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Every week, FEMAIL asks two singles to report on their blind date.
This week, it was Tara and Jon’s turn to wine and dine.
Keep reading to find out what happened…
Tara, 59 years old
Vital Statistics
Divorced and with two grown children.
Current role
Tour guide.
I would like to know
A history and politics nerd. Maybe an academic I can learn from and who can teach me new things.
Tara, 59, divorced with two grown children, said she has only attracted “bad boys” since her marriage ended.
Past dates?
I was married for four years but divorced in 2003 because we were incompatible. Since then, I’ve only attracted bad boys who don’t like women.
I have given up on dating and haven’t had sex in ten years; dating sites are scary. I signed up for Blind Date because it would be great to find a soulmate with whom to share the autumn stage of my life.
Pre-date nerves?
I was petrified. I’ve forgotten how to normally flirt or chat with a guy, and I panicked thinking it would be like a job interview where they evaluate you, judge you, and find you lacking.
First impressions?
I thought Jon had a charming twinkle in his eye and a warm, friendly smile. I bought her a bouquet of brightly colored flowers to symbolize our potentially bright future. Looking back, I’m afraid it was probably unpleasant from the beginning.
Is he easy to talk to?
It was a date of two halves. The first part went well, he was gentlemanly and we laughed a lot. He is very proud of his five children and showed me pictures, but he had clearly been hurt by the breakdown of his previous relationships, so he was a little vulnerable.
Like me, he loves to cook and said he had 750 cookbooks.
But then I screwed up. I was texting my sister when she came back from the bathroom, so I joked that she was on my phone booking us a hotel room since we were getting along so well.
He seemed alarmed and said something about his back pain, and from then on I felt like the date was going downhill. I tried to assure him it was just a joke, but the damage had already been done. I really messed up.
Tara said she thought Jon had a “charming, charming twinkle in his eye and a warm, friendly smile.”
Embarrassing moments?
Yes, joking about the hotel room. Then he took something else I mistakenly said as a hint. I was trying to flirt. It was counterproductive.
Did sparks fly?
That electric feeling you sometimes get with another person didn’t happen. I like history nerds and he hadn’t even heard of Oliver Cromwell. After that I couldn’t take him seriously.
See it again?
I don’t think so. He was a nice enough guy, but I don’t think we’d ever be soulmates.
What do you think he thought of you?
That I was some kind of crazy nymphomaniac, which I’m not.
Would your family like it?
I told my mother that I wanted to get into this and she said, ‘What were you thinking?’
Tara Verdict: 5/10
APPRECIATED? The first half of the date.
REGRETS? No.
COFFEE OR TAXI? Coffee.
Jon, 58
Vital statistics
Divorced and with five children.
Current role
Day trader and own my own motorcycle restoration business.
I would like to know
A woman who wants to have fun and can take care of herself financially.
Jon, 58, is divorced with five children and works as a day trader but runs his own motorcycle restoration business.
Past dates?
I was married for ten years and had three children with my ex. Then I was in another relationship for a few years and we had two children, but she went back to her ex. Now, I would say that I don’t want to get married or live with someone again.
The best scenario would be a woman who wants a committed relationship but in which we sleep over at each other’s houses several times a week.
Pre-date nerves?
I was more apprehensive than nervous because I had no idea what to expect.
First impressions?
I was sitting at the bar when Tara arrived and although I normally prefer brunettes to blondes, she seemed like a smiling and friendly woman. I thought we’d get along well.
Is he easy to talk to?
Yes, Tara is very interesting. She is a historian and I learned a lot from her. I had no idea about half the things he was telling me: things like Oliver Cromwell, who cracked down on drinking and dancing in the 17th century. But of course, I was trash at school.
She told me that she suffers from insomnia, so I suggested a remedy that involved boiling banana peels and drinking the water that she had seen on YouTube. I follow two great doctors on social media who offer alternative remedies. Tara said she would try.
At one point, she made a joke about booking us a room; He was clearly joking and I took it the right way. Afterwards I was a little worried that I had talked too much and bored her.
Embarrassing moments?
She had bought me a bouquet of flowers but I hadn’t bought her anything, so I felt a little bad about that.
Jon said he found Tara “very interesting” and added that he learned “a lot from her.”
Did sparks fly?
Not precisely. I’m one of those men who can be attracted to someone’s laugh or smell, but if someone smokes, like Tara does, it’s impossible for me. Unfortunately, there was no raw animal attraction on this date.
See her again?
I’d love to keep in touch (she’s a nice woman), but it would probably just be as friends.
What do you think she thought of you?
I really have no idea. There were no signs that he was flirting, although we were laughing.
Would your family like it?
Yes, she was very confident and our conversation never stopped, so they would like her.
Jon’s Verdict: 7.5/10
APPRECIATED? Laughing together.
REGRETS? No, I enjoyed every minute.
COFFEE OR TAXI? Coffee