8 days before Lockdown...

Elian shifted restlessly in the chair, long legs sprawled out beneath him, chin resting on his hand. He glanced at his wristwatch and then stared aimlessly into the mid-distance, eyes unfocused. He wondered if he should give her another 10 minutes or just call it a night. After all, what were the chances that date number 74 would be any more promising than the previous 73?!...

As she prepared to leave the house, Eva glanced at herself one last time in the hallway mirror. For the hundredth time she wondered whether her chosen outfit reflected the studied nonchalance she aimed to convey but didn’t really feel. She had dressed carefully aiming to look elegant but casual, confident but not too sexy, effortlessly chic rather than dressed to impress (she didn’t want to look as though she had tried too hard!) She had combined leather-effect skinny jeans with a sparkly black top and knee-length boots (thigh-length would have looked too obvious and definitely conveyed the wrong impression.) Finally satisfied with her appearance, she let herself out of the flat, picking up the pace as she walked towards Southbourne High Street in a bid to make up for lost time. She knew she was running a bit late but she reminded herself that being punctual wasn’t a good thing on a first date... let him wait a bit; after all, a woman should never appear too keen. As she walked, she wondered what Rick would think about her spur of the moment decision to start dating other people. “None of his business” she quickly reprimanded herself. After all, why should she feel guilty?!; he had told her not to wait for him, so she was merely following his advice...it wasn't as though she was doing anything behind his back. Anyway, what were the chances the guy she was meeting would be a suitable match? Based on her recent but very limited experience of internet dating, Eva reckoned they were somewhere in the region of one in a million!

To my readers...

I have always had great reverence for the power and beauty of words, hence my love of languages and literature. As a child, I was strongly influenced by my grandmother, whose amazing skill for spinning a yarn or reciting a poem opened up a new world to me. Long after her passing, the stories she used to tell remain vibrantly alive in my memory. To this day, she remains my greatest source of inspiration. I like to think that I have inherited some of her skill and eloquence with words and that these gifts have been her legacy to me.

In recent years, it is through the written word that I have found a way to engage with the world and give shape to my thoughts. This blog originated from my desire to create my own small corner of cyberspace - somewhere to share and explore my ideas as they continue to evolve. From this place, I like to imagine that I am reaching out and connecting with the wider world, to people I have never met and my never meet. My hope is that these words will form a bridge connecting my world with yours; offering both you, as the reader, and me as the writer, an enriching experience.