Marta on Andrew
What were you hoping for?
Romance, naturally. Failing that, someone I could have an interesting conversation with.
First impressions?
Positive, enthusiastic, chatty.
What did you talk about?
Postmortems, food, dogs, travelling, photography, dating, politics.
Any awkward moments?
Quite a few – all thanks to the guy at the nearby table, who decided to watch horror movie trailers without headphones on.
Good table manners?
Absolutely.
Q&A
Want to be in Blind date?
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Blind date is Guardian Weekend magazine’s dating column: every week, two
strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans
to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we
take of each dater before the date, in Guardian Weekend magazine (in the
UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here.
What questions will I be asked?
We
ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of
person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions
cover everything you would like to know, tell us what’s on your mind.
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 pick the photograph?
No, but don’t worry: we’ll choose the nicest ones.
What personal details will appear?
Your first name, job and age.
How should I answer?
Honestly
but respectfully. Be mindful of 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 answers?
No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more details.
Will you find me The One?
We’ll try! Marriage! Babies!
Can I do it in my home town?
Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we would love to hear from people living elsewhere.
How to apply
Email blind.date@theguardian.com
Best thing about Andrew?
He is very enthusiastic and easy to talk to.
Would you introduce him to your friends?
Sure, I don’t see why not.
Describe Andrew in three words?
Chatty, inquisitive, engaging.
What do you think he made of you?
Hopefully easy to talk to – and brave (I studied forensics and criminology at university). I didn’t have any romantic feelings for him, and towards the end of the date, I got the vibe that he didn’t think we were particularly compatible, either.
Did you go on somewhere?
No.
And … did you kiss?
No.
If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
We would have been more compatible: we didn’t have a huge amount in common, and didn’t get much beyond small talk, which I’m not a fan of.
Marks out of 10?
8 – Andrew is a lovely guy and good company. However, there was no romantic spark.
Would you meet again?
Yes, if we ran into each other, but just as friends.
Andrew on Marta
What were you hoping for?
My friend Sheyda to be vindicated in suggesting I did this.
First impressions?
She was trying to prevent either of us stepping on broken glass when the photographer’s light fell at our feet.
What did you talk about?
Polish blood sausage, a postmortem Marta attended as a student, and how expensive it would be to feed her dog Charlie fresh entrails every day.
Any awkward moments?
A man on the next table was watching a horror film loudly on his laptop. The constant screams were a tad awkward.
Good table manners?
Flawless! Marta even used a knife and fork to dissect her prawn bao.
Best thing about Marta?
Her no-nonsense approach to life.
Would you introduce her to your friends?
Sure, my friends are the best thing about me.
Quick Guide
Saturday magazine
Show
This article comes from Saturday, the new print magazine from the Guardian which combines the best features, culture, lifestyle and travel writing in one beautiful package. Available now in the UK and ROI.
Describe Marta in three words
Fearless, forensic, unflappable.
What do you think she made of you?
I dread to think. Too timid to ask a fellow diner to turn his volume down?
Did you go on somewhere?
We walked to the tube, thanked each other and said goodnight.
And … did you kiss?
No.
If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
I’d have brought a pair of headphones for the horror film man.
Marks out of 10?
7.
Would you meet again?
You never know, maybe we’ll bump into each other at a Thai cookery course.
