I liked that Karen wasn’t a princess or pretentious
LAURENCE, 46 VITAL STATISTICS
SINGLE for five years, no children.
CURRENT ROLE
MATERIALS controller.
WOULD LIKE TO MEET
SOMEONE energetic and interesting. She would be intelligent and honest. I’m not interested in party animals or big drinkers.
DATING PAST
I was in a five-year relationship when I was in my 20s and again in my 30s. Looking back, the relationships were doomed to fail because they were based on physical attraction. even though I lived with them on both occasions, they were the wrong people for me. Nowadays, my next-door neighbours are constantly trying to set me up with women.
PRE-DATE NERVES?
No, you get to a certain age and occasions such as dates don’t bother you. I went with an open mind.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS?
KareN is a petite brunette. she gave me a warm welcome. she struck me as a friendly and chatty woman with whom I would have a good time.
EASY TO TALK TO?
as sooN as I sat down, Karen explained that she has coeliac disease and had already checked out the menu. Karen went for scallops, sea bass and then a sorbet, while I ordered smoked salmon, a steak fillet and a sticky toffee pudding.
Karen had a vodka and tonic while I had a lemonade. I’m not teetotal, I’d usually order a pint, but we were at the kind of fancy restaurant where, I suspect, they don’t serve draught.
Karen told me about her family and asked me about my holidays. My sister has a chalet near great yarmouth and because Mum isn’t too well, we meet there as a family regularly. I think Karen appreciated that I’m close to my family, especially as she has 15 uncles and aunts.
EMBARRASSING MOMENTS?
I used my steak knife on my starter, which our waitress pointed out to me. Karen smiled, she hadn’t said anything because she isn’t the kind of person to comment negatively. she isn’t a princess or pretentious, which I liked.
DID SPARKS FLY?
For me, yes. I’d like to see her again. Karen did flick and play with her hair, but then she also crossed her arms, too. I’d conclude that I received mixed signals. That said, she was quick to give me her number.
SEE HER AGAIN?
yes, my ideal date scenario is a drink together in a quieter bar or pub. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the restaurant. It was great to be in central London after the past couple of years.
WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE THOUGHT OF
YOU? I THINK she found me easygoing.
WOULD YOUR FAMILY LIKE HER?
yes. Karen has no airs or graces, she’s down to earth and those values are important in my family.