Fifth Anniversary - Blood, Sweat & Tears

Our 5th wedding anniversary was a much-anticipated event - it’s the first time since becoming the parents of 2 that we could schedule some alone time and went to great lengths to ensure that we had 24 blissful hours away from the hustle and bustle of parenting duties. With the kind help of the grandparents, who stepped in to care for Sophie, and our trusted friends who took Noah on an adventure to the Aquarium, bubble tea, and McDonald's, the day had finally come.

Unfortunately, our celebration didn't start off quite as planned, as a misunderstanding led to an emotional exchange, leaving us both feeling raw and vulnerable. I voice my frustration of being unable to work due to Covid's constraints, and the burden of solo parenting 2 children as my wife bore the weight of a 60-hour work week. Tears flow as apologies are exchanged - a desperate effort to save this precious gift of 24 hours we have been granted.

Lunch is booked at Lee Ho Fook, an institution we have wanted to visit since Chef’s appearance on Masterchef. We check into our hotel room in the city and Krystin emerges from the bathroom to inform me that she just got her period. Bloody hell, I think to myself - in more ways than one. So much for a child-free night.

We head to Bar Margaux for dinner, and on our way back my stomach doesn’t feel great. I tell Krystin I need to hurry back to the hotel, only to find relief on the toilet. For a while now, I had suspected that I might be lactose intolerant, and this latest episode only confirmed my fears. As it turned out, the creamy indulgences from our earlier meal were not agreeing with my delicate digestive system. As I sat sweating on the toilet for what felt like the hundredth time, I couldn't help but think of a friend who once said that having occasional diarrhoea is a natural way of cleaning out one's system.

After a restful night of sleep (hooray for uninterrupted sleep and lazy mornings!), we check out from the hotel and head to Komeyui in South Melbourne for lunch. We inquire about the sushi omakase - even though it is listed on the menu only for dinner. Mentioning our anniversary, we ask for a special request, hoping for a gracious response. And grace we receive, as the chef happily obliges and proceeds to serve us what is probably the best sushi meal we’ve had in Melbourne to date.

And as we return to our children, our hearts are filled with love and appreciation. It is a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is a moment of kindness to change the course of our day. Our short 24 hours together has reminded us to rediscover each other, not as caretakers of our little ones, but as partners in love and life. I am forever grateful for my wife's companionship on this journey of marriage and parenthood, through every joy, every triumph and every struggle.

And yes, even the blood, sweat, and tears.

Photographed on Contax G2 & T2 on Portra 400 & Kodak Gold 200