Online Dating Part 2

by | Relationships

4 weeks into online dating

This is a follow up to my first post on online dating.

My first meeting was promising, it started with coffee, moved on to a gallery and then more coffee. We’ve continued to meet.

But there have been others

The two who had travelled around 50 miles to meet me and suggested lunch. One wore crumpled clothes and was proud of his frugal approach to life. He then wanted me to be his guide to Cheltenham. The other looked years older than his photo, insisted we ate Japanese and I didn’t like having to eat a soup style dish with chopsticks. In both cases a coffee would have been so much better and lead to an easy get out.

I’ve since learned I should have nipped to the loo, got someone to phone me and used the phone call to get out of the restaurant before eating. Within 5 minutes I knew it unlikely we would gel.

Then there was the one who spent an hour talking about himself, never asked me a question, then the following day sent a message asking me what my work was hadn’t he read my profile? He had my mobile number and had asked me to talk via WhatsApp, I then got bombarded with messages. I took too long to block him as I was trying to be nice.
With another I met for coffee and it felt like a job interview, wanting to know about my education and seemed sniffy that I’d studied part time via the OU so not a proper university he said.

Another I thought I got on well with, really nice messaging back and forth. He lived 100 miles away, said he was happy to come down to Cheltenham and would check into a B&B. I said I was visiting my mum, about 10 miles from where he lived so we could meet for coffee in Cheshire. At that point he went silent on me was I ghosted?

Lumen is getting a lot of press, but most men write very little and their photos do not flatter.

I really don’t understand why people share such poor photos, but maybe this, along with no profile info added means that they haven’t really invested any of themselves into the process, and then wonder why no one contacts them.

I have been getting messages like “you look hot”; “you are gorgeous” but no conversation. Of course, I do not reply.
I’m taking my time, seeking to develop a friendship first. I was astounded, to begin with, with the number of messages I got asking me if I wanted a lover. I guess there are different people with different needs and as at least a third of people on these sites are married, perhaps it is to be expected.

I’ll follow up again in a few weeks’ time.

Related Posts
Turning 60

20 benefits to getting older

Reduced fear of failure: With age, we often become more resilient and less afraid of taking risks or trying new...
Read More
Self-Understanding

We should act from compassion

There is something about spending time with Buddhist teachers; they radiate calmness and happiness.  I always feel more at peace....
Read More
Money Retirement

Getting your state pension

Early May, about 4 months before I reach my 66th birthday I received a letter, inviting me to claim for...
Read More
Inspiration Retirement Self-Understanding

Letting go ….

Do we need all our possessions? When we travel – do we travel light? We spend a lifetime collecting possessions....
Read More
Elderhood Longer Term

Life at 80 – how AI will change our future

Let's imagine my future. In less than 15 years I'll be 80! Introduction In the year 2038, as you turn...
Read More
Health & Wellbeing

Improving Health Span: The Key to a Long and Healthy Life

As I review the health chapter of my forthcoming book, I was reminded about the difference between health span and...
Read More
Retirement

The Mental Health Benefits of Working Beyond Retirement Age

Retirement is often associated with a well-deserved break from work and a chance to enjoy leisure time. However, research suggests...
Read More
Positive Ageing

Positive Ageing

Positive ageing is “the process of maintaining a positive attitude, feeling good about yourself, keeping fit and healthy, and engaging...
Read More
Retirement Self-Understanding

What is a meaningful life?

A meaningful life can be defined as a life that has a sense of purpose, fulfilment, and significance. It is...
Read More
Elderhood Retirement

On turning 90

My mum has recently turned 90, she is now old-old. She is still living independently with the help of carers...
Read More
Ageism Health & Wellbeing Retirement

Stay engaged and involved to increase your well-being

Research from the Sloan Centre on Aging & Work at Boston College has found that when older adults are actively engaged in...
Read More
Retirement

Do we need to stay working to maintain strong mental health?

I regularly read academic papers to ensure there is an evidence base to the work I do with my clients...
Read More
Inspiration

What makes you feel alive?

I’m just back from a 4 day music festival, the first for 3 years, Bearded Theory in Derbyshire. I was...
Read More
Inspiration Self-Understanding

Featured in the Daily Mail

There's a section, written by me, in the Daily Mail today, Thursday 12 May  - all about how to do...
Read More
Inspiration

The Deferred life plan

Life is for living; you don’t want to defer it until you are retired. I hadn’t realised that I was...
Read More
Retirement

When should we retire?

It was so much easier in years gone by. Most people retired at 60 or 65. So you had a...
Read More
Career

How to change your mindset to get a job in your 50s or 60s

Writing about retirement, I also need to consider ageing, we are getting older, and also work, people may want or...
Read More
Retirement Turning 60

7 great things about getting older

We can’t separate out ageing from retirement, we are getting older and moving into a different life phase. When young...
Read More
Health & Wellbeing Retirement

Glass half full – you will probably live longer

As we think about retirement, we also think about getting older. Whilst it would be nice to live to a...
Read More
Retirement

Retirement as a Rite of Passage

There is a need to mark important transitions in life, retirement being a major one.  It used to be a party...
Read More

Let’s start to get to know each other.

I’d love to send you a series of articles to get you thinking of your wider life. You will also receive my mid-week 50+ update and the Amazing People newsletter.
Denise Taylor

Chief Inspiration Officer, The 50 Plus Coach.