It was love at first sight. With his dark Mediterranean looks and beautiful clothes, Bruno had been a cut above the other boys around in Manchester back then, and he was a great kisser. He was heady stuff for a teenager used to the local lilywhite boys with lank hair, pre-shaving chins covered in peach fuzz, no sense of style and whose kisses were timid and soft. Bruno knew how to kiss and did so with passion. Matthew did not like me spending time with him. ‘He’s my exchange student, not yours,’ he said. My parents saw the way I lit up when Bruno was around and were keen to keep us apart too, but that only added to the excitement. It was a forbidden love, and we spent the summer creeping into each other’s room after lights out, stealing kisses and making declarations of love when no one was around – usually in the linen cupboard because that was the only place where anyone could get any privacy. We promised to meet up in the Christmas holidays, which was postponed to Easter. Then I got a letter saying that he’d met a girl, so he had to curtail our letters and, anyway, long-distance love affairs rarely worked. He was sorry and hoped we might meet again some day. It didn’t stop me dreaming of him and I doodled his handsome face in the margins of all my school notebooks throughout the rest of sixth form. Sadly my trip to Italy never happened, but there was a connection with him, most definitely.

6) 18 years: Sam Gorman. Manchester Art College.

Ah, Sam. He was intense, eccentric and romantic, and easily the most talented student at college. He really liked me, but dope was his first love, and it got boring when his eyes glazed over and he spouted rubbish about the universe or fell asleep listening to music. I’d heard he’d moved to London, but that was years ago. I am still in touch with his sister Kate on Facebook. Could he be The One? Maybe, maybe not, but he was the first man I had sex with. We did hit it off when he wasn’t stoned. Be interesting to find out what became of him.

7) 18 1/2 years: John Burke. Manchester at Umist. Dated him for a few months then discovered he had several other girlfriends. Never felt myself with him, like a square peg in a round hole.

Nah. Sorry John, you’re not going to make the final list.

8) 19 years: Jed Nash, at art college. Checked him out from afar for one term; like Sam, he was very talented. I hung out with him another term. Things were just beginning to hot up with us when he moved to do his post-grad in London. Potential?