MY DATING TIPS

See it as a game It’s better to go out on a bit of a date than stay home. If you have a story to tell afterwards, how marvellous. If you find romance – it’s a bonus.

Make an effort with your profile Think about how you want to come across and reflect those qualities.

Be honest Don’t lie about your age, height, weight or use someone’s photo. You don’t want to start any relationship on a lie.

If you’re in contact with someone, ask for a photo early on – a selfie of them reading today’s paper, or something that shows what they look like now. Stick to a radius of, say, 30 miles. Driving 100 miles to meet someone who you know is wrong for you is soul-destroying – and at our age and stage, it’s very difficult to relocate anyway.

Just meet for a coffee or a drink first time – then you don’t have to sit for hours with someone who turns out to be a Father Christmas lookalike with sheep’s teeth and a cardigan.

Accept that everyone on the site has baggage – that’s why they’re there.

Keep going The internet is an amazing vehicle for putting people together – and I truly believe there’s someone out there for everyone!