Online dating? Me? Never ..

Last wednesday, it was my day off and l accidently found myself on the abctales romance site. It links up to others, apparently. Ce la vie. Had a quick peek, and signed up. For the sum of seven pounds fifty, l had a week to find a new friend. Better get crackin'.

I wrote a few words about my job and that l liked music, but no photo. l wanted to be the picker. No one would reply to a 57 year old faceless woman. Oh boy. Was l wrong.

I had a wink ..

Eh?

Right. Let's see. Feeling hopeful here. Ah. Ron, 59. Bit sweaty lookin'.

'Hi ladies'.

Oh. So it was for the lot of us. I felt a bit miffed ..

'I am hard of hearing'.

Fair enough.

'Partially sighted'.

Right.

'And overweight, but my wheelchair is easy to push around, if you are a curvy, busty, young thing between 25/30'.

Delete

4 in my inbox.

'Hi babes,I am looking four.maridge. lonly.got 3kids ..

Delete

'Jon is my name lurv is my game'.

Delete

'lf you know whats good for you ..'

Delete

'Yo me name ees Wes.innit bro nit chngin faw nbdy, yi git me'

Gawd. Deeeelete

I had requested 45-60 years with photo, and was astounded at how many blokes had their head chopped off. Were at weddings. In kilts. In vests to show off muscles. Lying over a leather sofa, open-crotch like! Yuck.

I flicked through the Lothian men available, and saw a picture of an Andy from the Highlands. 52 years old. He was a bit scruffy, casual, arms folded with a nice face. This is a little of what he profiled.

' l am a separated, father of two who needs to have a bit of fun in my life. I own my own company, as a consultant in the oil and gas industry, so travel around the world a bit' .. etc etc

Blimey. Punchin' above my weight, but here goes nothin'.

I sent a tiny, faceless message saying l was a novice, and if he would get in touch for a wee chat. Nae chance.

I got a lovely, friendly, message from a modest sounding, articulate Highland Andy. I responded, he replied. It wasn't as weird as l thought. I, was officially an online dater.

After exchanging a few messages through the site, he offered me his email address, then telephone number and he rang me on Friday evening after my work.

It's kind of progressed into hours on the phone, lots of hearty laughter, and l better sign off, because l'm meeting him in a cafe at 11am. He is driving down to Edinburgh from Inverness.

Extraordinary, don't you think?

Let you know how we get on ..