Dating thread 225: Roses are red, violets are blue

[ButterflyOfShay]

The Rules:

1. The first rule about the dating thread is don't talk about it with people you're dating.
2. Develop a thick skin.
3. Do not invest emotionally too soon.
4. It's all BS until it actually happens.
5. Trust your gut instinct.
6. People vanishing, lying & being generally weird is not your fault.
7. Know your worth.
8. If it's not fun, stop.
9. Loo update is mandatory.

10. No dating the thread. 11. Treat others as you'd like to be treated 12. Any relationship you have that could get ruined by having a conversation about your feelings, standards and/or expectations wasn't really stable enough to begin with 13. The things you choose to ignore/ tolerate now are the reasons you will break up in the future 14. OLD can get very time consuming. Keep doing other activities you enjoy.

Optional: Please give your irons (potential dates you are talking to) nicknames like Mr Scottish. Initials are allowed (Mr S) when you are an item

@HowlongWillThisTakeNow I think I saw your profile photos when you were using a different name? I thought the grey was very becoming, if I may say so. Silver fox.

@HowlongWillThisTakeNow

What do people think about men dying their hair a little bit.

What do you mean by "a little bit"?

What I would say is, do what you want with your own hair. Some people will like it, some won't.

I think I see far more bad dye jobs on men than women though. I have my hair dyed but noone really knows because it's not a block colour, I still have greys, and I get zero regrowth. If I have roots etc done I have semi permanent so it fades out - no regrowth. But I mainly have half head streaks in a colour to match my original colour. I think block colours look awful on both sexes because hair isn't naturally a block colour.

As a man, there is surely far less pressure to look young forever? I started dying mine aged 50ish, when I started working in financial services where the women were very groomed, with gel nails, full make up every day, dyed hair, Mulberry bags, La Boutin shoes or at least four inch heels (at work!). I felt very old and dowdy.

I would disagree about matching eye brows and stubble. Dyed eyebrows look horrible. Dying stubble/beard is practically a daily job. They don't match naturally so I'm not sure why they need to match if you choose to dye your hair.

I'm not talking about dying eyebrows or beard/stubble, just that everything should look as though they belong to one person.

I know a lot of beards have ginger in and I don't expect people to dye their hair ginger but I've seen some terrible mismatch.

Dyed black hair when beard is brown (with ginger flecks) just looks shit. Why not just dye your hair brown rather than black?
Black takes a lot of upkeep and can be harsh.

At the end of the day everyone should do what they want with their hair.

Not much to add apart from that I personally love grey haired men. Very nice.

I met more of Mr K's friends on Friday night, there was a big meal out in a nice restaurant.
It went really well, everyone was so lovely and were pleased to meet me after knowing about me for 2 years.

Its a bit odd being the newbie of the group, all the men have been friends since school and most have been with their partners/wives for 10 years but they were very welcoming.

Dyed hair on men - not for me. But then I don’t like overly groomed me. My preference would be shaved head and facial stubble, be it coloured or grey.

@SortingItOut

I met more of Mr K's friends on Friday night, there was a big meal out in a nice restaurant. It went really well, everyone was so lovely and were pleased to meet me after knowing about me for 2 years.

Its a bit odd being the newbie of the group, all the men have been friends since school and most have been with their partners/wives for 10 years but they were very welcoming.

Aww that's really nice. Were they as you expected? Has this changed things for you? 💖

I think grey is nice on a guy. Grey is much better than dyed. Though my cute little tree surgeon has got bits of bleach in his hair and looks kind of Kurt Cobain/ surfer-esque and can totally get away with it. Usually men + bleached hair NOOOO looks a bit gay, sorry.

Currently trying to get hold of a roofer as a tile flew off in Eunice!! I’m seeing this as an opportunity to get to meet some sexy roofers 🤣🤣

@SortingItOut that sounds lovely 🥰🥰

@Badbaddog, thanks, I’m glad you recovered from that harrowing experience

@VanGoghsDog, I’m not talking about the awful black shoe polish look, just a little colour in the sides, bit of Salt and pepper.
I worked the city on and off a few years, was based in Moorgate, and the men are just as well groomed..

@ButterflyOfShay. You have a personal tree surgeon, nice.

[quote HowlongWillThisTakeNow]@Badbaddog, thanks, I’m glad you recovered from that harrowing experience

@VanGoghsDog, I’m not talking about the awful black shoe polish look, just a little colour in the sides, bit of Salt and pepper.
I worked the city on and off a few years, was based in Moorgate, and the men are just as well groomed..[/quote]
I didn't say anything about black. I also did not find the men in financial services under anything like as much pressure as the women.

I don't know how you dye "a little colour on the sides", this is not a process I'm familiar with. Good luck with it.

@BelladiMamma They're all really lovely and totally what I expected, they're so like Mr K.
One of the men asked me the same question which was interesting.

They're all in a trade of some sort so very confident, talkative, lots of banter and generally really nice guys.
All very nicely dressed, very respectful and all have lovely partners/wives who have welcomed me completely.

My 'thing' with Mr K definitely feels far more serious, the women kept telling me how private he is and he doesn't give much away and it must have taken a lot for him to introduce me. The men all said that they'd heard lots about me and were pleased to meet me and that they thought Mr K has been so much happier since he met me.
Once we were home Mr K told me that everyone who spoke to him said how lovely and chatty I was so hopefully I made a good impression.

Awww!! @SortingItOut screenshot your message above and re-read it when you have a wobble next x

I actually find a little bit of grey in a man's beard sexy.
Mr jacked up coward had it.
My new iron has it

Yes I have an unexpected new iron. It's been a mad weekend.

