WHO’LL FIND LOVE ON OUR BLIND DATE

SEARCHING for love a second time around is not easy. This is a column for those venturing back to the dating game later in life who need advice and reassurance that they are not alone.

Every week, we send a couple out for dinner and report back on their blind date, with a little advice thrown in to help the rest of us.

Nicola Sangwin, 59, and comedian John Fleming, 66, went to Prime Steak and Grill in Chandler’s Cross, Hertfordshire.

Nicola has never married and lives in Rickmansworth with her two Labradors. She has a 24-year-old son who lives in Australia. After her son’s father died when he was very young, she was in a long-term relationship for ten years, but has now been single for more than ten years.

John is a comedy blogger from Borehamwood in Hertfordshire. He has no children of his own and has never married.

NICOLA, 59, SAYS:

THINGS got off to a rocky start with John, thanks to my choice of restaurant — I chose a steak house and, on meeting him, he confessed he doesn’t like steak.

I felt awful about that. He ordered salmon and said it was good, but it wasn’t an ideal place to have a meal.

To make up for it, I would have ordered a bottle of wine — but then I discovered he doesn’t drink, either. I fear it was downhill from here.

Although I could tell immediately that John was a lovely, caring man, we had nothing in common.

He’s not a man without interests — it’s just that none of them matched mine, and vice versa. I like travelling, cooking, golf, walking my dogs and socialising, but he didn’t like any of those things.

I really felt I had to keep the conversation going at times. It seemed like we were running out of things to talk about. He was charming, but kept apologising for ‘wittering on’, so I felt he lacked a bit of confidence — or maybe he was just nervous?

I like somebody with more get up and go, who’s a bit more spontaneous. A man with a twinkle in his eye. I think John needs somebody who is a bit more traditional, and I really hope he meets someone.

I felt he needed a hug and someone to look after him and give him a boost.

I wanted him to enjoy the evening, so I chatted away, but knew that I wasn’t interested romantically.

I’m also 5 ft 5 in and a bit taller than him — not that that’s a problem. But there was no chemistry between us, which is really important for me. I’m very positive and motivated in spite of a somewhat rocky road throughout my life!

I want to keep my life interesting, particularly because I have devoted the past 10 years to raising my son, who’s now 24 and living away.

Finally, I feel it’s time to concentrate on me. I tried internet dating for around six months, but found it difficult to find someone I liked and ended up going out with men for just one date. One was awful. Midway through dinner, he got up and left — leaving me with the bill!

It doesn’t matter what age you are, it’s not easy to meet someone new. But I believe it’s never too late to find someone special — I heard of someone recently getting married at 78.

The men I’ve gone out with over the past eight years have all been younger than me. It’s not that I’ve gone out looking for that, I think it’s just the way you are as a person.

Life is too short not to have fun, which is why I know John is not for me.

It was a nice evening, but we had zero in common, which meant that we exhausted all topics. John was a delight to spend time with, but he wasn’t my type — so my search for romance continues. LIKED: He was a gentleman. REGRETS: None. I would definitely go on another blind date. COFFEE OR CAB? Cab. VERDICT: 8/10

JOHN, 66, SAYS:

I kNOw women might find me a bit odd. I don’t drink or smoke and spent most of my early career travelling, so rarely had the chance to settle down, and my friendships are consequently a bit scattered.

when I was younger, I never liked to mix romance with work, so the end result was that dating was erratic. I always thought the person I’d marry would be a motorway service waitress as I drove around so much!

However, I was one of the early internet dating pioneers, using the original Dateline in the Sixties and then again in the midNineties. I met someone and we had a seven-year relationship.

But I don’t use internet dating much any more. I put the social side on hold when I was 50 as it seemed like such hard work.

I’d never been on a blind date before, but I wasn’t nervous. I tend to get on with most people. Besides, it was an adventure.

I arrived early and Nicola arrived on time and seemed very businesslike and efficient. She was very glamorous, well-dressed and smiley. we had a drink before our meal and chatted happily.

The conversation didn’t flag, and I was impressed with what a lovely mother she is. She’s very proud of her son.

The food was excellent and we had three courses. I had salmon and she had steak: both were wonderfully cooked.

Our conversation meandered around lots of topics. I value intelligence, original thinking and a sense of humour. I found Nicola very interesting.

I don’t like scatty people, and she came across as very together. we talked for threeand-a-half hours constantly. I hope I didn’t dominate the conversation, but there weren’t any awkward moments.

It would be interesting to meet her again, particularly in a more relaxing situation. I gave her my details, but she didn’t give me her number back so who knows?

we shared a taxi to my train station where she dropped me. It’s rather hard to give someone a kiss in the back of a people carrier, so I touched her arm in a polite way and we said goodbye. LIKED: She’s intelligent, chatty and relaxed. REGRETS: None at all — I like meeting interesting people. COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee (although I’ll have green tea). VERDICT: 9 ½ /10

I want to have fun – so I know John isn’t for me I didn’t kiss her – but I did touch her arm politely