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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

Dating Thread 202: Here's hoping the lockdown loneliness and longing eases up soon...

994 replies

SpringlikeBunk · 11/04/2021 17:05

Come ye all!

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17
BelladiMamma · 14/04/2021 12:31

@SpringlikeBunk

Not sure if it’s the tinder or bumble algorithm but does anyone else find they have a run of fairly “not many people swipe on this guy” types for a while?

Then some days when there’s a higher ratio of more attractive matches

Either that or no one is swiping on ME so I’m just in the “computer says ugly, know your place!” category now Grin

Definitely 🤣🤣🤣

Got loads of hot ones last week or whenever I was new .. now ... not so much 🤣

JeSuisPrest · 14/04/2021 13:25

Well hello there... I've been spotted on another thread and summonsed to report back here with an update on my love life Grin. I see some familiar names and some not so familiar but hi to all regardless.

Not much to report other than I think my last update was that I had met someone in June last year, a couple of months after my breakup with Mr C who I had been seeing for a year but was incapable of muttering the 3 magic words I needed (and deserved!) to hear.

I am still seeing my new chap, though not so new after 10 months and am happier than I have ever been (and I include my marriage there). We had initially matched online, chatted for a few days, had a minor falling out . He said he smoked, I said sorry, not for me, he called me judgy, I said fine, we wished each other well and stopped chatting. He is a tradesman and said regardless of me being judgy I seemed like a "nice lady" (I am!) and to give him a call if I needed some particular work doing that we had chatted about as he didn't want to see me ripped off by a cowboy. I messaged him a month later, he came round to give me a quote, the minute I opened the front door we were done for, it was like a lightning bolt for both of us - obviously it was lust, but you gotta start somewhere and fancying the pants off each other is as good a place as any I supppose.

We are absolutely smitten with each other and the L words is now exchanged freely and frequently. Been strange starting a relationship in lockdown, we've never been to the the cinema, we've managed a few meals out during various breaks, but we've managed to fit our lives around each other and our other commitments and definitely planning a future together.

I'm grateful every day that I had the balls to end things with Mr C, heartbreaking though it was at the time, which allowed this fantastic man to come into my life. He gave up smoking in January...the things you do for love.

ThisTooShallBeFantastic · 14/04/2021 13:29

@JeSuisPrest it's TigerDater (as was) here! Lovely update, I'm chuffed to bits for you Grin

Invisiblewoman1 · 14/04/2021 14:15

@JeSuisPrest thank you so much for sharing! It made me smile widely and forget about deleted the apps

Dancerinthemoonlight · 14/04/2021 14:23

@JeSuisPrest I remember your post at the time. Its a lovely update and I'm really happy for you

Eesha · 14/04/2021 14:27

@VanGoghsDog think Hairy meant where women were hidden away from ex partners after ages together, i think Clovertoast and Uttersocks situations specifically? Or i might be mistaken?!!

Eesha · 14/04/2021 14:28

@JeSuisPrest yay! Really thrilled things are going well!

VanGoghsDog · 14/04/2021 14:34

[quote Eesha]@VanGoghsDog think Hairy meant where women were hidden away from ex partners after ages together, i think Clovertoast and Uttersocks situations specifically? Or i might be mistaken?!![/quote]
Oh! Yes, he did, you're right.

I've never forgotten the story from a colleague years ago whose bf made her climb into the attic when his ex turned up with his daughter!

It is tricky. One now-ex of mine, his ex used to turn up and let herself in. Rather than sensibly deciding to knock or come back another time when my car was on the drive she just let herself and his nine yo ds in while we were in bed. Obviously no thought for the child who may have been upset.
Ds didn't see me, but he did ask whose car it was, my then dp just avoided the question.

It wasn't that he wanted to hide me but letting your nine yo know you have a gf and introducing them has to be handled properly.
A few weeks later she did it again and we were just having a cup of tea and that was when I met his ds who ran into the living into room. By then I'd started parking my car on the street so it wasn't as obvious but I expect she still saw it.

Dss still remembers both those incidents eleven years later.

