Ever consider dipping the toe into company ink?

Dipping the toe into the company ink? Dirtying on your own doorstep? Whatever analogy you would like to use; dating at work, would you consider it? Have you done it? How did it happen, were there stolen glances across the photocopier? Intense moments shared in the lift? Any regrets or horror stories to share?

I worked in a company where, if two colleagues had the same surname, 8 out of 10 times it was more than just a co-incidence; they were married and had met at work. It was socially acceptable to seriously date in a highly professional environment.

After all why shouldn’t we? We spend more than a third of our day, five days a week at work, which increases the chance of crossing paths with Mr Right.

Yes, I hear you say, but what if it all goes wrong? If we spent the entire time second-guessing the outcome, we wouldn’t be actually living life!

Me on the other hand…well when it comes to men’s interest, they’d have to sky write it before I’d notice and even at that, the chances of me looking up, are slim and nil!

For example, in my previous job, I travelled a lot across Continental Europe with a male colleague who worked in one of our European offices. He was very attractive and we always enjoyed the banter. However, I was far too young and naive to spot the signs – not saying maturity has improved that skill – but subtly wasn’t this man’s strongest point!

When travelling he always took responsibility for the hotel bookings, he always booked small intimate family run hotels where no one ever spoke English and I was reliant on him to translate. Every evening we would end up in the bar alone at night, he always seemed to find a stray eyelash on my face that he felt the need to blow off whilst getting me to test some lethal concoction of alcohol he discovered. Our rooms were always side-by-side and he regularly arrived at my room in nothing but his boxers, 30 minutes after saying goodnight, to ask a question or ask me to ‘squeeze toothpaste on his toothbrush’, literally, no kidding!

In my maturity if that’s not a come-on, what is? In my incidence, I duly obliged…with the toothpaste, that is.

I use to amuse my friends for hours with these stories; yes they found my naivety amusing.

What stopped me? God only knows!