I woke up and started the ritual. Put on some music, shave, shower, and pick out my clothes. There are really only two looks for the game aware man: the suave seducer, or the jerk bad-boy. It's springtime, so I went for the suave look – black shoes, high quality jeans, designer knitwear shirt, overcoat, scarf, and Michael Caine glasses. Now I'm in 'state', as the pickup artists call it.

I got together everything that I need for a day on the hunt. My electronic cigarette with fully charged batteries, and enough nicotine to make me physically ill. Enough money to be unconcerned about money. Two condoms incase of the same day lay. My Kindle, and my MP3 player. The right music always adds to my vibe, and makes me less intense. Today I'm listening predominantly to Trevor Something:

His music explains modern love better than anyone.

Whilst walking around to the train station, I see an attractive woman, probably in her 30s, waiting for a bus. I notice her boots, and it gives me the idea for an opener. However, I dismiss the approach. It's too close to home, and I don't sh*t where I eat.

I get to the train station, sit down, start smoking my E-cig and listening to some tunes, until an officious female staff member comes over. She tells me 'this is a non-smoking platform'. 'Technically, I'm not smoking' I retort. 'But we've had complaints, and you'll have to stop'. I swear this country is becoming a police state. So, I am led to the 'smoking area' which is off the platform. Two teenage lads are standing there smiling, and have been watching the situation. 'What's with these bloody nazis?' I ask them. 'Dunno' one of them says, while the other one just laughs. They notice that I'm wearing an Arsenal scarf, and we get chatting about the woes of supporting Arsenal football club. Eventually, my train arrives and I jump on.

I'm soon at my destination, and I'm looking to approach the first woman that catches my eye. It's always best to make your first approach quickly. Otherwise, the mind starts playing tricks. It starts making up reasons not to approach:

This one looks unfriendly.

This one is focused on her phone.

This one isn't my type.

I've had better.

All just excuses for bottling out.

I spot a petite Mediterranean looking girl walking along. She has an awesome figure, and I'm having naughty thoughts. I catch up to her, stop her, and use the tried and tested opener 'Excuse me, I just noticed you walking past, and I thought you looked really nice'.

*Silence. *Blank stare.

Usually a woman will thank me for the compliment. This one seemed a bit overwhelmed. Yet, on a street stop, a man must be ready to fill a whole minute of silence if necessary. So, I persisted: 'I like how relaxed you looked. You were walking along like there isn't a care in the world.'

*More silence

'It's different, because normally people walk like they're on some kind of secret mission. Like there's some sort of big rush. But you were very chilled out. Like maybe you do yoga and meditation, or maybe you have figured out the key to eternal happiness, and you can...'

'I take zumba classes'.

Thank god, she had finally piped up. We had a decent chat, but she started to panic at the number-close:

Girl: I'm really busy...

Jabron: Aren't we all? This life stuff is hard work. Tell you what, give me your number, and I'll invite you out, and you can decide then.

So I got her number. Probably won't go anywhere, but it was just the first approach, and there are plenty more where she came from...

The sun is starting to show, and the girls are out. The shops attract the girls, and the girls attract the hustlers. And the hustlers are out in force today. The bane of a man on the hunt is the 'chugger' (charity mugger). They tend to work in pairs – usually an attractive male and female. The man will work the women, and the woman will work the men. They will try to con people into setting up a direct debit to give money to whatever charity it is they work for. They set themselves up in a position where the human traffic is high. This means that I have to pass these chuggers over and over while I do my laps, and scout girls – or concede the best spots to them.

We also have societies' undesirables. There is one well known woman who is a gambling addict. She approaches people and tries to hustle money out of them before spending it in one of the many betting shops. She stopped treating me like a target years ago, somewhere around the tenth time that I waved her away. We respect each other just enough to not compromise one another's game. But, she gives me a knowing look as I walk past, and I do her.

Then there was some wannabe rapper/MC trying to sell CDs and promote a gig. He approached me the second time that I passed him today, and we had a brief chat. He wants me to buy a CD. I tell him 'mate, I don't have a pot to piss in' (with a smirk on my face – a clear lie by the way that I'm dressed). He tells me 'I'm on the hustle'. I think to myself 'who is this idiot?'. What kind of hustler tells his mark that? I wished him luck and left him to it.

I'm on the hustle too, of course. But, I'm a wolf in sheep's clothing. These idiots stick out like a sore thumb.

I did some shopping and approached some more women – but got no numbers. One approach was quite funny, because a sexy Asian girl was dragging a bin through the town centre. There was no way that I was not going to have something to say about that. Alas, she had a 'boyfriend'.

Just as I was getting ready to call it a disappointing day, I locked eyes with a seductive looking brunette. She was obviously checking me out while walking past. I typically get this at least once every hunt, but today had been sh*t up until now. I turned, ran over to her, and opened her in my usual way for that situation:

'Hey, you can't just walk past and stare at me like I'm a piece of meat! I have feelings you know...'

She started smiling, and I introduced myself:

Jabron: I'm Jabron by the way.

*we shook hands

Jabron: You shake hands like a girl

Girl: I am a girl!

Jabron: Yeah, I'd noticed...

The vibe was great from the beginning. The pull was strong, so I started to consider suggesting we go for a coffee, but she beat me to it and brought up some plans she had later that day. No chance of a same day lay leaves an instant date being rather pointless and counter-productive (at least in my experience). It was the time to finish while on a high, and get her number.

I felt pumped after that, and didn't want to go straight home. So, I went to a pub instead. There were women there too, but I've had enough for one day. I had two pints whilst reading Shakespeare's Sonnets, then finally called it a day.

I practised my game, got two numbers from six cold approaches (a very good ratio), and got my shopping done.

I need to stop being complacent, and get back to the level that I was at a few years ago – before I entered two long term relationships. Today was a good start.

I'll leave you, gentle reader, with a cool sonnet, one of my favourites, that I was enjoying today. Shakespeare understood, and articulated, game beautifully. This is certainly my sonnet of the moment:

Sonnet 151

Love is too young to know what conscience is;

Yet who knows not, conscience is born of love?

Then, gentle cheater, urge not my amiss,

Lest guilty of my faults thy sweet self prove.

For thou betraying me, I do betray

My nobler part to my gross body's treason;

My soul doth tell my body that he may

Triumph in love; flesh stays no farther reason,

But rising at thy name, doth point out thee

As his triumphant prize. Proud of this pride,

He is contented thy poor drudge to be,

To stand in thy affairs, fall by thy side.

No want of conscience hold it that I call

Her 'love', for whose dear love, I rise and fall.