Fun in years to come

Today I had lunch with my colleague/friend B. We were meeting because it was her birthday at the weekend, she was... somewhere in her mid -thirties I guess, I don't actually know.

With my friends in their thirties who are single, there's a little part of me that kind of looks to them for hope, because I imagine that's me, in say 10 or less years time.

So she was telling me about how she'd been to her sisters for dinner and for not the first (or no doubt the last) time, there had been some contrived matchmaking situation with a single gent invited along for the evening by said sister. And we laughed about how people in couples are just so rubbish at that and at times leave you wondering 'Seriously, that's who you see me with?!' when you're presented with their offering.

Then B tells us about a blind date that she went on, set up by a mutual friend. She's on her second cup of coffee with the guy when he reveals that he writes letters of complaint. As a hobby. He keeps them in a file and everything. And I'm thinking (hey, because it's all about me) oh dear god, that's what's waiting for me. As the years pass and all the normal men get hitched, I'm going to be left on a date with a guy who corresponds with complaints departments for kicks.

It's like my previous manager, S, who was on a second date with a guy she was set up with who she wasn't all that sure about, but she thought hey, she would give him a chance. They're on the date and chatting away when there's a lull in the conversation and he says something like 'well, i guess we've said all we're going to say' and she's thinking 'ok, yeah, a bit blunt, but true... i guess we should finish things here, we're not the best match' and then he pushes an envelope over the table to her and says something like 'see what you think' and goes to the loo. She looks in the envelope and finds Viagra tablets. Nice.

So in short, today left me wondering if all that awaits me in my thirties is dates with men who write complaints letters for the blinding fun of it and those that think a lull in a conversation means lets have sex with some pharmaceutical assistance.

Ah romance!

Things a grown up girl should do

Argh. I just checked my online banking and I got charged a late fee for not paying my credit card bill in time. The most annoying thing about this is that it wasn't a deliberate "I don't have any money to pay it, let's hide from the receivers" ploy. I just go through random phases of forgetting to check that everything is ticking over, and also wanting to avoid seeing how far into my overdraft I am.

This is beyond foolish. I'm 27. I should be vaguely capable of keeping on top of the basics, and I shouldn't be employing some kind of Ostrich mentality when it comes to my own bank account.

I have to say though, this month I really have taken it down to the wire. Let's all hold our breath a little bit til payday on Tuesday.

Your year ahead

From the calendar I was given free at the Chinese supermarket, fortune for those born in the year of the monkey:

Career: Gossips and hidden traps are around you. Keep an eye on everyone and learn to protect yourself.

Fortune: Economical flaws are there and early patch up is needed. Be prudent in financial matters and do not underestimate your counterparts.

Romance: Feeling is dull. The more you expect, the greater the disappointment.

Yay! Another winning year ahead!