Ailsa, 31, a systems engineer, and Mike, 35, a paralegal, recently met for a blind date at Chargal restaurant in London W1. The evening, while pleasant, lacked a strong romantic connection, as both participants candidly shared in their post-date reflections.
Mike's Perspective
Mike hoped for good conversation with someone interesting. His first impression of Ailsa was positive: she arrived with real energy, bouncing in smiling and warm. They discussed family, jobs, travel, and culture. Mike noted that Ailsa is passionate about live music, while he is not, though she lit up when he shared his brother's theory that all indie music sounds like it belongs on The Inbetweeners.
The most awkward moment came when conversation dipped. Both made an effort, but Mike admitted that when you start asking about weekend plans, you know you are low on ideas. He praised Ailsa's excellent table manners. The best thing about Ailsa, according to Mike, was her positive energy; she never stopped trying to make the evening work. However, he would probably not introduce her to his friends, as they move in different orbits.
Mike described Ailsa in three words: energetic, positive, and independent. He thought she found him pleasant but not quite what she was looking for, as she had hoped to meet someone quirky like herself. The evening ended naturally without moving on to another venue, and there was no kiss. If Mike could change one thing, he would have chosen a corner seat instead of a booth to make conversation feel more relaxed. He rated the date 7 out of 10, calling it a decent evening with someone genuinely different from him, but he doubted there was a connection for a second meeting.
Ailsa's Perspective
Ailsa hoped for good craic and a nice free dinner. She noted that both arrived early, which suggested they had something in common, but she wished Mike had stood up to greet her. Their conversation covered families, travel, work, and unpopular opinions. The most awkward moment occurred when Mike tried to shake her hand at the end of the night while she went in for a hug, and also when he told her his family had organized the entire date for him. She confirmed his table manners were absolutely fine.
The best thing about Mike, in Ailsa's view, was his diverse life experience, which made for good stories. She would absolutely introduce him to her friends, saying he would fit right in. She described him as amiable, funny, and polite. She could not say what Mike thought of her. They did not go on somewhere else because it was a school night and they had already consumed a lot of wine. There was no kiss, as Ailsa did not feel there was a moment where kissing would have made sense. If she could change one thing, it would be not realizing they were in for a three-course meal, as she did not leave enough space for the mains. She rated the date 8 out of 10 but did not feel a strong connection for a second meeting.
The blind date took place at Chargal, London W1. For those interested in participating, email blind.date@theguardian.com.
