DEBBIE, 63 YEARS OLD
Divorce. Two children aged 24 and 30.
Past encounters?
I raised my daughter as a single parent, then met and married my son’s father and we were together for 13 years. We have been divorced for 12 years and, apart from a short relationship during Covid, I have only met a few people since then.
Pre-date nerves?
Yes, I tend to have low expectations when it comes to dating. I find this is the best way to avoid disappointment!
Debbie, 63, is divorced and has two children aged 24 and 30. She is looking for a sincere, intelligent man with a good sense of humor.
First impressions?
I was pleasantly surprised because Rob was smiling with pretty eyes. I liked that he was a man dressed in pink pants and a blue shirt. I admire a man who can wear pink. He appeared as a character. He seemed happy to see me too, which is always a good start.
Easy to talk to?
I was embarrassed that my steak cost twice as much as his fishcake
We got along very well. I’ve been on so many dates where a man was so busy selling himself that he showed no interest in me. But Rob seemed really interested.
We are both active and love swimming in cold water, although he swims year round which is awesome. We also skied and enjoyed golf; we just talked about our lives, our food and our families. I liked that he was a real family man and that he sometimes took care of his grandson.
Embarrassing moments?
I chose the steak, then felt a little too indulgent when the bill came, and realized my food cost double their fish cakes. He was very generous in not caring.
Did Sparks steal?
I don’t know if we were flirting, but I’m a slow man and he sure has a lot going for him. We talked non-stop for over three hours, then shared a kiss on the cheek as we parted.
Debbie liked that Rob was smiling and thought he had pretty eyes. She was pleasantly surprised to find that Rob seemed genuinely interested and discovered they had a lot in common.
Would you like to see each other again?
I made it clear that I would like to see him again. I think he felt the same way when he asked me to come visit him. I would love to meet in more relaxed circumstances.
What do you think he thought of you?
I would say he enjoyed my company on this date, but I have no idea what he was thinking.
Would your family and friends like it?
My entourage is mostly women, and he’s entertaining and sociable so I think so. There’s nothing to hate about him.
ROB, 59 years old
Separated with three adult children and a grandson.
Past encounters?
I separated from my wife in 2012 after 27 years of marriage. Since then, I have had two relationships, each for a few years and have been single since 2017.
Pre-date nerves?
I’m not a nervous person but I was anxious because I had no idea who I was going to meet. My three kids were worried about what I might wear, so I had to get their stamp of approval on my outfit. Luckily, they gave the green light to my favorite pink chinos.
Rob, 59, is separated from three adult grandchildren and one grandson. He is looking for someone bubbly and active with a good sense of humor
First impressions?
I could tell that Debbie was a lovely lady as she had a warm, welcoming smile and was well dressed. We started saying hello, and then we never stopped talking.
Easy to talk to?
She admired my lucky pink chinos. I invited her to visit me
The conversation was effortless – it took us 40 minutes before we even ordered food. We talked about our active lives as we both love tennis, golf and walking, so we never ran out of things to talk about.
I’m a bit of a doting dad and I had to show her a photo of my three-year-old grandson, at which she had to coo. We both noted how comfortable the discussion was given that it was a date. We took our time with our lovely meal but I couldn’t persuade her to go for pudding.
Embarrassing moments?
None that I can think of.
Did Sparks steal?
I didn’t feel like there was an initial spark, it was more like two friends catching up. But even though I don’t feel much of a romantic connection yet, she was so friendly and chatty that I had a lovely afternoon. We parted with a kiss on the cheek.
Rob was drawn to Debbie’s warm, welcoming smile and dress sense. He found conversation with Debbie effortless and enjoyed talking about their different hobbies.
Would you like to see each other again?
I really enjoyed her company and invited her to come to Milford on Sea in Hampshire and walk with me along the spire to Hurst Castle.
What do you think she thought of you?
She said it was nice to meet someone who was easy to talk to, so I think she enjoyed my company.
Would your family and friends like it?
She would get along well with most people, although my friends are very lively. That said, they would be happy for me no matter who I met.
DEBBIE VERDICT: 9/10
LOVE? He was interested and very polite.
REGRETS? Overspending!
COFFEE OR VTC? Coffee.
ROB’S VERDICT: 7/10
LOVE? He was so easy to talk to.
REGRETS? None. I liked it.
COFFEE OR VTC? Coffee.