Spiffy Mobylettes, sharkskin dresses, and dinner at the old Gunpowder Cavern were the height of romance in the 1960s. That's what we learned when we talked to several long-time couples over the age of 50 in honour of Valentine's Day. These veterans of marital bliss talked about how they met, how they worked out their problems and gave their advice for younger couples, just starting out. Although all three had quite different outlooks on life, they all shared one opinion: couples need to communicate properly, to be happy.

Ronnie and Michel Chameau.

"Wow, isn't he nice looking," was Ronnie Chameau's first thought when she saw her future husband Michel Chameau at a popular hangout spot in Hamilton in 1962.

"I was with my friends," said Mrs. Chameau who is today a well-known artist. "We were in Hamilton on a Saturday evening. My friend and I went into a nightclub to have a coke because we didn't drink in those days. These two gentlemen came walking through the door. One was German, tall with blond hair, and the other was French, an average size guy with turquoise eyes and golden hair."

Her friend danced with the taller guy, so she took "pity" on the other man, and asked him to join her table.

"We got talking," she said. "He could speak a little English."

They arranged to meet again, but their first date didn't go completely as planned.

"I worked at Fort St. Catherine in St. George's," said Mrs. Chameau. "He came down on his Mobylette, all the way from the Bermudiana Hotel where he worked."

She forgot to tell Mr. Chameau that she worked there. So he waited, and waited and waited outside for her.

"Finally, he said I have come all the way down here, I might as well look at the fort," said Mrs. Chameau. "He came inside, and there I was sitting behind the desk. I said 'Where have you been'?"

They got talking and the rest is history. They were married in 1965 at the Chapel of Ease in St. David's. They had a small wedding of 30 people. Mrs. Chameau wore a sharkskin suit, which was the height of fashion back then, and perhaps befitting a person with roots in St. David's.

The couple still celebrates Valentine's Day. Every year, Mr. Chameau buys Mrs. Chameau chocolate and they go out for dinner.

"He always gave me a card, I never gave him one though," said Mrs. Chameau.

Her advice to young couples starting out is: "It takes two to tango."

"Make the best of what you have," she said. "Make the best of your marriage. Things happen through life. Things have happened, but it is more ups then downs with us."

She said their first argument happened when they were newly married.

"In hotel work the guys have to unwind after work," she said. "I didn't understand that at first. He came home late one night. I was sitting up waiting and waiting. That was our first argument. I always remember thinking, 'why can't husbands just come home to their wives?'"

She said like all couples they have had tiffs, but never stopped talking to each other.

"I am the type of person, I can tell you off and in another couple of minutes start making jokes," she said.

Today, Mr. Chameau works part-time for Burrows & Lightbourne. The couple enjoy gardening, and spend every Saturday together.

"Every Saturday, he takes me to Dockyard and we go to Beethoven's Restaurant and Bar for lunch," said Mrs. Chameau. "We meet friends and from there he drives around Dockyard. Then I like to go around the shoreline and find driftwood."

Jean and Bob Flath.

Jean and Bob Flath have been married "forever", at least according to Mr. Flath.

According to Mrs. Flath, they were married on November 14, 1970.

Mrs. Flath is programme director at WindReach Recreational Village, Mr. Flath grows bananas and describes himself as "banana-Bob".

They first met when Jean was in college in Newport, Rhode Island. Mr. Flath was there with the American Navy.

"I couldn't resist the uniform," Mrs. Flath joked.

They met when Mr. Flath's roommate picked up Mrs. Flath hitchhiking from a popular Newport hangout spot called 'The Black Pearl'.

"It was different then," said Mr. Flath. "We were trying to organise a party and Jean knew everybody. That's the same today."

But Mrs. Flath said they didn't immediately connect. There were no bells and whistles at first, only a lot of trash to pick up.

"After the party, Bob and I were the only ones who showed up to clean up the mess. We had to converse... the rest is history," she said.

