British-born John Wilkinson, 27, a footballer with Singapore Armed Forces Football Club, and wife Karen Ng, 31, head of media relations at NTUC Income. They have a three-month-old baby daughter Bella Rose
Their first encounter could not have got off on a worse footing.
It was January 2002, and Wilkinson had been hired to play football in Singapore by Woodlands Wellington.
He had just arrived - the 14-hour flight from Britain ended badly because his luggage had gone astray - when he was immediately asked to report to a studio for a photo shoot.
Ng, who was then doing marketing for the Football Association of Singapore, was helping to organise the shoot.
She asked him to change into his football kit, but lost her temper when he replied he could not do so. She told him that he was useless and unprofessional - then stormed off.
But Cupid's arrow had struck. Recalls Wilkinson: "She looked so cute when she was going off her head, I remember thinking, 'I like her'."
Although he had a girlfriend back in Britain at the time, they soon broke up after finding the long-distance relationship too difficult to continue.
About a month later, he managed to get Ng's number from another footballer, and asked her out for a date.
Ng, who couldn't even remember what he looked like, agreed to meet him, partially because she was "bored at work".
Their second meeting at Bar None did not have a good start either. Wilkinson arrived 30 minutes late to find Ng "with a face like thunder".
She told him: "A gentleman should never make a woman wait."
But thankfully, "she soon melted", he says with a laugh. "She's not your typical Singaporean girl, but a bit fiery and not easily impressed, which I like."
Wilkinson, who got his Singaporean citizenship last month, proposed in August 2005 while he and Ng were on a bumboat on the Singapore River.
"We were in front of the Merlion and it was so cheesy that after Karen said 'yes', we both started giggling," he recalls.
Valentine's Day this year will be spent in a restaurant in Boat Quay. Says Wilkinson: 'Maybe we'll go back on the boat where I proposed.'
JOHN WILKINSON
Did you ever think you'd end up with a foreigner?
Not at all. But my Mum thinks it's great that she's got a half-Chinese granddaughter.
Did the different cultures cause any problems?
Before coming here, I thought Singapore would be very strict because my ex-girlfriend's father worked here in the 1960s and said the first thing his boss told him was to cut his hair. But that's not the case - I feel quite Singaporean now.
Secret to keeping the love alive
I train in the morning and evening, so any moment we can spend together, I try to be there. Even when things are hectic, I'll take a taxi from Geylang to the city where Karen works to meet her for a quick coffee for 15 minutes.
Most memorable Valentine's Day
I was about 12 years old and I asked the chef in my parents' pub to cook a meal for me and my 'girlfriend'. So he made chicken 'pillows' and I set up a table and chairs and told my 'girlfriend' I cooked it. I don't think she believed me.
Ideal way to spend Valentine's Day
In bed.
KAREN NG.
Did you think you'd marry a foreigner?
Well, I've dated a Briton and an American, but I never thought I'd ever date a footballer. I thought they were unreliable and couldn't be serious. But on the first date with my husband, I realised he's quite different, because he has ambition.
Did the different cultures cause any problems?
Not at all. We're quite similar. He loves shopping and going to the movies, like most Singaporeans.
Secret to keeping the love alive?
Talking and touching and laughing together. It helps that we have common interests. And I try to watch all his games.
Most memorable Valentine's Day
Last year, on the spur of the moment, we checked into Raffles The Plaza and ordered in a lot of food. That was when our daughter Bella Rose was conceived.
Ideal way to spend Valentine's Day
With the one you love. A quiet dinner with a bottle of wine. It doesn't have to be a glitzy five-star restaurant, but a quiet Spanish or Italian place would be nice.
"She's not your typical Singaporean girl, but a bit fiery and not easily impressed, which I like."
Either he hasn't met that many Singaporean girls, or I've been unlucky in my encounters.
k la~
John's wife looks quite cute in the pic~ so not too bad~
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p.s: if any of my postings and comments offended anyone or causes any misunderstanding; pls do not hesistate to private msg me to trash out our differences as none of my postings are meant to be malicious. thanks a lot.
Re: Johnny Wilko featured in UK's Guardian paper
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