So I matched with Mr Karaoke last week on tinder. He seemed nice enough and chatty but not pushy. We chatted on the phone Thursday. He's totally into his tattoos and goes to the same studio as me so when I told him I was getting new ink on Friday afternoon - he suggested we meet for a wee drink in the local which is 200 yards from the tattoo place.

We were meeting at 5 and he told me in advance that his pal was meeting him at 7, if I wanted to stay have a drink with them I was more than welcome. Of course I thought, a drink 5-7 after a tattoo is more than enough.

You know where this is going. Well he's a sweet teddy bear of a man and we chatted and got along great, he was incredulous that we'd lived in the same town for 16 years and he'd never seen me. One wine turned into 2. His pal turned up and what a laugh he was. Wine number 3.
I'd missed the food in the bar by that time.

I was encouraged to have a couple of rums and we went to another local for karaoke. What a blast to be out with two blokes so comfortable in themselves to just have fun, sing songs together, hug each other. That place shut early so the handful of us in there headed to the next place that does karaoke.

There was many rums. We kissed a few times, he told me I was braw at least 50 times. Totally steaming we started walking home (I live closest) and they walked past 4 bus stops so they could walk me to the end of my street before they got on the night bus.

He messaged me yesterday morning and last night he popped to visit for a brew and a cuddle. (He lives a mile away). Of course lots of snogging later we dtd very hungover. But it was nice and snuggly and has great potential. After lots of cuddles he had to go see to his dogs.

We've decided to hang out and see how it goes. I'm not totally smitten yet but he's a sweetheart. Seeing him on Tuesday evening.

In other news my new tattoo rocks. It's seriously beautiful and I love it. It was my 'I love you Mr HT and always will, but I have to get on with my life with people who are emotionally present' tattoo and it clearly did its job.

Anyone want to see it?

@cravingthelook me please!

What a great, uplifting story of your weekend. I think it’s called serendipity?

Here! @Badbaddog I'm booked in - in a month to have some watercolour added to the leaves (sometimes things only last for a season leaves) and do any touch ups. I think the artist did a wonderful job of getting that sketched unfinished but beautiful feel I wanted.

I can't believe I had zero tattoos until October and now have 3 and planning 4 and 5 😂☺️

And yes, such a nice weekend. Nicest part I think was hearing Mr Karaoke openly saying that his pal is his best friend and he loved him and would do anything for him. They were two absolute gents that took me to one of the dodgiest bars in town and we had a blast.

@cravingthelook sweeeeet update! Fcking love your new tatt!! And what a fun weekend with Mr Kareoke! He sounds absolutely lovely!! 💛 I love reading a good update 🥰 happy days!! 💕💕

Im really trying to get in with an artist I want. Shes impossible to get an appt with though. Been trying for a year and a half now. She opens her books twice a year and can only have do so many bookings and has hundreds of people trying to get in. I only want her so its really restricting me!!

@ButterflyOfShay I know the feeling, my tattoo artist has opened her books twice in 2021 and then it was for less than a week. She is so booked up.
I had my 4th session on my back tattoo yesterday and have 2 more sessions booked in. Once you're in with her you can get further appointments but they are months ahead.
Yesterdays appointment was booked in October last year.

I hope you manage to get in with her at some point.

sorting and craving you win the thread today for lovely stories about lovely people and fabulous irons. You've put a smile on my face and restored my faith in mankind ❤

Love to see a pic @SortingItOut? You've all inspired me I’m back on it trying to get an appt with the one I want 😄 not gonna give up til I get one. Even if it takes til I’m 70 😄

@cravingthelook

Here! *@Badbaddog* I'm booked in - in a month to have some watercolour added to the leaves (sometimes things only last for a season leaves) and do any touch ups. I think the artist did a wonderful job of getting that sketched unfinished but beautiful feel I wanted.

I can't believe I had zero tattoos until October and now have 3 and planning 4 and 5 😂☺️

And yes, such a nice weekend. Nicest part I think was hearing Mr Karaoke openly saying that his pal is his best friend and he loved him and would do anything for him. They were two absolute gents that took me to one of the dodgiest bars in town and we had a blast.

I love it! The eyes in particular are amazing 💕

[quote SortingItOut]@BelladiMamma They're all really lovely and totally what I expected, they're so like Mr K.
One of the men asked me the same question which was interesting.

They're all in a trade of some sort so very confident, talkative, lots of banter and generally really nice guys.
All very nicely dressed, very respectful and all have lovely partners/wives who have welcomed me completely.

My 'thing' with Mr K definitely feels far more serious, the women kept telling me how private he is and he doesn't give much away and it must have taken a lot for him to introduce me. The men all said that they'd heard lots about me and were pleased to meet me and that they thought Mr K has been so much happier since he met me.
Once we were home Mr K told me that everyone who spoke to him said how lovely and chatty I was so hopefully I made a good impression.[/quote]
What a lovely lovely update from you 💖

Long may it continue

And so good to know that you haven't misjudged someone, you've actually understood them really well after all!

@cravingthelook what an awesome weekend. Like the good old days of meeting someone, connecting with them then it all happens. Fabulous 💖

I have had a couple of appointments with a great tattoo artist but I can't decide how to start or what to have.
I have one or two things in mind, they're all quite simple. I should probably book in with her before the rest of the world discovers her - I think she's awesome and her waiting list is only two months, so I should bite the bullet ....

@ButterflyOfShay Maybe at the next meet I can show you a picture or if its summer I might be in a top where you can see it.

I don't feel I can post it on here as I like being anonymous (as anon as you can be on a forum)