An evening of intrigue at 'The Meat Market'.

Last night I entered a world, which I have not been in touch with for over 10 years. Having been married since 2000 and in a committed relationship since 1997 I have not felt inclined to enter the usual nightclub spots that singletons frequent.
My normal social interactions include other couples (usually with children) coming round for an evening of food, wine and board game playing such as Cranium or Balderdash.
Last night however was a one off event. My neighbour recently lost her husband to another woman and has been on a downward spiral ever since. The grief of losing her partner has spurred her into desperately trying to find another man to fill the void that he left. This week she reached her milestone birthday of forty years and decided that a night out on the tiles at our town’s local nightspot called Chicago Rock was in order.
Feeling sorry for her plight I offered to go with and be the designated driver.

So joining the small gang of her mostly single middle aged lady friends I entered the lion’s den with slight trepidation. My only consolation was that we had booked a table with a 3-course meal. Give me food and I am happy.
The venue was relatively quiet when we arrived and I enjoyed listening to the ‘gangs’ life stories. They ranged from divorcees, cheating husband dramas, lesbians, married to not yet married singletons. We all watched with interest the local ‘special needs’ man boogie on the dance floor by himself to Michael Jackson. Apparently he is a regular customer who usually comes to dance the night away with another ‘special’ luminous Lycra clad male. Already my evening was beginning to become interesting.

As our meal passed our lips the venue came to become more crowded and the influx of sexy dolled up females and hormone driven men began.
As one would expect there was the usual themed clothing for the hen ladies - cops and robbers, cowboys and indians etc… even the obligatory inflated doll and sheep joined the party celebrations.

Sitting at my table and watching the evening unfold with fascination I smiled happily to myself sometimes catching the hawk like eyes of the single male sexes. In a not so smooth swoop I was immediately pounced upon by a bearded nerdy looking man. Slightly surprised and a bit uneasy I tried to engage in civil conversation with the brave man. However before I could do so one of the ‘gang’ hastily stepped in the way barking, “She’s a married woman mate, so be off with you”.
At this point in order not to offend one of ‘the gang’ and feeling very uncomfortable I decided to say nothing and let it be.

The onslaught however did not end with the bearded man and I was soon at the receiving end of a very nervous mans bad joke. I laughed the obligatory laugh and commenced to smile kindly at him being ever so conscious of his bravery to approach. With cheesy pop blasting through the sound speakers and my voice reaching straining point whilst trying to fight through the noise, I soon found out that he had been single for over two years and had been desperately trying to find his soul mate. Being a regular of the meat market and online dating he had so far failed to find a suitable life partner. He explained that he had stupidly broken up with a long-term girlfriend and was now at the age of 35 suffering the consequences of a possible life of loneliness. With such a negative downtrodden attitude I tried my very best to assure him of a positive love filled future. He nodded in a kind of sad Eyeore fashion and made his way to the bar leaving me feeling so sad for his singleton affliction. Consequently ‘the gang’ looked at me with slight disapproval that I, married woman of 3 children should be so tacky to engage in conversation with ‘sexually’ driven males. I couldn’t help thinking that there was perhaps a reason why ‘the gang’ were still single. It seemed to me that when any brave male ‘soldier’ of the singleton war approached one of the ladies they were almost immediately rebuffed with a sharp slap of dialogue or disapproving eye contact. I started to think that their attitude was exclusively British however not having enough experience in these situations I declined to reach a verdict. I did subsequently discuss the debate with my British husband and his opinion confirmed my suspicion. Being antipodean and naturally friendlier I was a much easier pull than my more reserved British counterparts. Even compared to the scantily clad females who left nothing to the imagination and whose attire encouraged male attention, my southern sunnyness prevailed against the icy chill of their haughtiness.

The evening was so interesting for me and although being ‘hit’ on was not the most comfortable of experiences I think the affirmation of my ability to attract felt quite good. I did however leave the venue feeling quite sad for all those lonely men and women who would leave their regular weekly haunt all alone.
I sincerely hope that the relationship with my husband remains as strong while we are alive on earth together for I dread the day when I have to attend the meat market again. Rather, give me jazz filled evenings of culinary heaven and nights out to the art cinema where I can debate the cinematic experience with my husband over real ale in the local pub.
In the mean time I send all my love, hope and peace to the war that I call single Dom.