WHO’LL FIND LOVE ON OUR BLIND DATE

WHO says love is just for the young? This column is for those who are venturing back to dating in midlife, and need advice and the reassurance they are not alone.

Each week, we send a couple on a blind date and ask them to report back. We also give advice to help anyone else who is looking for love.

This week, freelance book keeper Megan Thomas, 29, went to Ceviche in London’s Soho with TV director Peter Demetris, 53.

Megan is a mum of two children, aged three and four, who lives in Kent. She has been single and dated on-and- off for the past year. Peter Demetris lives in Wandsworth, South London. Since his divorce in 2013, he’s had two relationships, and he has two sons, aged nine and 11.

MEGAN, 29, SAYS:

I’M USUALLY good at coping with unusual situations, but I was really nervous about a blind date, having never been on one before. Internet dating is a bit grim, so I welcomed the chance to meet someone face-to-face.

But what if we didn’t have anything in common, or he wasn’t my type? My biggest worry was we wouldn’t have enough to talk about to last the duration of a meal.

A friend convinced me to buy a sexy little dress, but it wasn’t really me as I tend to dress more casually, so I panicked at the last minute and ended up wearing black jeans and a comfortable top.

Though I had no expectations about the date, Peter was older than I thought he was going to be, and I knew he wasn’t my type.

Thankfully, he was very easy to talk to. I think he could tell I was nervous and quickly put me at ease. So, although I knew romance wouldn’t blossom, we spent a pleasant few hours together. It was a relief to discover that he has quite young children, too.

Dating when you have kids is a different ball game. In one way it’s good, because it helps me weed out the men who are unsuitable or commitment-phobes, but the down side is you just don’t have much energy to go out because it’s just so exhausting.

I try to socialise as much as I can, and have a lot of interests. But I would expect anyone I dated to be mature enough to be able to handle the responsibilities I have in my life.

My ex and I get on very well — we separated a little over two years ago — so any new partner would also need to accept him being in my life, too. The children need both of us — I tend to have them during the week and their dad has them most weekends.

As I love to cook, I was delighted with the choice of restaurant. The food was delicious, and we shared a variety of small he was in his 40s. When he told plates, so it was very relaxed. We talked about lots of things, from me he had a 22-year-old daughter our dating to our children and in Australia who is only seven motorbikes. We’ve both done years younger than me, I knew it skydives, and have been brought was too big an age gap, even up abroad. though he seems young at heart.

Then the question of age came It was a fun evening. I like some-up, and he guessed me to be five one who can make me laugh, but years older than I am! I’m not I wouldn’t say there was any flirt-easily offended, though I’m ing from my side. Peter’s a lovely usually told I look younger. But I guy, but not my cup of tea. And I was taken aback when Peter need that spark. He wrapped the revealed he was 53 — I assumed date up quite quickly after a pleasant meal as he had to get back to the babysitter, so I ended up meeting friends later on.

We exchanged numbers but made no firm plans. I enjoyed his company, but I wouldn’t go out with him again in a romantic way because the age gap was too big. LIKE: Peter is very charming and easy to talk to. REGRETS: None. I’d go on a blind date again tomorrow. CAB/COFFEE: Coffee, but on a friends basis. VERDICT: 7/10

PETER, 53, SAYS:

WHEN I arrived at the restaurant five minutes early, Megan was already there drinking a cocktail. She jumped up to greet me and was very friendly.

She has a wonderful smile, really beautiful eyes and skin like porcelain. There was no awkwardness, but she said she was nervous, so I made it my mission to make her feel at ease.

I ordered the same cocktail — a pisco sour — and once she relaxed, we talked about everything, even past relationships.

Maybe it was the bottle of wine we ordered, but I ended up telling her I have a 22-year-old daughter in Australia from a previous relationship who is engaged, but it didn’t seem to phase her. She was very open, and there was no moaning about exes.

Early on, Megan suggested we show each other pictures of our children, which was good as we are both proud of our kids.

My two boys need their dad, and it’s important that I spend time with them, so whoever I date has to understand that. It was a relief that Megan felt the same.

My boys stay every other weekend. I often see them during the week as well which, of course, impacts on dating to a degree.

For any relationship to work, they have to be fine with that.

Now my sons are older, it is easier: they can do things on their own and still hang out with Dad; I wasn’t at all put off by the young age of Megan’s children.

We laughed all through the meal, and the only point that was slightly uncomfortable was when I got Megan’s age wrong. Having chatted about her amazing life experiences, I assumed she was 35 because she is so mature and really has her head screwed on.

Thankfully she laughed, but then she guessed I was in my mid-40s. I think she was shocked at my real age. Personally, I don’t think age makes a difference. It’s about spirit. But I guess 53 felt pretty old to her.

After our last cocktail, I had to leave, so we exchanged numbers with a kiss on the cheek. I’d love to see her again — I think she is really lovely, though I understand the age gap might make her uncomfortable.

LIKE: Her beautiful smile, energy and positive spirit.

REGRETS: That I couldn’t stay out longer because of the babysitter.

CAB/COFFEE: Coffee. VERDICT: 9/10

Nice guy but his daughter’s nearly as old as I am It’s not about age, it’s about spirit