Monday, August 31, 2009

Dates, art, and travel

The last three weeks all seem to have run into one long blur. A lot of it through a haze of too many late nights and definitely too much wine. But fun! I am pleased to report that I have had no further bicycle incidents, despite going out for dinner again in high-heels and drinking more than the standard 'recommended' number of drinks before riding home. Oops!

Tomorrow I am off to Italy for three weeks. I will get to see the teenager, the parents and even the cousin (currently in disgrace for eloping and thus avoiding a cast of thousands wedding!). Ostensibly this trip is part of my research project, which involves looking at a lot of art and visiting the Venice Biennale, but which will also include a lot of food and wine 'research'! I can't wait! I have been given a gorgeous journal with lovely paper, so plan to do lots of little ink studies, it's a perfect size to carry around and rest on a cafe table whilst 'soaking up' the atmosphere!

Recently whilst trawling a dating website, and wondering just how many frogs one must kiss in order to secure a prince, I received an email from someone who sounds quite interesting and looks quite OK as well! And it seems that whilst he lives in the same city as me, he will be in the very same Italian town at the same time as me! This he mentioned before knowing that I was even going to Italy. Odd, huh? I may have to 'bump into' him there - it would be great cover from nosey teenagers as to how we met - and much more fun.

Blind Date No.2 sent me a text (two weeks later) saying it was "lovely to meet" me! Yes, that would be a euphemism! I'll forgive him the tardy text as he was actually away helping to save a remote village from immanent disaster. Luckily I don't mind, that inexplicable and often elusive 'chemistry' wasn't there really anyway. Cross fingers that it is for this one!

So back to packing, black, black and more black. I can't wait to see my daughter, and my family (best in small doses!). I will no doubt return fat, brown and hopefully with a lot of research done as well. See you all in three weeks,

Ciao for now,

Sunday x

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Blind Date No.2 (or my inner hussy!)

The past week has been a blur of socialising, far too much alcohol and not enough writing, as the thesis requires some serious attention. But is has been fun!

Blind Date No. 2 turned out to be a lot more interesting than No.1. A bit on the old side for me at 55, but boyish looking, with the body of a 4o year old. Seriously fit! How do I know this? Blame my inner hussy but when he offered to stay and help with the washing up, he stayed! One of the perks of The Teenager being away,and I'd be mad not to make the most of it. It was great fun, but I doubt it will go any further than that, especially as he lives in a different city and regularly travels to far-flung places as part of his work. Still it has inspired me to give the Internet another go - I could do with a bit more of this!

Last night I went to a party for a visiting artist, drank far too much, and attempted to ride my bike home. Big mistake! I almost made it home when a lamppost leapt out at me causing a very inelegant tumble. I am now sporting a large red raw knee and some interesting yellow bruising up my leg and bum, which is already threatening to turn purple. Worse, the chain came off my bike, and I had to walk it home, in extremely high heels. At least it happened after the date!

Back to the thesis,

Sunday

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

I've been dumped!

I am in the somewhat ungainly position of trying to pick up my jaw from the floor, and my dignity from somewhere hopefully nearby. Here I have been thinking that I'd give the psychiatrist date another chance in case I was wrong about him, and he has pipped me to the post to inform me that he'd like to continue to see me socially but has recently become "romantically involved" with someone from the past! This would have been better if he had informed me a little earlier, but not after extending invitations to a couple of functions before disappearing off the radar for a few weeks. What was he thinking? Clearly not about me! Anyway in many ways I guess that answers my question. And he is definitely not for me!

On the flip side I have been taken on by another gallery in another city, who have offered me a show next year. It's proving to be a great year career-wise, if not for sales and boyfriends.