Quite a weekend!

Monday morning and absolutely shattered! Head slightly pounding as well. Sunday drinking before a week at work never a good idea but hell with it, I was celebrating! Some fabulous cocktail drinking on Friday with a splattering of prosecco to celebrate catching up with an old friend back in the Buckingham shire – always fun but definitely resent the fact that I have to get a train out of London and back in again purely because the selfish parents only think of themselves and UP and desert the home town to be with their better halfs! Seriously, think of your children and the need to visit the place where we group up where all the memories and friends still are!! This also meant that I needed to stock up on several cans of G&T’s from good old M&S plus the carton of wasabi peas, which also meant to slowly drifting in and out of snooze ville on the way back in due to an alcohol infused buzz evaporating....

Don’t worry I got home and also decided to attempt packing – this is why I can never find anything.

Saturday was Taste London day! Yes I managed to score an exclusive press pass for the day and enjoyed the sunny hours wondering amongst food and drink stalls! Many would say it’s a good event to enjoy with others, however, considering I was supposed to be working, I thought it a better idea to enjoy the taste and smells by myself. This was until I discovered the sheer amount of alcohol stalls and temptations of Italian food! Over the four hours, I managed to somehow avoid getting burnt in the glorious sunshine and hopefully picked up a slight tan, talk to at least half of the people there (actually I don’t think I even covered that) – there were so many and I was trying to get photos, quotes, biz cards. By the end of the day – I felt very full and was also pretty tipsy – I couldn’t find water anywhere to quench my thirst, so after gaining a new friend in the frozen ‘healthier and natural’ mojito man, was quenching it with these – they had ice, surely this was better than nothing. By 5pm I was exhausted and took up residence in a deck chair with Mr. Tequila owner who despite my refusals, insisted I try every single one of his concoctions. Yes. It was time to go home... Oh not before a call to the boy – why oh why?! Actually. It went fairly well J. More on Taste to come, after my write ups for the magz!

Sunday was D day – D day, actually M day – moving day. Whoop whoop finally getting out of the hell hold and into a very lovely flat down the road. After falling out with my ashat of a brother and a not so fun call with my Dad, I was left to do the move on my own – seriously family cannot be relied on! So, trying to pack and the now ex flat mate (why call them mates seriously?!), was getting annoyed with me as my room looked messy! For god sake, I am packing to move out you plonker. 3 trips with 2 suitcases, several pulled muscles and a bucket of sweat, I gave in called the taxi company to help me, the nice man arrived and insisted he pack and unload (I think he was scared that I couldn’t do it properly – and seriously I need to learn how to pack). So he helped but he did not help me lift everything up the 4 flights of stairs, there really was no point in me doing my gym sessions that morning! Wow, I was hot and the place was a wreck! 6 hours later, I was nearly all moved in but I seriously had to de-clutter and chuck a lot of stuff! I was purely shattered, hence why the celebratory drink by myself!

Wow!

Salvador and Amanda

Nestled on the cusp of Convent Garden and Soho, Salvador and Amanda oozes with Spanish authenticity, giving off a distinctive, ‘Real Spain’ vibe with pictures of bulls and flamenco dancers, smouldered across the walls and a DJ spinning out Spanish tunes. Packed with young professionals, this funky bar / fiesta is a great place to come after work for fruity sangria and creamy cocktails or to indulgent in the delicious and sizzling Spanish tapas dishes before swinging your hips on the dance floor. With dishes, such as the gambas al ajillo (pan fried prawns in garlic and oil) and albondigas en salsa de tomate (Spanish meatballs in a rich tomatoe sauce) forming the backbone of the exquisite menu, your tastebuds are taken on a sensational journey of authentic typical Spanish cuisine. My personal favourites included the roasted hake with caviar and Galician style octopus with smoked paprika, washed down with a fresh lemon concoction, in the form of a Dali cocktail.

If you haven’t visited yet – make sure it is on your to do lists, as this Spanish creation is not to be missed. 

