Liz and Norm bond over a muddy love of vintage tractors

Something Old! How a shared love of vintage tractors led to marriage for NHS key worker Liz and farmer Norm.

“I love to ride out on a 1964 Fordson Super Dexta and Norm usually drives a Massey Ferguson FE-35 from 1958”

At Muddy Matches country life online dating, our massed ranks of rural-loving singletons bond over the muddiest of shared interests and experiences.

In Liz and Norm’s case, this was a joint passion for vintage tractors – a subject close to the hearts of many of our rural romantics.

“We also have a 1939 Marshall Model M and a Massey 35” Liz says proudly, her country credentials well worn, like a badge of honour on her sleeve.

“Norm has been a farmer his whole life; first dairy, then crops. I am a qualified nurse in the NHS but my soul is in the country with its open spaces, lovely smells and sense of freedom. I have always enjoyed living in the country and we used to go riding together but we now enjoy working our two springer spaniels.

“We also both love to ride out on our vintage tractors.”

Liz, whose other passions in life include a flair for flamenco dancing, met farmer Norm just hours after joining Muddy Matches in August 2009. “I hadn’t been registered long and Norm favourited me“, Liz tells us. “He said he was attracted to the confidence in my profile.”

Liz described her online dating profile bio as ‘the worst type of CV’ but in those well constructed 50 words – with reference to being as ‘equally happy in wellies as stilettos’ – she had already caught Norm’s attention. He’d been looking for someone ‘with at least 1 or 2 of the same interests’ on Muddy Matches since January 2009.

Norm’s profile signed off with ‘Carpe Diem’ and the 90% muddy farmer definitely seized the day when it came to letting love bloom with Liz.

After an exchange of messages, the pair then chatted offline before agreeing to a first date just days later. “We both remember the date because Norm was late. He still denies being late.” Liz tells us with a wry smile. “We are both often late these days because we are so busy.”

Two years on, Norm and Liz tied the knot in September 2011. From the point of starting out a new adventure by joining Muddy Matches to marriage and life as a farmer’s wife in just 25 months is impressive stuff. Not quite whirlwind but impressive none the less.

“My Muddy Matches experience was quick!! Norm found me, we had a chat on the phone then met and the rest is history” Liz adds.

It’s been the muddiest of times over the past 11 years, 9 of them as husband and wife, after Liz upped sticks from Lincolnshire and made the 120 mile move to enjoy village life with Norm in Cheshire.

“We have had various animals over the years, including horses and chickens, and we have also bred two litters of springer spaniels” Liz continues.

And as for love in a lockdown? The pair have been thankful to work through.

“We have coped by working hard.” Liz adds “Norm continued to farm. I work in the NHS so when cases got high I helped in the intensive care a couple of times and was so proud to do so as part of the fantastic team.

“We both felt glad we had work although we hardly had any days relaxing for a while!”.

The duo don’t intend on slowing down mind you. Whilst the lifting of lockdown brought a well deserved visit to the pub, their country life bucket list is overflowing with rural intent.

“Next on the list is to create our dream home and garden where we can entertain friends and family and, of course, contain our muddy spaniels.

Life, it seems, in their sleepy corner of Cheshire, cracks on at pace.

Everyone at Muddy Matches wishes Liz and Norm continued happiness together.