That example seems perfectly fine to me. Use of 'mate' is very common indeed, usually though I hear it used most often as part of set phrases such as 'cheers, mate' or 'you alright, mate?' Though, in a weird way, you're more likely to refer to someone as 'mate' if you don't know them very well, or literally just met them. You could thank a postman or a shopkeeper by going 'cheers, mate'. It basically acts as a general fill-in for someone's name.
This is just what I notice anyway.
Mate, love, pet, used interchangeably depending on where you are geographically.
After learning English from textbooks and Hollywood films, I was really confused when I moved to England 10 years ago, Greater Manchester to be specific (NOT pacific!!!!). This thread would have been very useful back then.