I have a little problem. A few of the dates have been following the blog. Two mentioned the one-track-mind-American – so embarrassing. Unfortunately I don’t seem to have learnt my lesson. My most fun first date definitely did not look like it could lead to a relationship. We both revealed far too much. Our exchanges weren’t dark secrets about past depression or how many kids we want in the next two years; they were the kind of things you share with your mates. Him: his last two lovers were married women; his flatmate asked for a couple of condoms and then asked why he used Mates and not Durex – apparently it’s because Durex aren’t big enough. Yes he told me. Me: a gun-in-the-bedroom story; I once worked at Stringfellows… Enough already.

I sent a packet of JLS Love Sex Durex condoms (I plumped for Oritsé) to his workplace. Childish, I know, but a joke which my JLS-loving-friend and I found most amusing. ‘Thank you for my condoms; extra safe and with extra lube too – just what I needed,’ he emailed.

When it comes to relationships, it really is all about timing. I used to romantically think that if you’re meant to be with someone, it would happen, but it does seem to be that the more time you spend with someone, the more you’re likely to like him/her. No wonder the online dating newbies are so popular. At our belated Christmas work dinner at Brasa, one of the team revealed he’d tried an online dating site around five years ago, ‘I think I was the only one on it,’ he smiled.

I went to a friend’s sale of her Pitusa clothing – a very cool, super soft range made from alpaca wool, pima cotton and recycled bottle fabric – in Kensington. A few days later I had dinner with Monique. ‘Was it really hot here during the sale?’ She asked, as a few friends had commented on it being so warm.

I didn’t think so. ‘I suppose heat rises, though’.
‘I don’t think anyone is underneath me, though’, she said, referring to her neighbours.
‘I haven’t had anyone underneath me for a long time,’ I quipped.
‘You can put that in your blog,’ Monique said.