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In
November 1995, I visited the studios with two of my friends. We were
having fun putting together a personalized tape & videoing each other.
We could see in the distance, in one of the other studios that there was
a guy presenting a show. I was told his name was Stephen. I never really
went home with any clear memories of the guy in the other studio that
day but I saw that he looked quite nice...but that was from a distance
of course. After our visit, my friend, Julie had joked that the "guy in
the distance" had "eyed me up" as she put it but I laughed it off &
never really thought anything of him again. We watched the video we made
from that day of us all in the studio. It was amusing & there were some
distant clips of the mystery guy on there too.
In 1997, I finally joined the world of the Internet. I had heard a fair
bit about it at that point & thought that it sounded interesting & a
good way to meet new friends. My friend, Julie had got on it a few
months before & she seemed to be really enjoying it. I decided I just
*had* to give this new world of adventure a go ...and what an adventure
it has been too!!! I invested in a computer in April & was on line by
the end of June. I decided to surprise Julie & send her an email off my
new account. She was amazed to hear from me. I started out by emailing
friends who were already on line & then gradually I began web surfing &
discovered penpal sites, etc. I began chatting on the phone & meeting
some of my net pals in person, which is always really exciting. I
downloaded ICQ in March 1998 & found myself forming a new contact list
of cyber buddies.
Then, one day in April 1998, I received a mailing list by email, which
was sent out to all the supporters of the Hospital Radio station in Kent
I'd visited. I'd noticed one of the people the email was sent to, was
Stephen, the guy who'd been at the station the same time as me. The guy
I'd seen in the distance. Since I quite fancied having a new pal who had
the same interests, I thought I'd write to him to see if he's like to
have me as a penpal. I sent an email to this guy who I believed lived in
England, to see if he'd like to write to me. I checked my mailbox the
first week or so after I had written but no avail. I decided maybe I
should try writing to someone else instead. Then, when I wasn't
expecting it, I suddenly received a reply from Stephen!! It had taken
him 2 weeks to reply (but better late than never! Hee!). I got a very
nice email back from him saying he would like to write to me. He wrote
in depth, told me about himself, took an interest in what I wrote &
asked me questions. He also had a good sense of humour. The type of
qualities I like in a pal. The big shocker was discovering he was no
longer living in Kent, UK but was in AUSTRALIA!! I.e, the other side of
the world. He'd moved there 2 years before. I must admit to being a tad
disappointed as he seemed really nice but I didn't let it get in the way
of us having a friendship. From then on, we began writing almost every
day. We chatted about our lives, had a laugh, etc. I got excited logging
on to see if there were any emails from him each day :-)
About 3 weeks after we bagan writing, I suggested to him that he might
like to try downloading ICQ as it would be a *great* way to chat as we'd
only ever chatted by email. The following morning, I logged on to see if
there were any emails and suddenly an authorization request to be added
onto someone's contact came in. It was from HIM. I was amazed that he
had got it downloaded so quickly really. I hastily accepted him & added
him to my contact list. Then, to my surprise, I got an ICQ message
saying, "You've been added". I was soooo excited as it meant he was LIVE
on line that *very minute*. We went in ICQ chat & it was really amazing
to be talking with him in real time. He was calling me his babe, etc &
we were having a cool chat. We continued to chat on ICQ on a regular
basis. We found out a lot about each other this way & is an alternative
to email & exciting knowing he was sat at his computer at that minute
typing to me. I would often log on to ICQ & hope his little blue name
would appear!!
Shorty after we chatted on ICQ for the first time, we began to discuss
the possibility of speaking on the telephone for the first time. You can
get quite reasonable phone deals overseas these days so it wasn't
impossible for us to chat on the phone at all. I'd spoken to & met net
pals in the past & people have always been who they say they are & how I
imagine them to be really. I decided to give Stephen my number. He
suggested a day & time he might call. Then, the day & time arrived & so
did the ringing tone on my phone. I felt a shudder through me as I knew
I was about to chat to chat to the guy who had only warmed my heart with
words up to then. I loved a nice voice on a guy too & just couldn't wait
to hear how he sounded. It sure *was* Stephen & we chatted easily about
anything & everything for about an hour. He sure did have a gorgeous
voice :-) We began talking on the phone regularly after that, as well as
emailing & meeting each other on ICQ. We got closer over time & I looked
forward to our phone chats & they became more important & exciting than
email/ICQ.
Sometime in June, I got an email from a friend of Stephens from Kent
called Brian wanting to be email pals. Stephen knew I liked writing to
people & making new friends male or female & since he seemed really nice
& we had the same interests, I thought I'd write to him. We became good
friends & I met his wife who is really nice too.
During the summer, I had a visit to Kent to stay with my friend, Julie &
took the opportunity to meet up with Brian whilst I was there. Brian
came to pick us up & we went to a nearby pub & had a good chat. It was
really weird & amazing meeting someone who had known Stephen for many
years but I was still yet to meet him...and was scared that I never
would. Brian was even wearing a T - shirt Stephen had sent him. I spent
ages getting ready & wanting to create a good impression as I know Brian
would be "reporting back" to Stephen. In fact, it was quite a scary
thought!!!
I also thought to send some photos of myself to Stephen around this
time. He'd seen the photos on my website but thought it'd be good to
send him some by "snail mail" as it's a lot more "personal". I wrote him
a couple of letters as I enjoy writing & sent him cassettes of me
talking on them. I spent *ages* deciding whether or not to send him a
video of myself. I decided against it at that time.
