The First Date in Nearly 15 Years
Two strangers, Sarah, a 53-year-old psychologist, and Russell, a 61-year-old behaviour officer, recently took a leap of faith by participating in The Guardian's long-running Blind Date column. For Russell, this marked a significant milestone as he confessed: 'I hadn't been on a date for nearly 15 years and it showed'.
Their evening unfolded at Bar Iberico in Nottingham, where they navigated the unpredictable waters of modern dating through a whirlwind of abstract musings and personal stories.
First Impressions and Table Talk
Sarah's initial observation noted her date as 'tall, slim and seemingly in a rush', while Russell was immediately struck by her 'warm smile'. Their conversation flowed through diverse topics including Montessori education, children's play versus split digraphs, Sarah's whale-watching adventure in Iceland, and tree-planting projects.
Russell demonstrated thoughtful table manners when he noticed Sarah struggling with mussel detritus and promptly arranged for an extra plate. Despite the engaging conversation, both acknowledged the pace was somewhat overwhelming. 'It was a bit of a whirlwind of abstract musings,' Sarah noted, while Russell admitted: 'I may have talked too much. In fact, I know I did!'
Rating the Experience and Future Plans
When it came to scoring their evening, Sarah gave the date 7 out of 10, praising Russell's 'amiable nature and passion for community projects'. She described him as 'loquacious, big-hearted, unconventional' and said she would introduce him to her friends.
Russell proved more generous with his assessment, awarding 9 out of 10 and complimenting Sarah's 'ability to share and exchange thoughts'. He characterized her as 'interesting, adventurous and attractive'.
Although no romantic spark ignited sufficiently for a kiss or evening extension, they exchanged numbers to potentially visit Bempton Cliffs in North Yorkshire to see the puffins. As Sarah pragmatically noted: 'Maybe as friends.'
The Guardian's Blind Date column has been pairing strangers since 2009, offering readers weekly insights into the realities of modern dating through honest participant accounts.
