“I first knew about George when five thumbnail images appeared as I logged in to Christian Connection. I read each one and decided that I would give a digital ‘wave’ to George. Unbeknown to me, another lady had also waved at George who lived in the same city, Norwich. Later I found out that he had sent her an email saying that although they shared many interests he thought that 300 miles plus was a tad too far for a successful relationship and wished her all the best in finding a new companion. I received a wave back but no email!!
As it was 2021 and restrictions were in place and changing every week by the government I decided not to travel abroad but to choose somewhere in the UK that was not densely populated! I chose Northumberland with a two night break in Durham.
As I later found out, George had been travelling south to visit his younger son in Hertfordshire as I was travelling north. We had exchanged details as to when I was planning to be in Northumberland. It was decided that he would pick me up at my hotel in Bamburgh on the Wednesday and take me out for the day.
We went to Alnwick (where George lived) and visited Alnwick Gardens. It was not so much a date as an opportunity for a day out with a companion. As we had arrived early for our time slot, we had a coffee at his home and then walked to the Alnwick Gardens. I had worked in Switzerland as a teacher, which I had purposely left out of my profile. I had also used a pseudonym for safety, I was under the name, Arosa, a small ski resort above Chur.
As the cafe had not reopened in Barter Books we had tea at his home and then he took me out for a lovely evening meal on the way back to my hotel.
The following day I intended going to Alnmouth. Alnmouth is tiny with a one-way system which I had negotiated in a few minutes and I soon found I was back at the roundabout where I could either retrace my route back or proceed to Alnwick.
As I knew of a nice coffee shop in Alnwick I decided that was what I would do. In the coffee shop I texted George (completely unplanned) and suggested he might like to come for lunch. I had no idea if he was free. He was and duly came. We chatted some more and the next day I began my journey home via the Yorkshire dales where I had booked a two night stay. He had asked me if I thought we would meet again and I replied something naff like I could not see into the future!!!!
Once back in Norwich I decided that I would like to visit Alnwick again and wondered how much a return train fare would cost. I really wanted to include a weekend but my diary didn’t allow for that. In mid-September I took the train north and George met me at the station.
At the station I, apparently, put down my case and gave him a hug and a kiss. This was most uncharacteristic for me and certainly not pre-meditated. We had a lovely few days together visiting Cragside near Rothbury, a mid-week service at his church followed by a walk in Hulne Park to the Brislee Tower, and a day at Low Newton by the Sea where we walked along the cliffs to a sandy cove, laid on the beach and watched the geese migrating southward.
The next day, on my train journey back home I was concerned about my connection in Peterborough, which was only 14 minutes. However, George knew of a website and for the whole journey he was messaging me that my change of train in York was just across the platform. Also that the train was punctual and I would make my connection in Peterborough. Once he knew I was safely on the train to Norwich he drove back to Rothbury where I had seen an attractive jacket but didn’t buy it. The said jacket had been sold but he persuaded the assistant to order another!!
In October he came to see me on his way back from Hertfordshire. He arrived bringing me a bunch of red roses and some homemade chocolates as well as the jacket. What a surprise!! We had a lovely week and during this time I found out that he would be on his own for Christmas so invited him to spend Christmas and New Year with my family.
He decided that between October and December he would like to see me again so he came down by train. It was during this Christmas New Year break that we got engaged. We did not think that we would get a Saturday wedding in just a few months time. We had originally decided that we would choose September 30th. However quite by chance I inquired if the Saturday was free. It was.
All the plans for the wedding went without a hitch and we were married on 1st October 2022. The most amazing thing about it all was that we both shared the same first wedding anniversary. We had both been widowed. We were both married on an Easter Monday in 1964 and 1970 respectively. When asking what date his anniversary was it was exactly the same as mine: March 30th. That was the only thing I double checked as it is most unusual that the same date six years apart would be the identical. It is normally around twenty years.
We certainly both feel that God was at work with our meeting. There are too many God/co-incidences to think it was just chance. My pseudonym, Arosa, happened to be a Swiss ski resort that George had visited with his late wife as he is a railway enthusiast, and the resort of Arosa lies at the end of a narrow gauge railway journey from Chur. He even has a photo of the taxis there: Arosa taxis!”
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