We met at a mutual friends house who hosted a "Pizza & Pool" evening.  Our very first conversation was about a road map book, as Jean-Pierre got lost getting to the party. I remember thinking: " Ah, he is quite attractive and way above my league...."  We started chatting the night away and as the saying goes...We were hooked, and the rest is history.

I was away on a business trip to the Netherlands. Jean-Pierre joined me in Amsterdam for a short break whilst I was there. On the day of his arrival he suggested we go to Keukenhof on the last day of the trip. (Keukenhof, better known as the "Garden of Europe", is one of the world's largest flower gardens). This was rather unusual for him to make such a statement, as normally we don't plan ahead and just decide on the day what to do and where to explore. (Not knowing that he was planning to ask me to marry him....) The poor man's nerves got the better of him and he didn't ask me at Keukenhof, due to the amount of tourists and people. On our way back to the little wooden cottage we had booked, Jean-Pierre said that we must go to the "Middelpunt van Nederland" which wasn't too far away from where we were staying. We got ourselves bicycles and descended on the journey... It was quite an intense mountain biking trail if you ask me and to top it all - we got lost on our way there. (Clearly road map reading remains a thing...) The end destination was in the woods and I was exhausted by the time we got there.   Throughout the whole day Jean-Pierre was carrying the ring box in his sock - how cool, amazing and cute..!!    Finally after reaching the "end" destination, we were met by a couple of mountain bikers. The wait continued and again Jean-Pierre was completely stressed out at this stage. Once they left, Jean-Pierre told me to go look through the telescope at the magnificent view and when I turned around he was on his one knee - How romantic?! and just like that, we got engaged at the "Middelpunt van Nederland" - What a magical moment!