Friday 28 June 2013

I'm doing a few double shifts this week- 2pm until 7am. It'll be worth it in the end but even now, on day one, I'm struggling. I know I'll wake up on Saturday afternoon and think 'Wow, the week is over already' but until then it's mind over matter.

Before I lose the energy for optional chores I changed the bed sheets, put together Charlie's dinner for the next few nights and tidied up after a messy weekend.

I'm already wishing I wasn't in work (my new manage believes creating conflict is comparable to showing authority):

'Work is making me so so sad'

'But I make you so so happy. And you you still have a Charlie, he's just at our wee home. We will find you new work x'

Sent from my Windows Phone

Friday 21 June 2013

Wine Without Asking

Friday- the end of my week. I'm only heading home now but at least I'll have three days off to enjoy.

Charlie went out after a tough day at work and picked up a nice Pinot Noir for me which, as I sit on the train home, is breathing because even though he doesn't drink wine he knows the general rule for tannic wines- leave them to air for an hour per year they are old.

He truly is fantastic.

Showing He Cares (Even on Boys' Night)

Another Friday, another boys' night. There was just enough time to enjoy each other and make dinner before it was time for him to leave. I followed him around the apartment like a puppy dog and he sent me a text to let me know he'd made the train:

I want you to know, it's been a great night already.

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Game of Thrones

I don't get it. I'm sure Charlie would love to escape to Game-of-Thrones-land; at least until the withdrawal symptoms kicked in and he realised he couldn't function without his custom built gaming PC (dubbed 'The Emperor'- it does look like it could remotely control the Death Star). I on the other hand, watched the first episode and thought 'seriously?'. It's not my thing. Normally I'll spend Monday nights painting and on the off chance we are together he'll be checking his watch and at 9pm he'll kiss me goodbye and excuse himself.

Yesterday we were having too much fun together to notice the time and Charlie missed the new episode so the next night we watched it together. I found the show dull, illogical and (without knowing any of the back story) unclear. Watching Charlie on the other hand was far more entertaining than any TV series and every time something happened he'd turn to me excitidly and whisper 'I can't believe he did that' or 'This completely changes the dynamic'. I will watch it from now on.

Friday 14 June 2013

Saying 'Thank You'

I made Charlie some couscous with roasted vegetables for his lunch and stashed a Reese's cup in his desk drawer. He text me:

It's awesome realising how many amazing things I have in my life just because you love me.

Thursday 13 June 2013

Romantic Night In

It isn't our anniversary, or a birthday or a day of any significance at all. Sometimes it's just nice to do something for the sake of it. Tonight I felt like making a boring week night a little special so I got a nice bottle of red wine, plated up some strawberries and made chocolate fondue- melt 2 parts chocolate with one part double cream, add a pinch of salt if you're using dark chocolate (it actually brings out more of a chocolatey flavour) and a little vanilla essence. It turned out to be a special night after all.

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Glossybox

It’s that time of the month again and no, Glossybox isn't a creepy euphemism.

After a particularly messy night with Adele in January I attempted to send her home in my slippers with a jam jar full of wine (it was the closest thing I could find to a takeaway cup and it had a lid) but not before she could tell me about her new subscription. It wasn't to a magazine and it was designed to curb her spending on high end beauty products. Enter Glossybox.

I woke up the next morning feeling groggy but glad I hadn't drank as much as Adele. Charlie announced that he liked the idea of Glossybox and asked if I wanted a subscription. You receive a box of five high end sample beauty products for £10(plus P&P) every month- it sounds like a lot for samples but I can honestly say it's worth it. Charlie thought it would be nice for me to receive a treat every month in the post from him (we live together so actually posting something to me seemed a tad excessive).

My June 2013 box arrived today and even though he didn't pick anything in it, all I can think each month is 'what a thoughtful gift'.

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Breakfast in Bed

The classic that never gets old- like a Chanel suit or a diamond engagement ring but a lot cheaper and requiring less commitment.


Charlie’s boss changed his schedule last night without telling him. Result? He showed up for work an hour early. Instead of staying he came home, made me breakfast and asked what my plans for today were. It was a pretty awesome way to wake up.

Monday 10 June 2013

Broken Boiler

Our boiler has been broken for two weeks. The landlord (understandably) doesn't want to spend £3000 on a new boiler but we've had so many plumbers out to take a look it makes more sense just to get it replaced. Work is due to begin on Wednesday- in the meantime it's cold showers, no way of doing laundry and dishes can be cleaned only with the aid of a kettle.

Coming home to find Charlie elbow deep in dishes that I'd been avoiding was pretty inspiring.

Sunday 9 June 2013

Duck Feeding

I don’t drive and last year Charlie traded his car in for a motorbike. Today we had our first joint venture- a visit to the duck pond. Armed with a bag full of bread (and some chocolate for us) we had a practice on the bike in our building’s parking lot before speeding off.

The pond in question is one my parents would take my brother and I to when we were kids. We would bring our bikes and race each other around the pond. It’s pretty liberating to be able to enjoy similar things as a grown up although now we try to name as many species of birds as we can and then chase the pigeons.

