Today marks a significant event in the Baldwin household; Mrs Baldwin and I have just completed thirteen years of marriage. This number, considered unlucky by some, is a good one for us and worthy of some celebration.
The 2012 Office of National Statistics’ (ONS) divorce statistics for the UK would suggest that we have done a reasonable job so far in avoiding the dangers associated with the high marriage failure rates recorded in the first decade after commitment.
Figures showed that 22 per cent of couples who married in 2002 were divorced 10 years later. This was the lowest rate for any group since those who married in 1984; so apparently our achievements are part of an improvement trend amongst our wedded peers.
I presented Mrs B. with a bunch of the finest roses and we collectively hope that the future outlook is equally rosy…
…but celebration may be a tad premature. It turns out that there is still much statistical risk; in 2012 the ONS reported that the average age at divorce was 45 for men and 42 for women.
This is perturbing bearing in mind that, over the next twelve months, both our birthdays will match those numbers.
In addition, there are concerns that a recovering and increasingly buoyant UK economy will see the divorce rate pick up again as couples see a greater chance of being financially independent post-separation.
The reasons for divorce, as stated in the legal paperwork, show adultery to be a less commonly stated factor and unreasonable behaviour (typically of the bloke) to be on the up. I didn’t delve deeply enough to understand the nature of “unreasonable behaviour” but I have my fingers crossed that collecting stuff from the seventies isn’t a high risk factor.
So, what next? All in all I think that the upshot of my research points to a celebration but one that shouldn’t get too carried away.
I end this post with a word or two of thanks to my other half. The current, and only, Mrs Baldwin has been a great wife, mother to our children and keeper of the household – I am very grateful for her love and companionship, tolerance, culinary wizardly and well-honed planning skills. I only hope that my earnings, DIY capabilities, legendary love-making prowess and handsome good looks are enough to keep the scales finely balanced as we face our 14th year of marriage.
Well alright then, earnings and DIY skills!
Crikey, I am thinking I should up my game!
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The 2012 Office of National Statistics’ (ONS) divorce statistics for the UK would suggest that we have done a reasonable job so far in avoiding the dangers associated with the high marriage failure rates recorded in the first decade after commitment.
Figures showed that 22 per cent of couples who married in 2002 were divorced 10 years later. This was the lowest rate for any group since those who married in 1984; so apparently our achievements are part of an improvement trend amongst our wedded peers.
I presented Mrs B. with a bunch of the finest roses and we collectively hope that the future outlook is equally rosy…
…but celebration may be a tad premature. It turns out that there is still much statistical risk; in 2012 the ONS reported that the average age at divorce was 45 for men and 42 for women.
This is perturbing bearing in mind that, over the next twelve months, both our birthdays will match those numbers.
In addition, there are concerns that a recovering and increasingly buoyant UK economy will see the divorce rate pick up again as couples see a greater chance of being financially independent post-separation.
The reasons for divorce, as stated in the legal paperwork, show adultery to be a less commonly stated factor and unreasonable behaviour (typically of the bloke) to be on the up. I didn’t delve deeply enough to understand the nature of “unreasonable behaviour” but I have my fingers crossed that collecting stuff from the seventies isn’t a high risk factor.
So, what next? All in all I think that the upshot of my research points to a celebration but one that shouldn’t get too carried away.
I end this post with a word or two of thanks to my other half. The current, and only, Mrs Baldwin has been a great wife, mother to our children and keeper of the household – I am very grateful for her love and companionship, tolerance, culinary wizardly and well-honed planning skills. I only hope that my earnings, DIY capabilities, legendary love-making prowess and handsome good looks are enough to keep the scales finely balanced as we face our 14th year of marriage.
Well alright then, earnings and DIY skills!
Crikey, I am thinking I should up my game!
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