Calum on Ciarán
What were you hoping for?
A rich, handsome future husband whose salary I could retire on at 30 and devote myself to fun stuff. More realistically, a fun evening with some nice company.
First impressions?
Ciarán was lovely! I liked his smile. We hugged spontaneously, like old pals.
What did you talk about?
Our trips to Colombia. Using Scottish/Irish slang in England. Our love of This Is My House. Our mutual distrust of anyone who eats green bananas.
Most awkward moment?
I’m dyspraxic, so eating in a taco restaurant on a date could have led to more carnage than it did.
Good table manners?
He didn’t make a hint of mess eating tacos, so I’d say they were magisterial.
Best thing about Ciarán?
He is a charming, warm person who seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me.
Would you introduce Ciarán to your friends?
Absolutely. They too are welcoming of fans of non-green bananas.
Describe Ciarán in three words.
Charming, funny, gregarious.
What do you think he made of you?
Probably that I was an eccentric but lovable Scottish man. He did well to hide his disgust on hearing I’d never been to Ireland (I’m sorry, one day).
Did you go on somewhere?
We stayed at the bar beyond some of the waiting staff to sample nearly every margarita on the menu, if that counts.
And … did you kiss?
Alas, ’twas not to be.
If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
Not much. It was a very wholesome and jolly affair.
Marks out of 10?
A strong 8.
Would you meet again?
As friends, absolutely.
Q&A
Want to be in 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]
Ciarán on Calum
What were you hoping for?
To meet someone different, and get a 10 rating on my dating skills.
First impressions?
Super friendly, great smile, chatty.
What did you talk about?
Celtic roots (I’m Irish, he’s Scottish). How Greggs is overrated. Coming-out stories (the gay date staple). Perfect banana ripeness.
Most awkward moment?
None, he was so easy to chat to and we had a good few giggles over the set-up.
Good table manners?
Perfect, but it was a judgment-free zone because of the tacos.
Best thing about Calum?
His hilarious impersonations, and his ability to chat about anything without sounding like a know-it-all.
Would you introduce him to your friends?
Definitely, we Celts must stick together.
Describe Calum in three words.
Bubbly, fun, intelligent.
What do you think he made of you?
I recall him calling me “normal”, which I think is a win?
Did you go on somewhere?
No, but we were there for hours fleecing the place of their avocado-and-passion-fruit cocktails.
And … did you kiss?
No, but Jesus, even if we did, our mutual Catholic guilt would never allow us to reveal it to the world.
If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Boringly, nothing – I had a great time.
Marks out of 10?
9, couldn’t fault him.
Would you meet again?
I didn’t feel a romantic spark, but we agreed over text afterwards to be pals.
