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Ian's freezing room in his student house, Derby Road. I rather hoped Wendy James
would catch a chill! |
Twenty five years ago on 7 December 1990, I met the man who changed my life. It was a cold winter evening, snow was imminent. Simon Baily (aka Cupid Bailey!) and I had successfully avoided being hit by flying spuds courtesy of Nottingham University Willoughby Hall's end of term dinner. Across campus, the Sherwood Hall Christmas Party beckoned.
Why was I so excited about being there? Why did I keep asking everyone if Ian was going to be coming along? Something has been clearly working away subconsciously. Sure, we'd played volleyball together a few times, and had had a beer or two with friends, but I hadn't been aware of any feelings for him.
After what seemed a lifetime, Mr White arrived alongside his mate, Andy. My heart skipped a beat as he walked into the throng of dancing bodies. But then - damn it - a pretty blonde grabbed him and threw her arms around him. My disappointment took me by surprise - it wasn't to be my night. He was already taken.
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| Simon and I, Willougby Hall, 1990 |
How wrong I was. He eventually shrugged off the persistent blonde (alright, my interpretation of the proceedings!) and joined our merry little group. To cut a long story short, we ended the night kissing in the foyer of Sherwood Hall. A security guard tried to usher us out into the cold night air as the party came to an end but Ian was having none of it. I think his response to that guard was 'Can't you see I'm busy?' And the rest, as they say, is history.
Thanks Cupid Bailey for the introduction and thank you Ali Dexter for being the best sister-in-law I could have ever wished for.
