On rescuing fair maidens...

Or something like that...

We're all out drinking, a large relatively disparate group - some close friends, lots of people I don't really know.  Anyway, I'm chatting briefly to a lady from Bristol who was up for an interview/drinking sessions and whom I only knew to say hello to when she asks me to keep an eye on her - and in particular in case a drunken, unintelligible geordie tries to crack on to her...Apparently she can't stand him.  (Personally I could take him or leave him, but after 3 pints I have no idea what he's saying - just nod occasionally when he stops talking).

There I am deep in conversation when suddenly I notice that the lady is staring daggers at me - I'd not noticed that she'd been cornered by the Geordie.  Ooops.  What kind of a knight in tarnished armour am I?

Anyway, I make my excuses and walk over to stand next to her.  This doesn't seem to have much of an impact.  So I went slightly off piste, put my arm round her back, pulled her close and kissed her. We kissed for quite a little while.  Which was a surprise.  Even more so to us, than to the Geordie.  And much to the hilarity of the rest of the group.

Apparently she then missed her train. And had nowhere to stay.  What else could a knight in shining armour do but offer her a bed for the night?

A damning indictment...

of heterosexual men?

Chatting to a friend of a friend at a party - covering all sorts of topics - when she suddenly goes "Are you gay?".

Slightly taken aback I looked confused for a moment and she obviously picks up on this and she says "Oh - sorry - I'd assumed that you were - you're charming and cultured."

Oops. Must make sure that doesn't happen again.  Or stop going to art exhibitions and the ballet.

My poor liver - the dangers of dating

My poor liver needs a rest.  Good job it's a quiet weekend. 

Four drinks and dinners on the trot - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Same bar, same restaurant, different ladies.  Couple of martinis and a bottle of wine - great on Monday, Great on Tuesday, starting to overwhelm me on Wednesday and perhaps not the best on Thursday.  Today I sleep. Unless I get a good offer...

On Tuesday night the maitre d' 's eyebrows were raised.  On Thursday they were lost in his hairline.  But he had the good grace to do it when the lady's back was turned.  And the sommelier gamely gave me the wine menu every day.  Same answer everytime. 

Must go to the gym this weekend.  Got to recover (and with the crisp morning this morning - winter is coming, need to get ready for skiing).

meanwhile - pass me the neurofen please. pretty please.  i need to sleep in a conference room.

Things to do (or not to do...) on arriving

On arriving in an apartment over the weekend after a rather good dinner I was left alone for five minutes.  So I thought I'd peruse the bookshelves.  Foremost amongst them were works by De Sade and von Sacher-Masoch.  Decisions decisions...stay or go, stay or go.  Obviously I stayed and at least I knew what was the order of the day.

So my hint for the day - always study the books on arrival!

On first dates

Having been set up by a friend I went on a date.  So far, so normal.

But the date consisted of a drink just off High Street Ken.  Now I'm all in favour of drinks in pubs just off High Street Ken (is the Scarsdale still there?  Great place on a summer afternoon...) but what I'm not in favour of is meeting for just a drink.

It doesn't give you a chance to get a real feel for the person - if they're shy, or you've had a bad day then you don't really get to cover much ground and find much out about them - and surely that's what it's all about.  Drinks and dinner are a good start to the evening at the very least.  Then you can both relax and chat.  And I've never had a bad first date that consisted of dinner as well - always had plenty to chat about.  But for just a pint or two?  Don't really get it.  On the other hand a follow up of a drink or five or more - well that's just dandy.

As an aside - I can't bear it when friends make sure that a friend rings them after an hour or whatever - if you're going to commit to a date - then at least commit to it properly! 

An attack of common sense...

Things not to do on a Friday of a bank holiday weekend...head down to Devon.

Love Devon though I do I can't really bear the thought of heading down after work on a Bank Holiday Friday.  Maybe if I'd been able to take the day off and head down this morning, but I don't think it matters which way I go ("Perhaps if you take the A123 by little snodsbury...?") - the Road the Hell will closely resemble the Road to Devon this weekend.

It's a shame really as when I'm there it's the perfect place to relax, and unlike London there's no neighbours nearby so you can be as noisy as you like the feeling takes you... Stops them giving you a funny look the next morning.

Having said all that there's probably more people I know in Salcombe this weekend than London - could be a quiet one!

High heels

I'd never really understood the whole high heels on ladies thing. 

Sure, they make a leg look more elegant, and if, perhaps, the wearer's legs are not the best then they can hide a multitude of sins!

And then I came across the Louboutin Pigalle.

Ohgodyes...