Smug Marrieds

I have just got in a from a random, enjoyable, but equally bitter sweet evening out at a local music event.

Many years ago - I can't remember how many (I tried to look back on the blog, but it may have even been before then!), but a long while ago indeed, I was out on a random evening and somehow got introduced to a lovely man, henceforth named Mr Perfect (because he pretty much sums that up for me!).  We had an initial chemistry, you know when you can just tell, and spent the evening laughing, joking and flirting, but he was a perfect gentleman, not least because he was a married man, and was very clear in telling me that he was happily married.  However, he did say, and I believed completely genuinely, that if he wasn't married then he'd be snapping me up, but alas, not the case.

Over the years, I have occasionally seen him about the town, and then one night I ended up going out for Bea's birthday, only to discover that he is the husband of a friend of hers, and was also out, along with his wife, and lots of other people I didn't know.  I just kind of avoided him, not even sure if he recognised me, or if he did he remembered our brief interaction, and didn't feel it appropriate to revisit with him at that point.  So, despite the occasional sighting and a fond remembrance of how bloody lovely he was, he has never really resurfaced.  Until last night...!

So, I'm out with Bea at the music night, just generally chatting, dancing, having a laugh, when I see him with a few mates across the room, and find that at some point in the next few hours Bea is chatting to him, and we end up in the same vicinity and generally dancing and having a laugh with them.  At which point he introduces himself, and asks who I am, with no apparent memory of ever having seen me before - always disappointing when somebody has lodged themselves into your memory, and that isn't reciprocated - but to be honest it was a few hours many years ago, so I wasn't beating myself up about it.

We chat very briefly, and then I say "I have met you before actually, many years ago", and go on to describe, briefly, our previous flirtation, and to tease him for his cheesiness.  He looks a little embarrassed, but then gradually I can see that he is remembering, and he goes on to quote me from that night, reminding me of things I had forgotten I had said, such as "..if you ever find yourself not married then come find me...".

So, we dance, we laugh, we flirt a little more - we acknowledge once again that there is a mutual attraction, and we acknowledge once again that he is still married, and still happily as far as I can make out, and he is just so bloody scrummy - even scrummier than I remember, and it is so annoying to have met this man, found that it isn't a one off, but we do fancy each other, and know that he isn't available!!  Even though I know he was tempted, and I would have loved to have whisked him away at the drop of a hat, it wouldn't be the same even if he had pursued things further, because then he would be a cheater, and not what I want.

I am trying to remain positive at the thought that there are men out there still who I fancy, and that this can be reciprocated, but its a hollow thought, that actually, I just really really like him, and he is not available, so if anything is even more frustrating.  Also, I hate that my brain gets so caught up with moments that are going nowhere, and that I should not dwell on situations that are going nowhere, but I can't help but hope that somehow, someday, he will head back my way as a single man!

Late nights

I love the nights when you go out and, somewhat unexpectedly, end up not getting home until 4am in the morning!

In fact, I love getting home at 4am! There is something eminently satisfying about going to bed just about when you know other people are starting to be getting up!

Butterfly

I have been out socialising for the start of a hectic weekend of being a social butterfly this week, and have just got in from a party to Smiler and Mrs Smilers this evening, to say farewell as he has rejoined the Army and is off to Afghanistan for 6 months on Wednesday! It was nice that there were quite a lot of us there, so a good time was had by all and it was great that he got to have a good bash with his mates and leave feeling all popular and loved.

Tomorrow night its girly night in the OG household, and the celebration (albeit alittle belatedly) of Spring at last! Cocktails and cupcakes are planned, along with much gossiping girlies! I'm looking forward to it, though I think X might be looking forward to it even more! Even though she isn't really invited, lol. I will let her host for an hour or so before hooshing her off to her room though - I'm not a completely mean Mummy!

After all that late night partying, the weekend is rounding off with a Sunday afternoon at Bridey's, with dinner supplied for me - always a bonus - and if the weather holds, it will no doubt be an afternoon in the garden to boot. I'll need another weekend to get over this one at this rate!

Getting my rocks off

I was, indeed, getting my rocks off last night - though, unfortunately, not in the way you may imagine! Ended up on a last minute trip to London, going to see Primal Scream at the Brixton Academy, which despite being an expensive ticketed venue, is undoubtedly a complete dive! That said, I do love a good dive, and it was good to be out and about doing something different to a usual weekend. I always forget how much I love live music until I go and see it, and then end up thinking "I must make sure I get to more gigs!", and invariably not getting round to it.

