Dick on Nicole
What were you hoping for?
To meet a new friend and eat a good meal.
First impressions?
Open, lively, lively and very friendly.
What were you talking about?
Our families. Our shared interest in sketching, drawing and painting – we even showed each other our sketchbooks. Nicoles were full of wonderful studies of people.
All the awkward moments?
After arriving too early, I wandered around and eventually arrived at 10-7 hoping to be there to greet Nicole. I found she was already there and had been waiting for a while. Oh dear! We had a messy embrace.
What questions will I get?
We\n ask about age, location, profession, hobbies, interests and what kind of\n person you want to meet. If you don’t think these questions \cover everything you’d like to know, tell us what you think.
Can I choose who I match with?
No,\n it’s a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests, \npreferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely to be.
Can I choose the photo?
No, but don’t worry: we pick the best looking ones.
What personal data will be displayed?
Your first name, job and age.
How should I answer?
Honest\n but respectful. Pay attention to how it will read to your date, and that\n Blind date reaches a large audience, in print and online.
Will I see the other person’s response?
No. We may edit yours and theirs for a variety of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more information.
Will you find me The One?
We will try! Marriage! Babies!
Can I do it in my hometown?
Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we’d love to hear from people who live elsewhere.
How to apply
Email blind.date@theguardian.com
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Questions and answers
Do you want to be on a blind date?
Show
Blind Date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then they play beans to us and answer a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been around since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here.
What questions will I get?
We ask about age, location, profession, hobbies, interests and what kind of person you want to meet. If you don’t think these questions cover everything you’d like to know, let us know what you think.
Can I choose who I match with?
No, it’s a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests, preferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely to be.
Can I choose the photo?
No, but don’t worry: we pick the best looking ones.
What personal data will be displayed?
Your first name, job and age.
How should I answer?
Honest but respectful. Pay attention to how it will read to your date, and that Blind Date reaches a large audience, in print and online.
Will I see the other person’s response?
No. We may edit yours and theirs for a variety of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more information.
Will you find me The One?
We will try! Marriage! Babies!
Can I do it in my hometown?
Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we’d love to hear from people who live elsewhere.
How to apply
Email blind.date@theguardian.com
Good table condition?
Sure. I just hope mine was as good.
The best thing about Nicole?
Her open gaiety and cheerful charm.
Would you introduce Nicole to your friends?
I would love to have the chance, and I’m sure they would enjoy her company.
Describe Nicole in three words.
Lively, open and lively.
What do you think Nicole did to you?
Too chatty and a bit disappointed I’m afraid.
Did you go on somewhere?
Nicole was staying with a friend who usually goes to bed at 10.30 – it was later than that when we left the restaurant, so we only had time to rush to the station together. I feel bad that I didn’t deliver Nicole safely to her friend. I hope she got there safely.
And… …did you kiss?
A chaste peck on the cheek, Brief Encounter style, at the ticket barrier!
What would you change?
Many things, but top of the list would be quieter music in the restaurant and I should talk less.
Brands out 10?
9.
Would you meet again?
I would love the chance to. We talked about visiting the Winslow Homer exhibit at the National Gallery but we didn’t exchange contact information. Silly me – or was it deliberate on Nicole’s part? The answer will come with time.
Nicole on Dick
What were you hoping for?
A good dinner with a nice, intelligent man, some witty conversation. Maybe a little flirty.
First impressions?
I arrived unnaturally early, so was already seated at our table as there was no bar. But I made the most of the opportunity. I ate olives and focaccia with my negroni while I waited. He apologized for being late, which he wasn’t. He was shorter than I expected, but had a kind face.
What were you talking about?
The menu. This dating process. His previous career, which he surprisingly described as boring. His amateur choir. My bilingual background. Unfortunately too much about my history as a singer and coach. The art of Winslow Homer. Why I moved from London and why he moved back. I would have liked to have heard more about his adventures in his boat and his trip to Antarctica, which he seemed reluctant to elaborate on. We laughed at his inability to take selfies or send pictures from his phone.
All the awkward moments?
He brought me a pink rosebud, which he took out between simultaneously trying to greet me with cheek kisses and receiving my outstretched hand. He immediately warned me that he hates opera and lieder, and never gives a 10! I feared the worst.
Good table condition?
Probably better than mine. He apologized for eating slowly. I tried not to seem greedy. Not sure I succeeded.
The best thing about Dick?
Unsurprisingly for an architect, he draws really well, and I suspect his watercolors are charming. He draws really well – I was glad that we both have a sketchbook. He was praising my efforts.
Would you introduce Dick to your friends?
I’m not sure.
Describe Dick in three words.
Polite, self-deprecating, old-fashioned.
What do you think Dick did to you?
Maybe a little scary.
Did you go on somewhere?
No. But he gallantly carried my heavy bag and saw me to my train.
And… …did you kiss?
Do people kiss on a first date at our age?
What would you change?
More common interests please. I also hope for a quieter restaurant. It was deafening at the end of the evening. I hate straining my voice to shout, and we often had to repeat what we said to each other, rather ruining the chance of any subtlety.
Score out of 10?
7.
Would you meet again?
Unlikely. There was no flirting. A compliment or two would have been nice! He was charmingly flirtatious with the ladies on the table behind at one point – he must bring the twinkle to his date. I also think he would prefer me to live locally.
Dick & Nicole ate at Trullo, London N1. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com
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