In 1986, Steve Sherwood, then 26, was traveling through Africa when he camped at a run-down hotel in Kisangani, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). On his first day, he asked about the next River Congo ferry and was told it would leave the following day. Overland trucks frequently stopped in town for two to three days, and one truck from Kenya to the UK arrived, its passengers dining in a circle. Sherwood joined them and sat next to Martha Meares from Sydney. They spent the night chatting and laughing, and he was immediately taken with her.
Chance Reunion in Bangui
Sherwood described Martha as witty, pretty, fond of beer and dancing, and nobody's fool. When a local known as Mr Fixit rudely demanded she pass his drink, Martha retorted, 'Hey you, get it yourself.' After two days, her truck moved on; Sherwood took the ferry 11 days later. In Bangui, Central African Republic, they met again by chance at another campground. Her truck had been delayed, and they spent a week exploring markets by day and local bars with dirt-floored discos at night. Despite their chemistry, Martha was in a relationship and not seeking romance.
They kept in touch as friends. Sherwood migrated to Sydney in January 1988 and occasionally caught up with Martha. When her relationship ended, she expressed interest in being more than friends, but Sherwood rejected her, believing she was not the one. Martha considered returning to London, where she had worked as an accountant. Sherwood began drafting a letter to his friend Pete in London, listing reasons why Pete should contact Martha: she was funny, a great conversationalist, laughed a lot, drank beer, and was all-round wonderful.
The Realization
As Sherwood wrote the letter, he thought, 'Bugger Pete, I thought. I liked Martha, a lot.' He realized he had fallen for her and needed to act before she booked a flight to England. They already had plans to meet that Thursday, but Sherwood moved it to Wednesday to ask her on their first proper date for Saturday. He confessed his feelings and asked for forgiveness for not seeing the light sooner. Martha only cared that he had finally come to his senses.
Things moved quickly. In September 1989, Sherwood moved into Martha's home—into her bed, not on her floor. In December, they bought the house they still live in. Martha initially did not want marriage or children, but eventually agreed to both, provided Sherwood was the primary carer. They married in 1990.
Life Together
Reflecting on their journey, Sherwood said, 'Martha is just as wonderful as when we met. The only thing that's changed is she now drinks champagne.' The couple still lives in Sydney, and Sherwood considers himself fortunate to have the life they share.
