‘THE BOND WE’D HAD NEVER WENT AWAY’
Alisar Hassanyeh, 43, lives in newcastle with Dan Murphy, 42.
Ali works as the director of an inclusive theatre school, as well as a children’s entertainer. Dan works in sales. Between them, they have five children: ellen, 26, Matthew, 21, Jacob, 17,
Josh, 14, and emily, nine.
Dan and I have always had a soft spot for each other. We grew up living on the same street in Newcastle, so I’ve known him since the age of four. We used to be best friends, playing out in the street. We just clicked, even at that young age.
When we were about eight or nine, we became each other’s ‘boyfriend’ and ‘girlfriend’ and would walk around holding hands. then, when he was 13, Dan went away to boarding school.
Just like that, he was gone and I’d lost someone very close to me.
life went on as normal and we both grew up, no longer knowing each other. I married at the age of 19 and we had two children together, but sadly the marriage broke up when I was 25. I then went on to marry a second time in 2007 and we had a child together too. but that relationship ended in 2014.
Meanwhile, Dan was in a long-term relationship and had two children as well.
Ironically, over the years, Dan and I had various Sliding Doors moments when our lives could have crossed, but didn’t. at one point, one of my best friends was engaged to one of his best friends, but neither of us realised. and, for a period of time, we were both living in the same area.
It wasn’t until 2015 that we found each other again by chance. I signed up with an agency looking for work as a teaching assistant and Dan was the manager of the agency. I couldn’t believe it – I’d often wondered what he was up to and, suddenly, there he was in front of me! all those same feelings I’d had for him as a child came rushing back; the bond we’d had clearly never really went away.
by that time, we were both single. We began messaging each other regularly and spending time together again. things moved quickly and we fell in love.
somehow, we’d come back to each other. It might sound trite, but I think we were always destined to be together.
We have so much in common, including our passion for wanting to help others. so we do a lot of fundraising together for local charities, including Darcey’s Dream, for which I’m an ambassador and Dan is a trustee (darceysdream.com).
In fact, it was on the finish line of the Great North Run in 2017 that Dan got down on one knee and proposed. We’re planning our wedding for next summer.
I want to make the most of every moment I have with Dan now. so many people don’t get this chance, so I feel incredibly lucky. Not only is Dan my soulmate, he’s my best friend too. It feels like everything has come full circle.
Dan Says: My overriding memory of ali when we were children is that she was always smiling. It felt like going back in time when I saw her again after all those years – I recognised her immediately.
there was still that spark between us. I feel so lucky to have been reunited with her. I mean, how many people get to be with the person they always wanted to be with all those years ago? >>
‘Not only is Dan my soulmate, he’s my best friend too’