Tonight marks the 25th anniversary of my very first date with Hub. A misunderstanding about the meeting up arrangements on the night meant that we almost did not get together. Thank goodness, though, it was all ok in the end, and here we are…
We had agreed that we would meet at a particular London pub after work at 18:30. I arrived in plenty of time, settled myself at the bar with a drink and the evening paper, looking forward to Hub’s arrival. I already knew that he was the consummate gentlemen, and expected him to be spot on time. I was slightly surprised, then, when 18:45 came and went, then 19:00, tick tock, tick tock.
I was full of mixed feelings. He did not seem like the kind of person to stand someone up. Of course, this was long before mobile phones, so there was no way for him to let me know he had been held up. Or had he? Perhaps a work commitment had prevented him from leaving the office on time. Perhaps he had had an accident. Perhaps, after all, he had changed his mind.
In the end, I could no longer stand the withering and pitying looks I was getting from others in the pub. I decided that the only thing to do was to call it a night, head home, and possibly find out the next morning what had happened. I threaded my way along the street towards my bus stop, weaving in and out of all the commuters heading in the opposite direction for their stops. All of a sudden, by some miracle, amidst those hundreds of people, I spotted Hub coming towards me. What were the chances?! We clasped hands in amazement.
So what had happened? Had he been held up? No. It had not occurred to my lovely man that I would wait for him inside the pub. He had gallantly waited outside for me, wondering where on earth I could be – exactly as I was doing only a few yards away. Like me, after a while, Hub headed off home. Luckily, though, and I like to think with the help of some fateful hand, he thought better of it and decided to return to the pub for a consolation drink. It was in that moment that he bumped into me.
Of course we quickly established what had happened. It was a joyous meeting. We took ourselves off to a different pub (I could not face going back into the one where I had been waiting!), then had a lovely meal. Hub proposed just a few weeks after that first date and here we are all these years later. We celebrated with a meal at one of our favourite Edinburgh restaurants, Bia Bistro. As usual, the food was exceptional; the service faultless.
It will be our silver wedding anniversary next year. But let me start the celebrations now by saying to Hub how very much I love him. I could not have wanted for a happier, more love-filled life and I look forward to many more years together. β€
I well remember the joy of seeing you in the Strand on that fateful night. A joy I am pleased to relive every time I see you. How lucky am I?
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And I am so glad you eventually had your first date. It was always meant to be. Xx
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Thanks Mum! ππ·
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And a really cute photo of you both. X
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Love this and love you both loads. Congratulations on your 25 years together. π xxx
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Aw thanks sis, love you too π
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Fate!! Congrats on 25yrs!! That is no small feat! Happy anniversary.
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Thank you! π
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A wonderful story. And Congratulations. π
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Thank you Mandy, so glad you liked it π
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Very sweet, happy anniversary πππ
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Thanks Elisabeth! π
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Aaah! Bless you both. You find joy in each other and in simple pleasures, long may that continue.
Lots of love to you both.
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Thanks Linda! Sending much love back to you both too xxx
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Oh, what an unforgettable first date, and what a relief when you both found each other, no wonder you knew so quickly that it was meant to be. Thank you for sharing this lovely moment and memory and congratulations, I love hearing stories like this. Have a lovely weekend Liz.
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Thanks Claire – you have a great weekend too x
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This is a wonderful story – most definitely fate took a hand π And I love the photos. Thanks for sharing this, Liz, and many congratulations to you both. (No doubt you will soon be thinking about how to mark your silver anniversary – if you haven’t started already!)
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Ah, thank you so much Sandra. And yes, can’t deny that we have already started to discuss next year…! π
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The universe brings people together in mysterious and serendipitous ways. I had goosebumps when I read your post. Happy happy 25th. So much love coming to the two of you!!!
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Thank you Becky! ππ
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What a lovely story, Liz! Many congratulations to you both. I bet the people in the pub thought you were very poised and cool to be having a drink and a read of the paper there on your own though, and it was just self consciousness suggesting they were giving you funny looks!
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Aw thanks Liz – Iβm sure you are right. It just felt awful at the time lol! All ok in the end though π
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Congratulations Liz and Liz’s Hub! As others have said – it was meant to be!
Richard and I went on our first date together on the 21st January 1993 (the 21st January is also the birthday of our daughter Elinor) and we will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in June 2019. Richard has told me we will be going on my long-awaited holiday to the Scottish Isles to celebrate! Yay!
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Thank you so much Clare – from both of us! Your own story with those dates is wonderful too. And what a marvellous trip to look forward to. Let me know if we can help with any info etc. And if, by any chance, you were to come via Edinburgh, it would be lovely to meet up as you pass through… π x
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Lovely idea! I’ll keep you posted nearer the time xx Meanwhile, I wish you both all the best for your own celebrations xx
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Brilliant, and thank you! ππ
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The chances of meeting is impressive, it does seem like fate. Proposing so quickly as well, I love that. what a memorable occasion, that’s put a smile on my face this morning.
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So pleased you enjoyed the story! π
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SUCH serendipity– as a couple, you were meant to be! Reading about other people’s relationships always gets me thinking of my own, and feeling fortunate, too!
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It’s good to share the love! βΊοΈπ
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What a charming first date story!
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Thank you – so glad you liked it. And very much hope you are starting to feel better? X
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Yes, I am, thank you π
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Congratulations! My parents had a similar experience, they agreed to meet outside a local church before going to a dance, but the churchyard had two entrances! They both went home believing they’d been stood up, and the matter was only cleared up at a chance meeting about a month later, wen they’d already written the other off as flakey! Just goes to show when things are meant to be they happen somehow π
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Thank you Lucy – I love that story about your parents & can just imagine how their month-later conversation went – what a great memory for them. π
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Serendipity, synchronicity… when the universe is on track, there’s no stopping it… human error can’t change fate, it seems !!! Lovely story, and happy ending, though it’s not ended yet !…
Congratulations !
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Thank you Valerie – so glad you enjoyed the story! π
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What a lovely story and so glad you did meet in the end. You are a sweet couple together then and now. Happy Date anniversary to you both and to many more loving years together!
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Thank you so much Ute! Xxx
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Omg this such a beautiful story!!! Wow! The beginning was wrapped up so quickly by an engagement just 6 weeks after the first date. Normally the advise is to wait things out and not rush straight away but this just goes to show there is no time frame when it comes to true love! Thanks for sharing! Beautiful π₯. – πMummanopolyπ
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Ah, thank you so much! π
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