PROLOGUE

      FROM the Ask Auntie page of the Mirrabrook Star. (Circulation 2,500, including Wallaby Flats):

      Ask Auntie,

      The loneliness of the outback is driving me crazy. I’m two hundred kilometres from the nearest cinema or nightclub and it’s so hard to meet guys. The few dates I’ve had have been spectacularly forgettable, but now I’ve met a wonderfully warm, funny and clever man over the Internet and I’m in love. I want to dash off to the city to meet him, but all my life I’ve been accused of being too hasty and impulsive, so I’m seeking guidance. What do you advise?

      Marooned in Mirrabrook.

      Dear Marooned in Mirrabrook,

      If you’re as lonely as you sound and your cyber-romance is going well, why shouldn’t you meet this man? I suspect you’re afraid of disappointment—that you fear you’ve fallen in love with the idea of the man, but you’re worried about the reality. Some tension is understandable, but if you’re looking for a long-term relationship you need real interaction with a real man. You need to meet him.

      Of course, a woman from the bush would be wise to approach an e-date in the city with some caution. Perhaps you could arrange for a double date with friends? If not, you should make sure you meet at a public venue and you should have a friend in the city who knows the time and location of your date and who can be reached at the touch of a button on your mobile phone.

      However, once these details are organised, go for it. Don’t believe the old cliché that good things come to those who wait. Good things come to people who want them so badly they can’t sit still…

      Good luck!

      Ask Auntie.