What a fascinating day!

Funiculosus had asked for a day in Southsea with him and his partner. He also asked that I bring my dog.

I was full of nerves jiggling in my stomach because I’ve only met his partner once, just as I was leaving and he was coming home from work. If I tower over Funiculosus, his partner towers over me.

He’s also a little bit shy, so it’s just as well that Funiculosus is quite an extrovert!

The dog squeaked with excitement the whole trip, but she was very well behaved when we got there.

Of course, I hugged my Rope Master (Funiculosus), but I also hugged his partner. We both love Funiculosus, so I was certainly going to make an effort – and so did he, despite being shy.

We walked along the seafront in the bright sunshine. The last day of February was so different from the rest of that month – it might have been cold, but the sun was magnificent!

As we walked, I asked his partner a little about himself. I wonder if he felt that this was as strange a situation as I did? Having a social afternoon with his husband’s plaything?!

At the east pier, Funiculosus bought us lunch: Greek chicken skewers.

Rope Master chattered away – I think that he was happy. Silences didn’t feel uncomfortable, which I think it’s a good sign.

My nan used to have a phrase “companionable silence”, which I take as a good measure of people being comfortable in each other’s presence for long periods.

This felt only a little awkward – nothing like I might have imagined considering that I’m in love with his partner and he knows that and is ok with it. I believe that he’s happy as long as his partner, Funiculosus, is happy – and he is secure as Funiculosus’ partner – I pose no threat.

I felt welcome and included – the shyness with the husband felt more like a normal awkwardness anyone would feel around somebody they don’t know.

This could have been a horrendously awkward day – Funiculosus’ husband and I might have hated each other. He might have felt like I was encroaching on his territory and was a threat. To the best of my knowledge, that is not how he felt.

Isn’t that the best thing about an open relationship: that there is a feeling of abundance rather than scarcity and there are actually more ways to love your partner than in a closed relationship?