I lived in Sweden for three and a half years. I went to Swedish school and my Swedish is pretty good. It appears that if there's the opportunity to learn a new language then I'm there. Little did I expect to get a date out of it.
Work were offering free Spanish lessons as part of their life long learning initiative. A few of us in the office thought it sounded good so over we headed to the classroom for a little Spanish fun. Now we turned up late to the first class due to problems with the tube which meant that one of our friends was already there waiting for us and already pretty fluent and us having to sit at the front of the class. Our fluent friend had managed to bag a seat next to a cute guy who all my friends appeared to know. This boy was very English and Swedish looking. Think the Boy-Who-Should've-Known-Better but without the tattoos and slightly slimmer. The class was fun, I was pretty good and two hours later me, my friends and Transport Boy, oh yes he works in Transport, how apt, are all huddled under umbrellas heading for the DLR.
We all jump on the same train and I introduce myself to the Transport Boy. I'm only on the train for one stop but enough for a bit of introductory small talk.
A couple of days later my colleague is on the phone to the Transport Boy and I hear my name being mentioned. I also hear her telling him that I'm 'young, free and single' which was technically true as everything had fizzled out with the Aussie and I was only only going to get hurt if I didn't step away. Once she had put the phone down I was treated to the full conversation and how I supposedly caught the Transport Boy's eye.
A week later and its Spanish class again. Forever to always turn up late, myself and the girls arrive with the Transport Boy worried that he's going to have to endure pretty much a private lesson. We arrive, I smile at him and the lesson continues. Two hours later and we're all walking back to the DLR. The other girls hop onto a train in the other direction leaving myself and the Transport Boy to travel alone. Now I don't know whether this was planed but what definitely wasn't planed was our crazy Spanish teacher running onto the train and sitting with us! We made conversation about the Olympics and I hopped off the train at the next stop.
The next day my colleague called me over to her desk to see an email she received from the Transport Boy. Laughing to myself I read how he was hoping to ask me out for a drink but couldn't because our teacher interrupted us and then spent the rest of the journey muttering to herself and telling him her life story! Amused by this I then emailed the Transport Boy to ask how his journey back home was and as to whether he was now fluent in the language. A bit of email banter back and forth and we've arranged a date for that evening.
Rather spontaneous and impromptu, we met at Canary Wharf station and walked round to the water to a pub in the area. It was cold we had to sit inside. Now the venue for the date wasn't great, pubs in Canary Wharf aren't but you've got to work with what you've got and we found a bench at a high table. Now this was actually quite a good seating arrangement, we both could sit next to each other and not opposite like an interview, it meant that we had to sit closer to be able to talk and hear each other easily, and if the date was going well, it meant that any tactile moments could be done easily without it all seeming a little try-hard.
The date itself was good despite the location. It was very obvious to all those in the pub drinking in groups of friends and colleagues that we were on a date and I admit, at times, I did feel a little self concious. However, the conversation flowed nicely, there were some flirty smiles and a few cheeky tactile hands on the arm. It was nice and fun too, possibly because it was all a little last minute and unplanned. I would however, make the effort for a possible second date to go somewhere a little more intimate and cool, the tapas bar perhaps, and how fitting seeing as we met at Spanish class!
Three gin and tonics later and the time is past ten and very much time to make a move. The Transport Boy walked me back to the DLR. As he dropped me off we both said that we'd had a fun evening and as we said goodbye we both went in for a little kiss on the lips. Very cute.
Second date? Potentially...
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Just one more...
Now I appreciate that normally this blog is reserved for first dates only. However, I feel that this second date with the Aussie is well worth a little write up...
So the Aussie and I met up after work at a wine bar by Embankment station. Its supposedly one of the oldest drinking establishments in town and it certainly looks that way. We were sat down in the cavernous wine cellar where its all vaulted and you can’t really stand up in it (well, I could, anyone else would have to stoop). Very cosy, lots of candles, a bit gothic.
The Aussie looked really good, no joke but I walked straight past him when meeting him there as I didn’t recognise him!
We shared a bottle of wine and conversation where at around nine we left to get some food – now this is the best bit! Not really having enough time for anything fancy pants or sit down, we ended up getting dirty falafel rolls from the place next door, walking to the Embankment before finding a bench in front of the river and eating them. Proper dirty, proper messy, not particularly attractive food!
Once the dirty food had been consumed we both felt the cold. In a most chivalrous way, the Aussie put his arm around me to keep me warm. We sat out there for quite a while just chatting until he looked at me and kissed me. We had a few snogs. It was very nice.
We both took the same tube back and I hopped out at Victoria. Before I did we had a few cheeky hugs and snogs on the platform and a quick kiss on the tube before I skipped off the train up to the main station and onto my train home with a big smile on my face.
So the Aussie and I met up after work at a wine bar by Embankment station. Its supposedly one of the oldest drinking establishments in town and it certainly looks that way. We were sat down in the cavernous wine cellar where its all vaulted and you can’t really stand up in it (well, I could, anyone else would have to stoop). Very cosy, lots of candles, a bit gothic.
The Aussie looked really good, no joke but I walked straight past him when meeting him there as I didn’t recognise him!
We shared a bottle of wine and conversation where at around nine we left to get some food – now this is the best bit! Not really having enough time for anything fancy pants or sit down, we ended up getting dirty falafel rolls from the place next door, walking to the Embankment before finding a bench in front of the river and eating them. Proper dirty, proper messy, not particularly attractive food!
Once the dirty food had been consumed we both felt the cold. In a most chivalrous way, the Aussie put his arm around me to keep me warm. We sat out there for quite a while just chatting until he looked at me and kissed me. We had a few snogs. It was very nice.
We both took the same tube back and I hopped out at Victoria. Before I did we had a few cheeky hugs and snogs on the platform and a quick kiss on the tube before I skipped off the train up to the main station and onto my train home with a big smile on my face.
The Aussie (Part 2)
"Just as an afterthought, if things don't pan out as swimmingly as you hope, feel free to call for a cheer up coffee."
The words of the Aussie when I told him it wouldn't be appropriate to go on a second date as I'd started to see the Ex-husband again.
Well things didn't pan out as swimmingly as I hoped and a month later, and after a couple of cocktails with the girls, I find myself asking whether the offer of a cheer up coffee still stood. It very much did and a few days later I find myself waltzing around the Science Museum with the Aussie on our second first date.
It was decided that we'd meet at Victoria station and head over to South Kensington together. The day arrived and I turned up wearing my favourite jeans and boots along with a cool black and white striped top with turned up sleeves. I admit, I was a little nervous but was looking pretty good, hair was straight but bouncy and thanks to a period of lenting, skin was looking all fresh and lovely. I hadn't seen or spoken to the Aussie for over a month and it all felt a little like this was a blind date despite meeting previously back in April.
We headed over to the museum and all the while the conversation flowed nicely. As we headed into the museum it was clear that a Saturday was going to be a busy day for scientific learning. The museum was busy but it was fun too. It was hard not to feed off the children's enthusiasm in there and hey, who doesn't like Launchpad?
We spent a good couple of hours in the museum where there were a few flirtatious smiles and fun conversation. I was glad I'd contacted him again.
After the museum we sat and had a coffee al fresco in South Ken. We proceeded to chat away about our families and home life, when we both moved to/back to the UK, what we liked about London and other possible future dates. I felt really comfortable with him and was definitely up for another date.
Our afternoon had to come to an end as I had dinner plans with family so after our coffee, the Aussie dropped me back off at Victoria. Now, on our first date we left it with a quick kiss on the cheek goodbye. I wasn't quite sure what was going to happen, essentially this was a first date again but that doesn't mean that one can't enjoy a good snog. However, it did feel slightly more reserved than previous dates with previous boys and as it came to that point, we kissed on the cheek and hugged goodbye. Now don't think I'm disappointed, it was really nice and it meant that the snog we did have whilst shivering infront of the river two days later was all the more special...
The words of the Aussie when I told him it wouldn't be appropriate to go on a second date as I'd started to see the Ex-husband again.
Well things didn't pan out as swimmingly as I hoped and a month later, and after a couple of cocktails with the girls, I find myself asking whether the offer of a cheer up coffee still stood. It very much did and a few days later I find myself waltzing around the Science Museum with the Aussie on our second first date.
