Julie on Michael
What were you hoping for?
To meet someone funny and interesting. If there was a romantic interest, that would have been a bonus.
First impressions?
Reserved, polite, friendly. Not my usual type but he seemed nice enough.
What did you talk about?
We mostly spoke about what we did for a living, how we’ve found the pandemic, general interests and our workout routines. We didn’t really delve deep.
Any awkward moments?
Yeah, there were quite a few. Most of them were awkward silences.
Good table manners?
Nothing that I could make a negative comment about.
Best thing about Michael?
He was friendly.
Would you introduce him to your friends?
No, they would have nothing in common.
Describe Michael in three words
Affable, approachable, chilled.
What do you think he made of you?
Hopefully, he thought I was polite.
Any connection issues?
Yeah, it was a faff to log in and I ended up being about five minutes late. I had to use my work laptop in the end.
And… did you swap numbers?
No, we didn’t.
How did the call end?
His laptop battery was low and we decided to leave it there.
If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Virtual dates just aren’t the same, so I would have preferred to have met in person.
Marks out of 10?
As a date, I’d give it a three.
Would you meet again?
No, we are from very different worlds.
Q&A
Want to be in Blind date?
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
Michael on Julie
What were you hoping for?
The future Mrs Michael, ha ha. In all seriousness, I’ve been single for a long time and I just wanted a change from the usual dating apps, which are all essentially terrible.
First impressions?
Julie is pretty, so I noticed that first!
What did you talk about?
A bit about family and hobbies, living arrangements, interests – standard stuff, really.
Any awkward moments?
I think the video date format can lead to the odd silence.
Good table manners?
In the end, we both decided eating on camera in front of a stranger would be a bit weird. It didn’t seem right … like eating a burger during a work Teams meeting, or something.
Best thing about Julie?
Nice smile and she likes to work out, like me.
Would you introduce her to your friends?
If we dated, absolutely.
Describe Julie in three words
Pretty, sociable, grafter.
What do you think she made of you?
I guess I will soon find out! I think we both liked each other, but maybe more as friends.
Any connection issues?
Only initially.
And… did you swap numbers?
No, we didn’t.
How did the call end?
With a convivial exchange, wishing a good rest of the evening to each other. Saucy stuff!
If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
A date in an actual bar or restaurant would be incredible once Boris can allow it again. Also, I am living in my sister’s spare room while I wait to move to my new place, so I had to balance the laptop on my knees – not ideal.
Marks out of 10?
Six.
Would you meet again?
She seems like a nice person to hang out with as a friend.
Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com
