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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

The Dating Thread 68.

999 replies

Bant · 13/01/2014 23:45

Support for everyone, dating online or in real life.

No judginess, no shoutiness. Nuff said.

OP posts:
Jarlin · 27/01/2014 00:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OneDayWhenIGrowUp · 27/01/2014 07:24

Good morning thread, just catching up with everyone - sounds like overall a good weekend for most!

Dont glad you had a great time in Paris....where did you go what did you do?? But stop crying haha, you'll survive 36 hours! (that is said with affection!). Anyway go on we want the romantic details Grin

Girlie I share the excitement at (it seems like at the moment) having a date on V-day! Do you and smallfeet have plans?

Hansel Blah, shame, next - and wow yes that is some very special twattery from Mr 4 online! Has he been deleted?

Crow....one of the ''he's just not that into you'' categories is - he's just not that into you if he only want to see you when he's drunk. Personally I'd be in the ignoring camp as well. I like the traditional approach Smile sounds fun!

Kitty sounds like a great date, respect for sending him home! Plans for 2 more dates sound great - especially just coffee - he knows he won't get any there - all sounds very promising!!

Jarlin sounds like a lovely evening, I understand the frustration on the lack of physicality though!! Is he flirty in other verbal/body language ways? Has he asked to see you again?

Flora when are you seeing Number 4 again?

Folkgirl I hope you're feeling ok today....

kscience wavitywave back! Mr Interesting? Date extending sounds good....fx'd!

And as for me....it's very early days but dare I say it I suspect that I might have found a good'un in Mr Niceguy. Friday night was so much fun, I have been working all weekend but still managed to see him for a pub lunch yesterday afternoon - he came all the way over to my side of town for that to see me for a few hours between a split shift. We have plans for 2 more dates already. I just think he's so so lovely.....sigh. Little snog goodbye when he walked me back to work really did feel like naughty teenager snogging outside school!! Really hard not to get carried away about how well it's going. Mr Registrar asked for a second date but I said that I'd had a great time but didn't see romance....he's asked to meet up as friends anyway, which I may do. We do share a major hobby that it's good to know other people who do it. And Mr Camera has been away, he had wanted to take me out when he gets back....I suspect I may be busy now though! So much for multi dating! (or maybe this has been successful multi dating!?!)

HelloBoys · 27/01/2014 10:04

I'm putting my 2 pence in here as I am still officially 'dating'.

Now been dating my new man for 3 months now. Very intense, lots of sex and so far so good.

We generally get on well. Is it normal to have a few niggles here and there and so on? I just seem so out of practice. It's almost like I need a manual to say "yes this is ok".

OneDayWhenIGrowUp · 27/01/2014 10:25

Hello hello! So good to hear things are going well for you. Life is never perfect- what are the niggles?

dontcallmehon · 27/01/2014 10:31

That sounds very promising, softkitty and I'm glad to hear it.

Jarlin it'd be a shame not to go for date number 6 if you do like him though. Maybe it will happen, but he's a bit nervous?

Folkgirl sorry you've not be feeling good about things. Hope you're ok today.

Well -a v detailed update on Paris. We got the train to London at 5.55am. Two and half hour journey, which we spent mostly looking at each other. I've never really had that whole staring at each other for ages in silence with anyone before. We do it a lot. Then the Eurostar, which was brilliant and we were so excited. The train journey passed so quickly. We were quite besotted by each other I think, but after an hour getting comfortable Wink at the hotel, we did see some places.

The first day we saw the Notre dame, which was so incredible that we saw it again on the Sunday. We wandered around the Champs Elysees and had dinner followed by cocktails at an amazing little bar.

The second day we wandered to the cemetery where Oscar Wilde's grave is. It's very gothic and spooky, but fascinating. We saw the Eiffel tower from the outside, all sparkly and lit up at night. On the Saturday, we were quite disappointed by the lack of nightlife. The French are not big drinkers, it seems. Geeky and I drank wine and ate cheese and crisps at the hotel and had an amazing time together.

Third day, we climbed the Eiffel Tower, but the top was closed, which was a shame. Incredible views of Paris.

