I am starting to believe it is true what they say that all things in your life can never go right, or smoothly, at the same time.

So just as things are starting to really take off with J, so my work world is completely blown apart. Last week we were told that our department was to be 'restructured' and not 24 hours later I learn I have lost my team, my excellent manager, and am instead being placed into a team of just three, working alongside a business I know nothing about. Now I know these be tough times in the London financial market (well all financial markets really) but to say that this was a bolt from the blue is an understatement. Not one to like change I was on my way to settling in well with the team and looking forward to my slightly new and improved role which was due to start in May. Now I have a new manager, a new team mate, (both reshuffled from various other teams) and a job role that even after countless chats, briefings and updates, is still vague to say the least.

So, I think to myself, start looking for a new job? But as seasoned readers may know, one of the reasons I moved down to London is that at 24 my CV was already as long as my arm due to two redundancies and a plethora of temping roles. I chose this job for stability, for development. Now however, as I survey my office still dazed and confused, it looks like I may have neither.

~*~*~*~*~*~

On Saturday I was invited by J to go to his cousin's birthday lunch and meet a few of the family. (Parents as yet still thankfully MIA)

Well 'a few' would be an understatement as I'd say there were about 30 family and friends there. Not easily intimidated however I slowly got chatting and came away more than a few hours later slightly merry from the wine and also rather happy. Apparently they all told him I was lovely, and, cuddled up in bed at the end of the day, I told him I thought they were all lovely too. Last night he texted me to say he thought I was 'gorgeous, funny, caring and feisty'. I think I may have found myself a gem.

So.

His name is J and he's my boyfriend. And last night he called me his girlfriend. And it was weird, but in a good way. When did that happen? One day he was reading the Evening Standard in a wine bar in the City, and I just walked into his life. And now here I am. And now here we are.

And it's completely unlike anything I've ever had before. For starters, the old adage "he's not my type". No, but as my mum so wisely put it: Stella all of your type so far have hurt you or left you or cheated on you. She's right, of course - mothers always are. So no, he's not my type. Yet I think he's lovely and funny and kind. Which tells me perhaps I need to think long and hard about 'my type' going forward.

So I don't really know what I'm trying to say here apart from sometimes you just have to open your heart and life to whatever comes along? And on that note, I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us.

It would appear that the 'logistical problems' simply meant ordering too late...

But I have just had delivered to my office a stunning bouquet of 12 red roses - so I think he can be forgiven!

I have a HUGE smile on my face right now

Oh and I am really looking forward to the tube journey home as it means for once I can be one of the lucky girls with a coquettish yet smug grin on my face!

I have just had an email from the chap who took me out for dinner last weekend:

I haven't forgotten it's Valentine's Day but due to logistical problems your surprise might not arrive until tomorrow.

Ooh! A surprise! How intriguing...

...from my globe-trotting, and as soon as I get over the jetlag I thought I'd post a few lessons that were learnt along the way, as this solo traveller took on the world...