It was on Friday 26 August 2016 that Heather first saw Laurie's profile on Tinder. His profile picture certainly stood out on the highly regarded dating website. He was a tall, silver fox in a dark grey suit looking very smart and sophisticated, like an Australian George Clooney. His profile information was interesting and didn't raise any red flags (unlike quite a few others who gave off a dog murderer vibe). Heather was very intrigued and wanted to know more, so she 'swiped right' indicating she was interested. It should be noted that on average Heather would only do this for 1 in every 60 profiles she saw - she actually frequently counted. As Heather always says, 'I like nice things.'

Laurie had seen Heather's profile a few days earlier and was also intrigued. Heather's pictures were of her then recent trip to France and her profile information was interesting. Laurie recalls how Heather's profile invited anyone who might be a match to share some of their favourite travel stories. Despite not having travelled much, and therefore not having much to say on the proposed topic of any pending discussion, Laurie was interested and swiped right. As Heather hadn't seen Laurie's profile yet, Laurie did not get an instant match but was hoping something might happen.

Laurie recalls Heather's profile standing out in his mind while the days passed and he waited for fate. But as we know, it was a match.

Laurie didn't waste much time sending the first message, 'Hey Heather. Happy Friday.' Heather liked his uncommon first message (she went on to refer to 'Happy Friday' as Laurie's alternative name in conversations with girlfriends for some time) and she wrote back. Laurie then asked if Heather had any plans for the weekend. Heather explained that she was attending the Vampyre Ball (a charity event that she attended with Sarah, the now bridesmaid) on Saturday but was free on the Sunday. They set up a date for Sunday night: drinks at Malt Dining. Heather was impressed with the venue choice - brownie points for George Clooney!

But they never went to Malt that night....

....Instead, when Heather's Uber arrived at Malt, Laurie (who also just arrived at the location) messaged advising that the restaurant was closed. Heather was instantly judging him for being so disorganised. 'Who doesn't even check Google to find out the opening hours for a first date,' she thought. Laurie later explained that he did check Google for the restaurant hours and it should have been open at that time, but that the restaurant was temporarily closed for renovations.

Laurie messaged and suggested that they go to a nearby bar: St Arnou Beer Cafe. Heather still chuckles thinking about how she instantly searched on her phone on Google and couldn't find where the bar was located. She thought, 'Maybe the bar is so new it's not even on Google yet.' But it wasn't a new bar. The bar had closed down and changed names in 2008/2009 (to Vino's) and again in 2011 - Laurie was just not with the times. Eventually, Laurie worked out the bar's 'new' name was the Bavarian Bier Café and the pair finally got to meet.

Over a few steins, the two simply hit it off! They both found each other interesting, funny and attractive. Laurie remembers being a little concerned he didn't have any travel stories to talk about, but was happy to deliver a great story when Heather asked Laurie about Brisbane's World Expo in 1988. Heather had asked Laurie if he had remembered anything from Expo, as there was a chance since he was 3 years old at the time.

Heather was interested in hearing the experiences of people who have lived in Brisbane before 1988 ever since she learned about the event when researching for her Masters thesis. She was fascinated that Expo really shaped Brisbane to transition from a large country town to a major city. The planning for the event triggered the redevelopment of South Bank from an industrial wasteland across the river from the city into a beautiful parkland with à la carte dining and a man-made beach.

And, oh boy, did Laurie have a story about Expo that had Heather in stitches on that first date! For Expo and the opening of South Bank, the parkland included amusement park-style rides. Three-year old Laurie eagerly went on an Space Shuttle ride for kids. But when the ride went up in the air, Laurie freaked out. Laurie recalled the Space Shuttle ride being so high up in the sky, than when he looked down to see his mum, she seemed so far away that she was as small as an ant.

Heather was then brought to tears from laughing so hard on that first date when Laurie explained that when the ride operator stopped the ride to assist, he only took a few steps up a step ladder to try to console Young crying Laurie and to explain how to use the joystick to bring the shuttle ride down to the ground!

