Valentine’s Day… Singles Awareness Day… If I don’t get flowers you’re divorced…. Can’t stand the commercialism of it all….

- Advertisement -

Valentine’s Day, like any other festival is what you make of it. But let’s face it, love isn’t always easy (like buying flowers or chocolates, packing the spaniels off to bed and switching the lights down low once a year – c’mon it’s really not that hard) – especially when you’re trying to find love in only the ten percent of the population that might be keen on loving you back….

Here at OUTinPerth, we thought it was time to remind ourselves that marital, or to be more precise, not-quite-married-cos-it-hasn’t-been-legalised-but-are-otherwise-very-happy bliss does exist out there, so we searched how five deliriously happy couples to get their hot tips on relationships…

William and Vinn

Perth residents William and Vinn met during Melbourne Midsumma Festival through friends at a private party. They just celebrated their second anniversary back in Melbourne -same house, same day this ‘ I am not sure there really is a secret to a gay successful relationship’ laughs graphic designer and photographer William, ‘We do lots of interesting things together and we also support each other in our own individual projects, Vinn is a musician, artist and teacher -whenever I need help, he helps and supports me through stressful times and I do the same for him. We maintain our own individuality but we also work as team. We have not made any specific plans for Valentines but we will be together.’

Joelene and Lucy

Joelene explained ‘Lucy and I have been together for three and a half years , we love each other and have travelled a lot together and have also lived overseas together. We understand each other and we talk all the time. Lucy is always there to pick me up when I am down and I am always there for her. I am a qualified hairdresser and Lucy is in hospitality, even though we work with a lot of people and we have many friends, when we come home we just want ‘quiet time’ with each other. Love, compromise, trust and support hold our relationship together. I will be cooking for Lucy on Valentine’s.’

Paul and Michael

Paul and Michael have been together six and a half years. Paul remembers meeting Michael at Connections. He explained ‘I remember he came off the dance floor and he was all hot and sweaty. I saw him and said thought “Ooh, this man needs some air!” so I parted the way for him. He was in a cute leather harness and peaked hat and I thought “Yeah, that’s me”. We sat in the corner and started talking for about three and a half hours. Then he goes “right, I’m off now!” and he vanished. The friend I was standing with asked what had happened to the guy I was with – they were sure he was a sure thing – and I was all ‘Oh, he wanted to go and have a dance.’ Next thing, ten minutes later, Michael comes walking back… Paul says that Honesty, trust, belief in each other, and freedom are the keys to a successful relationship. Of course being a great team when it comes to Elton John and Kiki Dee ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ duets at the Flying Scotsman’s Karaoke nights doesn’t hurt either. Michael says that when it comes to Valentine’s Day ‘Usually Paul will say “We are not doing anything for Valentines day – don’t organize anything.” Then I get home from work and find a big bunch of flowers on the table…’

Brad and Greg – 16years

Brad and Greg met when they worked together at Coles. They’ve been together for 16 years. Brad said that communication was definitely the secret to their relationship, also that it helps that they’re pretty laid back and nothing fazes them. Their relationship got off to a flying start when, as Brad explains ‘I made a move on Greg and he thought I was straight.

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, Brad explains ‘We don’t really have anything planned. We just tend to go along with the flow and see what everyone else is doing and hook up with a group of people. Valentines day is just another day for us…We have worked every Valentines day since we have been together.’

According to Brad, romance has never been the key to their relationship, and he reckons those for whom it is do not seem to stay together. He said ‘The most romantic thing I have done was I bought Greg a puppy and hid it from him until Christmas day.’

Nicky and Ang

Nicki and Ang met each other Xes. Four years after getting together, they’re still going strong. Ang reckons that being best friends first and foremost, and trusting your partner will do the best thing by you as well as remembering that the not so good moods are not to be taken personally is important. Nicky identifies having lots of things in common as also being important.

We ended up kinda wishing we hadn’t asked, but according to Nicky ‘what really broke the ice and got us both in fits of laughter was a conversation about all the times we had hidden farts on our dates when we were going through the honey moon phase – you know, where you try to be perfect and somehow more than human and are trying to impress the other person too much so you are not entirely your true self around them. That was the moment that we both admitted to the fact that, yes, we are both human, we are both flawed and it’s actually very funny. It’s another thing we had in common…. that we can be quite immature and can laugh.’

Nicky explained ‘Our friend said to us the other day her mother had said to her when she asked her about her relationship “look all I really care about is does this person make you a better person?” And she said and that this was the best question she had ever been asked about a relationship. Cos that is exactly what this is about…We have just always been happy because together we bring out the best of qualities in each other.’