It was decided that we'd meet at Victoria station and head over to South Kensington together. The day arrived and I turned up wearing my favourite jeans and boots along with a cool black and white striped top with turned up sleeves. I admit, I was a little nervous but was looking pretty good, hair was straight but bouncy and thanks to a period of lenting, skin was looking all fresh and lovely. I hadn't seen or spoken to the Aussie for over a month and it all felt a little like this was a blind date despite meeting previously back in April.
We headed over to the museum and all the while the conversation flowed nicely. As we headed into the museum it was clear that a Saturday was going to be a busy day for scientific learning. The museum was busy but it was fun too. It was hard not to feed off the children's enthusiasm in there and hey, who doesn't like Launchpad?
We spent a good couple of hours in the museum where there were a few flirtatious smiles and fun conversation. I was glad I'd contacted him again.
After the museum we sat and had a coffee al fresco in South Ken. We proceeded to chat away about our families and home life, when we both moved to/back to the UK, what we liked about London and other possible future dates. I felt really comfortable with him and was definitely up for another date.
Our afternoon had to come to an end as I had dinner plans with family so after our coffee, the Aussie dropped me back off at Victoria. Now, on our first date we left it with a quick kiss on the cheek goodbye. I wasn't quite sure what was going to happen, essentially this was a first date again but that doesn't mean that one can't enjoy a good snog. However, it did feel slightly more reserved than previous dates with previous boys and as it came to that point, we kissed on the cheek and hugged goodbye. Now don't think I'm disappointed, it was really nice and it meant that the snog we did have whilst shivering infront of the river two days later was all the more special...
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
The Ex-Husband/Christmas-Party-Boy (Part Three)
Now sometimes you just don’t know what’s going to happen with a potential relationship. One moment its off and the next it could be potentially on again. My early morning text on Friday came courtesy of The Ex-husband. There had been a bit of contact a few days prior to this text but it essentially, for reasons probably best left unexplaine, paved the way to another first date.
So, seconds up, round three and the The Ex-husband and I meet for our third first date. The choice of date was quite difficult to decide on. We wanted to do an activity based thing rather than just go out for dinner or a drink and I felt that there should be some (tongue-in-cheek) romantic elements involved too. I suggested a walk along the Thames. We could walk east to west from Tower Bridge to Westminster Bridge taking in the sights of London whilst walking towards a romantic sunset. We could even hold hands during it too.
We met at the Tower of London. I was all flustered and late from being held up at work but I think I pulled off the flustered look well. It was an after work mid-week affair and I turned up in my new favourite black tulip skirt, black boots and a flowery shirt. My hair was all messily pinned up and despite an attack of bad skin, I think I looked ok. With only twenty minutes to go until a London sunset, according to the BBC website, we headed off over Tower Bridge to start the romantic walk.
Weather wise, the outlook wasn’t so good. It was completely overcast and the chances of a sunset were rather slim, in fact I think one could guarantee there wouldn’t be a sunset at all that evening. However, I remained optimistic and if there’s something London’s city lights can offer is the small illusion of a reddish glow in the sky. It was cold though which allowed for practical hand holding, if only to keep the fingers warm.
So we meandered along the south side of the river whilst I pointed out my favourite buildings and bits of information about the capital. We chatted the full length of the three kilometre walk and pit-stopped at Yo Sushi for dinner. Now what I like about Sushi bars or generally any sort of bars as displayed by the Tapas bar in Old Street, is the ability to sit close together where everything is all slightly more flirty and fun as you both lean in to chat, look at the menu together and decide on an eating plan of action. There’s the opportunity for a brief bit of tactileness, the odd hand on the knee or a friendly hand on the other’s arm. Sushi is fun too. It can all be a bit of a surprise as I never really know what I’m going to be eating as I pick a dish off the belt. If it looks interesting I’ll go for it. I’d rather take something like that than a standard bit of sticky rice with a bit of salmon on it. Dragon rolls and peppery rice eaten, and ten dishes down, I was pleasantly satisfied with the sushi experience.
What with this being a third first date, and the fact that myself and the Ex-Husband had been getting to know each other for essentially four months now, there were no awkward getting to know each other conversations nor were there any awkward pauses. There had been brief mentions of staying over but nothing had been decided although I had packed a toothbrush, just in case. We carried on with our walk towards Westminster where we crossed the river again and headed into a pub to warm up. Hands held continuously whilst there, to try and defrost them, it was decided that I was going to stay over at his. Now I know that this was technically a first date but in my head I justified this by it being our third first date and if I don’t put out until the third date, then this sleepover was therefore allowed!
This was a nice date. It was lovely to see the Ex-Husband again and spend some time with him. I think we go well together. Once again, what happens now? Who knows, but I’d like to think this will be the last date blog entry I’ll write for a while now…
So, seconds up, round three and the The Ex-husband and I meet for our third first date. The choice of date was quite difficult to decide on. We wanted to do an activity based thing rather than just go out for dinner or a drink and I felt that there should be some (tongue-in-cheek) romantic elements involved too. I suggested a walk along the Thames. We could walk east to west from Tower Bridge to Westminster Bridge taking in the sights of London whilst walking towards a romantic sunset. We could even hold hands during it too.
We met at the Tower of London. I was all flustered and late from being held up at work but I think I pulled off the flustered look well. It was an after work mid-week affair and I turned up in my new favourite black tulip skirt, black boots and a flowery shirt. My hair was all messily pinned up and despite an attack of bad skin, I think I looked ok. With only twenty minutes to go until a London sunset, according to the BBC website, we headed off over Tower Bridge to start the romantic walk.
Weather wise, the outlook wasn’t so good. It was completely overcast and the chances of a sunset were rather slim, in fact I think one could guarantee there wouldn’t be a sunset at all that evening. However, I remained optimistic and if there’s something London’s city lights can offer is the small illusion of a reddish glow in the sky. It was cold though which allowed for practical hand holding, if only to keep the fingers warm.
So we meandered along the south side of the river whilst I pointed out my favourite buildings and bits of information about the capital. We chatted the full length of the three kilometre walk and pit-stopped at Yo Sushi for dinner. Now what I like about Sushi bars or generally any sort of bars as displayed by the Tapas bar in Old Street, is the ability to sit close together where everything is all slightly more flirty and fun as you both lean in to chat, look at the menu together and decide on an eating plan of action. There’s the opportunity for a brief bit of tactileness, the odd hand on the knee or a friendly hand on the other’s arm. Sushi is fun too. It can all be a bit of a surprise as I never really know what I’m going to be eating as I pick a dish off the belt. If it looks interesting I’ll go for it. I’d rather take something like that than a standard bit of sticky rice with a bit of salmon on it. Dragon rolls and peppery rice eaten, and ten dishes down, I was pleasantly satisfied with the sushi experience.
What with this being a third first date, and the fact that myself and the Ex-Husband had been getting to know each other for essentially four months now, there were no awkward getting to know each other conversations nor were there any awkward pauses. There had been brief mentions of staying over but nothing had been decided although I had packed a toothbrush, just in case. We carried on with our walk towards Westminster where we crossed the river again and headed into a pub to warm up. Hands held continuously whilst there, to try and defrost them, it was decided that I was going to stay over at his. Now I know that this was technically a first date but in my head I justified this by it being our third first date and if I don’t put out until the third date, then this sleepover was therefore allowed!
This was a nice date. It was lovely to see the Ex-Husband again and spend some time with him. I think we go well together. Once again, what happens now? Who knows, but I’d like to think this will be the last date blog entry I’ll write for a while now…
Monday, 14 March 2011
The Aussie
Now love wasn't my main motivation for moving back to England. Admittedly I had said that I wanted to move back, grow up and settle down but I realised this wasn't going to happen over night. After things went a bit pear shaped with the Christmas Party Boy/Ex-Husband, yes he was the same person, and it was clear that I wasn't going to marry the Boat-Man nor his money, I decided to upload my profile back on the dating website from last year.