Last night was a bonus though, as I ended up being the driver (they were let down by someone last minute), and in return I got a free ticket to the gig, plus £50 petrol costs, so had a brilliant night out and made about £20 into the bargain! You really can't argue with that.

However, after a 4am bedtime and a 9am getting up time, I have to say my age is beginning to show, and today I managed to get all my jobs done this morning, including the shopping, just to ensure that I had nothing to do this afternoon but lay on the sofa (and have a little snooze!).

Jamie is due round later, and possibly Bea and mate, as I was originally holding a full girly evening tonight, which I'd already rescheduled but which left them with no plans for this evening, so it seems a mini girly evening was required! Which, to be honest I could do without as I'm fit for little other than pjs and telly, lol! Sure I will manage to get into it though, as long as they don't stay all bloody night...!

There's been a mudder!

Well, after a week that included 2 clients being sectioned, 1 client being recalled to prison, 1 client being raped, oh, and the mere problem of the complete collapse of our drug provision, (not to mention all the usual humdrum!), a night out being a murder suspect (fortunately exonerated in the end - although my delightfully charming mates made the most of not only nominating me as a "suspicious person" but also by asking some most embarrassing questions whilst I was in the line up!) was just what was needed.

There was a short time where the lights went out and I was slightly freaking out with my fingers in my ears going "I don't like bangs, don't let anybody shoot a gun near me!", like the easily spooked big baby that I am, lol, but fortunately it only lasted a very short while and it was an enjoyable night. Though I am obviously no Poirot as I got the motives all right but the mudderer wrong!

So, having decided to come home straight from the Murder Mystery due to a slightly dodgy tummy (hopefully not the arsenic poisoning that finished the hotel manager "Debra" off a few hours ago!), I am off to bed with Stieg and his final offering, in the fabulous knowledge that for the second Sunday in a row, X is sleeping out (at Daddy's this time!) and I can wake when I wish in the morning and continue more of the same - perhaps with a bacon and egg sandwich thrown in for good measure.

I could get used to this!

A little bit of heaven

Ended up going to girly friends last night after all! Was a good night, and got into my bed about 2am with the wonderful knowledge that I could lie in for a bit in the morning as X was at Lily's. Woke up this morning to the even better news, via phone, that X was staying there all day.

So, I have had a lovely quiet day reading the second Stieg Larsson and eating marmite on toast in my pyjamas. I love Sundays.

Buzzing and hungry

Has just got back from a night out dancing to funky music for Bea's birthday, which was alright but nothing superly spectacular. Am now at home too wired on caffeine overdose from the diet coke all night (I was driving, for a change!) and lack of food to sleep, but too tired (or lazy) to make myself something to eat. I should so have gone to the kebab shop on the way home!!

Cheeky one

Have just got in from a few cheeky hours down at The Local's acoustic open mic night, which is always a most excellent evening of great, amateur singers and musicians, and heard this, which I haven't heard for ages and is so, so good!

New England - Billy Bragg, what more can you ask for?

Enjoy peeps!

Relations

I have had an unusual, but lovely weekend this weekend. Friday night saw a bunch of girlies at the local comedy night for Bea's sisters birthday, which was all good fun, especially as I caught up with mate Molly, who I haven't seen for ages.

Saturday, carnival day in our town, dawned bright and early, and after the usual Saturday morning bowling for X and Y, X and I headed into town to view the carnival procession before meeting with my cousin A, who I haven't seen for 30 years! He contacted me on Facebook a while ago now, and then a few weeks ago suggested coming to visit (this partly prompted me to contact my biological father I think). I was a bit sceptical to be honest, but its kind of difficult to refuse, and to be honest, I am glad now that he did.

He arrived on the train about 2pm, and bless him had brought presents (2 Wii games and an £18 photo frame - not to be sniffed at!!) for us all, so we headed home for a while and had a bit of a chit and a chat, before X was picked up by her daddy for the weekend, leaving us free to spend an enjoyable afternoon frequenting some of the gardens of the local pubs. And frequenting we did, barely making it back to the 10pm train in time. It was good. He is a slightly odd kettle of fish, but to be honest, it was nice to see someone from my paternal side, which, after meeting him, seems to be a very small clan indeed.