Go go England – or not?!

So still no peep out of the boy! Is it safe for me to call him an asshat now?! How can you text someone saying ‘it would be good to see you’ when they just don’t?! My colleague and apparently the next male Opera, said I should wait until Thursday to see if I have heard then text on Thursday something simple because then it adheres to some sort of ok game playing. Err is game playing OK? Right guys going to get my game face on and start taking control of this situation. 

Anyway, with my rant over and can discuss the shenanigans of Saturday...World Cup fever taking over, I realise my second round of birthday celebrations are an epic fail with people either away or actually opting out to watch England’s first match which starts at 11pm! Wowza. So basically, instead of feeling unpopular and cancel the event with excuse of realising I am an epic football fan and didn’t get my dates right – this actually isn’t a lie as I didn’t know until like 2 days prior. A quick trip to central to have a couple of glasses of prosecco (free!) with my irish gym buddy, I hop back on the bus to Putney. Ever travelled via bus in London at 10pm?! Well do so at your own risk – there are some interesting characters and proper creeps a.k.a the fifty year old tramp staring right at me my entire journey uttering ‘you are beautiful’ like a broken disc record.

In case you are wondering... I made it back safe to meet my ex flat mates girlfriend for the world cup in the ever so overly populated Cote and Badge! Pushing the crowds, whilst keeping a sharp eye for any yummies we plonk ourselves on a table in the back with an OKish view of the screen but most importantly a bottle of prosecco, which was lush. So you know I said I was an eager footy fan – well let’s put it this way, 2 glasses in, I had no idea England had scored or what the score was let alone who was actually playing. However, we did get a good catch up / rant and laugh about my current flat mates, one certain flat mates psycho ex (let’s hope she doesn’t read this). Back at the bar, I bumped into sort of friend / person I am trying to get to know better because of connections, who was fairly drunk and apparently now my biggest fan. Slurring away, he kept coming in for the kisses and good words, me being me, wanting to stay in everyone’s good books kept the charm on and put up with his weirdness (helped by another glass of prosecco). By the time I reached for my second, which I sadly found was taking up residence in pieces on the floor, even I couldn’t keep up with the creepiness and bolted!  

Oh and for those who don’t know, England lost 1-2. To Italy. Which. I found out the next day. By accident.  

London men

So I don’t get it?! Boys are really confusing.....how can you go from being really chatty and wanting to see someone to going completely AWOL and barely texting within a week. I really didn't think the date went that bad especially as it ended with a cheeky kiss and he did text on my birthday but after that I didn't hear from him until the Sunday and then he didn't text back until 2 days later after I broke all the rules and text him AGAIN without a reply – god what has happened to me. He mentioned that it would be good to see me again but probably would be hard as he was going away on Thursday so I replied and nada absolutely nada! Looks like this fling didn't go far – complete idiot. There I was thinking he was a genuine decent guy and not into the games stuff but apparently he is just a typical London bloke! Sorry to those men out there reading this but yeah London guys just don’t seem to be that great. I cannot let myself fall for someone like that again. Did I do something wrong people? Any idea let me know but looks like this girl has got some things to learn about the dating world.....

Birthday girl

Despite how many of them I have had, I still get ridiculously excited about my birthday! But that’s allowed right?! Well waking up with a mouth like ghandi’s flip flop and a slightly fuzzy head, I pulled myself from my slumbers and found myself with a stupid grin on my face and no one in particular. Weirdo alert! Standard morning routine yet I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed that the commuters of London didn't know it was my birthday and treat me like a princess! This didn't continue for long though and by 10.03am I was the colour of a beetroot and 1 orchid, pink bottle of champagne, embarrassing card and birthday cake up! Got to love the office singing happy birthday to you before you have had time to get through your first cup of tea! I had a text from the boy as well – albeit not the loveliest just a Happy Birthday – paranoia set in with the usual ‘What did I do wrong’, ‘I thought it went well’, ‘did I drink too much’ etc floating around the head, which seemed to hit the roof when I didn’t get a text back to my ‘birthday drink after work before my dinner?’ text. Sh** are you not suppose to text, am I being to forward. Ah gawd! Why is dating so complicated.

