Our story
How Dan remembers it…
In November 2008 I started training as a police officer with Thames Valley Police at their training centre just outside Reading. I became friends with Luke (my best man) on my course and we would spend every evening in the bar thereafter playing pool & darts whilst setting ourselves a limit of two pints a night to make sure that we weren’t feeling the effects of the alcohol the next day during lessons. In this bar is where I met Vicky.
I can remember sitting in the bar very early on with Luke when Vicky walked in with her friend Grace. At this point Luke introduced me to Vicky as they were old school friends and just happened to have joined Thames Valley Police at the same time although in different roles. Me being the shy person I am, I most probably just said “Hi”, pulled a scowling face and then acted grumpy. However I can remember playing pool with Vicky, Luke and Grace most evenings in the bar and taking part in the weekly Thursday quiz. This is where things started blossoming between me and Vicky as we both had a love of quizzes. At the Christmas disco and quiz, which happened to be the last night of Vicky’s course, we won the quiz and a bottle of rosé wine with the help of Google. As I don’t like wine and Vicky does, I can remember Vicky drinking it wearing her Christmas hat. On this particular night I broke the rules and had a few more than the two allocated pints and did something that I never do, which is dance. However my not so John Travolta moves somehow managed to work and Vicky and I shared a cuddle on the dance floor. Once the disco had finished we then went and sat on an outside bench into the early hours where we talked about our lives including both our recent separations from ex-partners. I was trying to show Vicky the visible satellites in the clear night orbiting the Earth. To this day she still doesn’t believe me that they can be seen. Eventually upon realising it was time to go to bed we shared another cuddle and went our separate ways. I can remember going to bed smiling that I had developed feelings for Vicky after enjoying our night together but also apprehensive as this was potentially the last time I saw her as she was going to be leaving the training centre and I still had 8 more months of training to complete meaning that we wouldn’t see or speak to each other again.
However this was not the case! On returning home at the weekend I was excited to receive a Facebook message from Vicky where upon we exchanged numbers and began texting each other daily over the Christmas period. I kept asking Vicky to meet up which she eventually agreed to on New Year's Day. I was so exited to meet Vicky again and went to pick her up from her house. I must admit although I was excited I was also a little nervous as Vicky had been telling me during our text conversations how her Dad Trevor was into karate. Anyway I picked Vicky up and we then went to Willen Lake which we then walked around before going to the pub and having a drink together. From here we then went to Furzton Lake and just sat looking at the lake and talking until the early hours, even getting stopped checked by the police. During this conversation we discussed how we felt about each other and decided that we would take things slowly but agreed to see each other again. I then took Vicky back to her house I went home smiling again having enjoyed our evening and looking forward to seeing Vicky again. From here things progressed between us and we then entered into a relationship and we would see each other every weekend upon my return from training. I knew I had found someone special in Vicky as I can remember needing a digital watch for work and Vicky got me one as a little present walking in heavy snow to Argos to get it. From here our Love for each other grew stronger and we eventually moved into our first house together in August 2009, some would say this was to quick however it felt right and I knew that the love I had for Vicky would last for ever."
How Vicky remembers it…
Recovering from a recent heartbreak, I set off on a four week training course at Thames Valley Police training centre completely swearing off boys but not totally averse to the idea of finding myself a nice policeman!
Being on a training course with just one other person, the bar was a welcome opportunity for socialisation and it was there Dan and I met through a mutual friend...the best man, Luke. I vividly remember drinking far too much at the Christmas party, which also represented my last night at the training centre, and a long walk back to our accommodation with Dan telling me a story involving some of the stars in the sky above being satellites…a story he still sticks to!
On returning home and after the obligatory Facebook friend request, Dan messaged me asking for help to buy a secret Santa present for a girl on his course. I gave him my mobile number so he could contact me during his stressful shopping trip and thus began a text marathon spanning almost a month! A good friend accompanied me on my first work Christmas night out where I spent all night starring at my phone, as she looked at me, smiled and said “You like him”.
