“We are here in Australia to celebrate our son Jesper and son in-law Glen’s 5th Wedding Anniversary. They were married in Sweden five years ago and are here in Australia to celebrate with their Australian family and friends. We are also celebrating Glen’s 50th Birthday. We left Sweden early November we are here for one month.”
Bo – “Lena and I met when we both worked at the same marine shipyard in our hometown Karlskrona. Lena had been working there for one month prior to starting her nursing education in Stockholm. We met on the Friday in December at the big gate where we entered our work. It was heavily guarded and this day I was standing outside the gate on my lunch hour. During those days I wore my hat and then out walked Lena and she was so beautiful.”
Lena – “Oh and he was so handsome.”
Bo – “ We had eye contact but I was very shy so we didn’t talk. One day I grabbed myself together and I saw Lena walking home. I walked behind her for maybe a kilometre until I got the courage to talk to her. I walked past her about 10 metres then I turned around in the air and I said to her ‘Shall we go to the cinema? She said yes.
I learned that Lena was going to Stockholm for her studies for 3 years, so a long time. I kept on at the shipyard and Lena went to Stockholm on the 18th January that year. On the 18th February I quit my job and I started a new job in Stockholm. In those days Lena was in a convent nursing school and I had to ask the headmaster for permission to get engaged. I had to be interviewed so it was a tough business in those days. Lena was a hot chick and still is. We are still on that route. Next year we will have been married for 50 years.
In the early sixty’s there was this competition, Mr Sweden. It was like Miss Sweden but for men. I was invited to compete and the big day came and I didn’t win. I did come second though. Maybe there was only 2 of us competing (laughs).
We married in 1967 after Lena’s education. We had our twins in 68. Jesper is a twin and so is Glen. It is amazing that they are both twins and amazing that they both have twin sisters. We have another son as well and he is married to a lovely Japanese girl. We have a beautiful grandson.
What do you think has kept you two together and so solid?
Bo – “We are soul mates I think. We take the fights for each other.”
Lena – “It is love! Simple love.”