This may have been why when I took myself off to Selfridge's for a little mini indulgence, in the forms of a make over , I spotted the free champers in the Jo Malone stand straight away and made a bee line for it! I don’t normally treat myself to much but I had been told off for not doing so, hence the make-over BUT I panicked the whole way through it and the lovely lady at Nars try to put me at ease yet when she kept taking to my eyes with copious amounts of purple shadow, nerves didn’t go away! The result – it was actually all right but ahh god too much for a sophisticated dinner with the aunt? Begging the poor girl in the toilets for her thoughts, I decided to be brave and stick with it – I could always take it off there if I received strange looks from the passers by of London right?!

Arriving just on time to meet my Auntie, cousin and friend at Hush in Mayfair, to some beautiful flowers and a flute of champagne, I was assured that the make up looked great. Now the celebrations begin! 2 more flutes of champagne in the bar and lots of giggles later, we were snuggled into one of the plush leather booths downstairs with gorgeous mains and had moved onto the rose! Fabulous restaurant – I really would recommend it...the cod wasn't too tough and complemented with a fresh herby sauce. Not brave enough for dessert with  being so full from the sheer amount of sides I couldn't go without but I didn't turn down a baileys. Bless my auntie she picked up the bill and after one more cocktail each later we went out separate ways! Lovely end to the birthday! 

Shame I didn't mention the harsh text from my flat mates earlier that day! Twits – On. My. Birthday. Not even a Happy Birthday. 

Oh and I don’t think I mentioned, the stupid over sharing text to the boy! Error – I blame the champagne. Lesson to self – remove iPhone from reachable distances after 2 flutes of champagne.

 Lesson 2 – don’t discuss your emotions after 2 dates. 

London Grammar

Hair dryer in one hand and phone in the other, I am frantically trying to figure out what the hell to wear whilst silently cursing myself for not sorting the night before! What do you wear to a second date at Brixton academy to watch a gig? I haven’t been to a gig in forever (don’t judge) and I am also pretty out of touch with the dating scene anyway.... Plus the weather has been running the weather lady in circles with the constant change of temperature and rain. 10 minutes later, I am running down the steps the tube in my play safe black skinny jeans (I hope he doesn't remember them from date 1) and a fluorescent pink cami and leather jacket. Oh and my silvery topshop number in the bag with black pumps. Work was a bore as usual, I really can’t wait until this writing stuff kicks off as I really enjoyed writing up my reviews for Our Man On The Ground – check them out here..

http://omotg.com/cities/barcelona/

http://omotg.com/cities/houston/

Oh and I got emailed more work for Women’s Fitness and We Heart Living- yay! Go me – will keep you posted on them.

I met this lovely lady, Hilary at the We Heart Living Launch the other week and she runs a cycle studio called Boom Cycle, so I got in touch with her about that and also some modelling stuff she thought I could do (I know right!) and she was lush and booked me in for a complimentary spin session during lunch – 35 min class, which feels pretty random duration but oh well.

It was pretty cool, this guy (who I am sure is gay!) handed me a towel and directed me to the changing rooms – which are just individual, clean cubicles, all mixed like the ones you get in shops. After locking away my bits and bobs in the complimentary locker, I wondered through to the studio which was in a pitch black room with around 35 bikes all facing the instructor who was raised on a podium – man alive she was muscly and extremely overenthusiastic! Oh and guess where my bike was?! Yep right in front of her...Now, I loyal RPM fan, I tried to keep an open mind but I can’t say I will be switching up any time soon. Whilst, I felt like I was getting a work out, the bikes felt slightly odd and not like a spin one and the choreography of the tracks, a little too aerobic style class for me. The music was cool and definitely fitted with the style of cycling but it wasn't my RPM favourites. I am not saying I wouldn't go back or it’s rubbish because the venue is mint and everyone lovely and enthusiastic, plus I did get a gruelling but I think I am just too much of a RPM aholic!

