Not everyone may know, but Dan and I actually met back when we were 13 years old. We just missed each other at St.Edwards Junior School as Dan went off to Dean Close school, and I moved to the UK from the Netherlands. However, Cheltenham being the small town it is, we managed to cross paths through different friendship groups and have a very short lived relationship of approximately 2 weeks!

Fast forward, 11 years, Dan had just finished his third ski season in St.Anton, Austria, and I was living in London, juggling multiple jobs. We both happened to be back in Cheltenham for the weekend and both at the same gig that our mates were playing at the Frog and the Fiddle (if anyone knows this pub, it's a rogue choice and I don't think we've been back since!) However, after spotting each other across the very intimate crowd and an 11 year catch up in the smoking area, Dan asked me to come and do a ski season with him and I, without hesitation, agreed.

A few months later, we found ourselves living the ski season dream in St.Anton. Covid hit in March and we ended up spending the summer in Austria, enjoying the slow pace of life; hiking, foraging and swimming in lakes. We both returned to Austria the following December, hoping to do another ski season. However, the resort never opened to tourists and we ended up enjoying another winter in the mountains with buckets of snow and living in a huge chalet with fellow ski bums. We felt no season could top the one we had just experienced and decided to return to our beloved friends and family back in Cheltenham.

We moved into Commercial Street and had our pal, Ruth, as the Land Lady! Dan started working for the family business with his dad, Don, and uncle's, Jonny & Eamon, at Carpet Emporium (if you don't know, get to know) and I did a stint of nannying and interning before I found my love for interior designing.

Fast forward 4 years and a trip back to St.Anton was on the cards to celebrate my 30th birthday. I was adamant on doing a sunrise hike to bring in my 30's and remember my late grandad who had passed on my birthday, the year prior. The hike felt a lot harder than it did when we used to do it when living in Austria! This resulted in us missing the sunrise, much to Dan's dismay! Once at the top, and a few deep breaths later, Dan decided to get down on one knee and as they say, the rest is history.

We can't wait to celebrate our journey with you all next year!