As we enter a new year, Laura Reynolds looks at how the dating game differs from previous generations.
Laura Reynolds looks at the freedoms of festive singledom
Join Jason Rose for a peek behind today's door.
Lauren Tabbron writes about the difficulties of spending Christmas away from a loved one.
Having grown tired of the euphoric highs and dismal lows of my own love life last year, I am resolved to de-clutter and hopefully de-stress my romantic life in the search for something better. Rest assured, I am not discarding my mojo-tastic single status in search of love - I just believe it’s about time I raised my game (and my standards...).
Cleanse myself of last year’s men- There’s no point carrying dead wood into the new year. On New Year’s day I took the trouble to delete my collection of text messages from various men, each describing how wonderful I am and how enamoured they are of me. Seeing as none of these ring true any longer, they ought to be expunged.
This is also the time of year when we can all feel optimistic about changing bad man habits, and are full of wide eyed excitement and vigour that this year will be different. So grab this good feeling whilst it lasts, and before we inevitably fall back into our old bad habits (and probably the arms of an unsuitable old flame).
I will not have sex with somebody just because I’m bored of a lack of action- Rarely worth it and means you have to wash your sheets more often. Wait for someone you at least fancy.
Break my “arrangement”- The young man with whom I’ve had an “arrangement” over the past couple of years no longer fulfils his purpose. We meet very occasionally for sex, yet during our last encounter he suffered heart palpitations and vomited once he’d got me down to my knickers.
Granted this is probably the result of his excessive drug use, but not good for the ego...or the sex life. He has served me well in the past, yet his time has come to be consigned officially to the realms of my sexual history.
Flirt More- After a couple of drinks I am a shameless flirt, but in sobriety I ought probably to indulge in this harmless fun a little more often. Perhaps it might lead somewhere, or perhaps not, but either way practice makes perfect.
Be open to offers- If I get chatted up by a 40-something bald chav with a lascivious look in his eye, and his shirt open to reveal a distressing amount of man-boob (as happens worryingly often), I reserve the right to refuse. However, I admit that were I more open to offers, even those from more unlikely sources, it would probably open up a wealth of man opportunities. I don’t have a type as such, but most exes fall comfortably into the category of “arrogant bastard”. Probably best to widen my horizons as they have done me no favours thus far.
Dispense with the rules of the game- Rules are made to be broken. So why bother waiting two days until you text someone so you don’t look keen? I am keen...especially when I’ve just met them and am in the first throes of lust.
Playing games is tedious, confusing and rarely gets you anywhere. I think it’s best to say what you think, what you want and just be honest, rather than trying to second guess the other person and ending up with neither of you knowing what’s going on. In short, I can’t be bothered with the hassle anymore.
So there we have it, Lady O’s New Year’s resolutions. I suspect those who know me would put money on them all being broken in record time, but I’d like to prove my critics wrong. Here's for a healthier, happier love life in 2009.
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