O.K. Well I don't feel this question really belongs in this thread. But maybe it's just my inflated pride protesting at being classed as a newbie.

My posts are long, but my writing is good. So read if you have the time.

I guess what I'm after is a "What shall I do next?" and, if possible some suggestions as to what I could have done differently in the various situations described here. My immediate situation is what matters most to me. But a general improvement of my game wouldn't go amiss.

Here's the crack:

After defeating my one-itis by interacting with many different beautiful women on holiday(*Read micro field reports below) I met Rox, who'd camped up next to some people I knew from back in London. She was an incredible HB9.5, born in South-Africa and with Polish ancestory. We met informally when my friend and I triumphantly burst into their campsite, all smiles because we'd found our friends. After general greeting and brief introductions, I noticed her noticing me and she quickly offered me a seat next to her. As we all discussed our adventures so far and my friend and I smoked a spliff, listening to the girly banter, Rox would repeatedly brush her arm against my leg as she reached for her drink, which was placed infront of me. IOI.

When I spoke out for a change in music or when I talked about the tensions that develop between two people travelling together she would agree with my song request and make sure it was played (IOI or just similar tastes?) or continue the conversation with me one-to-one. I got the impression that she both needed someone new to speak to and thought I was worth the effort. I was comforted by this if not slightly intimidated. Maybe I had been the subject of gossip? Maybe I reminded her of someone else... Who cares, I was getting IOIs.

When it came to discussing who we were going to see that night in terms of bands/DJs, Rox and her friend wanted to see different things but were afraid of losing eachother. I happened to want to see the same thing as Rox and stated so. Rox said "Alright, that's sorted. I'll go with Mega (I don't really use an alias) and you can go with Georgia and Julia and we'll meet up afterwards." - Sweet! Rox and I worked together on a hunt for good pills/disco biscuits/extacy, dealing with the dodgy spanish gypsies, many of whom scam the shit out of stupid, rich festival-goers.

We made conversation as we walked, and as the crowd thickened our hands would meet more frequently, even if it wasn't neccessary in staying together. I couldn't help giving her hand a squeeze once, I did like her. After the rave we went to get some water, again together, met our friends and sat down. I had a chance to talk to the other girls and gathered the Facebook and email addresses of the four girls in the group I'd only just met that night, including Rox.

Soon after, my friend lost his wallet and we lost the girls. But I was fucked and didn't care as I climbed a tree and raved to house music in the swaying top branches. It would make a good, entertaining story later on. The next time I saw Rox I was lying on the floor in middle of the girls' camp and she was standing over me wearing nothing but a t-shirt and a two-peice bathing suite. HB9.5 all over. My god. She had just realised it was me and said "Oh! Hello Mega. Good morning good sir." in a mock posh accent. Then she got out a blanket, said I should get on it and layed down next to me. It gets too fucking hot to sleep in tents during the day in Spain, it wasn't an IOI, but it showed we were comfortable together. Soon we were sitting up and I was making her laugh with my crazy misadventures from the night of the tree.

We didn't go out all together again until the last day where me and the girls went out to dinner. My friend didn't come because he was sorting out money through SPAM and since I'd lent him the last of my money on the day he lost his wallet, I was penniless. Upon hearing this, Rox offered to pay for my meal. Shame . I promised to pay her back. Meanwhile in the days preceeding I was getting IOIs from three of the others girls in the group. On the night I stayed at their camp, one girl I knew from London asked me if was coming back to her tent. I said, "No I'll probably just sleep outside,". I couldn't tell what she meant by that anyway. But while she's a lovely girl and quite pretty, probably a very high 7, I think my friend liked her and I think she liked him too so I felt wrong. She was SO easy to speak to, at least while drunk, that I felt I could have tried anything with no awkwardness. Unfortunately I didn't see any deeper intellectual connection. Intellectual/philosophical discussion is the #1 thing I look for (#2 being kindness/gentleness, #3 being sense of humor and #4 being looks) and felt I might have it with Rox. She scored high on all 4 areas.

