I met Kate (Gade in Thai) in 2003 when I started working in Thailand. She was one of a number of people I worked with in the plasterboard business, and we were good friends – but just that. We went to business events together and even had a dinner or two together, but just as friends. To be honest, I thought - as I still do, that I was too old for her and that she was very clever and that she would end up marrying an international businessman of some kind.

In 2004 I was in Thailand and didn't see her at all, although I did try. Equally, she came to Australia that year and we both said we should catch up, but somehow it just didn't happen.

However in February 2005 we began talking to each other by email and SMS on a regular basis and our friendship grew from these conversataions.

We discovered that we have many interests in common.

In business we are both fascinated by the market and how it reacts to a company's attempts to entice it. We both enjoy working in the business community - networking - and developing our respective products.

Away from business we have core loves: travel, bush walking, animals, surf, boats, swimming, meeting people, parties, beach camping, four wheel driving, dancing and our love for God - all have been things that have ensured that our times together are fun and interesting.

We grew closer.... and closer.

In October 2007 I called her and I said "we've spent so much time on the web, either in email or on Skype talking and sharing, that I think on this occasion it is entirely appropriate if I ask you something - she had no clue what was coming! :-)

I said "I want to ask you to marry me". In her typical cute Thai way, she said "Oh darling, the water is coming out of my eyes - yes of course I will marry you!".

The obvious thing that people first notice about this relationship of course is our difference in age. But Kate is very clear that she loves me as I am, and takes the view that she’ll have as much of me as she can get.

And it turns out after-all that she actually IS marrying an international businessman.... Me :-)

During our time together we have traveled to many places and already have a lifetime of photos to help us relive some of these occasions. These trips are something of a preparation for our married life, because after the wedding, Kate will join me in my work in India where we are on the verge of starting a very exciting business – something that my career to date has been perfect training for.

I know I am very blessed, because the one person who I can share my mind with wants to marry me, despite knowing all about my bad points, and despite my age. And I have decided that I don’t want to live any longer without her.

So that said, I hope that you’ll get to meet Kate at some stage soon (if you haven’t already), and fall in love with her, as I have.

Graham