About me:
I've just turned the wrong side of 40 (although I'm often told I look no more than a day over 40), and have managed to let a 20 year relationship which included rings slip into the abyss of awry. That means for roughly half my life I haven't had the stress of even thinking about having to find someone to share life with. It feels a little like getting face slapped with a wet fish, or a good kick to the balls. But on a more positive note, I'll go out for meals a bit more often with someone than I do alone, which is roughly never.
I currently live in Honor Oak Park, SE London.
I have some pretty serious baggage in the form of a 2 year old son (my best pal) and my beautiful little princess who is 7. My life for the foreseeable will inevitably revolve around seeing them. But they are amazing, so I'm letting them off, just this once mind.
Therefore I expect that meeting someone with similar circumstances is likely to net the best results. Although if you are single and don't get jealous over kids (really, people still do that?), that's really pretty cool too.
I own my own business, am a little bit passionate (nee, borderline psychotic) about it and therefore am usually working around the clock - from my phone. I have learned however, albeit a little later than was good for me, that working on your phone whilst in a restaurant is poor decision making and simply adds to any tensions. I'm currently seeking help about this and have turned the bleeper off so that I don't even know anymore when I'm getting an email.
I'm not a vulture/pest/t**t, do not use abbreviated text language because it takes for ever to decipher what's actually being said, and have some old fashioned values about women (mind, not so old that I think they should clean stuff or do the cooking). Rather it means I have utmost respect for women.
I love to cook, I'm just not great at being spontaneous or particularly imaginative, but I can manage to do a mean Jamie Oliver's ready in 30 minutes in little over an hour. Seriously though, I do genuinely believe that behind a good man is an even better woman, and I don't mean cooking.
I love clothes, think classic man not twenty something and trying to look cool, so a funky shirt, sharp cut blazer and brogues suits me fine. I have a pretty awesome collection of Grensons which are pretty sweet.
I like a pretty mad mix of music (but I wasn't prepared to pay that much to see Kate Bush), from dance, rock, indie, electronica, trip-hop etc. I love gigs, I just haven't managed many since my daughter started sucking up my spare time. Possibly the last one was Chemical Brothers at Brixton, so we're talking a while back now.
I like films, and the darker the better. However I'm in touch with my feminine side so list E.T as one of my all time favourites and can even stomach a rom com without vomiting. I don't preen however or spend longer than is necessary with mirrors. I'd be lying if I didn't say my eyebrows haven't been sorted for a while and might need attention soon).
I like most foods including battered Calamari (in the greek restaurants), but I dislike seafood especially squid. Partial to a curry, Thai, Chinese, Italian, French, Spanish, Mexican, Fish n Chips, Greek, Turkish, German, Belgian, GBK and pretty much up for trying anything I've forgotten to mention.
I love a***nal because I'm not a thug and watching them can be a thing of beauty. I love a draft beer or an IPA but not the usual fizzy rubbish that's passed off as beer (The Kernal or Brew Dog being favourites) in a good pub with great pub grub. I avoid wine and have always wondered how so many women seem to be relatively immune to it.
I like laughing until you get tears, talking until your mouth aches and looking at life from a positive view point, which means finding the good in every bad situation - because there is always some good, even if you don't realise it at first. I'd say I was relatively easy going and don't hold onto grudges.
I have never, ever been on a dating website, so I'm a little apprehensive and sceptical as to how many genuine people are using it for genuine reasons and not to bolster their ego. But hoorah for the internet (especially if you have kids). You can buy your groceries, your music, your books your clothes, your Chrissie presents and now find you next soulmate - all online. That's pretty awesome, so thank you Mr Berners Lee, a cracking idea.
The perfect woman:
Smart
Engaging
Colourful
Confident
A romantic at heart
Emotionally intelligent
Funny
Goal driven / hugely ambitious
A great talker
An even better listener
A bit quirky
Quite accepting of quirks
A devoted parent or is accepting of other peoples children
Good with eyebrows (mine, obviously)
Keen sense of fashion
Honest
Caring
Faithful
Positive
Spirited
Moralistic
Writes a cracking bio - and yes I do read them avidly
and beautiful in a girl next door way (not an Angelina Jolie way).