Today is being spent doing nothing after a long lie in this morning, and a happy daughter home just now after partying in the park for carnival weekend with her dad. Roast is in, telly is on, kids are happy. Perfick!

Off out

I have been very remiss at blogging activities lately, so am trying to at least take the time for a quick update - I know my life is not the most exciting of late but I am sure I have been doing much more than I have been blogging! So, in the spirit of that, I am off to Disco's in a few minutes (just letting X get off to sleep before I sneak out!) for a girly house warming night in. Good job it is a) girly only and b) a night in - cos frankly I look like a sack of crap and have absolutely no inclination to do anything at all to remedy that :-)

White stuff and weekends

Well, the British winter is doing us proud this year - more snow today! I love the snow, and don't care how much of a nuisance it is. It's winter, we're meant to have wintry weather! This positive attitude is helped by the fact that I am currently snug and warm in my living room, with the ipod playing in the background, under the pretence of studying (yes, the studying has yet to commence and the clock is ticking...!), just watching the snow float by.

I am at home for another reason, as I went for the ultrasound on my throat this morning, which was quite an odd experience as the only experience of ultrasounds I've previously had were pregnancy related - so most strange to have your throat, not your stomach scanned. Who knows what will come of it, I will just have to wait and see what the results say, but I'm not holding my breath that I'll get a diagnosis!

To catch up, I've had quite a busy and sociable weekend this weekend! It was friend Jamie's 40th birthday on Friday, so to celebrate a Mods and Rockers fancy dress pub crawl was afoot! I did make the effort to dress up, as a 1950's rocker in case you're wondering - I will have to see if there are any photo's lurking - but the getting completely trollied on a pub crawl is not my style, so it was sober shenanigans for me, and drunken ones for pretty much everyone else. Was quite a good night though, with a good number of people there, although I decided to call it a day at 12.30am rather than continue on to the after-party. I was feeling completely shattered Friday, so was lucky to make it out at all, and Y was babysitting X, so I don't like to be out til all hours of the morning. Not to mention having to get up for bowling at 9am on Saturday!

Saturday night was spent with Lily at home, in front of the TV (that didn't really get watched) with a takeaway curry and lots of chitter chatter. Always a pleasure to catch up with her, and managed to talk ourselves nearly asleep as usual! Another early rise on Sunday morning as I am doing some rearranging of sleeping arrangements, and my dad was coming to dismantle Y's current bunk/double futon and replace it with a double futon only. Next weekend X is moving from a single to a double bed so more room arranging will be taking place!

So, another weekend is over, and another week begins.

Time for bed

Have just got in from a night out at Jamie's boyfriends house, in birthday celebration. Was a pretty good night, although there weren't that many people there, and I didn't even manage to get there until 10.30pm so the party was well underway. Was nice to catch up with a few folks, have a couple of drinks, enjoy some dancing and singing and talking - after all, what else are parties for?

What was interesting was that Jamie and Bea don't usually get on, despite the fact that they are the same star sign, both extremely delusional about how they see themselves, and actually incredibly similar! However, as Bea is an old friend of the new boyfriend (who she also had a little dalliance with earlier this year - though it never progressed to physical) they were both there last night, and seemed to have bonded fabulously. Which makes my job of trying to peace keep or organise events with the two of them there much easier!

Tired

I am getting so old! I just can't handle the late nights like I used to.

Had a great time with Disco and friends last night, started off in one pub for a while for lots of chatter, before the majority of us moved on to more of a towny place for more drinking and dancing. I'm not a great lover of the typical town centre pub/club, but if I'm in the mood then I can pretty much deal with anything and I was quite up for a night out last night so all was good with me. The fact that Disco's brother was there and looking particularly hot also helped the night fly by - though nothing more than looking, a. he has a girlfriend, and b. he is Disco's brother! That would just be too, too weird. Oh and c. I think he's only 30.

So, after not leaving the pub til 3.30am, and then dropping off Mrs Smiler and another mutual friend, it was 4am by the time I got in, which meant I pretty much headed straight for my bed, where fortunately I was able to remain until lunchtime today, as X was at her dad's last night.

That said, I'm flaggging again now, and feel the need to settle down on the sofa for a while - after a quick trip to the shop for some medicinal chocolate...!

Venturing out

Well I'm off out tonight, venturing out into the continuing wind and rain, to catch up with Disco and a few friends in nearby town. It is Disco's birthday celebration but I'm not sure how celebratory she will be as she has just split up with her boyfriend so not at her best. I'm surprised at how up for it I'm feeling to be honest, usually I think I'll go and then as it gets nearer I get quite "can't be bothered" about the whole thing, but tonight I'm good to go.

