Every time I look at my beautiful sparkling engagement ring, I ask myself that question – how did that happen?   Seems to be a theme with Zorba and I.   Things just happen without a lot of fan fare or planning.  Like buying our house.  It just happened after we popped into a home open on the street where I was living.  We had only looked at one other house…

So here we were in Hong Kong, shopping, walking, sightseeing and just generally being tourists and trying to fit as much into our 16 hour lay over as we could – including eating.  For those who know me, they know that unforgettable food experiences are high on my list of priorities and a very important part of any cultural experience.  Naturally, I had done some research into where to eat in Hong Kong and made a reservation at a little restaurant one food critic had described as the place where he had one of the best meals of his life – Yin Yang [Ship Street, Wan Chai, tel 28660868].  We had 1.5 hours to kill before dinner and were both feeling a little weary after a long over night flight and 12 hours on our feet. 

We decided to make our way to Wan Chai, the district where we were having dinner, find a bar, and have a pre dinner drink.  Then I saw a jewellery store and I suggested / begged Zorba to go in – just to have a look.  In my mind, I was thinking that I should get some idea of the sort of engagement ring I’d like – and more importantly give Zorba an idea of what I like.  I had a suspicion that he was going to propose to me as soon as I got back from my trip.  Zorba said that trying on rings was a good idea and we went into Man Fook Jewellers in Wan Chai.  Funny, because of the name of the store, I took a photo of the sign out the front (must’ve been an omen!). 

We were seated straight away, given an endless amount of green tea and I was picking and choosing rings to try on and Zorba was critiquing each one.  It was really fun!  When I put it on, the ring that was later to become my engagement ring, I knew I’d found the kind of ring I was looking for. It is stunning without being ostentatious, so sparkly thanks to the ‘arrow’ cut of the diamond, and set in a very simple, classic, yet slightly unusual way.

Zorba asked me if I like it, and of course I said yes. It was stunning.   The chatty sales assistant was spitting out all this information – diamond from Sth Africa, high grade clarity and colour, authentication certificate, lifetime guarantee, able to trade it in for a bigger ring for the same price at any time, on sale (ended up being 40% off) blah blah blah… I could hardly listen to her – I was almost speechless and totally stunned as I watched Zorba pull out his wallet.  The conversation went like this:

Me:  Zorba, stop, what are doing?  You don’t have to buy this…

Z:  Sometimes in life you just have to seize opportunities when they come up.

Me:  But but but – Zorba – what are you doing?!

Z;  Are you sure you like it? 

Me:  of course I do! I love it!  It’s beautiful!!  but you don’t have to do this – what does this mean…?

[chatty pain in the ass shop assistant is blabbering away – I almost smacked her in the chops so Zorba and I could have a moment – after all, this was monumental!]

Zorba:  I think you know what this means.  Will you say yes?

Me [stunned/shocked/screaming inside HOLY COW!!!];  Of course I’d say yes, but you don’t have to do this….

Zorba:  Ti amo, versarmi

Me: … Huh?

Z:  Versarmi

Me [looking confused]:  I’m sorry babe I don’t know what that means….

Z:  Oh sh!t I got it wrong….

Me:  Do you mean ‘sposarmi’ (which means ‘marry me’ in Italian)?

Z:  Yeah! that’s the one!  I’d been practising – daaaamn, can’t believe I got it wrong!

Me:  hahahaahah!  bloody Greeks!  YES!!  [smooch in shop]

Z:  Babe, I was going to ask you in Postiano anyway – and sometimes when opportunities come up, you just have to grab them with both hands! 

Me:  Holy cow!!  Oh my GOD!!  FAR OUT!!!  YIPPPPEEEEEEEE!!!!!  OMG

   In Man Fook Jewellery Store in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

And with that, we skipped out of the shop arm in arm, smiling big huge wide smiles, and headed to the restaurant for dinner. I almost tripped about 5 times because I could not stop staring at my ring and wasn’t watching were I was going.

As I wrote in my last blog entry, we ate a fabulously sensational meal, washed it down with two bottles of organic red wine, and then rushed to the airport for our flight to Roma. 

So there you have it! 

I have reminded Zorba that he got out of the proposal lightly – no big planned day, no nervous speech, etc etc.  I have since also reminded him that an engagement ring is usually one month’s (or more) salary – so i get change!!!  Hahaha!  It’s all good!

Now before anyone starts getting excited about a wedding – don’t.  We have always said, well, I have always said, that I want to take the money and run.  So there might not be a big fat Greek wedding….!  We have no idea what we are going to do just yet – just enjoy Italy and enjoy being engaged.

The end.