Blind date

Every week, we send a couple out on a blind date. This week, it’s the second time around for Annabel Cooper, 56, and Will Gwyne, 52.

They first met a few weeks ago, when Annabel and her daughter Katie went on a double date. Annabel and Will hit it off, so decided to meet up again for dinner at the Laguna Kitchen & Bar at the Park Plaza Hotel Cardiff.

Annabel is widowed and lives in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, where she runs a B&B. Will lives in Newport, Gwent, and works in a five-star hotel.

ANNABEL, 56, SAYS:

My First meeting with Will was also my first date in more than 33 years, so it was a big step for me. But it was a lovely and reassuring experience. Will couldn’t have been nicer and being out on a date gave me such a lift, so I wasn’t nervous to see him again.

Will and I kept in touch by text message but, with his work schedule, we hadn’t been able to get a time to meet again, until now.

Will told me in our texts that he believes it takes three dates before you can really decide if you have a connection with someone.

In today’s dating world, it can all happen very quickly and people move on fast. His attitude was refreshing and it certainly made me look forward to our second encounter.

We had already covered a lot of the usual things to chat about on a first date, so there was less new information to connect over this time. However, we did still manage to talk away all evening!

We had a lovely table by the window and the restaurant staff were very nice. I had a salmon starter and a burger, then we had coffee by the fire in the lobby, which was perfect on such a cold night.

But, if I’m honest, I would have liked our second date to be a little less formal — I would have been happy with a nice walk around Cardiff, followed by a casual drink or meal in a pub. I’m a very relaxed person and don’t like a fuss. I prefer a quiet life, although I do keep active by walking and cycling.

I’m not sure Will is the same. Unfortunately, going on a second date made me realise we are at different stages in our lives and, although I still enjoyed Will’s company and he is a lovely man, I began to feel there was no real spark or humour between us.

Since we met, I have been a little worried about the four-year age gap, in case Will thinks I’m too old for him. He’s really charming and very good-looking, too. And although he behaved exactly the same this time as he did on our first date — and insists the age gap doesn’t bother him — I think the difference in our attitudes was quite obvious.

Many of my friends are retired and my life is much slower-paced now than back in my 40s, and I’m happy with that.

Meanwhile, Will is still working at a frantic pace and is similarly active in his spare time.

Nevertheless, dating again and talking to someone so pleasant has made me miss male company. I am trying to meet new people, but it’s not always that easy at this stage of life.

I like to keep fit and busy, and I’m only 56, so feel I’m ready to really start living the rest of my hopefully long life.

At the end of the evening, we hugged goodbye and Will asked me to text to let him know I had got home. But when I did, I told him straight out I thought there was no potential for romance — although we gave it a try, I also believe in being honest.

I am glad I went on the second date because I think you have to give people a proper chance.

I was widowed three years ago and it’s been tough, but I now feel ready to date again, and this experience has really helped me to become a bit more confident. I doubt Will and I will meet again, but that’s not to say I don’t think he will make a great partner for someone, as he is a lovely man. LIKED? He is a kind and caring gentleman. But he’s not for me. REGRETS? None. COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee. VERDICT: 10/10

WILL, 52, SAYS:

I enjoyed my last date with Annabel, and I believe it takes a little while to break the ice, so I was really looking forward to seeing her again. She was much more relaxed this time and casually dressed, too.

I thought she seemed to open up a bit more, telling me lots of stories about her family and talking about her late husband.

I can’t imagine what it must be like to love someone for that long and then lose him, so I appreciate how hard this is for her. I think she is still quite anxious about dating, which is understandable, but I hope that her dates with me have been positive.

We talked the evening away and revisited some of the things we spoke about on our first date — more about our relationships with our kids and our holidays.

As we talked and got into more detail about our lives, Annabel said she feels almost retired, whereas I’m still very much wanting to live an active life.

Annabel used to be a midwife, which I think is amazing, and now runs an Airbnb and likes to potter with her dog and cycling group, so I think it became obvious that we want different things in life at the moment. There was no real spark developing.

Although there are only a few years between us — and her age certainly doesn’t bother me — she seems to want someone older or a bit more settled.

I’m lucky that I look quite young for my age, and I think that bothered her, which is a shame, as the age difference didn’t worry me at all.

The staff were wonderful in the restaurant and I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food.

Annabel texted me the next morning to say we should probably just be friends, which is fine by me.

But I’m really glad we met again, even though it has ended without romance.

In this modern world of internet dating, everyone wants someone immediately — and they’re not prepared to put in the work or make sacrifices.

I really enjoyed the chance to sit and have a lovely meal and conversation with someone I already knew and liked.

Annabel is a lovely, warm and kind person and I would be happy to stay in touch. I know she is at the start of a new dating phase of life, but I think she needs to know how lovely she is and be more confident.

She kept apologising for talking too much, but she had nothing to apologise for. She is intelligent, attractive and interesting and has a lot to offer someone.

LIKED? She’s a genuine, kind and very intelligent person. REGRETS? None.

COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee. VERDICT: 10/10

I was worried that Will would think I was too old for him She needs to know how lovely she is and be more confident