…in love at first sight?
Do you? I didn’t, truly I didn’t. I mean, how could that happen?..except in fairy stories if course, but in real life?..no way!
But then something happened to change my mind..I met a man! It was a strange meeting..very strange. It was early March 2011 and I’d gone to a friends house for a tattoo party. Yes, you did read that right! I knew what I wanted, had an idea how long it would take so off I went!
When I was there I met a man…I guessed he was in his mid -late 40’s, he had a walking stick which intrigued me (that’s a nice way of saying I’m nosy!), and, although we were sat on separate sofas, we started talking across them…a lot. He told me about his children, his late wife, how sad things had been etc. I told him about my job, the fact I was single, my children….then I went to have my tattoo. I was one of the first to have one as I had to get off early as I had work the following day. Most of them lived nearby so it was a bit easier for them.

When I’d finished he took a picture of my tattoo and I ended up sat on the floor next to him talking for a bit longer. Eventually I left and thought nothing more of it..except, in the back of my mind I did. Unfortunately my life took a bad turn very shortly afterwards. I’d planned a short holiday alone at Easter, which was the end of March, visiting Bath, Galstonbury and eventually the Cheddar Gorge. Sadly I became quite poorly whilst in GLastonbury, cut my holiday short and went home. It turned out I had bronchitis! I lost my voice (some would say that was a good thing), had problems at work because of illness and generally felt very fed up.

One night in early May I was speaking to my friend on Facebook, having a moan, as you do, and a grumble about men! I remember saying that the only nice man I’d met recently had been the one at her party. After a few questions back and forth she finally worked out who I was talking about and suggested us as friends. He couldn’t really remember me (he’ll swear otherwise) but after a few minutes I reminded him of our chat. We talked for hours! It was a strange talk that consisted mainly of me moaning about men and telling him about my perfect man…what I would like, what I expected etc.

I wanted a man who..could drive and had a car, worked, had no children or grown up ones, had his own house, was taller than me, and was generally Mr Perfect! His response? Mr Perfect didn’t exist…I would never find him and I should just stop looking! Some advice that was!
Anyway, we continued to chat for a few weeks and I slowly realised that I’d spoken more to him, about lots of things, than any other man I’d known. Could this be my Mr RIght! ??? …could the reason I’d remembered him from that short meeting mean something? I believed it did.

I spent a few weeks telling him about this man I liked, this man who I could talk to so well. This man who I felt understood me, was kind and caring, was my Mr Perfect. I told him that I was just waiting for him to ask me out. He gave me lots of advice about but not once did he realise I was talking about him! I was almost at the point of giving up when, suddenly he clicked, he finally realised and said “you’re talking about me aren’t you?”. After I’d told him it was him, he asked me out for a drink immediately!

We met up on a Thursday at the end of May. He came to my house and we went to a small pub nearby. Although we were there for hours, we had just one drink the whole time! We just talked and talked like we had known each other for years! I felt at ease with him like I’d never felt before…it was wonderful. Eventually he walked me home and went off himself. The very next day we were messaging all day, back and forth..not bad really except he’d gone to his brothers house with some of his children as his brother was getting married the following day which was the Saturday. That night he was at the pub with his brother for his ‘stag night’. Apparently his phone was going off so much his brother questioned what was going on. When he told him he’d met someone he told him to invite me to the wedding, which he did…and I went!

The following day I got myself sorted and off I went. He and his brother sneaked out of the wedding to pick me up from where they’d arranged for me to stay. I walked into the wedding holding his hand and came face to face with a wall of family!..including two very bemused children! We laughed, danced and had our first kiss across a table. It was perfect.
The following day I went home but, I didn’t realise he thought I wasn’t coming back! He thought id been out off and was shocked when I messaged him as soon as I got home. From then things progressed very quickly but….that’s a story for another day!

Is that love at first sight? I think, deep down, it truly was…my heart knew and guided me to him, even though I didn’t know why…from now on, I’ll always trust my instincts!

Love Cate x