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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
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Lauren Harte

Belfast woman finds love after leaving her phone number for mechanic who fixed her car

A Belfast woman has revealed how leaving a cheeky note with her phone number for a mechanic who fixed her car led to love and a marriage proposal - all within the space of two weeks.

It all started on February 24 this year when Ashleigh Murray, 31, went on a routine visit to Gilnahirk Tyres in Dundonald.

That's where she first heard and then spotted Scottish mechanic Donald Newell.

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Donald, also 31, originally from Saltcoats outside Glasgow, only moved to Northern Ireland last year to be closer to his mum and sister.

"I had called in to get a light fixed and I heard him talking to one of his colleagues when I got out of the car. I've always loved the Scottish accent so that was a good start," Ashleigh told Belfast Live.

Dog groomer Ashleigh saw no reason to hang around before taking the plunge. She plucked up the courage and handed a note with her number on it to one of Donald's work colleagues and asked if they could pass it on to him.

"I almost chickened out of it and drove off. I have never done anything like this before in terms of putting myself out there but I thought, just do it!" she added.

Ashleigh and her Scottish mechanic Donald (Submitted)

Luckily for Ashleigh, she received a reply less than two hours later and within two days, the couple went on their first date and they've been inseparable ever since.

Donald told Ashleigh he loved her on the first weekend of their relationship and by the following week her had moved into her flat in South Belfast and agreed to get married - all within two weeks of their first meeting.

"He came to stay with me one night and never left!" Ashleigh added.

"He just went and got his stuff from his mum's house. It was probably me who mentioned marriage first when we were talking one night about having found the right person.

"We also got our names tattooed on each other three weeks after we met."

Now the pair have set a date and plan to tie the knot in June at Belfast City Hall.

"It'll just be immediate family - I've got my dress and everything already. We had wanted to marry this month but the nearest date they had was June."

The couple also hope to buy a house together and start a family as soon as possible.

Donald says he knew he loved Ashleigh almost immediately (Submitted)

Both their families are on board after seeing how committed the pair are to each other.

"I think our families thought we were a bit mad at first," Ashleigh admitted.

"I told my mum the week before I met Donald that I wasn't planning to date or get married. Then the week after that I was phoning to tell her I had met someone, he was moving in and we were getting married.

"She went silent and then said 'really?' Thankfully they all really like Donald and can see how committed we are to each other."

The couple are planning to marry at Belfast City Hall in June (Submitted)

Donald knew he loved Ashleigh almost immediately despite initially thinking his colleagues were having a laugh when he was first handed Ashleigh's note.

"When we went out on our first date we had a connection right away as all we did was laugh," he added.

"At no time did I think it was moving too fast - it just felt right and I have found my soul mate."

Ashleigh adds: "We're both 31 now and at the stage that we don't want to hang about. We’re so in love with each other and I don’t really care what people think.

"When you meet the person you know you’re meant to be with and they fit seamlessly into your life, you just know."

Read more: Grieving daughters on loss of loving parents within days of each other

Read more: Belfast mum on her son's autism journey and encouraging others to 'be kind to different minds'

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