I wonder how many mail order brides we have in the UK? How many of these marriages have been
successful? It would make an interesting thesis – and I suspect a warning too for elderly men prepared to pay a fortune for companionship and get duped.
Does it work the other way too, are there any mail order bridegrooms for lonely elderly women?
Ken Miller, 69, is the latest besotted bridegroom who has fallen for the oriental charms of Lei Genxiao, 44, and hopes will move into his Welsh sheltered housing scheme if she is granted a visa.
He is totally fixated on sharing his life with her, regardless of what others say, it is identical to the amusing tale behind A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian.
And in case you are wondering, Ken makes it plain that they have consummated their relationship, it’s highly satisfactory in that department. He doesn’t care if people think she is only marrying him for a visa. He is philosophical about it all.
“Of course she wants a better life. And who can blame her? But it works both ways – I get companionship, so I think it’s a fair gamble.
“I’m conscious of it possibly going wrong, of course I am. But look at it the other way. I’ve got five, maybe ten years left on the clock. Six months ago, mine was a very vacant life. Now it’s full and happy. If I get two, three years out of the marriage, then great. Maybe I’ll get the rest of my life.”
It would be interesting to know how this marriage works out, whether love continues to flourish despite their language difficulties, if Lei settles into domestic bliss with the Saga set. I also wonder if Ken loves his new bride enough to move to China if her visa application is not successful.
Do you think Ken is doing the right thing or is he a fool? How would you feel if was your dad who had just married a mail order bride? Do you think will find love and harmony?
Mail order brides – madness!
Like speed-dating with a contract. Can’t think of anything worse. Mind you there’s internet dating isn’t there.
Blogger dating?
Some of these unions may be very happy and successful but don’t a lot of the women look unhappy? Enough said.
I know quite a few folks who have met Thai ladies this way. In fact the growth of pubs serving Thai food can be directly attributed to this conduit of human happiness.
On the face of it, buying mail order brides does seem to be awful, but if both parties freely enter into the arrangement, and both perceive a benefit, is it any worse than traditional arranged marriage or a beautiful girl marrying an octogenarian millionaire?
I think that if you are part of a couple you do not know what loneliness is and so you cannot judge others when they attempt to combat it. Good luck to the man. He has gone into it with his eyes wide open, he is not a fool and, after all, so many “normal” marriages in the UK break up these days. So who’s to say this one won’t be happy? And if the woman gets a better life out of it, I wouldn’t want to judge her either, knowing a little, from many of my former students,of the lives they were trying to escape.
Had to smile, Lady Ellee. Was following your argument until the whimsical little question:
Does it work the other way too, are there any mail order bridegrooms for lonely elderly women?
Except, of course, that you’re neither elderly nor lonely and you’re a lady.
A neighbour of ours went to vietnam to find a bride and he did. In one of the poorest villages. he proudly showed us the wedding and the area etc etc.
She cannot speak English, has no skills and would be completely dependant on him. She would arrive in an isolated part of NSW and have no one….
I think it is a sorry state of affairs… for both of them….
I agree with Simon….just sad 🙁
In Brisbane, there has been an on going issue with Russian brides coming here. Supposedly in certain parts of Russia, there are mail oreder bride businesses who set the bride up with the aussie man, the bride immigrates here and marries the aussie, then a period of time goes by and she takes him for all he’s worth.
ooh you cynic
One thing strikes me as odd – if these men are genuinely looking for a bit of companionship and romance in their twilight years, why don’t they start dating local women of their own age? Women outlive men on average so there are plenty to choose from and many older women remain both glamourous and sexually active into later life. Going instead for someone you’ve never met but who is much younger than you and clearly involved in the deal for economic reasons suggests to me that this is a bit more sinister than those involved would like us to believe. One issue of concern is that the women, well aware that if they break the marriage off too soon can lose the right to a visa, may be effectively forced into domestic and sexual slavery.
Ultimately this is long-term prostitution. We shouldn’t be worried about the men involved and whether they’ll get their moneysworth, we should be worried about the women and how their rights and freedoms are treated.
Ultimately this is long-term prostitution.
Suppose so but so what!
Elee if you need me I `ll post myself .I won`t arrive flat packed either so I `m easy to assemble.
I have linked to your site and reveiwed it briefly . I thought I`d just do few I read and not endless lists of gaffs I don`t.
Well I canvassed at least one such couple in the last local elections. It was straight out of Little Britain ( if that’s possible ! )
Just had a thought – do you think soon we’ll get mail order brides from Amazon ? (Sorry couldn’t resist that one).
I didn’t think women could be wrapped up in cardboard? Sorry Elle!
Thanks for your birthday wishes.