A few messages were received, some good, some not so good. One did catch my eye and I replied back. This came courtesy of an Aussie guy living in London. A bit of banter went back and forth and it was decided we'd meet for a date the following week. Bank/Monument was chosen as a happy medium as a location and a caffeine related date was organised due to the fact that we both have quite geeky jobs and a coffee would avoid either of us falling asleep when the conversation would naturally turn round to what we do at work. However due to the day of the date, a Thursday, and it being a busy night in the city, along with the fact that neither of us knew any decent cafés that weren't Starbucks in the area, he suggested booking a table at a restaurant for a dinner date. Now one thing I've learnt on this dating mission is that it’s a good idea to remember some of the good places you've visited on dates even when the date itself wasn't good. I of course mean the tapas bar from the previous week with the Boat-Man and so myself and The Aussie met at Old Street.
A quick walk round the corner and I find myself sitting on the same bar stool as per the week before. We ordered beers and had a quick look at the menu and ordered a couple of dishes to snack on. Now whereas other dates I’ve had from this site had been after quite a bit of conversation whether through skype or phonecalls, my self and The Aussie hadn’t had that much correspondence before meeting. Despite that, the conversation flowed quite nicely. There were odd moments when the conversation naturally came to a conclusion followed by a short pause before one of us would think of something new to ask and a new conversation would start but I think that’s generally what happens when you meet anyone properly for the first time. Flirty smiles were exchanged and as the atmosphere and the noise picked up throughout the evening, the more we leant into each other. By the end of the date I was thinking, yeah, I’d go for tapas again with this guy.
We walked back to the tube and ended up waiting ages for a train. I, by this point had missed my last train home and was going to have to call my mum to pick me up which was undoubtedly going to raise a few questions because I had told her that I was just meeting a friend for coffee after work. By the time we boarded a train we made our way underground to Oxford Circus where I was going to have to jump out to change tubes whereas he was going to stay on and go straight to Notting Hill. Now there was once an incident with The Writer where we were in a similar “saying goodbye on the tube” situation. I had asked The Writer the night before what our relationship was and this was a bit of a crucial moment in the will we/wont we get together point. I felt that a good goodbye kiss was needed at that point to truly direct the course of that relationship. However when it came to it, we were both on the tube heading in the same direction but with different end points, a bit like our non relationship really. We got to Embankment, I had to jump out and change whereas The Writer was travelling to Marylebone. At that point, with neither of us wanting to make a huge public display of affection there followed a quick kiss on the lips followed by me darting out the tube doors leaving me feel rather disappointed that that was it. Now The Aussie and I weren’t exactly in the same situation, we’d only had one date for starters but there was that awkward moment when it came to saying goodbye. The result was a quick kiss on the check, after saying we both had a fun evening and it would be nice to meet again sometime.
Texts were sent on the way home to say that we had both got back safely, as was the obligatory text to a friend to say that he wasn’t an axe-murderer and all was well and I went to bed with my dating confidence back up again and feeling pretty good about myself. As a first date it was pretty good and would I see him again? Yes I would. However the next morning whilst on the train to work a text came through asking if I was still awake and that then caused a little change of direction…
A few messages were received, some good, some not so good. One did catch my eye and I replied back. This came courtesy of an Aussie guy living in London. A bit of banter went back and forth and it was decided we'd meet for a date the following week. Bank/Monument was chosen as a happy medium as a location and a caffeine related date was organised due to the fact that we both have quite geeky jobs and a coffee would avoid either of us falling asleep when the conversation would naturally turn round to what we do at work. However due to the day of the date, a Thursday, and it being a busy night in the city, along with the fact that neither of us knew any decent cafés that weren't Starbucks in the area, he suggested booking a table at a restaurant for a dinner date. Now one thing I've learnt on this dating mission is that it’s a good idea to remember some of the good places you've visited on dates even when the date itself wasn't good. I of course mean the tapas bar from the previous week with the Boat-Man and so myself and The Aussie met at Old Street.
A quick walk round the corner and I find myself sitting on the same bar stool as per the week before. We ordered beers and had a quick look at the menu and ordered a couple of dishes to snack on. Now whereas other dates I’ve had from this site had been after quite a bit of conversation whether through skype or phonecalls, my self and The Aussie hadn’t had that much correspondence before meeting. Despite that, the conversation flowed quite nicely. There were odd moments when the conversation naturally came to a conclusion followed by a short pause before one of us would think of something new to ask and a new conversation would start but I think that’s generally what happens when you meet anyone properly for the first time. Flirty smiles were exchanged and as the atmosphere and the noise picked up throughout the evening, the more we leant into each other. By the end of the date I was thinking, yeah, I’d go for tapas again with this guy.
We walked back to the tube and ended up waiting ages for a train. I, by this point had missed my last train home and was going to have to call my mum to pick me up which was undoubtedly going to raise a few questions because I had told her that I was just meeting a friend for coffee after work. By the time we boarded a train we made our way underground to Oxford Circus where I was going to have to jump out to change tubes whereas he was going to stay on and go straight to Notting Hill. Now there was once an incident with The Writer where we were in a similar “saying goodbye on the tube” situation. I had asked The Writer the night before what our relationship was and this was a bit of a crucial moment in the will we/wont we get together point. I felt that a good goodbye kiss was needed at that point to truly direct the course of that relationship. However when it came to it, we were both on the tube heading in the same direction but with different end points, a bit like our non relationship really. We got to Embankment, I had to jump out and change whereas The Writer was travelling to Marylebone. At that point, with neither of us wanting to make a huge public display of affection there followed a quick kiss on the lips followed by me darting out the tube doors leaving me feel rather disappointed that that was it. Now The Aussie and I weren’t exactly in the same situation, we’d only had one date for starters but there was that awkward moment when it came to saying goodbye. The result was a quick kiss on the check, after saying we both had a fun evening and it would be nice to meet again sometime.
Texts were sent on the way home to say that we had both got back safely, as was the obligatory text to a friend to say that he wasn’t an axe-murderer and all was well and I went to bed with my dating confidence back up again and feeling pretty good about myself. As a first date it was pretty good and would I see him again? Yes I would. However the next morning whilst on the train to work a text came through asking if I was still awake and that then caused a little change of direction…
Monday, 7 March 2011
Fallen off the dating horse? Get straight back on again...
Sometimes things don’t go they way you either hoped to or expected. I don’t believe that someone can plan a relationship; I’m a firm believer of whatever happens happens and that’s what happened. With my holiday romance/potential new relationship over it was time to get back on the dating horse.
The boat-man had caught wind that I was back in the country and with him fresh off the sailing boat from Antigua – no joke, he invited me out. Now I did have my reservations. We did have a nice date back in November but my socks weren’t blown off and his keenness did make me feel slightly uncomfortable and put my guard up. I thought I’d approach this evening in a different matter. A few months had gone by, we hadn’t had that much contact over that period, he was aware that I had been seeing someone else so I thought all would be fine.
We met up at Old Street after work both in need of some food and he walked me round the corner to a little tapas bar. This place was great. Small, quirky, modern yet a little bit rough around the edges. All the tables had been reserved but the waitress said we could sit at the bar and there were two bar stools available. I thought it was perfect, tapas is more fun at the bar anyway but I could see he wanted to pull back and perhaps try and find some place else. I, perhaps in my slightly bossy way commandeered the date by thanking the waitress and heading over to the bar. Perched on the corner, both sat quite close together, which was a good thing because he can talk rather quietly, we proceeded to catch up.
The waitress came over to take our drinks orders and having noticed the girls sitting next to us drinking red wine out of what looked like glass tumblers, decided that wine was not for me. The boat-man ordered a glass of red, naturally presumed that I would have one too but I actually fancied an Estrella to be drunk rather commonly out of the bottle! Now I’m not sure whether I was deliberately trying to show the differences between us or whether I was really being myself but I didn’t have my guard up this time. What he saw was really what we would get. The waitress came round again to take our food order and I, yet again took over the situation, although I did ask if he had any dish preferences, but ordered four dishes that I thought would work well together but would still be a bit of a surprise, as is the fun with ordering tapas.
The food arrived, as did our small plates to put it on. His plate wasn’t dirty but the porcelain was stained. I saw him turn his nose up at it. I just smiled. We ate, the food was nice. It was actually cooked behind the bar so you could see it all happening. The bar was busy yet laid back, there was a bit of music in the background and the atmosphere in the place was great. We finished the food, I had half finished my beer when he looked at his watch and said that he had reserved a table for us at a bar round the corner. I was actually disappointed. I really wanted to stay at the tapas bar but he quickly paid up and we left.
