It’s easy to let being “single” over the festive period dampen your Christmas spirits. Especially when couples and their romantic Christmas gestures, seem to be springing from every Christmas tree branch and bouncing in front of your face. However, this year I have promised myself to make the most of festive dating and embrace the yule time period as a singleton.
Firstly, there are many reasons to be thankful for being single at Christmas; not having to weigh out on Christmas presents for a romantic partner and being able to let your diary fill up with social engagements are two that are at the top of my list.
Also, it is the perfect opportunity to make things happen. One year I received a mystery Christmas card which read “To the most beautiful girl on the fourth floor” and that was it. I never found out who it was from, but it made my Christmas. How lovely would it be if all us singletons left a mystery card or gift to someone we had a soft spot for; it would definitely add a bit of Christmas magic on the dating circuit.
Let’s not forget that Christmas is the party season and I have three rules for Christmas parties:
1) On arrival scan for Mistletoe – never get caught unawares under it, but know where it is if you need a secret weapon.
2) Pamper and preen – there’s not a better to time to ensure you look your best, the party season is an excuse to dress up – ditch the usual outfits and smarten up!
3) Keep that smile! No one wants to be stuck with a misery guts at a party. Every-body is in a celebratory mood so make the most of it, smile and mingle – smingle!
And if I’m lucky enough for any romantic rendezvous to arise in December – here are some festive dates I am longing to try…
“Get Your Skates On”
Ice skating by starlight – every city has an outdoor ice rink in December – how romantic! And then to pop somewhere cosy for a glass of mulled wine afterwards to warm up – perfect.
“Deck the Halls”
Christmas tree shopping – well if I’m going to get a Christmas tree, I need a man to help me carry it. Ok, we have to be sensible here, no getting an unsuspecting date to carry a 7 footer, get prickled to death by pine needles and then lose his patience trying to cram it into your fiat 500. However, meeting at a garden centre, getting someone to help you pick your SMALL Christmas tree, and even let him pick a new decoration for it, could be a lovely afternoon. And garden centres usually have a nice coffee shop too! If a fella asked me on this date, I’d be smitten before we even met.
“A Christmas Fayre or Market”
Most country hotels run a good annual Christmas Fayre or market and there is nothing quite like it to get you in the Christmas mood. Stalls crammed with goodies to try, a choir singing in the background and chestnuts roasting as you enter. Take a date along, sample the treats, pause for a coffee and a mince pie and browse the stalls for some unique gifts. What’s not to enjoy?
December offers more than other months on the dating circuit; fairy lights everywhere, log fires crackling, and plenty of parties and sparkle. Romance is waiting in every nook and cranny; you don’t have to go far to stumble over it. After all it is the ‘ Most Wonderful Time of the Year…’
At the moment, as I experiment with online dating, I am finding myself going on more than my fair share of first dates. At first I stuck to the classic “meet in a pub” somewhere at an equal distance between us. But now, the more first dates I go on (obviously kissing a lot of frogs), the more the novelty has worn off and I yearn for more original ideas for first dates. 