Abigail on Ryan
What were you hoping for?
Somebody who doesn’t take themselves too seriously but is still ambitious, like-minded and up for a laugh.
First impressions?
Very sweet – he took my coat straight away and brought me a little bracelet to remember the evening by.
What did you talk about?
Salsa dancing. Ryan’s life goals. Skydiving. Foals. Dream jobs. Duolingo. Morning people v night owls. And at one point he asked if I had hairy armpits.
Any awkward moments?
I chowed down on my plate of olives and almonds while he devoured a big old steak.
Good table manners?
Yes, definitely – the more wine we drank, the more Spanish he spoke.
Best thing about Ryan?
He is definitely a yes person and seemed super confident.
Would you introduce him to your friends?
Probably. I imagine we have quite different friends but he was very entertaining.
Describe Ryan in three words?
Confident, honest, funny.
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]
What do you think he made of you?
I’m not too sure … We laughed a lot, which is always good.
Did you go on somewhere?
No, we went our separate ways. I was still pretty hungry after the date so scooted off to grab a meal deal.
And … did you kiss?
No.
If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
A few extra veggie options and maybe a bit of organised fun.
Marks out of 10?
7 – it was an evening well spent but I didn’t feel any romantic vibes.
Would you meet again?
As friends, for sure. I’d quite like a free salsa lesson.
Ryan on Abigail
What were you hoping for?
A relaxed evening with good food and good company.
First impressions?
Abi was friendly and smiled a lot. I liked how she’d done her hair.
What did you talk about?
Her work in graphic design. Travel stories. Indie music. How she’d learn how to skydive if she won the lottery.
Any awkward moments?
We were both nervous at first, but then the conversation flowed easily. I wanted a kiss at the end but it wasn’t to be.
Good table manners?
Yes, especially considering we chose the herbiest dishes possible.
Best thing about Abigail?
Her self-confidence; she’s happy travelling solo and takes pride in her graphic design work.
Would you introduce her to your friends?
She’s really social, so I would.
Describe Abigail in three words?
Open-minded, easy-going, walk-lover.
What do you think she made of you?
I’d like to think she felt comfortable and found me fun and talkative.
Did you go on somewhere?
No, I had to shoot off home, sadly.
And … did you kiss?
Only on the cheek.
If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
To have stayed out a little later, but I had to catch a train.
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Marks out of 10?
It was my first-ever blind date and I would rate it 10/10.
Would you meet again?
We both said we’d be up for meeting as friends and we’ve exchanged details.