A short walk round the corner and down some stairs and we find ourselves in what can only be described as 1920s France. A very dark bar, plushly decorated in deep purple and brown, art deco bronze tables and a small bar where cocktails were being subtly shaken. The menu was full of elaborate cocktails, each around the £9 (100kr) mark and I just didn’t know what to chose. I picked a drink, we both sat there chatting whilst some French fashionista was crooning in the background. It was a nice bar but just too fancy pants for me. I appreciate that he’d gone to the trouble of reserving a table for us to enjoy the evening but I was perfectly happy in the previous place.
Anyway, we had a nice evening but I think he realised by the end of the night that I wasn’t really interested in him. He offered me a lift back to London Bridge to catch my train but I politely declined on three reasons. One, the cocktails were strong, he’d had a glass of wine too and was likely to be over the limit. Two, I never trust cars, taxis or buses in central London to get me where I need to be on time. I had at this point around twenty minutes until my last train left and I didn’t want to get stuck in traffic when I knew I could make the journey easily and on time on the tube. And thirdly, I didn’t want the awkwardness of being in a car with him and having to say an awkward good bye and thank you for the lift at the station. So he walked me back to the tube, we had a hug good bye, possibly a kiss on the cheek, I can’t actually remember, it obviously didn’t make that much of an impression on me and I went on my way. No contact from him since and I think he’s come to realise that perhaps we are really from different worlds and I’ll forever be too much of a rough diamond for his upper echelons of society!
The boat-man had caught wind that I was back in the country and with him fresh off the sailing boat from Antigua – no joke, he invited me out. Now I did have my reservations. We did have a nice date back in November but my socks weren’t blown off and his keenness did make me feel slightly uncomfortable and put my guard up. I thought I’d approach this evening in a different matter. A few months had gone by, we hadn’t had that much contact over that period, he was aware that I had been seeing someone else so I thought all would be fine.
We met up at Old Street after work both in need of some food and he walked me round the corner to a little tapas bar. This place was great. Small, quirky, modern yet a little bit rough around the edges. All the tables had been reserved but the waitress said we could sit at the bar and there were two bar stools available. I thought it was perfect, tapas is more fun at the bar anyway but I could see he wanted to pull back and perhaps try and find some place else. I, perhaps in my slightly bossy way commandeered the date by thanking the waitress and heading over to the bar. Perched on the corner, both sat quite close together, which was a good thing because he can talk rather quietly, we proceeded to catch up.
The waitress came over to take our drinks orders and having noticed the girls sitting next to us drinking red wine out of what looked like glass tumblers, decided that wine was not for me. The boat-man ordered a glass of red, naturally presumed that I would have one too but I actually fancied an Estrella to be drunk rather commonly out of the bottle! Now I’m not sure whether I was deliberately trying to show the differences between us or whether I was really being myself but I didn’t have my guard up this time. What he saw was really what we would get. The waitress came round again to take our food order and I, yet again took over the situation, although I did ask if he had any dish preferences, but ordered four dishes that I thought would work well together but would still be a bit of a surprise, as is the fun with ordering tapas.
The food arrived, as did our small plates to put it on. His plate wasn’t dirty but the porcelain was stained. I saw him turn his nose up at it. I just smiled. We ate, the food was nice. It was actually cooked behind the bar so you could see it all happening. The bar was busy yet laid back, there was a bit of music in the background and the atmosphere in the place was great. We finished the food, I had half finished my beer when he looked at his watch and said that he had reserved a table for us at a bar round the corner. I was actually disappointed. I really wanted to stay at the tapas bar but he quickly paid up and we left.
A short walk round the corner and down some stairs and we find ourselves in what can only be described as 1920s France. A very dark bar, plushly decorated in deep purple and brown, art deco bronze tables and a small bar where cocktails were being subtly shaken. The menu was full of elaborate cocktails, each around the £9 (100kr) mark and I just didn’t know what to chose. I picked a drink, we both sat there chatting whilst some French fashionista was crooning in the background. It was a nice bar but just too fancy pants for me. I appreciate that he’d gone to the trouble of reserving a table for us to enjoy the evening but I was perfectly happy in the previous place.
Anyway, we had a nice evening but I think he realised by the end of the night that I wasn’t really interested in him. He offered me a lift back to London Bridge to catch my train but I politely declined on three reasons. One, the cocktails were strong, he’d had a glass of wine too and was likely to be over the limit. Two, I never trust cars, taxis or buses in central London to get me where I need to be on time. I had at this point around twenty minutes until my last train left and I didn’t want to get stuck in traffic when I knew I could make the journey easily and on time on the tube. And thirdly, I didn’t want the awkwardness of being in a car with him and having to say an awkward good bye and thank you for the lift at the station. So he walked me back to the tube, we had a hug good bye, possibly a kiss on the cheek, I can’t actually remember, it obviously didn’t make that much of an impression on me and I went on my way. No contact from him since and I think he’s come to realise that perhaps we are really from different worlds and I’ll forever be too much of a rough diamond for his upper echelons of society!
Monday, 21 February 2011
The Christmas-Party-Boy (Part Two)
Roll on a month and a bit and I'm now living back in England. In the meantime, myself and the Christmas-Party-Boy have kept in contact and after a brief spell of 8 or 9 dates whilst I was last in England, we said that should I ever be back in the country, then we should hook up again.
After work date decided, I chose the restaurant, a quirky little Italian place in Mayfair and we meet underneath the clock at Selfridges. Even though this was essentially a second "first date", we had technically already experienced a (very good) first date already. This provided me with a rather large dilemma of deciding what to wear. I couldn't possibly wear my "first date outfit" on another first date with someone I'd already had a first date with! A black dress with a full skirt was decided upon along with my favourite work man's boots - cute whilst edgy was the look in my mind...
Now wires had been slightly crossed when arranging the time to meet and severe delays on the jubilee line hadn't helped matters. This naturally, in my slightly paranoid way made me think that the Christmas-Party-Boy had stood me up. That thought didn't last for long but it did annoy me slightly that a) I didn't need to rush so quickly from work and b) I could've got my eyebrows done whilst I was waiting for him to arrive.
Anyway, some time passes and we eventually meet and it was lovely. We walked straight to the restaurant and spent the whole evening there. We literally picked up from where we left off over Christmas and we both had a good time. Conversation did flow, flirtatious smiles were smiled and hands were held across the table. In fact, I was having such a good time in his company that I completely lost track of time and missed my last train home resulting in a late night cab ride to my parents.
Now I class this date as a first date, even though we had seen a lot of each other over Christmas. I realise that upon reading this, I haven't actually explained much of the date and in total honesty I'm not sure that I can write anything else other than to say I had a really enjoyable evening in his company and it was just like "old times". In terms of rating the date I'd put it up there as the best first date - better than the first date with either the Wedding-Boy and the Ex-husband.
I appreciate that this date has fallen in 2011 when it was 2010's new years resolution to have more romance in my life however I feel it only fair to conclude this mission on a high. My pro-active year of dates, potential relationships, crushes and snogs has not only provided me with much fun and amusement, it has also entertained a number of friends. I used to work with a single girl who was so desperate to met someone yet so painfully reluctant to actually do anything about it for fear of embarrassing herself. Now don't get me wrong, there have been plenty of cringeworthy moments with some of these men over the past year, however, if I'd not put myself out there and been confident and willing to meet new people then I'd never would have had these dates and the ensuing fun. So, in conclusion, put out, smile, accept a cheeky date and enjoy it whether good or bad.
Thursday, 17 February 2011
The Christmas-Party-Boy
Now the Christmas party season should essentially provide any willing single girl with a potential snog and Christmas just gone was no exception. Enter the Christmas-Party-Boy.
Now in all the horrid clichéd manner, our eyes met across the room at a party. His smile caught my eye, I, in my naturally modest way was looking amazing. We hadn't been introduced, as I've learnt over the past three years, is the British way. In Sweden, the first thing you do upon arriving at a party is to quickly make your way around the room shaking hands with each person whilst saying your name. It sounds very formal and its very unlikely you'll remember everyone's name but by the end of the evening everyone will be your best friend as you hug them goodbye whilst simultaneously organising a coffee for later that week. In the UK no such introductions take place.