"She thought I drank too much. She was right," said Mr. Flath. "I thought she talked too much. I was right. She also had an incredible insight about other people. She taught me, slowly, not to be a cynic."

Their advice to other young couples starting out is that like everything else, marriage is something you have to work at.

"Marriage is a balance between sharing a life and respecting each other's unique being," she said. "You can't take each other for granted. Good marriages are always filled with respect, consideration, and that nebulous thing called love."

Mr. Flath's advice was to "keep talking". "It is a journey, and you both change along the way," he said.

Like a lot of people Mr. Flath rolls his eyes a bit at what he calls the "Hallmark" holiday. But Mrs. Flath has no qualms about Valentine's Day.

"Like every woman I love Valentine's Day," she said. "I buy into the whole mushy, gushy, thing." And so the couple always celebrates Valentine's Day.

They have two grown daughters, Johanna and Katie.

"You're always a parent, even when your children are hundreds of miles away," said Mrs. Flath.

They are also blessed with about six surrogate daughters.

"We like chaos," said Mr. Flath. "People show up and hang around."

In terms of arguments, the Flaths said they take the noisy road.

"How are you going to solve the problem if you are not talking?" questioned Mrs. Flath. "I'm of the opinion that couples who say they have never had an argument are either lying or in denial. A healthy argument can be an indication of each partner's maintaining their own identity."

Mr. Flath said they are both headstrong because they share the same birthday. He thought the fact that they were both Libras allowed them to eventually get around to seeing the other person's side.

Wayne and Juliette Jackson

Juliette Jackson is well known locally for her beautiful wedding cakes. But these days her husband Wayne has to cut back on the cake.

"No 'special' cake anymore," she said. "Wayne is restricted for medical reasons, but I prepare a special meal or we go out for a romantic dinner together on Valentine's Day."

The Jacksons met in 1960 at the Blue Jay Luncheonette on Church Street opposite City Hall. Mrs. Jackson was employed there, and Mr. Jackson's parents, Vernon and Nina Jackson, owned the restaurant.

"We both remember the moment," said Mrs. Jackson. "My first thought was: I have to get to know her better," said Mr. Jackson.

And Mrs. Jackson thought he was "a handsome fellow, kind and loving".

Today they have three children Anthony, Alisa and Joanna, and four grandchildren.

They were married at St. Paul A.M.E. Church on Sunday, February 16, 1969.

"Marriage is a partnership in which neither one can have their own way all the time," said Mrs. Jackson. "Listen to each other with respect."

Their advice to couples just starting out is 'be flexible'.

Mrs. Jackson said it was important to express your feelings for each other. "Tell each other 'I love you'," she said. "Express your feelings for each other, hug each other."

Mr. Jackson said their best example was his parents. "I never saw or heard them argue," said Mr. Jackson, who works at the Bank of Bermuda.

Mrs. Jackson said: "Less said equals no argument."

Today, the Jacksons celebrate Valentine's Day quietly.

"We never have made a big fuss over Valentine's Day except to wish each other happiness with a kiss," said Mr. Jackson.

The couple love sports and travel, and church is a big part of their lives.

"We do everything together," said Mrs. Jackson. "We both read voraciously. Wayne prefers history and just finished William Shirer's monumental 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich' and now is reading Dr. Kenneth Robinson's 'Heritage' about the black experience in post-abolition of slavery Bermuda."

Mrs. Jackson spends hours reading cookbooks, wedding cake books. She also enjoys genealogy research. She is one of 19 children.

The couple believe the secret to a long and happy marriage is being kind to each other through thick and thin.

"Do everything, as much as possible, together," said Mr. Jackson. "Going separate ways all the time is a recipe for break-up. Don't leave it all to your wife to do: share the responsibilities. Always treat her as a gentleman should; treat her the same way we expect her to treat us. Support each other in everything. Stay in love with each other: it keeps you both young."