Years before the idea of UCOS was even food for thought, years before the dog that was to blame for the establishment of UCOS was even a pup Gerry Standing walked into his solicitors to tell Mr Jericho he was getting divorced yet again.
"If you would just like to take a seat over there Mr Standing and Mr Jericho will be with you shortly" the receptionist said without even looking up at him.
The first few minutes of waiting he spent looking at the floor he wasn't looking forward the humiliation his divorce solicitor was going to give him.
Gerry only looked up when he noticed out of the corner of his eye someone sit beside him despite the rows of empty chairs around him.
The girl beside him was blonde and had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. Even though she couldn't have been any older than 26 Gerry thought her eyes told a story of someone who had lived for much longer. He smiled at her she looked slightly nervous.
"First time" he asked being polite.
She nodded.
"Don't worry about Jericho and his gang they will gladly take your money".
"So you've been here before then" the young woman asked.
Gerry laughed "Oh yes I'm more scared of what he will have to say about this than Jayne if it's like before then we will get on better once the decree absolute comes through than we ever did the entire time we were married" he said hoping this would make the blonde feel a bit better about her situation.
"Right" she said "It's my mother I'm most worried it was ages before I even told her we were married so when I tell her we are getting divorced all hell will break loose" she admitted to the stranger.
"Like that is it".
She nodded "Christ, she kept banging on about what my father would have said if could see me there was no wonder I didn't want her or anyone else there".
"I couldn't imagine not inviting my whole family to my wedding even my cousins who I don't always see eye to eye with. Maybe if I hadn't invited my exes to my weddings I might have stayed married for once" he sighed.
"Looking back maybe it would have been best if we got married before our friends and families, strangers don't have a tendency to object to the marriage and I guess it helps if you actually like the person you are supposed to marry" the woman muttered.
Before Gerry had time to quiz her about this unusual statement Mr Jericho summoned him into his office.
"Gerry Standing, I was hoping not to see you for a few more years or ever again" the man joked.
"Mr Jericho" he responded before turning to look at the girl "It was nice to meet you" he said as she smiled sweetly.