But I digress.
So there got to the point where myself and the Christmas-Party-Boy were standing in the kitchen getting a drink. In that slightly awkward manner where there wasn't enough space for both of us to fix drinks at the same time, he let me go first whilst I tried to make polite conversation to say thanks. Small talk becomes chatting which invariably leads to a bit of flirting and for most of the evening we stood there talking before finally introducing ourselves.
It was a fun evening, he made me laugh a lot, he thought I was cute, there was some definite flirting so we arranged to meet up again for a drink.
Roll on a week later and I'm preparing for our date. Its a late afternoon/early evening midweek affair so I naturally opt for my designated "first date outfit" of favourite shirt, jeans and boots and hop along into town. Now essentially this was a classic first date. A generic bar with light wooden interior and lots of chrome. A couple of glasses of wine in and I come to the conclusion that this date is going pretty well. The conversation is flowing, there's lots of smiles and the odd tactile moment too. If I'd have had the Eye-Spy Book of First Dates I would have been ticking off all the quintessential dating elements.
Naturally the last two points to tick off are the second date arrangement and the goodbye kiss. As he walked me back to the station the conversation rolled round to "lets do this again some time". What with it being the Christmas season and not having to work, a second date was planned for two days later. At the point of a possible snog, he leant in and gently gave me a good night kiss. It was lovely. Eye-Spy marks on the date? Top marks and a badge if I send in my book to the publisher!
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
The Ex-husband
So who is the Ex-husband? Well this guy messaged me on the dating site back in November just after my date with the Boat-Man saying that he had taken a look at my profile and had decided in his head that he had already married and divorced me. He then thanked me for all the lovely imaginary memories he had and said that I could keep the house in Hawaii but he was keeping the puppy. Now me being incredibly dog broody instantly messaged back saying that the puppy was staying with me to which he then replied that after what I did with the pool boy, the puppy was definitely staying with him! Anyway, the messages continued like this for some time until we decided that there was still a spark and we would be willing to work on our relationship again!
So messages became skype chat, the skype chat became phone calls and the phone calls became video calls. We were supposed to meet for a date at the beginning of December but unfortunately due to the snow, I had to cancel my trip back to the UK and we never got the chance to meet in person. We re-arranged a date for in between Christmas and New Year and planned a day of fun.
We met in South Kensington. After deciding that I looked pretty good for my date with the Boat-Man, I naturally decided to wear the same thing for this date. We met in Starbucks for a coffee before heading to Kensington Gardens to see the Anish Kapoor sculptures. Hmmm, wasn't really impressed, they just looked like satellite dishes to me. Luckily it wasn't just me who shared this opinion as I fear I may have offended the Ex-husband with my lack of enthusiasm for the art. We then continued through to Hyde Park where we wandered through Winter Wonderland stopping for some mulled wine. Conversation did flow and there was no point where I felt nervous. I mentioned how my family has a tendency to say "(verb) me up" on a regular basis, for example, I can't eat eggs, they make me ill. On the silly occasions that I do eat them I often say how they poisoned me up when I'm feeling a little peaky and if my mum goes to bed before my dad, before she heads upstairs she will always say to my him "snog me up"!
After Winter Wonderland we found a pub in Mayfair and had another drink there. We were going to go to a Quentin Blake exhibition but by this point it was quite late and it had closed. Both feeling hungry I lead the way to my favourite restaurant which was unfortunately closed for Christmas so we ended up in the generic non-offensive Pizza Express. Another drink after dinner and the running time of this date is now nearly seven hours - pretty good going. Throughout the day we had joked about the awkwardness of kissing on a first date. I had mentioned the Boat-Man's lip-balm comment which was met by much joviality and scorn but at the point where we went our separate ways there was a slight what do we do now. The Ex-husband said he would go in for 80% of the kiss, I said I'd make up the other 20% and at about 90% I asked if he was "going to snog me up then?"
Now I don't think I can fault this date at all. Perhaps the weather could've been better but that was out of our control. I had a really good day and really enjoyed the Ex-husband's company. We both said that we'd like to see each other again and arranged another date whilst on the first. Both of us commented that neither of us felt nervous but then we had been chatting for the previous two months beforehand. Since that first date there have been a number of dates and all have been lovely. What happens now? Who knows but for a holiday romance it totally trumps the Wedding Boy!
So messages became skype chat, the skype chat became phone calls and the phone calls became video calls. We were supposed to meet for a date at the beginning of December but unfortunately due to the snow, I had to cancel my trip back to the UK and we never got the chance to meet in person. We re-arranged a date for in between Christmas and New Year and planned a day of fun.
We met in South Kensington. After deciding that I looked pretty good for my date with the Boat-Man, I naturally decided to wear the same thing for this date. We met in Starbucks for a coffee before heading to Kensington Gardens to see the Anish Kapoor sculptures. Hmmm, wasn't really impressed, they just looked like satellite dishes to me. Luckily it wasn't just me who shared this opinion as I fear I may have offended the Ex-husband with my lack of enthusiasm for the art. We then continued through to Hyde Park where we wandered through Winter Wonderland stopping for some mulled wine. Conversation did flow and there was no point where I felt nervous. I mentioned how my family has a tendency to say "(verb) me up" on a regular basis, for example, I can't eat eggs, they make me ill. On the silly occasions that I do eat them I often say how they poisoned me up when I'm feeling a little peaky and if my mum goes to bed before my dad, before she heads upstairs she will always say to my him "snog me up"!
After Winter Wonderland we found a pub in Mayfair and had another drink there. We were going to go to a Quentin Blake exhibition but by this point it was quite late and it had closed. Both feeling hungry I lead the way to my favourite restaurant which was unfortunately closed for Christmas so we ended up in the generic non-offensive Pizza Express. Another drink after dinner and the running time of this date is now nearly seven hours - pretty good going. Throughout the day we had joked about the awkwardness of kissing on a first date. I had mentioned the Boat-Man's lip-balm comment which was met by much joviality and scorn but at the point where we went our separate ways there was a slight what do we do now. The Ex-husband said he would go in for 80% of the kiss, I said I'd make up the other 20% and at about 90% I asked if he was "going to snog me up then?"
Now I don't think I can fault this date at all. Perhaps the weather could've been better but that was out of our control. I had a really good day and really enjoyed the Ex-husband's company. We both said that we'd like to see each other again and arranged another date whilst on the first. Both of us commented that neither of us felt nervous but then we had been chatting for the previous two months beforehand. Since that first date there have been a number of dates and all have been lovely. What happens now? Who knows but for a holiday romance it totally trumps the Wedding Boy!
Sunday, 9 January 2011
The Dog Walker
So the year by this point is coming to an end, and perhaps in a bid to squeeze the very last bit of romance out of December, I agree to going on a blind date with a friend of a friend.
Quick background for you: The Dog Walker is actually a friend of my friend's father. They work together and live in the same village. He's recently divorced, wants to meet someone, settle down, have children and apparently been on some really bad blind dates.
When thinking of single friends that my friend's father could set the Dog Walker up with, he's thought, I know, Amy, she's single, why don't I set her up with him. So the father begins to describe me by saying that I'm "not normal, a dancer and fit". The Dog Walker apparently thinks, ok, why don't we meet for a drink when I'm next back in England.
Now I'm a little bit dubious, I'm not one for being set up on a blind date but I agree to it on the proviso to my friends that this is purely a sympathy date, I'm doing a good public service by going out with him on a dog walk as "a date".
Now as a date it was actually quite nice. It was good to get out and go for a long walk in the country side followed by a quick drink in a proper English country pub. As for the actual date itself, I think in my mind I was so set that this was a "sympathy date" that I had my guard up quite a lot. I was my normal self, don't get me wrong, but perhaps I was very aware of what my "normal self" was.
The conversation flowed nicely, although it was quite heavy on being single, going out, trying to meet people, dating websites and plans for the future. I think we both knew that we had both had a couple of nice hours together but that was it and although we had said keep in touch, lets do it again sometime, I think we both knew that that wasn't going to happen.
