A general round up of the week.

I had hoped to be going out tonight with M (and possibly his wife too), but text messages sent at the start of the week have gone unanswered as of now.

I guess that's not a bad thing. I have tentative arrangements with GM for tomorrow night off the back of our conversation on Monday night that might find us in the pub, but we'll see. It's in his hands and I'm hoping for some contact tomorrow afternoon.

The night out with QC2 was as enjoyable as ever. I was a little disappointed though. Sometimes I don't say stuff to QC2 that I should (and want to) simply because it never comes up in conversation. The CB thing was something that I wanted to share, but again, the conversation didn't look as if it was going anywhere near it, so I kinda shoehorned it in and beyond a second or so of initial interest, that was it. I was expecting questions, comments, feedback... I got none of these.

She's normally very interested in my love life, so I was surprised at the perceived lack of interest from her on the subject. However, that was only a small blip on what was an excellent and very pleasant few hours spent in QC2's company and admittedly, at the end of the night, she did ask to keep me informed regarding CB.

The CB thing is, well, to be honest, I don't know how the CB thing is. GB volunteered to get some information, but it's all been quiet since then, so I've no idea if she's done anything about it or not (or even if things have progressed beyond just information). I'm feeling somewhat optimistic for some reason though - no news is good news, right? I reckon, though, if I haven't heard anything by the start of next week that I'll have to ask.

More happy talking.

Conversations recently have been proving very fruitful and rewarding. Today, with KfW2, we once again got onto the subject of the 12 week weight training program that a co-worker of ours had done with fantastic results (see this post). KfW2, I think, has been giving it serious consideration, despite the rather hefty price tag associated with it. I've said before that she used to be quite the gym addict.

I don't think she needs to be that dedicated though. She has admitted herself that it's less losing weight for her, and more about toning the flabby bits. I would agree. She's tall and regardless of what weight she actually is, I think she carries it well. It would seem that we both have a similar attitude in that it's not about what we see when we're on the scales, but rather what we see in the mirror that counts.

While we were on the subject, I mentioned to KfW2 that it wasn't money that would put me off but rather body issues. I've kinda mentioned these before in posts, albeit in a roundabout way, but today I mentioned them outright to KfW2 and even got her to have a feel for herself - because that would cut down on a lot of explanation and questions. When we had a private moment, I answered all her remaining questions about them (well, all the ones she asked anyway) and left it at that.

Maybe the rewarding conversation thing will continue to Thursday when I'm due to meet QC2?

Great success!

I sat down in GM's last night with a beer and we started talking. GM is around a dozen years younger than I am, but we have very similar viewpoints and just connect really. He's also a man that really doesn't judge, which makes him easy to talk to.

By the time GB got back from wherever it was that she was, we had already covered a multitude of topics including online dating, talking to strangers, New Year's Eve, CB (you can kinda see how the conversation flowed here) and when GB came back, we moved onto chemistry, online dating (again) and back onto CB again (at GM's request).

Surprisingly, GB volunteered, by herself, to go off and talk to our mutual Facebook friend and see what information she can get. As well as that, she also did some Facebook stalking to see if we could gain any knowledge. I've been trying to stay away from CB's profile because, well, I'd really like this to come to something and I'm trying to keep myself grounded. I'm still not sure how this will pan out because all this is going to get me is information. I still need to meet the girl.

That sounds kinda sad for a man my age - I'm not a teenager any more, but it's rarely that I get this chemistry for anyone, never mind a girl I've seen a few times on a website and maybe seen in a bar a few times. Recent girls, such as MMBF are cute and (very) sexy, but I've not sat up and paid attention like I did that night.

Last night wasn't just a success because of GB's volunteering though. As mentioned above, GM and I had a chat about making more of an effort, socially. Just chilling with a drink and talking for a couple of hours doesn't have to be done in the pub. We should see each other more, just for chilling.

About time, too!

After my comments on this post, UF finally emptied the bin on New Year's Day. MfW finally called the handyman about fifteen minutes ago after leaving the note on the sideboard in the hallway since he picked it up.

They both owe me several months worth of money for the Sky bill - despite being a fixed figure on the same date every month, I have to chase them up for it.

A bit of a silver lining was talking to MfW about what's going to happen in the summer - we briefly discussed the ongoing lease and UF, who has the potential to make life difficult (and bearing in mind his lack of activity around the house since we moved in, it's not an unreasonable assumption).

Putting plan A into action.

