Who'll find love on our virtual date? This week it's Julia and Steve

Who’ll find love on our virtual date? This week it’s Julia, 54, and Steve, 54, but will romance be on the cards?

• Every week FEMAIL sends a couple on a blind date and asks them to report back 
• Upholsterer Julia, 54, and terminal operator Steve, 54, shared their date 
• Would you like us to find you a date? Are you a singleton, or is there someone you’d like to send on a blind date? Email: [email protected] 

Julia, 54, (pictured) is a self-employed upholsterer 

JULIA, 54

Dating past?

I was married for 22 years and have been divorced for five. My next relationship lasted for two years, but ended in 2019. I wasn’t sure he was faithful and it was a shock when he married three months later.

I’ve done a bit of online dating but they’re either too old for me, or I don’t feel a connection.

Pre-date nerves?

VITAL STATISTICS

Divorced with a son, 18.

CURRENT ROLE

Self-employed upholsterer.

WOULD LIKE TO MEET

A sporty and spontaneous person who likes travel, theatre, and hopefully motorbikes: I ride a Ducati 600. I go for taller, bulkier men, and I love beards.

I made sure my son was out during the date. His friend has been living with us in lockdown, and they went fishing. I didn’t want them giggling in the background, like they did during my online Pilates class — I had to send them out of the room.

My pals were texting me to keep me relaxed, and I’d done a dummy run with a friend, so I knew how to set up my phone.

First impressions?

Steve is lovely, but I knew early on that there wasn’t any chemistry. All the components were there, but I felt he was older in his outlook.

I think our pace of life is quite different. While I love going out at night, Steve is more of a pint and paper man. He wants to go back to living on a boat, and loves football — I respect these things, but I have too many shoes to live on a boat, and love touring on my motorbike. 

Easy to talk to?

Steve is very bubbly. Unfortunately we never got around to discussing travel, which is important to me.S

Although he made a brave effort of talking about motorbikes, it was clear they aren’t his thing. Still, you could put him in any environment and he’d make the best of it.

Embarrassing moments?

There weren’t really any.

Did sparks fly?

JULIA’S VERDICT: 8/10 

LIKED ? He was very friendly.

REGRETS ? He didn’t recognise any famous motorcyclists. 

SEE HIM AGAIN? Yes.

Not for me. I was straight with Steve from the start. I told him it would be nice to meet up as friends and he was gracious about that.

We live about an hour’s drive apart, and that seemed to be a problem for him, whereas I would travel anywhere for someone.

Would you like to meet him in person?

I would, but purely as a friend.

What do you think he thought of you?

We got on really well, but I don’t think he thought I’d be the love of his life. We had a laugh and it was great to meet somebody different, which I’ve missed as I live in a small village.

Would you like to take him home to your family?

He’d fit in with anyone, and would clearly make a lovely partner, too.

Steve, 54, (pictured) is a terminal operator of trains/lorries 

STEVE, 54 

Dating past?

I was married for 22 years and we separated in 2016. I’ve been in a couple of brief relationships since, including one with a fellow house-boater which lasted six months. I feel I was punching above my weight as she was very attractive.

VITAL STATISTICS 

Divorced with a son, 19.

CURRENT ROLE

Terminal operator of trains/lorries (furloughed).

WOULD LIKE TO MEET

Someone petite, loving and loyal. I’m a tactile person so would like them to be affectionate, too. I am after a lover, soulmate and friend.

Most recently, I was in a relationship for a year and a half — we’re still friends. I’ve been on a few dating sites, but I find a lot of women online have been hurt by men in the past.

Pre-date nerves?

It was surreal — I felt like Ant and Dec were going to pop out at any moment. I was a bit nervous, but once I got going it was great.

First impressions

She is very pretty.

Easy to talk to?

We talked about all sorts. I lived on a boat for a year and would love to do it again, so we chatted about that. I have a feeling I did most of the rabbiting — she was very good at listening. It was lighthearted, relaxed and jokey all the way through.

Julia was very giggly, which was great. She was drinking cider, while I enjoyed red wine.

Embarrassing moments?

I don’t think there were any. Thankfully there’s less room for embarrassment on a screen.

Did sparks fly?

STEVE’S VERDICT: 9/10 

LIKED ? Her hair and easy-going nature.

REGRETS ? None.

SEE HER AGAIN? Yes.

As our date came to an end, Julia told me it had been lovely, but made it clear she didn’t see a romantic connection. While we got on well, our interests are quite different. She likes biking in Italy, and I love football, for instance.

Would you like to meet her in person?

If we met face-to-face we’d get on great, but that’s not to say we’d click romantically. But then who knows?

What do you think she thought of you?

She probably thought I talk a lot, but in reality I don’t. With me there are no skeletons in the closet. I have nothing to hide and am hard to embarrass, so I think she enjoyed my company at least.

Would you like to take her home to your family?

Absolutely. Julia could talk on many subjects. She’s sporty and has an adventurous side. She doesn’t want to sit on her own every night, and she needs someone to do her hobbies with her. She’d get on with a range of people.

Would you like us to find you a date? Fancy a date with an eligible single like you? Or would you like to play cupid for someone else? Email your — or their — details and a photo to blinddate@dailymail.co.uk

Source: Read Full Article