N&N MP Book

This book is:
  • a much more elaborate version of Nancy‘s original puzzle/metaproposal idea
  • the reason Nancy needed more time when Nick first proposed
  • a not-quite-chronological compendium of significant events and places in N&N history
  • the final puzzle of the metaproposal day, this one for Nick to solve on his own

Take a closer look if you like! (But see spoiler alert below.)

(PDF, 47 MB)

From simple origins…

In lieu of N&N’s grand plans to find a way to jointly, collaboratively propose, NC decided to do something simpler (uncharacteristic, but true!). Things managed to get more complicated (entirely characteristic and true!):

  • Version 1 was to be a caption-less sequence of 12 photos from N&N’s trip to Europe in April 2015, spelling out a single word. (See below for some photos from the original intended series.)
  • Version 1.5 was to be the same format (12 photos), but unrestricted in which photos. 
  • Version 2 allowed any number of photos—the more the merrier!—for each of the original 12. It was also laid out as a photo book, with textual narrative. Plus rhyming.
  • Ultimately this book served as part of the finale of the longer puzzling day, as depicted in right-most photo below.

…to protracted production

Naturally, the book version took on a life of its own. Once the first two pages were made, they established a pattern for the rest:

  • Left-hand pages are taken from domestic travels and events; right-hand pages are from international travel (except for final spread on pp. 24-25).
  • Rhyming couplets became de rigeur. (Some may have escaped adequate scrutiny under late-night time pressure.)

The extended production schedule (combined with the desire to sustain the surprise) made for an awkwardly postponed first proposal attempt. Work continued until the final version went to press on 7am of the metaproposal puzzling day. Some things never change!

(See the story behind the story for more!)

Two years in (semi-ordered) pictures

With a few puzzle-motivated exceptions, the book runs from our first meeting at the Googleplex (in 2013) through our various travels and adventures over the next two years.

At time of writing it was intended only for Nick; it thus contains a few insider references that may bear explaining. (It also has far more photos of N&N and fewer photos of everyone else than it should; apologies for the excessive coupley-ness!)

Those who wish to venture closer might find wish to see the annotated guide. But: Spoiler alert! Those who haven't yet guessed the answer to the puzzle should probably stick to the PDF version until ready to have it spelled out for them.