Page 16 - link magazine

16 The Link Magazine • February 2004
Internet connected leads to a new life
PRIDE BLAYLOCKS Just over a year ago a computer somewhere on the planet sent an
GORSE HILL SWINDON'S FAMILY automatic e-mail to Phil Rashid in Westlea and Maria Ithnin in
SHOE SHOP
DRY CLEANERS LM Malaysia suggesting they had something in common. Eleven months
Est. 1920 later they were married and Phil is preparing to leave Britain for a
Duvets • Curtains
I- Wedding dresses STOCKISTS OF ALL new life in the Far East.
J Repairs • Alterations LEADING BRANDS January, well known
Phil, 50 at the end of
Laundry service
in West Swindon as a
Suits £7.99 NEW SPRING RANGES
candidate in local elec-
Jackets £5.50
NOW ARRIVING tions, had registered
Trousers £4.50
O' Dresses from £5.50 BLAYLOCKS his details on www.
muslimmatch.com
Coats
£7.50
He had been getting
Front & rear parking Bath Road Corner messages from women
Old Town
33 Cricklade Road all over the Muslim
Tel: 534271 world and his interest
01793 541918
was waning when de-
tails about Maria ar-
rived.
CO-OPERATIVE FUNERAL SERVICE "When I put my de-
tails on the web I was 4
SWINDON
N
sO OF p, sceptical that anything
would come of it and a
J ^A
• 0 439 Cricklade Road bit worried that I might
not be considered de-
(01793) 534759 vout enough," said
Temple House, 4/5 Temple Street Phil.
"Maria stood out by a mile. I and her large family. A few weeks
(The closest funeral director to the Registrar) wanted to know more about this after Phil returned the couple de-
independent, single, practising cided they would marry, although
(01793) 491091 Muslim who listed her favourite Maria had to persuade her mother
24 hour service singer as Bruce Springsteen and that marrying an Englishman was
liked the Beatles, John Travolta and a good idea. Her father was happy
Private Chapels of Rest • Monumental reason y
Nicholas Cage. I was also intrigued that she make the choice provid-
Funeral pre-payment plans
that Maria did not wear the hijab ing Phil continued to be a good
www.mywishes.coop AW (head scarf) and her family had Muslim.
allowed her to make her own deci- Maria set two conditions: that
sions about marriage." she did not have to leave her fam-
Maria, 45, is an event organiser ily, which meant Phil moving to
at a golf resort inJohore and enjoys Malaysia, and that he lose at least
keep fit, golf, going out with friends 251bs in weight by their wedding
G WdcOeL and visiting her family who live day. However having enjoyed
wonderful food, Phil was heavier
closeby or across the border on
Singapore Island.
The date was set for 3 January
She too had become disheart- than ever.
and Maria threw herself into prepa-
ened bye-mails from men in Paki-
Ofr4ne stan, Algeria and Saudi Arabia, rations. "Even though we had
agreed to marry, Phil was so far
but also wanted to know more
about Phil. However she was a
turn up so I only sent
little surprised by his away and I wasn't sure he would
enthusiastic interest. out the wedding invi-
"I thought I would tations after his arrival
send him an e-mail on 18 December," said
James Butcher Housing just for fun and see Maria.
Association provides a what happened. It The ceremony took
was clear from the place in her house and
wide choice of quality, start he was keen the reception was at-
affordable housing for about developing a tended by over 400
relationship. After a family and friends.
those in retirement in the
month of sending The couple flew
Swindon area. each other messages back to Swindon in
I suggested he come early-January and
Tel: 01672 515622 to Malaysia to see if Maria is discovering
we were serious about each other." the tourist attractions locally and
wwvv.jbha.co.uk Phil made a ten day trip in further afield. They go back to Ma-
March. He said, "She was a radiant laysia in mid-February where she
vision in a bright red blouse and returns to her job; Phil is consider-
sarong waiting in the airport." ing his options. He hopes to com-
Maria is quite blunt about their plete an English teaching course
James Butcher first meeting. "It was a bit of a before he goes, but is also thinking
iJ shock. I was looking for John about starting a business.
Housing Association
Travolta but I was faced with this One thing they will be doing
fat guy." together, sorting out a fitness pro-
Providing accommodation throughout the central and south of England.
A charity, incorporated as an Industrial and Provident Society No. 16602 R. Nevertheless the visit went well, gramme before Phil's weight gets
including meeting Maria's parents out of hand.