With the obvious out of the way. No offence taken I sometimes think that what Rizza and I are doing is crazy, but I've spent enough of my life playing safe to feel it is time to just go for it..

I can count three friends who got married in a very short space of time, one being in his forties and having teenage children, successful I would think. Another being 8 years into the marriage with a baby due any moment now, another success. And one of my best friends who met his wife (a friend of mine through another group of friends) after she shouted me from outside a bar one night whilst I was out with him, they've been married a few years now. But so far, so good. And on the other hand I have seen so many relationships break down after years of living together, then marriage and then the rot sets in.

I do not think a successful relationship depends on how long you have known each other, but rather a commitment to the relationship and to work through any difficulties.

Will I be proven right? Time will tell! But I refuse to worry about the possibilities of what might happen in the future and I think I am wise enough to make a marriage work. I know there will be many problems between myself and Rizza, and we will have our ups and downs. And it will take a huge effort on both our parts to get this thing to work and to live a happy life together, one of mutual trust and understanding.

There are no set rules about marriage or relationships. But I think one rule is that both people must enter into the arrangement freely and with the determination to make it a success. To work through all dificulties and learn when to let the other "do their thing" and to keep a level of independence so that their life after marriage only improves, and strengthens. With the knowledge that they always have a friend who wants to spend time with them and talk to them, no matter what.