I was in a very long-distance relationship with my now husband for 3 years before we were married. In those days there was only the phone and it was very expensive! Since then we have had periods of time apart, some harder than others. He has recently started a contract in another city and is away 5 days and 4 nights a week. I am alone in a big house in a foreign country - apart from my three cats who are not bad company! I know the good side is that hopefully I will be able to see friends more. It is not easy especially as we know this is going to be our way of life for at least six months. Will you see your husband during the 4 months he is away? I find the coming and going unsettling at first, but the plus side is that I only have to get through five days at a time.

We use FaceTime to talk 2-3 times a day and IM in between. Seeing the other person makes a big difference to me. A friend suggested we could just leave the connection on in the evenings and carry on doing whatever we were doing, watching tv, etc, and chatting when we feel like it. Haven't tried it yet!