The Love Story Part 1 - A Chance Meeting.

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We met through friends and the attraction was instant. A tingling sensation aroused from its sleeping hibernation. A burgeoning sexual energy combined with a sense of knowing that together we would be compatible in every sense. He would quieten my uneasiness and I would feel safe. I would be the spark to his humdrum, the wisdom to his healing.

He was recently separated, and I was a few years down the track after my own split and divorce. A horrific affair that ended up with lawyers and court hearings for over 5 years. It was an abusive marriage that lasted over twenty years and I was happy to be out of it. I had become a person that I no longer liked.

Through it, my self-esteem around relationships had taken a battering. I had been on a few dates and quite frankly, was exhausted by the entire process. So you can imagine the exhilaration when this lovely man reciprocated my attention. He was safe too because he was an old classmate of my girlfriend's husband. I didn't have to do a deep Google search or reverse photo check as I would normally before going out with someone

Our 12-hour date was magical, ambling around beautiful Sydney on a mild November afternoon. Wandering through art galleries and museums, followed by drinks at The Opera Bar and a play at the Drama Theatre. The play was shocking but it provided fuel for conversation over our shots of Drambuie until the wee hours. Around 2am, he walked me home, took me in his arms and we kissed with a promise to meet again.

Sadly, as the universe would have it, I had to fly off to Thailand the next day. My daughter and I were volunteering at a school on the Thai/Cambodian border. What Karma is this? What had I done to piss the universe off? I'm helping the poorest children for nothing in return. Is this not enough to warrant that I may be with the man that I know with every cell in my body is meant to be with me? I know the universe doesn't owe me anything, but this is just not fair. I cursed the universe for the rest of the trip much to my daughter's dismay. She tried to calm and reassure me, "Mum, you will be together. I know it".

About to board our plane from Bangkok, I decided to message him, hoping from the pit of my stomach that he may have extended his trip and stayed in Australia so that we may meet again. Alas, he returned my message with a waving emoji saying that our planes would literally be passing in the sky as we each made our way to our respective homes. Me, Sydney, and him, London.

The story continues here...

 

THE AUTHOR

As it does, life took a devastating sideways turn for me. With fierce determination, I quit my teaching job, shut down my photography business, packed up my apartment, hired an agent and rented it out on Airbnb, bought a ticket to London and embarked on an adventure of discovery, both about the world and myself. I’ve learned a great deal about people, places and myself. I’m happy that you are here for the ride. Nina x

Where you can find my work...
I will be documenting my travels through photography on Facebook and Instagram. Prints will also be available on my website. If you are interested in following along, here are some of my sites.

Facebook Group - FINDING NINA ADVENTURE
Sharing daily adventures from my travels including discoveries about myself and the people around me 

Blog - MY CURIOUS CAMERA
An in-depth look at places I've visited with plenty of travel information from Ireland, France, UK, Iceland and who knows where next.  

Website - MY CURIOUS CAMERA
Where you can purchase signed, framed limited edition prints of my work.

Website - NINA BEILBY PHOTOGRAPHY
My professional work as a portrait photographer

Comments

Sue said…
Is this who I think it is?
27 August 2022 at 18:08
Sue said…
I am hoping you are not getting hurt whilst over there I just don't want rhat to happen.
28 August 2022 at 21:16
Nina Beilby said…
Oh no. I'd never let that happen again. Thank you for caring though.
29 August 2022 at 01:05
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