Pick up your newspaper. Go to the lonely hearts page.

[snigger]

Which are the best, and worst ads?

I scan them all the time, sometimes thinking 'Good luck, and good for you' - like this one today:

A delightful woman, 40's, with walking boots and posh frock, seeks company, in which to use either, and eventually remove both.

and sometimes thinking, Nonononononono...

How would your ad read?

Not sure what my own would say but keep coming across ones that sound just like DH. "Attractive male 50ish likes pubs and eating out......" Do have fun asking if it's him! He doesn't laugh though gets quite cross. Hmmmmm . Also keep noticing men saying they are solvent. Either quite happy to be fodder for gold-diggers or really like sniffing glue?

Yes, most offputting personal ad terminology :

solvent, GSOH, professional , tactile ....

'bubbly' - I have a feeling I don't like people who use this term, but I'm not sure why

'sincere'/'genuine' - well yes but it shouldn't need to be a selling point really, should it?

'passionate' - as 'tactile' I suspect. Or involving buttplugs or similar.

I knew someone who placed an ad describing himself as a 'stupid man with assymetrical facial hair'. At least its honest

Met dh through one of these.

Me too Raspberrysouffle .

The absolute best ones are in the London Review of Books.

Seriously, get yourself there and check them weekly

I find them completely fascinating - bar the bubbly/tactile/professional ones.

Raspberry, Cat, did you place the ad, or did you respond to it? My friend of mine met her partner the same way.

Do you still flick through them for the sake of it, or am I odd?

I responded and yes on the odd occasion I find myself flickign through, the newspaper sometimes asks for sucess stories and I am tempted, but I wouldn't ever do it.