Chat, check-in, and hang out

[Paladin_141]

I'm tired of calling hotlines and posting on the internet. I just want the people who were supposed to be my friends and family to speak to me.

It is 0023. I didn’t get to sleep until 0530 yesterday. I should try to sleep but I don't want to. I don't want to have gone another full day without any contact.

 

[Paladin_141]

Dating apps are depressing. Flicking through hundreds of women just emphasises how rare my 'type' actually is. Or, at least, that they are too busy to be on dating apps.

I really DO need to get back to the war.

 

[Paladin_141]

Replying to myself again. Treating this place like a blog.

I am trying dating apps again for the first time in a long time and am perversely gratified to see that they are still as bad as I remember.

I get frustrated because I can't fit everything relevant about me in the space required, yet every female bio is 'I'm sarcastic and I like wine'.

Like...ok. Firstly, sarcasm is not impressive; it's entry level humour and we come with it fitted as standard. And I'm better at it than you. Secondly, almost everyone likes wine. What else do you like? Fun, by any chance? Laughing, perhaps? Oxygen?

Everyone is complaining about how lonely they are, but putting in absolutely no effort not to be.

Cheese Girl, incidentally, appears to be attached. Because of course she is.

You know, I keep telling people this, but I wonder if I'm mostly trying to remind myself- when I'm not having the worst time of my entire life, I'm actually a really cheerful and happy-go-lucky guy. I've just kind of lost track of the last time everyone around me wasn't actively trying to kill me and that kind of takes the wind out of my sails.

I don't mean the war- people shooting at me is my idea of a good time- but back home. Everyone is working so hard to take away.the things that I was actually fighting FOR, that I can only assume that their desired outcome is for me to give up and cash in my chips.

At this point, it's a coin toss.

 

[Survivor3]

Replying to myself again. Treating this place like a blog.

I am trying dating apps again for the first time in a long time and am perversely gratified to see that they are still as bad as I remember.

I get frustrated because I can't fit everything relevant about me in the space required, yet every female bio is 'I'm sarcastic and I like wine'.

Like...ok. Firstly, sarcasm is not impressive; it's entry level humour and we come with it fitted as standard. And I'm better at it than you. Secondly, almost everyone likes wine. What else do you like? Fun, by any chance? Laughing, perhaps? Oxygen?

Everyone is complaining about how lonely they are, but putting in absolutely no effort not to be.

Cheese Girl, incidentally, appears to be attached. Because of course she is.

You know, I keep telling people this, but I wonder if I'm mostly trying to remind myself- when I'm not having the worst time of my entire life, I'm actually a really cheerful and happy-go-lucky guy. I've just kind of lost track of the last time everyone around me wasn't actively trying to kill me and that kind of takes the wind out of my sails.

I don't mean the war- people shooting at me is my idea of a good time- but back home. Everyone is working so hard to take away.the things that I was actually fighting FOR, that I can only assume that their desired outcome is for me to give up and cash in my chips.

At this point, it's a coin toss.

Don't give them the satisfaction! Stay alive and fight for your life!

Also...on dating apps... my experience of them was that 90%of them are nuts and despite what they post just enjoy the thrill of the chase with not enough guts to actually follow through and do anything about meeting up.

 

[Paladin_141]

I'm inclined to agree. It seems to be just a bunch of women looking for validation and approval rather than actual company.

I'm not totally convinced they aren't all just one person, actually. Some.kind of gestalt entity or hivemind. Every profile is more or less interchangeable-

The first photo is a group shot in a bar on a night out (she's invariably the least attractive one in the photo).

The second photo is her on top of a mountain, but very obviously standing at the side of the road so you know she drove up there for the photo.

Third photo is her hugging a bottle of wine/small annoying dog/ some guy.

Any additional photos will be from social occasions and prominently feature bottles of wine.

