On 19 September, Jackie writes: I start a new adventure today; Richard asked me to be his wife and gave me a lovely diamond engagement ring. THE PROPOSAL: We went out for breakfast/brunch on Saturday. As we were walking back to the car, Richard asked if there was a jeweller in town. I said yes and we walked over to the shop.  Click on the pic for information on H.R. Mallett & Co Jewellers He asked me what type of ring I would like if he was going to buy one. Not knowing what the budget would be, I suggested two or three cluster rings that I quite liked, but said it would really depend on how it looked on my hand. R suggested I look at the tray with single diamond rings and pointed out a couple he thought were quite nice. I agreed they were very nice. He then suggested we go in and take a closer look. He told the assistant the rings he wanted to see and she brought them out. "Yes, they are very nice," I said, "Well, try them on," he said. I tried on the first one; it was a bit tight. The second one was perfect. I said, "I really like it." "Good," he said, "we'll take that one." Then he looked at me . . . oops! "Will you marry me?" Well I was still wearing the ring, so I had to say yes. I would have said yes, ring or not. I had always said he had to ask me so that I knew it was a conscious decision and not just a habit we'd slipped into. THE RING: THE CELEBRATION & FORMAL PORTRAIT: We're going out to the local club for a drink and dance, then home to open the champagne and take a picture for posterity. The next day, she writes: Well, we had a lovely night out dancing, then home to enjoy a drink. We won't drink and drive. Of course we are a dog family, so home meant old clothes the dogs can jump on, So here is our official engagement pic . . . . The dogs got peanuts dipped in champagne. We have planned to get married on 16 June 2016. Read it backward; we're both 61 and he proposed when we were both 60. Our thought is a Caribbean wedding cruise, but we will have to see what is available And so, Jackie & Richard will live happily ever after. (Yes, there will be a wedding website, linked from here.) (And many thanks to Maureen Scott for the theme of this site.) ANDREA DENNINGER: I AM SO. FRIGGIN'. HAPPY. FOR. YOU. BOTH! MAUREEN SCOTT: Bit of a fairy tale ending for our Jackie. Good deeds being rewarded with a happily ever after . . . BOB ANDERSON: Great looking couple! Congrats!! MARY O'CONNELL What a wonderful story . . . thanks for sharing. JAN WILLIAMS This is the most wonderful news. Congratulations to you both and, of course, the Wild Bunch. MONICA MAHN What an AWESOME story! PEGGY NALLEY What a lovely story. Congrats to Jackie and Richard. DENISE ST JOHN Congratulations, Jackie and Richard. Love your story and looking forward to reading more. EILEEN KEMP What a wonderful page to find in my inbox this morning! Congratulations on your engagement! Sincere best wishes to you both! SIDNEY HARDIE How wonderful! Congratulations to you both! BRENDA ISAACS This made me SMILE! Sounds like a fairy tale to me and I love fairy tales! YIPPPPEEE and CONGRATS to both Jackie and Richard! LYNN MUDD Congratulations Jackie! (and Richard of course). He's a very lucky man! I so enjoyed reading your love story.Thank you and Andréa for taking us all on yet another great adventure together. I can't wait to read the sequel. Wishing you many years filled with laughter and love! LORI TAYLOR Congratulations and Best Wishes to Jackie and Richard. May all the rest of your days ahead be together, and blessed with happiness, contentment and love! JUDY JOHNSON Sounds like a Hallmark movie! CATHY BIERSACK What a lovely, romantic story. I am very happy for you! BARBARA MORRISON How wonderful! JACKIE IKE What great fun and excitement!! I'm so happy for you both!!! RUSTY LaFRANCE HUGE Congrats to Jackie and Richard!!! Such a wonderful story!!! So SO Happy for both of you. EVIE FIESELER Very best wishes to Jackie and Richard for a comfortable, wonder-filled life together! MARE & NICK MOORE Can't stop grinnin', I'm so GIDDY with happiness for you BOTH. We know that you'll be the loveliest of June brides, Jac! A h-uile la sona dhuibh's gun la idir dona dhuibh! (May all your days be happy ones!) and Slainte an Righ, na Ban-righinn, 's an teaghlaich rioghail! (Health to the King [aka Richard], the Queen [aka Jackie], and the royal household [aka The Wild Bunch]). Sending HUGE congratulatory hugs you & R's way, MARILYN ROYLE Such wonderful, wonderful news! What a beautiful couple - may you find love and happiness together, forever and ever! LIBBY KARIER & GARRY LOW Oh we just love happy endings. Congratulations, best wishes, all happiness and every thing else good in life. LELA & MARVIN CRISWELL Congratulations to you both! May you have many happy years together! SHANNON & JOE RADOSEVICH Ahhhh that's really so neat! Happy for you both! TRACIE COTTON Oh how SWEET! So happy for both of you. Congratulations! MARILYN TYMA Lovely story. SUE FORRESTER & BILL MOLYNEUX So excited and so thrilled for you both . . . the stars are clearly aligned, ducks in a row, and all the dance steps in perfect match - what grand adventures await! Happydancing here in Oz for a very wonderful, very brave, very special lady, and one very lucky man. Very very thrilled for Jackie, cannot imagine a person more deserving of such unexpected happiness. SHELLEY STOTTS Congratulations, Jackie and Richard! I wish you love, much happiness and many more years of dancing together! MARY BRABENDER This is wonderful news. I understand your happiness. What a great picture. They look so happy don't they? JULIE HERRIDGE CONGRATULATIONS JACKIE & RICHARD! I remember last Summer, up here in Kincardine, at dinner with Mare & Nick [Moore], Jackie, in your ever-so-delightful way, mentioned a nice fellow that you had met dancing. Well, you make a wonderful couple, and if The Wild Bunch approves, a great future is guaranteed! MAY GOD GIVE YOU PEACE & JOY & BLESS YOU! KIM COOK Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness! How wonderful! MARY LOU DEWAR My sincere congrats to both Jackie and Richard, It is wonderful that you have found each other by chance. Wishing you both a long and very happy life together. JERI LANGMAN: Congrats, Jackie, and welcome to the family, Richard. KATE ANGUS: Congratulations to my dear friend Richard and the lovely Jackie with very best wishes for your future together.

. . . WHICH THEN LEAD TO . . . PLANNING