Blind date

I ordered wine.Then he said he didn’t drink!

I told her my mad Vegas stories

EVery week, we send a couple out on a blind date. This time, Parmiit Goraya, 46, had dinner at gastropub The Lighterman in King’s Cross, London, with Shereen Hassan, 31.

Parmiit is a boxing manager from Kent who is divorced with two teenage children. Shereen is a chartered accountant and lives in Harrow, North West London.

SHEREEN, 31, SAYS:

My MuM is an avid Daily Mail reader and desperate for me to find someone nice, so she put me forward for this date. I laughed when she told me, but then thought: ‘I’ve got nothing to lose, I’ll give it a go!’

I had a couple of close relationships in my 20s and have since had some online dates, but I’ve just not met anyone I connect with recently.

I was nervous walking in to the date and was looking forward to a glass of wine. Parmiit was already sitting down. He was dressed smartly in a nice suit and tie and was warm and friendly. He was a good height, a bit taller than me, but at first sight, I wasn’t sure if I fancied him.

He told me he had ordered drinks for the table, but when they arrived, it was just water. So I ordered some wine — and then he told me he doesn’t drink. I appreciate that not everyone does, but I was surprised.

Still, it was a relaxed date and there was a bit of banter, too.

The restaurant was lovely and had a wellstocked bar but, obviously, we didn’t go there after dinner, which was a shame! Although I’m sure he would have been happy to have a soft drink, I didn’t want to carry on boozing on my own.

I’m looking for someone fun who lives life to the full and shares some of my interests. Wit and a good sense of humour would be a bonus and, ideally, I’d like someone quite tall and a professional, although I don’t mind where he is from.

I lived in Saudi Arabia as a child, so I love different cultures. My dad is Sudanese and I travel extensively every year.

I’m a fan of London nightlife, dining out and visiting nice pubs. I’m outgoing — vivacious, you could say. I love meeting new people and relish a challenge.

I’m a strong swimmer and competed in the Junior Olympics as a teenager, so I keep my fitness up by running and going to the gym. I’m also family-oriented and much of my social life centres around my parents and siblings.

Sadly, I felt Parmiit and I didn’t have many things in common. There was no real spark and, as the date progressed, I knew I didn’t fancy him — and I got the impression that the feeling was mutual.

He’s a straightforward guy, not a game player at all, and will be great for someone, but we weren’t right for each other. There’s also an age gap and we don’t have similar interests. I think I would find it hard going out with someone who didn’t share the same lifestyle as me. I wouldn’t want to feel awkward about having a glass of wine (or three!).

I adore going out and it’s a big part of my life, whereas it’s just not for him.

We swapped phone numbers at the end of the night, but I think only to stay friends.

I’m glad I went on the date with Parmiit because he was a lovely guy and it’s given me a better understanding of who I’m looking for. I probably need to meet someone at a similar life stage who shares my love of going out. LIKED? He was chatty and made an effort. REGRETS? None. COFFEE OR CAB? Cab.

Verdict: 6/10

PARMIIT, 46, SAYS:

SHereeN arrived at the restaurant a few minutes after me. I clocked that she was nice, tall and smartly dressed and she gave me a warm and friendly greeting. She was well-spoken, obviously from a respectable family with a good education.

We talked about our work and our families, which are important to both of us. We were both quite open and talked about our lives growing up. I felt like we had a lot in common.

We also chatted about things we like, such as travel and food. I’m not a drinker, and she is, and she likes to go out and party more than me, but that’s not an issue, as I don’t mind hanging out with people who drink. She’s career-driven and so am I and, even with the age gap, we seem to be similar people. Age isn’t a big thing for me — it’s the person who matters. I was married for 11 years and have had a couple of relationships since my divorce — one significant. I would love to find a good person who is supportive, attractive and driven, as well as family-oriented. My celebrity crush would be actress Halle Berry, although I’m not as driven by looks as by connection. I’ve been single for a while and, to be honest, I think half the battle with dating is seizing the moment and making the effort. I do work hard, having given up a career in banking to try my hand in the boxing business, but so far, it is going well. I spend a lot of time in Las Vegas and, when I’m home, I like listening to music and relaxing with friends and family. When I gave up a steady career, my family thought that I was nuts, but I kept going and it’s worked out.

DeSPITe being in boxing, though, I’m not a flash guy and I’m not into trying to pretend I’m something big.

Shereen took a great interest in the boxing side of things, so I was able to regale her with some mad stories from Vegas! We had loads of laughs.

After the date, we walked out together to the train. It was pelting down with rain, so I made sure she was kept dry under my umbrella. We parted with a hug before catching our trains and I’m pretty sure we will keep in contact as friends.

She is a lovely person with a big heart, but the spark wasn’t there. She’s tall and I tend to go for petite women.

However, Shereen was a great listener, enjoyed herself and was easy-going, so I liked our date together. Life is hectic, so I’m sure the right person will come along sometime! LIKED? I loved her personality — friendly and empathetic. REGRETS? None. COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee.

Verdict: 8/10