So in conclusion, a nice date, not terribly exciting, not wowed but nice. However, one should not forget that this was purely a sympathy date and although I wish him well with his quest for romance, I knew that I had a date the next day with the Ex-Husband which I was very excited about going on, and perhaps on that fact alone, any date I had on that day was always going to be overshadowed by the prospects of the next day...
Quick background for you: The Dog Walker is actually a friend of my friend's father. They work together and live in the same village. He's recently divorced, wants to meet someone, settle down, have children and apparently been on some really bad blind dates.
When thinking of single friends that my friend's father could set the Dog Walker up with, he's thought, I know, Amy, she's single, why don't I set her up with him. So the father begins to describe me by saying that I'm "not normal, a dancer and fit". The Dog Walker apparently thinks, ok, why don't we meet for a drink when I'm next back in England.
Now I'm a little bit dubious, I'm not one for being set up on a blind date but I agree to it on the proviso to my friends that this is purely a sympathy date, I'm doing a good public service by going out with him on a dog walk as "a date".
Now as a date it was actually quite nice. It was good to get out and go for a long walk in the country side followed by a quick drink in a proper English country pub. As for the actual date itself, I think in my mind I was so set that this was a "sympathy date" that I had my guard up quite a lot. I was my normal self, don't get me wrong, but perhaps I was very aware of what my "normal self" was.
The conversation flowed nicely, although it was quite heavy on being single, going out, trying to meet people, dating websites and plans for the future. I think we both knew that we had both had a couple of nice hours together but that was it and although we had said keep in touch, lets do it again sometime, I think we both knew that that wasn't going to happen.
So in conclusion, a nice date, not terribly exciting, not wowed but nice. However, one should not forget that this was purely a sympathy date and although I wish him well with his quest for romance, I knew that I had a date the next day with the Ex-Husband which I was very excited about going on, and perhaps on that fact alone, any date I had on that day was always going to be overshadowed by the prospects of the next day...
Monday, 20 December 2010
The Boat-Man
After everything that happened with the Wedding-Boy and a couple of other things going badly for me at the time, I naturally needed a little pick-me up. Cue, internet dating and The Boat-Man.
Now I needed a lift and what better lift is there than a bit of attention so I decided to upload a profile to a London based dating website. I figure that I'm going to be moving back to England next year and its always good to put the feelers out so to speak and I just wanted to see whether I would get any interest.
Its been so much fun! I've had quite a few responses and I've really enjoyed having an online flirt. You have the ability to add people as favourites, basically creating a shortlist of people that you think are hot or want to keep an eye on. If you want to message someone you have to pay to sign up. Now don't laugh but I was having so much fun that I signed up for one month so I could reply to some of the messages I'd received.
So, I got an email saying that this guy had added me as a favourite, I'm thinking, hey I'm doing well at this, nearly 30 people have shortlisted me now. I look at his profile and it says a little bit about himself followed by "AmyJoanne if you are out there, send me a message". My username is AmyJoanne and I'm thinking, hmmm this is bit strange, I wonder if he meant to write that in a message to me rather than broadcast it to all of the online community. So I sent him a message asking whether what he had written in his profile was supposed to be a message to me and he said that at first he was a free member without the ability to message people so he thought he'd give that way a go to catch my eye. Anyway, we message and I like the way he writes and he seems pretty cool, perhaps a little too optimistic but taken with a pinch of salt he's ok.
I mention that I'm next back for a weekend in November but in Liverpool. After a few emails we've arranged to meet up on the Sunday afternoon as he has work to do up in Liverpool on the Monday. He calls me that week and we speak on the phone for almost two hours - crazy!
I'm playing it a little cool though, not going to get all caught up in it like I did last time with the Wedding-Boy, but how ironic, a month prior to this I was traveling to Liverpool for a date and now someone is doing it for me!
So, we met at Liverpool Lime Street (I appear to be making a bit of a habit of meeting boys there...). I was wearing nice slim jeans (not too skin tight) with my favourite brown work-man boots, a blue checked shirt and a new black jacket. I admit I was looking pretty good, hair was sitting well, skin glowing and eyes were sparkling. The Boat-Man showed up looking totally English complete with dark brown cords, white collar-less shirt, green v-neck jumper and a Barbour jacket (he was just missing the Hunter wellies!).
We walk to a pub which he knows of, very nautical, there was even a sailor eating in there complete with uniform and hat. We have a drink there and he tells me a bit about himself. We talk about where we grew up. It transpires that he comes from a very nautical family where his family runs a shipping company, hence the Boat-Man name. His father is Norwegian and he spent three years living over there and did his military service there in the navy.
After our drink we take a walk to the docks and went to see the Shakleton exhibition at the Royal Maritime Museum. The whole time the conversation is flowing quite nicely and there are no awkward moments. After the exhibition we crossed the docks to a little wine bar/shop. He seems a really lovely guy and as a date I can't really fault it. He did seem a little keen for my liking and I don't know whether that was because I was being deliberately guarded. I was very adamant with myself that I wasn't going to get carried away with it all after what happened with the Wedding-Boy. I feel like he may be putting all his eggs in one basket by going on a date with me where as I'm happy to be out dating a variety of people and am messaging about five guys on this site. Don't get me wrong, I was my natural flirty self but think I sent some mixed signals over by being a bit guarded. He said that he deliberately said some things to me on the phone prior to meeting just to see what my reaction was. For example, he mentioned that we might have an excellent date and that I'd want to go back to England to get married (to him). I said it didn't happen two years ago and it would be very unlikely to move back just for love.
I walked him back to his hotel and quite trusting of me I guess, I walked him up to his hotel room. We had a snog and he was a bit cheesy with some of the lines, saying that he had dry lips and how he wanted some of my lip balm and then proceeded to kiss me. Now not being a particularly romantic person myself, that's the kind of thing that makes me giggle but in a mocking way but he didn't seem to be phased by that. In fact, I think he said that he liked my slight sarcastic, take every thing with a pinch of salt tone. It was clear that he was hoping that more would have happened, I suppose me going up to his room didn't help, but I told him that I don't put out on a first date, well he didn't need to know about my previous Liverpudlian experience.
So after a couple of snogs, he walked me out to the reception and I left to get a cab back to where I was staying. We said that we'd see each other for a second date when I'm next back although, this was now over a month ago and its been a while since I last heard from him. He's very nice (although perhaps a little bit too try-hard), and he seemed to like me which is good. So I guess we'll meet when I'm next back and see how it goes from there.
Now I needed a lift and what better lift is there than a bit of attention so I decided to upload a profile to a London based dating website. I figure that I'm going to be moving back to England next year and its always good to put the feelers out so to speak and I just wanted to see whether I would get any interest.
Its been so much fun! I've had quite a few responses and I've really enjoyed having an online flirt. You have the ability to add people as favourites, basically creating a shortlist of people that you think are hot or want to keep an eye on. If you want to message someone you have to pay to sign up. Now don't laugh but I was having so much fun that I signed up for one month so I could reply to some of the messages I'd received.
So, I got an email saying that this guy had added me as a favourite, I'm thinking, hey I'm doing well at this, nearly 30 people have shortlisted me now. I look at his profile and it says a little bit about himself followed by "AmyJoanne if you are out there, send me a message". My username is AmyJoanne and I'm thinking, hmmm this is bit strange, I wonder if he meant to write that in a message to me rather than broadcast it to all of the online community. So I sent him a message asking whether what he had written in his profile was supposed to be a message to me and he said that at first he was a free member without the ability to message people so he thought he'd give that way a go to catch my eye. Anyway, we message and I like the way he writes and he seems pretty cool, perhaps a little too optimistic but taken with a pinch of salt he's ok.
I mention that I'm next back for a weekend in November but in Liverpool. After a few emails we've arranged to meet up on the Sunday afternoon as he has work to do up in Liverpool on the Monday. He calls me that week and we speak on the phone for almost two hours - crazy!
I'm playing it a little cool though, not going to get all caught up in it like I did last time with the Wedding-Boy, but how ironic, a month prior to this I was traveling to Liverpool for a date and now someone is doing it for me!