I was chatting with A again today, our conversation continuing from last week. I ran my idea about CB past her (it never hurts to have second opinions) and she seemed positive about it, as long as I was communicating with the mutual acquaintance, not CB directly. We then segued into a conversation in general about meeting partners. It's always been an issue for me. I can talk to as many people as I want but put a girl in front of me that I am really attracted to and I'm an idiot.

It should be less of an issue these days - I'm much, much more confident today than I was ten years ago, and this can be seen just by following me around a bar on a Friday or Saturday night. Before I would go to the bar and back to my mates without saying a word. These days, it's banter and mild flirting with cute girls. While A wasn't saying anything similar, she did agree that as soon as those feelings surface, people just turn into different people. She's now married and settled now but I was fully informed all the way through the courtship that her lover/boyfriend/fiancé/husband was an idiot - in the nicest possible way - he wasn't a jerk.

But, all this aside, I'm hoping that I'm going to be able to chat with GB tonight about the CB idea and the mutual acquaintance, assuming she's in her house as I am passing. To be honest, I'm a bit pessimistic. What can I hope to achieve? At best, I might find out if she's single (which I'm 99.9% sure of anyway) and if she's looking to meet new people (I'm not sure if she is). None of this is getting me closer to meeting her, though, which is the ultimate goal.

Oh, and I can't believe New Year's Eve was only a week ago - it seems so long already.

Another washout.

The night out with G and the other lads hasn't happened yet and is seriously in doubt because G's dad is ill. He's not been in great shape for a while now and G's latest message implied that things weren't great at the moment. That said, he hasn't ruled it out completely,  but I'm left again waiting for a phone call or text message that may or may not come, even though there are plenty of things I can be doing this afternoon/this evening, including helping my sister with her website and visiting GB/GM for that chat regarding CB (though I'm planning on having this chat by Tuesday or Wednesday at the very latest because I want this to move forward).

I could guarantee having the chat tomorrow by talking to GB over IM in work, but I kinda want GM's feedback on it too, so visiting them tomorrow night is my plan. I have an excuse to go up there regardless, so can sit for a chat and ease it into the conversation. I say "ease" but I mean "crowbar".

I'm also planning on making a serious start to my fitness/weight loss plans tomorrow, now that the Xmas socialising is over (even though it was practically a complete washout) bar meeting QC2 later in the week.

Plan A.

Last evening, around tea-time, I had an idea about how I can use my Facebook friendship with a co-worker to see if I can move things along with CB. It didn't sit quite right with me, but then when I was considering calling RB at her place of work to ask her on a date, that didn't sit quite right with me either, but both A and AM persuaded me to do it (and RB admitted that she was hugely impressed cos it took a lot of balls, she said).

So, even though it didn't sit quite right with me, I ran it past USHW who seemed to think that it was a workable plan. It's not the best plan - that would have been actually talking to her on New Year's Eve, but it's the best (and probably only) one I have at my disposal at the moment.

USHW did ask why GB didn't go and say something to CB on New Year's Eve. I did wonder that myself... if the situations were reversed, I think I would have gone and said something on my friend's behalf.

So, to put this plan in motion, I want to run it past GB first. While I am Facebook friends with the co-worker in question, GB is much closer. Depending on the feedback from GB, then either myself or GB will communicate with the co-worker.

I need to figure out what it is I want or how I want to achieve it, more accurately. I know the eventual goal, I think, but how do I get there?

It feels likes a post frenzy!

Tonight's meeting with my cousin has been postponed, thank goodness. I need a rest from boozing, and with G out and about this weekend, this will do me some real good and I can start thinking about starting my fitness programme next week.

Also, somewhat out of the blue, I got an email from A today. We're in contact a few times a year, but I wasn't expecting anything for a while, but I thought the timing was interesting, not least because it was a kick up the arse from A a few years ago that prompted me to call RB and get the date, so for A to be in contact a few days after I see a girl I'd really like to meet brought a bit of a smile to my face. Of course I filled her in on the events of NYE, and we had an email chat about that. Given that I over-indulged with KfW2 and CC last night, having a conversation via email with A was much better than doing work.

As well as reporting all of NYE's shenanigans to A, I've also been talking to USHW about CB, who's been super-helpful. My options are limited and it's frustrating because I know who she is and that we have a kinda mutual acquaintance,  I just have to engineer a meeting and an ice-breaker so I can talk to her, otherwise I just have to hope that I randomly bump into her (again).

Phew! It feels like a posting frenzy here - is that at least one post a day for the past week or so? I can't ever remember having so much to post about before.

Oh dear. Again.

Bearing in mind my previous post about my goals for the year, specifically the losing weight and getting fitter one, I had hoped that with Xmas over, I could start properly, and part of that was to cut down my booze intake.

