An AMAZING week

[I/O]

Kuna: Hearty congratulations. That is a pretty spot that would have gotten a whole lot more pretty when she jumped that rope. All the very best for the future.

I/O

[pk-uk]

One that I remember and might be pertinent here is her description of the roles of husband and wife in marriage.  Mama said the husband should be strong like a stone wall and his wife should always be protected by the stone wall. This way she said, a wife will stay soft and beautiful, and the husband shows he protects his wife from any difficulties.

Best Wishes to you both Kuna.

May you have a long and happy marriage.

Paul

By the way, the above is certainly how my wife views it.

[ScottinCrimea]

Congrats Kuna!  I'm thinking back at all of the naysayers early on in your relationship.  Isn't it nice to prove them wrong?  Of course she's beautiful and MUCH too good for you.  Just spend the rest of your life convincing her this isn't true and you'll do fine.  Is Mama already asking about when baby Kuna will be arriving?

[Kuna]

Thanks to all... We're both very happy...


Scott,

Indeed I do remember some questions early on in our relationship but to be honest I accepted the words of caution for what they were worth - BECAUSE our path was a little unconventional.  As you know we had a few little issues early on to wrestle with but all has worked out as hoped.

We have now successfully married but this isn't yet a "successful marriage".  For that we will both need to put a lot of work in but that is the same for every marriage.  I am totally confident we will both contribute equally to making our marriage successful and we'll both enjoy the years ahead.

From what I have seen and learned in RWD is that unconventional does sometime work...  and in saying that I point to you and others.  I still believe RWD should continue to offer advice on the lowest risk path available because high risk is just that - HIGH RISK!

As for Mama asking for grandchildren...  she knows they are high on the priority list so there's no issues there.  What I AM STRUGGLING with is being force fed by her.  I literally feel like I can't digest my food fast enough to keep up with the daily ritual of eating.  Last night I jokingly suggested to My Wife that they were trying to fatten me up to EAT ME.  She thought this was very funny and translated for Mama - JUST BEFORE MAMA LOADED UP MY PLATE WITH MORE HOBLUTSI!

My Wife says it's because she loves me and wants me to be well fed... and if I don't eat Mama will think I don't like her cooking.

There's something odd here though...  It appears the men MUST eat... and the women only eat very small portions, and when I point this out I'm simply told, "It's normal" - and I'm pushed back towards my plate.

This morning I woke at 5:30am and a few minutes after sitting on our balcony with a cup of coffee and the morning news Mama leapt out of her bedroom and strode to the balcony with a surprised look on her face.

A quick "Dobrey Utra" and she was off to the fridge grabbing potatoes, etc so I went to her and suggested we have breakfast around 7am (to let My Wife have a bit of extra sleep).

No problems... at 7am on the dot freshly prepared veraniki was on the table and the force feeding started again. 

All is good though...  I'm sure the feeding will stop when My Wife realises I will have to restock my wardrobe with new suits if this goes on too long!   

[LiveFromUkraine]

Congrats Kuna.  I am glad the day worked out as well as it sounded.

All the best to you and your new family.


Cheers,



Thomas

[IAmZon]

As those who have followed RWD for the past 18 months should know, Kuna and I hit the RWD boards at the same time - very loudly with way too many questions - and our futures have taken diametrically opposed paths.

For now at least.

He and I have become friends in real life; and I especially have lived through his experiences.  I never would have imagined enjoying an online community so much ... giving and receiving as much as is possible here at RWD.


I believe Kuna was a very unique man as he made his first visit to Ukraine.  He is socially well adjusted (normal) AND, he was very aware of what he was seeking. I

I think he found it as easily and as happily as life permits. 

I convey my sincere best wishes, for both Kuna and his lovely new wife. 

I will await photos, for sure.

Your friend from Florida,

Tim

[Jumper]

Congratulations  Mr and Mrs Kuna!
and best wishes for a long happy marriage full of health and happiness!


I see you are well on your way ,
as you already understand the deeper meanings in some things,  like being allowed to step on the Roos'Nek first..

so now I guess I am head of the household and therefore will always be at fault for every bad decision.   

LOL! yes i'm just joking, but every decent joke has more than  a bit of truth in it

As far as food being pushed down you , i'd advise to get used to it.
you're  a man, a man must eat,,heartily.
this is as basic as the sun rising it seems..

