Holly, a 42-year-old horticulturist, and Graeme, a 47-year-old forest manager, recently sat down for dinner at The Palmerston in Edinburgh. The pair, who met as strangers for the date, arrived with modest hopes of having an enjoyable evening with minimal awkwardness. Really, just a fun night with minimal awkwardness was my fairly low expectation before the meeting. Engaging lady with a beautiful smile, a very positive.
The Dater’s Impressions
- Holly’s view of Graeme: Warm, confident, and a great listener with a curious mind.
- Graeme’s view of Holly: Positive, engaging, and incredibly easy to talk to.
- Holly’s summary: Graeme is a lovely guy who is easy to chat with and up for a laugh.
- Graeme’s summary: Holly is a joy to spend time with due to her assured nature and broad range of interests.
The conversation flowed through a variety of topics, touching on their mutual nerves, the benefits of working outdoors, forestry management for biodiversity, rural living, and the value of dancing. Graeme noted they also discussed food production, seed cultivation, birdwatching, epigenetics, and the nuances of generational cycles, while also debating the shortcomings of younger generations regarding proper raving.
Defining Moments
The date was not without its hiccups. Holly admitted to over-ordering food, noting that they certainly did not require the extra salad she insisted upon. Graeme, meanwhile, recounted an awkward encounter outside an entirely different venue earlier in the night. When an aphid landed on his forehead, Holly promptly removed it with a firm thumb squish. Which had hanging baskets, i should make clear that the poor aphid wasn’t in the lovely restaurant; it was outside an entirely different place.
Looking Ahead
- Did they go out again? Both opted to continue their night by visiting a local pub and a nightclub to seek out music and dancing.
- Future prospects: Graeme is eager for another meeting, though Holly acknowledged that distance between their homes remains a factor to consider.
- Friend approval: Both agreed they would happily introduce their date to their friends, with Graeme noting he was impressed by Holly’s leg tattoos, specifically his ability to name every bird species depicted on them.
About the Blind Date Series
The Blind Date column has been running since 2009. Each week, two strangers are paired for a meal and subsequently share their thoughts on the experience. The column features a photograph taken before the date and appears in both print and online editions. Prospective participants are asked about their age, location, occupation, and interests to help facilitate the best possible match, though the process remains a surprise. The editorial team handles editing for length and clarity, but they do not disclose the other person’s answers beforehand. It’s been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here. Tell us what’s on your mind, if you do not think these questions cover everything you would like to know.
Application Information
- Eligibility: Must be based in the UK.
- How to Apply: Email blind.date@.com to participate.
- Expectations: The team aims to find compatible matches, with long-term success as a goal, though applicants should provide honest and respectful responses during the process.
Important Details
- But don’t worry: we’ll choose the nicest ones, can I pick the photograph? No.
- Job and age, what personal details will appear? Your first name.
- Including length, and we may ask you for more details, will I see the other person’s answers? No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons.
- Will you find me The One? We’ll try! Marriage! Babies.
- But we would love to hear from people living elsewhere, can I do it in my home town? Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London.
- Sparkling, niche, describe Holly in three words Nuanced.
- A nearby pub then a little nightclub, did you go on somewhere? Yes.
