FEW dates in the calendar are crueller to the hapless singleton than New Year’s Eve and this year was no different. As Big Ben chimed and champagne corks were popped throughout the country, couples smugly lavished affection on each other and laughed at their unattached friends.

With another loveless year over I decided to take action early for 2009 and set myself some foolproof resolutions.

Meet more eligible women, trick them into dating me and later marriage and children.

With this in mind I sought out the help of a life coach to help me delve into my inner resources and pluck out a plan of action.

I had been on a few dates in 2008 each time with devastatingly attractive women but all too often this would lead to a dead end or, even worse, friendship.

I tried to make it clear that I didn’t need friends I have men for that, but my appeals fell on deaf ears and untouched bodies.

My conversion rate from first date to ‘romantic touching’ had fallen to a pitiful one in four.

As I arrived at the door of life coach Juliet Ross who runs Life Trak and Hampshire Coaching Group I was in dire straits.

Juliet explained that one of the key things a coach does is listen and help the client find their own answers.

Reassured I took a deep breath and embarked on an hour-and-a-half monologue entitled Woe is Simon which covered most of my neurosis.

I believe it started “The following people have wronged me...” and ended “…and that’s when I realised the cat had been plotting against me.”

It’s possible I had a wild-eyed expression at the end of this rant which had covered romance, work, finance and leisure as Juliet suggested my next session should be done via the telephone.

After a second taste of life coaching and a thorough analysis of my thoughts I worked out how to meet more like-minded lovelies.

Forced to ask myself questions about where I thought they may be lurking, how I could put myself in a position to strike up a conversation and guarantee a shared interest.

After racking my mighty brain for some minutes I came up with several plausible ideas eventually opting to take up an evening class or two.

Having made this decision my coach worked on my motivation getting me to write down the first step that would set my plans in motion – sign up for the course.

I have to keep looking at this card until I have started my lessons and update my missive as things progress.

I found life coaching quite thought-provoking and liberating.

To have someone help sort out the clutter in my life was a treat and may help me in my quest to meet and get romantic with more women.

However, my coach was keen to point out a full coaching experience would take longer and cover all aspects of my life.

To book a session with Life Trak coach Juliet Ross call 07957 925120