L.O.V.E.

One of the best project managers I have ever had the chance to work with (and I wish he was still here to have the opportunity to be mentored by him), is the subject of my post today.

I didn't know the particulars of his engagement to his fiance...or the motivation to go work abroad in some place exotic (Gibraltar???), etc.

I simply thought he was motivated by the same reasons as anyone else who wants to work abroad. The convenience of being in a central location to explore neighbouring countries, being immersed in a new culture, and tax-free Euros or Pounds.

But there was more to the story.

I only found out a few months after he had left, some pertinent details and I'm slowly seeing a panoramic view, versus the snapshot.

O&F, I believe are the perfect example of true love.

A number of months before they got engaged, they had moved in together...a month or two after F fell ill, quite severely. O was away from work or working from home for a few weeks while F was in hospital all that time.

I didn't know until after they left Sydney, that she was actually diagnosed with a serious onset of a debilitating illness. She didn't know of anything that was wrong with her health prior, and since that day she was diagnosed, she also found out that there was no real cure.

So, the engagement, the travelling, the wedding abroad, the great escape plan O organised...I believe it is to give F (as much for O himself) beautiful memories.

I remember all the planning he put into it. I remember him coming into work early one morning and telling me that F bought her wedding dress and yet they hadn't picked a real date yet, but he was soo happy, she was soo happy.

I recently looked at some photos of O&F at a friend's wedding on O's site. F looks really frail...I mean, she has always been a tall, slim girl...but her large eyes were even larger because the rest of her face has sunk back from the loss of weight. And yet a comment on her photo from O was "F looking as beautiful as always..."

When I first met O, I thought he was an arrogant, stuck up, heartless guy. I didn't like him to be honest. And then over time, after a very long time...we started to work more closely and I got to know him better.

I see now, that O is a top bloke. I see how much he loves F and wish that everyone could love and be loved that way.

Their wedding day will be on December 27, 2008.

They have been travelling through Europe and he deliberately planned a month in Italy with F, to visit her family there. They spent another 2 months going around Europe and will be going back to London to organise the wedding.

What amazes me is the amount of energy and good spirit he is maintaining. My energy would wane and I would feel really sad and probably be depressed...

O, if you ever read this...you are one truly incredible man. I wish you both all the best...