We met at work in May 2001 and while we can't really describe it as "love at first sight" it didn't take very long for our relationship to develop.... it was Anthony's first day in a new job and one of the first things we did together was travel to the US together on a training course. We were both alone in the same hotel during the weekend and so we proceeded to see the New York sights (our first date?) together visiting the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and even the top floor of the World Trade Centre!

The following week saw us in a company Audit Conference in Atlanta where copious amounts of drink was consumed every night together with lots of flirting! Anthony even had swallowed enough courage to show his interest, however drinking did not quite bring out the best in him!

Back in the UK however Anthony sobered up enough for Alli to fall victim to his charm (in an audit of the UK pension scheme anything can appear interesting!!) and SHE asked him out! Our first proper date was a meal at "Ask" restaurant in Watford which led to Anthony conveniently missing the last train back home! After that we mainly saw each other weekends as we were both working in different european locations during the week, our relationship was kept secret for the first five months although that didn't stop us meeting up for a weekend in Vienna...

We went on our first holiday together in November 2001 on a winter sun well deserved break to Tenerife. One of our managers finally spotted a trend in the department vacation schedule and our secret was out...which meant that Anthony no longer had to wait for Alli outside the office in the freezing cold and rain!

We spent our first Xmas in sunny (not!) Gibraltar where Anthony had the great pleasure of meeting the whole family, here is one of the smaller family gatherings! By some great miracle the cupboard unit behind Anthony is still (just!) in one piece - now there's a story! We also took the opportunity to visit Granada where we went skiing in Sierra Nevada and Seville (to escape from the huge family for a few days!). However Alli managed to throw the film away by mistakehence no photos!

Awhole year after that first date, we celebrated by looking out of the London Eye on a beautiful sunny day, followed by a west end show and a night in the Sheraton in Belgravia. For free of course - business travel does have its perks!

After 15 months of early monday morning trips to Heathrow or Gatwick, Alli decided she'd have enough of travelling and quit her job. The one bedroom apartment we shared in Staines also got a little small for us (Anthony still only had one drawer for all his things!) and so we proceeded to go house hunting, finding our first home together in Ashford. After a few failed attempts at selling our apartments we managed to exchange and move into our new house in October 2002.

The best surprise and the reason for this website came on the 5th September 2002. Alli had a thing for castles and so it was the perfect place for Anthony to pop the question. We spent a wonderful day in Amberley Castle in Sussex, our room even had its own turret! Later after a romantic and delicious meal in the castle's restaurant we went for a walk in the courtyard and under the stars, Anthony went down on one knee (on gravel - ouch!) and proposed!