A wonderful story ...

It was a close tropical evening in Ho Chi Min City in early April and I, of course, was sweating profusely. I sweat in the UK during the winter, so you can imagine the size of the beads dribbling from my brow as I guzzled my Singapore sling contemplating how I was going to propose. It had just been confirmed that we would be moving to Singapore in a few months, so I thought that I could use this fact during the proposal.

A Filipino band was playing a 60’s, 70’s and 80’s medley (just how I like it) on the stage of the Saigon Saigon bar. Situated on the 9th floor of the Caravelle it is a great vantage point to look out across the city at night. As I did so, I practiced in my mind a few “James Bond like’ lines that would roll off the tongue at the chosen moment.

I ordered another cocktail. It arrived, I gulped again and then looked across at Raluca as she drank her orange juice (no ice). I lent forward, held her hand and through the sounds of a Filipino version of ‘ Let it Be ’ I began:

“I don’t want you to come to Singapore as my girlfriend, I’d like you to come as my fiancée” I said as I smiled and looked deep into her eyes.

‘I don’t understand, why don’t you want me to come to Singapore?’ she said looking extremely hurt and surprised.

My words had been lost in the night and taken over by the sound of car horns and Beatles’ covers. This wouldn’t have happened to James Bond!

‘No, no, no’ I recovered ‘Will you marry me? I want you to come to Singapore as my fiancée’.

Her expression changed, her eyes lit up and she smiled. Excitedly, she lent forward to meet me, said ‘of course I will’ and then we kissed.