Another cool but busy day. More TV people want to come to the party and word of mouth seems to be spreading. I love word of mouth - so much easier than posters and flyers.
Spent last night being regaled with horror stories about dates by recently single male friend. Luckily, he was very happy with the woman I set him up with and will probably be seeing her again. Result!
Extract from very amusing email on one such nightmare date:
Right, so my new flat, having it repainted by a decorator and she said, "What colour?" I replied "Well, being a guy these things don't bother me. It's only a rental property so I just thought to myself I'd have it painted a neutral tone that no-one could object to. I told the decorator to paint it beige. I said I don't mind what it's called (Sunset Sahara, Barley White, Magnolia, Sugar Cane White or whatever) just paint it that colour." The decorator said to me, "So, Magnolia, then?" and I said "Yeah sure."
Anyway she looked at me in absolute horror and said, "You can't do that! You can't paint it Magnolia - if you said Magnolia, he'll get Magnolia and that's an awful shade. Trust me, I know the colour you want, you need creamy white or porcelain white."
Bugger, I thought. Being a guy I've screwed up - I thought beige was beige and all this rubbish about the names was just a way to con people out of paying lots more money for the same colour. So, I text messaged the decorator with new instructions. Yesterday, I was in B&Q. The only difference between Porcelain White and Magnolia is the price. They are to within such mind bogglingly small levels the same colour that I doubt anyone walking into my rental property would go, "Magnolia?! On these walls?! Are you some kind of anarchist?
Made me smile.
Seem to have got into situation where I'm setting up half the people I know with each other. I know so many recently single people. Maybe Summer makes everyone think of holiday romances and decide they don't want to be tied down to a partner. Only problem with this setting up dates thing is keeping track of who I've set up with whom. Beginning to think I should set up dubberleydating.com!
Only problem is that it can be too accurate. I stopped setting people up about 5 years ago when all the people I set up ended up getting engaged. When the first pair ended up having a baby, I couldn't cope with it. Way too much responsibility!
Still, they seem happy enough.
Posted by emilyd at August 13, 2002 05:17 PM