End of the week preparations

First, start with an afternoon in the hairdressers/beauty salon sipping champagne or a nice cup of Earl Grey and getting pampered. I don't tend to have treatments like manicures or eyebrow shaping or get 'up-dos' for the weekend because I never have time but I'd like to!

I don't know about you girls but I need AGES to get ready and even then I'm always late. So in an ideal world I'd get a leisurely bath (with a freezing cold glass of Pinot Grigio) at about 6.30 so that I'm getting dressed and made up by 7ish.

I always have the iPod on when I get ready playing a really eclectic mix of up-beat music. I've got one playlist called 'Gem's Dance' which includes Girls Aloud, Duran Duran, Eric Prydz and The Who...now that's eclectic!

I don't like to go out too early as sadly I can't hold my drink like I could when I was a student! So about 9.30/10ish is good for me. One of my real bugbears with most British nightlife is that the kind of stuff I like to do (music recitals, exhibitions, performances) all finish really early.

In Italy you could be at an outdoor piano concert at midnight and no-one would think anything of it! This implies that 'geeks' like me do not require entertainment after 10.30 but that's just when I'm getting going!

So at 9.30pm I'd start with a bit of comedy maybe (nothing too raucous or blue you understand...) or some burlesque or cabaret, then a bit of live music starting with a jazz club probably and then going somewhere that plays really good soul, live or DJ'd, that I can dance to until the wee small hours (dancing is one of my absolute favourite pastimes!).

One of my preferred venues for late night socialising is 3345 on Parr Street because the DJs play such great soul and funk but I must admit my ears can't hack the volume anymore! And the absolute holy grail of my stylish night out? You should be able to get a decent cup of coffee and sit somewhere relatively quiet for a conversation at 2am!

I'd like to think that with my Geek Chic nights I've amalgamated most of the above. We always have live music and a variety of really talented performers from comedians to burlesque artistes and we end with either a DJ or a band so you can finish off with a really good boogie.

We do themed events and the acts and atmosphere always encourage conversation and socialising. I think we're the only club night that a single woman would be happy to attend alone. So do check out the website, drop us a line, we'll put you on the mailing list and we'll keep you up to date with all of the lovely, stylish nights we've got planned.

Thanks for having me girls and keep on behaving stylishly!

Gem
xxx