We learned a lot about each other and got more attached, which I didn't realise was possible. Geeky likes to take photos of everything. He's an incredible photographer. When he's nervous or worried, he likes to put things into straight lines. I have some traits of anxiety/OCD - which he recognised, as he has some of them himself. But it was nice that we didn't have to pretend to be anything other than ourselves. Geeky's little quirks just made me love him more.

The Arc de Triomphe just makes me giggle now, as I think of geeky saying 'arc de triomphe' in a really exaggeratedly awful French accent. Neither of us can speak much French, so we muddled through and made lots of mistakes together.

Going home, we mainly looked at each other a lot again. I feel sorry for the people sitting opposite each us - we are both very sappy about each other and spend a lot of time just stroking each others hands and doing the staring thing. He also makes me laugh so much. I've never wanted a train journey to last longer before. When the train pulled in at the station, I felt like crying and so did he. It's just that going back to seeing each other a couple of times a week, due to work/my dc, is going to be so incredibly hard. Geeky sent quite a few texts saying how sad he was and that he was missing me. He was struggling, but trying to pull himself together. I knew how he felt.

dontcallmehon · 27/01/2014 10:34

Ooh and Oneday - I hope things continue to go swimmingly with Mr Nice guy. Very exciting!

girliefriend · 27/01/2014 10:59

Ahh Dont so happy you had a lovely time, been thinking of you!! Sounds like true love Smile

oneday yay - nice guy by name nice guy by nature Wink

jarlin I think maybe one more date but it sounds like you are going to have to initiate things of the physical kind, if he doesn't reciprocate I would call it a day!!

girliefriend · 27/01/2014 11:01

Oh and soft well done for sticking to your guns re not staying over!! I always think the longer you can keep them waiting the better as the anticipation can only grow!!

HelloBoys · 27/01/2014 11:23

OneDayWhen

It's just silly niggles. We're both 42. We both seem to have a lot in common but he has a teenage son (not living with him) of 13, he sees him a few weekends (I get confused about it all) and Wednesdays. I'm fine with all that. He does have wrangles with his ex-partner about how much time he used to spend with his son as she was expecting a lot and even his son said "Dad never has any time to himself" - this was before we met.

When we meet now its almost always at my place or at hotels. He wants me to visit his home (by seaside but about 1.5 hours away) but says he's "very untidy". I believe him in this sense. I've given him until end of this month or next month to sort that out.

I think for me it's crux time - if I did want a get out clause now I could quite happily do this but maybe I'm just not used to being in a nice, normal relationship and should let it play its course and enjoy it.

Ivedunnit · 27/01/2014 16:23

bollocks just lost my long message.
Can I jump aboard great to see that I am not the only fabulous mature woman restarting the dating game.
I am 44 with a ds 11.
I was crap at the dating game last time around and plan to be fantastic ( with your help) this time around.
I have been using POF and have had 3 dates so far with different guys.
Date 4 is Wednesday with Mr music man , separated father of 3.

kscience · 27/01/2014 16:57

Welcome ivedunnit lots of experiences here to draw from.

Looking for interesting dating ideas. There is the usual coffee, dinner drinks stuff, and in better weather (i.e. not monsoon) then I live close to sea and a country park for walks.

What interesting dates have you chaps enjoyed?

TheCrow · 27/01/2014 19:25

Not dating related, but I've just found a house in the street next to mine, so as of Friday I'll be officially separated and not living in the same house as STBXH anymore! I'm bricking it, have never lived alone in my 26 years :/ Will probably need some handholding on my first night sleeping in there!

To keep vaguely on topic, Mr MM replied saying he had a good weekend and couldn't remember calling me. I'm surprised he replied at all, his form for texting has always been pretty dismal! Suppose will just see if anything happens on saturday.

49howdidthathappen · 27/01/2014 20:06

Lovely update Don't I am all smiley for you Smile

OneDayWhenIGrowUp · 27/01/2014 20:15

Hello I understand the just-not-quite believing that everything really can go well. Does he want you to visit but is warning you it's untidy and he'd rather sort it first; or is there not actually an invitation there? Are we talking hoarder untidy - how can it take a month to sort!!? Your approach of a timescale sounds good though.

