Thanks for your comments guys.

Re- reading my report of the nights events (or rather how I perceived them) is revealing.

As kowalski suggested I'll try to post a second version with as honest an evaluation as I can give.

I'm conscious of the fact that making excuses for my inaction has developed into a habit over the years and I need to get better at recognising when it's happening so I can stop doing it.

Also there were some short interactions that I forgot to mention. They semed trivial but they must have come into my mind later for a good reason so I'll include them in second version.

BroadswordWSJ - advice not sketchy at all - very perceptive in fact. I thought the same when I read it next day. It's not good that I'm thinking that way when I'm out being social.

I think there are some women out there who consider me to be very good looking.

The lack of confidence has been the main obstacle to me getting out, finding them, approaching them, interacting with them.

But I feel I'm going in the right direction.