More than 50 years ago, at Ellerslie Racecourse, David Coon placed a bet on a horse called King Amber because he believed that it had in some way spoken to him. The horse came in, not only winning for David what was then “a good week’s wage” but altering the course of his life forever.
“Some of the pull of first love is thought to relate to imprinting,” writes Dr Luisa Dillner for the Guardian, “the psychological theory that we attach ourselves strongly to the first people we have certain relationships with; our mothers being examples of childhood imprinting.”
Several years ago, my then partner (now wife) and I attended some couple’s counselling sessions, and for a few Christmases afterwards I made sure to send our therapist a card to let her know that we were still hanging in there.
Populations and their politics have never been so polarised. But is it possible to have a romantic relationship with someone with opposing views?
“That couple always seem the most in love, the most connected, as opposed to the other couples and families in...