On the last day Rox and I had a few moments alone to talk. It was comfortable. But I'd reached my sticking point. Flirting. I find it so difficult to play cocky funny and then develop an emotional connection. I think getting all emotional and deep before you share some jokes and other similar meaningful interaction is boring as hell. As we talked about work/jobs she somehow shifted the conversation and ended a sentance with "So I'm single now,". I froze at this point and made good by acting distracted by something happening up the road. Later on we were around a massive camp-fire on the beach after a quick night-time swim. Rox and I were sitting close together, half naked, wet and warm. I was lost for words. The mood was perfect but I couldn't think of anything to ask her. This is a problem that's plagued me since I can remember. I started a conversation we'd left hanging from another night and we bonded talking about music and our creative career aspirations. We were leaning in quite close. I felt as though if we had been talking about something more intimate, now would be a good time to kiss. But we weren't. So we didn't.

We left and I walked and talked awkwardly with Rox's friend (an amazingly well-spoken, sophisticated HB10 with the perfect arse, i mean it, perfect) who had a broken toe and no shoes. I was just being dutiful, sticking with the indured party. But she was too drunk and in pain to engage in the conversation whole-heartedly. Nice girl, intelligent, but slightly detatched and not a great conversationalist. Not right for me. When it came to part ways I betrayed my dissappointment by saying, "Well I guess I've got to stick to my camp tonight. It's too cold to sleep outside really. I might not see you guys before you leave in the morning,".

Rox replied by saying "We'll see eachother again. When we get hoooome!" Rox lives not very far from me in Kingston, Surrey. She turned and added as she walked away, "Plus, we've got eachother's addys! Bye!"

The sweet Australian girl (a solid HB7) who was part of the group said enthusiastically, "Will you come up and say goodbye in the morning?" I said maybe, but didn't. As much as I loved the two Aussies, I didn't want to see Rox again after that most definate goodbye. I've learned before that things like that make you look needy.

Anyway, now I'm home. I made sure one of the last things I did after settling in was add Rox to Facebook. As soon as I did, though. She commented me. This is our correspondance so far. Now we're into the realms of internet dating:
I really have no idea where to take this next. Or when we do meet again (if we don't make plans ourselves there's a reunion planned some time) how to take it to the next level. Or, if I get that far, how to keep it there. I've just realised I don't know how to have a proper relationship with a girl. This is my sticking point. Save me, oh gurus of pick-up.

Mega, 21
London

P.S. When I offered to give Rox the money for the meal, she naturally refused then added, "You can get me something, a supprise,". I feel obligated, but can't think of anything to get her. A kiss on the beach would have been good.

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*Gained admiration and respect from two sisters as we had a great time getting to know eachother at our campsite. Forced into a social situation by camping next to eachother, I didn't need an opener, and I showed my worth in my friendship with my travel companion, my improvised cooking skills, my social conscience and my sense of fun and adventure as we got extremely stoned and drunk and had a hillarious journey down to the beach at night, where we made a coffee table + chairs in the sand and chatted all night, even hijacking a crowd of passers-by to join us.

Found a shopping trolly (cart/kart in American?) the following night as the masses of campers left for a night out and exclaimed "does anyone want a ride?" To my delight a HB8 enthusiastically said yes and jumped in. I showed my worth by trolly surfing down hills with her and reliably keeping her out of harms way against the odds. After at least a mile of this and general chat, we knew eachother pretty well. Unfortunately I was pulled away to play pool with my mate while she left with her friends somewhere else. We hugged and mutually hoped to see eachother again, but never did.

While playing pool a number-close seemed to fall into my lap as I spoke limited spanish with a HB9 who suggested we do an exchange one day. She happened to be a police-man's girlfriend. I was absolutely munted/buzzing/high on disco biscuits at the time. How ironic.

The following night I got talking to 6+ girls in one night, different sets. I have no idea how. But I know I used the fact a sickly-sweet smelling carton of juice had exploded in my bag to ask "What do you think of this smell, good or bad?" as an opener then gradually won them over with my wit, conversation and the odd absent-minded physical contact (could tell because the girls who were at first slightly moody and cold were soon smiling and contributing to the conversation). Due to the skatty, unpredictable nature of the festival and my lack of refined game, we somehow became seperated from these groups and never saw them again (bear in mind I had not read The Game at this point and had no knowledge of techniques, or the Mystery Method).

Other encounters with the younger of the two sisters, some girls I knew from back in London and one incredible HB9.5 (Rox) meant we were one-to-one working our way through the crowds of ravers and talking very close into eachothers ears. I found that our hands would meet repeatedly and contact felt natural and intimate. I took these as IOIs.