Romantic Role Models

In this episode, Simon covers some of the romantic role models from our past, and we pick our vacation for 2023!

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Episode Transcript

Suzanne (00:00):
In this episode, we discuss some of history's most
romantic role models.
And we start an interactive bookfor couples, the adventure
challenge couples edition.

Simon (00:35):
Hi, welcome to the romantic things podcast.
I'm Simon Davison

Suzanne (00:38):
and I'm Suzanne Davison.

Simon (00:41):
All right, let's start off with, uh, the app status.
Uh, again, we are

Suzanne (00:48):
Live,

Simon (00:49):
We are live in the apple app store,

Suzanne (00:52):
Uh, us apple app store.
That

Simon (00:53):
Is correct.
The, the us apple app store.
We could be downloaded from, uh,if you do a search for romantic
things, uh, with a top result,uh, I think we've got a, a
tremendous five star rating, butthat could be all of our own
ratings.


Suzanne (01:08):
So yeah, if you've downloaded it and you like it,
please rate us because we liketo move up our status in the app
store.

Simon (01:14):
Absolutely.
But yeah, uh, things are goingwell.
We've, we've got a number ofdownloads, um, a number of users
using the site.
I've got some data coming in tothe back end, so, uh,
everything's looking good.

Suzanne (01:26):
Yeah.
And I would say that I have togive, uh, Simon some kudos here
because B romantic is moredifficult than I thought it
would be.
And it's very helpful to havethese little reminders to
actually think about it.
So, uh, if you have downloadedthe app, mine was on the second
page, so I had to move it to thehomepage.

(01:47):
So I get that little number one,uh, so that I know when I knew
romantic thing happens.
Um, but yeah, babe, you'vereally tried because thank you.
It's, it's hard.
And I will have to say, uh, foranybody who's listened to our
podcast, one of my romanticthings was whisper sweet

(02:09):
nothings in Simon's ear.
And if you remember how thatwent for me, I was creeped out
and guess what?
He was creeped out.
So if anyone out there canfigure out how to whisper a
sweet nothing.
Yeah.
Uh, in their ear withoutcreeping their partner out.
Can you let us know cuz we can'tseem to do it.

Simon (02:27):
Yeah.
This is, this is turning into aninteresting subject for me.
I'm I I'm genuinely curious toknow if people can actually
whisper sweet nothingsuccessfully for their partner

Suzanne (02:39):
And not creep them out.

Simon (02:41):
cause right now the Davidson family, uh, uh, no
for no on both attempts.
So, um, yeah, not good.
I I'd love to know if otherpeople were successful in any
way with that.

Suzanne (02:54):
Exactly.
Yeah.
Well, and if you are using theapp and you have any feedback
for, uh, we would love tomention it on our next podcast
as well.

Simon (03:01):
Yeah.
You can send that to romanticthings, app gmail.com and uh
we'll yeah.
We're definitely included in thenext episode.
Okay.
Well, let's get on with, uh, thesubject for this episode, which
is, uh, romantic role models.
And, um, I was thinking aboutthis a while back and I was

(03:21):
having a hard time coming upwith any current examples of
extreme romantic gestures fromlovers in the current

Suzanne (03:31):
Atmosphere,

Simon (03:33):
Current celebrate current celebrity status.
The only couple that seem to begenuinely in love and have a
good, strong relationship, uh,with a lot of fun.
And ed seem to be, uh, Blakelively and Ryan Reynolds.

Suzanne (03:47):
Ooh, Ryan Reynolds, my favorite.

Simon (03:49):
Um, but

Suzanne (03:49):
Go Deadpool.

Simon (03:50):
Yeah.
But other than those two, Ican't think of any other couple,
which are

Suzanne (03:55):
In modern time.

Simon (03:56):
Right.
Which are, which have that kindof relationship.
But if anybody does know, thiscould just be my exposure to
that environment.
Um, I don't particularly followcelebrity gossip, but if you can
let me know of any otherexamples of, of couples, um,
that are showing and makinggestures of love.
I would, I would genuinely becurious to know.
So, um, please send those to meas well.

Suzanne (04:19):
I, I don't know if this is gestures of love or
longevity, but I do have in myfamily, my mom and dad just
celebrated their 65th mm-hmm and two of my
older sisters, I think are over45 years of marriage.
So some or something'shappening.
So to do with something right.

Simon (04:35):
That's pretty successful.

Suzanne (04:37):
Yeah.

