"Yeah, Carol’s probably out and Fin’s probably in the garden. Leave your message after the tone."
It sums up Carol (nee Larson) and Fin Torrance’s relationship, perfectly.
Despite doing many things together, the Dunedin couple have always encouraged each other to pursue their own interests, and it is a key which has helped them reach their 50th wedding anniversary.
The official milestone is next Friday, but the couple celebrated it with friends and family earlier this week because Mr Torrance had just turned 70 and Mrs Torrance’s 70th birthday would be on Tuesday next week.
"It was an all in one," Mrs Torrance said.
One of the special moments of the celebration was opening a cake tin which had been sealed for nearly 50 years, containing the top layer of their wedding cake.
"I ate some. The icing had a smell about it, so we didn’t eat that.
"But I pulled a small piece out of the centre of it and it was still moist.
"I don’t know how it has remained so well preserved for so long because it’s just been in a tin in the cupboard, and it’s moved house several times with us."
Fortunately, there had been no gastric after-effects.
She said it was a fantastic way to reminisce about their wedding day.
"It brought back great memories.
"We met at the town hall dance at the end of 1969. He was standing there and then the cheeky devil just winked at me with his big blue eyes.
"And that was it."
Sadly, Mrs Torrance said it was probably time to throw the remaining bits of wedding cake in the bin now.
"Seeing as it’s been cut into, it will probably deteriorate pretty quickly."
