“It’s great being single. I’m going to stay single for a long time!”
15 years ago today, these were my parting words to my housemate as I headed out the door and made my way up the hill to the students’ union for karaoke night. When I walked back in the door five hours later, though, I wasn’t alone. I had brought a friend back for coffee. Except coffee became a few kisses on the sofa and the beginnings of a wonderful relationship.
It makes me laugh now to remember that night. I meant those words at the time. It was fresher’s week, the start of my fourth year at university. For the first time since starting university, I was single. I’d broken up with my fiancé over the summer, and was determined to enjoy myself. And yet, within 48 hours of saying those words, I had fallen head-over-heels in love with a man I had known for two years; a man who I had never thought of as anything but a friend.
Karaoke night had started much the same as always. M joined me and my friends after his fresher’s intro meeting. We were mostly drinking and chatting in between me and my friends getting up to sing. M and I were sitting close together chatting and laughing. As more of us joined the group, we got squashed closer together. Midway through the evening, it suddenly dawned on me that, almost without realising it, we had gone from being just squashed together to snuggling up to each other and our conversation had become more flirtatious. After the next song, I excused myself for a quick conference in the toilets with my housemate. I remember telling her to stop me flirting with M, because he was just my friend and it was wrong of me to flirt with him. She just laughed and told me to stop worrying.
The two of us getting together that night may have come as a surprise to us, but a few of our friends had seen it coming. We’d both competed in acrobatic rock ‘n’ roll at university dance competitions. Our respective dance partners were dating each other (they’re also now married to each other) so it made sense to have our dance lessons back-to-back. M would often wait around after his lesson and wait for me to finish mine. During fresher’s week, we’d also spent a lot of time together. We were both part of a group organising the first Performing Arts Week. As presidents of the musical theatre society (M) and ballroom society (me), we were involved in different areas. We had tended to make a beeline for each other in meetings though.
The decision to go out to karaoke that night 15 years ago was one of the best I ever made. The man who stole my heart that night still has it today. He is my best friend and my soulmate, a wonderful father to our two beautiful children and the man I hope I will spend the rest of my life with.
Aww! Bless you both! You do sound perfect for each other!
Congrats on the 15 years together….Here’s to many more x
Thank you Kim 🙂
What a wonderful story! May you long continue to feel each other’s life with love ❤…I’m intrigued about acrobatic rock’n’roll!
Thank you – acrobatic rock ‘n’ roll is similar to jive but with lots of lifts and drops 🙂
What a lovely story! i really enjoyed reading this and it’s nice to learn more about you and how you found you happy ever after!
Angela
Thank you Angela 🙂
Awww you are so cute together. It’s great when you are not looking for love but it bites you on the bum. I was the same with my hubby. So glad you have him and here’s to many more years together!! X #twinklytuesday
Thank you Sarah 🙂
Now I am a puddle of mush- gorgeous post x
#twinklytuesday
Thank you 🙂
Aww so cute Louise and so lovely to read about your beginnings and how you are still going strong. Just lovely xxx
Thank you Caroline 🙂
Such a lovely story, I didn’t realize you both went back so far, this really scares me after spending the past weeks looking at Uni’s with my son, to think he might meet his partner for life there, eek! I hope he has as lovely a tale to tell as you both do. #TwinklyTuesday
Thanks Fiona – I can imagine that must be quite a scary thought with your son looking at universities!
Aw, what a lovely post Louise.
#twinklytuesday
Thank you Fionnuala 🙂
What a fab story, you two were definitely meant to be! Congratulations on your 15 years together 🙂 #TwinklyTuesday
Debbie
Thank you Debbie 🙂
Ahh Louise I love this! Thank goodness you went out that night! xx
Thank you Katy – I’ve been glad I did ever since! 🙂
Ahhhh as always a beautiful post. Whenever you write about your husband I can seen in your writing just how much you adore him and he you. It’s so wonderful to read. Happy 15 years. Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
Thank you Lisa, always a pleasure to link up 🙂
Ahhhh another gorgeous post! Love the story of you meeting and I always love reading these posts because its so clear how much you adore each other. Happy 15 years! Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
What a completely wonderful story Louise, I love it! I’m so happy you have your soul mate, many congratulations and have an amazing next 15 years xx #PoCoLo
Thank you Hannah 🙂
My heart is skipping while reading this story! I proper love story! What a lovely one. Safe to say you have found the one and congrats on being together for 25 years! Heres to many more to come =)
#pocolo
Thanks Merlinda 🙂
Hi Louise, a lovely post. It’s funny how love can creep up on you when least expected. You are lucky to have found your best friend and soul mate. How young you both look in that first photo!
Here’s to another happy fifteen years together!
xx
Thanks Debbie – I thought the same when I looked at that photo! 🙂
What a gorgeous post – and a great way to start a relationship, doing something you both love. Wishing you a very happy lifetime together. Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo x
Thank you Vicky – always a pleasure to link up 🙂