Blind date: ‘Bizarrely, she suddenly realised she knew my daughter’

2 hours ago 14

Don on Claire

What were you hoping for?
To meet someone interesting. To be part of a cultural phenomenon called the Guardian Blind date. To have a pleasant lunch.

First impressions?
Relaxed and friendly.

What did you talk about?
Family. Work. Alcohol. Catholicism. Buddhism … and other light topics!

Most awkward moment?
I didn’t feel any. Bizarrely though, Claire suddenly realised she knew one of my daughters, and her sister was a good friend of my mother a long time ago. Scotland is a small but beautiful nation.

Good table manners?
I have the worst table manners north of the border, so I couldn’t comment.

Best thing about Claire?
Very easy to have a conversation with. Freckly arms! A good human being.

Would you introduce Claire to your friends?
Yes, I have a disparate group of friends and most of them would like her company.

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 [email protected]

Describe Claire in three words
Thoughtful, empathetic, compassionate.

What do you think she made of you?
Haven’t a clue. That’s for her to answer.

Did you go on somewhere?
We walked to the bus stop.

And … did you kiss?
In a European kind of way.

If you could change one thing about the date, what would it be?
That I had not had to drive to the railway station and so could have had a glass of cold white rioja.

Marks out of 10?
8.

Would you meet again?
Hopefully. Not sure we’ll run away to Gretna Green, but maybe see a film, or go for a walk or a meal.

Claire on Don

What were you hoping for?
Good company and conversation.

First impressions?
Warm and friendly face.

What did you talk about?
His film script and past experiences as a producer and documentary-maker. My work as a counsellor. Meditation. Movies. Our kids and marriages. How bloody awful Trump is.

Most awkward moment?
Not really awkward for us, but the restaurant owner thought we were here for Dining across the divide, and when we said it was Blind date he was a bit thrown and very apologetic.

Good table manners?
No issue as far as I was concerned.

Best thing about Don?
Easy to talk with and asked interested questions.

Would you introduce Don to your friends?
Turns out he knows a fair few already.

Describe Don in three words
Bon vivant, warm and interesting.

What do you think he made of you?
That I am friendly, interesting and easy to talk with.

Did you go on somewhere?
No, it was lunchtime so it was back to work for me.

And … did you kiss?
A continental farewell.

If you could change one thing about the date, what would it be?
An evening rather than lunch meet-up.

Marks out of 10?
8 – he was great company.

Would you meet again?
I need a spark and it wasn’t there for me. But numbers were exchanged –plenty more conversation to be had.

Claire and Don ate at Tapa, Edinburgh. Fancy a blind date? Email [email protected]

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