It's sounds like you guys had a wonderful event!
(i would also like to see some photos! )

[timothe]

This morning I woke at 5:30am and a few minutes after sitting on our balcony with a cup of coffee and the morning news Mama leapt out of her bedroom and strode to the balcony with a surprised look on her face.

A quick "Dobrey Utra" and she was off to the fridge grabbing potatoes, etc so I went to her and suggested we have breakfast around 7am (to let My Wife have a bit of extra sleep).

No problems... at 7am on the dot freshly prepared veraniki was on the table and the force feeding started again. 

All is good though...  I'm sure the feeding will stop when My Wife realises I will have to restock my wardrobe with new suits if this goes on too long!   

That's hilarious!!  Sounds like you are rounding into homelife just fine.  I hope I'm as lucky.  Congrats!

[catzenmouse]

That's hilarious!!  Sounds like you are rounding into homelife just fine.  I hope I'm as lucky.  Congrats!

She keeps feeding him like that then "round" is going to be his shape as well...

[pk-uk]

There's something odd here though...  It appears the men MUST eat... and the women only eat very small portions, and when I point this out I'm simply told, "It's normal" - and I'm pushed back towards my plate.

This morning I woke at 5:30am and a few minutes after sitting on our balcony with a cup of coffee and the morning news Mama leapt out of her bedroom and strode to the balcony with a surprised look on her face.

A quick "Dobrey Utra" and she was off to the fridge grabbing potatoes, etc so I went to her and suggested we have breakfast around 7am (to let My Wife have a bit of extra sleep).

No problems... at 7am on the dot freshly prepared veraniki was on the table and the force feeding started again. 

But Kuna, this is soooooo FSU.  One thing that has never ceased to amaze me is how attentive my wife is to my needs.  Even if she is not going to work, she will get up before me and make sure I am fed and watered. If I get up early, she leaps out of bed... And yes, I am well wrapped up when I go out etc. etc.  The concept "mother hen" come to mind quite often.

However, I have now found a way to get the portions reduced.  Unfortunately the past few years I have put on around 30lb+ and four inches around the waist since she arrived.  She, bless her, tells me I'm not fat, just cuddly and she likes me like I am.  However, I've told her I've gone into the 'red zone' weight-wise and she's gone into a panic as I could die younger.

Get used to it 

PK

[shovelheddrew]

Kuna, I have been reading about your mis-adventures and living vicariously.  I am still searching but was married to a Polish woman who did the same thing.  I actually found out why she fed me up so much.  It was because she wanted to be able to expand her "horizons" and gravitational pull a little bit.  The way she finally explained it was the the larger I was, the smaller she seemed in comparison.  I think this plays right into the some mindset as the woman you have now married.  Maybe not but it is still funny.  God, I miss that polock. (kinda)

[Kuna]

The force feeding continues...

My Wife has explained it as my MIL showing she loves me... and I even resorted to pk-uk's line about me living longer if I don't gain more weight (because I thought that was a great idea). The only response I got was, "It's OK, we will walk more".

I tried to explain that walking after meals was ridiculous and instead her and my MIL would have to roll me around our city.

I have to say though... the food is sensational! 

This morning I finished another epic breakfast and afterwards I decided I needed proof of the agony I was going through... I went to the bathroom and stepped on the scales.

After opening my eyes and looking downwards I was shocked to see I'd lost 2 kg since Mama's arrival... and I have no way to explain it.  I haven't lost any limbs...  had a haircut but didn't have that much hair to start with - and I checked to make sure I wasn't holding onto the towel rail for support.

I have a new problem... if I keep eating like this I'll fade away to nothing before I know it!   



We had a great weekend.  Dinner at my mothers house saw the two Mamas swapping stories of our respective childhoods and both mothers expression their affection for the spouse of their child. 

Photos followed (the candid shots highlighted the amount of time the Mamas spent inspecting each others necklaces, clothing etc) and true to form the Ukrainian Mama insisted we leave the leftovers (and there was much) of the dishes she had brought to my mothers house for dinner.

On Saturday morning it was another "breakfast to remember" before we headed to the Gold Coast for bushwalking in the rainforest.  Afterwards we went to the beach for Mamas first ever swim in the ocean.  Nothing... and I say NOTHING, could have prepared me for the squeals of delight and laughter from both of my Ukrainian ladies.

