Sophie on Jack
What were you hoping for?
Someone to write that their first impression of me was “love at first sight”. Failing that, a good laugh.
First impressions?
Very charming and happy. He stood up to greet me with a welcoming hug.
What did you talk about?
Georgia (the country). What sport we’d do all day if we didn’t have to work. Product design (we’d both studied it at university). If it would be weird to frame this article and put it on my wall. And my one true love: Herefordshire.
Most awkward moment?
He called Herefordshire, Hertfordshire. I let it go and put it down to me being softly spoken but cried on the inside. I suggested we do pig faces against the windows for our selfie, which I reckon he thought was a bit weird.
Good table manners?
Very good: he did not spill any food or drink on his white T-shirt.
Best thing about Jack?
He’s excellent at asking questions and being engaging in conversation.
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 Jack to your friends?
Absolutely. I’m sure they’d like him.
Describe Jack in three words.
Inquisitive, fun and driven.
What do you think Jack made of you?
It wasn’t love at first sight but hopefully he thought I was a good time.
Did you go on somewhere?
No, we went our separate ways.
And … did you kiss?
Not this time.
If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
We’d have done pig faces in our photo.
Marks out of 10?
8. Jack was an excellent blind date.
Would you meet again?
Jack was lovely and I had a brilliant evening but there wasn’t anything there for me romantically. I’d happily be best friends with him though.
Jack on Sophie
What were you hoping for?
A fun date with chemistry and good craic. And to avoid doing anything embarrassing and have it printed in a national newspaper.
First impressions?
Calm and self-assured, especially as she was sent to the wrong restaurant but still managed to show up on time.
What did you talk about?
Her appearances on reality TV shows. How her personality revolves around a trip to Georgia … I think we were both pleasantly surprised by how much we had in common.
Most awkward moment?
She said she was going to frame our picture together and put it pride of place in her family home.
Good table manners?
I was relieved the waiter was there to remind us which was the starter fork.
Best thing about Sophie?
A professional yapper who’s full of interesting questions and funny stories. We chatted for over three hours and we’d only scratched the surface.
Would you introduce Sophie to your friends?
Sophie’s the type of person that makes the time fly by, so why not!
Describe Sophie in three words.
Creative, funny and interesting.
What do you think Sophie made of you?
Impressed that I recently graduated from 3-in-1 shower gel.
Did you go on somewhere?
We walked each other to the station.
And … did you kiss?
No.
If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
As first dates go, I couldn’t fault it. But it felt more like a friend-date than a date-date.
Marks out of 10?
8. It just lacked that romantic spark.
Would you meet again?
I can’t see why not as friends.
Sophie and Jake ate at the Coach Maker’s Arms, London W1. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com
