Resolve

I've a few more weeks to go before the move, but am somehow oddly motivated to start making changes for long term effect in the present. For instance, working out. It wouldn't be a lie if I said I ran a marathon, closer to the truth, however, to say it was more then four years ago. Since which time my fitness levels have gone from decent to embarassing. I could blame it on a million things, but the reality is where there is a will there is a way. Clearly I have been lacking will for the better part of the last year, so I am open to give way a chance. That and CB has stepped up his game. He completely accepts me for who I am, how I am. He likes my soft bits (in his words) and prefers women with a little meat on their bones. I am, I realised this morning, verging on needing some bones with the meat these days though.

I am also working through socres of product in the bathroom which I don't know why I even still have. Well, that's not true, I do know. I am a product whore, I have an addiction. I have been known to wander the aisles of 24 hour Boots, Wallgreens, and Rite Aid's in my time. I am not really sure what it is, but all those products make me happy and buying them makes me even happier. So that leaves me with a linen cupboard which bears only one shelf of (very cramped) linen and the rest products which I either got bored of or never tried. It's embarassing to have 12 different 1/2 used shower gels and 4 different types of shine spray for your hair. It's not embarassing as I live alone, but it will be mortifying when CB sees the MASSIVE box labeled Bath during the move and opens it only to realise it's FULL of products. So I am using them, all and sundry in an effort to be left with nothing half full. Oh, I also like to take the travel size bottles from hotels. Not the skanky ones, but the nice ones. It's documented that I travel a lot, so you do the maths. That my friends is a lot of lube and bubbles.

She's come undone

After traveling for work, a typical story from me usually starts: So it was me and 8 men... I have been in PR for nearly 10 years now (WOW, even I can't believe that since I am like, what 24?) and have always worked in tech PR of some sort, except when I was with a major athletic brand (rhymes with pikey if you are North American, Bike if you are English) and even then I did athletic technology devices. I have PR'd everything from Software to Micro Processors, Shoes to Vaccines; the common thread being innovation and technology. Unfortunately, it does still tends to be a very male dominated field. When I was a consultant, many of my agency cohorts were women, but now that I am in house, it's typically me and a bunch of sales guys, technical guys or engineers. I don't mind at all and if I am honest I actually tend to find men easier to relate to, it's probably one of the areas I struggle with most in my friendships with women.

So, last night I am at dinner with 5 men in Bucharest. 3 I work with and 2 work for a partner to our company. One of them notices that I am no longer wearing "the" ring I was wearing earlier. He assumes it's an engagement ring (it looks like one, although it's my birthstone and not a diamond, and I absolutely love it) and as I had mentioned my boyfriend earlier in conversation, asks how he feels about me taking it off. My response, it didn't match my bracelet. Ladies (and these days possibly the men, all things being equal) you know when someone is enquiring out of curiosity and you know when they are enquiring out of, oh how do I say it? Lust? The deal is, I always wear a ring on my left hand when I travel for work. I always have, even before CB. Some of the countries I visit can not comprehend and unmarried woman, so it's just easier and in others it wards of unwanted attention. So for the table of men, half of whom are likely still intrigued by a woman at a business dinner who is not a PA or an EA or something else with assistant in the title, it was most interesting. In their eyes I had the "luck" of finding someone who wanted to marry me, but myself was indifferent. Actually, they quite proudly concluded that I was a GD who required a ring for every outfit.

Who says a girl can't have fun on a business trip? As my girl crush once said, lying is the most fun a girl can have...without taking her clothes off.

The Beat Goes On

I went to what can only be described as the tackiest, pikey "wedding celebration" ever this weekend. A uni mate of CBs got hitched on a tropical island over Christmas. In an obvious effort to milk it for all it was worth, he and his betrothed had a second wedding in the country over the weekend. I don't know if I can do justice in my descriptions to the levels of cheesiness that occurred at this event, but I will give it a shot.

• We had an incling upon checking into the hotel that we may have romanticised the "country wedding" situation. Or at least I had.


• Once in our room it became obvious to me that I am A. Spoiled and B. Germaphobic. CB commented that I was making use of the hotel amenities from go. In reality, after doing my spray tan, there was no amount of money that could have convinced me to walk around barefoot in that room. Not sure if the slippers were much better, but I gave it a go.