Sadly (I should use quotes there), my social life has taken a brief surge after the quiet Xmas.

I'm meeting KfW2 and CC tonight for dinner and drinks. I'm meeting my cousin (and hopefully his wife) tomorrow for a few drinks before they go back home and at some point over the weekend I'm probably going to be meeting up with G (and M and FP and possibly MM). Then, this time next week, I'm meeting QC2 for a drink - she somewhat randomly text me on New Year's Day and made the suggestion all by herself. Wow!

So, looks like it'll be next week then!

Goals 2013

Unlike previous years, I have a few things to look forward to instead of just general things and goals. KfW2's wedding is in the summer which is going to involve foreign travel - my first proper holiday in five years. And given the weather in the UK over the past few years, seeing/getting a bit of sun is not going to do me any harm.

I'm still assuming that me and a group of pals are still going to be doing a 10KM run in a few month's time, so that's giving me motivation to get up off my arse and do some exercise... and do it properly. I'm planning on making small adjustments to my diet as well to help shift some weight, but I'm not planning on making huge changes - that's a fast lane to failure/quitting.

I've always made a passing comment about dating, too, but I appreciate that these things are out of my hands. There's also been the issue/concern that it's been years since I last met a girl who I was really attracted to and that was RB. I did ponder MMBF for a while and she is cute/sexy, but I think I thought I should have been interested, but wasn't really. Maybe MM's reluctance to lend a hand added to that or the fact that she thought MMBF was too high maintenance for me or maybe I just wasn't that interested in the first place. Who knows?

However, over the past few months my thoughts towards CH have been less than platonic. I'm comfortable with this - having the feelings is not a crime in itself and it's not like I'm sitting here pining for her. There's also the recent sighting of CB on New Year's Eve that has me excited in a way I haven't been in a long time, even though I have no idea if there's any possibility that it can go any further. I still need to engineer something, but this might not be that difficult now I've voiced an appreciation to MF, GB and GM.

Work-wise, things went well last year and I'm hoping that they will improve this year. There's a high profile project coming up that will probably require some travel for a few weeks and the boss has told me that he's looking to get me involved in that, which I'd love. It would be a challenge, but I'm starting to look for them now.

Happy New Year (I'm kicking myself already).

My concerns about the New Year's Eve arrangements were well-founded. While GB and GM had always intended on having a party, I don't think they communicated this particularly well and as such, no one turned up to their party.

Every cloud has a silver lining though, and we stayed in the pub. While there were only five of us (myself, GB, GM, MF and her new fella) we still managed to have a good time.

GM and I had a long conversation about chatting to women in pubs, about how to approach someone completely out of the blue without an "in". I'd say that I spoke to about half a dozen women last night because there was an "in", an opportunity to say something and break the ice. However, there was a girl there who I really wanted to talk to, but couldn't find the "in" despite trying to come up with something with GM, and that was CB.

I pointed her out to GB and GM and told them that this was the future Mrs Ruuude. I just couldn't think of a way to get to talk to her, and it's been really bugging me this morning. And looking at my phone this morning, it appears that I was telling KfW2 about it as well, so she'll be demanding more details no doubt.

However, another highlight was talking to a really cute 23-year-old girl who ended up having a massive fight with her boyfriend. She kinda reminded me a little bit of Felicia Day, from "A Town Called Eureka". She was chatting away to me and was super tactile (and according to the others, was "all over me") and then, all of a sudden, was telling me all about how the "best boyfriend in the world" had never told her he loved her in the two and a half years that they'd been dating. 

She was virtually in tears at this stage while the boyfriend had taken himself off somewhere. I suggested that they need to chat about that as this was obviously a big deal to her. The last I heard (from MF's new bloke who had been outside for a smoke) was that the boyfriend had taken himself off in a taxi, leaving the cute girl standing in the road... all before midnight. Happy New Year, cute girl. It was suggested by the others around the table that I maybe take advantage of this situation, but I was too preoccupied with trying to figure out a way to talk to CB than to take advantage of an emotionally drained young woman.

I was also chatting away with an attractive brunette who was sitting at the bar with her friend and I engaged in some banter with them - again, it's all about the "in" - if it's there, then talking is easy. I'm just utterly useless if there's nothing to use.

GM ended the night by being pounced on by what initially appeared to be a very cute brunette (think Frankie out of the Saturdays), but a closer look showed that she wasn't as cute as we first thought and about 15 years older. Still... at least one of us got some last night.

And now it's 2013... potentially a big year, but that's a post of its own.