We met and married in 26 DAYS!'
Thursday 2nd July 2009
We were two bottles of house white down and the conversation had turned to every woman's favourite subject. Men. I was on a training course for my job at a car dealership and, over dinner, I'd got chatting to a couple of other girls.
'I'm single and I've just been dumped,' I grumbled. 'I've always been unlucky with men.' 'Me too,' they both said. What was it with men? 'You'd love my friend, Peter,' piped up my mate, Andy Clark, 38, who was also there. 'He's tall, slim, no ex-wives or kids, and he runs a haulage company and owns a helicopter.' 'Let's call him,' I giggled. 'We could play Blind Date. He can set questions and us girls give our answers.' Well, the wine had been flowing! But when we rang, his phone went to voicemail. I left a message for him to call back but he never did, so I forgot all about it.
Two weeks on, though, my phone rang. 'Hi, this is Peter,' a deep voice said. 'You asked me to call you.' Oh hell. 'Do you fancy a ride in my helicopter?' he asked. What a show-off! But I didn't have any plans for the weekend… 'Can I bring a friend?' I asked. In case he had webbed feet or a mono-brow… 'Of course,' he replied. So the next Saturday, Claire Sutcliffe, 34, and I drove to Bagby Aero Club, near Thirsk, in North Yorkshire. Andy was waiting with a tall, friendly-looking man. I'd been expecting a Flash Harry, but there was nothing flash about Peter Murray, 41, unless you counted his big smile. 'Fasten yourselves in,' he beamed.
Five minutes later, 900ft in the air, Claire went pale. 'I feel sick,' she said and threw up everywhere. 'Oh no,' I yelped, as the back of Peter's flying jacket took the worst of it. Back on the ground, I helped Claire into my car. 'Call me,' I said to Peter, but I didn't have much hope. So I was surprised when, just an hour later, the phone rang. 'Do you still fancy a day out?' Peter said. The throw-up hadn't put him off!
Later, in my local, we didn't stop chatting, but I was still unsure. The man had a helicopter… and probably a woman in every town. Over the next few days, though, I realised I'd got him wrong. 'I even thought you were too flash for me at first,' he admitted. 'You turned up with your shades on, and I thought you might be materialistic.'
The following weekend, Peter was back in my arms, having driven the 120-mile journey from his home in Hartlepool. 'I'm falling for you,' he said, as we ended up in bed. 'I feel the same,' I smiled. The following weekend, he was back with an idea. 'Let's go to New York for Christmas,' he said. It was only a week away, but I didn't think twice. As we booked our flights on the internet, Peter looked at me. 'Why don't we get married there?' he asked. 'Yeah, right,' I laughed. But he was serious. 'I've never felt like this before,' he said. 'I want to marry you.' This was madness. We'd only known each other two weeks. And yet… I knew I loved him.
We flew out to New York the day before Christmas Eve, and the next day, Peter took me to a jewellery shop. We chose a diamond and platinum engagement ring and matching wedding rings. On Boxing Day morning, Peter put on a suit and I slipped into a pale blue top and skirt. Then, while he went out to buy me a bouquet of white roses and orchids, I called my mum, Moira Blackburn, and told her what I was doing. She'd never even met Peter! 'That's a leap of faith, love,' she spluttered eventually. 'But I'll support you.' With her blessing, we headed to City Hall. We asked a passer-by to act as our witness and the ceremony lasted just two minutes. But, as the registrar asked us to pledge our everlasting love, I felt no doubt about my 26-day romance, only happiness. Then we flew home as Mr and Mrs Murray.
In the weeks that followed, I left my job and moved to Hartlepool. I fell pregnant and, on 21 September 2008, our daughter, Iris, arrived. Peter's a wonderful dad and we're both so happy. We're even trying for our second baby. It might be quick but, as you've probably realised, we're a couple who don't like to hang around!