The proposal!

So, for those of you who haven’t already heard the tale of Ant’s proposal, here it is!

It was Thursday 27^th January and I had just returned from a 4 day stint in Okakarara.  Whilst I’d been busy at work during the days, the evenings had been quieter with only my Kindle and podcasts for company.

Ant decided that we should have a ‘date night’ on our return and was preparing to cook me a surprise 3 course meal.  With a glass of wine poured and starter being served, I had no idea that this was going to be anything other than an evening at home with good food and good company.  After we’d finished our starter Ant suggested we go out for a drive to a place that he’d found to take some good scenery and sunset photos.  He wanted to try out the new monopod that he'd bought in Singapore and, despite several attempts, we’re not very good at low-light shots yet.  I agreed although I questioned how much of the sunset we would actually see as there were heavy grey clouds…Ant remained very optimistic though, so I reluctantly agreed to go.

We drove about 15 minutes out of town, eventually down a dirt road leading to a farmhouse and empty campsite.  It just so happened that Ant had sussed this out before and knew that there was a good spot through a field of cows where we could sit and ‘get some good photos’.  Sure enough, it was a lovely view across the African bush with hills in the background.  Still totally unsuspecting, I went for a quick loo stop in the bushes whilst Ant nipped back to the car to fetch the surprise 4^th course to our meal and with the cool box….

Bent down on one knee, Ant opened the cool box to reveal some champagne on ice, glasses and a little white box.  At that point I though blimey, I think he might be going to ask me, but I didn’t want to give it away, just in case it was a necklace or something else and he then felt bad.  However, a moment later he popped the question and of course I said of course!  Several tears were shed in the moment along with long-arm photos of ourselves whilst drinking champagne.  We did try to take some sunset shots (fairly unsuccessfully) but this was not the main objective after all.  

The ring is beautiful, and it apparently took Ant several visits to the jewellers in Singapore to select the right one...who'd have thought the netball tour was a decoy?!  Being a gentleman, he'd sneakily asked my dad's permission first whilst paying the bill at the telecomm shop, so of course my mum and sister were in on the secret as well.

We’re waiting until we come home to the UK before having the wedding, so plenty of time to plan all the details (I didn't fancy a tribal wedding, apparently you have to slaughter at least 6 cows for it).  It's looking like it will be December 2012….very excited!!! xxxxx