Blind date
There wasn’t a single thing about the date I didn’t like It was smashing – Joyce is lovely
EvERy week, we send a couple out on a blind date and report back. This time, Richard Thirlwell, 68, had lunch at The Wheatsheaf pub in Bingham, Nottinghamshire, with Joyce Batchelor, 67.
Richard lives in Grantham, Lincolnshire, and is a retired electrical engineer. Joyce lives in Nottingham and is a retired practice manager for the NHs. Both are widowed. JOYCE, 67, SAYS: I Was married for 44 years to my husband, David, who sadly passed away from cancer in september last year. We had known each other for 50 years, so it’s been tough getting used to being on my own.
I hope I’m not too old to find love again — I have so many wonderful girlfriends, but I miss male company. I’m looking for a person who can make me laugh. I would like him to be thoughtful and caring and for us both to enjoy an active and varied life.
I was nervous about the date, as I’ve never done anything like this before, but it went far better than I anticipated. I can’t think of a single thing about the date I didn’t like!
When I arrived, I sat in my car, not wanting to be too early, but he came out to the car park to make sure I didn’t have to walk in alone, which was decent of him. He seemed like a lovely gentleman, considerate and smartly dressed, and, from the word go, I felt comfortable in his company.
although I like dogs, I had been a bit nervous when I heard he was bringing his dog with him, but Ripple was wellbehaved — I didn’t really know she was there, as she sat under the table. she is a rescue dog and Richard travelled down south to pick her up as soon as he heard about her, which I think says much about his character.
as for me, I love reading, travel, eating out and going to the theatre or cinema. I’ve retired from my job as a practice manager, having worked in the NHs for 32 years, but I still do locum reception work, so I get to enjoy the role without the pressure.
FoR
my age group, there are not many places to meet potential partners. Dances and nice bars all seem to have gone. I once tried a dating site and got asked for money: never again!
But, on our date, the conversation was easy and we both chatted with no pregnant pauses. We had so much in common — we both love travel and we realised there are many places in England we both like.
In particular, we discovered that both we and our partners adored Whitby and it turned out we had both scattered our partner’s ashes there, which was such an amazing coincidence.
Because we both have lost our partners after caring for them through cancer, we were able to bring them into the conversation without dwelling too much. It helped that he understood what I am going through. But we chatted about all sorts of things and there was laughter, too — it couldn’t have gone better.
I think for both of us, this date was about getting to meet each other, rather than outrageous flirting. He felt as I did, and told me he was pleasantly surprised, so it was a perfect start.
I’m a great believer in building on a friendship first.
I’ve got two children, a son and a daughter, and they are happy for me to think about dating again. I was sorry to hear that Richard didn’t have any children, but he’s close to his family and adores his nieces and nephews.
We swapped numbers, parted with a hug and kiss and have been in touch since. Despite the bit of distance between us, I’m sure we can make it work. My date with Richard was wonderful and I couldn’t have asked for more.
LIKED? His sense of humour and that he was a gentleman. REGRETS? None.
COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee.
Verdict: 9/10
RICHARD, 68, SAYS:
THIs was my first date in decades and it was an absolute dream! I wasn’t nervous at all — I was excited.
I don’t have any children, but I have a Cockapoo called Ripple who comes everywhere with me, including to restaurants, as I like to eat out, so I took her along, which helped to break the ice.
I lost my wife of 30 years to cancer early in the year, but I feel strongly that life has to go on. I feel 68 years young and would like to meet someone new. I’m close to my sister and other family, but it would be nice to have someone special with whom to do things. I’m flexible and will try anything, hence my foray into dating, and I loved it. I was so determined to be early that I ended up arriving more than an hour ahead! I was watching the car park and saw two ladies drive in who didn’t look as if they knew where they were going. When they didn’t get out of the car, I knew it must be Joyce getting a lift from a friend. I went up to the car and asked if one was Joyce, so that she didn’t have to walk in alone. I thought she was stunning. From the moment we met, she was lovely and there wasn’t one quiet second as we sat there for nearly three hours.
WE
HaD so much in common: her daughter has horses, while I used to breed and ride them. We have both travelled quite a bit, too — I worked on passenger liners and cargo ships as an electrical engineer, so sailed all over the world. I retired from that 15 years ago and then became a pub landlord and now own The Blue Cow Inn in Grantham.
The most important connection we had was that we both have lost our partners recently and we understood each other in a way no one else can unless they have been through it.
Talking about that, we realised an incredible coincidence — as couples, we had both spent much time in Whitby. Funnily enough, when I drive there, I always go a certain route, over the moors, which is not the route most people would take. But, guess what — that was also the route Joyce had always taken, too!
It was a smashing date. Ripple liked Joyce, too, especially when she gave her pieces of her lamb dinner under the table. Joyce is pretty, sweet and lovely to talk to and I can’t wait to see her again.
We’ve been messaging and I’d like to think there was a connection. I know it’s early days, but we are going to try to meet up. This date was a big step for me and it went beyond my wildest dreams. LIKED? Everything! REGRETS? None, it was fabulous.
COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee.
Verdict: 10/10