So, we met at Liverpool Lime Street (I appear to be making a bit of a habit of meeting boys there...). I was wearing nice slim jeans (not too skin tight) with my favourite brown work-man boots, a blue checked shirt and a new black jacket. I admit I was looking pretty good, hair was sitting well, skin glowing and eyes were sparkling. The Boat-Man showed up looking totally English complete with dark brown cords, white collar-less shirt, green v-neck jumper and a Barbour jacket (he was just missing the Hunter wellies!).
We walk to a pub which he knows of, very nautical, there was even a sailor eating in there complete with uniform and hat. We have a drink there and he tells me a bit about himself. We talk about where we grew up. It transpires that he comes from a very nautical family where his family runs a shipping company, hence the Boat-Man name. His father is Norwegian and he spent three years living over there and did his military service there in the navy.
After our drink we take a walk to the docks and went to see the Shakleton exhibition at the Royal Maritime Museum. The whole time the conversation is flowing quite nicely and there are no awkward moments. After the exhibition we crossed the docks to a little wine bar/shop. He seems a really lovely guy and as a date I can't really fault it. He did seem a little keen for my liking and I don't know whether that was because I was being deliberately guarded. I was very adamant with myself that I wasn't going to get carried away with it all after what happened with the Wedding-Boy. I feel like he may be putting all his eggs in one basket by going on a date with me where as I'm happy to be out dating a variety of people and am messaging about five guys on this site. Don't get me wrong, I was my natural flirty self but think I sent some mixed signals over by being a bit guarded. He said that he deliberately said some things to me on the phone prior to meeting just to see what my reaction was. For example, he mentioned that we might have an excellent date and that I'd want to go back to England to get married (to him). I said it didn't happen two years ago and it would be very unlikely to move back just for love.
I walked him back to his hotel and quite trusting of me I guess, I walked him up to his hotel room. We had a snog and he was a bit cheesy with some of the lines, saying that he had dry lips and how he wanted some of my lip balm and then proceeded to kiss me. Now not being a particularly romantic person myself, that's the kind of thing that makes me giggle but in a mocking way but he didn't seem to be phased by that. In fact, I think he said that he liked my slight sarcastic, take every thing with a pinch of salt tone. It was clear that he was hoping that more would have happened, I suppose me going up to his room didn't help, but I told him that I don't put out on a first date, well he didn't need to know about my previous Liverpudlian experience.
So after a couple of snogs, he walked me out to the reception and I left to get a cab back to where I was staying. We said that we'd see each other for a second date when I'm next back although, this was now over a month ago and its been a while since I last heard from him. He's very nice (although perhaps a little bit too try-hard), and he seemed to like me which is good. So I guess we'll meet when I'm next back and see how it goes from there.
The Boy-Who-Should've-Known-Better
Now technically this boy belongs to 2009 however he did make a brief reappearance back at in the Autumn. A quick history for you: he's a friend of a friend who I had a bit of a one night stand with. Neither of us were after anything more however a few months after said incident, he did often at a last minute invite me to parties however I could never go due to other plans.
Well he's now engaged and as ego-tastic as this may sound, seems to still have a little thing for me. We both ended up at the same party earlier this year where he immediately showed his tactile nature once again. Now I've been told that I'm naturally quite a flirtatious person and perhaps this is what contributed to the Boy-Who-Should've-Known-Better's reappearance.
At some point in the evening we both went out for a cigarette and a chat where he proceeded to tell me how much he still fancied me. I'll take a compliment graciously as well as the next girl but when the compliments are free flowing as much as they were that night, well that indicates something else.
So, it was mentioned by the boy that he wanted to kiss me or go back to mine. I called his bluff and said "all right then". But no, I have more morals than that. What did happen though is that I walked back into the building and continued walking up the stairs, he followed, we kissed, it was very good.
I may be now seen as some scarlet woman. I may be the one who gets all the blame but in my defence, he's a grown man who should've known better. I only hope that he now feels guilty and he wont do it again. On saying to me that he'd "never done anything like this before" I merely warned him "not to make a habit out of it".
Well he's now engaged and as ego-tastic as this may sound, seems to still have a little thing for me. We both ended up at the same party earlier this year where he immediately showed his tactile nature once again. Now I've been told that I'm naturally quite a flirtatious person and perhaps this is what contributed to the Boy-Who-Should've-Known-Better's reappearance.
At some point in the evening we both went out for a cigarette and a chat where he proceeded to tell me how much he still fancied me. I'll take a compliment graciously as well as the next girl but when the compliments are free flowing as much as they were that night, well that indicates something else.
So, it was mentioned by the boy that he wanted to kiss me or go back to mine. I called his bluff and said "all right then". But no, I have more morals than that. What did happen though is that I walked back into the building and continued walking up the stairs, he followed, we kissed, it was very good.
I may be now seen as some scarlet woman. I may be the one who gets all the blame but in my defence, he's a grown man who should've known better. I only hope that he now feels guilty and he wont do it again. On saying to me that he'd "never done anything like this before" I merely warned him "not to make a habit out of it".
Monday, 13 December 2010
The Wedding-Boy
So, Wedding-Boy. Well I was at a wedding at the end of September and was standing by the dance floor chatting with some friends when all of a sudden this guy comes up to me, holds out his hand for me to take and pulls me on to the dance floor. He's very cute and we start chatting and we don't stop until the end of the evening. We exchange numbers and he invites me out to lunch the next day. Unfortunately for me I'm leaving really early the next morning so I can't stay for lunch but I figure, hey, I'm on holiday, I have no plans, why don't I get the train on Tuesday to Liverpool and we have a drink and dinner and I stay over somewhere.
So that's what we do. I met him at Lime Street, we checked into a hotel where bless him, he'd booked a twin room, go and have a drink, have dinner and have another drink and then go back to the hotel. Lots of kissing, a bit of playing about - thank goodness for the new underwear I bought the day before just in case, and then he have sex - eeeeeek!
He's lovely, we really clicked. I don't want to compare him to my ex but it was so effortless with the Wedding-Boy. There was no awkwardness, conversation flowed, we were laughing, he's gorgeous, just like it was with my ex. He said he really wanted to see me again and I definitely wanted to see him again and spent most of that week looking for flights back to Manchester.
Ok, still with me? Not lost in a world of Kirstin Dunst films just yet?
So I spoke to him a couple of days later and then again the next weekend, however it was quite a quick chat as it was quite late. He did say though that I had to let him know that I got back safely to Sweden the next day. So the next afternoon whilst I was at the airport I was all in a tizz because I didn't know whether to request his friendship or not on facebook - pathetic I know. So I requested it and when I was on the train back to Sweden from Copenhagen I had a message from him, half in Swedish saying not to forget to let him know that I got back ok. I'm thinking, he's very sweet and caring!
I met up with my girlie friends back in Sweden after work for a coffee and told them all about my date where in true girlie form we were very giggly about it all. After coffee I went back and Wedding-Boy and I skyped. We chatted for just over half an hour and it was all good. It was very much general conversation about lots of things but it was nice to have a completely effortless conversation about just general conversation.
Now at this point I'm thinking of inviting him over to a Halloween party over here. A friend said I should just do it and invite him saying that our first date was spontaneous and crazy with me going to Liverpool so this one should be too, but with him coming to Sweden instead. So I think, ok, I'll text him later. However I don't want to be the one doing all the asking out though, especially after probably coming over all desperate with constantly asking out the Bagel Man.
So a couple of days later I got sent home from work ill and I was just doing a bit of internet spying when I notice that there's a lot of interaction on his twitter page between himself and another girl. It looks like they are going to meet up in a couple of days time. (I know, I'm only setting myself up here for a fall) however I decided to follow my friend's advice and sent him a text that Thursday saying "A friend of mine is having a dead celeb Halloween party. Its sounds like fun, I think you should come along too!" But I never heard anything back from him, not even a sorry, I can't.
I'd been waiting for a response from him and had still heard nothing. A few days later I see he's online on skype so I send him a message saying hi. We chat for a bit, he's in the middle of packing because he's going on holiday the next day so the conversation isn't particularly flowing. I say to him that I'm thinking of flying back to Liverpool for a friend's party the first weekend of November and does he fancy meeting up. To which he types, that sounds good but he has to tell me that he's started to see another girl now.
