When you are in your mid thirties and you meet someone of a similar age who is at the same stage of their life as you; i.e. not newly single, they’ve have had some fun dating, they’re looking for a relationship and dating them is going well, it’s really fucking hard to just enjoy it for what it is, stop your mind running away to the future and just let the relationship develop at a normal pace.
You are aware that this is a rare occurrence, in your eyes and for your needs, you have met a good one. From 2013 - 2017, out of the hundreds of first dates I went on, I liked maybe 10% of them, so if they also liked me, they turned into second dates, and maybe 10% of those second dates turned into third dates which leaves a very small handful of people who I have genuinely liked and they have liked me in return and therefore I have wanted to potentially develop a relationship with. This story is about one of those people.
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Key Characters:
Jack - An amazing man who I dated for 2 months
Beth - My best mate
Rowan - One of my best mates who I met in my single years
Willow - One of my best mates who I met in my single years
Grace - One of my best mates who I met in my single years
Caitlin, Ollie, Mandy, Gavin, Tim, Chloe, Mary, Flossie - London friends
Brother, Mum, Dad - Family
Liam - A guy I dated
Stephen Minder - An uncomfortable encounter before #metoo
George - An amazing man who I dated for 3 months
Dexter Turner - A guy who briefly entered and quickly exited my life on a number of occasions and unjustifiably has become one of those people who is hard to shake off and annoyingly someone I’m quite fond of.
Locations:
Beyond Retro
https://www.beyondretro.com/
Pelicans and Parrots
https://pelicansandparrots.com/
John Salt Pub
https://www.john-salt.com/
The Gun
http://www.thegunwellstreet.com/
Chesham Arms
http://www.cheshamarms.com/
Yard Sale Pizza
https://yardsalepizza.com/
Osea Island
https://www.oseaisland.co.uk/
Uchi
http://uchihackney.com/
Clapton Hart
https://claptonhart.com/
Millfields
https://www.millfieldscoffee.co.uk/
Behind This Wall
https://www.behindthiswall.com/
Bonneville
No closed
Pamelas
https://pamelabar.com/
Groucho Club
https://www.thegrouchoclub.com/
Hampstead Heath
https://www.hampsteadheath.net/
Cultural References:
Ariana Grande Concert
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-bombing-live-updates-latest-13075807
Entertainment References:
Fyre Festival
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-46904445
GIRLS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls_(TV_series)
Guardian Soulmates
https://www.theguardian.com/help/insideguardian/2020/jul/01/guardian-soulmates-has-come-to-an-end
Design Museum, California Exhibition
https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/california-designing-freedom
Darren Miller
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Miller
Baby Driver
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Driver
Visions Festival
http://visionsfestival.com/
SOPHIE
https://msmsmsm.com/
This Is England
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_England
My Girl
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Girl_(film)
Diary, She Wrote was produced by Liz Beardsell in partnership with Bird Lime Media with original music by Ethan Illingworth