It took until New Year's Day 2009 for us to pluck up the courage to go on our first date where conversation flowed so easily we were out that long that my Dad believed Dan had murdered me and was driving around with my body in the boot of his car to which my mum replied ”No, he’s a policeman I’m sure she’s fine” (the joys of having an only daughter!). On the following day’s dissection with my girlfriends I explained how comfortable I'd felt, that conversation hadn't been awkward and even when we weren’t speaking it felt okay as they just looked at me all gooey eyed and smiled.
Six years later we’re still going strong. Dan is my soul mate, best friend and will soon be my husband. He “gets me” like nobody else and has been my rock through thick and thin. He supports me in everything I do and looks after me…even when I’m being a brat. I cannot imagine life without Dan by my side.
The proposal (written by Dan)
After being together in a wonderful and loving relationship with Vicky, I knew I had found my soul mate and in October 2012 I decided that I wanted to propose to Vicky as we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. I told my Mum and Dad of my plans who were so excited to have someone as special as Vicky join our family. The question was now how to do it to make it special? We had a holiday booked to Santorini in Greece and my original plan was to propose to Vicky whilst watching the sunset over the island. However upon looking on the internet at “How To propose” I found the idea of proposing at Discovery Cove in Florida after swimming with dolphins. I then managed to convince Vicky that we should change our booking from Santorini to Florida for my 30th birthday. I then spent the next six months waiting nervously and finding the perfect engagement ring for Vicky. This proved a difficult task as Vicky doesn’t usually wear rings and if she does, it's only costume jewellery and I needed to find her ring size. I then got a plastic ring measurer and told Vicky that for my 30th birthday I wanted a ring so I measured my finger so she would know. I then said “what’s your ring size”? Luckily Vicky then put the measurer on her Wedding finger and I got her size. A few weeks later off I went to the jewellers and found the perfect ring for the occasion. However at this point I nearly got found out as I took the ring measurer to the jewellers and upon returning home I accidentally left it in my jeans and when Vicky washed them it fell out in the machine. “What’s this doing in here?” she said to me. I then had to think quickly on my feet to stop my plans being revealed so I stupidly said “The dog must of put it in there” and luckily no more was said about it.
So off we jetted to Florida with the engagement ring concealed with a pair of balled up socks in my suitcase on the 18th September 2013. Upon arriving I had a nervous few days building up to the big day on the 23rd September, I picked this day as it was my birthday on the 25th I wanted a day for either the excitement of Vicky saying “yes” to sink in for both of us or the rejection for me. The big day had finally arrived! On the 23rd September 2013 we got up early and travelled to Discovery Cove where we would have breakfast and then swim with the dolphins and once finished I would then propose to the woman that means the world to me and the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. However I was then presented with a different challenge a wetsuit!! Vicky went first and swam with the dolphins and then it was my turn. Well I say swim! The big grey fish decided it wanted to bash me with its flipper and sped off across the water nearly drowning me in the process! Dolphin swim was complete and now was time. The ring was safe and secure in my short pockets under the wetsuit. Being nervous I then tried to reach into the wetsuit and retrieve the ring and get down on one knee and pop the question. However this wasn’t as easy as I thought as I then spent the next 30 minutes discreetly trying to reach into the wetsuit and get the ring.
Eventually I finally had it out of my pocket! By this time we were away from the dolphins and having just walked around the tropical bird section of Discovery Cove. I said to Vicky “Let's just stop for a minute”. Vicky sat on a bench and I continued “I have something I want to say…”. Ring in my hand I then said to Vicky “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” She immediately replied “YES”.
I was so relieved that that it was a yes and that I could finally relax after a years worth of planning. We then spent the rest of the day snorkelling with the rays before going out for a celebratory evening meal.
I love Vicky with all of my heart and not only is soon to be my wife she is also my best friend and soul mate and can't wait to marry her.
