We met at the gym. Greg had an earlier session with the Personal Trainer and Clarence had the later. It was after one of those that it was decided to go out for something to eat.

That was the start.

Over the weeks and months which followed a tour of Chinese restaurants ensued. Now, to most westerners who had recently arrived in Hong Kong from North America … there was only one “Chinese food”. That was dashed with a tour of the many regional and ethnic cuisines on offer. There were times when Greg was the only “gweilo” in the entire restaurant. Gweilo has evolved from meaning “white ghost’ and being regarded as a negative term to one merely identifying a foreigner.

Soon we started traveling together. From an overnight getaway on Lantau Island to many trips to Canada, Japan, and Italy; there have been many destinations. Memorable spots include the safari in South Africa, swimming across the Equator in the Maldives, and the food and sights of Sicily.

We aren’t a young couple. “Newly weds” we will be, but we’ve had our share of firsts already. We ran a coffeeshop in Shek O (in Hong Kong) for a while so Greg could get his morning cup of coffee. Most of you know we have the house in Ragusa Ibla … so we aren’t new homeowners. We have lived together since Clarence arrived in Shanghai … so we have our fair share of clutter. We were “an old married couple” who hadn’t married …

And so on to the next chapter.

Thank you for coming …

Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton