23rd of July 2011
The number 23 has always been an auspicious number for me ……. lots of big things have happened in my life on the 23rd!
On the 23rd of July this year I was traveling in Madagascar with my boyfriend Stu and my folks . My sister Lisa and her husband Tyrone were also part of our crew but they had left a few days earlier. Madagascar is a truly amazing place with many extremes, there is just so much beauty and diversity there. Being a fourth world country, the travel can be at times challenging and we were warned to bring a sense of humor! I will post a full write up about our 3 week holiday along with LOADS of pics but today I would like to tell you about 1 particular day on our journey.
To be specific we were on day 1 of a 3 day Dow trip we did around the islands of Nosey Be on the 23rd of July. Our first port of call was Tane Kele island, a small island in the most beautiful marine reserve I have ever seen. The colour of the water was just dazzling….. chrystal clear slippery aqua. We went there to snorkel and swim which are 2 of my most favorite things to do! The skipper of the yacht told us that we could possibly see turtles …. and I was in the water like a flash.
Within seconds we were in a magical underwater world filled with coral, turtles, clown fish, parrot fish, bat fish, cowrie shells ….. basically we were in Jacki heaven. I love the ocean … it makes me feel most alive and happy and I have to admit that Splash is still one of my all time favorite movies. I spent many hours of my childhood staring intently at my legs in the bath willing them to turn into a tale. I was pretty set on being a mermaid!
Stu kept asking me if “this was my favorite day so far” and “whether I loved the place”. He took pics of me and the turtles with his underwater camera and then called me over to a clam shell to take a pic of me there. We both dove down and the next thing you know “he pulled a ring from the clam shell”. We both swam to the surface and at first I thought he had found the ring there but he was giving me this weird expression and was looking all nervous. I realised that it could be a proposal but still thought he was joking until he said “I would be very honored if you would be my wife”. I was in a state of shock at first as it was truly the last thing I expected but of course I said yes and then it was just all smiles and so much joy!
This was probably the most fitting and beautiful proposal for me. I love Stu so very much, he is one of the most amazing people I know and he makes me so very happy. Yaaaaay for us!!!!
July 27th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME NEWS!!!!!! Soooooo happy for you and Stu! congrats!! Jeepers man, my eyes are leaking salty drops of joy! Big up to Stu on the proposal idea! I couldn’t have thought of a more appropriate way to to pop the question to you
Much love from us to you two! I’ll have to cling a glass of vino to you guys and your happiness tonight 
Love tae and darren, mwah!
July 27th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Yay! I love engagement stories and yours are pretty epic! Congrats!
July 27th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
What a amazingly beautiful and romantic story to tell your children and grand children on day! Congrats.
July 27th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
ola Jax.Congrats meisie!!!!Was thinking yesterday there is something fishy about your FB update about sharing big news and had a feeling it might be the bling of the ring
happy happy happy times for both you and your extremely lucky Stu!!!!!!xxx
July 27th, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Sob! Yay for you guys! Xxx
July 27th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Yay! Congratulations!
July 27th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
WOW congrats to you two
what a truly romantic proposal !!!!
much lovez; nicole
July 27th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
amazing! and what a special day to remember
xox
July 27th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
Wow that is absolutely amazing, we are very happy for you both!!!!!!!
July 27th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Nice one J… awesome news.
Love Ades & Jaimi
July 27th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
LOVE LOVE LOVE… congrats. xx
July 27th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
yey for you guys indeed!!! What a fabulous proposal. Very exciting times!
July 27th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Jacki, Joe and i are so very happy for you and Stu. What a romantic proposal. You have been waiting for this day to come for quite a long time now, and i’m sure as you did your shoots of other couples engagements, and weddings, in the back of your mind you must have wished it was you !!! AT LAST !!!! May this be another year of many “happy” things to come.
