Usually I’ll bleat on to anyone who’ll listen about the treasure trove of flirtations to be found amongst your friends.

The wonder of dipping your hand into your circle of chums and pulling out a little gem with whom you can flirt, snog or start a full-on relationship is a marvellous thing.

But, like most things in life, there is a price to pay…

Although you may have a group of friends so deliciously hot they frequently set their owns drawers aflame, there is always going to be one or two damp squibs. In fact, some may be so very ugly you would rather pour honey over your own genitals and invite a family of red ants to set up home in your under crackers, than see them naked.

Of course this is not necessarily a problem…unless they ask you out.

A chum of mine recently put herself back on the singles market after quite a serious relationship. A few weeks later another mutual friend of ours contacted her and asked if she fancied going out for a drink.

Now, these two have been friends for yonks and she has always adored him…platonically. But the same could never be said for him. He would almost trip over his own tongue whenever she was around and, being of sound mind, she was fully aware of his yearnings. So her new single status presented her with a dilemma. Officially there was no reason why the two of them could not date, it was purely a ‘chemistry’ issue for her and no matter how much she tried she could not envisage herself in a rumpy-pumpy scenario with him.

But this chap was a right good laugh and a damn nice fella to boot so she didn’t want to give him the nark. Her solution was to pretend that it wasn’t a ‘date’. She accepted his offer but then quickly added, “it’d be really good to see my mates, I’ve been out on dates three nights this week and I’m bored to tears of shaving my legs!”

A good move I feel. She made it clear she likes him by accepting the drink but spelt it out in no uncertain terms that she sees him as nothing more than a friend.

It’s a tricky old business, it really is. You don’t want to cause a drama but you need to make yourself clear. Otherwise you may end up in one of life’s most cringe worthy situations – the clumsy lunge.

Having to turn your cheek on a chum who is trying to move in for a bit of tongue action is one of those things we’d do anything to avoid. Eek. It’s too face-reddening for words. So if you feel you may be in a similar scenario to my friend opt for the pre-emptive strike, in the long run you are going to save yourself a whole bunch of blushes – and perhaps a rogue tongue in your ear….

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