WHO’LL FIND LOVE ON OUR BLIND DATE
It made me feel all warm and fuzzy to be looked after so well
Each 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 with affairs of the heart. This week we sent Meena Bedi and Tim cadwallader to The Boot in Lapworth, Warwickshire.
Meena has been single for some time after a couple of long-term relationships. She is settling back in the UK after travelling for many years and is looking for a man with
joie de vivre who knows how to make her laugh and feel like a million dollars. She works in advertising sales.
Tim is divorced with three children aged 16, 11 and nine. he lives in Birmingham and works in flight operations at Birmingham airport. he is looking for someone quirky and fun.
Meena, 59, says:
I LOVE a chivalrous man with good manners, but also someone who is fun and likes a laugh. I’ve been a happy single person and really enjoy life, but feel I would love to share my life with someone special.
however, I don’t have much opportunity to meet people as I only moved back to the UK last month after ten years in France.
I’m living out of a suitcase between my parents’ house and my sister’s in Solihull until I get settled.
It’s been a couple of years since I went on a date so I was nervous, but when I saw Tim at the bar I was relieved. he was very presentable and easy-going, and made me feel comfortable right away.
I think he was probably nervous at the beginning, too, but we started chatting and were laughing immediately, so there was no awkwardness.
We’ve had similar life experiences, share interests such as travel and cooking, and both have stuff in storage, so that helped to break the ice. I’m a dog lover, and Tim talked about how he adores his sister’s pet, so it felt as if we were on the same wavelength — the conversation flowed.
I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. It was a lovely country pub and the food was great. They looked after us so well.
I loved the fact Tim was gallant and gentlemanly, opening doors and being very considerate. I was nervous about telling him I was older than him, but he said I looked great for my age and that it didn’t matter. I don’t feel (or act!) my age — when I do a reality check on how old I am I sometimes get a shock. I live life to the full.
We both felt our meal finished too quickly so we went for a nightcap at the bar, but he was working the next morning and driving home, so we had to leave, otherwise I think we would have kept on talking.
I was going to get a taxi, but Tim very kindly drove me home. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy to be looked after so well. It’s been a long time.
Was there a spark? I don’t know. I think sparks at my age are few and far between, but I try to look beyond that. If I felt he was interested, I would definitely meet up. We didn’t make plans to meet again and just said goodbye with a kiss on the cheek.
But even if Tim doesn’t want to progress with it, I’m fine with that because I had such a lovely evening. I have tried internet dating but found it soul-destroying, but this blind date with Tim has given me hope that there are some lovely middle-aged men out there. It was a heartwarming and positive experience. LIKE: affable, easy-going and a gallant gentleman. REGRETS: None. CAB OR COFFEE: coffee. VERDICT: 10/10 Tim, 52, says: MEENa is stunning. When she walked into the bar I was so impressed. She is classy and beautiful with gorgeous eyes.
I was gobsmacked when she told me how old she was. She looks at least ten years younger — and I certainly didn’t mind in the slightest.
I had been really nervous beforehand, but within minutes of meeting we were laughing and relaxed in each other’s company. It was Meena’s personality that made the date for me.
I’ve never been on a blind date before and haven’t dated that much in the past few years.
I’ve been single for a while and feel ready to start dating again, but I’ve found internet dating can be hard as people don’t often turn out to be what they appear.
The type of woman I’m looking for is someone quirky with a great sense of humour, who doesn’t take life too seriously.
Meena was great as there was no awkwardness and we had a lot in common.
She’s interesting, well educated and well travelled, so we were laughing and talking all evening.
There was definite chemistry between us in terms of personality. We’ve both lived abroad, each been between houses and have similar interests. I really felt we had a connection.
Meena looked stunning with her lovely dark brown eyes and hair, but I’m not sure that we had a physical spark. She’s just lovely, though.
The Boot was really good. I had a spicy chicken starter, followed by steak, but we were too full to eat dessert.
We could have stayed talking all night, though when it was time to go home I wasn’t happy to leave Meena in the middle of the country to get a taxi, so I gave her a lift.
We said goodbye with a little peck on the cheek, but didn’t swap phone numbers.
I would definitely like to see Meena again, though, because we connected on a personality level, but I’m not sure about a spark.
It was a great night and has encouraged me to think about dating. I’ve been put off before, but after this date I know there’s someone out there for me. LIKE: her personality — she is such great fun. REGRETS: Not at all — it was a lovely evening. CAB OR COFFEE: coffee. VERDICT: 8/10
I was gobsmacked she was 59 – she looked ten years younger