ANGELA’S TOP TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL DATE

● Don’t talk all the time without pausing or listening to your date.

● Don’t talk exclusively about yourself.

● Never talk about an ex or anyone else you’ve been romantically involved with.

● Never talk about previous sexual escapades or your sexual prowess.

● Don’t sit tongue-tied so that your date is forced into a monologue.

● Ask questions back.

You’re not being interviewed – it’s a conversation. Avoid

● Don’t smell bad. Come showered and clean – good hygiene is a must. Check that breath too.

● No dirty clothes. speeches, interrogations or any other unbalanced communication.

● Don’t interrupt. Let your date finish their thoughts and leave a little pause in the air. After a moment, you’ll know it’s your turn.

● Never show up drunk or out of it in any other way.

● Don’t be late. It’s disrespectful.

● Don’t finish each sentence with a laugh. This is a tell-tale

● Don’t be a cheapskate. Offer to buy the first round or to pay for something to eat. Do not wait for the other person to treat you.

sign of insecurity, and insecurity is a turn-off for most people.

● Don’t talk about money. Like how much you earn, for instance, or how much the bill is. Just pay and move on, or split the bill 50/50. If it’s your treat, enjoy the honour of hosting a meal and don’t make a thing out of it – no one owes anyone anything.

● No fidgeting. Keep those nervous habits in check.

● Don’t be evasive, but don’t brag either.

● Don’t scan the room all the time. Focus on your date – everyone else is just noise.

● Don’t stress the time. Avoid planning dates for when you’ve got a million other things to do.

● Don’t mention the war. No politics, hot-button issues, religious opinions. This is neither the time nor the place where disagreement is a good idea. The only politics involved should be your remarkable diplomacy in avoiding conflict. That said, if you disagree with something and feel the urge to respond, then do so. Being a people-pleaser only pushes disagreements into a pile-up down the road.

● Don’t try to impress your date. People with status don’t need to show it every chance they get. It’s the ones who ain’t got it who try so hard to prove the opposite.

● Never ask anyone’s age and never mention their weight. If your guess falls shy of the mark, you’ll look like a creep, and if it flies high, you’ll embarrass or humiliate your date. Should they ask you to guess, say you haven’t a clue and change the subject. Don’t ask anatomical questions at all – age and weight are just a part of this rule.