JANA HOCKING’S words of wisdom for newly-single Carrie Bickmore after TV star announced shock split

Dear Carrie,

First off, let me congratulate you on your breakout glow. Those photos of you in Byron wearing a yellow bathing suit are amazing! You’ve never looked so good. I have no doubt that the dudes will be swiping on your Insta DM soon.

Of course, I don’t know if you’re crying the old-fashioned way while watching The Notebook with a big glass of chardonnay. Or if you’re cartwheeling around the house and smiling in the mirror at the thought of your new future. Or… somewhere in between.

What I do want to say is that whether you are at the beginning or the end of the seven stages of a breakup: shock, denial, anger, bargaining, sadness, acceptance and then that wonderful feeling of hope… welcome to the fold! !

Us singles are a rowdy bunch, but gosh, we had a little fun.

“Once you accept the idea of ​​being single, you’re in for a ridiculously good time,” says Jana.

Honestly, I’m quietly happy for you. You’ve got your freedom back and sure, it might suck right now, but once you accept the idea of ​​being single, you’re in for a ridiculously good time.

You see, no more fighting over the TV remote, scolding them to put dirty socks in the laundry basket, listening to them snore with their hairy noses late at night. No, you have the whole bed to yourself and free rein to Netflix. Another Bridgerton episode? I think so!

But I’m going to be honest with you, the dating landscape has changed a lot since you were last single. In fact, you’re in for a bit of a shock. First, there are the dating apps, which you’ll probably find a bit daunting at first. I suggest Raya for a stylish celebrity like you.

Carrie wearing a yellow swimsuit in Byron Bay, a couple of weeks before announcing her breakup with Chris Walker

Carrie and her Chris in happier times. In her breakup post, Carrie wrote: “It is with immense sadness that Chris and I have decided to separate. While this is a difficult time, our focus is raising, loving and supporting our three children Ollie, Evie and Addie with all what we have.

Also, the rules seem to have changed quite a bit. We no longer pick up the phone to ask someone out on a date, oh no. Texting is always preferable, and you can do so via WhatsApp, Instagram, or your standard text messaging service. Plus, there’s none of this ridiculous ‘let’s eat’ thing on a first date. Stick to one drink in case you need to make a quick exit.

Come to think of it, there’s a ton of new dating lingo that will have you scratching your head, so I’ve put together a cheat sheet of five key things you’re going to discover:

Let’s start with…

ENM = Ethically Non-Monogamous: Oh yeah, all the cool guys put ENM on their dating profiles these days. You see, people don’t date just one person at a time anymore. Oh no, expect to be put on a rotating list, and you know what, why not do it yourself? Get yourself a couple of guys to hang out with. Try on a few hats and see which one suits you best. Date outside of your normal preference. Maybe give a tradie a try.

Or if you really want to explore…

Experimentation: Why not row in the ladies’ pond for a bit? Experimentation is so hot right now. There is no stigma against bisexuals anymore, well at least not in my friendship group. Sure, back in the day there was pressure to stay in your lane, gay or straight, but these days many people are dabbling on both sides of the gender scale. Why not go have a cocktail with that girl you always thought she was kind of cute?

Jana at Babylon premiere in Sydney: “Us singles are a rowdy bunch but omg we’re gonna have some fun”

situations: These days you are more likely to find yourself in a situation rather than a relationship. Sounds confusing, right? Well, that’s because it is. It is defined as less than a relationship, but more than a chance encounter or booty call. Basically, we’ve all grown a little uneasy at the thought of being in a full-fledged relationship. Yes, the commitment is outside, more or less it is inside.

You’ll probably find yourself trying to explain it to your friends and it’ll be something like ‘well, we’re seeing each other, but it’s not official’. (Even though they’ve been seeing each other for months…possibly a year.)

Secondary relations: At some point you will start to wonder what happened to your first love. Or that guy you were seeing before your last relationship really started. Anyone who has ever made your heart or gut go a little crazy is known as a backburner. Someone you want to visit again. A ghost of past boyfriends, let’s say.

You are most likely reflecting on what happened to an ex-lover who was good in bed and debating whether you should get back in touch. Spoiler alert: you will, and you’ll be desperate to see if that flame is still there.

I don’t mind the idea of ​​a backwards relationship, but don’t be surprised if nothing has changed and you quickly remember why you broke up (or stopped sleeping together) in the first place.

brown flags: These you want to avoid at all costs. Sure, you’ve heard the red flags you want to avoid in relationships, but the brown flags are the definition of torture. It’s matching a guy on a dating app and he does the bare minimum to woo you. You ask him how his day was, he replies ‘fine’. He asks what his plans are for the weekend and he tells you ‘just hanging out’. Now you’re waiting for me to ask you a question… but you have crickets.

Carrie pictured with colleagues and friends at The Project just a couple of months before announcing her split from partner Chris Walker.

There are thousands of other dating terms and words of caution that I could give you, but some you will have to experience for yourself. That is the joy of dating. You never know what to expect next. If it is good, you can happily enjoy those butterflies. If it’s bad, it makes for a great story at your next dinner party.

So when you’re ready, head over to Westfield, buy yourself some fun party dresses, treat yourself to a spray tan, maybe get a nice manicure, and hit the streets. There is a LOT of fun to be had.