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Let the madness begin!
The most important purchase for any newly engaged couple is the ring�. this was a scary one! Luckily Russell didn't surprise me with a sparkler but we went ring shopping together instead. We set off for Dublin on Sunday morning (getting stuck in a jam of Waterford fans en-route to Croke Park) so eventually got parking in Drury Street & went meandering down Grafton Street in search of "the ring". Word of warning� not all jewelers are open in town on Sunday but we managed! First stop was Ernest Jones - we gave the lady, Tina, a description of what I would like & our budget, took a seat & back she came with a tray of gorgeous rings. I had my heart set on a platinum band with an emerald cut solitaire�. until I tried it on - it didn't suit me! Deeply depressed, I tried on all the other rings on the tray (at least 20�) and then a few more - none of which really impressed us, until we came to the last lonely ring - which I didn't like the look of at all. It was a wide platinum band with a round brilliant cut solitaire flat set in the middle. Tina persuaded me to try it on - under duress - and suddenly it looked tailor made for me.
Being canny shoppers, we decided to go for something to eat & think about it (and hit 2 other jewellers on the way..!) Yet again, I tried on about 25 rings and none of them suited me as much as the one in EJ's. Over a lovely late lunch in the Gotham Caf�, Russell tried to persuade me to try on even more rings or wait to have one made� but I was not to be swayed - I wanted that ring and I wanted it NOW! Back we went to Tina in Ernest Jones to try on THE RING again - it looked even nicer this time and I tried on the matching wedding band. Russell also got dragged into trying on a wedding band which looked incredibly funny because he has never worn a ring� he will wear this one!
Having paid for the ring, and with me proudly wearing it, we headed back to the car & in search of the two sets of parents to break the news. First stop was Blackrock to see Russell's mum & dad� who weren't in! We then drove to Bray, just in time to catch my parents who were on their way out the door�. Russell collared my dad & dragged him into the sitting room to ask his permission for my hand in marriage (this was part of the deal because I am the first to be married), while I went into the kitchen with my Mum to tell her all about our lovely trip to Paris. I heard Russell & Dad come down the hall to the kitchen & flashed my hand in front of Mum's face - which lit up when she saw what was there! Everybody tried on the ring & we went to the pub for a celebratory drink - champagne! My brother & sister were out elsewhere & I wanted to tell them our news in person so I phoned my sis & told her that I had a gorgeous present from Paris for her & to come and meet us ASAP. Being a mercenary little girlie, she made it to the Harbour Bar in 3.5 seconds with my brother in tow, demanding her pressie. She nearly had a heart attack when she saw the ring & burst into tears (I think it was the shock of realizing that there was no present for her!).
Eventually, we left the pub in search of Russell's parents & decided to call his brother to see if he knew where they were - as luck would have it they were in their house so off we set again. We arrived to be greeted by a scene of chaos as our nephew Jamie was running a temperature & things were a little fraught. We tried to tell them to quiet down but this had no effect so I roared at them to be quiet & look! Faces dropped & then lit up - champagne was poured & there were more tears of joy.
We then headed home to Arklow, pausing only to make 50 million phone calls on the way to tell our friends our good news & collapsed on the sofa with yet more champagne to celebrate on our own, officially engaged to be married.
Then, the madness truly began�. planning our wedding.
I'm off to Lanzarote on Saturday for my first holiday with my fiance so will update my diary when I get home, all freckled and relaxed.
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