‘Though bound forever, unfettered we roam

till we meet on yonder river of stars.’

- Li Bai

永结无情游，

相期邈云汉

- 李白

It was fateful that our first true date took place within a London gym. (“How about I meet you by the bar?...,” he said, misleadingly). Third Space, Soho, tucked behind the lights of Piccadilly Circus. The stroll afterwards carried us through St. James’ Park, Whitehall, and ended with chit-chat on the steps of Trafalgar Square. The starfield on that particular night now sits framed above our bed.

The following week, Tim gifted Rachel something for her literary spirit: an anthology of 300 Tang-era poems.

'And ‘tis my faith that every flower

Enjoys the air it breathes!’

- William Wordsworth, Lines Written in Early Spring

Two months in, we made our first trip away to the Lake District. Between the bites of mint-cake and fudge, we hiked the perfect green hills under varying levels of fatigue. One highpoint was reaching the summit of Helm Crag outside Grasmere lake. It was the first of many heights we’d later reach together - and always to a similar beat: Rachel springing to the top in good spirits, while Tim huffed and puffed behind. What better way to know you’ve found your other half, than by looking like a fool?

“Home is where one starts from,”

- T. S. Eliot, East Coker

Since we first met, Rachel and Tim have known six different homes, but just one together. Despite the adventures, our story so far is really a homely one, retelling peaceful years of playing, reading, working, eating, painting and the other daily moments we can easily take for granted. Tim first moved in alone, with Rachel joining shortly afterwards. Our third lodger, Jojo, stops by now and then. Tufnell Park Road has been the setting for so much good news and will always be our first true home.

“If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends. Make it last forever, friendship never ends.”

- ancient Saxon proverb.

We’ve been lucky enough to get to know each other’s loved ones, both at home and overseas.

Atlanta

Chinese food

Christmases

Trips to the Natural History Museum

Pub quizzes

Nights out, birthday parties

Tblisi

Malaysia

“A loving heart is the truest wisdom.” - Charles Dickens, David Copperfield

The decision to propose was an easy one. The devil was, as ever, in the details of where, when, and how. What setting would best blend our love of nature and our love of home?

Where so, one May evening, outside a shepherd’s hut in Somerset overlooking the pasture, Tim knelt down beside a bonfire and asked Rachel to marry him. There were doubtless flaws to the delivery: a pheasant kept crowing nearby, Tim placed the ring on the wrong hand, and it remains unclear whether any tears shed were due to joy or the stinging smoke from the outdoor fire pit.

Nevertheless, it was the authentic, loving moment we both had hoped for, and one we’ll never forget.