By traditional means

Wow, being employed is a bit of a shock. Of course i wouldn't change it for the world but i've just been so busy i've barely noticed that 3 weeks have gone by. It's all good in the hood though, i feel i'm on top of things, plus i got a round of applause at the company meeting the other week and i had a mini appraisal today, where my interpersonal skills were praised as well as my intelligence. News to me that i had either! So things are good, i get the odd day, like today where i get a bit of down time, which is nice every once in a while. Last week i thought my head was going to explode i was so busy, so this is a welcome break.

In other news, i've managed to secure myself two dates with a guy i met in the traditional way. i.e not on the Internet. I'd almost forgotten what it's like actually. The last time i met someone when i was out, minding my own business, was about...4 years ago! Blimey.

But yes, let's focus on the fact that i met him when i was out, i then met him again for drinks and i'm now seeing him for lunch tomorrow. Technically it's a second date. And, even more surprisingly, i actually like the guy! So i'm really looking forward to seeing him again.

I had to let down Mr Farringdon Big Forehead though. He asked me out again and i declined. At first i thought that maybe i shouldn't burn my bridges, but then a good friend of mine asked me if i'd be looking forward to seeing him again, and honestly, i knew i wouldn't be. So i politely declined.

This weekend my cousin and i are off to Norfolk to see my Nana. I've been such a bad grand-daughter these past few years that it's about time i spent some time with her. Hopefully the weather will be nice and we can go to the beach or down by the water, just like we did when we were kids.

Steak and a date

Hello, as promised here is my update on the Farringdon date... prepare yourselves...

The verdict is? NBN. Nice But No. Lovely guy but yet again, i'm just not feeling it. Don't get me wrong,we had a great date and he's good fun. Plus he's rich, owns his own flat and loves dancing. He bought me dinner and was very polite. He's also been in touch and is keen to go out again. So, on paper it looks great. But unfortunately, something isn't there for me. It's not his fault. I just know when i know, y'know?!

Perhaps i shouldn't write him off quite yet. Give it another date and see how i feel. But am i just wasting my time and his money? Maybe we could just be friends? Perhaps not. He's not on a dating site to make friends.

Oh well. Keep on trying!

Glorious news

Readers! You will be glad to know that my recent moaning and woe-is-me attitude is finally behind me as i have managed to find myself a 7 month contract! I'm no longer faced with homelessness. I will be able to eat normally. I will be able to go to the pub and have more than a glass of soda water, if i want to. I will be able to pay my bills, get back to paying off my overdraft and maybe even start to pay my long suffering parents some of the money i owe them. Things are looking up.

Now that i know i'm staying in London Town for at least another six months, i've turned my attention back to dating. Yes, that's right, i've signed up to yet another dating site. I've actually paid for this one too! However, men still perplex me and i take every date with a pinch of salt. As i was trying to explain to a dear friend of mine just today, i've had a few dates in the past couple of months which have gone well. I define "well" in that we spent a couple of hours together, didn't run out of things to talk about and by the end of the date there was definite flirting and in most cases the guy leaned in for a smooch. None of these guys i've really thought "yes, you're the one" or even "i'd definitely like to see you again", but we've had a good time and they've come across like they like me. So, remembering that i'm not that interested, why is it, as keen as they seem to be, i don't hear from them again? are they waiting for me to get in touch? Or, and this is what i think, was it all a ruse? Do guys give it the come on but actually, couldn't give a shit if they ever see you again? Now, remember i'm actually not bothered. I haven't felt the need to get in touch with any of them. But without being big headed, i thought they were at least a little bit interested!

Are these guys just doing the same thing i'm doing...? Should i start being a bit more...brutal?

well, i think i may put this to the test with my next date in Farringdon tomorrow. There's been a few flirty emails and text messages so at the moment, all is looking good. I'll let you know how it goes, never fear. But don't hold your breath for some sort of romance or even a second date!

The odds aren't good.

Shallow dating and big chills

Woo hoo! Have got tickets for the Big Chill sorted! Very excited, my first festival that i've actually had the money in the bank to be able to pay for! Plus have lovely people to go with! Tres exciting!

Much happier now I have something to look forward too. Think that's always the way. Was speaking to a mate on Sunday and he's talking about getting a big group together on August Bank holiday to go surfing down in my ancestral home of Cornwall. Now that would be cool, as haven't spent enough time with the boys over the past couple of years. Now we've all been brought back together by the "Wedding of The Year" this has given us the perfect opportunity to party more!

This weekend I also spread the online dating bug to my recently single friend who's organising the surf holiday. Didn't put him on the same site i'm on though, that would be a bit wierd (and between you and me i'm not sure he meets the criteria ;-)!

So we set him up on Mysinglefriend.com which i'd heard a lot about. I was obviously the single friend who had to describe him, which felt a little awkward with him looking over my shoulder! Plus the fact we dated for a few months when I was 17. But that's all water under the bridge now... however the boys do love to remind us of the past...at the wrong moments!

The idea is a really good one though and I kinda wish I was on there now. However i've my hands full with the other three sites i'm on (i'm not paying for all three, i'm just putting on free profiles to see which is best...)! And let me tell you, it's an interesting snapshot of what kind of single guys are out there. And not all of it's pretty. In fact, i've been sifting through a lot of mingers! Now I know that's not a nice thing to say, but this online dating thing makes you really shallow! It's awful that i'm judging people by their photos. I know it is. But I can't stop doing it!

Bad Ellie. Bad, bad, bad. Anyway, i've found at least one or two hotties which is just enough to keep me on these sites, in the hope that they might find me attractive....and if i'm judging then i'm sure the guys out there are doing it right back.

Gosh, dating's cruel!

Sunshine and rainy days

I have to say that I feel a little bit happier now than I have of late. I don't know if it's just because the sun has started to shine and Spring is in the air, or if the clouds have started to lift over my recent doom and gloom of the heart. Perhaps it's both. I feel a little more in control which helps. My emotions are in check for the moment. This could change with the wind of course, but right now, this minute, i'm fine.

Yesterday I was told I treated the whole dating thing quite light heartedly. She then back-tracked and said she didn't mean it to sound like she thought I didn't care, just that I was quite calm about the whole process. She's also started dating again and she's not exactly embracing the experience! I was glad to hear that's what she thought of me, and my approach to the whole dating scenario. Even if deep down it's not really the case! To be perceived that way is what i want. And people do say the more you act a certain way the more like that way you become. If that makes sense...?

The past couple of months (i think it's three now)have been a challenge. And a mind fuck. But with the help of my friends, who did physically have to scrape me off the floor at one point, I've managed to get my life back and have started to kick the habit, the Ex. I know I've got a long way to go, but I'm doing OK. I've been on a few dates and have realised that I'm an interesting, easy to talk to kinda gal. Sorry if that sounds like I'm blowing my own trumpet (and for those reading this who know me, you'll probably be cheering and clapping your hands at me praising myself!)but I've been made to feel like I'm neither of those things at some point.

So, onwards and upwards. I'm moving on, getting on and attempting to get back in the saddle, as terrifying as that is. It's probably a little bit soon, but I'm not starting any big, scary relationships right now. Just meeting new people and trying to remember what fun feels like. Bring on the singles nights, speed dating and blind dates! Woohoo!