‘ I usually go for rugby types — he’s a bit too pretty for me ’

DATING PAST?

I’ve had one serious relationship in the past which lasted four-and-ahalf years but we split up five years ago as he cheated on me. I’ve had a couple of other relationships but they’ve only lasted a few months.

PRE-DATE NERVES?

I’d Never been on a blind date before but I wasn’t particularly nervous. thanks to my job, I’m used to socialising with strangers, so I felt comfortable meeting ricardo.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

he WaS already at the table when I arrived, so he stood up, gave me a hug and a kiss and introduced himself. he certainly wasn’t unattractive but I normally go for dark-haired, bearded rugby types, whereas he was a bit too ‘pretty’ and smooth-looking.

EASY TO TALK TO?

YeS, he was friendly and polite, if a little shy. We share a love of travel. he has family all over europe so had done plenty of trips around the Continent, whereas I have been further afield and want to travel closer to home now.

We are both close to our families and talked about them; he has two brothers and I’ve got four siblings.

he put me off a little when he said he barely drinks. that’s fine, of course, and a personal choice, but my job revolves around wine, so it would have been nice to have felt able to talk about that. otherwise, he was nice.

EMBARRASSING MOMENTS?

I thought he was a restaurant manager, so I started asking him about the restaurant and wine trade but it turns out he works in domino’s. I’m not judging him, it was just awkward. he’s also a parttime model and wants to do more so we got chatting about that, too.

DID SPARKS FLY?

No. I knew pretty much straight away that I wasn’t interested in him romantically. We got on well on a friend level but he isn’t my type.

SEE HIM AGAIN?

I doN’t think so. he asked for my Instagram handle, so we swapped those and we messaged each other to make sure we’d got home safely.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HE THOUGHT OF YOU?

I thINK he thought it was good to meet me and we did have a lovely time. I go to Manchester, where he lives, regularly for work, so we might meet for a coffee if he wanted to.

WOULD YOUR FAMILY LIKE HIM?

YeS, he’s polite and friendly, but they’d think he was quite introverted, whereas I’m more sociable.