Date time! Quick change and I am on the tube to Brixton slightly bricking it and praying that a garble or words don’t come pouring out my mouth when I see him. I wonder down to the food market, which I must say, I didn't see much of it but if you haven’t been – go, it is pretty cool, yum! I see him standing outside waiting for me, clad in a crisp white shirt – perfect to show his strong and clearly well built physique and dark trousers! Kiss on the cheek oh and yes go me a second 1 and he take my hand to guide me to where his mates (couple mates well married mates – crap) are sitting in the restaurant. I am actually doing pretty well, the garble has been limited....dying for a drink though as soon as my vodka tonic arrives, I pretty much neck it and already attract the attention of ‘wow you can drink’, blaming my thirst I navigate out of that one despite and keep the conversations rolling. We order food and sangria and get back to the conversation which seems to be going well but flitting from one thing to another, hands on knees and constant touching I would like to say it’s going fairly well and he paid again! Whoop. We head over to the academy and I get the cans of G&T I forgot I had in there taken, bummer. Drinks bought, we head up to the balcony and manage to find some seats oh and there was a cheeky kiss involved. Never hearing the band before, London Grammar were pretty cool and I was enjoying listening whilst chatting casually away – more touching and hand holding oh and then some more kisses when we went for more drinks! We went to a bar after and I can tell I was pretty tipsy now and I am sure there was a shot involved but let’s say I think the night ended well, with me piling into a cab with his 2 mates as there was definitely some more kissing involved! Que, girl crush!

Is this going well people? I think he likes me....

Boy update

So this guy definitely seems interested but what is too much too soon as in the texts and language...fair play theses texts have been on Friday and Saturday nights when I expect quantities of alcohol are involved but still don’t they say the truth comes out when your drunk? Anyway Friday night, I was out with work and then the girls and I knew he was with mates heading to that new place Mode in Notting Hill but he was texting at about 10ish saying they had just finished dinner and did I want to meet him at Mode as he could get me on the guest list. Slightly confused as I thought it was a guys night and he had originally said he couldn’t meet on Friday as he was out, he said it would be good to see me and I was more than welcome. I decided to leave it, as I didn’t want to look to available and got to keep them wanting more hey?! Well to be honest I don’t know, I have been so out of the dating scene for so long now, I have no idea what is and isn’t acceptable and what the hell are the dating ‘rules’ and if games are played...Anyway I got quite a few texts that evening telling me I was ace and his friends can’t wait to meet me...Hmm too much or cute? No shame to hide, he continued the next day with general chit chat before more texts in the evening of wanting to meet up and see me at like midnight...bootie call? God I have no idea... Date 2 is Wednesday and he said he wants to take me to see a band in Brixton with food and drinks before hand in Soho? Good? What are your thoughts? Any thoughts please let me know – I told you I am just getting back into this...

Burgers and Ping Pong

Regular confusions and complications for my Saturday evening, plans were finally sorted and I was due to meet the girls at Hache on the Fulham road for burgers and drinks before heading over to Ping in Earls Court for birthday celebrations...

Hair sorted, Smokey eyes passable and lip gloss on, it had been a full 10 minutes of staring at the mass of clothes on my floor (which was killing me as I still haven’t sorted the wardrobe issue) and trying to mentally find something suitable for burgers and then ping pong – what the hell do you where to play ping pong in a bar but also suitable for a classy burger restaurant? After seeking approval from Em that it was OK to go for the easy option of the Love pink and black shift dress I wore the weekend before, which was hanging up on the back of my door, for a second weekend in a row because there had been no photos, I went for that and my fail safe option of white River Island sandals and bare legs.