July 27th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Congrats Jacqui so excited for the two of you. What an awesome setting for an engagement
July 27th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
YEY YEY YEY….BIG CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Wishing you and Stu all kinds of happiness. <3
July 27th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
Congrats Jacki!!! I wish you many years of happiness in your future together!
July 27th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Congrats kids. Sure you’ll be making eachother happy for many years to come. Relish in this wonderfulness. Every joy and happiness, Mish and Jim xxx
July 27th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
Stunning…congrats!!!
July 27th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Oh my goodness!!! I have goosies! How absolutely fairy taleish! Congrats! Just read your whole story out alound to Mic (whilst he is washing the dishes) and we so happy for you! YAYNESS!!!
July 28th, 2011 at 12:03 am
Wow jax! Congrats and wishes from the isle of man – where today I actually got sun burnt!!!
That proposal is incredible and can’t wait to meet stu one day! Keep well luv the roveras
July 28th, 2011 at 7:42 am
Congratulations Jax & Stu – so so happy for you guys! Looks like you got your warm beautiful weather in Nosy Be!! Looks stunning – wish i could have gone back there too. Look forward to seeing the rest of your photos Jax – see you soon !!
July 28th, 2011 at 7:55 am
Oh my word! Congratulations Jacki, I am SOOO happy for you ! What an amazing guy to do that! Stunning!!
July 28th, 2011 at 8:15 am
Wow just got my phone back and saw this freakin awesome news what a proposal and couldn’t be happier for u both. Wishing u years of happiness together love ya both lots xx
July 28th, 2011 at 8:43 am
Yay for you! Congrats
July 28th, 2011 at 9:58 am
What a cool proposal..woweeee. Huge huge congrats to you Jacki!!!!!
July 28th, 2011 at 10:32 am
congrats guys, what a fantastic proposal.. wishing you both the best of luck and loads of happiness..xx
July 28th, 2011 at 10:43 am
Indeed yay for you guys – happy news, wishing you a liftime of happiness.
July 28th, 2011 at 11:04 am
Conratulations! it sounds like a magical place and magical proposal. wow!
July 28th, 2011 at 11:47 am
Wow! That is awesome!!!
July 28th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
BIG TEARS!!!! this has to be one of THE MOST ORIGINAL (and most fitting!) engagement stories ever!!! can’t wait to chat! lots of love to you both!xxx
July 28th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Awesome awesome awesome! What a great 1st bog back from holidays! huge congrats
July 28th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Its the best news we have had for a long time. Loved your write up and the pictures. Amazed at the novel proposal scenario . Looking forward to meeting you and your family and seeing my clan again .love
July 28th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
That is just lovely! Congrats again!
August 1st, 2011 at 5:07 pm
yay!!!!
Congratulations! Told ya Mad would be awesome.
August 2nd, 2011 at 9:25 pm
congratulations!!!!!!!
August 8th, 2011 at 11:55 am
Congratulations! Wonderful News, what a beautiful proposal.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:58 pm
[...] will always be a special place as Stu and I got engaged there! It was the best proposal ever and you can read about it here if you [...]
August 23rd, 2011 at 10:55 pm
oh my goodness this is such an incredible proposal!! congrats you guys!!!
sheesh you got to swim with the turtles – AMAZING!!
September 13th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
Wow – truly an awesome tale! Am so so so so happy for you guys
Congrats with big loves – Shane and I
September 29th, 2011 at 8:24 am
[...] and I recently got engaged and so now I am going to be on the other side of the camera!!! We are probably only going to get [...]
September 29th, 2011 at 10:43 am
[...] and I got engaged, his family came out from the UK and we organised a big engagement party, I went down to CT to give [...]
October 7th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
[...] and I got engaged in Madagascar on the 23rd of July this year which most definitely one of the best things to have [...]
December 29th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
[...] I am no longer a smoker. I stopped biting my nails. I traveled to Madagascar and Hong Kong. I got engaged with Stu. And I worked. I worked [...]