Marion on Brenden
What were you hoping for?
A nice evening and someone easy to talk to.
First impressions?
Really good! Brenden immediately put me at ease. He was talkative, asked questions and was very pleasant. He was dressed up, which was lovely (always love seeing a guy make the effort).
What did you talk about?
Where we both lived abroad, lockdowns, job situation, families, travels, cooking (we both love food), hobbies, relationships, reading… We didn’t stop.
Any awkward moments?
No, none.
Good table manners?
Yes, absolutely.
How long did you stay on the call?
Over two and a half hours.
Best thing about Brenden?
He’s easy to talk to.
Would you introduce him to your friends?
Yes.
Describe Brenden in three words
Open-minded, passionate, genuine.
What do you think he made of you?
I think he was pleased – well, I hope so.
Any connection issues?
Towards the end, Brenden’s connection froze a few times.
And… did you swap numbers?
Yes, we did.
How did the call end?
We said we’d had a lovely time and would like to see each other again.
If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Nothing, it was very comfortable and smooth.
Marks out of 10?
8. There is always room to discover more.
Would you meet again?
Yes!
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
Brenden on Marion
What were you hoping for?
I went in not expecting anything more than a lovely evening of chat. Pandemic virtual dating can be soul-destroying, so I wasn’t hoping for too much, just a spark of fun and interest, some common ground.
First impressions?
Absolutely charming, with a disarming smile.
What did you talk about?
A little bit of everything, from Cajun and French cooking, to cheeses, English wine, future family hopes. Our shared love of jazz, and 80s music. Top three travel destinations we would want to see someday soon. We matched on two of them…
Any awkward moments?
Not a single one.
Good table manners?
We talked so much that we didn’t really get to eating. I nibbled on my cheese plate a little. But the conversation was so easy that we just kept talking.
How long did you stay on the call?
Two hours and 45 minutes.
Best thing about Marion?
Such a sunny, down-to-earth disposition and a great, joy-filled energy. Genuinely authentic.
Would you introduce her to your friends?
100%.
Describe Marion in three words
Three probably isn’t fair. Grounded, curious, joyful.
What do you think she made of you?
I’m optimistic we had more than a few areas of common interest, in hobbies, music, food and travel.
Any connection issues?
Towards the end, my video kept freezing, sadly.
And… did you swap numbers?
Yep.
How did the call end?
We made plans to keep in touch, and meet for a walk as soon as it’s safe.
If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Being at the same restaurant table, with a jazz trio in the background. Or cooking together.
Marks out of 10?
9.
Would you meet again?
Oh, I do hope so.