Simon (04:38):
So in the past we've talked about Nene as a historic
figure.
Um, that is, I impressed usinghis romance.
I dunno if you recall that hebuilt the,

Suzanne (04:47):
The gardens and the

Simon (04:48):
Exactly exactly for his wife so that she wouldn't feel
homesick, but there's alsoAnthony and clear Patra in a
Royal love triangle.
Anthony Ford clear Pat'sex-husband Octavian in the
battle of act Atium despitebeing significantly outmatched,
Anthony still managed to havethe last laugh though.
Anthony took his own life, notgiving him activity in the

(05:09):
satisfaction,

Suzanne (05:11):
Cuz that actually killing him exactly the love
triangle

Simon (05:13):
Thing.
Yeah.
So that that's how, how bitterhe was.
He would rather kill himselfthan give the other guy the
satisfaction.
So

Suzanne (05:20):
Is that a sign of true love I

Simon (05:23):
Guess?
Um, no, but what was, was afterher devastating departure, clear
Patrick ordered and asked to beconcealed in a basket of figs
and bought to her room where shepoisoned herself.

Suzanne (05:35):
Oh, so kind of like Romeo and Julia,

Simon (05:38):
She couldn't, she couldn't live without it.
She

Suzanne (05:39):
Couldn't live without that's a

Simon (05:41):
That's good.
But another, uh, role model thatfaced adversity, um, more so
than, I mean, people talk aboutMegan and Harry from the British
Royal family experiencing a lotof scandal and, and drama, but,
uh, it was absolutely nothingcompared to the early, uh, 19
hundreds in, in the UK when kingEdward, the eighth fell in love

(06:05):
with a, an American socialitecalled, uh, Wallace Simpson.
And she was married at the timeas well.
So it, it, it couldn't havescandalized more if they tried,
she was already married and

Suzanne (06:17):
It was well already married, a British Monarch and

Simon (06:21):
Exactly interested in an American of all things as well.
So yeah, there was notsurprisingly opposed by the
government and the, the press aswell.
Um, so Edward eventuallyabdicated from the

Suzanne (06:36):
Throne's giving up everything, isn't it,

Simon (06:38):
He gave up a significant position of power for, for his
lover.
They buried, uh,

Suzanne (06:45):
You gotta have true love to do something like that
or romance or something thatkeeps them together once you be

Simon (06:51):
Together.
Yeah.
I mean, that's, that's quite thecommitment.
Yeah, for sure.
I, I can't think of anybodysacrificing quite so much for
their relationship as, as that,that I can't

Suzanne (07:02):
Probably why they're on the list.
Yeah.

Simon (07:03):
That's why they're on the list.
You got it.
Um, and speaking of couples,which are impressive, we have
John and Abigail Adams.
They, their love was soprofound.
Many I've

Suzanne (07:13):
Gone way back with this one, huh?

Simon (07:15):
Yeah, absolutely.
um, but they'll loveover 54 years.
Guess how many letters of lovethey sent over 54 years to each

Suzanne (07:24):
Other?
I have no idea.

Simon (07:26):
1,160 letters of love to each other.

Suzanne (07:32):
Wow.
That's a good pen pal.
Yeah,

Simon (07:35):
There.
Yeah.
Their, their love is foreveryone to read.
You can,

Suzanne (07:40):
Oh you, is there a book of their love letters?

Simon (07:41):
There is indeed.

Suzanne (07:42):
Oh, awesome.

Simon (07:43):
Yeah.
Uh, another president, uh, thatcan be seen as a romantic role
model is a president calledWilliam Kinley that I wasn't
familiar with.
Kinley had a wife called Ida

Suzanne (07:54):
William McKinley.
McKinley.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
Sorry.
I heard Kindley whatpresident is that?
You're not from the us.
Yeah.

Simon (08:02):
McKinley

Suzanne (08:03):
William McKinley.
Okay.
Got it.

Simon (08:05):
Uh, his wife following the death of their two
daughters.
Uh, his wife Ida began havingepileptic seizures.
Um, and she started to avoidhigh society and, uh, for the
majority of her days, she waskind of hidden away.
Um, but when McKinley tookoffice, um, he was anxious not
to make Ida feel left out.
So instead, um, of followingtradition, he had his wife sit

(08:27):
right next to him during statedinners.
Yeah.
Which was not the dumb thing atall.
And it caused quite the stir,but uh, he wanted to make sure
that if she had a seizure, hehimself,

Suzanne (08:38):
He was there

Simon (08:39):
For could take care of her.

