Daily Mail

Blind date

I thought:Good God! I wanted to turn and walk straight out I decided she might as well see the real me

- Interviews: SAMANTHA BRICK

EveRy week, we send a couple out on a blind date and report back. This time, Gary Flood, 56, had dinner at The Laurels at Charnock, in Chorley, Lancashire, with Linda Wright, 60.

Gary is a copywriter who lives in Preston, while Linda is a planning consultant from Bolton. Both have previously been married.

LINDA, 60, SAYS:

WHen I arrived, at 7pm, a waitress pointed out my date. My initial reaction was: ‘Good God!’ I wanted to turn and walk back out of the door.

On a first date, men normally try to present themselves in the best possible light. not my date. He was outside on the terrace, nursing a bowl of gin and tonic. He was also unshaven, wearing a hoodie and Tshirt and staring into his phone.

However, I am not a bolter. I steeled myself, smiled and asked: ‘Are you Gary?’

He did apologise for how he was dressed — which was something.

I was wearing a nice dress, with red lipstick, heels and a statement necklace. He looked like he’d come straight from the gym.

Apparently, he’d got the date night mixed up, which explained why he was so scruffy. He then announced that he already had a minicab booked for 9.20pm.

A few years ago, I completed an MBA while working fulltime, so I am looking for someone intelligen­t and energetic.

I knew I should give the date a chance. It was a beautiful evening, yet before I could draw breath, Gary launched into a complaint about the restaurant, which was busy, with a private function taking place.

After the gin, he ordered a Guinness, without asking if I wanted anything. Five minutes later, our table was announced and he drained the rest of his pint.

ASWe sat down, Gary asked what I wanted to drink and we both had a glass of Malbec. He necked his before we had ordered our food and then ordered another.

We chatted about being freelance. Gary is obviously a clever man with the work he does, but I was put off when he decided to appraise my working, social and private life by drawing three circles on the table with his finger.

He informed me that I probably didn’t have space for a relationsh­ip in any of those circles.

I curtly told him that if I did meet someone worth making time for, then his circles would go out the window. He ordered another glass of wine.

I know who I am and what I want. I’m a Waitrose girl, not an Asda one. Though I’ve been single for almost 14 years, I have expectatio­ns and I’m not one of those women who can’t live without a man. For someone to share my life, they’ll have to be very special — and I live at 100 miles an hour.

When Gary’s minicab pulled up, he asked about going on another date. But I didn’t offer him my telephone number. I told him I was staying for a coffee. If I hadn’t been driving, I would’ve ordered a double brandy, too.

Before he left, he puckered up. I offered him the slightest peck on the cheek. I have been married twice, don’t have children and know I’ll be working until my last breath. I’m not interested in a pipeandsli­ppers man. I’m not interested in a hoodieandt­rainers man like Gary, either.

Deep down, I’m waiting for a man, not on a white charger, but in a huge white Range Rover, who will whisk me off my feet.

I do want someone to share my life with. Spending Saturday nights eating dinner on your own can be souldestro­ying. But I can say with confidence that it won’t be Gary. LIKED? Being asked out by the waiter afterwards. REGRETS? I should have followed my instincts and left early. COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee — alone. Verdict: 5/10

GARY, 56, SAYS:

My evenInG with Linda didn’t get off to the ideal start. I had been so busy that I mixed up the date night. But I decided the poor girl might as well see the real me. She looked very smart, so I did feel a bit bad. I already had a taxi booked to take me back to the station, as I didn’t want to miss my train, so time was tight. I am much more cautious about the idea of a ‘spark’ than I used to be in my 40s. So, when my lovely companion arrived, I didn’t worry that there wasn’t an immediate attraction. It was obvious she’d made an effort and takes pride in her appearance — clearly, much more than I do. Linda had ordered a vodka and tonic. I was already drinking a gin and tonic and commented that it was the spirit of the moment with lots of women. Linda retorted that she didn’t give a hoot, preferring vodka, which made me laugh. She is very sparky.

WHenwe were finally seated, we had a 45minute wait for our starter, which was pretty poor service. The food was delicious, though. On Linda’s advice, I had pork belly for the main and enjoyed a few glasses of Malbec.

As the date unfolded, I realised there wasn’t a physical attraction. But Linda is great company for a night out — smart and feisty, with some very funny stories.

I admired her business acumen, but she is one of life’s Type A people, with a highly structured, timetabled existence.

I wonder if she has time for a bloke in her life. I suspected there might be a lot of: ‘I can squeeze you in at 7.30pm three weeks next Tuesday — take it or leave it.’

The chat was continuous and unforced, but dominated by what ‘Linda thinks’. As a result, I didn’t get to share as much about myself as I usually would. It’s a shame it didn’t work out. On paper, we’ve a lot in common, from creative writing to our experience of the perils of modern dating. It’s tricky finding someone at our age.

But we were just too similar. We both talk a lot and don’t suffer fools gladly. We are strong, outgoing characters — but Linda is not the yin to my yang. LIKED? Meeting an intelligen­t person who made me laugh. REGRETS? The long wait for food. COFFEE OR CAB? Cab. Verdict: 9/10

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