She wanted to take custody of my credit card after I lost it!

ALI, 33 VITAL STATISTICS

SINGLE for a year, no children.

CURRENT ROLE

MANAGER in the public sector.

WOULD LIKE TO MEET

AN OUTDOORSY person who is funny and easy-going. I tend to avoid women who take themselves too seriously.

DATING PAST

I WAS seeing someone for a year, but we drifted apart when the

pandemic hit. It was my first ever relationship because I’ve been so focused on my career.

Now I’m settled in my professional life, I feel it’s the right time to meet someone.

I’ve tried dating apps, but I’ve had a few strange experiences, and, yes, I have been catfished. One ‘woman’ I’d been chatting to turned out to be a guy when we met up. I’ve no idea whose picture he used. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings so had a short but polite conversation with him; that’s the online dating world for you.

PRE-DATE NERVES?

A LITTLE nervous, but after the lockdowns, this is a rather romantic way of meeting someone.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

ROMKA is attractive and has an enchanting smile. I felt at ease with her. She looked effortlessly cool in a black mini skirt and white top.

EASY TO TALK TO?

THE conversation didn’t let up. We went through the menu and agreed we should order dishes that we hadn’t tried before or eaten for a while.

We talked about our social lives. Now I’m vaccinated, I’m more open to meeting new people. We’ve both lived in Hull and York, and talked about the difference between the two cities.

I want to learn a new language and romka advised me to go for a romantic one such as Spanish or French. She made me laugh. We had fun playing games such as guessing the nationality of our waiter from his accent. I turned out to be right.

EMBARRASSING MOMENTS?

TOWARDS the middle of the date, I lost the credit card that I was using to pay for our meal. I was in panic mode for five minutes before I found it in my jeans. romka joked she should take custody of it for both of our sakes.

DID SPARKS FLY?

I THOUGHT they might have, but romka didn’t feel the same way.

SEE HER AGAIN?

I HOPE so. though we’ve only just met, I feel like I know romka well.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE THOUGHT OF YOU?

HOPEFULLY, that I’m good company. romka doesn’t see me in a romantic way and I’m perfectly fine with that.

WOULD YOUR FRIENDS LIKE HER?

YES, after lockdown I’ve realised the importance of friends for my personal resilience. that’s why my friends would welcome romka into the fold, too.