Vera De Ruiter
This is me, the bride,Vera! Some say I look a little like a young Barbara Streisand in this picture. I don’t think so. Who is she anyway? Funnily enough though, the biggest question I get asked so often is “why the hell are you marrying Peter? What a waste.” I don’t really understand that question…but then again…I am Dutch! Here’s my story…
Let me start by saying that I am actually quiet normal. Pete is the wackiest one and for some dark reason we ended up on the same path. Things like that happen when you least expect it but must be why it worked out so well.
As I mentioned above I’m Dutch: A cheese-eating, clog-wearing tulip-grower born in a windmill way below sea level. It was when I watched ‘Crocodile Dundee’ at the age of 7 when my live changed: I was born to live in Australia! For years to come emigrating was all I could think of. When asked ‘what do you want to be when you’re a grown up?’ the answer varied from shepherd to physiotherapist to farmer, but is was always followed by ‘….in Australia’.
Well, I made it there and spent a year travelling and working my way around the country. I tried to find myself an Aussie husband but no luck (well, I did have luck but not to my liking) so the visa expired and I had to go home. Family happy!
On my second try to make it to the other side of the globe I made it as far as…well….the UK!!! Ups and downs in sunny Chester, more travels to other exotic destinations, but it was a bus tour to Wales that changed my life for good this time. I was asked to help filming by an old friend and ended sitting next to a driver/guide named Pete.
My first impression: If you think you’re going to get anywhere with me you’re SOOOOO wrong!!!
Oh well, you can’t always be right I suppose?
Months of unusual dates followed. So unusual I made notes of them so I can still tell you that for dates in the first 3 weeks he took me to:
-A dogging carpark – this was actually on the very first date and I like to believe this was a genuine mistake!
-Berlin – where he left me on my own after one night as he had some ‘important meeting’ to go to in London
- Dinner in Warrington – only to be told when nearly there that it was actually a double date with his ex wife and new boyfriend. We ended up staying there on the sofa for the night, odd?
- An audition for a game show at the BBC
- A night out with his kids I didn’t know he had . At this point I started to suspect some numbers didn’t add up. This was confirmed later – he was just 5 years older than stated at the first meeting.
Many more exceptional dates followed and I decided that, well, we were meant to be!! Excitement and adventure, the unexpected, a challenge, whenever, where ever, that’s me ánd that’s us!
I don’t dream of a white wedding dress, I just want a day of good fun on 20.10 2010. I hope we can create that this way, with your help, all up to you (but don’t make me wear a bin bag please…)
