Naomi and I were dating for a year (a year too long if you ask me, since I knew straight away I’m going to marry her). It was Spring Day 1999 and I told Naomi I’d be working late and that if we had time, would go for a stroll in Kirstenbosch Gardens (being Spring, I thought it was fitting!) to celebrate. Meanwhile what I was up to, was setting up a blanket, little lamps some champagne and some poetry books in one of the nice quiet spots in Kirstenbosch that has a view with some privacy. I had arranged with the manager on duty to access the gardens after hours as well to fit in with my story of working late.

I went to pick Naomi up and we drove through to Kirstenbosch and just aimlessly strolled around for a while till we “came across” the blanket, lamps, cold champagne and so on. Naomi still didn’t know what was coming, thinking this was all a Spring Day surprise!

We sat down and read the one poem (Brontë’s Living and Loving) and Naomi was still unsuspecting. I think, in hindsight, when I read Khalil Gibran on Love, Naomi must have started to suspect…a nervous silence ensued as I tried to surreptitiously get the ring out and I swear the world went silent as I said to her; “Naomi, will you marry me?”. The surprise was genuine in her eyes and as dusk was settling over the gardens, her eyes and smile must have lit up the area around us as she said “Yes!”…several times (if I remember right!)

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