From the moment I saw the article about Rohan’s very public proposal, I knew it spelt trouble for all blokes on the Border.
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Well not quite all blokes, just ones like me.
You see, I’ve been in a relationship for the best part of three years and share a home with the lovely Janice.
We’ve travelled overseas together, have a joint bank account and even have a pet dog.
I reckon we’ve got it all and am a fan of the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
However, according to plenty of our friends and a few of my colleagues here at The Border Mail, there is one thing missing — an engagement ring.
So much so, at the start of the year, a few of the boys at work took the opportunity to fill in my desk calendar.
And not surprisingly, they weren’t so subtle with their offerings.
Monday, July 14 — Thomas Jewellers sale starts.
Saturday, November 8 — Possible wedding date.
Doesn’t leave much to the imagination does it?
Well sorry boys, November 8 has already passed with no engagement and no wedding — looks like the team of Nostradamuses got that one wrong!
There’s no doubt the pressure is building, though.
A visit to my parents’ house last month prompted one inquisitive workmate to ask if we had gone out to the farm to announce our engagement.
On a recent night out on the town, and with more than a few drinks on board, one of Janice’s close mates thought she could catch me off guard.
“So when are you going to ask her?” she inquired.
“I don’t know, I haven’t really thought about it,” I said, hoping that would be the end of the interrogation.
Apparently this was an unacceptable response.
“If you don’t do it soon I’m going to think you don’t really like her!” she replied.
A little bit over the top, but point taken.
There are a couple of hurdles I’m going to have to overcome before I propose, though.
First of all, with Janice being an accountant, it will be hard to sneak enough money away to buy the ring.
Secondly, I’m generally quite predictable and with a girlfriend that “knows everything”, it would be difficult to plan a proposal to surprise her.
Finally, after a proposal like Rohan’s, how can a bloke pop the question without looking second-rate by comparison?
Romantic dinners have been done to death, so I’ll cross that one off the list.
I know a few people who have proposed on the beach during an overseas holiday, so that would just be copying.
Try again.
We’re both passionate Collingwood supporters, perhaps the big screen at the MCG at half-time against arch-rivals Carlton could be an option.
Given the Pies’ form against the Blues in 2008, I think that’d be a bad idea.
Can’t have the mob from Caaaaarlton ruining what is supposed to be a memorable day now can we?
Anyway, enough football talk, it’s time to get back on the subject.
At the end of the day, I guess it doesn’t really matter how you propose.
It’s whether you get a positive response that matters.
So here goes …
Janice, will you marry me?
UPDATE ... And she said yes