Oh dear God help me. My first date in 18 years!

[Shuffleuplove]

I am going on a DATE. I am 50, newly single and I need help to get ready!!!

It’s next Sunday, we are going around a gallery/stately home type place. I have never met him in real life and my confidence has just ebbed away!

I’m 5’8” very too heavy size 18 and blonde. I have good hair, a nice face and then it starts to go meh the further down I go.

So far I think I’ve settled on a maxi dress with a small sleeve, bit of cleavage at the front, but not sure about footwear. Or anything else for that matter. I’ve got one good hoik-em-up bra.

Help. I really don’t want him to be horrified and leg it. I mean, I know he’s a nice person and that’s unlikely but, well, you know...

Just the loveliest thread ever! So happy for you, OP. Re dresses, sounds as though you may like Karen Millen:
www.karenmillen.com/forever-dress/AKK95603-105-24.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlebFhuit8wIVTe7tCh1sAAOqEAQYCSABEgK-pvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Love a bit of Karen Millen, and that dress is gorgeous!

Little update - he took me to his “very special interest” club on Friday and I met some of his friends he hadn’t seen for a while. What I noticed is the genuine affection they had for him. Then we went out out with some friends of mine and dressed up a bit - we were running late after spending the afternoon busily so it was a bit rushed but I plumped for a layered too with chiffon over shirt, which wrapped and belted at the hip, some good trousers and long boots. He wore a beautifully tailored jacket complete with personalisation inside, jeans and boots and a gorgeous white shirt in a soft cotton. Delicious.

We had a lovely time and as I was leaving to come back home he sneaked a little box of my favourite cakes into my case.

I have to keep reminding myself that it is all very new. It doesn’t feel like that in a lot of ways and we both seem to want similar things. I also find him very grounding. Steadying. No drama.
Maybe that’s the huge benefit of relationships in middle age - I have no wish to change him and don’t need anything from him as such. So we just “are.” It’s lovely.

Ahh how lovely @Shuffleuplove. I love the descriptions of what you were both wearing - bet you both looked gorgeous! Wonderful to hear how his friends see him too. It often shows their true personality.
I’m pleased that this is going so well for you. Enjoy every minute. 😊

Thank you for the update.
I've name changed.
Hope you are continuing to meet and it's going well.

Loving the update. Gives me hope there could be happy times ahead, post divorce for me, thank you x

Vicariously obvz!

Hi OP, guessing that no news is good news, but was wondering how you were getting on…

@Nomorefuckstogive, I was only thinking about @Shuffleuplove yesterday too. I hope all is going well Shuffle. Your updates are funny & I like the clothes references too.

yes @ShuffleuploveShuffleuplove please let us know how it's going, and what you have been wearing , loved this thread

Leeetle update!

All is going swimmingly! We talk all the time about everything and nothing. He is kind and thoughtful and does loads of little jobs and makes me things and brings me stuff he’s cooked. He is just beautiful. It all feels calm and settled and easy and gentle. And also intense and breathtaking. We are very fortunate to have found each other.

We went to the party - I wore a very daring plunge neck dress with a rather cheeky Pearl necklace that kept disappearing into my cleavage, and kitten heel boots. He wore a lovely handmade suit, and a soft cotton shirt and good brogues, and some sort of wizardry aftershave that are me want to drag him home and rip it all off! He got on well with everyone which I knew he would, and we look very handsome together on the photos!

We are spending Christmas together in some form or other, got to finalise child movements but I’m fairly laid back about such things and am looking forward to a break. He’s (accidentally- long story) met my kids and that all went fine and I’m meeting his in a couple of weeks. There’s no rush, I don’t think either of us are looking elsewhere and we have dropped into a nice secure sort of pattern to things which suits me. And he’s taking me to the Christmas dinner of his “special hobby” too, so it’s very on! And I’m very very happy.

What a wonderful update, so lovely to hear things are going so well.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your thread, you should write a blog, or a book! good luck to you, have a wonderful Christmas together :)

That's great* it's going so well @Shuffleuplove*, long may it continue.

So happy to hear your updates Shuffleuplove , he does sound look a good dresser among various other qualities (I dream of somebody sneaking great cakes in my luggage!) So glad you are having fun.

Bold fail

Fabulous update @Shuffleuplove. Lovely to hear how things are progressing. What a wonderful Christmas you’ll have.

Awww I'm thrilled for you - fantastic update!

Small update - all still good with my Mr. Curly! We are just back from a holiday abroad and I was thinking of you all as I put together a simple capsule wardrobe. (Crochet cream top which I wore over my cossie, and also with linen trousers, a Ralph Lauren surplice wrap top, a reversible skirt in teal with a sunflower print on the other side, and a couple of jersey maxi dresses. Two pairs of trainers, one white and one peach converse)

we had a lovely time, laughed loads, ate tons, walked a lot, I’ve come back fitter than when I went. My hair is a massive frizzy fail however, I have a big paddy-fro, to the point I’m thinking of having it chemically straightened.

On the subject of the romance, we are ON, he calls me Mrs. Curly, and I simply cannot believe how lucky we are to have found each other! That’s it really. 😊

Just read this thread for the first time and so, so pleased for you Shuffle. You sound amazing, he is lucky to have you!

I have been down the old route as well, and I understand all the nerves and panic about appearance etc. but it just shows that it can work out! 😊

Awww, fantastic update.
Love your posts - you have a touch of the Marian Keyes about you 😊

Just lovely to read, so happy for you, @Shuffleuplove x

Oh I am SO pleased your update was a positive one, I remember your posts last year and was really hoping things had worked out longer term.

I’m a bit jealous or your ability to do a capsule packing for holidays too - I just about manage on first packing and then panic and add clothes for a wide range of increasingly implausible weather and social scenarios. And then wear about 20% of what I have lugged around.

Great to read your update Shuffle. Have often thought of you and wondered how you were doing.

Just read the whole thread after googling “first date” (guess what I’m doing later!) and was most charmed and heartened by @Shuffleuplove‘s experience. Amongst other things, I want to know: did you keep up the waxing?!

Hello! Yes I did keep up the waxing but only legs and “high bikini”.

It’s been over a year, we are very happy and I truly never thought I’d find someone like this. We laugh all the time, he never ever bores me, and is very sweet and kind and thoughtful. For our year anniversary he bought me two climbing rose bushes to go on either side of my porch so I’d have a little burst of fragrance when I come in and out.

It’s lovely because we know why we are together; we aren’t chasing a ring or a baby, we are both financially independent of each other and therefore we are with each other because we choose to be, no more or less.

I really hope your first date goes well! My rule is you can’t write them off until you’ve kissed. Lean in, go nuts! Very very very best of luck! It can happen!