Date 69

"This story is old, I know, but it goes on."

Never has this blog had a more apt title. Every date I've had over the last couple of years has failed to lead to a second one and I really don't know what I'm doing differently as the outcome of each date is now turning into a bit of a broken record. I'm also not counting Date 66 as although it technically was two dates, the second one was in reality just a ruse to get a gig ticket paid for.

Myself and Date 69 had been in email contact through match.com for quite a few weeks before our date took place so I knew that we'd get on as we clearly had lots in common and we had virtually the same tastes in bands, music, film and tv, so we were never going to be short of things to talk about, and that proved to be the case.

She was almost seven years older than me and although the date (which consisted of a few drinks in a bar then a meal in a restaurant) lasted about 5 or 6 hours, we both commented on how it had absolutely flown by which is normally a good sign. There's not really that much more I can say as she was a very sweet, friendly and funny woman, we got on really well and there were no moments of drama or awkward silences to contend with. It was basically a very enjoyable first date and although I'm never confident that a second date is a certainty, on this occasion I genuinely had high hopes.

I was therefore a little bit surprised when I received a text from her very early the next morning saying that she'd really enjoyed meeting me but she didn't feel that we'd clicked romantically. She also said that she'd be happy to stay in touch as possible gig buddies though.

I'm not sure what clicking romantically actually means as a phrase, which makes me think that I made a huge error of judgement by not turning up in a Bryan Ferry style white dinner jacket and whisking her off to Paris mid-date for a more intimate setting. For me, first dates are all about hooking up and seeing if you get on well and to hopefully then go on a second date when there isn't the pressure of nerves and meeting a stranger for the first time. From personal experience, I'm always a bit wary of there being instant 'fireworks' on a first date as these tend to burn very brightly for a short time then fizzle out very quickly. I refer you to Dates 28 and 55, where the first dates were almost too good to be true, yet both 'relationships' ended very badly.

Having said all that though, at least she was honest and let me know the situation. I replied and said that I thought that was a shame but that being gig buddies would be fine. I've not heard from her since and don't expect to and although I'm not that bothered now (nearly two weeks later)...rejection still sucks.