'and I'm clearly not quite the gentleman that Alan is'

Thank you for that mate - and I'm sure that you ARE really!!!

I also tried to send Hanna some money for arrangements for my first visit etc... but she was having none of it - even though I knew she was poor. This gave me a good feeling about her - especially after so many girls HAD asked for money when I first went onto MFB.
So, she wouldn't accept any money for anything - I therefore sent her 2 dozen red roses. Well, you would have thought I had given her a million quid!!!! She could not get over it.

Peter - your blog is VERY interesting - and - you are correct - it has many similarities to my story.

Look forward to chapter 3.

All the best.

Al