Blind Date

He was keen to kiss me, but I offered my cheek instead

DATING PAST

my mArrIAge ended seven years ago, but I wouldn’t be averse to walking down the aisle again. my last relationship ended in 2016. he was so indecisive about everything that by the time he was prepared to commit, I told him it was over.

I’m pretty disillusioned with online dating. If you want to find someone, you need to treat it like a full-time job. I’ve never been on a blind date, so I thought ‘Why not?’ fingers crossed this is my last first date.

PRE-DATE NERVES?

I’m An optimistic person and don’t get nervous. I was excited to throw myself into this. In my job I put strangers at their ease; I knew I’d adopt the same approach here.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

he WAs already at the restaurant when I arrived. We met at ukai in West London. As a foodie I’d already checked it out. he seemed nervous when he greeted me, but was proud he’d got us a table by the fireplace.

hercules was wearing a cravat slipped into his flowery shirt, a patterned jacket and a trilby hat. that’s a first for me on a date!

EASY TO TALK TO?

Once we got talking, we didn’t stop. We covered everything from politics to art and our love of travel. We felt comfortable enough to talk about past relationships and also his daughter.

EMBARRASSING MOMENTS?

I WAs a little apprehensive when hercules drew a portrait of me, and he let me keep it. I’ve only sat for an artist once, and it is intimate. I was acutely aware of being observed and joked about being his muse.

DID SPARKS FLY?

NOT for me, but I could tell hercules liked me. We met at 6pm and didn’t leave until after midnight. I joked with my male colleagues that if he didn’t fancy me after spending that much time together, I’d be irked. But who knows with men?

DID YOU KISS?

HERCULES was keen to kiss me, but I offered him my cheek instead. he wanted to get a taxi home with me, but I made it crystal clear that wasn’t on the cards.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HE THOUGHT OF YOU?

my INTUITION tells me he likes me — he has messaged me every day about meeting up again.

WOULD YOUR FAMILY LIKE HIM?

I sent a selfie we took to my mum. she said, ‘not for you, shona!’ she knew he wasn’t my type physically.