Yesterday we went shopping in Leeds…

And today did a spot…

A photo from the game today…

And another one from Xmas eve…

What women really want from a man has been the topic of conversation frequently these past few weeks. Remember, every woman is different, but here are a few general ideas…

Return her messages
Many women gauge a man’s interest level by how long it takes him to respond when she contacts him. If his response time is poor, she might assume he’s just not that into her. Now, it’s no secret that women and men have differing opinions on what constitutes good communication, and we’re not saying you need to drop everything the minute she calls. She knows you’re a busy man; she’s busy too. What women want is for you to get back to them as soon as you’re able to, as opposed to sometime the following day. This doesn’t mean you have to send an e-mail or a text of epic proportions if you don’t have time; a sentence or two will suffice to make her feel like you care — which is all she really wants to know.

Kiss her for no reason
As much as they love sex, women also enjoy a nice, deep kiss that doesn’t have any strings attached. This serves two purposes: It lets her indulge in kissing for the sheer pleasure of it, and it also tells her you want her, and not just sex. Yes, you’re charming and sexy and she loves being naughty for you, but sometimes she needs a different type of connection. To really do what women want, try a surprise kiss for no reason at all; she’ll love you for it. Combine this with a little hand-holding and she’ll be smiling for days.

Dance with her
Simply put, dancing with a woman makes her feel special. Unfortunately, most men are reluctant to put their dancing shoes on, especially in a public setting. Guess what? While she’d probably welcome the idea, you don’t need to visit a nightclub to dance with your woman. She’ll be just as thrilled if you slipped a little Marvin Gaye on and danced with her in the living room. This would actually be to your advantage, as you have total control over the music. You’re also conveniently located if the dancing starts to get dirty…

Dress up for her
This does not include dressing in women’s clothing or lingerie!
Dressing up to take your woman out is an excellent way to impress her. It’s not about the clothes; it’s about the fact that you find her worth dressing up for. It lets her know that you think she’s worth that kind of effort. Besides, a nice shirt and dress pants can increase your sex appeal by leaps and bounds; you may feel overdressed, but your hotness factor will have magnified exponentially. It’s true what they say: Women really do love a sharp-dressed man.

Remember random milestones
As a rule, birthdays and anniversaries should always be remembered; forgetting something of this magnitude will send the message that you don’t find her terribly important. After all, she probably memorized yours early on in the relationship, so if hers goes unnoticed, she’ll be utterly heartbroken. Here’s how to do what women want: To truly impress her, aim to remember the insignificant dates, as well as the big ones. The first time you told her you loved her, the first time you kissed, the first place you vacationed together, what she was wearing the first time you met — any one of these will turn her to jelly and score you more bonus points than you can shake a stick at.

Take on an activity with her
What women want is to spend time with their man outside of the bedroom. They want to experience life with their man, and this is one of the best ways to develop a three-dimensional relationship. Don’t worry; I’m not recommending you join her yoga class; rock-climbing, hiking, tennis or cycling are activities both of you can enjoy. If neither of you are the sporty type, try something else that you already excel at. Teach her how to swing a 9-iron or to shoot pool — she’ll love the personalized attention.

Propose a visit to her family
Women love it when a man gets along with her friends, but she simply adores it when he gets along with her family. Even if you’re not particularly fond of her busybody mother and father, suggesting a visit (even just a yearly one) can really make your woman’s day. It lets her know you recognize the importance of family. This is truly the kind of suggestion that leads to a warm and fuzzy feeling, so don’t be afraid to suggest it.

It’s the little things…
When it comes to what women want, the little things really do matter. The items on this list aren’t particularly difficult or time-consuming, but they are, unfortunately, very often overlooked by men. This often leads a woman to feel neglected, which in turn leads to nagging and other problems. Make her feel special, and she’ll go to the ends of the earth for you; try one of these suggestions, and she’ll feel like you’ve already gone there and back for her.

Well, I got a bit done today in regards of catching up.

I paid some bills and deferred some.

I rearranged some meetings, and booked a few others.

I went for a 2.5 mile run - and man do I feel great. I crossed alot more ground than I had realised.

And while I was out running, had a few revelations:

• Deciding to go for a run at 3:00PM is not a good idea - too many prams to try and dodge
• Getting caught up in your exercise can be a good thing - cleared a full mile before I realised
• Even when you’re covered in sweat and getting your exercise on, men will still try to chat you up
• Having headphones that dont go REAL LOUD sucks - I like my music LOUD
• System of A Down is great music to run to if you’re in the mood
• Lilly Allen isn’t
• Running can really clear your head
• It can also get rid of cramps
• My lungs need more exercise - I need to do this daily for at least the next week to build up stamina - and lay off the curry for awhile

I have also done some soul searching and have decided that I will no longer be controlled by fear.

The ex cannot hurt me any more, and I refuse to give him that power.

I will continue to have the police alarm in the house, but I no longer feel like a prisoner - I feel free.

I am free.

Free from your anger.

Free from your hatred.

I am free from your need to make me feel inadequate because of your needs/wants/desires/fetishes that always came first.

Free from your need to punish and control.

Most of all, I am free to love and to be loved again, in a way I never thought possible.
And you can’t take that away from me.

Last night we went to a Boxing Dinner Jacket function, and here are the images from the camera phone - the proper ones from David’s dad’s camera and my camera, as well as the videos, will be available later.

We have to prepare for tonight’s Foo Fighter’s concert.

Ohh and we won a bottle of gin in the raffle

Click the thumbnailed images to open the full size

I loved it when you sang this to me while I lay in your arms…

My first media article is now punblished in the Yorkshire Post:

 http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/health/Delight-and-danger-of-a.3407260.jp

Comments please…

A few of you have asked me what is the easiest way to decipher the games/messages that the opposite sex say/do, so the following will hopefully help you out.

Work: Yesterday I was in London for a job interview. They are offering me crazzzy money. It includes alot of travel to the USA. It sounds like a great job. I will keep you posted.

Personal: I have started dating again.

Media: The OWLSS group is taking off, the Yorkshire Post are doing an article about me/OWLSS shortly, as well as the local paper here. There will be some media coverage for our first meeting next week - talk about pressure!

Channel4 are doing a health documentary that I wil be involved in regarding gastric bypass. Who knows where this will all lead!

Keep your eyes posted for Geneva sightings!

I have been approached by a media firm/agent who are in the process of securing contracts to put my story, as well as the support group/charity owlss.co.uk, in the media - television, newspapers and magazines.

I was also contacted again by channel 4 last night in regards to a health documentary that is being done about obesity surgery. I was initally contacted earlier this year, and it’s nice to see that it is coming to fruition.

It looks as if the coming weeks will be busy, and I will need to get a photo shoot booked as soon as possible.

If anyone would like to help proof-read my exclusivity contract, I would appreciate any advice.

It looks like I will have to start removing some of my personal details from the internet, my CV and the likes, as I don’t really want any nutters having my personal details.

In regards to work, I am in London for a meeting on Wednesday next week, so I may squeeze some networking in if I can. I will have some time to kill at lunchtime if anyone wants to grab a bite to eat!