• While I spray tanned and pranced around starkers CB sorted the lack of working telly in the room (there was rugby on dontcha know) and managed to end up with the shower knob in his hand long after his bathing was complete.


• We made our way to the suite where the activities were meant to be happening and upon entering received our "complimentary entry drink." Going back to my point about being spoiled, it was once again confirmed. I don't like cheap champagne, I'm sorry Cava. I am not saying I don't like Cava or Presecco, sometimes it's lovely, but this was not. One sip and the glass was immediately left on a table.


• A table with a pink paper cloth laid over it with metallic hearts in the form of confetti sprinkled about and a fake cake. Yes, a fake cake. It was plastic.


• I met the bride and groom who were booted and suited in actual wedding attire. Her dress looked like something out of a bad 80's film and he was sporting a white suit with a hot pink bow tie.


• We found one of our friends and entered the room where we found a square for "disco" in front of a DJ booth which had dark coloured felt draped over the front with Christmas tree lights strung across it. A disco ball above (hence our twigging that it was the dance floor) and a plastic banner on the wall hanging by a piece of cello tape, which said: Happy Wedding Celebration!!!


• The average age of the attendees made it look far more like a funeral then a wedding and we quickly decided mass quantities of alcohol from the "cash bar" were going to be necessary.


• On our way to the bar we spied a wall with a video projection of the actual wedding from Christmas in the Caribbean. Now, I am no genius, but I am pretty sure none of the pasty white guests (except me of course as I had California spray tan at my side) who trudged through about 20 centimetres of snow in 2 degree temperatures to pay £5 for a pint of John Smith's at a hotel charging around £100 a night for horrid accoms were all too happy to be reminded that the happy couple actually spent all their money on the initial wedding which was sunny, warm and had waves crashing in the background. I could be wrong though.


• DJ comes on to announce that the buffet is open but that there aren't enough seats, so could people kindly stand at the bar and eat. CB went to get me a plate as I saved our bar table for 4 in the hopes that 8 of us could crowd round


• He came back with one plate and explained that he didn't think I would really fancy anything at the buffet. I looked around and people had sausage rolls, egg rolls, wraps with cheese and pickle and fruit on toothpicks. CB guessed right, so I ordered another drink.


• We all placed bets on the first dance song. Given the tacky factor we were hopeful that there would be some Westlife, or Boy Zone maybe even a little Take That. We were all wrong. Stevie Wonder crooned from the DJ box while the white and pink couple danced to "I just called to say I love you"

The rest of the evening was a bit more fun, but I reckon that was down to the copious amounts of booze we intook. We got into the cheese factor and danced to music I haven't heard since grade 8 socials. CB was approached by several older relatives of the groom who remembered him from Uni. I thought they were trying to set him up with nieces, granddaughters etc. Turns out they were eyeing him. I guess I am not the only cradle robber in the village.

Are you having a laugh?

I am mean, I know. I can't help it. Once again, an entry contributed by my mate who is Matchtastic. I am sure she is not laughing when she opens requests from men such as the one below, but I am. Not at her, with her of course. Honesty is great, as is a realistic view of one's situation, but seriously?
You might as well hang a sign over your neck that says Will Date for Pity and stand on Oxford Street on a Saturday night.


Hi my name is XXX, I have been through a lot in my short life time which has made me stronger, more patient, dedicated and a hard worker. I AM NOT perfect but I try my best to be a great man. I am currently divorced which broke my heart, I had 2 beautiful children that I will never see again because they were not biologically mine but I loved them the same and I will miss them very much. I love children and would love to have 2 of my own someday, but not yet, they are very expensive which I found out from my marriage. So regarding that I want to make it through College first so I can actually be able to support and provide for a great family. Family is very important to me and I am very close to my mum, she is sick and not doing too good so I do like to check up on her from time to time. I also love animals, I had a Corgi but he died about a year ago. My parents had 2 white shepherds, a cocker spaniel, and another Corgi. I also had a Tobby the cat but he got stuck in a tree and that's the last time I saw him.