4th of January 2016 (04/01/2016) Thailand
The day we become a tour couple...
It was a typical day in Krabi, Thailand. Thirty something degrees Celsius and a level of humidity that causes the "Chang" of the night before to sweat out of all your pores. After a kayaking date, we formalized our tour relationship in a celebration with friends at a bar in the Thai Jungle.
Only a few weeks before I had met this Canadian girl with a beautiful infectious smile. We had become good friends over the past few weeks. Life would never be the same again.
Fred
January 2017.
From Thailand to "The Toon"
After the Thailand tour ended, Fred returned to England and I flew back to Canada. Within a few days of being back in the dead of winter in Edmonton I was missing Fred and wondering if there was more to our holiday romance. Needing some clarity, I flew across the pond to meet Fred in Newcastle, England. After a week of exploring the city and meeting his friends I knew I didn't want to say good-bye to him again. We made the relationship Facebook official before I flew back home but we weren't sure when we would see each other again...
Laura
March 2017.
On a KLM to the NHL
12 hours on a KLM flight and a 20 degree Celsius drop later, I had arrived in Calgary, Alberta. To warm me up, Laura took me to a Canadian "restaurant" for a "double-double" & doughnut.
Canadian hospitality did not stop there! Laura introduced me to hockey; we had the best seats in the house courtesy of Glen (thank you). Having survived a month in Red Deer together and after discovering a mutual love of games, I realized we might make a pandemic beating team.
Fred
Life in Alberta (April 2017- Feb 2020)
It was initially a tough adjustment moving to Alberta from England. A different lifestyle and climate, thousands of kilometres from home. However, life is what you make of it. I made friends with other expats at work and was welcomed like family into the rugby community (thanks Calgary Rams).
My biggest thanks goes to Laura and the Zenith family; Laura really helped me get settled in, Sharon watched a rugby game and the family gifted me lessons and a new hobby in skiing! It turned out life in the snow wasn't so bad after all.
Fred
Life in British Columbia (March 2020-present)
After a few winters in snowy Alberta we thought we would try our luck in BC. We made the journey across the mountains and have now settled in our new home in Port Coquitlam. Despite a bit of rain and high humidity we have been loving the greenery, hikes, paddleboarding and boating opportunities! From Edmonton, to Newcastle, to Calgary, to BC, Fred has been my travel partner and best friend for almost 4 years. I'm not sure what life would look like without him.
Laura
March 2020
The "Covid" Engagement
As the world was locking down, Fred asked if he could lock me down as well. I said yes! Fred proposed while we were visiting England. He took me to a viewpoint overlooking the Tyne - a location that he took me to almost 4 years earlier. It was a quick celebration with friends before flying back to BC to quarantine. Our engagement was spent in isolation with each other and we both survived still in love! We hope to see you in 2021 to celebrate :)
Laura