Well it all began back in the spring 1996 when Kathleen joined G. James accounts department. We got to know each other a little better at the end of year drinks and starting chatting a bit more frequenty after that.

We'd both had a pretty lousy year in 1996 losing close family members, Kath's pop and my father, as well as breaking up with a partner. So while we went out a few times neither of us were keen to open ourselves up emotionally just yet.

It wasn't until Kathleen's birthday in June that things started to get a little more serious after I took her away for a romantic weekend at Sea World Nara resort.

Kathleen had always planned she would go overseas at some stage in her life so we investigated visas. I was 26 at the time which was the cut off age for visas in those days but much to our delight we found that due to Kath's pop and my grandmother being of UK origin we could get an ancestry visa for the UK.

I have to thank Kathleen so much here for first of all getting my ass into gear to go overseas and helping me to save the cash I needed for the trip.

We spent just under 2 years living in the London area before returning home in December 99. We experience alot of great things and places around Europe. Fell in love with Prague and Amsterdam and both touched snow for the first time in Switzerland however the highlight of our time overseas was getting to meet our extended family in the US.

I'd only spoken to Aunt Beth and Uncle John briefly before going to the states so it was just great to be accepted into the family straight away. No matter how well we spoil Beth when she comes over it won't come close to matching how well we were treated in the states. The family reunion of just under 70 people was pretty amazing and the only downside of the trip was having "Happy Birthday" sung to me in 3 different restaurants by the waiting staff.

Kathleen made the decision when we returned to go to Business College to get her travel credentials. A move which led her to meet so many fantastic people through Concorder and Flight Centre that we now value as some of our best friends.

We began renting our own place and found that we could comfortably live together without killing each other. There was a flurry of weddings in the next couple of years and the question was constantly asked of me, "So, when are you going to pop the question Drew ?" The thought was always on my mind but I wanted to be the right time.

Although it was great to be back in Australia we found within a year or two  that we definitely missed the vibe of London and all it has to offer so began making plans for a return working holiday. This time, no bar work and no 55 hour weeks.

So we made the trip back to the land of white tracksuits and warm beer late in 2003. We'd done a bit of travelling back to Prague, Amsterdam and South England before returning to Australia for Kath's mum Lesley's 50th ... er I mean 21st.

Unfortunately though we left before Will and Michelle's wedding so when we heard they were planning a second wedding reception in Canada for xmas 2004 we booked our flights almost immediately. I had decided some time before that it was time to ask Kathleen to marry me but I was still deciding on the location so when we decided on the trip to Canada I set in my mind that was when I would propose.

The problem was, Kathleen being the minister for finance, controlled all the money and my ability to save was totally hindered by the fact every pound was accounted for. Then, my chance came when I had a accumulator bet come in on the football, pocketing just over 500 pounds. Perfect I thought, here is my chance to at least paid a good proportion of the ring myself and credit card the rest. However I got so excited about winning I told Kathleen and she allocated the cash to different bills and we when out for dinner.

My employer, Monno UK, then surprised me a couple of months later with an end of year bonus of well over 2000 pounds. This time I restrained my glee and told Kathleen it was just over a thousand. Enough to make her happy and enough for me to go ring shopping.

I went looking for rings at several places i London but they were all crap or way too expensive (not that I can put a price on Kathleen's happiness).

After an amazing Christmas in Pinawa, Canada we trekked down to Mules (Paul Hagenson) and Rachel's place in Minnesota for new year's. I went ring shopping with Mule to a place called the Mall of America. Basically 4 shopping centres joined together with a theme park in the middle (I kid you not). I knew from conversations with Kath what she basically wanted and also what I liked. At the first of 9 jewellery stores in the Mall, in the very first rack, I found the perfect ring and wedding band.

The plan was to propose on the stroke of midnight on new years eve .... but we got ensconced  in this game of 80's Trivial Pursuit and didn't end up finishing until 1:30am.

A short drive back to Mule and Rachel's and after a rather scratchy lead-in from myself about new year's resolutions and wishes. I asked Kathleen to marry me. I thought in the back of my mind she might have been expecting it but she was totally caught off guard. We cracked the champagne and rang our folks back home to tell them the good news.