Sunday we wanted to take Mama to the zoo (we have several wonderful zoos in and around my city) but my UW had other ideas.  Fishing... Mama wanted to go fishing in Australia!

So...  off I was down into the bowels of my storage shed in the carpark to find my fishing rods and tackle and off we go to a popular local fishing spot.  We had some rain... brisk winds and cloud covered skies but you'd think we were out on the reef pulling in 5kg coral trout!!!  A half dozen undersized bream and whiting later... and a procession of toad fish - and finally we were out of bait.     

My favourite photo of Mama on her visit so far is of her walking along the disused bridge with fishing rod in hand and not a care in the world!

Last night at dinner we toasted our one week anniversary...  The UW drinking sweet red wine... me trying to drink a beer but I just couldn't fit a whole stubby down.  This eating obsession has ruined my appreciation of a beer with dinner... but maybe that's the plan all along!

The time that Mama has spent with us has really deepened my relationship with the family through three way conversations with my BIL, SIL and children back in Moscow.  I'm looking forward to us visiting them soon but not surprisingly I think the distance between our families will always be a negative - unlike some of my previous relationships in Oz. 

The family are all fine people, proud, respected and respectful.  I hope my own family grows to be like theirs.

The adventure continues... 

Kuna

[pk-uk]

The force feeding continues...

My Wife has explained it as my MIL showing she loves me... and I even resorted to pk-uk's line about me living longer if I don't gain more weight (because I thought that was a great idea). The only response I got was, "It's OK, we will walk more".

  ..... of course, what you will find is nothing is guaranteed and there is an answer for everything   

I am lucky - my wife has discovered that our interpretations of "going for a walk" are different.  She wouldn't risk using that one 

Sounds like you are off to a fantastic start though, Kuna.

All the Best,

Paul

[Kuna]

  ..... of course, what you will find is nothing is guaranteed and there is an answer for everything   

I am lucky - my wife has discovered that our interpretations of "going for a walk" are different.  She wouldn't risk using that one 

Sounds like you are off to a fantastic start though, Kuna.

All the Best,

Paul

Paul,

Last night I was first up from the dinner table and the first into "walking clothes".  I thought I would show My Wife what type of walking we would need if I kept this eating up (she likes slow romantic walks in the evening).

We headed off out of our apartment and covered 8 km by the time we were finished.  My MIL LOVED IT - but My Wife was so tired by the time we got home that she showered and hit the hay straight away.  I got an hour or so peace before I retired and during that time I got to watch the evening news and have 2 or 3 beers...  ahhhh... a lovely night!

This morning I got stuck into the big breakfast with gusto but did notice My Wife wasn't forcing me to finish the last 7 blini that were on the table like usual. I also wasn't forced to bring  lunch to the office!

I may have found the solution... but time will only tell...   

Kuna

[pk-uk]

Last night I was first up from the dinner table and the first into "walking clothes".  I thought I would show My Wife what type of walking we would need if I kept this eating up (she likes slow romantic walks in the evening).

We headed off out of our apartment and covered 8 km by the time we were finished.  My Wife was so tired by the time we got home that she showered and hit the hay straight away.

This morning I got stuck into the big breakfast with gusto but did notice My Wife wasn't forcing me to finish the last 7 blini that were on the table like usual. I also wasn't forced to bring  lunch to the office!

I may have found the solution... but time will only tell...   

       Hey, Kuna, you're learning quickly.

One thing I've always done with my wife is to accept what she says.  On occasion I may voice my opinion but, in general, I let her make her own decisions mistakes.  Of course, I will remain supportive and then, when it goes wrong, help her make another the right decision.  Never telling her , "I told you so", of course.  Just having that smug little feeling inside.

Seems to work a treat, but, as you say, with all these things time will only tell

However, I somehow get the feeling your gonna do just fine 

Best Wishes,

Paul

[LiveFromUkraine]

      Hey, Kuna, you're learning quickly.

One thing I've always done with my wife is to accept what she says.  On occasion I may voice my opinion but, in general, I let her make her own decisions mistakes.  Of course, I will remain supportive and then, when it goes wrong, help her make another the right decision.  Never telling her , "I told you so", of course.  Just having that smug little feeling inside.

