I met with claire a couple of weeks ago, trying to do the friends thing.  Was just awkward though. 

I do want to stay friends, cos claire is great, so will try again some time in the future i guess.

At one point in the conversation I mentioned that I was going out later that week to the Ritz nightclub in Manchester, which is where I went with Claire on her 21st.  The subsequant conversation gave me great insights into how the mind of a woman works!