So getting engaged is exciting, right? I mean, you get to choose the ring of your dreams, go to the manufacturer and design it with them, decide how big the stone should be (while praying Mr Wonderful agrees to the expense) and then it is just a matter of waiting for them to make it and deliver it as promised.  Right?  Nope – wrong!!

Well I did get to go to the manufacturer and choose my ring. We had a wonderful conversation about diamonds, how to choose the best one suited to your budget and then we talked design. My head was spinning and I had a huge headache at the end of it all, but it was wonderful, so exciting. What made it even more REAL and exciting was the sms notification of payment that I got that evening when my Mr Wonderful made an internet payment for the full amount to the dealer. This was it, I was actually going to get the ring of my dreams in 2 weeks time. I struggle to find the right words to adequately express my joy and excitement.

So the two weeks was up on Monday. I was promised that they would deliver the ring on Tuesday. When I called Tuesday morning to confirm a time I was told that the ring was only arriving Tuesday afternoon and they would deliver it on Wednesday. Ok so that isn’t too bad, I can wait another night. So on Wednesday I call and they can’t give me a time because they are in meetings all day but will call me later. Eventually I get a phone call saying that the lady who was supposed to send the ring had been in hospital and no one else in the office had done it, so there was a delay in it getting to Johannesburg from Durban. I’m a kind and patient (well I like to think so) person and had sympathy for the sick lady so I didn’t make a scene.

This morning I had to drive to Kempton Park to fetch batteries for the club cars and thought that I would just fetch the ring myself since I would be in the area. I called and told them that I was on my way. That is when the owner of the company calls me citing all manner of excuses and apologising for the delay but promising me I would have the ring tomorrow. Needless to say I flicked in. No more nice, kind and patient me. No more! I had a choice, do the “girly” thing and burst into tears of frustration or explain to them in no uncertain terms, that I am tired of being messed around and being given lame excuses.  I WANT MY RING! What really made me laugh in this whole process is that when I told them I am actually 5 minutes away and will see them in their offices shortly, they told me they are not there!  I wonder why they are afraid of a girl?

So, now what?  Well, the last story explanation I got was that the owner would fetch my ring from the diamond centre first thing tomorrow morning.  Then he says will drive the 275km to Badplaas to deliver the ring to us there.

Mr Wonderful is fuming and ready to drive through to speak to them personally and explain his dissatisfaction at the way everything is panning out.

In the meantime I remain engaged without a ring