Seems to work a treat, but, as you say, with all these things time will only tell

However, I somehow get the feeling your gonna do just fine 

Best Wishes,

Paul

She probably does the same thing with you Paul.


Thomas

[pk-uk]

She probably does the same thing with you Paul.

I'm sure she does   

[Kuna]

The Force Feeding Has Ended!!!    HOORAY!!!

Well Mama has returned to Moscow and our lives have returned to normal...  if you can call it "normal".   

Leading up to Christmas we've had the usual flurry of family and social engagements and a disturbing new trend has emerged in our home...

Did I mention on Mama's last weekend with us she wanted to go fishing??? 

Well we went fishing and it was great.  The next weekend My wife wanted to go fishing again... so we did on the Saturday.  Over breakfast on Sunday she said meekly, "Kuna, we have to go to Mum's house this morning but can we go fishing afterwards?  We can go near her house".

A part of me was excited that I was now married to a woman who likes to fish... but I also has a strange trepidation about what we were about to get involved in... a possible fishing addiction!

In short we've now been fishing 6 times over the past 3 weekends and she proudly tells everyone (including our local shopkeeper) that she loves to go fishing - and I love to watch her while she catches all the fish for the family.

I call it beginners luck... but anything I'm pulling in is undersized and unimpressive and she has an uncanny knack of landing nice size fish.  Every time it happens she kills herself laughing and reminds me that I've never "caught a fish this big".

This weekend we're progressing to a small dingy because she wants to go to deeper water so she can catch bigger fish - and after Christmas we'll go on a charter boat to get out amongst the real stuff.

Maybe I'm crazy for feeding her addiction but I can think of many worse ways to spend a weekend.   

The funny thing is the different way My Wife (and even her mother) see the wildlife and nature around them.  I think generally I and people like me spend too much time racing through life and not even recognizing the beauty around us.  My Wife on the other hand doesn't only see and appreciate the beauty... she perceives it in an entirely different way.

Let me explain...

I think I mentioned this before but when we were looking for wedding venues we were walking through the main botanical gardens in our city and as we got to a large pond we saw many ducks feeding and frolicking around... Immediately and completely seriously two words came from her mouth, "Ohhhh, Yum!"

It cracked me up because I really do believe she sees the beautiful wildlife around us as potential and imminent food sources.

When we fish she baits her own hook...  ties on her own knots...  loves every nibble and bite...  and pulls yet to be identified fish in with an expectation of what it will be like to cook and EAT them rather than just pull them in for funs sake.

I think many people love eating... many people appreciate the flavour and texture and colour of the food they eat.  My Wife LOVES the thought of eating something she's killed!   

She's a wonderful breath of fresh air... and a true joy to be around.

She used to get excited about seeing kangaroos and was mortified at first when I told her you can buy kangaroo steaks in some butchers...  Now she's seen so many she still appreciates them...  but now I can tell she is silently pondering what they will taste like.

She also wants to eat crocodile...  but says she's eaten ostrich before so has little interest in eating emu.

I regularly remind her it's illegal to eat koala and to these type of comments I get a slap on the arm and a tearful look in her face as she tells me she could never eat koala...  I'm waiting for it though.. this girl love to feast on nature in many ways.

Christmas

We've discussed Christmas traditions and have so far established that Christmas isn't important to her but it is important to my family... So we should exchange gifts at Christmas.  When she realised my family celebrate Christmas on Dec 24 (as Germans do) she agreed we should exchange gifts then, as normal.  She did have a "great" idea though when she said that we are in Australia now and all Australian families celebrate Christmas on the 25th... so maybe we should exchange gifts then too... Hmmm... this is getting interesting...  And of course finally New Year is "the big day" so gifts for New Year are essential too!   

She's frugal with some things and despises paying too much for things she doesn't see as essential.  I am guessing she'll be a better budgeter than me once the dust settles.  One thing that recently INFURIATED her was an annual fee appearing on her bank account because she could understand how or why a bank would charge a fee for holding her money.  I think it's more of a case that she couldn't understand how they could justify it!

Once Christmas is out of the way she'll be busy with many things... Stage 2 of her visa (I can't believe it looks EXACTLY like Stage 1 - even using the same forms), driving lessons, college and as she constantly reminds me... children!

