On the 25th of June 2013, Simon Leighton proposed to me! Here is how it happened...
We met at Waterloo station underneath the clock where we always meet up. In fact, the first time we ever met up in London was underneath that clock! We were just talking and cuddling, when all of a sudden there was an announcement over the tannoy, 'Can Joanna Hardy please go to the information desk!' So off we went! At the desk a man gave me a brown envelope and a little present. I opened the envelope and inside was a piece of paper. One one side was a picture of us when we went to see the Opera in London Colosseum, and on the other side was a love letter from Simon. I opened the present and it was a little panda necklace!!! I had to guess from the picture where we were going next, and eventually I worked out that we were going to the Opera House, so off we went...
We eventually got to London Colosseum and Simon told me to go to the box office. There, there was a man who handed me another envelope and parcel. I opened the envelope to find another love letter with a picture of us standing outside three phone boxes in Covent Garden. The present was a pair of green crystal earrings! From there, the clue told us to go to the phone boxes, so we walked there next.
After searching inside the four phone boxes, I came across yet another envelope and parcel! This letter was my favourite. The picture was of us both in Hyde Park, the place where we got together. We have many happy memories there having picnics by the same tree and just chatting on lazy Sunday afternoons. I opened the present and it was a beautiful new Bible. Simon had also written a lovely note inside the cover which brought a tear to my eye (because I am essentially a massive pansy).
From there we went to South Kensington, one of my favourite places in London, and walked up to Hyde Park together. As we entered the park I looked over to our favourite spot and saw that someone was having a picnic there. However, when I got closer I realised that a picnic had been set out but no one was sitting down at it! It was for us!!! Then Simon got down on one knee and proposed to me and I just burst into yet more tears and nodded and hugged him for aaaages before even looking at what was in the box. I have genuinely never seen a more beautiful ring in my entire life. We then ate cheese and crackers and olives and drank wine and I couldn't stop smiling! What was even better is that Simon had arranged for his friend Luke (a professional photographer) to hide in the bushes and take pictures of the proposal!! Such special memories captured forever! We just relaxed together and prayed and read the Bible together. Because for us, the purpose of our lives is to honour and love God. Getting married is just amazing because we will be able to love and support each other in doing this for the rest of our lives! This is such an exciting moment for us both. We are both excited for our wedding! We even began planning today :) The start of an incredible new journey that will continue for the rest of our lives, for better or for worse.
Crazy, Scary, Lovely, Amazing, Exciting, Wonderful, Loved.
http://www.lukeaylen.co.uk/a-very-special-engagement/ - Check this out for pictures!
