Matthew on Izzy
What were you hoping for?
A fun story and a nice dinner, with good company as an added bonus.
First impressions?
Izzy was smiley and chatty from the offset – and conversation flowed until the end of the date.
What did you talk about?
Each other’s housemates. What makes for a good pub vibe. The importance of yapping.
Most awkward moment?
Realising she’d missed a digit off her phone number. For a second I thought it might have been deliberate … Izzy claims it wasn’t.
Good table manners?
The only issue we had was stopping talking long enough to eat.
Best thing about Izzy?
How charismatic she is. I really enjoyed listening to her chat – even when she was giving me constructive criticism on my dating app profile!
Q&A
Fancy a blind date?
Show
Blind date is Saturday’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 Saturday 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
Would you introduce Izzy to your friends?
Absolutely, they’d feel we were well matched and she’d fit in really well.
Describe Izzy in three words
Attractive, charismatic and cool.
What do you think Izzy made of you?
That I matched her on the yapping front, and maybe that I was a little nervous.
Did you go on somewhere?
We did, to a bar for a glass of wine … that became two … that became three.
And … did you kiss?
A lady doesn’t kiss and tell!
If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Not have my train be delayed. I had to cycle and arrived with frozen hands and a red face. Otherwise, it was as great a blind date as I could have wished for.
Marks out of 10?
9.5 (marking myself down for being late).
Would you meet again?
There was discussion of a second date, so fingers crossed.
Izzy on Matthew
What were you hoping for?
The chance to cosplay Carrie Bradshaw and spice up this dreary winter.
First impressions?
He cycled in an effort not to be late, so he was very cold, but I appreciated the valiant effort.
What did you talk about?
The tribulations of coaching preteen touch rugby. Platonic soulmates. What makes a good pub.
Most awkward moment?
Accidentally missing a digit off when giving him my phone number, and giving feedback on his Hinge profile.
Good table manners?
No notes. He ordered very well for the table, getting the balance just right.
Best thing about Matthew?
He had an engaging energy and matched my ability to yap.
Would you introduce Matthew to your friends?
Sure, I think they’d get on – and quiz him about his side of this experience.
Describe Matthew in three words
Up for anything.
What do you think he made of you?
Hopefully that I lived up to the hype set by the Guardian photographer who met us in quick succession before our date.
Did you go on somewhere?
To a bar near the station with a great orange wine on tap.
And … did you kiss?
Just goodbye on the station platform.
If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Not having to trek to another neighbourhood on a school night.
Marks out of 10?
A solid 8.
Would you meet again?
We spoke about going for dinner again.
Matthew and Izzy ate at Artusi, London SE15. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com
