How I Met James

I remember clearly the first time I ever met James. It was in 2004. I had started working part time for an events company doing hospitality work at race courses. I enjoyed getting out and meeting grown ups in the evenings and weekends when I was off my au pair duties.

Because I didn't have an English bank account I called in to the office in Staines every now and then to pick up my cheque. The lady that had hired me was called Susie, but this day when I phoned in a man answered. He sounded just like Susie so I assumed it was her son.

I explained who I was and asked if my cheque was ready, and he said it was.

When I walked in to the office this smart man in a suit, with dark, curly hair was sitting behind the desk, and he looked up with a professional smile.

- You must be Charlotta, he said. I'm James.
- How did you know I am Charlotta? I asked, surprised, as they had a lot of people coming and going.
- You said you were from Sweden, and you look very Swedish, he said.

And that was the first time I met my future husband.


Out with some people from work back in 2005, one of them was James