He was right.  Not only have I been avoided by trucks ever since, but I am also now visible from space.

A couple of months later, just before the Christmas break, I found a t-shirt on my desk.  Not just any t-shirt, but one with pengiuns on it.  I didn't know where it came from.  I asked everyone, and everyone denied any knowledge.  I then asked the grump in the corner, who just grunted.  Then smiled.   I don't think I'd seen him smile before.  It was a lovely smile.

Now, I can assure you that it takes more than a luminous orange rucksack and a penguin t-shirt to steal my heart away.  I have more self respect than that.

But something funny started happening.  Suddenly grumpy corner boy wasn't grumpy any more.  Now he'd learned to smile, and he was taking the opportunity to practice it whenever possible.  I began to look forward to getting up early to go to work, and that never happens.

By Easter the next year, there were three Easter eggs on my desk.  I didn't need to ask who they were from.  I looked over to the cheerful soul in the corner, who was beaming from one ear to another.  I fell in love.*

Even I realise that it's pretty odd behaviour to walk away from a marriage for a luminous orange rucksack visible from space, a penguin t-shirt and three Easter eggs.  But you should have seen the Easter eggs.   

That cheerful soul (or CS for short) is amazing.  All day. From early morning with breakfast in bed, all the way through to a gentle reminder at bedtime to make sure I've taken my long-acting insulin.  In between he texts me at some point in the day, calling me sexy and asking if I'm OK.  I still get random presents on my desk at work (courtesy of Amazon).  CS also offers lifts whenever he can.  He gets the shopping and does the washing.  He can rustle something tasty up in the kitchen at a moments notice, and hell, even hoovers in the nude.  

He instinctively understands me.  He knows when to pester and when to back off.  He knows that I need naps at inopportune moments.  He knows that I hate "I told you so's" (although I provide him with so many occasions to use the phrase, he just smiles his lovely smile).  He is honest and up front - if my bum looks big in something, he will tell me.  We hang out together a lot, but, like me, he can also amuse himself for hours on end.  He taught me how to play poker.  He taught me how to accept difficult stuff.  When I get all angsty, he is my sponge.  I can't believe my luck.  

I have sex with him.  He can't believe his luck.

* I'm going to gloss over the fact that three Easter eggs aren't particularly brilliant for a Type 1 Diabetic.  There's nothing quite like real life to get in the way of romance.