I suppose after the nights of working, and nights drinking copious amounts of wine together something was going to happen. I hadn't then to date, ever been in a relationship of any kind so didn't really know what it was like to be in one. Looking back I'm not sure if it was because I live in a rural location, or if I'm just odd and butt ugly? ...but at 23 you'd expect something right? I suppose when I left school, all my school friends were then 8 miles away from where I lived, so the social aspect having no transport on the door step was none existent, then straight after the school holidays I started an apprenticeship at Northumberland Estates so I was thrust into working alongside men, that maybe molding my attitude and outlook somehow? I'm not sure.
It was drinks time and I was sat at the other end of the three piece to Amanda. I was always warmed how focused and interested in me she was, she had no chips on her shoulders or gripes that were unusual. She was 5'2" slim, size 5 feet and big brown eyes, brunette hair tinted with like a honey blonde colour washed in, enough to say she was stunning. On top of all this she was an Accountant, this woman was a high flyer and making time for me?!
Earlier when I was at work we were exchanging a few texts, it always made me smile when I got a message off her, bit cheesy I know. Somehow things felt slightly different, the tone of the texts were the same but something was definitely different. After work I bought the Wine, cheese & biscuits, chocs and a bribe bag for the kids.
As usual we chatted none stop, demolishing the nibbles and wine in the process. As the evening went on Amanda edged slowly nearer to me. The room was lit by the table lamp, with the stove giving off an orange tinge to the room, I'm fairly sure we were now half way through the third bottle of wine, chatting incessantly. I asked her about her jewelry, she always had it on, always looking superb. She told me about each piece she had, the whole time being totally focused on me.
I poured another glass of wine, and she shuffled closer still. Now at this point I'll hold my hands up and say, I was comfortable in her company, but was a little confused why she was sat so close? Oh how naive I was then.
I just sipped some more wine, when she kissed me, honestly blink and you would have missed it. I wasn't sure at first if she forgot herself and meant to, stupid to say I know. I went to the loo and then resumed drinking, she did it again, I thought if she does it a third time I'll kiss here back. She did a third time, I couldn't believe the way the evening had taken a twist, the next half an hour was spent kissing on the sofa. As I was walking the 86 paces home to my bed I was hoping this wasn't going to be an awkward regret in the morning.
Wednesday 26 October 2011
Sunday 16 October 2011
Bribe bag.
We arranged another night in at hers drinking wine in front of the stove fire, again the evening really wasn't long enough though. Equal to the time disappointment, was the problem that two bottles of Banrock Station and Hardys were simply not enough. The box of trademark chocolates were superb, with the kids presumably finishing them off in the morning.
I worked the kids out too, well nearly, when I would go shopping for the evening wine and nibbles, I'd buy some stuff for them. They used to love it when I went around, they would trundle off to bed with a bag full of sweets. I used to joke with Amanda that it was a bribe bag to get us some peace, it was all good fun then.
I remember around this time Amanda had been felled by a bug. It wasn't surprising as she effectively had three jobs, her horses and the kids to look after. I got a text from her one lunchtime to say she felt rotten and was on her way home. I made my excuses at work and went around. Suppose you could say I was becoming quite affectionate towards her, even though nothing had happened as yet, not even a kiss. I was simply concerned, well I couldn't have my drinking buddy down now could I?
When I got there I could see her on the settee through the window, she looked worn out. I made her a hot drink and went out into the garage to cut up a TV cabinet she wanted gone for firewood, so I could put the stove on. The kids came home from school shortly after and I cooked them their tea.
Looking back they must have thought it abit odd having Peter the Joiner cooking their tea.
I worked the kids out too, well nearly, when I would go shopping for the evening wine and nibbles, I'd buy some stuff for them. They used to love it when I went around, they would trundle off to bed with a bag full of sweets. I used to joke with Amanda that it was a bribe bag to get us some peace, it was all good fun then.
