BLIND DATE

Every week, we send a couple out for dinner and report back on their blind date, with a little bit of advice thrown in to help the rest of us.

This week, Sheetal Kaley and Zach Falconer- Barfield went to Busaba in London. Sheetal, 34, is divorced and lives in West London. She works at Heathrow airport and doesn’t have any children.

Zach, 45, is an entrepreneur, living in Kent and also has no children.

SHEETAL, 34, SAYS:

To Be honest, I was a bit taken aback when I got to the restaurant and saw Zach. He was not my type at all, and I was really disappointed.

He seemed so much older than me, and I found the whole situation so awkward. I just wanted to get through the date as quickly as possible and go home!

I like to think of myself as the Indian version of Beyonce. I love dancing and going on holidays to chill and unwind from the hustle and bustle of life.

My job is really busy and so I want to relax and have fun. I have a simple ask — to meet someone tall and handsome, with a good sense of humour, who also happens to be a good dancer. But Zach was just too grown-up for me. He’s been married twice and talked extensively about his ex-wives, telling me that most of his family have been married three times so he needs to catch up and look for his third. I felt so uncomfortable as he was saying all of this.

I’m divorced too, but I got married when I was far too young and what I would love now is to settle down with the right man and start a family.

But I’ve had my heart broken a couple of times and have found the whole dating scene very difficult.

I would love to find a good- looking, charming, easy-going man to share the next part of my life with.

Zach clearly lives a really interesting life, however he is very focused on his work. He had lovely manners, but we had very little common ground, and although the age gap wasn’t that big, I suppose, it just felt like we were at very different stages of our lives and had different priorities.

Several times I had to keep the conversation going to make sure there were no awkward silences. I’m usually such a positive person, but I felt so disappointed, I couldn’t relax to enjoy the evening. I just wondered what I was doing there.

That’s not to say he wasn’t a nice man, but I’m young and fun, and I just hated being paired up with what seemed like an older, serious man. I’ve never been on a blind date before — in fact, I haven’t dated at all in ages, having been single for about three years. So I was really, really nervous but excited too, only to have my hopes dashed.

It’s made me feel like I never want to go on another date. I hated it and I was so upset when I got home.

I’d been looking forward to the evening, but I ended up spending more time getting ready than I spent with Zach on the actual date! I just really wish I could meet someone who is my kind of person. Why is it so hard? LIKED: He’s family orientated. REGRETS? Full of regret. COFFEE OR CAB? Cab. VERDICT: 2/10

ZACH, 45, SAYS:

I LIKe to be a gentleman and arrive 15 minutes early for every- thing, so I was happily waiting when Sheetal arrived a little early, too. I was immediately struck by her lovely smile, and her style.

She looked delightful in a black dress with heels and I thought she was very attractive.

I sensed she was nervous so I tried to make her laugh and put her at ease. We got talking about work, our love of food and quite a bit about family. Sheetal is very family orientated which is nice. We didn’t really talk about past relationships as I don’t view that as good first date etiquette.

But I could sense quite early on that she wasn’t interested in me. It was a busy restaurant and not what I would have chosen for a first date because it had shared tables and wasn’t really that conducive to a relaxed atmosphere.

But no sparks were flying and flirting was never on the cards. I always like to give things a chance though, so we chatted and had a nice evening, but there was just no hint of frisson in the air.

I think that we are different people with different life experiences and outlooks with not a huge amount in common.

Although she was lovely, you need to have some key points of connection. I think you have to operate in the same spheres, and it felt like we were worlds apart.

All in all, it was a fairly low-key date — I’m teetotal and Sheetal was on a diet, so perhaps it was never going to be an evening of high jinks!

We did laugh a bit, but there were moments when the conversation got a bit stilted.

We finished the food and I walked her to the cab and gave her a kiss on the cheek. I gave her my card, but I’m pretty sure she won’t be calling.

I think my lifestyle can be an issue for some women. As an entrepreneur with several businesses on the go, I don’t stop. I don’t work a 9-5 life, and that can be tricky.

Currently I wear many hats, as I lecture at a couple of business schools in London, and this year I am busy launching a couple of new projects, including The Suited Chef, which is a Facebook Live cookery show.

I’m on my second divorce which, by my family’s standards, is below average. But perhaps that seemed off-putting.

I haven’t been on a date since I separated last July, but I wasn’t nervous — just interested and excited.

The date didn’t put me off, though. I feel it has started the ball rolling again and solidified my thoughts about what I want, which is a woman who understands the world I work in and my lifestyle, and who I can be sparky with.

I will probably start asking people out, which I haven’t done for a year, and look to go on a few more dates.

Although it can be bruising, it’s much easier to discover if you like someone and if there’s going to be any sparks flying if you meet face to face.

LIKED: I think she was very lovely, charming and delightful person. REGRETS? No regrets.

COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee. VERDICT: 7/10

The date was awkward. He wouldn’t stop talking about his exes I gave her my card — but I’m pretty sure she won’t call