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After their New Year’s kiss, Hilary left the city to attend a work conference for a week. Intrigued, Brad asked Hilary’s friend, Rachel, for her phone number. “I knew he could get my number from Rachel, if he needed it,” says Hilary. “And I did hope he’d ring. I was in the kitchen at work when he called and the girls in my office rushed to find me. There was much excitement.” Hilary says she had a strange premonition prior to meeting Brad. “Funnily enough, I had just been sent some postcards from Queensland Tourism, where Brad used to work,” says Hilary. “Normally that stuff goes straight in the bin or in a file, but I liked the look of them so much I had pinned them up at my desk, which was a bit spooky.”

Brad took Hilary to the cinema for their first date, which turned into a weekend together, chatting and laughing, and before long, they were seeing each other a lot. Although the pair had an instant connection, Hilary had ended a long-term relationship nine months prior and was a little more cautious in matters of the heart than Brad, who admits he simply fell head over heels. “I’m a big softie; I’m absolutely the overt romantic and after three or four weeks I was smitten. I thought she was just awesome and I pretty much haven’t changed my opinion since,” explains Brad. “Hilary was a bit harder than that. I had to convince her a little more.”

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It wasn’t long before Hilary trusted her feelings for Brad, and the pair decided to move in together – just five months after they first met. It was a big step for the couple and showed their early commitment to each other. The next step was for Brad to introduce Hilary to his beloved hometown of Brisbane and his family. “I was dead keen on her, and my goal was for Hilary to fall for Brisbane because I really didn’t want to live in London long-term. But as my brother pointed out the other night, if she had really wanted to stay, then I’d probably still be in London.” Hilary knew falling in love with an Aussie meant she may have to pack up and fly across the world to set up a new life down under. “It felt right, but there was the issue of him being Australian, and knowing he would want to go back,” she admits. “I could tell he was never going to stay in England forever. He didn’t like the weather or the traffic. So we just took it as it came and went to Australia to meet his family.”

 

The BubHub website was set up by Brad and Hilary to help Australian parents and parents-to-be make informed choices. Features include parent product reviews, family travel, parenting blogs and an online auction for baby gear. It is the only parenting website endorsed by the Australian College of Midwives, the Australian Lactation Consultants Association and Playgroup Australia. To find out more, visit www.bubhub.com.au.

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