Every week, Femail asks two singletons to report back from their blind date.
This week, it was Mirka and Peter’s turn to wine and dine.
Read on to find out what happened…
Mirka, 74
Dating past?
I was married for 15 years before he left me to raise our three children by myself. My middle daughter, Emma, 41, lives with me. She has Down’s syndrome and all of my attention has focused on her.
I’ve had no male companions since my husband walked out.
Pre-date nerves?
I wasn’t nervous, even though the last date I went on was in 1995. I was apprehensive that my match was 84, though. Usually men that age aren’t exactly with it, are they?
First impressions?
A big – if pleasant – surprise. Peter is a well-groomed, well-spoken, relaxed gentleman. He was flamboyantly dressed in a colourful shirt and stood up to greet me, ensuring I was seated before taking his seat again.
He could easily pass for a chap my age.
Easy to talk to?
Yes, Peter was such a gent. He guided me around the menu, advising me on what to order.
We both had fish and he gently persuaded me to have a few drops of his wine as a spritzer.
We bonded over our love of volcanoes and I was intrigued to discover that, after graduation, Peter began his career as a scientist studying atomic energy.
I had to confess to him that in the 1980s, I was one of those protesters with my CND placard campaigning against his industry. Peter joked: ‘You nearly did me out of a job!’
Embarrassing moments?
No, although our table was in the middle of the dining room and at times it was hard to hear each other.
Did sparks fly?
Yes, you’d never put Peter in his 80s. He’s got a lovely personality and is a calm and approachable man. I’m not sure if either of us were flirting but Peter was very polite and attentive towards me.
It was a real pleasure to spend two hours with such a gentle individual.
As for physical attraction, it’s not something I look for at this stage in life, but I did feel comfortable with Peter.
See him again?
Oh yes, I felt good in his company. Peter gave me his business card, which told me: ‘I want to see you again, Mirka.’ Watch this space.
What do you think he thought of you?
I think Peter liked me. He was very smiley and there was lots of eye contact. We arrived as strangers and it was a real delight to take such a risk meeting a potential romantic partner because we discovered we had so much in common.
Would your family like him?
Yes. Peter is civilised company.
Peter, 84
Dating past?
I was with my late partner for 28 years. She died from cancer six years ago.
Before that I was married for 18 years, and we had our daughters. They want me to be happy and are amused I’m taking part in a blind date.
They are 63 and 62 and their one proviso was that I couldn’t date someone their age. Apparently I would be cradle-snatching.
Pre-date nerves?
Not at all. During my career I’d stand in front of hundreds of people and give lectures in countries such as France, Italy and the US.
First impressions?
I arrived first and ensured my match had the more comfortable seat with a view of the restaurant.
When Mirka arrived, I was pleasantly surprised at how elegant she was. I stood up to shake her hand.
We don’t do hugs and kisses on first dates in England – I appreciate it’s European but you might get a slap for doing so!
Easy to talk to?
Yes, Mirka is interested in volcanology and she has climbed Mount Etna.
I once worked for a company based at the foot of the volcano and got to visit it as part of my job. I also took my family to Pompeii and we saw Vesuvius.
We joked that she’s only done one Italian volcano whereas I’ve done two.
Mirka has been a speech therapist for most of her career and she still maintains an interest in it.
She left Poland in 1973 and has lived all over the world since then.
Embarrassing moments?
No, although I did struggle to catch Mirka’s name correctly.
Did sparks fly?
Yes, I found her a very interesting, intelligent woman. There was a lot of eye contact between us, too. Mirka was adorable to two babies on adjacent tables, really cooing over them. It was a delight to watch her… she has an infectious charm.
See her again?
Yes, I would like to. She’s a fascinating woman and very easy to talk to.
What do you think she thought of you?
Well, she wasn’t in a hurry to leave. So that must be a good sign!
I think she appreciated my help in planning her route back to the train station and my reassurance that she was fine to leave and I’d settle the bill.
She needed to get home to her daughter and I understood that.
Would your family like her?
Yes, my daughters would like Mirka’s curiosity about life.
