no baggage (ip)

I thought this was an excellent counterpoint to Niki 72's lengthy exploration of the same subject. I know a couple of people just like the narrator, and sometimes - after too many bottles of Krug (that they pay for)- they let the mask slip. Sometimes I feel like their window into normality/mortality. An exceptionally good piece of writing, again, even without the picture.

Incidentally, this IP was so good, a special edition of the Magazine with the inspiring Photos might be a nice thing. Trouble is, even with flickr, people can get a bit antsy about copyright, although most people are satisfied with an attribution.

oh gosh - did she choose the same picture? I've been a little preoccupied and haven't read as much as I normally do. I'll have a look.

Thank you Ewan - I normally write about myself, which is totally not like I imagined the woman in the photo - so it was a new thing for me. I do know a few people like this too, or at least I did when I was that age, and i really didn't want to sound patronising, or disapproving which i found quite hard.

I am really glad you liked it - thank you! : )

No, I meant Niki's novel about attempting to conceive, or to find someone to help do it.

yes the IP was a brilliant idea! But imagine if you'd taken a lovely photo of someone and then I came along and trashed them : )

oh niki's novel - yes, I have been meaning to read that too. Will do now

That photo looks like a candid shot for me. I found the woman particularly attractive, (sometimes I worry myself!)

...well - she's looking for someone - maybe it's you? no baggage? GSOH? all the other stuff they say in the ads? : )If I were a bloke I think I would say she was trying too hard - the hair would put me off

She looks so, sad/pensive/something. It's the very thing that comes out in your piece; that she's not quite perfect, or indeed, far from it.

Maybe she's waiting for Godot?

yes she does look sad doesn't she, and if she's waiting for godot, maybe two will come along at once

Hahaha! She'll never be able to choose between Vladimir and Estragon, but she really ought to know that Godot won't turn up!

Superb write; absolutely in a different class; story of the week for me - by a mile. Totally totally hooked from the start! One of the best pieces I've read on here....could go on and on but you get the message.
I'll be back to this more than once. Really well done!

Chris XX

Oh...and the picture was both relevant and superfluous ..if that makes sense ;)

thank you SO much Chris! the picture was lovely - (as well as the brilliant IP) - it was kind of ambiguous, if you know what i mean.

it was really fun seeing if i could write about someone other than myself for once, and i got inspiration from all sorts of bizarre places.

Did you know, there is a forum devoted to designer handbags, and there are sections for each make, where people take photos of their collections - the same style bag in ten different colours for instance, all arranged in order of size, and then also they take photos of themselves wearing each bag, and people gush about how stunning they look. It is also full of pictures of dressing rooms like the one I described. I didn't go there for this piece - I just remember it from looking up a bag once ages ago. People are odd aren't they?

anyway - I am really pleased you liked it : ) xx

There's nowt queer as folk lol. Try looking up the poodle club; my wife did...we bought a Labrador ;)

oh god yes - poodles. You should have seen what some of them were wearing in nyc. there was a dog on tv in a tuxedo. it belonged to a man who was doing a reality show about him looking for the perfect wife, and he was going to get his dog to vet the contestants

The PERFECT voice and counterpart to an excellent photo. Superb. Margot

thank you Margot!

You gotta love the Americans lol

oh yes - she could be anything couldn't she - even a brief encounter type thing - she's just said goodbye to the doctor and is waiting for her husband to pick her up - it's a fascinating picture

Fortyish. Halfway to somewhere. I see sadness too. Of course she might have just signed a publishing contract and now she's waiting for her happy well-adjusted newly pregnant daughter and her successful loving husband who will take them all somewhere nice to celebrate. I'm in a generous mood this morning.

had your first martini eh? shaken not stirred? : )

Tetley's English Breakfast....ssssh.

I like Tetley's bitter...;/

oh chuck!!! don't ruin your image

Which one?

all of them

Now this is what I call a good read! I really enjoyed it. Interestingly, that is exactly what I always thought was going on in a successful woman's head ;-p

I must say that this story really shows your skill in writing. The woman seems extremely confident (by that I mean cocky...) and at the same time it's obvious how insecure she really is. Great stuff!

'Well done' is nowhere near good enough praise for this ;-)

More please!

Nathan.

oooh it was your idea wasn't it? Thank you - it was a brilliant one.

It is also what I imagine goes on in a successful woman's head. The only thing we have in common is a couple of mulberry handbags. I am happily unsuccessful and hope to stay that way : )

I'm really pleased you enjoyed it, and thank you again for such a great idea!

A very interesting and well written take on the photo IP atb lena

thanks Lena : )

I really enjoyed this, incert. As those wise people above me have already said, the best of it is found in the contradictions that the narrator sets out for happiness. Beautifully done and completely compelling.
Thank you.

Thank you for reading, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks for the cherry!

Really enjoyed this. Great writing.

thank you morgan-g. I really enjoyed doing it, glad you liked reading it

Great writing insert. It'll probably take me a few days to catch up with all everything, but this was a fantastic start.
sarah x

thank you sarah! did you try the photo ip yet? it is seriously brilliant. have a go!