Mike's Version

so I had bought a ring with money from jobs over the summer, thanks guys... and was planning to propose on the beach at sunset... I just had to find a time that we were in Cumbria so it wasn't too obvious, of course it was incredibly obvious but hey ho I tried. We went for a lovely walk on he beach with the sun up and the tide out so there were lots of little streams for me to chivalrously give her a piggy back across them.We then went to a little area to make a bonfire, I almost failed but I was mainly enough to make fire in my neanderthal manly duties. Then I got the ring out my pocket, in one attempt, honest... and she said yes..... woop!

Claire's Version

on the evening of thursday 23rd july, after a day cycling over very steep mountain passes, Mike and I drove to the seaside to buy pattie and chips.pattie is a northern dish which is best described as a deepfried shepherds pie which Mike wants every time he visits cumbria. We took the food to a beach between silloth and allonby remembered by Mike for it's amazing sunsets. The beach is several miles of sand and was at very low tide so after eating we walked along the waters edge with mike giving me piggybacks through the wettest parts as appropriate. As the sun was setting we huddled into one of the sand dunes and mike built and lit a bonfire whilst I helped gather wood and dry seaweed .Mike then started to blab a lot which gave me a clue as to what he was trying to do, I therefore made it difficult with inappropriate answers to his leading questions. Eventually I was quiet enough for him to get me to stand up and look at the view. Mike told me to close my eyes but couldn't get the ring out of the bag in his pocket so hid behind me and said surprise. After closing my eyes again he eventually said some more nice things and dropped to one knee with the ring and asked me to marry him. I, obviously, said yes and forgot tradition and kissed him before he had a chance to put the ring on. Once order was resumed and he put on the beautiful green amethyst and diamond ring he'd bought me.