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I was in my final year at school at the time and having come from a relatively privileged background, I was fairly naive to the ways of the world and certainly new to relationships.

This man, by contrast, had completed four years at university, partying hard throughout, had travelled the world, worked in America, and was now in full time employment and studying for his Chartered Accountancy qualification.

I was in the midst of a significant life transition: sitting my A-Levels and mentally preparing for university after Summer.

As I recall I had an unconditional place at Aberdeen University to study Journalism. Aberdeen had kind of chosen me because of the course I had applied for and, happily, my sister was already up there, living and working.

Everything was set up nicely.

On 7th March, my two best friends and I headed out to paint the town red. One was turning 18 and, naturally, it was our duty to help her celebrate. It turned out to be a life changing night for me because that’s when I met Mr Accountant.

Days later, having drunkenly handed over my phone number (a landline – this was a time before mobile phones unless you worked on Wall Street), I accepted his call. Why not, I thought? My memories of our first encounter were a little hazy (we partied hard back then) but I do recall being rather taken with this tall, dark, relative stranger.

The phone call was interesting. He kept up a constant flow of chatter, self-confident yet possibly a little nervous about this first telephone encounter with a potential new love interest. After some 10-15 minutes, I found myself agreeing to a mid-week date. He asked if this was okay given that I had school the next day but, helpfully, I had already arranged a mid-week rendezvous with some school mates as we were celebrating the submission of our A-Level Art work.

By the time he joined my friends and I, we had left sobriety far behind which, if I’m honest, helped to break the ice and diminish any first date nerves I might have been feeling. I do recall sitting on his knee in the train station at the end of the night and I think it was then that we agreed we were already boyfriend and girlfriend. Sounds very straightforward when you compare it to what I hear about today’s dating scene…

Fast forward several months and I was in love with Mr Accountant. It dawned on me that, within the next few months, I was expected to move to another city which would mean leaving him behind. We discussed a long distance relationship but I knew that wasn’t for me. He was my first ‘proper’ boyfriend and there was no way I was starting this new chapter of my life without him in it.

I considered my options. To stay at home and study in Glasgow, there was only one and it was super risky. It meant giving up my place at Aberdeen University, clearing out the system and reapplying to a different university in my home city, one to which I hadn’t originally applied, and for an entirely different course which would take me down an entirely different path.

By this point, I was infatuated with Mr Accountant and it never occurred to me to consider the sacrifice I was making in terms of my future opportunities. I never occurred to me because I didn’t consider it a sacrifice. To me, there was only one option.

As I say, it was risky. There was a good chance I wouldn’t get accepted and then I’d have to go through the process again the following year. Looking back it doesn’t seem that big a deal now – I could just have worked for a year then reapplied later but I wasn’t from that kind of background.

And then there was Dad.

My father was a high achiever with a strong work ethic and expected the best from his two daughters: for him that meant university education. He was also a stickler for convention which meant doing things the ‘right’ way. Giving up a place at university was not part of the plan.

Suffice to say, he was not impressed when I announced my plans. Looking back I’m astounded that I had the courage and the audacity to stand my ground. My dad was not a man to mess with. I guess love makes us do crazy things.

Anyway, the gamble paid off. I got accepted to study Social Sciences at a university in Glasgow. I completed a 4 year degree with honours and went on to work with a renowned charity in Glasgow’s third sector, supporting people to access volunteering opportunities.

And what of Mr Accountant?

He is now my husband of almost 21 years and father to my two magnificent sons.

I wouldn’t say we are blissfully happy: what married couple is? At least not all the time or over the longer term. Life throws challenges at you which can impact a marriage, and not always in a good way.

It’s hard and it takes work.

Having children changes your relationship…so does a mental breakdown, losing a parent, redundancy, mid life, perimenopause and caring for another parent with dementia.

We’re hanging on in there. Some days by a thread.

But what of that risk I took all those years ago? Do I ever have regrets or wonder what might have happened had I gone with the original plan? Honestly, no, except to shudder at the thought of not having my two boys. 

The truth is, I wouldn’t change a thing.