A woman has recounted the devastating story of how she discovered her fiancé had been lying about his entire life just weeks before their wedding.
Most of us are guilty of telling the odd white lie when dating, but how far would you go in order to impress a potential significant other?
For Megan Clarke, 27, she thought she’d found her happy ever after when she begun a relationship with Lord Bertie Underwood, a charming horologist (someone who makes and repairs watches).
Although she wasn’t looking to settle down, Megan – who was 20 years old at the time and working as a bar manager on the Isle of Wright – was soon swept off her feet by the dashing Lord, who treated her to luxurious date nights and invited her to live in his lavish seafront home.
“He was charming, kind, thoughtful, loving. A real gentleman,” Megan recounted of their relationship during an interview with Metro.
The relationship moved quickly. Within a month the pair had said ‘I love you’ and Bertie would pop the question six months later, surprising Megan with a Cartier diamond ring.
However if things sound almost too good to be true, there’s a chance that something more sinister is lurking beneath the surface.
Bertie would request that Megan didn’t post his face on social media, claiming it was because of his dad’s high-ranking career in the navy (which in hindsight should be the second red flag after the name ‘Lord Bertie Underwood’).
However the fairytale would begin to unravel when Megan noticed letters arriving at their home under various different names. Bertie claimed they were for previous tenants, but the former bar manager was not convinced and decided to investigate further.
What Megan then discovered would bring her world crashing down entirely.
However not everything was as it seemed.
Megan later discovered that Bertie had multiple bank cards under various aliases and after googling the names, she uncovered that her Lord actually had a long track record for fraud, using names such as Robert Doughty and Robert Soanes-Madejski to get away with his crimes.
The truth devastated Megan, who would be dealt another crushing blow once the pair split – with ‘Bertie’ having racked up around £30,000 of debt in her name.
“We went to the police and action fraud,” she recalled to The Sun. “[But] unfortunately there wasn’t a great deal they could do.”
Megan has since worked to pay off the debts and rebuild her life while ‘Bertie’ has since been arrested on fraud charges and sentenced to five years in prison. However he escaped in 2022 and currently remains on the run.
The fact that ‘Bertie’ is now on the run is something which has left Megan unsettled, as she added to Metro that she would ‘freeze’ if she encountered him on the street.
Megan’s story appears as part of the series Love Cheats, which is available to watch on Channel 4.
The Vintage Sandwich Toaster: A Beloved Culinary Tool for Outdoor Adventures
The retro sandwich toaster, also known as a pie iron or jaffle iron, has a long and illustrious history that dates back to the early 1900s. Originally intended for camping, these useful cast iron gadgets were first invented in the 1920s and 1930s in both Australia and the United States. They made it possible for users to cook hot, sealed sandwiches over a flame. With the introduction of electric sandwich toasters during the middle of the 20th century, toasting sandwiches became more convenient indoors.
A vintage sandwich toaster’s main purpose is to press and toast bread with different fillings to create excellent, hot, sealed sandwiches. It is really easy to use: Spread butter on one side of the toaster, top with your preferred filling (cheese, ham, or even fruit), and then top with another buttered slice of bread. Put the toaster in the oven or plug in the electric one, close it, clamp it shut, and cook over a heat source.
These cast iron pie irons are incredibly adaptable for outdoor cooking because they can be used directly in the fire or on a camp stove when camping. Electric variants were popular and introduced the same adaptability and convenience into our homes. They quickly became the preferred appliance for preparing quick and simple meals, especially for families with active schedules.
An iconic position in culinary history has been carved out for the antique sandwich toaster. It represents a period in kitchen technology history when the focus shifted to efficiency and convenience, particularly in the post-war era when families required faster meal options. The sandwich toaster rapidly came to represent contemporary home life.
Due to its robustness and endearing retro appeal, vintage models are sought for by several collectors and nostalgia enthusiasts. Many people associate these appliances with happy childhood memories of straightforward but filling home-cooked meals.
Even in modern times, the classic sandwich toaster holds significance. Though the core idea remains the same, modern models have received changes with sleeker shapes and non-stick coatings. The emerging vogue for retro and vintage cookware has given these classic appliances newfound appeal.
A welcome return to home-cooked, straightforward meals is provided by the sandwich toaster, especially in a society where convenience foods are frequently highly processed and low in nutrients. It encourages experimenting with various flavors and ingredients, which ignites creativity in the kitchen. It also connects us to the culinary customs of bygone eras, giving us a reassuring sense of nostalgia.
In conclusion, the vintage sandwich toaster represents the development of home cooking and is much more than just a kitchen tool. It has always been a prized tool for preparing easy and delicious meals, from its origins in the outdoor camping scene to its evolution into a treasured household item. The sandwich toaster’s spirit endures because of its timeless appeal in both traditional and contemporary versions, as well as the growing interest in retro kitchenware. This straightforward gadget remains a representation of culinary ease and inventiveness, regardless of whether you’re preparing a traditional cheese toastie or experimenting with a novel and creative dish.
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