Life's A Picnic

It's About Time

I spent lastnight at Mr X's place. I could see on arrival that the table had been very carefully laid, looking very cool and trendy and inviting. Greeted by a kiss and a cool Corona we chatted in the kitchen whilst he added the mushrooms to his home made Coq Au Vin. I watched as he carefully stirred and checked, reduced the sauce then thickened it and sat down as instructed whilst he did the finale of getting it all to the table. The minute or so that I sat, feeling pretty useless, waiting to be waited on I got a little, very quietly to myself, overwhelmed. I haven't been treated like this since I can't remember when to be honest. I was almost tearful sat all of my own for a second, taking it all in, the kindness of it all, the thoughtfulness and the effort, all for me. I was truly touched.

We sat together in the candlelight with cool tunes on in the background and ate this really bloody yummy Coq Au Vin cooked from scratch.Denby china, Dartington glasses. Pure class! We talked some more, laughed and drank a nice bottle of red.

With no room for dessert, we took our wine to the sofa where I lay with my head on his lap while we talked some more and then... and then...well, thats none of your business!

It's about time I was treated like this and I'm really going to enjoy it. So, any of you ladies out there who have been basically shat on from a great height from a man that was previously in your life, have faith. There are a lot of good guys around, you just got to find them.

An update

I have been a little vague on the dating news, so here is an update.

Now I'm a little shy in making this unpredictable area of my life become public but....

Where For The Day?!

Mondays, Mondays...I do my best to take off as we all need some time to ourselves and it is difficult to allow yourself that when you are self employed, but equally important.

I told you I had a date a couple of weeks back, well here is an update on that front, in case you were wondering. 2 weeks ago, went well, but no, not for me, nice new friend though perhaps, but no. Yesterday however, I had a new date. And? And! It went quite well I would shyly say. We went from here all the way to Alton Towers for the day to go on some fast rides. I know, I'm 36 and he is 39, but so what! It was a little nutty to go such a distance for the day on a first date, could have been a total disaster, but it wasn't. Non stop conversation for  4 hours on the way up and the same on the way back.

Just Pop The Question Fella's

Ok, this goes out to you fellas out there that may be reading this sat at a desk in an office in the city somewhere. You've got this girlfriend. Ok, I know, one minute I'm giving out dating advice and the next I'm giving away the nitty gritty of my divorce, but guys, some of you anyway...love your girlfriends. So much. Well. What you got to loose.?Great girl, just right for you?

Why don't you just pop the question?! Go on. Why not hey! Here's what I want to suggest to you. Pop the question on The Picnic Boat. Two fella's have done it before and the ladies both said 'yes'. And it's just so romantic.

I can help tailor your time down here with suggestions for places to ask, if not on my boat, great restaurants, walks, things to do.

So go on, if it feels right, why not make it extra special, don't just casually ask whilst sat in bed with a cuppa in the morning. Plan it!

I'd love to help to get it right.

Picture the scene. You strole round Dartmouth after breakfast at Alf Fresco's. As you strole along the seafront, my boat pulls up by the steps and your girlfriend says, ''Doesn't that look cute''. You hold her hand and guide her down to the boat. She is surprised. I head out to the mouth of the river between the two stunning castles and hang around while you do your bit, get down on one knee etc etc. When she says yes I pass out the flowers you have chosen, the champagne on ice and the nibbles. You then enjoy an hours cruise talking about whats next.

This is exactly how the second proposal on my boat went and I thought it was so beautifully thought of. Great! Got you thinking guys? Hope so!

Advice For A Man Writing His Profile

Guys, guys, guys... you don't need to start with 'how difficult is this' and did you know that every other bloke out there likes nothing more than to cuddle up with a dvd, glass of wine AND YOU!

You do do do, need to get your grammer right and you do need to check your spelling (I know, I know, I can slack a bit with mine, just to excited to get it all published). You need your capitals, when there should be capitals, full stops in the correct place, it's important! So important, when you are in effect 'selling yourself' and out there. I AM AN EXPERT...NOT!

Truly, you have a short short time to make an impression, don't spend it writing how you don't know what to say and how awkward you feel writing 'this'.

Talk, tell us about you, who you are, what you like, what you are looking for. Throw in some humour, a bit of gentle sauce and miss out, 'does this sound like you talking'? Actually, no it doesn't, it sounds like you talking!! More advice on all that later.

Here We Go....

I've done it again. Taken the action and signed up for more dating action. Nothing to loose eh?! Actually, I signed up on Sunday night after going out for dinner, chatting with a friend who has been single a while. I was busy telling her to go for it like I have with other single friends, to go for it in the dating thing!

A while back I would never (ha, well obviously, I was married..can't believe I just said that) have considered Internet dating. But wow! It's pretty cool.

You have to get ready for a swarm of people after you who you'd rather they weren't and rejection from the ones you might perhaps fancy the most! Thats the way the cookie crumbles. But! If you sit back, do nothing, wait for Mr or Mrs Perfection to happen to pass you one day AND ACTUALLY WANT TO TALK TO YOU, you could just be sat there forever!

With several glasses of wine, I was obviously feeling a little actually ALOT..like taking action. I re wrote my profile and signed up for 6 months of madness, distraction AND.... FUN!

Cocktails and pedicures

36, no children and just about to get divorced. Well bloody hell, somebody please hand me a knife or something will you! I have to be light hearted about it, to take the satirical view, otherwise I'd be stuffed.

With my divorce according to my brilliant solicitor due through literally any day, my friends want to take me for cocktails. I just want a pedicure and to go dancing! On a serious note, with a failing marriage I have obviously given it a lot of thought.

In a nutshell...