I got to know Pat through the UL Computer Society's Skychat - a local internet chat thingy where UL students and graduates would mostly chat and occasionally discuss computer matters instead of doing actual study. :) We were both supposed to be working on our FYP's that time. Because as a student one can be very resourceful when it comes to finding ways to avoid study, we found ourselves chatting often instead of getting the head down and doing some real work.
Pat also happened to be in the same course as my house-mate Ed. I had once asked Ed what Pat looked like so that I might recognise him around and got told he "has that whole Keanu Reeves thing going". After a good few weeks of chatting online and being a naturally curious person, I decided I had to meet this guy. Not because he might look like Keanu but because he seemed so nice. Previously, I had jokingly threatened him to find out what he looked like, sneak up behind him and go "BOO!" and run away.
I therefore convinced Pat it would be better for him in the long-run to meet me voluntarily. So one day he announced he was going to go for f00d (as he called it) in the Paddocks and I agreed to meet him there. Apparently, there was a look of utter disappointment on my face when I saw him first. He claims to believe to this day that I believed Ed and expected some Keanu Reeves look-alike to wander in the door but I swear, I simply thought Ed had been referring to the hair do or the eyes or something like that. I suppose part of him will never believe me. :) After that first encounter and despite the disappointment that may or may not have been felt by some, we started spending more and more time together; going for walks and cups of hot chocolate in the "Allegro" instead of to Tutorials and talking and talking and talking...

During these first few weeks I also got introduced to one of the other members of the O'Loughlin clan, our best man - Mike. We went out for his birthday and I was left chatting to someone who I thought was Mike for a good long while before the two gentlemen finally decided to put me out of my misery and inform me I had been speaking to the "wrong Mike" while real one had been sitting quitely in his corner finding the whole thing hilarious! That other guy, whose name I have long forgotten, just looked so much like he could have been Pat's brother! I suppose that was my first instroduction to he slagging and devilment that is quite normal for the O'Loughlin household!

Despite all that, we built the foundation of a wonderful relationship that blossomed very quickly at the end of that final year in UL. It is almost 5 and a half years later now and Pat is everything I could wish for in a future husband; kind, loving, gentle, funny; someone I trust, respect and cannot imagine being without. I look forward to walking down that aisle and celebrate the beginning of our married life together with him.






First draft that the bride did not want you to see:

Living with him, doing his washing, cooking, cleaning and tidying; about bloody time we got married! :)