By Narelle Atkins
I recently wrote a character interview post for the Inspy Romance blog and penned myself into the scene with my characters, Sean and Julia. We were having coffee at a café opposite Manly Beach in Sydney, the setting for my new release Winning Over the Heiress. You can read the character interview here.
While I was chatting with the Inspy Romance readers in the blog comments, I realized I’d used the same location as my first date with my husband, over twenty years ago.
In honour of Valentine’s Day this weekend, I thought I’d share a little bit about my first date with my husband.
Our children are baffled by the whole concept of Dad calling Mum on a land line phone that was answered by their grandfather. They have their own phones and technology is a normal part of their everyday lives.
On our first date, I met my husband in the courtyard of our church in Manly on a balmy January summer evening. Our church was hosting a mission week that included Christian rock bands performing each night. We listened to the band for a while before heading down The Corso to Manly Beach and a quieter café where we could talk.
The relaxed atmosphere and ambiance in the beach side café was conductive to long, heart-to-heart conversations. We talked, and drank really nice coffee, and talked some more. And, we haven’t stopped talking since, lol. We were engaged five months later and married the following year at the church where we met and started our first date.
While I was chatting with the Inspy Romance readers in the blog comments, I realized I’d used the same location as my first date with my husband, over twenty years ago.
 |
| Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia |
Our children are baffled by the whole concept of Dad calling Mum on a land line phone that was answered by their grandfather. They have their own phones and technology is a normal part of their everyday lives.
On our first date, I met my husband in the courtyard of our church in Manly on a balmy January summer evening. Our church was hosting a mission week that included Christian rock bands performing each night. We listened to the band for a while before heading down The Corso to Manly Beach and a quieter café where we could talk.
The relaxed atmosphere and ambiance in the beach side café was conductive to long, heart-to-heart conversations. We talked, and drank really nice coffee, and talked some more. And, we haven’t stopped talking since, lol. We were engaged five months later and married the following year at the church where we met and started our first date.
His new boss, Julia Radcliffe, isn't so sure. A year ago, Sean walked out on his brother's wedding—and her. Now the bad boy with the surfer good looks is back and determined to make a new life with Julia. She wonders whether she can truly trust that he's a changed man.
It took time and faith, but Sean is finally on the right path. And his feelings for Julia have only grown stronger. But when Sean's past threatens to jeopardize their future, can he convince Julia they both want the same thing—a love that can overcome every mistake?
~~~~~~~
I’m giving away a print copy of Winning Over the Heiress (worldwide, wherever The Book Depository delivers) to a reader who leaves a comment on this post and enters the Rafflecopter giveaway.
Do you have fond memories of first dates? Or, a favourite date scene from a book or movie? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I love first dates stories :) My first date story has been published in The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter under the title 'Flipflops and Mountain Streams'. Although Noel and I had known each other for years (I used to climb in his tree-house when my parents visited his), the trip to Debegeni waterfalls, a two hour journey from home, was our first official date. It was meant to be a foursome with a friend of mine and her boyfriend who had planned to visit me for the weekend. When they could no longer come, Noel and I decided to still go. I didn't mind, at all. Navigating a narrow ledge with a huge mountain pool below, I declined Noel's help (stupid girl), and landed up slipping and falling into the icy water. I quickly held up the borrowed camera that hung around my neck as I started falling, only to find as I broke the water that it was my flipflops in my hand instead of the camera, which was still dangling around my neck ... in the water.
ReplyDeleteI may have had an expensive camera repair bill, but I did walk away with a fuzzy photo of my future husband :) Totally worth the cost!
Hi Marion, I love your first date story :) Thanks for sharing and it's great that your story is published in a Devotional.
DeleteI enjoyed reading about your first date. I met my husband on a blind date.. Married 38 years! I would enjoy reading your book :)
ReplyDeleteHi Deanna, Wow, it's lovely to hear that your blind date was a great success :) Thanks for sharing your story with us and good luck in the drawing!
DeleteI love both how-we-met & first-date stories. Being a romantic at heart, I love a good love story! Winning over the Heiress would be a great addition to my collection. The character interview on Inspy Romance was such a delightful read! Thanks for sharing and for the chance to win your book.
ReplyDeleteHi Trixi, I agree, it's fun to hear about first date and first meet stories. The character interview with Sean and Julia was fun to write, too! Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the drawing :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway Narelle... :)
ReplyDeleteHi Celeste, Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the drawing :)
DeleteLovely to read about your first date, Narelle. And great the two of you continue to talk the way you did back then.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ian :) My husband is a patient man, having listened to me talk a lot over the years, lol.
DeleteNice story, Narelle! My husband and I met, went out on one date, and didn't talk after that...until five years later when he randomly asked me out again, neither of us remembering the first date. We hit it off the second time and were engaged six months later!
ReplyDeleteHi Sara, I love your story and it reveals the importance of timing. I'm glad you hit off the second time around :)
DeleteI was a single parent, teaching English in a new school. My classroom was on the second floor. The classroom directly below me was occupied by a math teacher who happened to be Catholic. The English teacher whose classroom was next door to mine kept talking about the math teacher below, telling me what a perfect couple we'd make. I told her that wouldn't work. I was divorced, and he was Catholic. Not a good mixture. Eventually, I gave in and went out with him, just to keep her from nagging. It sort of backfired. We've been married more than fifty years, have reared four children who have given us nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. I still can't figure out who had the last laugh, the other English teacher or us. No contest. We got the better end of the deal.
ReplyDeleteHi Judith, I love your story! Congratulations on fifty plus years with your beloved. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us :)
DeleteGreat story, Narelle. Thanks for sharing! Love the way the cafe featured in the stories.
ReplyDeleteHi Elaine, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment :)
ReplyDeleteSo much fun reading these first date stories. I can't even think what I would call a first date with my husband. We met at an InterVarsity summer training camp. We did things together like walk in the woods and sing in a duet in a local church, but after that it was all correspondence and occasional visits to one another's college, none of which could really be called a "date" although there was definitely a growing relationship. Forty-two years and counting. No regrets.
ReplyDeleteHi LeAnne, the summer camp sounds like lots of fun and a great opportunity to get to know your future husband :) I love how all our stories are so different. Thanks for sharing your lovely story with us.
DeleteEnjoyed reading the comments about first dates. Your book sounds really good.
ReplyDeletejwisley8@me.com
Hi joye, I'm glad you've enjoyed the post. Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the drawing :)
Deletethe first meeting in the movie "Holiday Engagement" (It's on Netflix in the US now.)
ReplyDeleteHi jcp, I haven't seen Holiday Engagement and I'll look out for it. Thanks for the movie tip and good luck in the drawing :)
Delete