After an awkward bus ride with eyes glued to Google maps to find out when I should jump off and two dirty looks at the pervy gentleman who made very inappropriate comments I arrived only 10 minutes late and was instantly greeted by a lovely waiter who guided me to my friend. Two cocktails and a glass into the prosecco later we were finally joined by our other fellow singleton and our food. Me – a falafel burger and salad, which wasn’t eaten as I don’t actually like falafel but liked everything it came with and don’t eat meat...weird but I didn’t want to be complicated. Arriving extremely late to ping pong, birthday girl wasn’t too impressed but cheered up after a round of shots and drinks and another game of Ping pong...

I am crap, literally the worst ping pong player in the world so I wasn't surprised that my skills only got worse after several shots, a lot of drink and in heels. Anyway, I was being a sport and having fun so couldn’t care less and actually seemed to forget that I was in a little dress when I was scrambling on the floor searching for the balls which were flying everywhere...definitely tipsy! After 20 minutes of poor attempts to actually play a game, I was in need of more slushy ice cold deliciousness in the form of a cocktail and headed for the bar. I was greeted by a weird guy, whose mates standing behind us decided that it was acceptable to lift up my dress for the world to see. Yet again my knickers were on show...thank god I had opted for my French briefs rather than granny pants! A foul glare and several words of abuse, I insisted that this warranted not just 1 but 2 drinks from the guy next to me who feebly obliged and accepted a peck on the cheek for my disappearance straight after! Score, 2 drinks for me! 

The night ended when I decided I was fed up of bag watching on my own in not the best place in the world while the other 2 remaining party people were upstairs smoking their 4^th fag in the space of half an hour! Oh the joys of not polluting my lungs but only drowning my liver instead – well we do live in London. 

Date night

I am sure those fellow single ladies who have been living in London and trying to find a decent guy via various routes – online dating...tinder...speed dating (god how times have changed) can join me in saying, it is extremely draining and quite frankly disappointing putting my faith in finding my soul mate before I turn 30 and not ending up a spinster with 10 cats very low. There are some jerks out there! As a result, the dating scene has been quite dormant as of late especially after my string of tinder  and plenty of fish dates with creeps who touch me up on the first date/ make me buy all and both of our drinks throughout / don’t turn up / text at the end to say ‘worst date ever’  (yes really!)

So, I am sure you can understand that after having a great night with the beautiful boy on Sunday and a couple of texts throughout the week why I was a little cautious when it came to seeing him that Thursday.... Well rest assure now – it went well and I was spoilt! I suggested somewhere near Sloane square as it was close to where we both were (and I knew it was classy bars / pubs so would test his chivalry and credit limit!) but told him to pick a place...A little annoyed at first as he chose somewhere pretty hard to find but it was lovely – The Orange. If you haven’t been, then you should as the cocktails are mouthwatering and the prosecco just right! We didn't eat but the menu looked lush. As soon as I got there, my nerves melted away and he rushed inside to get me a drink – which never went try throughout the night. We chatted about everything...the party, him being an ex rower, my obsession with the Lindsey Kelk books and inspiration to become a writer and journalist, his obsession with a Steve Jobs interview and Chris Martin, him being a co founder of his own international company (omg I know), moving to New York...the topics varied but there was never nothing to say... Getting close to midnight I had to end the night in warrant of making my last tube home (and making sure I didn't drink too much to make my morning meeting!). Chivalry at its best, he decided to get a cab back to his flat in Primrose Hill (Yes omg again) and dropped me off at the tube station en route after my insistence that he shouldn't go out of his way to drop me home... Que cheeky kiss (maybe two actually) and a text before I get home to say he had a good evening and let him know I got back OK, not to mention talk of round 2....

Score girls...I maybe onto a winner...Well actually more of a ‘Yay I actually had a better than decent first date and I didn't make a fool of myself (apart from nearly falling of the stool but that’s just a regular day for me)... 

