27 August
I think I’ve blown it. The hunky, hot, cheeky chappie estate agent hasn’t responded. I emailed him to pull out a great deal he set up. A couple want to move in on Thursday for three months.
Him and I have been flirting outrageously since I got back from India. He contacted me when he saw my ad on Gumtree and did a rental valuation. It started then and there. Phone calls, suggesting watching fireworks on NYE together in my flat, cooking together…
2 August
‘Hello, you’ve left London already? I’m supposed to be working until the end of the month. Will you still be in Portugal then? I thought I would invite myself to stay! x’
My Facebook message to Victor.
No answer.
I hate Annabel.
18 July
‘Hey Rebecca! How was your night put on Saturday? Big night? : ) Having a crazy week here.. So much I need to sort out before I go to hk.. Even need to move my desk at work.. Really sorry but it looks like we’d have to meet up when I’m back from Asia. : ) Hope you would still be in London by then! W x’
‘Ok maybe see you in a few weeks!’
As Karen says ‘What IS it with men?’
11 July
Victor is in London. I know because he put a message up on Facebook. But hasn’t contacted me.
24 June
‘Victor is off to Liverpool tomorrow’ is his status update.
‘In England?’I write hoping.
‘Beatles hometown’ he replies.
‘Why don’t you come to London? I’m here, Annabel’s here…’
She’s back for her father’s funeral for a few days.
‘I’ll be coming to London in a week or so’ he writes.
‘Excellent!’
19 June
After much deliberation and a mini conference with Jessica I have my response.
‘Oh! Short lived, big mistake. Turns out he didn’t want to be friends with me at all. I don’t even speak to him now.’
‘Whoops! Was that before or after I was there? He actually seemed like quite a nice person. Teetth weren’t great thought. On that note, I snogged Hennie when I was in London!’
I don’t respond. I don’t want to get drawn on timings. I know what a sensitive soul Victor is. I’ll bide my time and then get back to him about something else. I really want to see him…
11 June
I’m out having birthday drinks at The Phene with Karen and a few other girls. I’ve invited Kramer. Who knows if he will turn up.
He does. Coked up. With a hot, Eastern European.
It’s so great to see him. He looks awful though. Poor thing. Skinny. Ravaged by drugs. Karen notices it too. The last time she saw him was at my 35th.
‘I feel ready to settle down,’ he says smiling… ’since I’ve met her.’
Even Kramer is going to get married before me.
12 May (part 2)
‘I am at trek n dine,ordered food,please dont talk about what I said,atleast wait till we talk, ok?’ Message from Vik.
I turn up at Trek And Dine. How embarrassing. The Italian is sitting at the table. By chance I am on form and hold court. He goes to the bathroom.
‘What were you two laughing about?’ he asks, wanting to be included, when he comes back as he catches Vik and I giggling at something or other.
I don’t say anything. It was about him. We have been sharing a number of jokes at his expense over the past couple of days.
He says ‘goodbye’ to everyone.
‘You’re going tomorrow,’ a handsome Indian yoga guy from the group asks The Italian.
‘Yes.’
‘Good.’ Does anyone like him?
‘Good to see you again,’ he says to me as we hug – me politely him with his kind of love.
‘Mmm,’ I mumble and pull away.
He then leaves the restaurant and the table carries on much better without him.
11 May (part 3)
I meet Vik for dinner He is there too. After dinner we all walk home together as it is in the same direction.
‘I’m really sorry about earlier,’ he says. He looks it. He looks like he really gets it. Does he think I’ll now go home with him?
‘Whatever,’ I say almost smirking. I’m over it.
‘Meet for breakfast,’ he says to Vik as we go our separate ways.
Vik nods.
Then Vik and I arrange to meet for breakfast via text.
11 May (part 1)
I have had a terrible night’s sleep. This place is sooo noisy. I’m going crazy. I go looking for a new place to live and bump into The Italian outside. He kisses me on the lips. I feel like this has been the turning point we needed.
‘Just been to Yoga?’ he asks.
I tell him about my night and I’m looking for a new place.
‘Stay with me,’ he says.
I tell him I need my own place then we arrange to meet at Trek And Dine after his meditation.
I manage to find a place then go to Trek And Dine. I wait for him for an hour. This is not like him. I call but his number has no network coverage. I go shopping for washing powder and a Yoga mat. Then a text comes in at 12.24pm.
‘Baby ,i just got to the restaurant .where are u.? Did u get a room ? KiSs’
I meet him in the restaurant as I’m literally outside as it’s just by the shops. He introduces me to the people at his table. Some of them I happen to have met earlier by chance on my brief travels.
‘I thought you finished meditation at 10,’ I say.
‘We did but we got talking and…’.
‘Right, well I’m off,’ I say fuming.
He looks aghast.
A few minutes later he texts me.
‘Did i say something wrong ? Hug. v’
I wait for hours to respond. Let me do the grown up thing and point out what he has done wrong… calmly. I guess he deserves a right to reply…
‘I waited for you for an hour. I had to check out and find a place to stay before midday. A call to say you had made other plans would have been nice. Anyhow it was good to see you again!’
Always ‘enlightened’, always bullshit, no responsibility for his actions he replies.
‘I am sorry ,dident excuse myself for getting lost with the monch after the meditation.yes ,verry sweet to meet u,u are verry real,and beautiful.love v’
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.
