Online dating - been asked to meet, but scared!

[SingleMum01]

Been emailing to a bloke for a few weeks. Seems nice enough although I don't think wow, he's now asked if I'd like to meet for lunch. Help, I'm scared, haven't dated for 4 years. What if he doesn't like the look of me. I've put a pic on the site, but it is a really good one taken last year, I don't reckon I'm that good in real life! I'm also quite shy, what will i say! I want to date, but I'm scared! Should I say yes or no!

Don't do lunch, have morning coffee or afternoon cuppa and make sure you have somewhere to go to afterwards, so you can make your excuses and leave after an hour or so. If he's a weirdo, you can leave and never see him again. If he's lovely, you can see him again, maybe for lunch!

Not based on my own experiences, but a single friend's tactics!

Go for it - what is the worst that can happen? Agree with Wigeon - make it for a coffee and say you've got to be somewhere, get a mate to ring and if it's going well, say your later appointment has been cancelled and go for lunch/dinner. Best of luck and enjoy - wish I was going for a date!

If you're really nervous, try and think of a few things you could talk about before, based on his profile, things you've mentioned in emails etc.

You've got to buy a ticket to win the prize

lol at the tombola of luurve

Remember the basics of online dating: meet in a public place, make your own way there, tell someone where you are going and when yo uexpect to be back. Of course it's unlikely that he's dangerous, but it's smart to be careful for the first meeting or two with anyone. The most likely bad-case scenario is that he's a bore, a whiner or a creep, in which case yo ucan make excuses and leave.

I always (well, okay, let's be honest - on the three occasions I've gone as far as meeting for a date with someone off a dating site!) get a friend to phone - that way you can pretend it's school/babysitter etc reporting a problem if things are going badly which gives you an excuse to go - or a wrong number/your mother etc if things are going well.

Have heard of people asking a friend to be discreetly in the background of wherever you meet who leaves/rescues you according to a pre-agreed signal - but think that might be going a tad too far!

and @ ninah - I've always been crap at any games of chance - tombola/lottery/bingo - you name it and I've lost at it!

OMG I've messaged and agreed to a coffee - now I need to shift a few pounds before we meet!

Good on you - best of luck and don't worry about your weight for god's sake - just put on something you feel good in/have your hair done if you want and be yourself ...