Great advice from sm & jrc, best bit of advice you've been given though is by the guy who suggested getting a dog. I don't know about your home life, whether you live alone, whether you can walk it t lunch etc. However I got a dog 3 years ago, great companionship, company and whatnot and an unbelievable way to meet women. I've got a gf, but the amount of women I flirt with over the dog is unreal. Get a cute one too, spaniel or something like that, women love cute dogs. Puppy training classes would be good too, meet like minded people who you have something in common with.
And if you fancy hitting up some bars, I'm going to be in Newcastle soon for the night, going to see the black keys at the start of December?