Back to work with sweaty ballerinas, September 1988

Actually, that doesn't sound so bad, does it? The only downside was having to invent all that music I mentioned in an earlier post.

I got back to Koblenz to find, mercifully, my flat in one piece. Things instantly got even better when I found out that L had come over with Chris's girlfriend for the beginning of the season and was keen to take up where we'd left off. So take up we did until we could take no more and she had to go back to the UK. A few days later I was sitting in the canteen and one of the ballerinas, CB, came and sat opposite me. We'd known each other for a year but had never really spoken that much. In any case, I wasn't on the conscious look-out for a relationship at work, so this chat was purely social and pleasant. Or so I thought at the time.

CB and I chatted for ages until they decided to close the canteen, so we left, talking, and I walked her home, where she lived with her boyfriend, who worked at the theatre. Turning round, I went home and thought no more of it.

CB started to seek out my company and it was clear that there were problems within her relationship. Nothing dramatic, just the usual stuff that people in their mid-20's have to deal with when they find their feelings changing. In the end, a friend and I helped CB move into her new flat, we stayed for a beer and went home. CB said she'd probably be coming into the centre for a drink and might ring my doorbell. Fine, no problem. She was gorgeous, but I never thought she could be interested in me.

Around midnight, my bell rang. I let CB in. She came up the stairs and told me she was terribly tired. I went to pull the sofa bed out in the sitting room and came back to ask if she'd like a drink before turning in. This was when everything changed. She was already lying naked in my bed and wondered how long I was going to be before I joined her. My head was literally spinning; I'd never been with anyone so beautiful. All the Koblenz ballerinas were incredibly feminine with fabulous bumps and curves; the ballet master liked his women to be sensual and he'd certainly done me an incredible service. We slept for maybe two hours, but I, for one, wouldn't have minded if I hadn't closed an eye the whole night. This was the start of an amazing, life-changing month with CB. No, it didn't end well; how could it?