My Wife makes quick but wise decisions...  some of my "friends" are confirmed party boys...  They are the modern day Australian bar flies except now they wear metrosexual clothing and smell pretty instead of wearing blue singlets and smelling like sweat and sheep.  She knows their lifestyles are inappropriate and suspects mine was too... but she (and we) are very happy in our new "married couple" lifestyle.

I would love to report something controversial...  something that has filled me with angst or trepidation.  I would love to need to come to RWD and seek advice because I was wracked with confusion and mystery... but I can't. 

Everything in our home is normal... happy... exciting and comforting.  Of course there are small challenges but nothing like one might expect in a situation like ours.

Of course it is early and there are challenges ahead but I feel that the direction my life has taken is infinitely better than I could have dreamed of it being.

Well that's my update from paradise for now... 

Kuna

[KenC]

Yup, those RW sure do love their fishing!

[Gator]

KenC,

What is Lena doing to that trout?

Kuna,

It seems that you are now settling in, something that I know nothing about.  From what you write, she has stayed optimistic and cheerful throughout, and has not come close to shedding a tear.  And it is not like the two of you spent a lot of time together before marriage.  This is wonderful and remarkable from what I have read. 

Now that Mama has left perhaps she will have a period or two of mixed feelings.  Just take her fishing on those down days.

The future looks great for the two of you unless the Dept. of Environmental protection arrests her.

Live bait -sushi I imagine, and not worms.  Fresh or saltwater?  What is the fish that you catch?

[Kuna]

KenC,

What is Lena doing to that trout?

Kuna,

It seems that you are now settling in, something that I know nothing about.  From what you write, she has stayed optimistic and cheerful throughout, and has not come close to shedding a tear.  And it is not like the two of you spent a lot of time together before marriage.  This is wonderful and remarkable from what I have read. 

Now that Mama has left perhaps she will have a period or two of mixed feelings.  Just take her fishing on those down days.

The future looks great for the two of you unless the Dept. of Environmental protection arrests her.

Live bait -sushi I imagine, and not worms.  Fresh or saltwater?  What is the fish that you catch?

Gator,

I think the greatest benefit we've had is that My Wife spent 2 years in Germany... away from family and friends.  We've talked about how hard it was for her then and she's commented that this is "much easier" because she has me here... In Germany she was alone for a long time until she made new friends (and she spoke minimal german before her arrival).

It IS difficult having to be available 24/7 even for small things at times.  The only time I get alone is when driving to and from the office... and then I'm usually on the phone to someone.  Still... if that's as hard as it gets I'm very lucky!

As for any sense of loneliness after Mama's departure... I think I am probably missing her more than My Wife.  Of course this can't be true can I can see that she is very happy to have her kitchen back!   

I keep mentioning she should call the family in Moscow whenever she wants but she says she wants to call only on the weekends to keep the cost down.  The cost for us to call Moscow is minute though compared with calling Ukraine.  I did go home the other night with a new fishing rod for her (yes, bright pink) and one of the first things she did was to phone Mama to tell her she has a new rod.   

There haven't been any tears since her arrival but I can tell that she does miss her friends.  At times when she talks about the dinners she used to have with them at home she gets very excited...  but whilst on our walk last night she commented that she thinks over time she will lose touch with her friends because it's "only natural they will grow in different directions".

As for the fishing... We've mostly been fishing off a disused bridge at the estuary of a river and had "some" success there - but a little further up river there's a great spot we've been going to with nice facilities. 

On the weekend we'll go out in a small boat but in the same area...  "We" just want to get away from other anglers and get into some new little positions.

The fish??? 

Flathead - http://www.sportsfish.com.au/pages/fishing/fish-saltwater/flathead.html
Whiting - (But they're too small at this time of year)
Bream - http://www.sportsfish.com.au/pages/fishing/fish-saltwater/bream.html (Lots around)
and one very nice Estuary Cod - which we released to her frustration

As for the bait... she doesn't mind whatever I've given her... no problems at all... prawns, worms, chicken gut, squid...  She seems to have no fear!   

[pk-uk]

What is Lena doing to that trout?

Is it possible she's just about to bite its head off 

[2tallbill]

Kuna, I hope you and your lady have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Take care,

Bill