Where are you from and where is your significant other from?
We are both from the UK. I am from Yorkshire (The North) and Nick is from Somerset (South West) – there is a North South ‘divide’ in the UK so this is a constant source of banter between us. Before we met, I had an antique map of Yorkshire in a frame in my home. When we moved in together I bought him a similar map of Somerset so he would also feel represented. These were the only two pictures we brought with us to Rome!
Where and when did you meet your significant other?
We met online (Jan 2014) through Match.com. Nick was the first and only online date I went on. His friends tease me saying I didn’t understand that you pay per month and not per date and I should have made the most of my subscription! Obviously I think it was just fate! Nick on the other hand had been internet dating a couple of years and was ready to give up and be a bachelor if our date didn’t go well.
Curator's Note: So happy that fate brought you two together! I really love hearing internet dating stories, it's so common nowadays, or even if it wasn't on a dating site, there's so much of a digital factor in the beginning of relationships.
Who made the first move?
Apparently I ‘winked’ at Nick online so he sent me a message. Nick considers this the first move but I think he made the first move when he kissed me on our second date.
What was your first impression of him?
Nick’s first impression of me was that I was late to our first date – a theme which has continued so he should have known what to expect! My first impression of Nick was that he was really interesting and well-travelled. I knew from his online profile that he was a Vet who specialized in cows. I had no idea how interesting this job could be! He travels all over the world advising governments and doing research. Our shared love of travel is something which bonded us from the beginning. On our first date he talked about how he travels to Rome often for work and this was somewhere he would like to live one day. This was like music to my ears as I’d always wanted to live in Italy. It took us 4 years from the first date but we now live in Rome together!
Curator's Note: OMG he's a vet, I'm loving this, how lovely! It always reminds me of Grey's Anatomy when Meredith was going out with Finn, the vet.
Dish on the first kiss!
Our first kiss was very memorable because it was in a glass elevator with a view over London. We had dinner in The Duck and Waffle restaurant in London which is on the 40th floor. The elevator is on the exterior of the building so you can see fantastic views of London as you go up and down. We finished dinner at around midnight and were alone in the lift going back down. It was very romantic having the night skyline of London in the background. Nick took me by surprise though and it could have been quite awkward if I hadn’t wanted to kiss him given the confined space. Luckily his advances were welcome! Nick says he was dropping hints by making a display of eating a mint and offering me one…clearly this was too subtle for me as I wasn’t expecting him to move in!
Curator's Note: Bahahaha, making a display of eating a mint. Excellent strategy.
How did you know it was love?
Despite instantly being physically attracted to Nick (who doesn’t love a dark hair, dark beard and glasses combo!) it was definitely more a case of growing to love each other rather than love at first sight. When I tried to break it off after a couple of months he consistently kept in contact and even left flowers and cakes at my door – I knew from then on (plus the fact I missed him terribly) that he was a keeper. We always made each other laugh and I think always having a great time together makes you feel very close, but the first moment I knew it was a real lasting ‘this is the one’ love was when he helped me write some important but difficult correspondence. He showed up to meet me from work bringing his laptop and suggested we write the letter together over a drink. I was able to see how diplomatic he was, how professional, calm and empathetic but also that he was a force to be reckoned with. I realized that this was a guy that really had my back, emotionally as well as practically. It wasn’t that I needed help but accepting his help made me realize that together we made a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
Curator's Note: YES, WHO doesn't love the dark hair, dark beard, and glasses combo?!
One thing you love the most about him?
We’ve been through a lot together. In four years we’ve had four homes, changed jobs four times between us, been to 14 countries together, done a masters and a PhD and moved to live a foreign country. I’m very proud of how well we’ve worked together to do all these things and I think in part it’s because Nick is very adaptable - which is an admirable quality. But what makes me love him most is his sense of humor. On my worst days he’s had me in stitches laughing and I don’t know that there’s anything more fundamental for a good life than that.
Now I’m just hoping for an Italian proposal and possibly some Italian babies…!
Curator's Note: In the end, you just wanna be with someone who makes you laugh. By the way, what's an "Italian" proposal?
Submitted by Philippa.
Vi auguro tante belle cose. xoxo
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like to "dare un'occhiata" at all of the Love Story Lunedì. There are so many amazing stories to read so make sure you're all caught up. And should you want to share your own story or know of a couple who would, please get in touch.
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