The Proposal Part 2 ~ According to Sheridan

...yes, it all went quiet. VERY QUIET! I had babbled on about God knows what. Ash suddenly leaned back in his chair and reached into his right side jean pocket. I thought that he was going for his wallet. Then he pulled out a dark blue ring box. I could feel my eyes filling up with tears as it became very obvious he was about to do. He opened the box and pushed it across the table in front of me. He then asked the question and by then I was too busy wiping the tears away and trying to speak. (I had actually lost the ability to speak...mark that on the calendar 16/6/07 Sheridan was speechless!)

Eventually, I snapped back to reality and realised that Ash was waiting for an answer. The ring was put on my finger and I sat there in shock. Looking back between Ash and the ring...just not knowing what to do or say...in shock about what had just happened. The ring is a beautiful, white gold diamond and I love it as much as I love the man who made the decision to give it to me as a symbol that he wanted to be with me. He is the man that I have waited for, the man that I want to be with forever. I cannot wait for the day when I walk down the aisle and am his bride.

Installing the dog door

I had to install a dog door for Monty so he can come and go as he pleases.So we went out in search of a dog door.Finally found a half decent one and we made the purchase.Once home I installed the dog door(which was a bit of a pain to install).ONE PROBLEM.Oscar could fit through the door.The door was for medium dogs and Oscar is a large labrador. So I had to think of another solution. I had to make a gate outside the dog door which was big enough so Monty could get through and Oscar could not. I then proceeded to measure the size of Monty so he could just fit through. It took Monty a bit of time but he worked out how to use the dog door and now uses it all the time.Oscar now has to watch Monty go in and out of the house as he pleases. Oscar is an outside dog but he is a happy dog and I think he enjoys the extended family.

The Move In...

After shifting Sheridan, Monty and Princess in, the place was a bit of a mess. packing boxes, paintings, books and various other items. We slowly proceeded over the next couple of weeks to unpack, re-organise the house, hang up paintings, incorporate Sheridans items with mine and make the pets feel comfortable. Oscar did not know what had hit him. First he had the backyard all to himself, then Monty moves in followed by the cat. It took him a bit of time, but it is all good now.

The Proposal Part 2 ~ According to Ash

...then we arrived, walked inside and sat down, ordered, ate lunch and then as we had eaten, I began. I had got extremely nervous and was waiting for Sheridan to go to the toilet or something as I had the ring in my pocket. I wanted to get it out and have it ready for a bigger surprise, but it did not eventuate. So, I went for it. I got the ring out of my pocket and I saw Sheridans' face go, "OH MY GOD!" Then I proceeded to place the ring case out. Opened it up and I asked Sheridan if she would marry me. Sheridan was speechless. It took her about a minute for a response. She said, "YES" I was over the moon. She had tears in her eyes and I was so happy. We just sat at the table for a while and contemplated what had happened. I looked in her eyes and I knew she was the one for me. We then got up and left. Got to the car and had a passionate kiss and proceeded back home. Then we went and rang family and friends and told them our great news. THAT was how I proposed!

The Proposal Part 1 ~ According to Ashley

June 12th was my RDO. I had been thinking about this for a little while. So I decided to go and do what was right for me. I decided to go and buy the engagement ring. I hopped into my car and drove into Geelong, looked at some rings through the glass and went inside. OH MY GOD. There were so many rings and styles to look at and I was so nervous. Then I looked at THE RING and I knew it was the one, so I purchased.

June 15th and I was speaking to Sheridan on the phone and trying not to give her a hint of what I had planned. Sheridan did not have a clue. PERFECT!

June 16th and I woke up after a pretty good sleep. Sheridan had said she would be down after lunch. But I still did not know how I was going to propose as yet. I remembered Sheridan liked tulips, so I popped down to the florists. I had trouble finding yellow ones as they are her favourite. Eventually, I found some and got home.

The flowers were my decoy as I had said that I had a surprise. This was the first time that I had purchased Sheridan some flowers.

I wanted to look nice, so I had a shave and out on some aftershave. Sheridan arrived and I mentioned that I had not eaten. We went out in the car and then I said that I had forgotten my sunnies and went inside to get them. Picked up the sunnies and THE RING. Put the lovely RING in my pocket and went to the car. I then said we should head down the coast to a restaurant called Growlers. On the way, all I could think about was proposing. Sheridan was rambling away and I was just agreeing. Then we arrived, walked inside and sat down, ordered, ate lunch and then.....

To Be Continued...

The Proposal Part 1 ~ according to Sheridan

It was a normal Saturday. At least I thought it was. It was Geelong weekend, so I packed up my bag, organised Monty and hopped in the car to start the weekend. Before I left, Ash texted and said that he had a 'surprise for me' I had absolutely no idea what it could possibly be. The drive to Geelong was easy...hardly any traffic, so made it just after lunch. But as I was driving another text came through where Ash said that he hadn't eaten, so should we go out for lunch?

Arrived at the house and Ash gave me my surprise. My favourite flowers. Yellow tulips!

They were absolutely perfect and beautiful and I was very surprised as he had never given me flowers before! I did comment that he had shaved. in hindsight, this was unusual as Ash never shaves on a Saturday, nor does he wear aftershave that much.

Ash suggested that we go to a place in Torquay that we had been to before when we had first started seeing each other.

Sat down, ordered lunch, chatted, ate lunch.

Then it all went quiet..... TO BE CONTINUED!

The Big Shift

Well, last week more than signified the drastic move from spinsterhood to that of a fiancee!Yep, not only do I have the ring, but also the key. But it was a hazardous trip to get to the home of my beloved. The week at work following the proposal was massive. Lots of female teachers squealing away and getting excited and gagging to hear the whole story of how Ash made the moment memorable. They, then made the week memorable by throwing a massive pink themed engagement party, where I had to wear a pink crown and wings and was surrounded by pink food. Trust me... there is more pink food in the world than you would think! Had a lovely day and felt like a superstar...there was only one thing missing and that was Ash sharing it with me. As lovely as everything was, it was quite surreal as he wasn't there to share it with. That's why when we have an official party...it will be so important that we plan it together...at least we will be able to be there together!

So, managed to get through the last week of school. even though it went by in a blur. Parent/Teacher interviews, my performance review and then packing up the house. All done in a happy haze. Many times, I almost had to pinch myself as I couldn't believe what had happened. Seeing as I was at my place and he at his, it seemed weird and unreal. The only evidence being the beautiful ring and the golden yellow tulips in a vase on my table.

BUT, moving day did arrive. Mum came and stayed with me so that she could help me pack up and the place was a mess. Incredibly, we had some kind of order happening when Ash arrived with the trailer and the Ute. Threw stuff in there and in my car and off we went. Only to repeat it again later. Our first night in our home, after hours of packing, lugging boxes around and me whining, was spent eating a roast dinner from a takeaway shop. (Whilst Ash dodged across a freeway, I had to hold the cat in her cat carrier as she had worked out an ingenious way to escape from it)

Now a week later, I just have to return to the old place and spruce it up before handing the keys over to the real estate agent. The days of living alone are but a distant memory, I am home. Home being with Ash, Oscar, Monty and Princess.