Yep, I wish there was a code. Little coloured lapel badges or something. It would save an awful lot of guesswork, deduction and emotionally draining cul-de-sacs, wouldn't it? Everybody has to guess everybody else's aims and rules of engagement, or find out the hard way... gah!!

It's hard to take the dating ads/online approach though. You never know if it's got that zing till you meet somebody face to face, however well you might get on by email. Not that I've tried, actually. But I've met quite a few people in real life after meeting them online and you just never know how the two will differ.

x Helen: 37, single-and-looking, as it happens... ;-)