General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

Thought long and hard - should I reply to this question or not? - revisited this site many times over - came to the conclusion - yep - let others share MY HAPPIEST MOMENT with me.

And so it all started.
1959 - Hailsham, Sussex.
Saw this girl - nurses uniform - very attractive - great figure - great walk.

Went to a friend whose girl-friend was also a nurse - to the two of them - I gave the best description I could. Taylors girl-friend said "That description fits Kiely".

It was agreed that the two of them would ask Kiely to the coffee bar - next day.
I was to go in afterwards - if that was the girl then I should go over and sit with them - and if it wasnt - I should sit elsewhere.

I went in - she, as in Kiely, was sat with them - after introductions and not too long after that, John & his girlfriend got up to leave. Shit, I thouht, Kiely will leave also.
She stayed - she was off duty that day.

We chatted - nothing special - looked at each other - chanced my arm and asked for a date that evening. She accepted, I went back to work - couldnt work - dreaming and clock watching.

Collected her at the hospital - I was early - she turned up - on time - she was an absolute cracker, couldnt believe my luck.

Went to the cinema - "Summer Place" was a recent release - walked her back to the hospital - afraid to hold hands or put my arm around her - just in case she disappeared - we sat down on a bench in the grounds of the hospital - we talked and talked about nothing. Still no holding hands or arm/s around her. Was I a learner or what - thats a joke - I was 15 when that happened - now I'm 19 and I dont know how to handle this girl at my side.

I blurted out "will you marry me"? I repeated instantaneously "will you marry me".
Back came the reply - with a Kiely laughing - "I heard you the first time - still laughing she said "do you have a stammer", and said yes is the answer to both questions, and that was before I could tell her I didnt have a stammer.
She also asked, had she been set up by me and the other 2 people - I sheepishly said yes (thar ya go agin - ye and ya sheep).

Later in life - when asked by our children - as kids do - Kiely always told them - "your father & I agreed to marry - and we had never held hands upto that point - let alone kiss" - she didnt smoke nor drank and wouldnt come with me on the motor bike - so the bike went. I can say it was a couple of years later before Kiely would allow me to get "that" close - I was her first, yep, I can still remember when and where - but not the date - evening time.

Even to this day - the lads - with their wives ask - "Dad, tell us about the time you first met Mam".
Kiley became her PET name - and used that throughout the 42 years together.

Many, many, many happy stories - and memories.
Miss her like hell.

So thats how I met my wife. It was love at first sight - mutual. Maddly in love.

That was then - this is now.

HAPPY PADDY's DAY TO ONE & ALL.
Ya bunch o' shysters ya.

Now back tu mi sheep.