It's Not Catching You Know, Being Single!

The funny thing about being single and in your thirties is that sometimes the smug married types around us think that being single is catching!

Oh yea, single, again! Well actually I ditched Sexy Older Man after a very poor performance at the wedding. No manners, head up his arse and well quite disrespectful really. Basically he loved himself (and his ex wife still) too much to love anyone else. So he got told where to go - via text. So modern of me hey. He replied, a week later! Asking if I'd calmed down yet. Go away I said, politely of course.

So back on the dating scene. I was sat in work last week, looking out of the window (yes I do lots of that) and I happen to notice a rather attrative work man digging the road outside. I observed him for a few days and then eventually after much twitching of the blinds I sent one of the staff out to find out the low down on him. This was then followed by a number of lingering looks (he gave them not me BTW), his foreman telling one of my staff that he'd take me out for a drink and today my phone number was handed over. We shall wait and see. Honestly, what is it coming to when I quite literally have to drag them in off the streets!

You see the problem is, I'm beginning to think that some of my so called friends think that being single is catching. Sometimes I feel a little bit under pressure to get myself any old man just to fit in. To belong to a certain group. I'm suddenly realising that my "friends" aren't inviting me to certain things because they do it in couples. Like, for example, last week, they all went for a meal. Nothing fancy, just a curry, and didn't invite me. I saw them all come in the pub afterwards. All four couples. It wasn't like I didn't know any of them or would have felt left out. But still no invite. I was then looked down upon because I was in the pub with a couple of girls who are younger than me. OK so a good bit younger, but I like going out with them. We have a laugh and a good time so I see no harm in going out with them. We only ever go in the local pub so it's not like I'm off out in nightclubs and stuff with them. Personally, I see no harm.

Whilst I was seeing Sexy Older Man I felt like I belonged to my old group of friends and they all thought he was great. Sadly, I didn't think he was that great. Then over the past week I've been getting on a lot better with Toyboy, not that he's about to come back on the scene, but since we were great friends before, I still want to be friends. Anyway, I digress. So the final straw was the other night when I was having a laugh with Toyboy and I got a filthy look from a supposed very good friend and was then "warned" to not even think about getting back together with him.

So what do I do? Get myself any bloke that my so called friends are going to agree to just so I can fit back in with my old crowd, even though I might not find said man quite so agreeable. Or do I carry on with my younger crowd of friends, probably distancing myself from friends my own age, and wait for a man to come along that is going to suit me just right?

I know that's an easy question to answer. I should do what is right for me. But in doing what is right for me I will probably end up being excluded almost from a group of friends that I have been friends with for like forever. And I know that if they are true friends then they shouldn't exclude me, if anything they should be including me more, making the effort. But sometimes I feel as though they think that my singleness will rub off on them and they will be tarred with the same brush. It sounds daft but the older singletons reading this will probably get what I mean. I just wish they would include me more and not judge me for preferring the company of blokes like Toyboy rather than their favoured choice of the likes of Sexy Older Man.

I suppose in the end a true friend would want me to be happy, no matter what form that takes or who with.