A *very* exciting day came in August. It was the day he phoned to say
that he was coming over to the UK to MEET me!!! We'd often talked about
meeting in real life & we both knew we thought a lot of each other &
that we would like to meet in person. I couldn't believe it & was so
excited. It was planned for him to come over to the UK in December,
where he'd spend some time with me & some time with his family.
Not long before we met, I received some video footage of Stephen in
Australia, which Brian had recorded on his recent holiday there. I was
ever so excited seeing Stephen, his unit, etc. It gave me a good insight
to his surroundings & life in Perth. I was mostly excited at how good he
looked on the video!!! After all, my vision from 1995, was from a
distance & when he was a few years younger. I watched the video over &
over.
On 11/12/98, I travelled down to Kent as it was the BIG day. The day I
would finally get to meet Stephen after communicating with him via the
phone/Internet for 7 months. I was really nervous (& excited) as I
travelled to Chatham, Kent to meet Brian from work that afternoon. (I
was to stay with him & his wife you see.) Stephen had arrived in UK
early that morning. I couldn't think straight as I looked around the
shopping centre in Chatham to kill time before Brian came out of work.
It was unbelievable to think I'd have Stephen stood in front of me in
person. The very same voice & personality over the phone, but locked in
a body next to me!! Once Brian & I met, he then drove me home to his
place in Kent to get ready. Whilst in the car, Stephen called us on
Brian's mobile. It was really weird speaking to Stephen knowing he was
now in UK & I'd actually be MEETING him AT LONG LAST within a couple of
hours!!! We arranged to meet at a nearby pub (10 minute walk away)
So Brian walked with me down to the pub. I was sooooo nervous walking
down there. I must have been shaking. Hee! We got there before Stephen
(at least I thought so at the time!) Brian said he'd wait with me until
Stephen arrived then disappear when he saw him.
Unknown to us, Stephen had been hiding behind a bush waiting for Brian
to go before he appeared but realized he wasn't going anywhere so came
out of his hiding place. I was talking to Brian when he suddenly said,
"Hi Steve" & disappeared back down the road. Then I looked across the
road & there before me was STEPHEN!!! I couldn't believe it. It was so
weird seeing him in front of me in the flesh! We gave each other a hug
then went into the pub, where we chatted all evening. It was so exciting
finally meeting him after all this time of chatting on the phone, etc.
The moment I'd visualized all these months was happening! He was just as
gorgeous as I thought he'd be!!
We spent the whole weekend together in Kent before travelling to North
Wales, where I'm from. It was really thrilling having Stephen visit my
home, to see my bedroom, the famous computer we chatted on, to meet my
family. It was exciting to have him in my world. He spent 3 more days
with me before returning back to Kent to see his family. The following
week, Stephen came over to stay with me again. He spent Christmas with
my family & I. It was lovely to have him over & the fact it was
Christmas made it even more special. We did all kinds of things
throughout our time together in the UK. We went to restaurants, pubs,
visiting places, etc. I took lots of photos & video footage of course.
It was devastating when he had to go back to Australia shortly after but
I did accept that the moment had to arrive.
We continued to chat on the phone/email/ICQ just as we had before we had
met & Stephen had invited me over to Australia to spend more time with
him & to see what it is like there. I was really excited about meeting
him but part of me felt it to be impossible as I was really scared of
flying. It also seemed a big step to travel alone. It was also a big
move to give up my job & travel all that way away from my family &
friends who are just as important. I wanted to meet Stephen again but
was aware of the obstacles that awaited. Could I go through with it? I
spent a good couple of weeks agonizing over what I should do & if I
could go through with it. What if this & What if that? Eventually, I did
the deed. I went into a travel shop with my friend Allie & booked a
flight to Perth, Australia. I couldn't believe what I'd done. It seemed
so unreal. I phoned Stephen to tell him & he seemed really pleased
(which was a relief).
Gradually, the big day got nearer & on 7/4/99, I boarded the plane at
Manchester airport. My parents, sister, Helen & friend, Allie saw me
off. I was really, really nervous but it was one big adventure & I'd get
to see Stephen again. Although I was scared taking off, I soon got
settled & kept myself busy reading & writing letters to my friends.
Eventually, one day later, I finally arrived into Perth - Stephens
world!! I was *very* tired by this point & was so pleased when I saw
Stephen & was in his arms again!
I got settled into my new environment. I loved Perth straight away as it
is such a beautiful place & I could see why Stephen chose to live here.
I guess it wasn't until I arrived here, Stephen & I *really* got to know
each other. We did all kinds of things. Went to Melbourne, travelled in
Western Australia, went out to pubs, restaurants, the cinema (something
I never used to do much before), shopping, visiting places, and
generally just spending time together. It was cool to finally be able to
see what life he leads here. I'm still in Perth with Stephen & taking
every day as it comes. We have fun together & have our ups & downs &
know there are many obstacles to overcome if we are to be together a
long time. Whatever happens though, I won't regret knowing Stephen & the
impact he's had on my life. Travelling to & living out here has been a
good experience & something I'd probably never have achieved otherwise &
I know that if we *do* ever have to split up & I return to the UK, I
have given it a fair go.
"Katy"
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