-deleted-

In this situation, I wouldnt delete their numbers as these are people you know and not been in touch in a long while. If I meet a girl on a night out, we chat, we exchange numbers (not flake cos I always make a point of ringing the number straight away whilst she is there), then we go on our separate ways. Then I fire a text the same night, the next day and no respond. Two days later, I fire another text, still no respond, then I conclude she isnt interested and Im not wasting my time and another text and she is deleted. Or I go on a date and I find that the girl is boring, and I can't see myself seeing her again or she makes it clear, she doesnt want to see me again, then her number is deleted too.
I am not into pursuing a girl who is not interested in me. Or entertaining a girl whom I am not interested in. Why waste the time and energy? But in your case, I would do the same thing and fire a general texts to girls I havent been in touch in a long while. Anyway, if she is still in my contact list, then she is there for a reason.

Good job!

It'll be a fun application of old u vs. new u, when u meet up with this bird -- as u knew her before your PU quest started

Its one view and not everyones. If this approach clearly works then where is the effort in making it happen? I admit I went to a fair bit of effort but I treat it as an experiment and I've recovered a lot of deleted numbers (no bragging intended) Craigus was sat on the tube killing time with a couple of old numbers, what else is there to do on the tube, read the evening standard? I'm pleased Craigus got a result and with luck a close. That's what its about, how you arrive there is not important.