22 January
‘Looks like the flat is definitely going ahead. I’m hoping I will be in there mid February. Very excited about that! Come to London! I need a lodger. The flat is gorgeous and I have two bathrooms. You can sign on the dole and get it paid for. Bingo! Having said that, if I get a short term tenant then I will go I travelling again too. That’s funny you would like to go to India again. Mina is back there now. V jealous. x’
21 January
I’m at Jessica’s leaving/engagement/30th birthday party at The Loft in Clapham.
Tears keep welling up when I talk to her. I’m going to miss her so much.
I invited my friend from work along too. A gorgeous black girl. I gave her the heads up that one of the guys there likes black girls.
As the night goes on she gets drunker and drunker, throwing herself at him. He noticed her when she got here and I knew he was tapping Jessica for the lowdown. He’s not interested now. I can tell. The harder she tries the further he is repelled. God, it’s so simple. She reminds me of me five years ago.
On the way home I tell her what Jessica had said.
He’ll fuck her but he really likes a French girl. He’s seeing another one as well. Naughty.’
‘I want his email address.’
‘Why?’
‘Because we got on.’
‘Just leave it. You’re better off out. You’ll get your fingers burned.’
‘Well, tell your sister if he wants to see me again… I’m interested.’
14 January (part 2)
‘Oh God, I would LOVE to go back to India. I think I will be going through with my sale and flat purchase soon. Once that is sorted I can think about next steps. I absolutely hate my current job and have been interviewing for other roles. I just need to be employment at least until I settle into the new place. Then I can think about renting it out if I want. I had quite a quiet Christmas and a very, very fun NYE. Went to this Champagne bar near me. It was just going to be a few drinks and then home – so I don’t completely turn into a pumpkin. But it ended up being probably the best NYE I’ve had! How are you? What have you been up to? What’s going on with your mum and dad? My sister is moving to Australia with her boyfriend at the end of January. He just proposed to her. I was even thinking about going over there. So many friends and relatives have moved out there. x’
Oh yes. I forgot to say. Jessica is getting married and moving to Australia! I’m so happy for her (getting married) but DO NOT want her to go. Jessica, are you reading this….?
14 January (part 1)
‘Hey, how are you? Did you have a good Xmas and NY? Hope so. So what’s the plan for the next few months? Another trip to India maybe?’
Victor! Haven’t heard from him in a while…
13 January
‘Rebecca,Lovely to see You.You looked Fantastic Please let’s get together couple times more than just birthdays this year…… Love you Rebecca Kramer x’
12 January
One of my bestest friends (male) is over from Oz. Matt is now married, with two kids and (hugely surprising as I haven’t seen him in six years) now wrinkly and bald!
It is amazing to see him and catch up with his gang. It’s as if I saw him yesterday. We used be flat mates and at one stage he kind of made a move on me. One of the gang is Kramer (who is at the pub with his girlfriend). He strokes my face, beaming, when I walk into The John Snow. Kim, a friend of his who I’ve always had a soft spot for is also there. I have always thought he has a soft spot for me too. He has a daughter. Called Rebecca. Kim and I arrange to ‘do lunch’. He is going through an acrimonious divorce with Rebecca’s mother. It’s hilarious to see them all again. They look like a bunch of old men. Back in the day, they were all cool, with great jobs, party animals in designer clothes. Me? I look like I have stood still in time. In fact I look better now than I did then.
‘Look how skinny she is?’ Matt says. ’Her trousers are falling down!’
Matt has invited me to live with him and his wife in Australia and get one of his friends to marry me.
Funny evening!
10 January
‘How are you doing ? You were going to call back’
5 January
‘Hello.’
‘Hello.’
‘How are you?’
‘Good. How are you?’
‘Can you talk?’
‘Yeah… for a bit. I’m at work.’
‘How have you been?’
‘Well. India was great…’.
‘What job is this that let’s you go away for a year?’
‘I do contract work.’
‘Oh…’.
‘Did you have a good new year?’
‘Yes… I went to The Box.’
‘Goodness! That must have been amazing! I’d love to…’.
‘Yes I was invited.’
‘Wow!’
‘I can tell you can’t talk… at… Call me when you have a moment.’
‘Ok… Bye.’
‘Bye.’
Guess who.
3 January
‘Hi, back in town give me a call when you can’
I wonder if this another of his round robins?!
31 December
It’s New Year’s Eve and I’m out with new girlfriend from work having a ball! We’re at Amuse Bouche on Parson’s Green Lane dancing around, drinking Champagne, all eyes on us.
Rich Indian texts with a round robin new year’s message.
‘I’m not going to respond,’ I tell her.
‘No don’t. He’s a man. He’s in for the chase.’
A very cool girl I meet in the loos introduces me to a very hot guy upstairs. A very hot black guy.
What is it with black guys? Have you seen that hilarious Chris Rock sketch about black guys and white girls? Well, it rings true. After chatting me up all night I spot him later holding hands with a short, fat, pikey minger.
Happy New Year!
About
‘When I grow up I’m going to marry a prince, Granny.’
Fast forward 27 years. I’m a hot, successful, kind and affectionate, officially ‘grown up’ girl-about-town. Still in search of The One. It’s New Year’s Eve and I’m in bed. Alone. Tanked up on Valium.
The quest has been active now for the best part of 20 years. I know he’s out there. I just need to find out where and how to find him. Things have got to change.
This is going to be my year. I just know it. So I have decided to document my experiences to amuse more than anything else. In so doing, the creative process may provide some kind of personal enlightenment and help face my demons too. And who knows. The journey may lead me to my prince. And where the chronicles begin.