I remember around this time Amanda had been felled by a bug. It wasn't surprising as she effectively had three jobs, her horses and the kids to look after. I got a text from her one lunchtime to say she felt rotten and was on her way home. I made my excuses at work and went around. Suppose you could say I was becoming quite affectionate towards her, even though nothing had happened as yet, not even a kiss. I was simply concerned, well I couldn't have my drinking buddy down now could I?
When I got there I could see her on the settee through the window, she looked worn out. I made her a hot drink and went out into the garage to cut up a TV cabinet she wanted gone for firewood, so I could put the stove on. The kids came home from school shortly after and I cooked them their tea.
Looking back they must have thought it abit odd having Peter the Joiner cooking their tea.
Tuesday 11 October 2011
Wine and Chocolate.
It was now December and by now I had made Amanda's house more homely. They now had the holes in the bedrooms through to the attic space filled in, doors and door frames down stairs with skirting and back mould, and the kitchen finished off. Not bad for the boy down the road, working in the evenings.
As you'd expect their was some banter between me and Amanda, it was good natured and nothing out of the ordinary. We did keep catching each others eye every now and again, but it was just one of those awkward moments, followed by a blush. I'll hold my hands up, I got caught looking more than I caught her, she looked stunning even in her office clothes.
It was the week before Christmas, Amanda and the girls bought me one of those bottles of Celebrations for the work I had done. It felt good to be appreciated for everything I had done.
It would be just into the New Year when I got asked along again to do more work. We had exchanged text messages and the odd phone call in the time in between. I was working on some pipe boxing around the boiler, and just ate my tea made by Amanda washed down by a couple glasses of wine. She commented on needing more wine, and I quibed that I should bring some the next time. Followed by me blushing as always.
She said that, that would be nice and would let me know when she was free through the week. Later that week she did invite me around and told me not to disappoint with the Wine choice. Now being a naive 23 year old trying to impress that did put the pressure on. I scoured the shelves of Morrisons and picked 6 bottles of White Wine, and thought I would chose 2 on the way out the door. When I was in there I thought I'd get something to nibble on. So, cringe worthy as it may sound now I got, Jacobs Cream Crackers, a small selection of cheese and a box of fair trade chocolates.
I remember getting ready to walk around to hers, I didn't want her to think that I was 'just' a joiner, so I pulled on a shirt, dress jeans and some proper shoes. Looking back, I honestly looked a right plonker, I looked like I was going out for a family meal not a casual drink at a friends house. I knocked on the Angela's door holding my Morrisons carrier bag. She answered the door, half moving the dogs away and talking to the kids. It was then she turned to look at me, she hesitated, Yep, the look on her face told me I was over dressed.
She had the wine glasses on the pull out table in the living room, and the kids were watching the end of Eastenders and instantly honed in on the carrier bag I was holding. "Ow, Chocolate's!" yep that was me being mugged by an 8 year old, backed up by her 11 year old sister. The chocolates were almost demolished before the wine was opened. The kids went up to bed, and me and Amanda talked through to midnight. I couldn't believe how fast the time went and how well we got on, there was no awkward silence, we just seamed to click.
The next day all I could think about was Amanda, we swapped a couple of messages and arranged for another evening of the same type in a few days.
As you'd expect their was some banter between me and Amanda, it was good natured and nothing out of the ordinary. We did keep catching each others eye every now and again, but it was just one of those awkward moments, followed by a blush. I'll hold my hands up, I got caught looking more than I caught her, she looked stunning even in her office clothes.
It was the week before Christmas, Amanda and the girls bought me one of those bottles of Celebrations for the work I had done. It felt good to be appreciated for everything I had done.
It would be just into the New Year when I got asked along again to do more work. We had exchanged text messages and the odd phone call in the time in between. I was working on some pipe boxing around the boiler, and just ate my tea made by Amanda washed down by a couple glasses of wine. She commented on needing more wine, and I quibed that I should bring some the next time. Followed by me blushing as always.
