Thursday 23 October 2008

Him Indoors And How We Met

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Some of you already know how Mike (him indoors) and I met. However, I have lots of new readers since I first wrote the story, a very long time back . So I am sharing with you the tale of how my beloved and I came into contact, because it was not strictly conventional. Our meeting came about as the result of a dare, yes that's right - a dare!

Whilst I was away on holiday, my parents had decided to move much farther out of London. They had already set things in motion by the time I returned. So, I had to leave all my friends and start over in a new area. From a thriving and bustling life , I moved to a place where there was no cinema, no dance-hall, no youth group - nowhere I could make new friends. Also, having become sick of commuting to London, I took a local job, so I was living and working in the same area. My social life hit rock bottom.

Then, a middle-aged friend of my Mother, called Grace, told me I should put an advertisement in the newspaper, under what is commonly known as "Lonely Hearts". I just laughed. She had been widowed twice and had met her third husband that way. Anyway, each time she visited she said the same thing adding, on the last occasion, I dare you. That did it, I knew she did not believe I would ever do it. Determined to prove her wrong, I went ahead.

As I dropped the letter in the mailbox it suddenly occured to me what I had done and I felt more than a little nervous and a bit stupid.

About ten days went past and then the postman came to our door bearing a sack of replies!!!!! Well over 200 of them. It took me several days to work my way through them. Some were instantly discarded, for reasons I simply cannot go into here. After a long process I eventually got down to about twelve. Of those twelve I put four into an "only if I am desperate" pile.

So, I replied to the remaining eight, giving my telephone number but no full name or address. They all contacted me and I have never been wined and dined so much in all my life. I had a marvellous time. This might make it sound other than what it was. I kept all the relationships strictly platonic and just enjoyed the company. I would see how it panned out.

I did come unstuck with one whom I shall refer to as F. He bought me extremely expensive presents, took me to top restaurants and to the theatre. He was a real charmer and very intelligent. It looked as if romance might blossom in a big way. That is until the day I got a telephone call. It was from his wife! She had found my number in one of his contact books. I was so ashamed and embarrassed. However, she was wonderful. She told me not to blame myself, that he made a habit of it and that I was one of many over the last few years. She said that this time, he had burned his boats, she was divorcing him. Needless to say I never heard from F. again.

This did not deter me for long - and I soon made contact with some of the others who had replied to my advertisement. Well, eventually I came to realise that, nice though these men were, I had not found the one for me - (not that I was seriously looking for anything more than friendship then). So , one by one ,they fell by the wayside and it was back to the old life.

Then I remembered the "desperate" list and had a look. Oh well I thought, might as well try a couple. Yes, my beloved was one of those. In fact he was the last on the list. I rang him and we arranged to meet.

He picked me up one evening from night school. I will be totally honest because Mike knows how I felt, we still laugh about it. My heart sank, he was not my type at all. Not the sort of man I was usually attracted to. No tall, slim, Adonis, with masses of dark curly hair, but..........he had a beautiful car!!!! I can imagine some of you being shocked and thinking how mercenary I sound - but it was always my dream to ride in a fast and classy vehicle. This was an E-type Jaguar.

I saw absolutely nothing wrong in having a drink with him and having at least one trip in that gorgeous car. Then I could give him the brush-off. So, off we went. Out into the middle of nowhere, unlit country lanes. I had absolutely no idea of where I was and there were no houses for miles around. I had the horrible feeling that I had come across a pervert and this was going to be the end of me, perhaps violated and murdered in some isolated spot. My heart was pounding in my chest and my hands started to sweat. This was a big stocky man. How could I ever fight him off?

However, he pulled over, turned off the engine and proceeded to tell me about his life , his unhappy marriage - he was divorced and asked all about mine and then, like a perfect gentleman, took me for a drink and then drove me home. I thought he was rather sweet. So, we started seeing each other a couple of times a week.

Three months later he asked me to marry him. I refused. He asked again and again. I always refused. He said he would never give up. I told him I would not marry him if he was the last man on Earth. I liked him but nothing more.

He started coming around nightly, I never had any time to myself. He was always there, Saturdays and Sundays included. I started to feel suffocated and considered telling him to get lost. Then Mike suggested going on holiday, all of us including my parents. He had been telling us for some time how lovely the Isle of Man was. He explained we would need a driver because none of us drove, so it was agreed that Mum, Dad, myself and Mike would go on holiday for two weeks, we would hire a car on the Island. He would be our chauffeur and he knew all the places of interest.

