Fewston
A few miles out of Harrogate, near Blubberhouses (yes, it's a real place) is Fewston Reservoir, a nice 5 mile walk that is perfect for a Sunday afternoon or late summer evening. The first time I walked it, in 2005, I had met my now ex-girlfriend. She was at work and I'd taken the day off to go walking. We texted all the way round. Having met on a dating site and had not actually met in person yet. I loved the flirting, the finding out about each other, the rush of expectation when my phone beeped a message from her. It was a wonderful feeling to know that someone was thinking about me.

Last year we broke up and I was gutted, and visited a dark place I had never been to before. I don't know why but I did that walk again. To get rid of some demons maybe, I don't know. I sat on a bench where we'd had a really nice text conversation all those years ago and my heart reached out for her. I knew that I wasn't going to get over her and that I would do anything for past times to be relived.

Fast forward to a couple of months ago. I did that walk again with a friend of mine who was going through some marriage problems / mid-life crisis. We sat on the same bench, looking out over the same landscape and wondering where on earth the time had gone. We had grown up together and reminisced about when we were younger, about our hopes and dreams that had not worked out the way we had hoped. I still missed my ex a little but had moved on with my life and was trying to encourage my walking buddy that he too would soon experience his own life change. He just had to be patient.

During a moment of quiet reflection I checked my email. An email was waiting from someone that I had met on the interwebs recently (yes, the same dating site) but never expected to get a reply from. She provided her private email address and asked me to get in touch. I experienced a beautiful moment then: my whole attitude changed. I realised that a potential future was waiting for me and I knew that I wasn't afraid of it.

We had our first and second date a couple of weeks ago. Last weekend she came over to my place and met some friends of mine. Although I was a total gentleman and slept on the sofa, we lay together top-to-toe in bed the next morning drinking coffee and talking. We have the coming weekend planned together and I can't wait to embark on a possible new relationship.

When I was driving home from work the other night I felt unbelievably happy. Just at that moment I passed a dad and his toddling daughter, her face covered in a big happy smile. The smile of a kid that doesn't know bad stuff and everything is new and shiny.

I'm a complete atheist but something - my gut feeling perhaps, i don't know - told me that everything was going to be fine. It's a cliche I know but I remembered the scene from American Beauty, where they're watching the video of the bag blowing in the wind together and I understood every single word of the speech the guy makes. I felt I was close to passing out when I realised that there is incredible beauty in the world. I am over the bad times of last year when me and my ex split up. I have met someone that completely captivates me. My old life has gone and, for once in my life, I don't really miss it. Life is good.
(Ghostlight, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 10:59, 1 reply)

You whut?
"During a moment of quiet reflection I checked my email"

One thinks you should leave the phone at home once in a while, you might meet some real women if you're not to busy tapping away on your iphone.
(Speshal, Sun 8 Aug 2010, 4:56, closed)