The honeymoon IS OVER
DENISE IS PARTING WAYS WITH ROMANCE
I’ ve never been much of a romantic. I suppose when I was younger I might have been, but deep down I think I was just desperate to get married and have kids. I always wanted kids. I think because I was an only child and I wanted siblings, I always knew I wanted to be a mum.
Romance was different in those days, and despite what you might imagine – parties and schmoozing and freebies – it actually wasn’t all that easy to meet people working in show business.
My friends often used to try and set me up, but given that I didn’t master the art of small talk until my forties, well, let’s just say
I put the “blind” in blind dates. Awkward would be an understatement.
Aside from not knowing the ins and outs of banter, I also don’t think I ever really learnt how to flirt. I went to an all- girls school, and then straight to work at Channel Nine, so I never really had that high school romance.
I loved my work – still do – but working all the time didn’t help me fine- tune my relationship skills. Dating in my twenties was difficult, and I definitely kissed my fair share of frogs. Come to think of it, I think I may have only kissed frogs?
I did eventually find someone to marry, although I think I had to beg him in the end. But he was a good man and a good father, and that was more important than anything to me.
We’ve been divorced for years, but I still get asked when I’m doing a live show, “Are you married? Are you in a relationship?” and I say, “No way!” and we all laugh. Then I say, “Alright, hands up who here has been married?”
Of course, most of the room puts their hands in the air. Then I say, “Now keep your hands up if you would get married again,” and inevitably all the hands come down. The result is the same no matter where I ask the question. Truthfully, I think women are just a lot better at being on their own than men – particularly men of my generation.
Would I fall in love again? At my age? I couldn’t think of anything worse. When I was in a relationship, my love language was running around after the other person, waiting on them hand and foot.
Some might say, “Isn’t that romantic!” but I reckon it just sounds like a lot of hard work. Besides, I’ve got plenty of wonderful friends, two beautiful sons and three gorgeous grandkids to spend time with. If I feel the need to fuss over someone, I’ve got more than enough worthy outlets.