Well, where do I start. Firstly, the delay in this post is quite intentional. We felt we should actually tell people first before they read it here. So, if you read it first here and felt you should have been told, I’m sorry and feel free to abuse me. So many people to tell.
My story runs along similar lines to Seth’s, albeit without shotguns and various other elements of the drama. The end result is the same. So, the ultra short version, or abstract if you will:
Amy and me are engaged. At this stage we are planning to get married in early March.
Now for the longer version for all you details people 
This story begins a long long time ago. Just over 4 months ago in fact. Although to say it begun there would be inaccurate, but that is when Amy and me first started going out. And it really does feel like a long time ago. Anyway, since not very long after that at all, I realised that she was the person that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, which brings us up to a few weeks ago, when I decided I was going to propose.
Enquiries were made about hot air ballooning and booking etc. and the date that I managed to procure turned out to be Friday, so I told Amy I would pick her up at 5 on Friday and anxiously watched the metservice website and the accuweather website and teletext and prayed for fine weather, while outside it rained and the wind blew and the road flooded. Everything was still pointing to fine for Friday though, so I remained optimistic. Friday morning came and at 4:30 am I rang the hot air ballooning hotline to be told that the flight was on! Fantastic. Got dressed, picked up Amy and drove to the Merivale Mall carpark (meeting spot), taking a circuitous route to put her off the scent. Realising I was 20 minutes early, we took a little tiki tour, eventually arriving back, still early, at the carpark where I found an area with no other cars and parked, thinking I could easily find a use for the next few minutes… I leaned in… and a car pulled up right beside us… I kind of felt sorry for them. After initially being completely confused as to why we were in this car park and then why all these other cars were arriving at 5:30 in the morning, Amy finally deduced that maybe they were all here for the same reason, and when the bus pulled up, tried very hard to read what was written on the side and was most excited when she could finally see it.
Anyway, removing some detail, we eventually departed and arrived in Darfield where we laid out the balloon and got everything set up. It was a very cold morning, so cold feet and hands, but perfect ballooning weather. Then we all climbed in and next minute, we looked down and we were a long way up in the air. Usually I’m not so good with heights, but it really wasn’t a problem. Beautiful views, weather and company. We crossed the Waimak river, eventually landing in a farmer’s paddock where the chase vehicle came to meet us and after packing the balloon a way we had a celebratory glass of champagne. We got back to the carpark around 9:30-10:00 starving and ready for breakfast, seeing as we’d already been up for 5-6 hours and had breakfast at Veronica’s on New Regent Street, which was delicious.
Then back to my place where I had a shower and a shave. After a short nap and a quick trip to countdown we had a picnic lunch on the beach at Sumner. Then I dropped Amy off at work, went home and cleaned out my car. Exciting I know. By this time I was exhausted, but I managed to make it back to Woolston in one piece and fell asleep in the car outside the cafe near her work where we were going to have dinner, while I awaited her arrival. After dinner, I slept in the car for another hour and a half outside Amy’s work, recovering my energies a little.
Then at 8 when Amy finished we headed off again, and I drove in what she thought was the wrong direction, although she eventually clicked when I turned left up Dyers pass road and headed up the hill. It was dark by that stage and I found the place overlooking Christchurch and the city lights where we first kissed. Amongst conversation and maybe a few kisses I managed to start the starters I’d been mulling over… “I still haven’t given you a list of people I want at my birthday… Do you know what would be the best birthday present? - You.” and “You know how you always say ‘I don’t know’ when I say things? Well, there’s one thing I do know - I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you”. The responses seemed positive, so I busted out with “Will you marry me?” which was answered with an enthusiastic “Yes!”, a big smile, hugs etc. And thus we were engaged.
Eventually, via my place for a while, where amongst other things we discussed telling our parents, (Plan was to tell Amy’s parents at breakfast) Amy ended up back home, and I ended up in bed, thinking about this and being excited and eventually sleeping. In the morning I went over there for breakfast, and over breakfast we attempted to steer the conversation, covering the events of the day interspersed, no matter how hard we tried, with discussions of the contents of the newspaper. We didn’t quite get there… We only got as far as dinner in the story before everybody dispersed. We managed to meet them for coffee at Untouched World, where Amy’s sister Hannah works, where we continued our attempts. We had decided that I wasn’t allowed to finish my coffee before telling them. However, the conversation once again was heading in a completely different direction with an in-depth discussion of the Passion of the Christ. Then suddenly her parents got up to leave. My coffee was not yet empty, so there still had to be time. They’d already made it as far as the till before Amy managed to say “We have something to tell you” and I followed with “I asked Amy to marry me last night”. Big smiles and excitement and then “Well, we haven’t heard what she said yet”. I noticed that I was actually shaking although I was very relieved by the response. Ian and Hannah were there too, so they all heard at the same time and there were photos etc.
Then we went back to my place and phoned my parents who were also very excited and then contacting various other people and slowly starting to spread the word. Cutting the story a little short here. In the afternoon we went ring shopping, covering 4 or 5 jewellry stores, coming up with some options and eventually after being almost ringed out we sat down and decided. Some good joint decision making. Quick, decisive and definitely together.
Anyway, I think that’s enough for now. I sense the writing quality has descended since the start. I’m almost as tired now as I was that Friday afternoon, but I really wanted to finish this. 1250 Words should be enough for you.
