My First Date

Now I could have called this my first Tinder date, which it was. But it actually was my first First Date. I had a couple of 'boyfriends' at school which lasted a whole two weeks but have had only one relationship. I met him in the first month of uni and it went from hanging out to going out. No dates per say.

So my first real adult grown up date was two Sundays ago. I did not intend to meet anyone from Tinder. However, I had been chatting to this guy for a couple of days and we clearly got on really well. So when he asked, I agreed. He originally said he would come to Maidstone for a coffee but I said I didn't mind coming up to London. Next thing I know, he has booked us a table at 21 in Covent Garden.

I don't feel normal enough to go on dates. I don't feel like a dating kind of person so I was astonished I agreed to this and even more astonished that I was more excited than nervous. I was of course thinking 'what if we have said all there is to say', 'what if it's all awkward silences', 'what if he is really short' but I was still excited.

I arrived at our meeting point first. When I saw him I laughed a bit because he was nothing like I imagined. He was a bit too short for me... Which was a disappointment, but oh well. Can't win them all! His voice was also more posh than I imagined it would be. So we went to dinner, me knowing I wasn't attracted to him but eager to have a good time.

And we did! We get along very well. It was lovely food, lovely wine and lovely conversation. He settled the bill while I went to the loo which was a bit cheeky and I wasn't too keen on it. Though I know he was being a gentleman. He said as I made the journey to London it was only fair. We then headed upstairs to the cocktail bar where we were met by two crazy spanish bar staff.

He started getting a bit close when we were chatting and my stomach was feeling bloated so I struggled with my one drink and started to feel a bit sick but was still able to enjoy the talk.

Two topics came up which I hoped wouldn't because no one wants to talk about their dead mother and living with their ex on the first date! Haha but it was ok. I did read some dating tips beforehand and it said to go deep with the conversation. Nailed it.

As we tubed it to Victoria I started feeling more and more ill. We got there 25 mins early for my train and he wanted to wait with me but when I saw the train sitting at the platform I decidedly stated I wanted to go get a seat and skedaddled!!

So was on the train for 20 minutes before it even moved and I was feeling awful. I thought I was just bloated from the cheesy food though.

Of course once moving I felt worse and worse. I had faith in the fact that I would make it to maidstone so just curled up in agony. As the train approached East Malling I was excited as this was two stops before mine. But suddenly it all came up. I kept my mouth closed and clamped my hand over it, as soon as the doors opened I jumped off and vomited. I felt very lady like. I slid down the wall and sat down and watched my train leave the platform.

A nice girl came up to me and checked I was ok. She gave me a wipe and walked me to the road where I called a taxi.

I was recovering for 3 days after this!

A good date none the less...

How do you date?

One of the realisations I have had in the few months since being single is I have no idea how to meet people. Throughout education it was easy, there were people everywhere. New friends and friend groups to interact with, activities to partake in, new jobs and new places. Travelling was a constant stream of new faces and interactions. It made me excited to embark on this single life adventure!

Now I am out of Uni. In the same place. In the same job. And I know my next boyfriend is someone I haven't met yet. So how do I meet new people? I have been going out more, going to parties and visiting new places. But it just seems hopeless. Don't get me wrong, I am not fussed about meeting the next 'one' straight away and I am a total romantic who hopes for that chance meeting, eyes meet across a crowded room, kind of meet cute fantasy but in the mean time how do I help that process along?

Unfortunately I am shy, awkward and have what I like to call 'Red Face Syndrome'. So flirting with strangers is out of the question because my face flames up as soon as any one compliments me or is nice to me or... talks to me. Ok it's not always that bad but it can be! So the sense of hopeless doom is at least a bit justified.

So after hearing about it from friends, I joined Tinder.

I took the plunge and opened up the catalogue of men who lay themselves bare for us girls to peruse at our leisure (and vice versa of course). I was immediately hooked. It felt wrong at first judging these people on a mere photographic representation of who they really are but man is it addictive!

I like to think it isn't just looks I go by and to be honest I swipe most of the really good looking ones left, knowing I would never be able to have a coherent conversation with them. I tend to look for people who look like the kind of people I would get along with, rather than 'Phwoar what a catch, yes please!' A funny About Me or an intriguing photo (Like the guy riding an Ostrich, who has unfortunately not matched with me) gets a right swipe too.

I took a chance on one guy who looked like he was chiseled from crystal by the gods and a line he used was 'I think you're beautiful, I want you'. The fact that I swiped out of my usual pattern and this is the one and only creepy line I have gotten makes me think I must have pretty good taste. If you can call judging people on Tinder 'having taste'. Actually, lets call it 'Good Visual Judgement', that seems more apt.

Most of my chats have fizzled out and it seemed that one guy blocked me after I told him I was vegetarian. I went back to question whether vegetarianism was a deal breaker but he had vanished from my matches! I was genuinely curious and miffed I couldn't quiz him.

So far Tinder has been an excellent confidence boost. It's made me realise that yes, some guys might actually find me attractive and I now walk around with my head held slightly higher. It has also made me wonder if I am innately boring due to the fact that so many stop replying.

All in all, it passes time. I am enjoying it and it's fun chatting to strangers about nothing in particular.

Let's see what happens!

Let's Try This Again..

I do love food. I do.

But I have so much more on my mind at the moment that I can't just talk about food! I have so much to talk about.

I'm 23. Now, if you're at a similar age to me you know what it's like being in your early 20's. Uni has finished and now you're expected to find your way in the world without any guidance. I managed to stretch out my uni years so only finished in December 2012 in a degree that was so fun and vague that I have no idea what I am good at and what skills I can offer to the world.

So I spent my last year at uni waiting to finish. My plan : Travel the USA! I will do a post or two about that because it was one hell of an experience. The build up to my travels was so exciting and as soon as I left I was in my element.

Coming back was another story. While in the states, I broke up with my boyfriend of 4 and half years. Whom I lived with here in the UK. It was an amicable break up, a parting of ways. I am a free spirit and being with my first boyfriend forever was never an option. I knew that, and I told him that. But it was travelling alone that brought everything to light for me.

I am 23! I am so young and have so much at my fingertips! I could do and be anything and I want to try and experience everything! And I wanted that for him to. There was more to the break up which would probably make more sense and sound less selfish to you all but I am not going to go into that.

As I said, the split was amicable, we still live together. The first week back was hard because I got all sentimental, had no hours at work yet and was home alone all the time. I was depressed! And continued to be so for about a month in which I binge ate and gained more weight than in the 3 months in the states.

Full time work and change of perspective changed my mood but not my eating. It took sheer will power and determination to do that.

So here I am, almost exactly a year after I flew to the states on my big adventure, almost 24 years old and I intend to share my discoveries and experiences with the blogging world. This was an introduction. I will elaborate on some of the stated topics at a later date.

But for now I'm a love you and leave you and try make this blog look pretty...