Gutting! I feel like such a fool for getting so carried away with it all and what annoys me more is the fact that this has essentially pushed my one night stand total up another notch. On complaining about this to a friend she did comment that she had recently decided that we're not going look like we do now for ever so we really should make the most of being young, fairly slim and unsaggy. Now, she's not saying that she's gone off on a one night stand rampage but on the occasions that it may happen, we can appreciate the fact that we are young and pretty and looking back in 20 years, we'll be pleased we made the most of it!
So that's what we do. I met him at Lime Street, we checked into a hotel where bless him, he'd booked a twin room, go and have a drink, have dinner and have another drink and then go back to the hotel. Lots of kissing, a bit of playing about - thank goodness for the new underwear I bought the day before just in case, and then he have sex - eeeeeek!
He's lovely, we really clicked. I don't want to compare him to my ex but it was so effortless with the Wedding-Boy. There was no awkwardness, conversation flowed, we were laughing, he's gorgeous, just like it was with my ex. He said he really wanted to see me again and I definitely wanted to see him again and spent most of that week looking for flights back to Manchester.
Ok, still with me? Not lost in a world of Kirstin Dunst films just yet?
So I spoke to him a couple of days later and then again the next weekend, however it was quite a quick chat as it was quite late. He did say though that I had to let him know that I got back safely to Sweden the next day. So the next afternoon whilst I was at the airport I was all in a tizz because I didn't know whether to request his friendship or not on facebook - pathetic I know. So I requested it and when I was on the train back to Sweden from Copenhagen I had a message from him, half in Swedish saying not to forget to let him know that I got back ok. I'm thinking, he's very sweet and caring!
I met up with my girlie friends back in Sweden after work for a coffee and told them all about my date where in true girlie form we were very giggly about it all. After coffee I went back and Wedding-Boy and I skyped. We chatted for just over half an hour and it was all good. It was very much general conversation about lots of things but it was nice to have a completely effortless conversation about just general conversation.
Now at this point I'm thinking of inviting him over to a Halloween party over here. A friend said I should just do it and invite him saying that our first date was spontaneous and crazy with me going to Liverpool so this one should be too, but with him coming to Sweden instead. So I think, ok, I'll text him later. However I don't want to be the one doing all the asking out though, especially after probably coming over all desperate with constantly asking out the Bagel Man.
So a couple of days later I got sent home from work ill and I was just doing a bit of internet spying when I notice that there's a lot of interaction on his twitter page between himself and another girl. It looks like they are going to meet up in a couple of days time. (I know, I'm only setting myself up here for a fall) however I decided to follow my friend's advice and sent him a text that Thursday saying "A friend of mine is having a dead celeb Halloween party. Its sounds like fun, I think you should come along too!" But I never heard anything back from him, not even a sorry, I can't.
I'd been waiting for a response from him and had still heard nothing. A few days later I see he's online on skype so I send him a message saying hi. We chat for a bit, he's in the middle of packing because he's going on holiday the next day so the conversation isn't particularly flowing. I say to him that I'm thinking of flying back to Liverpool for a friend's party the first weekend of November and does he fancy meeting up. To which he types, that sounds good but he has to tell me that he's started to see another girl now.
Gutting! I feel like such a fool for getting so carried away with it all and what annoys me more is the fact that this has essentially pushed my one night stand total up another notch. On complaining about this to a friend she did comment that she had recently decided that we're not going look like we do now for ever so we really should make the most of being young, fairly slim and unsaggy. Now, she's not saying that she's gone off on a one night stand rampage but on the occasions that it may happen, we can appreciate the fact that we are young and pretty and looking back in 20 years, we'll be pleased we made the most of it!
And on breaking my not putting out until the third date rule? Well this was technically a holiday romance and holiday romances never last!
The Bagel-Man
Now this could quite possibly be the story of the biggest crush in the world. Enter the Bagel-Man. Some have said that he looked a bit like Calvin from Hollyoaks. Others have said he was just fit! Well, this one started a long time ago, March 2009 to be precise when serving me my coffee a friend commented on how the Bagel-Man smiled at me more than at her and thus the crush began.
It seemed that everyone knew about my crush with the Bagel-Man, relatives, friends, friends I'd not even seen in years. Whenever anyone came to visit they all wanted to see him. Could I ever pluck up the courage to speak to him? No, I was always too shy. On the times that I did try to make conversation, my Swedish was always so appalling that any kind of attempt to talk left me completely embarrassed and flustered and incredibly annoyed with my lack of the Swedish language.
In its entirety this crush lasted for almost eighteen months before I actually did anything about it. Back in July a friend and I decided to go out for a glass of wine in town. The sun was shining and we wanted to sit outside so decided to go to the Bagel House. Now we were both looking pretty good that evening and after a glass of wine the confidence levels were starting to rise. Add another glass of wine to the mix and I finally pluck up the courage to ask him whether he's going out later that night. He's not but I try a little bit more and ask whether he would fancy meeting for a drink at another time. He said yes so I offer him my number and he says to take his.
I was on cloud nine. I was so excited and practically skipped out of his establishment. My friend was like a proud mother, I'd finally done something.
So we text and it turns out that we're both planning to be at a certain bar during the week. I'm there with my friends he's there having dinner with his. He says hi to me as he walks in and all my friends get very giggly and excited. Now, I admit, I was looking pretty good that evening, hair sitting well, good clothes, lovely long legs courtesy of my favourite heels and skinny jeans. He had finished eating and his friend had left the table for a moment. It was at this point that I noticed the determinism in all my friends, this was it as far as they were concerned, my chance to actually chat to the Bagel-Man. Cue me being quite literally propelled off my seat into the seat next to his where I then remained for the rest of the evening.
So we chatted. Conversation flowed nicely. There was lots of flirty smiles, drinks bought and no awkwardness. It was great. I don't know where the evening went but at some point I realised that all my friends had left me sitting there and they had all gone home. Now this wasn't a problem, I was going to get a taxi home anyway, however on saying this to the Bagel-Man, he said no, he was going to give me a lift home. His cousin drove us home and it was at this point that in my slightly drunken state I appreciated the following:
1) I automatically went to sit in the back of the car, where he then came and sat next to me and had his arm around me.
2) He walked me back to my front door.
3) He said he had had a really nice evening and kissed me on the cheek.
On immediate reflection I was thinking that this was one was going to be a winner so texts were exchanged mainly with me asking him out to various parties and events. Each time he's working but said he'd try to make it. At this point I haven't given up hope that something could potentially come of all this, after all, I had been holding a crush for the past eighteen months, I wasn't going to give up just yet. However, there's only so many times that a girl can ask out a guy without it all seeming a little bit desperate, which unfortunately, it was probably heading to. There was a small glimmer of hope; I invited him to my birthday party to which he genuinely seemed to want to come to, even spoke to a few of my friends about it and how he hoped he could get someone to cover his shifts so he could come and join the party. Unfortunately that wasn't to happen.
In reflection I'm glad that I did finally pluck up the courage to speak to the Bagel-Man. I'm glad that I asked him out. You never know unless you try but as much as you have a crush on someone, unfortunately it doesn't mean that its going to manifest into something, but I guess you'll never know unless you do try though!
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
The Friend
At some point in the spring of this year it was noted just how nicely myself and a friend got on, in fact, the friend who also wanted more romance in their life for this year. Cue the rest of my friends now seeing me as their project and trying to set us up.
So I ended up being invited round to friends for dinners where in true Bridget Jones style I was the token single girl whilst The Friend was the token single guy. Yes we got on well and had a lot in common. Did I find him attractive? I'm not sure. Yet everyone was talking about us and getting a little bit excited. It was almost as if I had gone back in time to being 14 when a friend pulled me aside in a club and asked whether I liked him because he liked me but was too shy to say/do anything about it.
So I invited him round for dinner and to watch a film and it was nice evening, got a small kiss at the end of it too. But something just wasn't quite right, and I think the multitude of texts I received that night from everyone asking how the evening went didn't help. It really demonstrated to me just how small of a town I live in. I felt like I was in a goldfish bowl.
I went round to his for dinner a couple of days later and it was all just a little bit awkward. Although I guess I was only "courting" The Writer at the time, it felt a bit wrong to be spending this amount of time with The Friend. It was also just a little bit too exposed with everyone watching so I let another friend explain to him about The Writer at a party I didn't go to and I haven't heard from him since.
I guess we weren't that good friends then!
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