Sarah called herself a spinster widow.

Kyle, the man she lived with for eight years, died suddenly.

"He was the love of my life," she said.

Among the heartache was the appalling thought that she'd have to go out and start dating again. She didn't do anything for six months.

She said: "I barely made it out of my bedroom and to work. Then I started to rejoin the living. But I didn't date. I went out with friends."

Two years after Kyle died, Sarah decided it was time. She met someone on a dating website who was going through a divorce, and they dated for almost a year.

She described: "Weird guy. Nothing much to report except that he'd been married four (or was it five?) times. Shortly after we broke up, I met another guy who was going through a divorce. We dated for four months. I decided no more separated guys.

"Then I had a few friends with benefits, but I didn't date anyone. I tried another website and met someone whom I thought might turn into someone special but he didn't.

"I joined a dating website for baby boomers. It was worth the puny amount I paid for its entertainment value.

"A lot of the guys who contacted me said they were widowers with an eight-year-old (usually a daughter). They were setting up laptops in orphanages in some out-of-the-way country and loved Dutch oven cooking. I'm not making this up. I've never laughed so much at on-line dating stuff in my life. Every day was a new adventure. They'd usually say, 'Hey, give me a call' and then list some 53-digit phone number. Riiiiiight. Like I just fell off the turnip truck.

"It was about this time that I decided the heck with it. I don't need a guy. I'll just be happy with myself and my bird."

You know what happens next.

Sarah was on her way home when her commuter train was delayed, so she decided to go to the bar. She was enjoying a beverage and playing Candy Crush when Andrew walked in and sat down next to her.

They rode the train home together, and she slipped him her card. Over the next few weeks, they met for drinks several more times.

She said: "I wasn't sure this was going to lead to anything. He was divorced, no kids, six years younger than me, starting a business, and didn't want to be tied down. He told me point blank: 'I'm not looking for a girlfriend and I'll never marry you.'

"Well, he's now practically living with me. He's in charge of mowing the lawn, cooking most of the meals (he owned a restaurant for five years), and assigning himself little projects.

"He's got a great personality. We make a great pair and we honestly love each other. And we laugh all the time. My bird is slowly coming around to him but still has fits now and then. It's only a matter of time before she loves him as much as I do."

Have you ever met anyone on a train, plane, boat or bus? Send your tale, along with your questions and problems to [email protected]. And check out my e-book, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front."