At the wedding, our families like us, had connected and exchanged contact details. Since then, they had chatted periodically, checking in on our happenings, and even met up for lunch once. However, this caused an enormous problem when the crew hit everyone up to film Family Time, where we met up with each family in turn. The families were rather reluctant, and Ellie had actually told the producer “After how you’ve treated...

“Merry Christmas Eve!” A man with rosy apple cheeks stood on her doorstep, brushing snowflakes from his graying beard and coat. His green eyes twinkled, reflecting his jolly nature. “Would you be Miss Athelia?” “Why yes.” She stood humped over in the doorway, propped up with a cane. “Miss Athelia, I’m Nicholi, and I’ve come to take you for a sleigh ride.” Her weak mouth tried to lift its corners into a smile. “Oh my. A sl...

In the heart of a quaint little town, there stood a charming library with tall shelves filled with books of all genres, attracting book lovers from near and far. Every afternoon, the library was a sanctuary for James Carson and Mary Jane, two young souls who found solace among the rows of books. The scent of aged paper and polished wood filled the air, and the soft rustle of turning pages created a comforting hush. It was...

Pete was five years younger than me and just got his degree. He was 2" taller, skinny, and probably the same weight. He had just got out of a relationship, and wanted relaxed fun which was good for me. My only concern was that he wasn't into exercise at all. I really wanted a guy that could keep physical and intellectual pace with me even as a friend. While I wasn't particularly fit by my standards due to work, I was stil...

I'm Kate, Sam's flatmate, and close friend since childhood. Sam and I became close friends in our first year at Area School. By the time we moved to secondary school, we could run down a hogget as well as any boy could. As most kids in our school, we both enjoyed going out hunting: if anything, more so than the boys as we really enjoyed the money from Possums, but the boys could carry and skin a Wallaby better than us. Bu...

The next two days passed quickly as we carried on working, playing and eating food and each other. Despite combined efforts at both houses, my Culinary Incineration wedding vows remained uncompleted. The Dinner Party takes up to eight hours to film and goes late into the evening as Sarah had discovered but managed to truncate due to the early flight out. We told the producers that they could pick us up from my place as we...

In Patagonia, we’d talked with Weasel and David about how to manage his return home. Weasel and Andy said that on return they were usually very tired. David said he sends the kids to the grandparents for a week to allow Weasel to reset. For the first two days, they would be alone, but he was on her clock. The next two, he went to the grandparents' and left her alone, so she had time to think and unwind. Then, she rejoined...

After the CRJ landed in Santiago, I bid farewell to others including David and especially Terri who had decided that I was her little sister! But we knew that in a few weeks, we’d reconnect in Whistler and I quickly connected to my A350 for the long flight home. Andy had given me a spare Surface and I now had a Rapid Response logon. There were several emails I needed to answer so they could complete my onboarding. Once I...

I woke at 4 AM in Ellie’s spare room, feeling surprisingly refreshed despite all the drama and tedium mere hours ago. After a quick shower, I pulled on a red Icebreaker 250 zip-up, last night’s jeans, and a thick polar fleece as it was cold outside and would be colder at my destination, though my heart would soon heat up there. I was shocked to see Ellie, normally useless until daylight, up and had pancakes ready. I wonde...

Walking up the GX’s steps, I turned around and blew Sarah a kiss. I’ve seen this happen in the movies and thought it was contrived. But this was from the deepest part of my soul, and I saw it had hit her soul like a freight train. I really had no choice leaving: two guys laid out with COVID and one with a broken leg meant that if I didn’t go, nobody would be available to do ground support on the deployed aircraft. If I di...

Standing at the BizJet Terminal, I saw Andy walk up the steps and blow me a kiss. I silently cried harder as I already missed the guy that I loved in many ways so soon after meeting him: his respect and care for me manifested within a minute of me arriving at the altar in the Up and Down. He deepened my respect for him when he had playfully tried it on at the kiss: he showed that he was attracted to me but also respected...

I'm Sarah, 37 and an HR Business Partner. I live in a smallish town and own my own house. I love to take photos: mostly scenery either locally or abroad and I have shot a few weddings as favours to friends and have won a few prizes for some of my landscapes when I’ve entered competitions. I love to be in the outdoors, hiking, running or just soaking nature in. My hair is shoulder-length and naturally brown-black, my face...

I'm Andy: a mid-30s IT professional. My love life wasn't great - mostly as I was working away a lot, so I decided to apply for The Love Show where experts match couples and valiantly hope that they find love in ten episodes. I explained to the panel that simply, too much work meant I wasn't at home enough to sustain relationships, but that had changed recently as I had taken a new job that explicitly had minimal travel. I...

I entered the bustling café, my heart pounding with nervous anticipation, and was greeted by the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the soft hum of conversation. Scanning the crowded room, I searched for Jess, hoping to catch her eye and share a moment of connection. However, to my dismay, I noticed her engrossed in conversation with her colleague, oblivious to my presence. From a distance, I observed their anima...

As I approach my apartment building, a mix of anticipation and concern fills me as I spot Jess waiting for me by the front door. A smile lights up my face as I greet her affectionately, but her furrowed brows and worried expression don't go unnoticed. Sensing her unease, I take her hand and lead her inside, silently promising to create a safe space where she can share her worries with me. Once we step into my apartment, t...