IT’S NOT A MATCH!
I felt like I was opposite my uncle – we had zero chemistry
JANICE, 49
VITAL STATISTICS
SINGLE for two-and-a-half years with a son, aged 14.
CURRENT ROLE
NANNY.
WOULD LIKE TO MEET
A FUNNY man who can be himself around me and has never been unfaithful.
DATING PAST?
I have always been in longterm relationships. I was with my last partner for almost 15 years. We share a son but, when he was 11, his father left me for someone else.
Since then I’ve been on five dates. One man was too short; another I didn’t find attractive; one I dated a few times but he wasn’t the one for me. I’m fussy and know what I like.
PRE-DATE NERVES?
I WAS open to dating someone older than me, though apprehensive as men age faster than women. But the friend who nominated me urged me to keep an open mind and kept me calm, too.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS?
DOMINIC is nice but too old for me. he’s not someone I’d look twice at in real life. I like bald men and he wore a suit, but his appearance still said ‘old man’. a younger man might have worn cool trousers or a trendy top. It made me realise why I prefer to date men in their 30s. he was clean-shaven like my ex, but now I prefer a bit of stubble.
EASY TO TALK TO?
YES, Dominic was open and asked lots of questions. We bonded over the fact we’d both been dumped and are active on the dating scene. I’m upfront, so let him know that I usually date younger men. I look younger than I am and I think he saw that. he got covid last year and joked that it caused him to lose his hair, which made me laugh.
EMBARRASSING MOMENTS?
DOMINIC was waiting for me before I joined our Zoom date. Unfortunately, the light in his room gave off a glare on the screen but, later, he turned it off.
DID SPARKS FLY?
ZERO chemistry. I couldn’t shake the feeling I was opposite my uncle. age really is more than a number. Dominic asked me what I thought of him and I’m afraid my face said it all. after half an hour, he said: ‘Do you think we’re wasting our time?’ and we ended the date without exchanging numbers.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET IN PERSON?
NO. DOMINIC did end the date rather abruptly — I didn’t even get to finish my glass of prosecco. he didn’t have anything to eat or drink; he just sat there like it was a job interview.
WHAT DO YOU THINK HE THOUGHT OF YOU?
GOD knows. I think he’ll say I’m easy to talk to. I get told I’m attractive, but I don’t take compliments well.
WOULD YOUR FRIENDS LIKE HIM?
MY FRIENDS would say ‘not for you, Janice’. my son came into the lounge afterwards and said he could tell from my voice that it hadn’t gone well.
She wants a younger man, but that won’t help with the menopause
DOMINIC, 58
VITAL STATISTICS
SINGLE for a year, with a son, 20, and a daughter, 17.
CURRENT ROLE
TRAINER and gym owner.
WOULD LIKE TO MEET
A SOLVENT woman who looks after herself physically. I don’t like couch potatoes.
DATING PAST?
I WAS with my wife for 20 years. my last partner and I were together for six-and-a-half years, but she left me suddenly last march. a week later, I got covid and was in a coma fighting for my life. We have had no contact since. In the past year, I’ve been on some virtual dates. The women I’ve met have been quite forward. One travelled more than 200 miles to see me. Unfortunately, she did not look like her photograph.
PRE-DATE NERVES?
AFTER what I went through last year, I no longer get nervous. I spent three weeks in a coma and three months in hospital, and lost 5st. It put everything else into perspective.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS?
OH DEAR. Janice is not for me at all. her face fell when I told her my age. I don’t understand why she would be so narrow-minded. She took a while to get online, too, which didn’t help.
She tossed her hair around a lot — perhaps she was nervous. Looks aren’t at the top of my list any more, so I was prepared to give her a chance. I tried not to look too disappointed.
EASY TO TALK TO?
I DID my best, but Janice didn’t ask me anything about myself. all she wanted to talk about was the fact she goes out with younger men. I felt sorry for her. I wanted to say I get messages from women in their 20s, but what’s the point? She wasn’t interested.
She doesn’t do any physical activity. She says she is the last on the dance floor at clubs, but who is able to do that in 2021? The only reason I’m still alive is because I’m fit and healthy.
EMBARRASSING MOMENTS?
WHEN I told Janice my age she visibly switched off. It could have been worse. In the past, I’ve been asked if I have my own teeth! I have to say it was the worst meet-up I’ve ever had.
DID SPARKS FLY?
NO. I CAN’T contemplate a relationship with someone who doesn’t work out. Women of Janice’s age need to start weight training and doing regular aerobic exercise. She wants to be with a man young enough to be her child, but that won’t help when it comes to osteoporosis and the menopause.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET IN PERSON ?
ABSOLUTELY not, although I won’t forget the experience in a hurry.
WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE THOUGHT OF YOU?
I GOT the message: I’m too old!
WOULD YOUR FRIENDS LIKE HER?
I WOULDN’T know, my friends are diplomatic to a fault. It was only after my ex left last year that they told me what they thought of her.