Yesterday was Dydd Santes Dwynwen, or St Dwynwen's Day, which is the Welsh equivalent of Valentine's Day. Both Kevin and I enjoy appropriating whichever holidays, festivals and notable dates we fancy from other cultures – he celebrates Cinco de Mayo, the “Mexican holiday where they celebrate beating the stuffing out of the French”, as he puts it.
So last night we went out to our favourite restaurant, Andrew Edmunds in Soho, for dinner, followed by the American Bar at the Savoy, to celebrate Dydd Santes Dwynwen. (We sat on the left there, with a lovely view of the Thames that you can't see in this photo.)
It was just a perfect night out – wonderful food at Andrew Edmunds, as always, and just sublime Pol Roger champagne at the American Bar – made even more perfect when Kevin asked the pianist at the Savoy to play a song for us. The pianist suggested Frank Sinatra's The Way You Look Tonight, and whilst he was playing, Kevin drew a box from his coat pocket, opened it up, and asked me to marry him.
In the box was a diamond, and two beautiful amber-coloured citrine to go either side of it. The ring itself is being made by a friend of ours, Nigel, and it won't be ready for a while yet, but to see the stones that will go in it was just wonderful. I have to admit, even though Kevin and I had discussed the ring, and even though I had an inkling that he might ask on Dydd Santes Dwynwen, being the gorgeous old romantic that he is, I still teared up when he asked.
It was just amazing. And of course I said yes. And the staff in the bar came over the congratulate us, the pianist announced it to the other patrons, and all round it was just lovely. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and ended up doing a bit of both.
Of course, as soon as we got home we did what any newly engaged coupled would do. We announced it on Twitter! Lots of lovely messages from our friends via email, text, IM, IRC and Twitter, and this morning, blog posts from friends JR, Dan and Euan. Can't quite believe that they managed to blog it before we did! But I'm rectifying it now, and Kevin's already posted his account on his blog.
I honestly can't describe how happy I am. Kevin has made my life wonderful – he's so supportive, tender, caring and adorable. Every day when he goes to work I miss him, and every night I look forward to him coming home. We've both had some tough times over the 15 months since we met, but we've helped each other through and neither of us can imagine life without the other. I never really knew what it was like to be really, properly in love, but it's this: I am grateful for every moment I am blessed to be with him, and I am filled with nothing but joy and excitement for the future.
So, off now to write a few emails, make a few phone calls, and let a few more people know. Oh, and I suppose I had better set up a wiki for organising the wedding. I guess this is Engagement 2.0!
* It's just been pointed out to me that the phrase 'Engagement 2.0' sounds as if I've been engaged before, which I haven't. Instead, think more 'Web 2.0'. As Kev and I just decided in IM, Engagement 2.0 is like Engagement 1.0 but with client-side caching, lots of rounded corners and an aqua-effect fill. No, I don't know what that means either, but I find it amusing.
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