Daily Mail

Blind date

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He’s not my usual type but a spark might develop I didn’t flirt, but we clicked from the word go

EvEry week we send a couple on a blind date. This time James Porritt, 38, had dinner at Cecconi in The Ned hotel, London, with Charlotte Lewington, 32. James is a business consultant and lives in London. Charlotte is a hospital capacity manager and lives in Cambridge.

CHARLOTTE SAYS:

I’vE spent so much time focusing on work, I’ve forgotten to make a life for myself. I’m ambitious and outgoing, but my job is extremely busy and to be honest I’m a bit lonely as a result.

my heart was broken by a man four years ago, and ever since I haven’t invested much time or energy in dating. I know I’m fussy, but I’m also a good judge of character and all the men I seem to meet are either commitment phobes or ‘players’.

So going on a blind date took me out of my comfort zone. I must admit to being extremely nervous. I normally have them all worked out beforehand through internet searches and so on, so it was nerveracki­ng meeting a total stranger.

But when I walked into the restaurant James got up to greet me, he made me feel more comfortabl­e and was such a gentleman throughout.

He was dressed smartly, too, which I liked. James was the loveliest of guys. Although he wasn’t my usual type in terms of looks, we got on so well and had so much in common. I’m working towards starting a business supporting female entreprene­urs. James has studied as a coach, too, and we had a wonderful conversati­on about that.

WE are both involved with business networking so the chat never stopped. I also love to be wined and dined at nice restaurant­s, so I was impressed with James’s choice as the food was amazing.

There wasn’t much flirting, because we were focused on talking about business, but I do wonder if a spark might develop. People would describe me as headstrong and feisty, with a social conscience and work ethic. I’m ambitious and I loved that James had the same sort of drive and energy.

I had an amazing date and it’s shown me you can’t predict how well you will get on with someone. I think we can get so focused on what attributes or looks we think we want in a partner, that we forget to think about the person.

I’ve decided to be more openminded. Essentiall­y, I’m looking for an old- fashioned, goodlookin­g, charming man — someone to make me feel special, and vice versa. Being familyorie­ntated and liking romantic holidays would be a bonus. We swapped numbers and James asked me to let him know that I’d got home okay, which I thought was lovely.

He even drove me to the station and waited to make sure I got on the train. That sort of behaviour makes all the difference, doesn’t it? I did text when I got home, and the next day he replied to thank me for a lovely evening. I hope we’ll see each other again, because we’re on similar paths and it’s good to meet people like that. But my gut feeling is that it will be just as friends.

Still, the experience has given me hope. I guess the next step is to get out there more. LIKED: A gentleman who has a lot to him. REGRETS: None. COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee.

Verdict: 8/10 JAMES SAYS:

WHEN Charlotte walked in I thought she was lovely and beautifull­y dressed, although not my usual type, physically.

From the word go, we clicked and this may sound strange, but I felt at the end of it that I had found a friend. She’s so open yet has a lovely shyness about her.

I could sense her energy was nervous initially, so I tried hard to put her at ease. And once we got talking we had so much in common, we were there for over three hours. She is so switched on and smart, so it was an enjoyable date. I’ve had several longterm relationsh­ips, but I’ve decided to stop putting pressure on myself to find ‘the one’ and to see what happens. I’m attracted to intelligen­t, funny, quirky, confident women who are secure in themselves, but kind and caring. Because I am so ambitious and driven, those qualities appeal to me in others, too. Charlotte is all of those things, and we had some meaningful conversati­ons, which is unusual on a first date. I’ve been single for a couple of years and although I’ve done a bit of online dating, I meet a lot of people through my work. I am focused on my career though. I am always on the go, networking and working, or in my spare time trekking, dancing and spending time with my friends and family. I’m an open-minded person, but also clear on what I will and won’t accept.

My Number one value is freedom, and I know my purpose is to make a difference — which is why I put my career first.

Charlotte and I talked about families and relationsh­ips and how long we’d been single. I felt we built a good connection. But if I like someone I can be flirtatiou­s and I wasn’t, and I also didn’t get any vibes from her. We were talking so much she ended up a bit short of time to catch her train back to Cambridge, so I gave her a lift to the station and asked her to message me when she got home, which she did. I hope we keep in touch.

I’m happy with whatever life throws at me, and I’ll most likely see her again.

This date was a positive experience. I don’t put big expectatio­ns on myself to meet someone — we talked about that, and she is on the same wavelength, although she did confess it was easier said than done. LIKED: She is genuine and articulate. REGRETS: None. COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee. Verdict: 8/10

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