Suzanne (08:40):
Aw.
That's very sweet.
Yeah, absolutely.
And so he broke kind of normalprotocols to have her sit next
to him.
Yeah.
Oh, that's okay.
That's really cool.

Simon (08:50):
Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah.
Unfortunately he was shotoh,

Suzanne (08:55):
Geez.
Well,

Simon (08:56):
Uh, yes in 1901.
Uh, he got shot,

Suzanne (08:59):
I guess I should probably know that.

Simon (09:01):
Yeah.
One of the

Suzanne (09:02):
Few history.
Yeah.

Simon (09:02):
One of the few presidents that actually got shot.

Suzanne (09:05):
Sorry guys.

Simon (09:06):
Yeah.

Suzanne (09:06):
again,

Simon (09:08):
American Simon

Suzanne (09:09):
Probably.
Yeah.
American education.
Simon probably still knows moreabout the us after becoming
assistant than I do.

Simon (09:16):
Uh, I, I dunno about that.
I only got six out of 10 righton my credit.

Suzanne (09:19):
Well, they only let you do six, so you could have got 10
out of 10

Simon (09:23):
anyway.
Uh, another couple that peoplemight be more familiar with is,
uh, Johnny Cash and June Carter

Suzanne (09:30):
Walk the line.
Yeah,

Simon (09:31):
Exactly.
Johnny Cash met June backstageat a show.
Both were unfortunately marriedat the time, but cash was
smitten with June and pursuedher over the years.
June was a strong supporter ofJohnny assisting him in his
battle with his struggles, uh,with alcohol and drugs.
Um, but would eventually leavetheir partners.
And in 1968 cash proposed toJune live on stage,

Suzanne (09:54):
Ah,

Simon (09:55):
Following that they married for 45 years, Johnny and
June died within months of eachother.

Suzanne (10:00):
Oh my goodness.
Wow.
Yeah.
I mean probably one of the firstpublic proposals, you know, on,
on, uh, stage,

Simon (10:08):
Certainly by, I would imagine a famous couple.
I don't, there was certainly nokind of famous people marrying
like that at

Suzanne (10:16):
That time.
Yeah.
Well, and then to, to die withinthree months of each other, I
mean, you just couldn't livewithout the other.
I don't know who went first, butI can understand that for sure.
Yeah,

Simon (10:24):
Exactly.
Exactly.
So, okay.
So let's get onto the romanticgestures that I was working on
this for this episode.
Yeah.

Suzanne (10:34):
And again, kudos to Simon for keeping this
going and doing all theseromantic gestures because I
think I've done.
I said, I love you in themorning.
Yeah.
That one with breakfast and bedcame up and I just dismissed
that, but it is good to be ableto put'em on my calendar because
when I'm busy and they come upand then I can put'em on my

(10:55):
calendar for a later date uhthat's that's solid.
And that helped that's helpful.

Simon (11:00):
Or remember, I get these every day and I only give you
five and there's two weeksbetween each episode.
So there's at least 17, you know, there's like 14 or so that
don't get the coverage that, uh,that you'd like.
Got

Suzanne (11:14):
It.

Simon (11:14):
So, okay.
So I, I, I throw

Suzanne (11:16):
Away.
Yeah.
And I would, I would, yeah.
Get your timing so understandwhen you wanna be reminded
because yeah, I think probablyseven days is a little too long
or 10 days is a little too long.
Like maybe every three cuz thenyou just consistently get
reminded to do something.

Simon (11:31):
Yeah.
It, it, it needs to be on asemi-regular basis.
So that you're, it's, it's atleast somewhat in, in, in your
mind to do something.

Suzanne (11:40):
Yeah.
Because then you just, yeah.
Daily acts of romance.

Simon (11:44):
Exactly.
It's daily, small romanticgestures.
Uh, the, the big, the big deal,you know, that's, that's gonna
make the long, uh, the biggestimpact, uh, over the length of
the relationship.
So the first was something that,uh, we did a while back, but uh,
we're gonna talk about it hereand it's create a photo mosaic

(12:05):
using your photos.
Now we have, we provide a linkfor a service called mosaically
mosa.com and they ask you toprovide a large, uh, an image
that serves as the big picture.
And then after that you'll thenyou'd then supply the source
material for the images thatwill go into making up.

Suzanne (12:27):
Yeah.
So like you get one big pictureof something.
Maybe it's a scene from a placethat you went on vacation with
or something like that.
And then all of your otherphotos that you've ever taken,
that your whole library ofphotos then makes up this bigger
one.

