Online dating: Success Stories if you haven’t “clicked” immediately.

[ragdollyanna1974]

It feels like I have a lovely penpal.
He’s a little bit older than I was looking for.
Bit too far away.
But he’s so respectful.
Seems kind.
His family are moving nearby, so he’s here often.
Should I take a risk?
I’ve sworn off online dating. It’s just not for me.
Tell me your love story.

Put a date in the diary to meet but don’t talk all day everyday until the date it’s a waste of time and creates false intimacy

Yes, propose a date to him.

It's likely that as he's respectful he's unwilling to make the first move, so you need to make it.

we message quite often but I work a lot so it’s not obsessive.
He’s suggested we meet in my city and I can be his tour guide. He will get lunch or dinner. I’ve agreed.

Have you spoken to him yet (on the phone or a video call)?

I haven’t spoken to him yet.
I will in the next day or two.

I am totally inexperienced with online dating. So unsure of the etiquette regarding speaking to someone.

So, if anyone is interested, I met with him for dinner a couple of weeks ago. He brought a little bag of inexpensive presents based on silly things we’d chatted about (a mug, a jar of marmalade etc).
He stayed at an hotel.
We then spent the next day together in an old cathedral town. The weather was gorgeous.
We talked constantly about so many things.
He was much more handsome in real life.
He walked me to my car at the end of the day and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He messaged me afterwards to say that he regretted not holding my hand!
We chat each evening, no silences and he’s funny!
He's visiting again this weekend. I’m looking forward to it.
Still not sure what dating etiquette is these days, when does one kiss properly?
Oh God, what about sex? It’s been 25 years + since I took my clothes off in front of a new man!!!

And what kind of activities are good for a second date?