Thanks everyone. A tandem is a very very bad idea. I hate to have no control and any time we've tried a tandem it has been a big fight. A shame really because one night I saw a couple in Vancouver on a red lugged tandem and they were going nicely.
I have a trek 420 frame actually and would trade it for the mixte version if I could because it is too big! ha ha.
I live in the country so I have fairly long commutes and go fair distances to different towns, but not really a terribly long commute to work and back most days(although people think I bike so so far!). So, with biking back and forth to work or into town for errands, groceries etc I do not really have time for no actual proper road cycling. However I would like a proper road bike for days when I could. I already have some diamond frames lined up for that. I would like something of quality that is smooth and fast for the distances and pavement, trail, gravel and dirt roads. Most of the year it is too cold etc to really wear a skirt or dress, but in my mind I want to be able to ride in a dress! I did a century in one. I have so many wool skirts that are not being worn!
Price: since nothing has come up I do not know what my price range is, however on ebay.co.uk there was a lovely women's raleigh touring bike which would have cost less than $500 if they were willing to ship. I have seen miss mercians sell on ebay for about that.