Dear Philip

Dear Philip

It's been a long time since I wrote a letter to you, but you are the one person whom I might not be embarrassed about writing this to. I spent quite awhile getting the house cleaned up because I might be inviting a man around later.

Does that shock you? I expect it pleases you, and you are saying, “About time too.”

To be honest, this might all be my imagination, but he does seem to like me. The man, whom I will call Bruce, which is what I did call him by mistake once, is newly bereaved (July) – and so at least that qualifies him on one parameter. But he is still grieving, and last week at Scrabble club,
when he was telling me about his wife's medical history, he was nearly crying.

“Too early, maybe,” I hear you caution me. “You don't want to scare him off.”

Well I'm not going to overwhelm him, if that's what you're worried about. I did straighten the bed, but I didn't change the sheets, if you know what I mean. I only think I might invite him over, because it's pouring with rain, and he might offer me a lift home. Last week, when we left at the same time, I'm pretty sure he was about to do just that, but somebody else came out also, and sort of spoiled the mood.

And if he does offer me a lift home, it would be polite to invite him in for a spot of lunch.

That, however is a problem. My cupboard is barer than usual. I worked out that we could have soup, salad with tuna and homemade salad dressing, and maybe a quick apple crumble. I don't have any bread or even cheese biscuits in the house, and even my cheese supply is down to a nibble. I do
have a pizza in the freezer, but somehow he doesn't look the pizza type.

You're interested in what he's like – whether he's like you, or a very big contrast. Well, unlike most of the men that I'm attracted to, he is older than me – but only by a few years. I know because I'm the membership secretary, so I have his personal details on the computer at the centre. He has four children, one of whom lives fairly close by, and four grandchildren.

He's tall, and quite good looking, and smartly dressed. I decided to dress more smartly than usual today, just in case, but I didn't go as far as shaving my legs. I am going to use eye make up however. That doesn't happen often, I know, but it's easy. There is no chance that not shaving will be a problem, but I did consider it. We'll see how today goes before I worry about that.

He's very bright – which I know from the way he plays bridge and scrabble – and he has travelled a lot, as that sort of subject often comes up at scrabble club. He's been ten times to Australia – as his daughter lives there. I told him about your work in Canberra, and my impression of it.

I didn't ask him what he did before he retired, but I did google his name, and found a firm of accountants – an old entry so it might count – and he does make very neat rows when he scores at
scrabble.

Anyway, wish me luck and I will update you if anything interesting happens.

Love

Jean