Well, we had a very long journey from the south of England to Liverpool where we had to catch the Ferry. On the way to Liverpool, Mike and I had an enormous argument. Neither of us can remember what it was about but when we stopped on the Motorway for something to eat, I told my Mother that was that - when we got back I was dropping him, he was getting on my nerves. She remarked that this was going to be some holiday with us not talking and gloom settled over the whole party. The air was strained, to say the least.

We made the most of things and after a couple of days, the atmosphere became more relaxed, as it does when you are on holiday - that is until I had a blazing argument with my Mother whilst having lunch in the hotel. I stormed off, fed up with the whole thing and sorry I had agreed to go in the first place.

Mum came to my room in a huff and said she and Dad were going off for the rest of the afternoon. I sat in my room feeling very miserable and then came a tap at the door. It was Mike. I let him in and we talked and talked. Then he asked me once more to marry him and the strangest thing happened. Suddenly, I could not imagine life without him, could not imagine never seeing him again. I said yes.

When my parents got back, we announced to them in the bar of the hotel that we were getting married to which my Mother replied "But you don't even like him!" Mike bought the ring next day, in the main city of the Island - Douglas. We came back from holiday engaged and we married five months later. Mike told me later that he always knew I would say yes one day.

This December we celebrate 38 years as man and wife. Placing that advert in the newspaper was the best thing I ever did - apart from giving birth to our daughter.

Now, how did you meet your husband or partner? Go on, spill the beans, I would love to know. I dare you.



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You will notice I have made the comment system much easier. To do the same, go into your dashboard, select settings and then select comments. Scan down the comments related page until you see Comment Form Placement. Make sure that the third option is ticked - it says Embedded Below Post. Then just press save. That is all there is to it. Much more like our old J-Land system.

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30 comments:

  1. That was interesting. It's funny the way things turn out.
    Jenny <><

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  2. Great entry Jeannette will keep my story for next month and then will tell all but it's not so exciting as yours. Have put the new comment box in too hope it works it will make thing easier. Love Joan,

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  3. That's a very funny story! Mine wasn't nearly so tumultuous! We met at church. I was dating a different guy who ended up dumping me the night before a singles retreat in the mountains. I met Lou on the trip and there were three weddings from that one trip! One of which was the guy who dumped me, ours and another couple.

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  4. that was a lovely story. i've placed ads before in search of my true love. no luck yet, but i'm living happily single with my two dogs. maybe one day...kbear

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  5. Alberta Morning Jeannette, I just have recently written about how I met my hubby and he too like Mike never gave up. Thank the good Lord for that....we celebrated 44 years this past summertime and I can not bear to entertain a life without him. Never to the Lord HE is my BEST friend,

    Blessings to you and Mike...

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  6. I don't know if I had heard this story before but it is just wonderful. How romantic. How could you not love him, right. Thanks for sharing. Does he still drive a great car?

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  7. i remember that story, nice hearing it again. so glad, 2 such lovely people found each other.
    huggies...

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  8. (((((((((((((((HUGSTOYOU)))))))))))))))I dont think I head that story before.What a lovly story on how you both met.I love that picture.

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  9. I really enjoyed this how I met my husband story. I would say a man's persistence won the day! You told it so well. I just knew that you were wakening to a dependence on this man, so he was a pretty shrewd guy! I first saw my future husband when he was hired to sing all day at nine years old for a bunch of guys sightseeing! He was only 9, my age. I thought what kind of kid singer is that? They were right, Dean did have one of the most beautiful singing voices I have ever heard, even if I did have to divorce him later, but our kids got some of his talent and looks! Gerry

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  10. Lovely story Jeannette and like you say hee you both are 38 years later. I think it's romantic.

    Yasmin
    x

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  11. I love that story!! I met my husband at a party thrown by a chatroom. I didn't even know him from online-he just happened to show up.. You should send this out to a playwrite-I can see a movie made on this story-it reminds me of Bridget Jones' Diary.. Julie

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  12. I remember you telling that story ,and it is just as lovely as ever ,may you have many more happy years together dear Jeannette and Mike ..love Jan xx

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  13. I'm glad Mike was persistant and won you over. 38 years is something to celebrate for sure. I met my late husband by going on a blind date with a friend of a friend. We had 27 wonderful years together. I was engaged to him at the age of 16 and we married when I was 21. He was in military service so we waited. 'On Ya' - ma

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  14. I think you made a VERY good decision :)....alice

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  15. Fantastic story Jeannette, I`ll bet you both laugh about it to this day. You won`t believe it but Jim and I got together through a bet. I`ll tell you all about it another time. I love the new look comment section, I`ll be changing mine tomorrow. :o)

    Love Sandra xxxx

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  16. I loved this entry Jeannette. Congratulations - you make a lovely couple so Im glad you looked at that other pile of letters. The way I met John isn't like your average meeting either! I will have to spill sometime. Laine xxx
    http://lainey-lainesworld.blogspot.com/

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  17. I can hear the music "I'm gonna make you love me...." (Diana Ross, isn't it?! LOL)
    I say Mike is pretty handsome! Good choice, Jeanette!
    Jesse and I are high school sweethearts...

