…I was a bit down.  It was a Friday, I had plans to go out to dinner with some friends and they had cancelled. Then I remembered my friend Cheryl (also known as Chez, Chezalina, Cherylina) was coming into town and we had talked about meeting up for a drink after dinner. I gave her a call, and drinks turned into dinner and drinks. I cheered up and smiled. I had plans again. 

Ten years ago today, Cheryl was going out to dinner with the international conservation volunteer team she had taken away on a project that week. I was tagging along.  Dinner at Pizza Hut – classy huh?  The opportunity to see Cherylina made even Pizza Hut look good though, so bad pizza for dinner it was.

Ten years ago today, I had ‘nothing’ in my wardrobe to wear so I went over to my friend Cath’s house and raided her wardrobe. I borrowed a charcoal grey v-neck t-shirt to wear with my jeans. Over a glass of wine we chatted about the evening, ‘dinner at Pizza Hut? – claaaassy.’ I am pretty sure they were Cath’s exact words.

Ten years ago today, I pulled up out the front of a house I had never been to before. A house that was a temporary home to countless international travellers who made eight week stops in Townsville to undertake volunteer conservation projects.  As I walked through the gates I saw two guys walking down the front steps. I stopped and held the gate open. “Thanks” said the first guy as he kept walking. The second guy stopped. Blue shirt, small checks. Cinnamon eyes. Amazing eyelashes. Welcoming smile.  He took the gate from me and held out his other hand – to me. ‘Hello’ .

Ten years ago today, my heart skipped a beat as you introduced yourself. 

Ten years ago today, the only seat left at the table was beside me.  You sat down and again my heart did a happy little skip. Outwardly I think I looked confident enough, but inwardly I was made of marshmallow and was silently chastising myself for being so silly. Those who know me know that I gradually turn red when I am embarrassed or shy, and at that moment I was willing myself to not turn a bright shade of vermilion. We talked about travelling - an easy topic of conversation for both of us. We talked comfortably over slices of bad pizza and cups of coke.

Ten years ago today, I stood at the bar with Cheryl and laughed as you and your fellow Scottish travellers took over the dance floor to the dulcet tones of The Proclaimers.  The rest of the Exchange’s clientele fell back as you formed a circle and jumped up and down for 3 minutes and 36 seconds.

Nine years and 364 days ago I told my friend Cath that I was going to marry you. She laughed.

491 days later, I did.

Happy ten years DJ. Ten years. Almost a third of my life has been spent with you. More than half of my adult life. All of my happiest life.

Ten years ago today everything - every wish, dream and hope I had ever had - became real and very, very possible.

With love from,

Fran x

April 2000:

April 2009 (we really need a new pic, we look even more tired now!):* with thanks and love to Sheye for this image