Wardrobe malfunction

Just a quick one guys to let you know how unlucky my life can be! Cheap skate that I am, I have a linen wardrobe because whilst it may not be big enough for my hordes or clothes, it does the job and I don’t want to spend pennies that I don’t have on another. Anyway, it collapsed, yes literally collapsed! Not.impressed! So what do I do, decide to order another linen one from Argos which had a metal frame and therefore connecting parts not nails. Putting my handy man skills to the test, I attempt to build it on Monday evening...after one too many stabs to arms and re starting about 3 times, I stood back and admired my great work. That was until, I put my clothes back in it and it started to look slightly wobbly. Redistributing and removing certain items, at 10pm I was satisfied it was stable but it wasn’t. Far, far from stable in that it collapsed – the whole thing literally went bang. Crash. Boom at 2am, scarily the living daylights out of me and making a foul mess of my OCD clean and tidy room! Wobbly lip and late to work as I insisted on sorting out the mess the next morning...packing it all back into the box and making a mental note to scream at Argos who better take it back! Eurgh! Do these things happen to you? Why can’t my life be easy?! 

Bingo time...ding ding ding

One of the girls at work who is raising money for the Brain Tumour charity in aid of her brother – heart touching story, through a charity bingo night at the good old work local – King and Queen. Not normally a bingo type of girl, I joined the crowds from work to take part and actually found myself having quite a lot of fun...Well after it taking me far too long to understand. As in typical Dennis (my company style), it was alcohol fuelled and if you got a line then you had to do a shot but there were some awesome prizes. However, whilst not winning a prize in all 5 rounds, I was the first of the night to have a shot and it was absolute rank and I continued to be the first in all of the rounds.... Great.

Note to self – don’t try and talk to the director of the team that you want to move to in the future after 5 vodka shots and 3/4s bottle of free wine... 

House party on the rooftop

Don’t you just hate it when some nights when you want to do something, there is literally nothing going on and either know one is out or everyone is busy and then other nights about 3 things that you want to do are going on at the same time?! Life just isn’t fair and well my bank holiday Sunday had turned into just one of those nights. Originally, I was looking forward to hanging with my flat mate and a different crowd at one of her mates house parties in central but as of 6pm, I was now debating whether to join the gym girlies for dinner and drinks in Putney....

As usual I began to whey up the pros and cons of each, starting with the usual lazy excuse of ‘Oh Putney is here so I don’t have to travel or get back’, followed by the other usual ‘but the house party will literally cost me nothing..’ It took several attempts at trying to flatten my whispery hair and 2 vodka’s later (they were small and it was now 7.30 so don’t judge) for me to decide to step out of my comfort zone and work on my friendship with my new flatmate by going with her to central. Pretty glad I did as well....

Throwing my original combo of cute dress and shoe boots on my bed and pulling on white jeans and a silky Topshop cami, I grabbed my clutch filled with the necessities and head out the door. House mate had left to meet her friend because in typical Jen style – I was late, so I said I will meet them there...A trip up the tube steps and I was glad I had put on my pink pumps which are now talking as an ex-colleague use to say (the soles were coming off – weird hey). For once, luck was on my side and the tube was pulling in as I arrived on the platform.

Running into the girls outside the flat, we were both left pretty speechless as we were let through the threshold. A flat just off Oxford Circus screams money but this place was mint, a balcony with views across London, all the modern accessories and a fully stocked bar, I think I had made a pretty good decision. 

Especially, since from the moment we walked in a beautiful man had an amazing, fruity pimms in our hand which was kept topped up! Not to mention that he must be around 6ft 5 and ex –rower, which I found out because I ended up spending the entire evening with him. Experimenting with drink concoctions and discussing god knows what for about god knows how long – my memory is hazy due to the copious amount of alcohol that was being consumed....

It was 2am before I thought it best to take myself off, I think I am getting old as my stamina is flagging but that wasn’t before the lovely boy had insisted on me taking is number...watch this space guys..