Things to look forward to.

KfW2 often teases me about my social life, specifically how much time I spend in the pub. She's mostly wrong. To hear her talk, you'd think I was in the pub every Friday and Saturday night and that's far from the truth. I'm barely in the pub once a week.

It was only a few days ago that she made the comment again, after I had mentioned that I'd seen FP for a few pints during the week.

A few days later, though, and it dawned on me that my upcoming March was going to be VERY busy, socially. The first weekend, I've got a long-overdue night out with M, who replied favourably to my last text message.

The weekend after, I've potentially got two things: my definite night out with KfW2 and I'm assuming an invite to IG's birthday.

Following that, it's St. Patrick's Day and the wheels are already in motion about SG, S, FP, FC and, hopefully, others coming out.

At the moment, I've nothing planned for the final weekend in March, which is probably just as well, because I'll be skint by then!

Work-wise, March should be interesting. I'm hoping that a promotion comes my way (which carries a decent pay-rise into the bargain) and I already know that I'll be busy 100% of the time, though I do have 3 days of annual leave that I HAVE to take plus a public holiday.

Just stuff.

The re-arranged night out with KfW2 is a few weeks away. Unlike the last time, I am much more organised and the booking has been made for the same restaurant as before. KfW2 has mentioned a few times this week how much she's looking forward to the night out, and she's also made separate comments about the restaurant, so the original work put into finding something she'd like has paid off. Let's hope that nothing else pops up.

In other "news", I've sent a text to M about meeting for a few pints. It's been months since we've seen each other and with his birthday looming, I'm hoping he's going to be available for a few hours at least. It doesn't have to be this weekend, but sometime reasonably soon would be a bonus.

And finally, the mystery about GM and SG's relationship seems to have been solved. Both KfW2 and FP have asked separately about it, so I did a bit of digging. On the 27th December, SG updated her Facebook status to inform everyone that she and GM were in a relationship. Today, SG is marked as being single on Facebook.

Again?

As part of my ongoing adventures in online dating, I installed a companion app for Tinder called Flame. What this does is quickly enable you to see who's swiped right on your profile and also lets you browse potential matches instead of being drip fed them one at a time, only being given the next when you've swiped on the current.

I completely reset my account a few weeks ago after yet another match resulted in being blocked/someone deleting their account.

I've currently got five people who have swiped right on me. There were a few others but they were waaay outside my own criteria (age and distance). Out of the five, one's a cute, athletic woman who's not really evoking any strong reactions, but I am intrigued because she is athletic (some nice midriff shots). Secondly, an American who's still on the list simply because she's American but has crap photos. The third is a cute blonde near the bottom of my age range who's the most likely to get a message off me (though at this stage it's probably too late).

That leaves two people.

The fourth is a girl with whom we share a mutual friend. It's also a girl who had added me as a 'favourite' on PoF then proceeded to delete her account after I'd sent a message (and rejoined a few days later). So, that's not going to happen. She's not evoking enough of a reaction for me to overlook that.

The last one, who only swiped within the past few days, is DSC! Is she genuinely interested in me, non-platonically, or is this just another (handy, effort-free) means to try and re-instate contact seeing as we're both on Tinder? I know she asked me out years ago when we first met on Match, which I politely turned her down and we became friends. This is all just general pondering. I'm not going to match her swipe, so the contact will never be made. Even without Flame, if she popped up on my Tinder feed, I'd swipe left and be none the wiser.

I'm probably due another punch on the arm when I tell KfW2 though.

Itchy feet.

For the second time in a few weeks, New Zealand featured heavily in a dream last night. Sadly, so did MfW and UF. The latter is just a reminder about how my social living never worked out, to my disappointment. But the New Zealand setting brought out a bit of wanderlust that I haven't had in a while.

I don't really have the spare cash at the moment, but a potential thing at work could inject some spare cash into my bank account. It's low probability though.

There's a small chance I could do something for a week with FP, which might satisfy it but nothing will be considered until the work things come to some sort of resolution.

Punchy

Out of the blue, KfW2 asked if I'd ever replied to the text message that DSC had sent me months ago. I replied that I hadn't, so she punched me in the arm. Ow.

I had no interest in starting something again with DSC. She showed me how unreliable or flaky she could be and I really don't need that. It's a trait I actively avoid in people, hence frustrations with SG or CH and many undocumented frustrations with BW back in the day.

"But she might have changed!" said KfW2.

She has a point, but it's not something I'm willing to put work in to. I did it before with little reward, I'm not doing it again.

A theory.

Over the past week or so, GM and SG have been socialising independently. This is completely at odds with their behaviour over the past year.

So, they've either split up again or they've realised that spending 100% of their time together might not be healthy. Their Facebook relationship status has also gone missing.

I might message GM and see what the news is. It's been ages since we had a chat anyway.

Schwing!

