Hi. Yes. I’m back. Sheepishly creeping back onto the dating scene after my previous, miserable false start… perhaps it was a little too much too soon? It was fun, but let’s be realistic. Seven dates in seven nights. What was Sam thinking? More importantly, what was I thinking? A little too ambitious perhaps?

From having gone from no dating to dating overload. And then I was so grossed out by the online dating thing… I just couldn’t get past the superficiality of it all. For some it works, for others it doesn’t. I accept that…

But now that I’m ready to test the waters again, put my heart back out there, I find the women24 love & sex columnist realm a little crowded. So much for a one-women lonely hearts club, my competition far out does me in the love arena, with all things kinky, slippery and wet. Which relegates me to the romance category – schmaltzy hearts and romantic dinners for two… oh dear!

Let’s not for a moment get ourselves confused here. Fran is still looking for a man, but it’s a practical search. A single girl’s guide to finding love and companionship. There may be some wooing, but it is all part of the plan.

So, in order to move forward, I think it may necessary to reassess… look back and try to work out where things previously went wrong.

1. I got busy I work. It is a time-consuming job. I took a lot of fashiony business trips. I took some leave, went on a roadtrip with my sister. I did go on a second date with The Entrepreneur. It was fun, but it took us forever to arrange the date and after that... I don't know, I guess we were both so busy. Basically, real life happened and the romance thing kinda lost priority.

2. I got bored Not by the guys I met (okay, maybe some…), but everything just became so staged and forced. I lost interest in the whole act of pursuing. I’m a practical girl… all that chatting, flirting and sussing each other out became exhausting. Why can’t I just bump into a lovely man on the street, or in the queue at the Pick ‘n Pay, and we just click and get on fabulously and that’s the end of that? Fate wasn’t playing any role in my search and a girl likes a few surprises.

3. I lost momentum Blind dates, speed dating, online dating. Where to from here? All suggestions welcome.

So, now that things have slowed down a little, my social life and work life appear to be reaching a steady balance, and I’m able to get my bearings, let’s give it another go.. I have also finally finished watching season 3 of Grey’s Anatomy, so at least that’s out the way...

The speed dating was fun. Maybe I should pick things up from there again? Gonna take a more practical approach. Do some research first…

Remember, Fran doesn’t need a man. She doesn’t want a man. But it would be nice.

Got any suggestions or feedback for Fran? Post them in the comment box below.