Maria Marigopoulos was undoubtedly a little surprised that her partner Jayson Blake suggested they go to the movies in Westfield Hurstville, particularly as the couple lived in Pyrmont.
When they drove into the car park she began to twig that something else was going on. The roped-off area, red carpet and seeing Mr Blake go down on one knee, were dead giveaways that this had nothing to do with the latest Star Wars film.
In 1994 Jayson, 43, worked at a car detailing business that used to be in that same spot in the Westfield car park.
‘‘I was sitting down cleaning the wheels of this car when Maria drove her car in to be valet parked — that was one of the services we offered,’’ Mr Blake said. ‘‘I was dumbstruck. We exchanged pleasantries and I asked her what she was doing that night.’’
They met at a Kogarah nightclub for a dance but nothing lasting eventuated between the pair, both 22 at the time.
‘‘We bumped into each other occasionally as friends, then she moved to London for a few years,’’ Mr Blake said.
In early 2013 Mr Blake ran into Ms Marigopoulos at a city nightclub.
‘‘She hadn’t changed a bit,’’ he said. ‘‘I mentioned to her that I remembered the time we met in the carpark...she remembered it too.’’
This time romance blossomed. Being the sentimental type Mr Blake chose the spot where they first met to propose. He even remembered the date of the meeting: February 15. With Valentine’s Day being the day before their meeting date, the couple reckons it’s a good time to celebrate.
