Blind date
Every week, we send a couple out for dinner and then report back on their blind date. This week, David Harman and Lynn McCarthy went to Cucina Italiana in Oxted, Surrey.
Lynn, 54, is from Swanley in Kent. She is divorced, with two daughters aged 18 and 21, and is single after the end of an eightmonth relationship.
David, 53, is from Crawley, West Sussex, and works at Heathrow Airport. Separated, he has two young boys aged nine and six.
LYNN, 54, SAYS:
I’M A bit of a character and love meeting new people, so I’d like to find a man who can make me laugh.
David was already at the restaurant when I got there — though I didn’t know that! There was a crowd of people arriving at the same time as me, and I tried to explain to the waiter that I was on a blind date — but in the end, I sat down at an empty table.
This man kept looking over at me, so I hid behind my menu...but eventually, I asked the waiter if he was my date and approached him. He was very tall and greeted me with a kiss, then we started chatting.
I’ve been through a lot, so you can’t pull the wool over my eyes, and I think David is a very genuine guy. Some of my dating experiences have been awful, so I told him about some of my funny dates. I like having a giggle, so I need someone with a sense of humour who is not too serious. In general, if they are laid-back, then all the better.
However, David is so laid-back it’s not true! He didn’t seem to make much of an effort. He did make one compliment about me being great company, but I got no vibe that he was interested. I thought it would have been nice of him to ask for my number, even just to check that I got home OK.
Despite that, the evening was really good. We have a lot in common, so we talked about all sorts and did have a laugh. David has a comical side, but is so laid-back that nothing worries him! He is someone you can really get on with, and I think I would have liked to see him again, but there was no passion between us. I’m not sure if I fancied him — though sometimes that can grow.
I was being my funny self to begin with, but as the evening wore on, I felt a little unwell. Just a cold, I think, and my current stress of moving house, but David took over the conversation, which was good. My daughters were delighted I was going on a date and texted me to see how I’d got on. I didn’t really know. I thought we had a great evening, but I don’t know how to read David. He gave no hint he wanted to see me again.
I live life to the full, but I wasn’t going to ask for his number without more interest from him.
I’d be willing to meet up as friends. I miss male company, but David seems very busy with his job. I want someone who would be able to be more involved. I wonder if he is ready for romance. I was really pleased to go on the date, though. I’ve had a very rough year — I recently lost my parents — so it was good to get out. The restaurant was lovely, and David was very generous. He made sure I got the last of our garlic bread and offered me some of his steak. I had the ravioli.
I do think I made him laugh, but I would want someone who could give me more attention. He seems to very much like his own space, and I’d be hard to tame!
I don’t think David has enough get-up-and-go for me. LIKED? His sense of humour. REGRETS? None. COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee. VERDICT: 8/10
DAVID, 53, SAYS:
I LOve talking to people, so I wasn’t nervous about the date. I arrived first and was seated when a woman walked in by herself.
The waiter tried to escort her to my table, but she insisted I wasn’t who she was meeting, so he put her at an empty table.
I kept looking over and, in the end, she walked over and asked if I was David. I’m not sure why that happened, to be honest, but I decided to just enjoy the evening regardless.
Although Lynn is an attractive woman, I knew immediately she wasn’t my type and that there was going to be no physical attraction for me. But that didn’t stop us from having a really entertaining evening. Lynn is great fun and full of stories, so we chatted away and stayed there until the end of the evening.
We talked about everything except the weather! We chatted about ourselves, work, holidays and had a few laughs. With me, what you see is what you get. I’m an honest bloke and I like to talk, but I’m a good listener, too. I believe in trying to treat people how I like to be treated. The restaurant was very good. We shared garlic bread and I had steak, rocket and chips, and a strawberry cheesecake.
Neither of us was in a hurry to leave, but I don’t know how she felt about me. I’m not sure if she had turned away at first because she didn’t fancy me, but I think she liked me as a person.
That’s half of it, I think: just to get out there, share good company and learn about dating again. My marriage ended amicably and I spend a lot of time with my boys. I’m 53, but young for my age, and would like to start dating again, though I’m not sure how.
ONLINe dating is not for me — it’s hard to find the time to search for romance and I like to talk to people. Online, you’re just bombarded with photos, which is so judgmental. I’m looking for someone comfortable in themselves and up for a laugh — someone not too glamorous, but attractive, and down-to-earth.
Lynn is a great conversationalist and I’m quite happy to let someone chat away, but I can also take my turn to talk and usually get on well with women.
At the end of the night, I asked Lynn how she was getting home and waited for her cab. We didn’t swap numbers, so I just thanked her for a lovely evening and gave her a peck on the cheek.
I don’t feel disappointed, though. While I think you know immediately if the attraction is there, it can always grow, or you can be attracted and it can diminish as you get to know someone — so sometimes, it’s best just to let it play out a bit.
I really enjoyed Lynn’s company. This date has dusted off a few cobwebs for me. you have to realise it’s just about meeting people and sharing experiences.
I talk to people all the time anyway, but sitting down over a meal really helped me remember more about dating chat. LIKED? Lynn doesn’t take life too seriously and is great fun. REGRETS? None. COFFEE OR CAB? Cab. VERDICT: 6/10
I’m not sure if I fancied him, but attraction can grow I knew at once she wasn’t my type