She said that, that would be nice and would let me know when she was free through the week. Later that week she did invite me around and told me not to disappoint with the Wine choice. Now being a naive 23 year old trying to impress that did put the pressure on. I scoured the shelves of Morrisons and picked 6 bottles of White Wine, and thought I would chose 2 on the way out the door. When I was in there I thought I'd get something to nibble on. So, cringe worthy as it may sound now I got, Jacobs Cream Crackers, a small selection of cheese and a box of fair trade chocolates.
I remember getting ready to walk around to hers, I didn't want her to think that I was 'just' a joiner, so I pulled on a shirt, dress jeans and some proper shoes. Looking back, I honestly looked a right plonker, I looked like I was going out for a family meal not a casual drink at a friends house. I knocked on the Angela's door holding my Morrisons carrier bag. She answered the door, half moving the dogs away and talking to the kids. It was then she turned to look at me, she hesitated, Yep, the look on her face told me I was over dressed.
She had the wine glasses on the pull out table in the living room, and the kids were watching the end of Eastenders and instantly honed in on the carrier bag I was holding. "Ow, Chocolate's!" yep that was me being mugged by an 8 year old, backed up by her 11 year old sister. The chocolates were almost demolished before the wine was opened. The kids went up to bed, and me and Amanda talked through to midnight. I couldn't believe how fast the time went and how well we got on, there was no awkward silence, we just seamed to click.
The next day all I could think about was Amanda, we swapped a couple of messages and arranged for another evening of the same type in a few days.
Saturday 1 October 2011
The start.
It's now been roughly 9 months since I last spoke to Amanda. I bumped into her outside the village shop (it all goes on there). She asked if I would drop by and have a look at some work that still needed to be done.
I went around that night and she introduced me to her then partner Chris. He was a white collar worker at a Warburtons factory, and to be honest a very decent guy. I looked around bouncing some ideas off them, i thought some skirting board in the kitchen and living room might be nice!
Off and on over the next few weeks I helped Chris do some work on the house, as money was getting tight for Amanda, I did the jobs for free (soft touch I know). The builders had made such a mess, it cost more money than expected to get someone else and have existing work put right. After a while I noticed that Chris had stopped staying there. Amanda told me they had split up and were from "two totally different ponds" with Chris (I was told), going back to his ex. I kept getting asked by Amanda to do bit's and peaces.
It became a regular thing, to finish work and go around there to do bits of work before going home. At this point I was just happy to help, I had no commitments and could see what I was doing was making a difference. Amanda would cook me some tea with theirs, mostly bacon & egg sandwiches (with the odd glass of wine thrown in) as she was always running late.
It sounds stupid to say but, I do have very fond memory's of those early days. I loved the vibe in her house, her two children were (and still are) confident and chatty. Amanda had them both in the pony club, and would be away doing something horsey almost every night, come wind or rain they were saddled up, always proud sat on their horses.
I went around that night and she introduced me to her then partner Chris. He was a white collar worker at a Warburtons factory, and to be honest a very decent guy. I looked around bouncing some ideas off them, i thought some skirting board in the kitchen and living room might be nice!
Off and on over the next few weeks I helped Chris do some work on the house, as money was getting tight for Amanda, I did the jobs for free (soft touch I know). The builders had made such a mess, it cost more money than expected to get someone else and have existing work put right. After a while I noticed that Chris had stopped staying there. Amanda told me they had split up and were from "two totally different ponds" with Chris (I was told), going back to his ex. I kept getting asked by Amanda to do bit's and peaces.
It became a regular thing, to finish work and go around there to do bits of work before going home. At this point I was just happy to help, I had no commitments and could see what I was doing was making a difference. Amanda would cook me some tea with theirs, mostly bacon & egg sandwiches (with the odd glass of wine thrown in) as she was always running late.
It sounds stupid to say but, I do have very fond memory's of those early days. I loved the vibe in her house, her two children were (and still are) confident and chatty. Amanda had them both in the pony club, and would be away doing something horsey almost every night, come wind or rain they were saddled up, always proud sat on their horses.
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