Lunch with M

I've never had so many messages after a posting . . . in the two weeks since I mentioned M's invitation to a weekend away in Madrid, I've received 37 messages encouraging me to go (many of you suggesting imaginative things I should do or say).

I'm sorry to have disappointed you all . . . but I could never have spent three days away from home, even if I had wanted to do. And that's just the point, I simply didn't want to.
I do find it fun (and flattering) to be in his company for an evening, but I know I couldn't handle M's rather overbearing personality for three days!!!

And anyway, it wasn't really a romantic weekend away he was offering, it was a business trip. He spent most of Friday in meetings with his client and then they entertained him on Friday and Saturday evenings.

So you see . . . it wasn't the sort of weekend that most of you were imagining. And, as I said, even if I'd thought I could leave my work for one day, and my home and children for three, I know I would find M too annoying to be with for three whole days.

He called me on Monday morning immediately after his return the night before and asked if we could meet. I agreed to meet him for lunch on Tuesday. He enthused about the hotel, the restaurants etc. etc. and said "you must come with me for the next round of meetings the first week in October".
But . . . before you all get too excited . . . I declined again for exactly the same reasons as before.

We had a nice chat, and as I said, it is quite flattering to receive such attention from a bubbly, enthusiastic man . . . I promised I'd see him in the next week or so, before his next weekend away, but I made it quite clear that I wouldn't be going with him!!