The two shared many stories that night over slowly-sipped beers, both feeling entirely comfortable and having each other's complete attention. Laurie and Heather both look back at that night and recall knowing that there was a definite spark and that they both wanted to see each other again.

When the two eventually shared their first kiss on their second date, the spark accelerated into a force akin to particles colliding at the speed of light in the Hadron Collider, and there was no going back <3

It was during Christmas holidays on 29 December 2017 and Heather asked Laurie that morning, 'It's a beautiful, hot day. What did you want to do today? Did you want to go anywhere?' Laurie replied, 'I don't know, how about a trip to Maleny, to the Botanic Gardens and we can take Wimbledon.'

They both liked the idea and relished in the delight of rhetorically asking Wimbledon if he wanted to go for a drive and the exuberant response that Wimbledon always gives - not just a simple wagging of the tail, but a wagging of his whole body.

Wimbledon obviously was keen so they packed a picnic lunch, and off they went on a family day trip! Laurie thought this trip could pose a great time to pop the question, so he brought the ring along and hid it in the car, obviously unbeknown to Heather.

Laurie drove for the 1.5 hour road trip to the Maleny Botanic Gardens, while Heather provided some sweet road trip tunes. Wimbledon slept the whole drive, patiently waiting for the family to get to the destination to do whatever fun adventure was on the cards. When they arrived, Laurie got the entry tickets and the map while Heather accompanied Wimbledon in his initial sniff of every tree near the entrance.

Once Laurie looked at the map, he knew the place he was going to propose: a replica of Monet’s bridge. He knew that when Heather visited France back in 2008, she visited the house and garden of the famous French painter Claude Monet. He remembered how Heather loved the waterlilies pond and bridges in the garden which inspired his most famous work.

So the trio initially left the picnic lunch in the car and followed the Maleny Botanic Gardens map through the Rainforest and Orchid Walk, through various lookouts, ponds and waterfalls. They settled that the Lily Pond was a good place for lunch and Laurie went back to the car to get the picnic lunch. Laurie cheekily recalls how he intentionally left the ring and lunch in the car at the start of the day so that Heather didn’t get suspicious of a ring box in Laurie’s pocket while they went on the walk.

After lunch, the trio continued their walk around the gardens, making their way towards Monet’s Bridge, with Laurie carefully hiding the ring in his pocket for this last part of the walk. Wimbledon explored and left his mark in the Fairytale Garden before the trio proceeded to the rose garden, the Tree Tops Gazebo, the Pontoon Pond and the Oriental Garden. Laurie still chuckles thinking about how the ring then felt like it was burning a hole through his pocket that whole time.

When they finally arrived at Monet’s Bridge, they took some time to marvel at how the replica was really well done and how beautiful the view was. While Heather was looking in the distance Laurie said, ‘Heather, can I ask you a question?’ Heather then turned around and saw Laurie start to bend on one knee. Laurie was incredibly nervous and feared he would drop the ring into the pond. Heather was totally surprised and remembers thinking to herself, ‘He’s not tying his shoe. He’s proposing- OMG!’

Laurie appeared calm and said, ‘I know we plan on going to France in a few years, but I can’t wait until then when we visit the real Monet’s bridge to ask you this: Will you marry me?’

Heather was so surprised and moved that there just were no words. Due to both being so consumed by emotion resulting in a physical inability to speak while also not being able express anything of what she was feeling through the limited medium of language, Heather said nothing. She cried, simply nodded yes and accepted the ring. Laurie put the ring on Heather’s finger and then asked, ‘So the answer’s yes?’ With the overwhelming rush of emotions, all Heather was able to respond was a whispered, ‘Yes’ before hugging and kissing her now Australian George Clooney fiancé.

Needless to say, Wimbledon certainly approved and was as excited as both Laurie and Heather that day as they proceeded to celebrate with a bit of champagne. The trio look forward to becoming an official family on 5 May 2019.