Lloyd’s Proposal
I had been living in Aberdeen for just over a year now. Everything was great on the job front and I had made new friends and settled into my new surroundings. My social life continued to be as hectic as it had always been. Aberdeen turned out to be a very cosmopolitan hive of activity courtesy of the broad mix of people and the many nationalities working there in the oil industry. There was also a big University that attracted young people from far-a-field to swell the numbers on the party scene. I was never short of company or somewhere to go, but that was not enough. I was for the first time that I could remember, wanting to be somewhere else or should I say with someone else.
I was by now missing Trudie like mad on a daily basis. It had been months since my flight of death and although we had continued to see each other very regularly i.e. most weekends, it was not enough. We both wanted to spend every waking hour together; we were as they say ‘head-over-heels in love’ in spite of the many miles that separated us for most of the time. I decided it was time to take some positive action, I was going to leave Aberdeen and head back south. Not only that, I was going to get married!
Hang on a minute. Was I being presumptuous and taking it for granted that Trudie would want to marry me? Maybe she liked things just the way they were but how would I know if I didn’t broach the subject? One thing I did know about Trudie is that she loves romance, so armed with that knowledge I decided to propose to her in a way that would ‘knock-her-socks-off’. Make it impossible for her to turn me down.
The heavy snowfall that weekend was both a bad and good thing. It was bad because it made Trudie’s journey up to Aberdeen very precarious and if she had decided to turn back and head home all my planning and scheming would have been in vain. However, she had soldiered on and made it there safely.
The really good thing about the snowfall was that it really set the scene for my plan way beyond what I could have expected; surely it was a positive sign of success?
We managed to make our way through the snow out to Stonehaven and Dunnottar Castle loomed into view on the top of the hill. We stepped out of the car and the fresh icy sea air pricked our nostrils as we carefully made our way up towards the castle gates. We were both wrapped up warmly against the biting cold as we crunched our way through the perfect, even snow. Trudie had thought I’d lost my marbles when I’d suggested we go for a walk to burn off the huge Sunday breakfast we had consumed that morning but she was however warming to the idea as we gazed up at the castle. Set against the clear winter sky with the sun peeping through what was left of the ancient crumbling turrets it was breath-taking. We had to shield our eyes as the sun reflected off the glistening snow all around us.
We finally made it to the top of the hill and stood outside the castle gates. “Oh I wish it was open so we could go inside”. Trudie had a look of disappointment on her face. “Maybe we can”, I replied as I looked around towards the back of the castle while praying that the next stage of my plan would fall into place… and then he appeared, right on cue as arranged.
The old man slowly made his way towards us. His tiny frame was bulked-out with what was the thickest, heaviest winter coat I’d ever seen and his hat and scarf framed his ‘kind eyes’, which were watering in the cold air. He drew his hands dressed in woollen fingerless gloves from his deep pockets and he was holding a huge bunch of ancient looking keys, “Would you lovely people like to go inside?” came his broad Aberdonian brogue. Trudie looked at me as if seeking my approval and I smiled and nodded. “Yes please”, she said to him excitedly. And he proceeded to unlock the huge main gate to the castle before standing aside to wave us through. “I’m too old to make it all the way up to the top these days, but as long as you go carefully I’m sure you youngsters will be okay”. He gave me the wink which told me everything was in place. Trudie was giddy with excitement as we wound our way towards the top and my heart was thumping in anticipation of what was coming next.
Finally we emerged once more into the sunlight and the view was astounding! We were standing at the top of the castle which in turn stood atop a cliff overlooking the sea and we could see for miles in every direction. It felt as if we’d climbed the steps to heaven and there was not a sound to be heard. I had often heard the words ‘silence is golden’ now I really appreciated just what that meant.
Trudie was gazing out to sea lost in her thoughts so I took my chance to scurry across to where the bottle of champagne and glasses were hidden… Bingo! The old man was as good as his word, what a star. I fished in my inside pocket and took out the ring and looked at it, yes she would love it I thought to myself before putting it back. “Why have you never brought me here before?” Trudie’s voice carried across the breeze “It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to in my life”.
The clink of the glasses as I picked them up made her turn around… “Because I’ve never done this before”, I replied as I stepped towards her before bending down on one knee.
“I have waited all my life to meet someone so perfect, someone who makes me feel the way I do now, someone who does not try to control or judge, someone who is so genuine, kind and loving. Someone who makes me laugh and doesn’t look for negatives. You always find the positives and I can’t bear to think of my life without you in it. You have given me so much in such a short period of time, you believe in me more than I do myself. I love you with all my being and I want you to think seriously before answering this question, would you do me the honour….would you be my wife?” I held out the ring for her to see it and studied her face trying to pre-empt her reply and tears were streaming down her cheeks.
She reached out and touched my cheek, “I have wondered all my life if I would find true love and if I did, would my true love recognise and truly love me, but I could never in my wildest dreams have predicted such a romantic setting or a more perfect proposal. I would be honoured to be your wife and I would be honoured to share your life, yes I will marry you Lloyd Thompson and I’ll love you till the day I die”.
I stood up while taking her hand before placing the ring on her finger, queue more floods of tears. Trudie loved the ring as I knew she would. We hugged and kissed and drank snow-chilled champagne until the warmth of our love was no longer enough to fight off the icy temperatures and we decided to head home.
On reaching the bottom of the winding staircase we expected to see the old man waiting to lock up after us and Trudie wanted to thank him for helping making the day so special but he was nowhere to be seen. That was more than 25 years ago and although we never saw him again we will never forget him…
Later back at the apartment I gave Trudie a record that I had bought specially for that day.
The lyrics and indeed the whole sentiment of the song were perfect for the occasion; it’s a
beautiful tune and our most favourite and cherished piece of music and to this day is still ‘our
song’….. On the 23rd November 1986 we had our first dance at our wedding to it, ‘I Choose
You' (to be my wife) – by Paris.
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