Saturday 8 June 2013

Leaving Notes

Charlie's best friend was in Toronto for a month with work. I doubt they've ever gone so long without seeing one another. He was due for a drunken night our with the boys that I had no doubt would go on until the early hours.

For years I was so used to being on my own I found it difficult to come home to someone but now it's the opposite- arriving at my dark apartment after a long day at work to was quite strange. Finding a note on my pillow saying 'Charlie loves you' made me remember that I'm not alone even when he isn't here.

Friday 7 June 2013

My Favourite Cologne

I had a tough morning- I’d finished a night shift, lost my phone, gone to the dentist and by the time I got home I was exhausted.  Unfortunately bed wasn’t on the menu yet as I had to call my landlord, meet my dad for a coffee and try to get my phone back. By the time I’d done this Charlie had come home for lunch and I was wide awake yet exhausted (an excessive amount of caffeine and 12 hours sleep split over 4 days was far from ideal).

Charlie pulled the curtains, made me a Sleepytime tea and whispered into my ear:

"You’re the most loved girl in the whole world"


I was already beginning to drift off while he rummaged around in one of his drawers and took out a cologne that smells amazing on him- it has notes of bay leaf and tobacco. He gently took my hand and sprayed it on my inner wrist so whenever I snuggled up with a hand under my head all I could smell was him. I had a very peaceful sleep.

Thursday 6 June 2013

Romeo Romeo


I love Shakespeare and, despite the teen suicide, a few things can still be adapted to modern day romance even if it is the cliché balcony scene.

We're swamped at work so I'm doing a night shift which will run into my normal working hours, i.e. I'll be working 17 hours straight. I just had time for dinner and Pilates with Char before heading back to work.

As I crossed the street I heard an English-accented shout of 'I love you'. Five pedestrians including myself looked up to see Charlie in his smiley faced glory waving from my balcony and blowing me kisses.

Wednesday 5 June 2013

Setting Up Dad's New Tablet

Few things say 'I love you' like spending an hour setting up a computer for the technologically challenged. Particularity when, even though you work in IT, the novice questions everything you do.

Tuesday 4 June 2013

Being the Voice of Reason

I have been friends with this girl for years but recently she's started cancelling every time we arrange to meet up and her boyfriend is the only thing that matters in her life. Today she text me two hours after we were supposed to meet up to ask if we can reschedule- it's a similar story each time and there's never an apology.

Charlie had said not make plans around her- 'get on with your own things and if she shows up great, if she doesn't then you haven't missed out.' Great advice but I didn't follow it.

It's taken six months but finally I've had enough- I told her that I was busy, fed up with her cancelling and maybe we should forget it for now. She didn't respond. It reminded me of when I was breaking up with an ex because I knew it wasn't working- they didn't seem to care and within 5 minutes they'd updated their Facebook to 'Single'. Even though I'd been stood up again and Charlie was proved right he didn't say 'I told you so' he said 'Are you okay?'.

Monday 3 June 2013

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Charlie is obsessed with Reese's but they're still tricky to get in the UK. Everytime I find myself at Sainsbury's or anywhere else that sells American candy I'll pick up a few and stash them throughout the apartment.

This means that if I'm out and Charlie is home alone he'll often get a text to say 'Check the Monopoly box' or  'Look behind the Green Wing DVD'. Make sure you never stash them in the same place twice.

Sunday 2 June 2013

Love Balloon

I needed to pick up a birthday card so Charlie came along to keep me company and give me his opinion (which turned out to be the right one). Before heading home I took him to the only pretzel place in our city (bagels are popular in the UK but pretzels still haven’t caught on) for a hot dog pretzel.
As we waited for the next batch of cheese covered dogs he disappeared off on a mission. I noticed the girl behind the counter’s face before I saw Charlie- he had snuck up behind me with a helium-filled ‘I love you’ balloon.


Perhaps I should have felt silly walking around with a balloon but honestly, 100 pretzels wouldn’t have pleased me more.

Saturday 1 June 2013

Trips to the Pub

After a morning shopping and no breakfast we were trying to work out where we should go for lunch and we just made it through the door before the rain started falling down heavy.

There’s a bar I discovered a few months ago- it looks quite unremarkable from the outside but as soon as you walk through the door you can feel how different the place is. It has lots of cat themed decorations, including one of those kitsch clocks with a pendulum tail and eyes that move from left to right as every second ticks away. The walls are a weird combination of dark wood panelling and exposed brick that is painted white in places so old school cartoons can be projected directly on to them. They serve cocktails in vintage teapots and American diner style food with a British twist while you play your favourite classic table-top game (this time we played Star Wars Top Trumps). When the bill arrives it’s in a little wooden box covered in comic decoupage and fitted with a little calculator so you split the bill easily- plus they always hide a stash of sweets in with the receipt- Fizzlers, Refreshers, Love Hearts and Drumsticks.


Two hours later we had commiserated and celebrated every round of Top Trumps (with kisses and cuddles) and we didn’t care that it was still raining outside.