Stephanie on Simon
What were you hoping for?
An adventure and a fun evening out with someone outgoing who had a good sense of humour.
First impressions?
He did look rather disappointed when we were introduced, so I don’t think I was what he was expecting. Otherwise, I thought he was good-looking, neatly dressed, had a nice smile and was slightly nervous.
What did you talk about?
Politics. Education. Government corruption. The environment – we shared identical views about all of them.
Most awkward moment?
Simon’s dismay when he saw how many more courses were still to come and the furtive glance at his watch!
Good table manners?
Yes.
Best thing about Simon?
He is a genuinely nice person and very family-oriented.
Would you introduce Simon to your friends?
Yes, though I’m not sure they would be the right milieu for him.
Describe Simon in three words.
Sincere, likable, guarded.
What do you think Simon made of you?
He probably thought I talked too much and I think the date was too large a dose of me for him – the meal lasted a long time.
Did you go on somewhere?
No, he had to rush off for his train.
And … did you kiss?
No.
If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
I wish we could have had a greater rapport, considering so many of our views were the same.
Marks out of 10?
8.
Would you meet again?
I would be happy to meet as friends in a less-pressured situation.
Simon on Stephanie
What were you hoping for?
Not to make a complete idiot of myself or bump into anyone I knew. Managed the second, not sure about the first.
First impressions?
She looked friendly. I’d spotted her arriving, when I was loitering outside the restaurant checking the Test match score on my phone, and hoping they would get to the close of play before I had to go in (they did).
What did you talk about?
We covered a lot of subjects. There was plenty of time to fill because the whole dinner took over four hours. We covered the climate disaster and the appalling state of politics. Relationships and endings thereof. Autism. Bereavement. Travel. Dating apps. Spanish festivals. Cats.
Most awkward moment?
A restaurant employee introduced me to the wrong woman! I narrowly missed having a completely different evening.
Good table manners?
Definitely.
Best thing about Stephanie?
She’s intelligent, thoughtful and articulate, with a real passion for the things she does.
Would you introduce Stephanie to your friends?
Yes, they would get on fine.
Describe Stephanie in three words.
Laughs a lot.
What do you think Stephanie made of you?
I was trying to keep my stupid sense of humour in check, so I probably came across as quite serious.
Did you go on somewhere?
There wasn’t time. We had the tasting menu with several hundred courses, so I ended up having to rush to catch the last train.
And … did you kiss?
I don’t think either of us was at all what the other was looking for, so that was never on the agenda.
If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
I wouldn’t have injured my shoulder the previous day and been in substantial pain. Also, I would not drink an unwise quantity of wine.
Marks out of 10?
For the whole experience, 7.
Would you meet again?
I wouldn’t be against the idea.
Simon and Stephanie ate at Opheem, Birmingham. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com
