11/05/2026
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN ❤️
Back in June 2006, I was a normal 19-year-old girl living at home with my parents and working full-time in England. I decided I needed to earn a little extra money, so I took on a second weekend job at a local bar. That was where I met Mark. At the time, Mark was on a one-year hiatus from Australia after his family home had tragically burnt down in a house fire. They had lost everything.
The funny thing is, though, we had actually crossed paths a few weeks earlier. I used to go to that same bar most weekends with my friends. One night while I was out dancing, a mutual friend came over rather cheekily and said,
“See my mate over there? He really likes the look of you .”I remember awkwardly replying,
“Umm… okay, go away!”
How rude of me, right?
But our mutual friend was always joking around and saying silly things, so I didn’t think much of it at the time. A few weeks later, I started working at the bar, and that was when I truly got to know Mark. I quickly realised what a kind and genuine person he was. He patiently taught me everything I needed to know about working in a busy bar and was always looking out for me. He would even offer to drive me home after work, despite living completely in the opposite direction.
As time went on, we grew closer, and I started getting butterflies every time I thought about him.
One day, I finally worked up the courage to text him and say,
“I really like you.”
So cheesy, right? But I just had to tell him.
A few days later, we went on our first official date to Southend. We spent the day walking along the beach, playing games in the arcades, and going on rides together. Later that evening, we had dinner before sitting together on a dock stretching out into the ocean.
We sat there for what felt like hours, dipping our feet into the warm summer water under the moonlight and talking about everything and nothing all at once.
It was one of those moments in life you never forget.
We continued going on dates after that, and I think deep down we both knew very early on that this was something special. It truly felt like love at first sight.
It didn’t take long before we were saying,
“I love you.”
About three months after we met, we were out together at the bar where we had both worked. By then, I had stopped working there because the late nights were becoming too much alongside my day job.
We were having such a lovely night when Mark suddenly said,
“I have something to tell you.”
He explained that he had decided to visit his parents in Cairo, Egypt, and would be staying there for around three months. About a week later, he was gone.
I was absolutely devastated. We stayed in contact through phone calls and emails, and I counted down the days until he would return home.
After Mark returned from Egypt, he started working at another bar. Not long after, he told me he needed to return to Australia and back to his job there.
Then he asked me a question that would completely change my life:
“Would you come with me?”
Of course, I said yes.
I didn’t want to be without him, and even though I knew it would mean leaving everything familiar behind, I felt so excited for the adventure ahead with the man I loved.
Just before my 20th birthday, both of our families went out for dinner together. During the meal, Mark suddenly turned to me in front of everyone, pulled out a beautiful ring, and asked me to marry him.
I was completely shocked… but I instantly said yes.
We celebrated our engagement with a party on December 30th, 2006. Sadly, the very next day, Mark had to return to Australia while I stayed behind to organise my visa and flights. Saying goodbye was heartbreaking. To make matters worse, I was incredibly sick with a chest infection the day he left, which only made everything feel even more emotional.
The next few weeks were spent recovering, preparing paperwork, and trying to keep myself busy while counting down the days until we would finally be reunited again.
Eventually, the day arrived for me to leave England and move to Australia.I felt excited, terrified, emotional, and hopeful all at once. Saying goodbye to my family was one of the hardest things I had ever done. I was leaving everything I had ever known to start a new life on the other side of the world.
When I saw how enormous the plane was, panic completely took over and I burst into tears. Funnily enough, I ended up boarding early alongside mothers and young children because I was so overwhelmed.
Despite my nerves, the journey itself was pleasant. I had a seven-hour stopover in Singapore before finally boarding my flight to Australia.
I arrived on Australia Day in 2007. I still remember how exhausted I felt after barely sleeping the entire trip, but Mark was there waiting for me, and somehow everything instantly felt okay again. That evening, he took me out for dinner to celebrate my arrival, and as I sat there looking around this new country, I had absolutely no idea what the future would hold. All I knew was that I was excited for the journey ahead.
On May 12th, 2007, we were married.
It was such a beautiful day surrounded by wonderful friends, although sadly none of our family could travel at the time. After the wedding, we honeymooned in Sydney and made memories I will treasure forever.
One year later, we welcomed our first baby into the world, and life only became more beautiful from there.
Fast forward to today, and here we are celebrating 19 years of marriage together.
We now have nine beautiful children — eight girls and one boy — and our lives are full of love, laughter, chaos, and blessings.
When I first arrived in Australia as a young 19-year-old girl from England, I could never have imagined the incredible life we would build together.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know this:
I will cherish every single moment with my beautiful family.
Happy anniversary Mark Ho**er
I love you
God bless
Claire
Xx
