please empty your brain below

"Somebody actually remembers your birthday."

Yes, my children do.

And as for presents, my children give me one from time to time.

Despite having a partner I have to admit envying single people often. Being 'coupled' is not, as you point out, all roses

I'm single. I have central heating so no hot water bottle required and the toilet seat is at room temperature -warm.
I gave up ironing years ago; dry my shirts on a hanger.
I don't cook ready meals indoors alone but always eat luncheon out, in regular places where I know the customers and staff. Do not bother with evening meal.
At my age I don’t seem to be getting any sexual encounters, just look and dream, and remember!
I ignore Christmas, it's the same every year, no buses or trains!.
Outside interests, hobbies and a few good friends keep you going OK.

Every year, part of me looks forward to this post, seeing what new twist you've come up with - and part of me hopes, secretly, that you're not single any more so you don't have to post it.

You seem like a nice guy, and I do worry about you holding on to something that clearly makes you unhappy. You can bet that whatever your ex is doing today, blogging about you isn't part of it.

Big hugs.

Oh dear. Still?

Perhaps ten years is finally time to move on? She doesn't sound like she is worth the effort of still being angry about, though I can understand why from your final point *hugs*

This post never gets old. Always a fave

As always.
Makes one think- what if?

what a wisdom?

All right, we get the picture. You've made your bed and now you must sleep in it. Singledom is your choice. Now get on with your life.

Ten years is a long time to be coupled, too.

This one always gets me in the gut.

Single: No one can ever break your heart again.
Coupled: No one can ever break your heart again.

I also celebrated being single for 10 years in 2009.

I did notice when my husband suffered a major heart attack and called an ambulance.

Despite their best endeavours, he died just the same.

I was 53 at the time. Since then, a mosquito in Venice started a chain of events that led to me now being disabled.

That apart, I have never spent Christmas alone, if nobody invites you, invite them. Anybody can cook a roast dinner these days, even if they're no greast shakes in the kitchen, it all comes in tin foil containers ready to shove in the oven, and if you email me I'll tell you how to make it 'home made'.

You are, I presume in your early 40s. There are many women in their 30s and 40s who would love to meet you.

This isn't the 80s Gold Blend advert. Sharron Maugham is not going to knock on your door in an evening gown waiting to whisk you away to a new life. If you're too despondent to go out and meet someone, start by cyber dating.. Even if you don't speak to somebody you'd like to meet, you'll increase your confidence.

You may not meet Ms Wright straight away, but imagine coming home for a flirtation instead of just knowing more about London than anyone since Dr Johnson.

I always look forward to this post (along with the Count), but DG will only post it for as long as he wants to.
Just how it should be.

I think your points are spot on.
I've gone through the previous years and the last point is always chilling - did she really?... Because if she did she definitely deserves to be ashamed every year.

It's never too late for things to change.
The worst thing about thinking about the past is the whole concept of believing things will continue as they were

It could, in fact, happen today... or tomorrow. I met my spouse on a city bus, entirely by chance.

I know you take lots of bus rides...

It's always a good idea to throw a little caution to the winds.

ouch some of these comments have a sting to them! As for the comment from Bina, not everyone chooses to be single,sometimes it just happens and before you know it, its been years! I happen to agree with most of these comments but do not want to reach the ten year mark!I am now taking applications for a husband!

Fiona - I happen to know of a single guy who lives in London ... has his own blog ...

p.s. The truth sometimes hurts, but it is often a relief to know it.

that's what happens when you fall in love with a psychopath

At last it all makes sense. I believe in the UK it is estimated that about one in two hundred people are psychopaths (in the sense of people with absolutely no sense of guilt or moral values). In the US it is about one in a hundred. Some are very clever and behave "normally" because they realise it is advantageous for them to do so until a suitable opportunity arises to shed their cloark of normality. Those who can do it effectively and not give off serious warning signs are probably a minority so you were probably just very, very unlucky. And once you realise you are in that situation the only sensible thing to do is get out of it and count your blessings because it will never be a satisfactory situation in the long term.

Not that I'm in any way bitter, you understand...
And absolutely no point either.

Agony Uncle from Purley.

Happy 10th DG. Here's to the next 10 without the Evil One.
Your life is obviously much richer now.

You kind of sound like a male "Jennifer Aniston", DG.

Nothing to add, bar a hug.

You can forgive but don't ever forget

(And don't forgive either)

I doubt it will have any material effect on your life

Oops, as you can tell from my last comment a few days ago I misjudged the date, soz.
Still single and happy here too
Cxx

Great post
K
Single: Waiting for life to fully begin
Coupled: Is this it?

oh this one always makes me a bit sad. have a cyber-hug dg.... i would say 10 years is probably a good point to knock it on the head now though?

spooky

i was thinking about when this post was due back only today.

I was listening to Karl Pilkington talking about being in bed and chatting with his girl friend... can't see a link myself but there it is.

This is terrible, DG. I can't understand why a person like you has no other half. Is it because you haven't decided to leave London?


Karen: that comment made me laugh out loud. Excellent!

I've had some work-related betrayals that are years old and that I still can't think about. But work is just work. Being shot through the heart is way worse. There are times when all you can do is get up in the mornings and make sure your hair is combed.

Let's face it DG, when an earth would have time for a partner?

sure am sorry to see this post again.

had hoped that things might've changed for the coupled.

The comments just get better every year

Better, and yet worse, in roughly equal measure.

As far as wasting Saturdays and forgetting birthdays - your Mum's not with us any more? I've been married 30 years and I have to say my Mum and mother-in-law are far more stressful in these two regards.

I'm just out of a complicated gay LTR and facing singledom. Your singled/coupled contrasts put a smile on my face and reminded me of the upside of being single. So while some people may have read this as melancholic, it wasn't for me. It made me wonder if I'd want to be single in 10 years time or not and I don't know the answer to that.

Anyway you have more time on your hands and we all reap the benefits of you spending your time exploring rather than on dating sites, so thanks!

Love your blog! :) I also feel better about being single now!

Hi there DG, my (lovely) wife sent me the link to this post. If this can cheer you up a little bit, when I was 15 I fell stupidly in love with a girl for 13 years... and never had sex. After that, I was in a couple like 5-6 times.

The last time, after 6 years of an ever decreasing relationship, I really thought I was doomed to remain single forever. But, 2 months after the end of my previous relationship, I met the girl who is now my wife and makes my life worth living and enjoying. You never know !

Perhaps all the $#|+ you went/are going through is the price to be paid for future rewards. I sincerely hope it's your case too. You never know!

All the best,

Alex











TridentScan | Privacy Policy