Hey Brighteyes, I think what might be worth a thought is what is your motivation as opposed to guessing his. What I mean to say is this guy may or may not be making any moves in your direction, his reasons for being anywhere might be unrelated to the opportunity of seeing you. Your meetings do sound very much lovely chance occasions, not contrived.

As for your motivations, ask are you interested in this guy because you think he's a nice bloke you would like to know more. Or are you interested because you think he might be interested? Personally I believe we often give undue attention to flattery and inadvertently find appeal in an otherwise unappealing picture based on our own pumped feelings we get through being the subject of flattery.

Either way your letter is simply an ice breaker not any sort of comittment and so long as you don't attach too much to the outcome you will protect yourself from undue disappointment.

Nowheretorun has made a noteworthy comment about being natural and that is always a good start to all things. Not withstanding that, I have consulted my style police family and friends for their opinions about things too. My mother even goes so far as to not offer advice because "you will do what you want in the long run so why waste my time". I don't think it is a waste if we are engaged in consideration of the opinions of others, it is though unfortunate if we don't then choose for ourselves what we wish to take from it or not.

My main comment here is simply don't hinge too much on what you think he thinks. It is seldom a succesfull approach if we base our choices on second guessing someone else. Some good questions before you proceed: Do you like what you know of this fellow? Would you give dating him a second thought if you didn't suspect him of perving, that is would you be interested if you hadn't felt that he was interested first? And another big one in my book, have you considered the distance is a real snag to any potential relationship?

Fond regards Frances.
PS I may have had two bites but I dropped one because I thought I had a fresh catch (I'm not greedy!) and this morning I threw that one back coz after a particularly insensitive comment on his part, I considered the serenity prayer and surely I am old enough (and supposedly wise enough) to know the difference!! Easy come easy go. I'll make other arrangements for my birthday!!