I've always come in for a fair amount of stick from friends when it comes to previous girlfriends. I've tended to date girls a fair bit younger than me and last night hammered home the point as to why....

We met in a bar after work 5 minutes walk from my flat as she works locally. She was very bubbly from the moment we started talking and although it was clear we weren't there to solve issues on the global economic crisis,  it was refreshing to chat to someone whom it clearly didn't have any impact on in these depressing times. She had graduated the previous year and was now in the fashion industry which she clearly had a massive passion for. She still lived with her mum, which obviously made me feel even older as I haven't been residing with either parent for almost 17 years now....

My wide knowledge of inane celebrity gossip was put to good use and those hours of watching E! channel on Sky were finally paying for themselves. From Zac Efron's alleged date with Megan Fox, to who I've sided with in the Katie and Peter split, I was just on a roll.....

We moved onto a cocktail bar and the chat remained at the same level all night. At one point as we were discussing the film Confessions of A Shopoholic (I haven't seen it but viewed trailors and read sufficient reviews to hold my own on the topic) I couldn't help but wonder what the boys would make of all this......but you know what, it was a lovely, light hearted distraction from reality and I had a great evening.

There were no awkward, pressure questions that I have had before, no probing remarks about if we either had any other dates lined up, just lowbrow, amusing conversation. At the end of the evening I walked her to the train station, gave her a peck on the check and told her to call me when she got to her car at the other end. That was more of a parental act, but there was definately some chemistry there and we will meet again.....after I've purchased next weeks copy of Hello.....