The bio is: 'fluent in sarcasm' and a wine bottle emoji. If she's feeling particularly energetic, she'll add a bit about wanting a 'gentleman' without indicating what she means by that, but the smart money is on 'a sex-starved mug who pays for everything'.

I realise I mention wine a lot, and I'm concerned that I may be giving the impression that I'm a ghastly puritan, rather than the booze disposal unit that I actually am, but...my god, there are a lot of wine bottles on these profiles. Do they not have anything else to do?

 

[Paladin_141]

Well, I've had a day.

Had to take more money out of the savings to pay the rent. Then went to apply for benefits until I can find work, be that here or back at the front. There's a specific benefit payment for people trying to find work, which you get if you can prove you are trying to find a job.

The guy at the desk listened to me shakily explaining my situation, handed me a box of tissues and told me that it was completely inappropriate for me to apply for that benefit, then signed me up for a disability benefit instead, on the grounds that he decided I was clearly in no fit state to deal with job hunting on top of everything else.

Someone in the system being on my side took me completely by surprise and short-circuited something, leading to loud, messy crying in the benefits office in front of everyone.

Went out for dinner to...not celebrate, but I can't thinkof the word... anyway, it was very nice. Alas, whatever stomach illness (injury?) I picked up at the front is still not entirely healed and I have spent the last half hour apparently trying to turn myself inside out like a rubber glove. I half expected to barf up my own socks at some point.

 

[Survivor3]

@Paladin_141 it's good that you've got someone on your side at the benefits office. And you'll get more money on disability. There is a stomach bug going round. My friend and mother have had it.

 

[CazzTheGeek]

Hi @CazzTheGeek how you doing?

Hi @CazzTheGeek how you doing?

Hey @Survivor3

I'm doing ok, this year has been the hardest of my life and even though I'm down, I'm not out.

How are you? Any plans for New Year's?

 

[ms spock]

So the Insurance Company comes today Two different sets of contractors.

The Complaints Officer will ring.

Sent the tree photos last night. (as requested)

Sent the second mould photos (as requested) when the plasterer lent the new gyrock which means he didn't contain the mould which is a protocol for the other mould remediation team.

Now sending the kitchen photos to the Complaints Officer (as requested).

I am doing the best that I can.

 

[Survivor3]

Hey @Survivor3

I'm doing ok, this year has been the hardest of my life and even though I'm down, I'm not out.

How are you? Any plans for New Year's?

I'm OK thanks, just got back from meditation at the Buddhist centre. News eve I'm at the Buddhist centre for a few hours. I've been playing my synthesiser and I'm going to ask my sax teacher if she can give me piano lessons. Working Friday. Reading everyday.

Yes I hear you when you say you've had a tough year. Well done for coping with it as best you can. You've done really well . Have you been seeing your friends?

 

[CazzTheGeek]

I'm OK thanks, just got back from meditation at the Buddhist centre. News eve I'm at the Buddhist centre for a few hours. I've been playing my synthesiser and I'm going to ask my sax teacher if she can give me piano lessons. Working Friday. Reading everyday.

Yes I hear you when you say you've had a tough year. Well done for coping with it as best you can. You've done really well . Have you been seeing your friends?

That's awesome, you're a sponge when it comes to music. I'm sure the piano lessons will go great. Read anything good?

Thanks, I appreciate it. I spent Christmas with my friends but they're working over New Years, so by myself tonight.
My others friends are in Blackpool and one in Illinois.

 

[Survivor3]

That's awesome, you're a sponge when it comes to music. I'm sure the piano lessons will go great. Read anything good?

Thanks, I appreciate it. I spent Christmas with my friends but they're working over New Years, so by myself tonight.
My others friends are in Blackpool and one in Illinois.

Happy new year Cazz. May you have a prosperous and healthy 2026. I've just got back from the Buddhist centre. Had a good time, feel very grateful for the place. I've just finished reading the "book of joy" by the dalai lama and archbishop Desmond tutu. A nice easy read with good philosophical stories.

I hope your OK this evening, are you gaming?