Simon (12:43):
Yeah.
So I did this with a picture ofSusan and I together and I used
only photos from, uh, Suzanneand I, uh, only photos that
include pictures of Suzanne andI, uh, together in it.
So it was just, uh, pictures ofus.
I, I thought it was a romanticimage.
I think this is a nice one.

(13:04):
Cuz you can blow it up and youcan hang it somewhere.
I, it it's

Suzanne (13:07):
Well, and it's like maybe it's you go on a long trip
or something.
You take a ton, a ton ofpictures and then you take a
picture of you and then all thepictures from that trip become
the mosaic or something likethat.
There's lots of things to do,but it's kind of cool.
Um, because as you step fartheraway, it just looks like a
picture of you or the place orwhatever.
And then as you get closer, youcan see all the tiny little

(13:29):
pictures that are in it.

Simon (13:30):
Exactly.
Yeah.
And that's what I like aboutactually printing these ones out
and printing them out at a largescale, you can actually break
out the magnifying glass andactually get in and see each of
the individual pictures.
Yep.
Uh, I I'm a bit of a nerd, so Idon't like that kind of thing.
And the second one, I dunno.
Do you wanna talk about this cuzI kind of gave you this as a
gift to you.

Suzanne (13:51):
Yeah.
So Simon got me, this bookcalled the adventure challenge
couple's edition.
And last week we were like,okay, let's do something from
the book.
And I think one of the firstthings that it says is once you
scratch it off, you have to doit.
So it's all these pages and youtake the little coin that that's
given to you and you scratch itoff.
And then that's the activitythat you you're supposed to do.

(14:12):
So the first thing we did isscratch it off and guess what
the first thing was that Simonsaid, I don't wanna do this


Simon (14:20):
Well,

Suzanne (14:22):
But it ended up being, you know, really good.
So it was, uh, go to the websiteof five love languages.
Yeah.
And take the test and then lookat your partner's results and
then try to do, ask them acouple questions as to why, how
to do that.
So like Simon's was more qualitytime.

(14:44):
Yeah.
And then, uh, like affirmations,like, you know, Hey, you look
really nice today.
Those types of things.
Yeah.
So I asked him and, and he said,if you could put away your words
with friends and actually payattention to me after you get
done working, that would begreat.
So I did try to do that a coupleof times and like, you know, at
least have a conversation withhim before I picked up my

(15:06):
decompression words with friendsgame after working all day.

Simon (15:10):
Uh, yeah.
I thought that was, I thought itwas good.
I, I, I could see that beinggood.
Fun for couples.

Suzanne (15:15):
Yeah.
I think there's going to be lotsof things in there that, you
know, if you have a hard timethinking about things to do and
wanting to do stuff together,this would give you a ton of
ideas.
Yeah.
And it does say, you know, like,um, if you need to do it during
the day at night, if it's free,what you, you know, what you
need to bring.
So there's um, different typesof things you can do and
different, you know, timeframesthat you can do.

(15:36):
'em yeah.
I think it'll be good.
I think it's a good book for,you know, people to check out.
I think you got it on Amazon.

Simon (15:41):
Uh, yeah.
Uh, got it on Amazon, but they,uh, I think there's also the
adventure challenge, uh, websiteitself, where you can download
directly from those guys.
Um, and they have, uh, thesingle edition, the adventure
challenge, which is a bunch of,uh, challenges for people to do.
Then they have this couple'sedition that's

Suzanne (16:02):
Specifically.
Oh, say there's a singlesedition.
Exactly.
And a couple's issue.
Yeah, exactly.
So you don't have to be in acouple to get this book.

Simon (16:08):
Exactly, exactly.

Suzanne (16:10):
And spend some time on yourself, romance yourself,
right?

Simon (16:12):
Yeah, exactly.
The third thing I got for thisepisode was a vacation
suggestion and it was to watch asunset at Santa Reini Greece.
And I've been meaning to go toGreece for a long time.

Suzanne (16:26):
Yeah.
It's been on our kind of ourbucket list.
Yeah.

Simon (16:28):
We decided that next year we are going to, I, I used the
remind me option on the romanticthings app and I've scheduled
something for next year and nextyear we're gonna make plans to
go and, uh, tour at at least afew islands.
I, I would wanna do just Santalet's.
Let's do a few, but yeah,

Suzanne (16:47):
For sure.
I'm excited.
That'll be

Simon (16:49):
Fun.
Yeah.
Greece, Greece is fun.
Uh, the birthplace of democracy,actually the, the nice thing
with the, the romantic thing,um, is there's the V R B O link
to properties.

