After separating from my husband I am slowly populating my world. Some people come into it and have stayed around, whilst others have gone on their way.

So its kind of strange that the first new friend that I make since coming back from Spain was, if not Spanish then close enough: Gibraltar!

A big bear of a guy with a slight lisp and a direct yet playful way of speaking.

We met on a dating app which announced that we were a “match”. I guess it might raise an eyebrow if I admitted that I am so many that I can’t remember which one!

As matches go this seems a good foundation for a friendship: Star Trek (sadly Star Wars bores him, but I am willing to overlook that heresy), food, travel, reading, and board games! I have had nobody to play games with for years – not since I moved to Southampton.

We first met for pizza and a chat (pizza was his treat), during which time we established that we were both somewhat neurosparkly. Then I helped him moved some boxes from his old home to his new one.

He is a little chaotic and struggles to get places on time. I know: that is just who he is and I can work around that. But he is kind and affectionate, which are better virtues than punctuality. Hell – Hitler and Mussolini were punctual!

He came to mine to watch Star Trek First Contact (Next Generation). This time I treated him to a Thai takeway. And we ended up cuddling a little on the sofa while we watched the film.

Like all my successful friends (gawd! sounds like being friends with me is like going on The Apprentice), he gets on well with the dog. She certainly got on with him. He made a point of making a fuss of her before entering her home. As a result, she settled quickly and took to him almost immediately.

As I have said before: love me, love my dog!