Talking of which, better get those hair straighteners on!

Fed and watered

Am home - too much food and too much wine. Now feel far too full and getting my boots off was an effort. Had lovely time though - helped by very cute waiter - even though I wasnt allowed to go out fag hagging with Mick after dinner. Probably a wise decision in hindsight.

Must go to bed now.

School night

Yay, I am off out for dinner tonight - and on a school night as well. Am meeting Mick for some food and gossip and he is driving so I may even indulge in a few glasses of wine as well. Besides, he is bound to pay. Yay Mick!

Growing up

I went round to see Meg last night, just for a bit of a natter and gossip as I haven't seen her for ages. I got there to find that one of Mr Meg's mates, DJ, was there, who I know from years and years ago and haven't actually seen for years. We used to knock about around the town before I had Y so it was completely random to bump into him almost 2o yrs later! Whilst it was nice to see him, he literally hasn't changed at all - very much the epitomy of the cheeky chappy, and whilst that might seem a good thing, in fact, it got me to thinking that it's all a bit sad to still be the same person, doing the same things, thinking the same thoughts, drinking the same drinks, twenty years later. Perhaps I've grown up more than I thought the last few years!

Though not so grown up that I'm not going to enjoy spending all day in my pyjamas - just because I can!

Farewell Bridey

Yesterday was The Bride's last day at work before she heads off to have a baby in 3 weeks, so last night X went to sleep at Lily's, and the evening saw the gaggle of us in a gorgeous Italian restaurant in the town where I work, with piles of fabulous food loaded onto the table. Unfortunately I wasn't feeling well, so I had a tomato and onion salad and ate only a handful of that, plus a taste of CJ's monkfish - most annoying when everything looked so good! On the bright side though, it did mean my meal only cost me a fiver, which is good as it meant I had a whole £15 for shopping today!!

It was a good night, and everybody had a good time, but I am very sad to be losing her for 9 months (assuming I am still there when she comes back in July!). She has really been my rock in the last 3 years I've been there, and is such a strong, supportive and knowledgeable member of the team that we will all feel her absence. It just won't be the same without her.

That said, I will definitely be seeing lots of her, as I already do out of work - particularly as her son is a year younger than X so we share a lot of holiday childcare, that and she's always willing to cook sunday dinner for us all, being one of these people that can't sit still for more than 15 minutes! Regardless of work, I am sure she will always be a good friend of mine, and at my age, that is something to be grateful for!

Wedding alert

I am off to partaaay tonight, after Smiler and his lovely girlfriend became Mr and Mrs Smiler, in Slovenia last friday. I was completely gutted to not be able to go - due purely to money - as I have been to every other wedding in his family with him. However, it looked absolutely beautiful, with boat ride to the chapel, castle on the lake and lovely hotel, so I am so glad that they had a good time. Really twanged with me when I looked at the pictures though, more than I thought it would.

Anyway, they are having an England reception party tonight, for all the poor friends who didnt make the real thing, so I am about to go and beautify myself (well, as much as possible anyway) and then head out. I think I might even take Y with me as well - X is at her daddy's.

Let the paaaartaaaay commence!

October?

Did we have one?

Yes, I have been significantly slack at posting yet again - though there should be light at the end of the tunnel as my mum is getting me a (secondhand) laptop for my birthday/christmas! Yay!!! I will be back in business in the new year for sure! And determined to have a more exciting year next year! (Yes ATM I think AG's prediction may be starting to take effect!)

So, in the missing month of October, plus the start of Nov, the following highlights have occurred:

My baby sister's 23rd birthday (yes, it is sickening!)
A really great Rod Stewart and Queet tribute night with Lily, Gerii, Ava and Meg
Some more musical enjoyment at a Seth Lakeman concert (check him out - I had never heard of him before but he was great)
My dad's 68th birthday
Completely drenched Halloween cum Fireworks night at The Bride's
Typical crap friendness by late posting of ATM's card and pressie for her 37th birthday (hahaha, no hiding the truth here ATM!)
A whole week of peace and quiet when X went away with the school
Having to pay for the week of peace and quiet when X was poorly and had to miss Disco's birthday meal at Moroccan restaurant

And that's about it!

See you soon.... hopefully!