Well, what happened? She got back in touch, we exchanged intense texts through the Saturday morning. End result - I go dating, we stay close friends, the kind of friends who go places on their own together, sit with arms around each other on a sofa watching a film - that sort of thing. Oh yeah, you're thinking, the kind of friends where one person really wants to be something more....

She came over a few nights later, after work. We did sit with her in my arms watching telly and eating supper. We hugged a bit, kept hold of each other's hands. She left after a couple of hours and I went to bed. Next day I texted her warmly, she replied lukewarmly. Later that morning, I got a catch-up text from that woman I met months ago, the one who works in a sex shop. And decided to try and fix up something with her.

And then I finally got round to putting myself on the dating website. And in less than 48 hours, had half a dozen women "favouriting" me, and a way upfront email from a woman who thought I was hot. Fuck me. She's pretty too. What a surprise. Those photos are obviously more flattering than I thought. Is she in for a shock. Still, very exciting.

A few emails later, we're talking about meeting up. A daytime date, non-alcoholic, no pressure, just to see if it's worth going on a night time date, awash with booze and thinly veiled lust.

I chatted to my ex-lover in work today. Got frustrated over some work stuff and wandered off. I amaze myself - how easily I'm distracted. How deeply shallow. A few flirty emails and I'm over the glum fixation on last year's romance. Maybe that's a good thing - but it doesn't exactly cry out strength or depth of character. In mine - and everyone's - interests, I shall take to the waters of dating slowly, stay in the shallow end for a good while.