DOUBLE MARRAIGE: An extraordinary mirror image appeared in Wanganui's Victoria Ave yesterday.
A veteran television show host might have said "everyone a gem."
It resulted from a jewellery store promotion and paved the way for two marriages with a sibling flavour.
It was a case of first in, first served at Michael Hill
Jeweller's store where attractive rings were going for just $1.
The earliest bird was Adrian Takiari, a Pak n Save employee who arrived at 9am on Wednesday.
"I thought it would be great to purchase an engagement ring for that price," he told the Chronicle 24 hours later. By then his partner Wendy Cribb, an administration officer, was proudly clutching a six-stone bargain ring and more or less agreeing to get hitched.
"It's so beautiful," she said.
It had taken about 13 years for Adrian to get himself organised.
"You're a slow mover," someone told him.
"Some of us are not as fast as others," Adrian said. "We're playing it by ear."
Long hours on the footpath had been worth it, he said. "It's not every day you get a ring for a dollar and it's worth $1000."
He thanked family, Michael Hill and security guards for looking after them.
Some passers-by seemed to think they were mad. The queue grew to 27.
"Everyone was in happy spirits. We helped each other."
Adrian's sister Jody-Anne Takiari and her partner Fau Ah-Ching were having tea at home when they decided to take a hot drink down to the queuers. Fau stayed all night and now finds himself on the road to matrimony.
"It's about 12 years since I proposed to her," the Corrections officer said.
"It's been in the pipeline for many years," the teacher said. "So? finally? there's no doubt. I can see it happening over the next year."
Jody-Anne, who was the sixth person through the jeweller's doors yesterday morning, got the ring she liked for $1.