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  18. I enjoyed the story very much especially it having been read to me
    Sandra

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  19. I haven't read this story before. I loved it.
    Ken and I met through a dating service. We stayed friends and fishing buddies for almost a year then decided we cared for each other more than just friends. We will be married for eighteen years this next Monday Oct. 27th. Helen

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  20. What a great story!!!!

    Congratulations on 38 years!!!

    Love,

    Michelle

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  21. What a sweet story....and funny in parts too, like when you thought you would be murdered! I'm so happy that you were able to find your true love and spend wonderful ever after :) My story is boring, I met Marv at the store where I went to work after HS! I fell for him instantly, but we didn't really get a long until a year later...my evil charm started working on him and the rest is history! LOL!
    Thanks for sharing your story.

    Pooh Hugs,
    Linda

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  22. I loved the story, and i also love the voice feed! That is so cool!

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  23. That is a great story. I read your dare in Suzy's blog.
    38 years is something to celebrate, Congratulations!
    Laura

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  24. Hi Jeannette, just recovering from my "black hole" and your story is helping my recovery! So lovely. You are clearly made for each other, you a beautiful couple. My husband and I met in front of a MacDonalds' in a German town. We were both working there. It was love at first sight, but it took us a while to get together because we had both German partners we did not want to hurt. Have a lovely weekend! Ciao. Antonella

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  25. Your lovely Mike was a determined chap, going from the last name on your "desperate" list to the "love of your life". What a lovely story. Eileen x

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  26. What a wonderful story of how you met Mike. Thanks for sharing hon! (Hugs)Indigo

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  27. I MET MY HUSBAND WHEN THEY CHANGED THE LEGAL AGE FROM 21 TO 18. MY HUSBAND OWNED THE NIGHT CLUB THAT I WENT TO AT 18 YRS OLD. IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT FOR ME. I WENT SO OFTEN TO THE CLUB RONNIE ASK ME TO WORK FOR HIM AS A WAITRESS. I ACCEPTED THE OFFER IF I COULD DANCE ONCE IN AWHILE WHILE I WAS WORKING. I WAITED ONE NIGHT UNTIL EVERYONE WAS GONE AND TOLD HIM I DIDN'T HAVE A WAY HOME. WE DATED FOR 13 YRS AFTER THAT NIGHT. WE GOT MARRIED HAD A DAUGHTER AND LIVED TOGETHER FOR 17 MORE YRS. WE WERE TOGETHER FOR 30 YRS ALTOGETHER. WE TRAVELED HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE THEN IN 1999 WE HAD A FAMILY CAR ACCIDENT AND HE AND MY 4 YR OLD GRANDSON WAS KILLED INSTANTLY. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE GRIEVING PROCESS AND COME TO ACCEPT WHAT HAS HAPPENED BUT HE IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. I NOW DATE MY HONEY AND LIFE IS GREAT ON THE RANCH WHERE WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME. WE LIVE 6 HOUSES APART AND HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 8 YRS NOW. THE RANCH IS 5 MIN. FROM OUR HOMES. I HAVE HAD A FAIRY TAIL LIFE AND BOTH MEN ARE THE BEST THINGS THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND BEING INTERESTED IN MINE. BOTH HAVE BEEN MY KNIGHTS IN SHINING ARMOUR !! MY DAUGHTER IS NOW 26 YRS OLD BEEN THROUGH COLLEGE WORKS AT A BANK AND IS A BALLET PROFESSIONAL DANCER. SHE IS BEAUTIFUL JUST LIKE HER FATHER. SHE WAS 16 WHEN WE HAD THE ACCIDENT.

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  28. I don't rememebr this story Jeannette. Mike obviously knew your mind better than you did! I'm so glad you got together and have had such a happy life. Wasn't it Barbra Striesand who sang 'Love Comes From The Most Unexpected Places'?! May you have many more happy years together! Jeannette xx

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  29. What a fantastic story!! I was smiling ear to ear while reading. I really chuckled at the fact he had a nice car and then saying you wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on earth.

    Yes I imagine you do feel that ad was the best thing you've ever done and congratulations to both of you on so many wonderful years of marriage!!

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