I've often mentioned or bemoaned on the blog that it's rare that someone will really catch my eye on the dating sites or apps. I've also mentioned that I come from a small catchment area, so new faces are few and far between. I can't remember if I've mentioned that the same old faces appear time and again - they must restart their accounts on the likes of Tinder or simply not log on to the likes of PoF.

So, I was delighted when some Sunday afternoon browsing produced a new face on Tinder. She was very striking, very much my type, around my age. It wasn't just a right swipe though, she was Super Likeable. So I did.

I'm always suspicious about new faces though, especially on the dating apps. They tend to be people passing through or short-term visitors. I have a gut feeling that this woman is one of those.

Dreams.

I've been sleeping very well recently. I can't figure out what's changed since Xmas, but prior to that, I had been waking one or maybe two times per night. Not now, though. I'm getting good sleep and waking regularly around the same time - 7:30-ish.

There's been an upturn in remembering some really weird dreams though, usually when I roll over and nap for a bit before getting up.

Today, I woke, semi-remembering a dream that seemed to figure someone that might have been FA2, but also might have been KfW2 or might have been some kind of amalgamation of the two. I had travelled to visit this person, long-distance, only for them to essentially ignore me for the entire trip.

I awoke feeling quite confused, but that soon passed.

Smiley Face.

I was at KfW2's house last night. She needed a favour and I had free time. CC also decided to come down. She was bored, I think.

Anyway, by the time we had gotten to KfW2's, the plans had changed and the favour was no longer needed. Nevertheless, we spent a pleasant few hours chatting away before CC and I made our excuses and left.

KfW2 sent a quick text message thanking us for our time regardless.

I replied, just as I was going to bed, telling her that if she needs a favour all she has to do is ask. I know after recent issues that she feels guilty if she has to ask the same people time and again for favours. I felt she needed a little reminder about that.

I woke this morning to a lovely, sweet message from her, expressing how much she values my friendship.

To be fair, it's not the first time that she's said something like that (and she makes it clear without specifically calling it out), but getting those kinds of messages is always nice.

I've had similar messages from others - CH, for example, before she decided that calling me a good friend didn't mean I could be critical.

I should maybe be a little more vocal myself to those who are there for me because if I like those messages (and KfW2's has already made my day), then others would, too.

Sad face.

I was reluctant to bring up the re-arranged night out with KfW2 because recent changes in her own life has meant things are a little tight for her, financially, and could be for some time.

While it's my idea and my treat to a certain extent, there would/will be some expense on her part.

It's stressing KfW2 and I'm concerned about her. The end result is financial tightening on her part, but the core issues are family-related and that's getting her down a lot more than the financial stuff.

I don't know that there's any solution either. From the sounds of it, KfW2 has tried to address the issues but the people that she's spoken to can't overcome the perceived obstacles.

I could tell that when she was telling me about it that it was really troubling her.

All I can do, which I've already told her, is be there for her to help out when I can.

Well...

You have to give it to IG. No more than four days after updating my Tinder profile with her suggestions, I get my first match late last night. Another cute blonde. A nurse as well. I've always wanted to date someone who wore scrubs. So, with another suggestion from USHW about not hanging around, I sent a quick message.

"Hey! How's it going?"

It's not great, but it's out there immediately and she has nothing on her profile to help me add anything personal.

And upon waking today and checking for a reply...

Deleted or blocked again.

Ho hum.

In other news, KfW2 has suggested a date for our re-arranged night out, but that will have to be dealt with in another post.

Threes

They say that things happen in threes, and it especially seems like bad things do.

I should have known.

My long-awaited appraisal was today, weeks after it should have happened. My manager was positive, complimentary about my work etc. but the scores simply didn't match what he was saying or what I thought I had both accomplished and brought to the team.

Last year, I told other managers exactly what I was going to score, that my evidence would be ignored and that all the things that my company says are important, aren't.

Take on more responsibility! Be pro-active! Be flexible when it comes to your work patterns! Lead others! Encourage collaboration and inclusion!

Or, y'know, don't because you won't get the appreciation for it.

Now I have to go in and have yet another fight, like I did this time last year, for the same reasons because my concerns have neither been recognised or rectified.

And KfW2 was talking about how tight money is right now, so the rearrangement of the night out is not likely to be any time soon.

Ho hum.

After the one-two jobs of disappointment with the cancellation of the night out with KfW2 and the pretty blonde Tinder girl deleting her profile as soon as I message her, I've been feeling a bit deflated this week.

I really should get into my fitness routine, but instead, I'm sat ordering beer of Tesco.

I feel ashamed, especially after coming across some pics that I thought I had deleted of a cute, athletic girl that Stalky Guy had sent of the girl he used to see at the gym. A girl who'd managed to develop an impressive set of abs while maintain a stunning set of curves.

But, y'know, beer. Right?

I've not spoken to KfW2 in any great detail - she's not been in the office this week, so we've yet to re-arrange the night out. She also doesn't know about the cute Tinder girl either. That's a conversation to have.