Suzanne (17:00):
Oh yeah.
In

Simon (17:01):
There.
So in the actual, in the actualthing itself, so when you click
that, it gives you a list ofproperties directly on the
Santorini island.
So you can directly book, uh, aspot, which is nice.
But then for number four, wehave, uh, a charity suggestion
from the app.
And this suggestion is to throwa birthday party for a

(17:22):
disadvantaged child.
The birthday party project is anonprofit, which is dedicated to
giving disadvantaged children,the birthday parties that their
parents can't afford.
Or they have no parents to throwbirthday parties for them,

Suzanne (17:38):
What grade to is for them, but a great charity.
Yeah.
And we gave to it this

Simon (17:40):
Week.
Yeah.
And that, that we, we gave to,to those guys and we, we gave
enough so that the kid couldhave a birthday party in

Suzanne (17:47):
President and donated in our name.
I'm just kidding.


Simon (17:51):
Yeah.
Um, it, it, it's, it's a nice,easy gifting process.
Um, there are a couple of niceprepackaged options you can pick
from kind of thing,$10 donationsall the way up to$500 or more.
And then for number five,another thing I used to remind
me button for was, uh, a dateSeptember 14th, which is called

(18:14):
photo day.
And for those that don't

Suzanne (18:16):
Know photo day,

Simon (18:17):
Photo day.

Suzanne (18:18):
Yeah.
Okay.

Simon (18:19):
So in Korea, they celebrate relationships
throughout the year.
Usually on the 14th of themonth, September the 14th is
photo day.
And this is where couples alltake, uh, updated head shots of
each other together.
For some, it's a simple case ofusing their phones.
Others actually go to theirlocal fo photo booth and, and
get them done.

Suzanne (18:39):
Is this a selfie or is this an like an official
headshot?

Simon (18:43):
No, like a headshot.
Oh, okay.
Yeah.
So yeah, you look good.
What you'd use on your photo.
Okay.
On your social media and

Suzanne (18:51):
Okay.
So like a couple's

Simon (18:52):
Maybe send out to photo shoot, send out the family.
Yeah, exactly.
Okay.
Um, but it's, uh, head shots, asI understand it, I've used the,
remind me button on the romanticthing.

Suzanne (19:02):
So we're you

Simon (19:04):
So late photos later this year,

Suzanne (19:06):
14th

Simon (19:06):
We'll be taking photos.

Suzanne (19:08):
Okay.
That seems like a plan.

Simon (19:10):
So those are the romantic gestures for this, uh, episode.
What was, uh, your favorite ofthose romantic gestures?

Suzanne (19:17):
I would have to say the book, um, because I liked, I
liked actually understanding thefive love languages, which I've
never taken that test before.
I mean, it's free, right?
Yeah.
Love languages or five lovelanguages, five love
languages.com.
And it was great to understandwhat you needed in order to, you

(19:37):
know, feel supported.

Simon (19:39):
Uh, okay.
And what was the miss, uh, or,or not as impressive or romantic
from your perspective?
Well,

Suzanne (19:47):
Maybe because we haven't done it yet, it's going
to, uh, Greece no, it, itwill be so good, but just the,
an anticipation of going toGreece.
I don't know if there is a badone, but

Simon (20:03):
Okay.
So I think people should give,uh, some of those options and
try themselves, especially thephoto mosaic option.
Uh, I think that's good.
Fun to do it.
It's free to get the images, uh,built and then I think you have
to pay to print them out orwhatever format you wanna print
them on.

Suzanne (20:19):
Oh, okay.
So you can do it and see if youlike it.
Yeah.
And then print it.
Yeah.
Okay.
Exactly.

Simon (20:25):
As always, we're interested in getting your
feedback.
So if you've got any thoughts,uh, comments, send them to
romantic things [e-mail] we'll add them into the next
episode.

Suzanne (20:38):
And if you haven't already, and you might be
interested in or downloading theapp, uh it's on the us app
store, romantic things, um, anddownload you get a week as a
trial and then a year charge ofonly 5 99,

Simon (20:52):
A a year of romance for everyone for just 5 99
it's a bargain.
Okay.
Everybody.
Thanks for listening.

Suzanne (21:00):
And don't forget to be romantic.