Clovertoast · 14/04/2021 15:01

Yep think I inspired that.
15 months in and his exw doesn't know I exist, nor do the kids.
I've had a couple of occasions where ex has knocked at the house to deliver child related items and I've " hidden " upstairs.
So yeah, its a little odd.
He explains and justifies it all so well though.
It came to a head when we pulled up alongside them at the traffic lights over the weekend and she saw me in the car.
Nothing has been mentioned apparently but I have no idea if that's true or if he explained me away?
Is it so odd ?
I don't know anymore

Danceswithwhippets · 14/04/2021 15:03

@GaraMedouar
@ThisTooShallBeFantastic
@vangoghsdog

“Freeloader” and “gold digger” are gender-neutral and accurate, but “cocklodger” is witty and colourful. There must be an expression for the female equivalent. “Fanny falsie”? “minge monkey”?

Womens profiles and pictures of their houses/ horses attracting cocklodgers -just post a copy of your mortgage arrears notice/ monthly stabling bill.

So are women not attracted by men’s photos of their big cars and fish?

I like the expression overseas ladies -so is it possible these gorgeous 22 year old Eastern European and Thai women who contact me might be interested in my country estate rather than my personality?

SpringlikeBunk · 14/04/2021 15:40

@JeSuisPrest

Yy I remember - great to hear things are going well

I think definitely a good reminder for me to;

  • be patient with situations rather than expecting them to be perfect straight off
  • how it’s good to have dates who generally are just “decent reliable types who are nice to people regardless of whether or not they are offering intimacy or not”?
OP posts:
GaraMedouar · 14/04/2021 15:51

JeSuisPriest - nice to know about success stories.

DanceswithWhippets - I immediately swipe left on men holding a big fish , a pic of a flashy car , smokers, or a naked torso pic in pants taken as a selfie in front of the bathroom mirror .

SortingItOut · 14/04/2021 16:03

@JeSuisPrest Thanks for popping over upon my request 🤣
So pleased things are working out for you and Mr Plumber (if I remember right) and that you got some work done too🙂

Invisiblewoman1 · 14/04/2021 16:28

@SpringlikeBunk I am with you regarding secret children, I am childless and would rather know uo front.

It makes me wonder though, what’s best regarding previous marriage? I am separated but not yet divorced - awaiting the absolute. I don’t put it on my profile , tend to mention it when it comes up naturally. Is this wrong? Should I put it in black and white on my bumble profile?

JeSuisPrest · 14/04/2021 16:29

Current man isn't MrPlumber @SortingItOut, that's not to say that me and MrPlumber didn't have some fun in between me ending things with MrC and the current incumbent, he definitely helped me get MrC out of my system. He also replaced 3 radiators for me for nowt so I can't complain 😂 I just see it as good karma for the shit dates I had to endure - MrSpaceInvader and the creepy cuckolding guy to name a couple... 🤦🏻‍♀️

Invisiblewoman1 · 14/04/2021 16:31

@Danceswithwhippets@GaraMedouar what is it with all the fish?!
I also immediate say no to anyone who takes a photo of themselves laying in bed... just no...
I also find photos of children on profiles off putting. Am I meant to be impressed that they are nice to children?! Just find it so odd

Invisiblewoman1 · 14/04/2021 16:33

My guy who isn’t ready to swap numbers has gone silent on me, so I guess he’s not interested. Not unmatched though just stopped replying.
My friend pointed out how strange it is that he had a bad experience so didn’t want to swap numbers but he shared his Instagram with me which is a page dedicated to his home renovations so I know what ever corner of the inside of his house looks like as well as his house number, road and town.

Eesha · 14/04/2021 16:37

@Clovertoast perhaps he isn't sure enough where things are going with you. Maybe have a chat so you are happy. Have you told your family?

SpringlikeBunk · 14/04/2021 16:40

Yeh I’m not a fan of the children in photos either - with no consent .

Or even photos of friends or family members who may not have consented either? It’s not hanging offence but it’s just privacy/boundaries etc .

