Alton Towers! Bring on the Roller Coasters.

I love roller coasters there is nothing like that ticket in the tummy they give you and the feeling of being alive when you get off at the end. In England there is a place I have wanted to go for many years, Alton Towers where they have 8 roller coasters.  It is up north near Manchester and requires a car to get to. So N and I decided to make it a road trip before he sold his Mini. The date was set and off we went!

Nemesis, Europe's first inverted roller coaster. We went on this one 3 times.

Oblivion, the world's first vertical drop roller coaster. Hands down the scariest roller coaster I've ever been on. A face first drop into a hole in the ground after they leave you hanging over it at the top, (like in the photo) for what seems like forever.

The hole. N asked did I see the mist?  Mist what mist?! I had my eyes shut!!

On the way back to London we stopped off for a wander and lunch in Stratford, here I am with the obligatory photo opp in front of Shakespeare's birthplace.

Dating long distance

A couple posts ago I mentioned meeting a couple of guys at the Blitz Party.  Over the next couple of months N and I got to chatting online, texting, chatting on the phone and even meeting up on a stopover I made on my way to Cornwall (he lived in Devon).

He made me laugh, was kind. intelligent, and though originally I didn't think anything would come of it when we exchanged contact information at the Blitz Party I soon found I like him and enjoyed our chats, and I was very glad my flatmate had chatted up his friend those couple of months back.  The catch of course was he lived in Devon. Encouragingly he did think that London was a possibility and he was up for a change.  When in March he got made redundant the process of making the move got under way.  In the mean time though our relationship was a long distance one.  This meant many hours on trains, learning how to get the best deals for those tickets, lots more calls, texts and messaging on line.

The good thing about long distance is you make the most of the time you have together. It also means the normal dating pattern doesn't exist. In some ways it slows things down, and at the same time other things happen faster. On visits we were staying with each other, and in N's situation this meant staying at his parents because he had rented out his place.  Meeting the parents on the 3rd date (though we had known each other for months and months by this time) and staying over at their house isn't something I've experienced before.  Luckily for me not only is N fantastic but he comes from a great family who are very welcoming.

We made the most of those first months, and his car before he sold it, and made lots of road trips.  We toured the west country and then went north to somewhere I've wanted to go for years, Alton Towers (more on that tomorrow).

Things have come a long way, and I still enjoy every minute with him and he still makes me laugh like no one else.

Party like it's 1945!

After getting back from Paris it was time to start getting ready for The Blitz Party!  A party under train arches in Shoreditch, themed as 1940's war time.  After searching through the vintage clothings shops and coming up with nothing my flatmate had a Next dress in her closet that was 1940's tea dress style and fit perfectly! Out came the red lipstick and an attempt was made to create Victory rolls in my hair. Not as easy as it looks despite the many You Tube tutorials I watched. 

There were lots of men in uniform. Nathan and Jon who we met just before the end of the night (I had let my hair down at this point).  

The night finished in 2009 style at the Kebab shop in Camden. 

Dating in London - some thoughts and theory's

Being a single girl in London for 3 years I learned a few things, ended up in some interesting situations, and met lots of people. My observations on dating are from a London perspective. I believe in London things are a bit different that the rest of England due to the anonomity of a big city, but for the most part I think things are similar across the UK.

I have been open to trying most anything.... and it has been interesting to say the least!

Here is what I learned in my years as a single girl:

They don't get dating in England. They tend to get drunk, sleep together, then ask the girl out for dinner.... or not. Things are a bit backwards.

For guys last call at the pub means last chance to talk to a girl before you get chucked out and have to go home alone.

Unless it is last call (and/or 8 pints later) British guys are not likely to approach you.

However they will surround a group of girls on the dance floor and before you know it some guy you don't know, hasn't even said hi, is rubbing up against you. Awful!

Speed dating is exhausting, but an interesting experience and good for a laugh. Group support recommended (bring friends).  I met a presenter at an event, he was mortified to meet someone from work, and that I might tell people I saw him there.

On-line dating, is not for me, you can't tell if their is chemistry via email (or a 5 year old profile photo), and I'm not looking for a pen pal.

Singles parties, are as awful as they sound.

Work - tread with caution, and if they work in TV or sport don't bother. I suspect banking and finance is the same.

Approching randoms in bars, this can work, just think of it as a way of meeting new people and making a night more interesting, no pressure.

After seeing someone for 2.5 months if they stop calling, texting and emailing you, as a way let you know they don't want to see you any more don't be surprised. (For the record this one of the most cowardly ways to behave I can think of).

My tips for the single girl:

If he likes you enough he will talk about future plans, in fact he will want to know before you leave when he will see you next.

Also if he really likes you he will not make you wonder what is going on, he will make sure you know where you stand, mostly this can be seen in how he behaves. Talk is cheap.  He won't want to risk some other guy nabbing you.

If he really likes you he won't text you at inappropriate times saying inappropriate things, this boy is looking for a booty call, stop hoping more will come of it.

If he has just broken up with someone in the past 30 days wait, you don't want to be the rebound girl.

Some of you may find this offensive as modern independent girls, but I think it is true. If he likes you he will want to spoil you and look after you. This means he will go out of his way to meet you (not the other way around), and he will pick up the bill when he asks you out for dinner. He won't be keeping track of how much things cost, he will be concerned with making sure you are enjoying yourself. However this doesn't apply to drinks at a bar, if he keeps those flowing like water from a tap he is most likely trying to get you drunk and in bed.

Go on dates even if you aren't sure, you may get to know them better and like what you learn about them, or if they don't work out as boyfriend material they could become a new friend.

Keep first dates causal, and short, meeting for a coffee is so popular in North America because we know how to date.  If it is going really well there is no reason not to continue on to get something to eat or go for a walk etc. If it's not then off you go after your coffee is done.  Also it is easier to judge someone after some drinks in a well lit Costa Coffee than a few Martinis in a dark bar.

Make sure to have a friend or 2 who are also single for support. It is amazing how fast those who are coupled up forget the reality of being single.  It is fun and exciting but it can be lonely and frustrating too.

Enjoy yourself, and be safe!