Don't think of yourself as a "lovesick puppy." That's pathetic. Think of yourself as Sydney Carton.

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… there does seem to be something about being seen out with a girlfriend that makes other single women suddenly much more interested in talking to one. It's either "oh thank God someone's taken the sad twat on, it's safe to talk to him now", or it's "actually I always thought he was probably gay, but maybe I was wrong".

True, but it's also a confidence thing. Women can smell a molecule of desperation a mile off. However, if you're happily attached and happen to be out without the missus, you can be witty and talkative, without having an ulterior motive. You can flirt effortlessly. You have an attractive disinterest about you, are relaxed and have an assured demeanour; it makes you fucking irresistible.

Heh, I don't think I'm a lovesick puppy around her and while I'm sure she realises that I'm pretty keen on her, I don't think she realises the extent of it.

I certainly keep out of the way most of the time when he's around (which isn't tricky really, he's only there one weekend a month) so I don't think its a problem for her.

While I take the point about it being for the best to get away from her, it's pretty difficult as quite apart from the whole being crazy about her, we've known each other for years, she's my best friend, and my next closest friend is her best mate. I'd be very reluctant to see her out of my life even if the alternative is never having sex again.

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You have an attractive disinterest about you, are relaxed and have an assured demeanour; it makes you fucking irresistible.

Well, thanks, Stumps, but, you know... <blushes>

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I'd be very reluctant to see her out of my life even if the alternative is never having sex again.

I know the feeling, but at least some time away seems to be the only cure.

Well... er.... I don't know then. Sorry.

My separation is reaching new depths. Enjoyable new depths though. I have just bought a traditional narrowboat and will be living on the Oxford canal for the foreseeable future.

SWEET!!!! Can it go anywhere, or does it just have to sit in the canal?

Cooooool.

Wish we had canals round here - the best we can manage is a couple of ponds and a rather feeble tributary of the Thames (the River Wandle).

Very, very nice! I've always thought if I ever moved back to the UK I'd live on the canals. (How's your internet going to work though?)

Nice one Chippy that looks aces fun.

Eh, no doubt he's gay.

Let's go with that, yeah.

It's very mood-dependent, that stuff. When I'm cheery and among beautiful women, I find myself saying "Look at all these beautiful women, isn't it great?" (Not out loud, obviously--not after the last time.) When I'm down and a.b.w., I find myself saying "Look at all these beautiful women; how unattainable they all are and how ugly I am by contrast."

Man that barge looks so good, chippy. Be to sure to come up and visit us in the canal-congested West Midlands. The other day I was doing a walk around a Black Country canal. You get a whole new perspective of a region by walking its canals.

However, if you're happily attached and happen to be out without the missus, you can be witty and talkative, without having an ulterior motive. You can flirt effortlessly. You have an attractive disinterest about you, are relaxed and have an assured demeanour; it makes you fucking irresistible.

Spot on. This describes me to a tee. Now however, I find myself suddenly unattached. Do I ring up these same women who were flirting with me so shamelessly a few weeks ago and say, hey I'm single - how about it? Something tells me their reaction will be markedly different than before.