Slag Meeting 12th Dec 2007

Nothing’s better than the wind to your back, the sun in front of you, and your friends beside you. - Aaron Douglas Trimble

It was almost a full turn out this time (minus Desdemona who I believe is on holiday somewhere). That is Ophelia, Adriana, The Dame and myself.

It all started with Adriana (who it was great seeing after such a long time) and I going for a cocktail (or four) together at Thirst Bar in Soho. Now, the place was quiet for a Friday night but the cocktails were as delicious as ever. The lesson to be learnt in these occasions before dinner is that one should exercise due care for fear of appearing slightly drunk before the meal have even begun. Having stated that, It doesn’t usually happen so easily. Mental note: must eat some more if planning on cocktails before dinner. Line the stomach.

The ladies were all very understanding of course and dinner we had at a restaurant called ‘Covent Garden Grill’. It’s probably worth mentioning my new love at this point. http://www.toptable.co.uk/ a perfect one stop website for finding the perfect food at the perfect prices. And the three courses we enjoyed for £15 weren’t bad at all, in fact they were well above average.

The conflict of the evening came when The Dame and Ophelia pounced on me for failing to succumb to what, I had failed to notice, was, in their opinions, a chat up line. When somebody asks where you’re from as they feel they’ve seen you before, what precisely does such a question amount to. Is it a declaration of love, a sentence of longing or just something wanting to get something clear in his mind?

The main focus of the evening was however Adriana’s uncompromising race on the road of relationship as she jumps over one relationship hurdle after another in the hope that one day she’ll see the finish line. And each time her confidence goes from strength to strength. Bravo!

On the other hand, we’re all very aware of The Dame trouble and misfortune in this area and I was intent on drumming in the don’t-put-your-eggs (so to speak)-in-one-basket attitude with which she seems to be conducting her life. Now, honestly, dear readers, when did people stop casting their net far and wide and pin all their hopes and dreams on a single email. This is the internet, cut throat and brutal. As easy as it is to click the send button, it’s probably just as easy, if not easier, to hit delete. And this realisation, dear Dame, is what’ll be your salvation.

It’s perfectly true and identifiable that relationships don’t come to those who wait. Like much else is life, nothing ever comes on a plate. We must get out there and find it for ourselves or at least make worthy attempts at securing some meat before the famine kills us. With this in mind, Adriana’s own attempts and method of securing date after date are truly inspirational.

And as much as we’d all love a beautiful demigod to descend from the heavens and declare the love we’ve been craving all along, nothing like this is ever going to happen. You get from the dating scene precisely what you put in. A month ago I would have said being gay might have made it more difficult, but when it comes to sex, I think that would be a lie nobody would be willing to believe.

The Dame has to realise, a date is a date is a date is a date. A date is not life long love, nor does it promise eternal happiness. But if you don’t meet a lot of people, the self confidence keeps dipping and the variety (as stipulated clearly in the rules of the revolution) of it all, well it ceases to exist. It’s true, 7 out of 10 women will bore you to death, but 10 is needed in order to find the perfect 3. You need to sample the whole array of Cadbury’s miniatures in order to establish which one you like the most and which one you like the least, correct?

Plough on…and properly!