Welcome! OR am I an old chevy or what?

So we Gen X gals finished school (on Macs, as Mandy rightly pointed out) and turned our backs on our parents suburban dream. We were the first generation of women to know unequivocally that we could have it all. We weren't pigeon-holed into the former triumvirate of nursing, teaching or housewifery. We were told we could be doctors, lawyers, save the world, run the world, at the very least see the world. Marriage, children, all that could come later. Plenty of time to settle down. Throttle life while you can! There was never a doubt in our pretty heads that we were headed to university. And off we dutifully went...

We packed adventure in our suitcase but not all our suitcases got past check-in. In the taxi to the airport, some of us met lovely boys who adored us. Damn it! At the time of course it's nice, gratifying, whatever. But we'd only just begun! We were meant to save or run or see the world! The guilt that this adoration inspired meant that we moved in together, studied together and tried to make our way. Whilst it was one sort of adventure, it wasn't the one on the brochure. It felt cloyingly comfortable but comfort seemed like a thing to fight. And we did fight it, internally, for a lot of years. Until something magical happened...

30's! What is it about a woman hitting her 30's? Suddenly she looks in the mirror and she doesn't mind what she sees. She's happy with herself and her choices. She feels powerful and in control. But there is a lurking evil, about halfway down the track...

A male friend recently delivered this pearl of wisdom to me - "it's in a man's nature to want the latest model. And if he does hang on to his classic, he only uses it on weekends. You can guarantee he's driving a nippier model during the week."

OMG and WTF??

Okay, thing is he's pretty on the ball. In my own little tale, I hit my mid 30's and just as I was getting comfy, thinking about babies and house extensions, happy in every direction, I was completely blindsided by my husband. He on the other hand, now earning a decent wage after I had emptied my personal coffers to feed, clothe and shelter him, had decided that he wanted to be free of the tyranny of marriage and mortgages. He wanted adventure, he wanted to feel the wind in his hair. So where did this lead him? Of course I respected his yearning. Yes he left, and yes he bought a motorbike. But 18 months on he was married to a 26 year old suburban 'supermodel' and expecting his first child. Oh. And asking me to financially guarantee their mortgage. Nice touch.

So lets strike a path to the true heart of this blog - what the hell went wrong? Have we women been sold a lie? And what the hell has happened to those boys we shared classes with? Have you taken a good hard look at them?? Okay, there is still something really rather adorable about them but seriously, how are we meant to get to the finishing line with them in the lane next to us? And are we now in the slow lane? Are their eyes firmly fixed on the fast lane?? None of this comes to light until you find yourself "dating" in your late 30's. It should be great, cool, we're all grown ups right?? But why are my parents still together after 40 years and telling me I just need to meet a nice normal guy? And WHERE?????

Mandy and I plan to bring you a daily dose of our experiences as sexy, single, collagen-depleted Gen X women. Some of it ain't pretty but it's always entertaining. So let's begin...