Back on the dating market

I've barely been back on the dating scene long enough to change my Facebook status to single and already I've been stood up, hit on by a politician and lined up a coffee date with an old flame.

It seems I am being re-initiated into the world of dating - a veritable baptism by dating fire.

After eighteen months out of the game, I must say that I'm curious to find out what it's like out there.

Has it changed much since I took myself off the market?

My first night out on the town as a single gal I teamed up with an old pal of mine and her long-term boyfriend so meeting men was the last thing I expected but that's exactly what happened.

Boys boys boys left right and centre.

And they say there's a man drought in Sydney.

When one asked me out to dinner at the end of the night, I was not terribly interested but I gave him my number anyway.

You have to start somewhere, right?

The following day he messaged to say what a pleasure it had been to meet and asked if I was I up for a drink later in the week. I replied that he should call in a couple of days when I had recovered from the night prior.

I was a little surprised to receive a text message that Thursday - at 2pm no less - asking if I wanted to take a walk with him that weekend.

Does no one call these days? I felt the walk was a little ambitious and suggested brunch instead. Through a volley of text messages we made plans so you can imagine my reaction to the 3am cancellation text that arrived that Friday.

"Not feeling 100%" it read.

When I dragged my hung-over self from bed the following morning it wasn't until I was half dressed for brunch that I remembered brunch was no longer.

Who cancels dates via pre-dawn SMS?

Is this a new dating trend?

The night before I had been at one of Sydney's most popular watering holes with a fiery-headed friend. We ran into an old buddy of hers, a politician visiting from interstate.

"What do you do?" he asked.

My response invoked a short monologue about his relationship history concluded with an invitation to join him for dinner.

I politely declined since he was old enough to be my father.

As for that coffee date, well remember I mentioned changing my social networking status? With that comes re-friending of old crushes. And with that comes catch ups.

It has been nearly two years, after all.

My point is that despite being a so-called dating "expert", I am far from immune to the pitfalls and perils of single life. But at this rate, am I going to be single for long? I'd like to hear about your experiences out there.

Drop me an email at twys@y7mail.com to fill me in.