@Invisiblewoman1

If it’s all fairly detached and amiable with no children or ties and just finalising paperwork now etc, I wouldn’t think it’s relevant tbh - I’d just casually mention as we went along.

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GaraMedouar · 14/04/2021 16:52

I prefer pics of kids to have their faces blacked out. But I do like it when a man has kids - only as I have three, youngest is 9, so I have a lot of childcare issues/responsibilities. I always swipe left on those who seem to like lots of weekends away or want to travel lots. I’m not at that stage in my life yet. Won’t be until I’m 60! (Had youngest late in life)

I have an iron , exciting Grin, just moved onto WhatsApp. But he has no kids. We'll see. Vaguely said about meeting up Sunday week for a drink or something. Funnily enough he lives in my mum’s village - an hour from me. So that’d be perfect for childcare duties - I could drive up, leave DD with mum and pop to see iron.
Just seen I have a missed voice call from him. Ooh not sure - I prefer prior notice - aargh need to work up to that. Previous men I’ve talked to have always arranged to chat before phoning and we’ve agreed on a time. I’m a very slow but steady person - yikes. Don’t like surprises. And i need to work around the kids.

Invisiblewoman1 · 14/04/2021 16:54

What does iron mean?

BelladiMamma · 14/04/2021 16:55

@GaraMedouar

I prefer pics of kids to have their faces blacked out. But I do like it when a man has kids - only as I have three, youngest is 9, so I have a lot of childcare issues/responsibilities. I always swipe left on those who seem to like lots of weekends away or want to travel lots. I’m not at that stage in my life yet. Won’t be until I’m 60! (Had youngest late in life)

I have an iron , exciting Grin, just moved onto WhatsApp. But he has no kids. We'll see. Vaguely said about meeting up Sunday week for a drink or something. Funnily enough he lives in my mum’s village - an hour from me. So that’d be perfect for childcare duties - I could drive up, leave DD with mum and pop to see iron.
Just seen I have a missed voice call from him. Ooh not sure - I prefer prior notice - aargh need to work up to that. Previous men I’ve talked to have always arranged to chat before phoning and we’ve agreed on a time. I’m a very slow but steady person - yikes. Don’t like surprises. And i need to work around the kids.

Don't worry yet about the voice call it might have been fat finger as he put your number in or wrote the message? I have been known to do this...
GaraMedouar · 14/04/2021 17:23

Haha BelladiMamma I hope so. I am a bit phone phobic so have to build up to it!!! How old am I eh?

@Invisiblewoman1 - iron is a potential date.

VanGoghsDog · 14/04/2021 17:45

I also have to build up to a call.

Fish - I suspect a lot of people have someone take a photo of them when they catch a big fish. So it's just a photo they have, and are probably proud of.

We're often told not to only use selfies, mine all are because I don't have anyone else to take a photo of me.

What baffles me is really old photos. So you get a photo of a greying, tubby, balding man in his fifties, and the next photo is a blurry scanned in image of what you would probably assume is the same guy thirty years ago. Why do I need to know what he looked like thirty years ago?

SpringlikeBunk · 14/04/2021 17:59

I use only selfies and don't have an issue seeing them on others?

I think it used to be the advice to have photos with others and "doing activities/travelling etc". My first match.com profile had a marathon photo, etc. Prove you're not a weirdo (I am, sorry!)

But as time goes on I realise that those kind of photos mean very little - someone skydiving five years ago doesn't mean they are going to be attractive and interesting.

Travel photos again aren't really relevant as they might not be in a position to travel with me?

For a first date I need to know if they're easy to meet up with not that they've climbed Macca Picchau - someone who spends all their life on holiday or climbing or on hobbies is gonna be difficult to date!

The key questions are basically:

"is this person physically my type"

"Are these photos recent"

So selfies do the job best there.

I have photos from within the last year showing my build and dress sense etc, and often send a cute non-sexy selfie that's "immediate" via Whatsapp so they "know what I look like now".

I don't think anyone cares if I have a night out or not every Friday or if I've done any marathons recently (I'm slimmer now than I was then).

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