I am still desperately seeking Mr Right after 77 dates in two years
A SINGLE woman is frantically trying to find Mr Right before she hits 30 – after going on almost 80 first dates in two years.
Anna Heaton, 29, has met men on dating apps, arranged nights out through her mother and even appeared on ITV’s Take Me Out.
But none of her suitors were up to scratch and she now faces a race against time to fulfil her quest of meeting her dream man before her birthday in May.
Anna, who marks every date out of 20 in a spreadsheet document, insists she gives most men several chances but “the spark just isn’t there”.
She said: “I went on my 77th first date on Saturday. I think it’s because I’m too picky.
“It’s always me that ends up not wanting to date more and a lot of them think there is something wrong with me.
Spark
“I know what I’m looking and I just haven’t found it.
“I often have a lot in common with people but the spark just isn’t there. I just don’t fancy them.
“I would like to not get to 100 dates before I turn 30 but that is probably the reality.
“I’d never settle for anything but the best, but I did think that by 30 I would be on the verge of being engaged.
“All my friends are married and have boyfriends and I’m the one that is left.”
Anna, a project manager at a digital agency, became single two years ago.
In April, she appeared on hit ITV dating show Take Me Out in a bid to solve her hunt for Mr Right.
She was picked by contestant Neale Smith, 30, from Northampton, but Anna decided not to take for it any further after they got back from their date in Tenerife. After appearing on the show, and spilling the beans about her spreadsheet, Anna was bombarded with texts from previous dates.
They had been shocked to hear they had been given individual ratings in her document.
The spreadsheet, which started out as a joke with her work friends, includes a strict rating scheme.
She marks each partner out of 20 in categories including looks, personality and spark.
But Anna, from Battersea, south London, admits she has no plans to settle down with a man unless he is “the one”.
She added: “I am still keeping a spreadsheet.
“It makes me sound neurotic, but I would rather be alone for the rest of my life than be with the wrong person.
“I just want to find that one person.
“My friends at work set it up for me and they kept it up to date and would ask me about the dates.
“But when I mentioned it on TV, I had so many exes texting me and asking for their score.”
And anyone thinking about asking Anna out on a date should beware – she has a very particular type in mind.
She said: “He’s got to be tall with a rugby player physique.
“I like a posh boy with a pink shirt, nicely dressed and someone that doesn’t take themselves too seriously.
“I can’t stand a man without a sense of humour.”