Thumb, yes I think you're right about it being rosacea. Apparently it can really be brought on by emotional stress, so no surprise it is getting worse.
Right, someone asked how DH and I got together....
We both worked for the same company, but never closely together. I always admired him from afar (as you all know, he's a very handsome man). I remember once speaking to him on the phone, thinking what an amazing voice and dashed down to the photo board to match face with voice. What a jaw-droppingly amazing combination!
There was a massive works do in Brighton. I was a svelt size 10, wearing a red velvet dress with feather neckline (gorgeous dress actually), we were on the dancefloor and he said later that I 'appeared out of the mist'. Anyway, we err, got closer that night (always remember our first kiss in the lift). There were red feathers all over the place - lots of colleagues alluded to me getting 'plucked' that night! I didn't see him for a few days until one day I saw him bending over in the kitchen at work and nearly fell over - what an arse! (sorry to be so base). There was a cleaner in there at the time, so I couldn't really do or say what I wanted to. I didn't see him for another couple of weeks, but couldn't stop thinking about him. I knew his marriage had just ended so didn't want to push it. Then I saw him in the office again and I just had to send him an email about how hot he was looking. Heart thumping, I got an immediate reply asking me out.
Somehow we kept our relationship a secret from work for the best part of a year. We truly came out when he'd won a trip to Hawaii for sales performance and invited me a long. A friend who worked for the airline upgraded us as it was my 30th birthday. Richard asked me to move in with him just after 9/11. I'd flown to the States (west coast) for work on 10th September and was stuck there for a few days. That devastation made us realise what was important and how much we loved each other.
We had our ups and downs, but there were mainly ups, rarely arguing. I don't have any regrets about our 12 year relationship. We always treated each other as an equal, with the utmost respect and dignity. Richard was my best friend and I could talk to him about anything. He gave such great advice, always gave me great perspective and allowed me to grow. If I was wrong he would tell me. We did so much together, travelled to so many wonderful places. Treated each other to so many lovely, romantic weekends away. We truly, truly loved each other.
And then of course we got married, on 3rd June 2006 and then had two beautiful children together. I always knew what a great father he was because of DSS and DH's total, unconditional love for him.
I miss him so, so much. I know he will always be with me in spirit, but to lose his physical presence is almost more than I can bear. He gives me strength and I think of him watching me in everything that I do, so that I know I am doing the right thing.
It's my birthday in a week's time and I know that he got his sister to buy a present for me from him. That just sums him up really. He was dying, in so much pain, but could think of getting me a birthday present.