Ivedunnit hello :-) how did your dates go so far, any possibles?

kscience I like day dates to exhibitions or museums. Mr Niceguy took me to a comedy club on Friday, it was a great idea, also got to see if we found the same things funny/offensive! But I am happy with simply drinks/meal for first few dates, because you mainly want to be talking to get to know each other. I wouldn't be massively into activity type dates for the first few, too distracting, I don't need to cope with the slight awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time by going go-karting or something.

Crow congrats on the new place, living alone can be great! I love it. I don't believe Mr MM can't remember the phone call though - just embarressed I bet, call me sceptical!

FolkGirl · 27/01/2014 23:24

Hello everyone.

Sorry for being a bit crap the other day :(

I'm feeling a little better today.

Thanks :)

FolkGirl · 27/01/2014 23:26

dont sounds like a beautiful weekend :)

Ivedunnit · 28/01/2014 09:03

The dates have gone ok ! no.1 was banker, 34 bit cocky thing he is just looking for an FB. And there was no click!

No.2 was a nice genuine guy 44, but didn't like his aftershave. the first th ought I had was that I could change that but thats not the right start is it?
No.3. 49 , separated dad of 4 kids, more baggage than tesco trolley on xmas eve yet there is a spark. We have been texting daily since Saturday night.
I have Date no.4 set up for Thursday coffee with a separated guy of three boys.
Questions my STBEXH is still in the family home, we live in Ireland. I signed the separation agreement last FRiday and I am just waiting on him doing so also.
How did you handle this whilst trying to date.
If he knew I think home would be more hellish if that is possible. He refuses to get out until he has a settlement. This is all agreed. Just waiting on the separation agreement to draw the money down from the bank.
dont that sounds like a dream weekend !

Ivedunnit · 28/01/2014 09:05

someone suggested a walk as a first date , a circular route so that if it is crap you could just end it then and if not then you could go for a coffee.

HelloBoys · 28/01/2014 09:19

OneDay - yes there has been an invitation but he's warning me its untidy and he needs to sort it first!

He's had a bit of a different approach as I'd have - bought his house a few years ago but was also in a lower paying job so things he'd normally do for the house (like central heating etc) he's not done. He has "talked" about getting it now he is in a better paid job and can afford it.

His garden's in a state and his sofa has seen better days - again - space (sitting room can only take 2 seater sofa).

I think he's one of the breed of men who have been by themselves (he's dated but not that many serious girlfriends for past 6-8 years) a lot and has let things slide. He would LOVE for example to move to London, move in with me etc but I'm slightly wary after only 3 months!

HanselandGretel · 28/01/2014 12:56

ivedunnit I didn't do any dating until I was on my own quite a while so really have no idea.
If you will be living on your own imminently then would it not be better to wait until then? Why the 'rush' for want of a better word?

Jarlin · 28/01/2014 14:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

girliefriend · 28/01/2014 18:39

Hi Jarlin hmm re that text personally I wouldn't say any of that, or actually even on the next date wouldn't ask about where he sees it going in the future etc. That to me sounds like you are putting quite a lot of pressure on him and if a bloke did that to me I would panic and prob run a mile!!

What you want/need to know is if he fancies you, that simple really. So I would def go in for a snog at the next date and if the chemistry isn't right at least you know.

My sense is fwiw is that he does like you but is seriously lacking in confidence and is scared to make the first move. He prob walked out of yours the other day and slapped himself round the head for not kissing you!!! Grin

FolkGirl · 28/01/2014 18:58

I agree with girlie. I'd run a mile if someone started talking about 'the future' and investing 'emotionally in us'.

However, finding out where you stand and how he feels about you right now are important, I think.

I'd be surprised if he wasn't interested though, why spend the time with you otherwise? I'm friends with a couple of men I met OD, but given the nature of how we met, in each instance we were very clear about being 'just friends'.

I resisted the huge urge to end things with the man I'm seeing. I'm spending this weekend with him.

Went to counselling again today. I think we're going to really start unpicking stuff next week. It's taken a few weeks for me to just get it all out, there's so much of it.

Jarlin · 28/01/2014 20:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ivedunnit · 28/01/2014 20:08

hansel and gretel we have been separated since last July but he refuses to leave until everything is finally done, I just feel this could be going on for years! I am fed up with my ex controlling me! I am 44 not dead but he has worn me down.
I am using this to build my self confidence, refuse to accept less than the best this time round!