DESPERATE TO DATE OLDER WORKMATE

Dear Coleen

I’M A 32-year-old man and for quite a long time now I’ve really fancied one of my colleagues but never had the guts to tell her.

I love going to work every day just to see her.

She’s recently turned 40 so there’s a bit of an age gap, which isn’t a problem for me, but I’m worried she won’t be interested in a younger man.

I’m also concerned that if she turns me down, things will be really awkward at work.

We have always got along really well and flirted a bit, but how do I get to the next level?

Coleen says

IT SOUNDS promising if you engage in some flirting. However, I think you need to take it out of the office to see if there’s anything there.

Why don’t you ask a few colleagues out for a drink after work one Friday and include her? That way, it’s not a date, but you’ll be in a relaxed environment and can start getting to know her away from the office environment.

I think it’ll become clear quite quickly if there’s any chemistry and if things are going to the next level.

I don’t think the age gap is huge, so I wouldn’t get too hung up on that. However, dating someone at work is always risky – if things don’t work out, you’ll still have to see each other every day. If you do get together, that’s something to discuss.

TO THE stressed-out bride – why have a big wedding if it’s making you so miserable (Dear Coleen, February 14)?

My husband and I got married on holiday in the US and had a low-key party when we got home.

When I attended my brother’s huge wedding, any doubts I’d had about keeping ours small disappeared – I’d never seen him so anxious and he didn’t enjoy it all.

Rachael, via email