Not giddy about my dates anymore, I detect a change in myself. There’s a degree of selfishness in that I am no longer prepared to compromise. These are lessons learnt since the holiday that shouldn’t.
I’m now dating someone closer to my age – Alexander, whom I might see as often as twice a week, midweek only though, usually on Mondays and Thursdays since I am happy to keep my weekends to myself and my family. And he too.
We had a date last night at the BFI – did he tear up a couple of times during the film? I didn’t refer to it but was secretly pleased – a man who can get emotional at poignant mother and daughter moments has got to be a keeper. Shame about the young under tens with whom he comes, and a potentially mentally unbalanced missus he’s currently divorcing. He’s still attached to his own domesticity and not a threat to my independence. Apart from that, he’s really good company and I like to think I offer him some RnR.
After dinner I went back to his place which is really out in the boondocks – we arrived after what seemed an interminably long train ride! There I made friends with his adorable Señorita Donna Gato. She was light footed and a soft purry mass of sleek ebony. At one point in the night I felt her warm feline body by my feet. She was unperturbed by our occasional exuberant friskiness and returned with the dawn like a rumbling taxicab awaiting her passengers. After a couple more romps, we took turns to shower and had some coffee before leaving to catch the train back to the real world.
It has been a while since I rode on a commuter train and it was filled with men in suits. The few women on it were also suited but wearing comfortable trainers which looked incongruous but I suspect these would be exchanged for high heels once they were in their offices. I forgot to look out for the Battersea power station which had been clad in scaffolding and tarpaulin a few months back, but which must now have shed its ugly duckling down to reveal something modern and exciting perhaps. I hope there’ll be another visit to Chez Alexander’s when I shall keep my eyes peeled for the new development.
When I got home I received a text from A to let me know that I had left a few articles of clothing behind and a promise from him to return them when we next meet up this Thursday. I like our uncomplicated coupling besides the social evenings we have together. And although it’s very early days, I rather think this very nice man will do quite nicely for now.
