I've always used a punting name, but the thought occurred to me recently that if I bumped into someone I'd seen and they weren't discrete, what might be the outcome. If she said 'Hello <realname>' I'm pretty sure I'd be able to get away with how I knew her. If she said 'Hello <puntername>' that would be extremely tricky to deal with and I think Mrs tcm might smell a rat.
I'm considering using my real first name in future. I'd be interested in other people's thoughts on it. I have a PAYG punting phone, so no links there.
tcm
I'd hope that any WG I'd seen would just ignore me if I was in company, I'd be bloody furious if she didn't.
If she did though, I'd do as above and say, "I think you have me mistaken with someone else."
Incidentally, a funny thing happened a couple of years ago.
I was just going back to my car at Warwick services when a guy coming the other way said, "Hi <my real name> how are you?" Had no idea who he was but after a bit of a chat about who he thought I was, it transpired that I'm a doppelgänger for a mate of his with the same name!
My Mrs was with me so probably suspects me of being a closet gay now!!