Monthly Archives: September 2012

One day a girl who was passionate about Africa and conservation was told about a boy who was in Africa working in conservation. The girl thought, well what a great opportunity to learn some more and maybe get a chance to do some study.

So off she went to Zambia. The boy had written and said that the only way to get to his national park was to pick up his car from Lusaka and drive it for around 10 hours north – or catch a local mini bus which can err on the intimidating side. So she collected his car, a hardworking green short wheel base late 90′s land cruiser, and immediately thought that anyone with a car this cool must be an interesting character.

The girl arrived at the camp, quite pleased with her intrepid self. She hopped out of the boys car and watched him walk towards her in greeting. As she tried to decide whether his deep blue long lashed eyes or his wide smile with dimples was his best feature, he was busy trying to decide the same thing about her legs or smile.

The days went on and the chemistry between each other started to become more obvious, however both were well behaved. Conversations were fun, work discussions were interesting, long car trips passed easily and shopping trips into town felt so comfortable it was like they had been doing them for years. The boy made jokes about heading to council and getting married and the girl laughed but quietly thought, ‘you know what, I’d do it’.

Alas the path to true love never does run smoothly. The boy it turns out was attached to another girl living many many miles away in America. The girl in Africa went to bed every night broken hearted that having finally found, after years of searching, the boy that she perfectly matched he was taken by another. The boy went to bed every night flled with much confusion.

Finally one night the boy and the girl looked at each other and said openly lets sort this out. The boy confessed he was falling for the girl and the girl admitted she would change her entire world if he would only ask. Two nights later the boy made a very difficult telephone call and ended one relationship in order to start another. The girl was consumed with guilt that her happiness had come at the cost of anothers and the boy felt horrible for causing so much pain to a wonderful person.

The only thing keeping them both happy was the confidence that despite such big hurdles they were doing exactly the right thing for each other. Over the weeks their love continued to deepen as did the certainity that there was no other person for each of them.

The boy decided that although the girl had to go back to Australia he wanted her to go certain of his commitment to her, so he did two things. He spent large amounts of money bookng flights to come visit her in a couple of months. He also spoke to his foreman and said ‘I need a ring’. The boy took the girl camping for the night and suggested a big hike to the top of one of the peaks in the park. The girl was happy and though exhausted, would have followed him anywhere. Finally, and slowly, she made it to the peak where the boy was waiting. He was exhibiting some strange behaviour which the girl was mildly concerned about.

They ate lunch together and though the girl just wanted to chill and read her book the boy insisted they must leave straight away. He was still acting odd and had a very cheeky glint in his expressive blue eyes. He got the girl to go and sit up on the rock at the peak and climbed up next to her. With a flourish he produced a plaited copper wire ring, looked the girl in the eye and asked her ‘Will you marry me Pennie’. Astonished the girl looked at him, looked at the ring produced with love and replied ‘With all my heart, YES’.

This is just the start of the story of the manager and the volunteer. They are both certain that many exciting stories await them, but the first one of the finding love with each other, will always be the most special.