Now, my track record doesn’t show it but if there’s any lesson my parents have ever taught me, it’s how to make a relationship work and I know that they’d probably prefer a holiday over a blog post but they’re just going to have to wait until I make it as a writer. Sorry.

I’ve known my parents for twenty-three years, which is longer than I’ve ever known anyone so you can only imagine the things I’ve learned over the course of my life where relationships are concerned and that is no matter how long you’ve been with someone, the changes in routine, environment, jobs, houses or amount of kids you decide to diagnose yourself with – the amount of love never changes, no matter how you decide to express it (like practically getting a Dominoes loyalty card).

It’s the little things that count, like dad running my mum a bath before she gets home from work or mum buying him things like a pressure washer, because those are the presents men like. It’s mum deciding she wants the house decorated, again, and my dad being more than happy to comply because he will go to the ends of the Earth to make her happy. It’s having your kids not knowing what an argument between them sounds like because we’ve never witnessed one and it’s having people admire the relationship they have.

It’s having children that aspire to that amount of love with their partners. And having kids that both subconsciously and guiltily know when something isn’t right because they base a working relationship on the one their parents have.

My parents have taught me the importance of communication and level-headedness in a relationship, the idea of mutual respect and constant effort for both parties and no matter how stressful outside life can get, you always come out on top if you have someone that loves you and that you love in return.

Together, you’ve raised two amazing children and two alright ones (you can take your pick as to who the other amazing one is) and I’m eternally grateful for the bar you’ve set so high for us all where relationships are concerned.

Thank you both, I love you, here’s to a lifetime of decorating the house and copious amounts of sunbathing in the garden, happy anniversary x

(Was going to put one of you wedding pictures up of the whole family but I think it would be a violation having Shaun’s trim in it so I used one from 1952 instead, colourised)