BLIND DATE

      BLIND DATE

When you say the words ‘Blind date’ to anyone; well, anyone of a certain age anyway they’ll probably think of the Cilla Black show. However, I am one person for whom a blind date resulted in a very successful, long and happy marriage. Way back when I was a mere twenty years of age, I was beginning my rotation on theatres as part of my nurse training, when I met Anne who worked there as a permanent member of their staff. After a few weeks, she suggested that she knew the perfect man for me and that she could arrange a blind date for us. I’m not sure how you’d feel but certain images rushed through my mind of an awkward meeting between two people who had never met sitting glancing at each other wondering what to say and for how long they should stick it out before politely calling it a night. I declined the offer, but Anne was not so easily deterred in her determination for us to meet.

           To cut out the few weeks of will I, won’t I, I finally agreed after learning we wouldn’t be alone, I’d meet the man in question as part of a large group. The ‘date’ was set for the first of December which was a Sunday. The old adage of you wait for something long enough and then three or more come along at once, came to mind. Because on the Thursday before, I went out for a meal and a dance with my nursing friends and ended up dancing with this very dishy looking young man, who asked me to meet him again. Here I was stuck between him and this hitherto unforeseen gentleman called Peter who I was to meet on Sunday. I didn’t feel like I could let Anne down after all her sorting out, so I declined reluctantly and went home thinking I’d just made a mistake.

           The day arrived as days do in December with dark gloomy skies, it took me hours to decide what to wear, I changed numerous times which my mum found hilarious. In the end I decided on a skirt and top and off I went to meet Anne who was going to take me to this meeting. Whenever, I went out my mum always ensured I had in my pocket enough cash for a taxi, an aerosol to spray at the man if he decided to do anything I felt inappropriate and ten pence for the phone. Yes, I’m that old that I could use ten pence to phone someone from a rotary phone in a nice big red telephone box.  I walked in behind her and around a dozen pairs of eyes all turned to watch my approach. I wondered if I should take a bow or something. The man in question stood up thankfully as at this stage I didn’t know which one he was and found myself eyeing up every person of the male persuasion to suss out which man was my ‘date’ for the evening.

           It was his height that got me first, I was always destined to marry a tall man it’s my preferred type and at six foot two one box was ticked anyway. He bought me a drink and we sat amongst a group of about a dozen people, which helped as there was no awkwardness as there was always someone talking. I mean I don’t normally have a problem I’m a Gemini a communicative sign and believe me I live up to that reputation it’s a good job Pete turned out to be quite as I can talk for the gold medal in the Olympics.

           After the initial nerves had settled, I found myself enjoying the evening. As well as talking to Peter I enjoyed talking to the other members of the group. Peter was sat on the opposite side of the table to me, however, after I visited the ladies room, I returned to find they’d had a game of musical chairs and Peter was now sitting in the chair next to mine. I smiled to myself as I felt that to pull of such a move, he must at least like me. If I’d retuned to find him at the top of the table many seats away things would have felt slightly different.

 I know it’s a bit of a roll your eyes statement, but time truly did fly and before I realised it was time for me to go home as I had an early shift the next morning. Peter and I left as he was walking me home and for the first time, we were alone. However, he started walking in a direction that I didn’t expect down what can only be described as a dark alley.  I put my hand in my pocket gripping that aerosol with all my might. It is only the fact that I knew Anne would not have introduced me to anyone who meant me harm that saved Peter from a spray in the face. We’ve since laughed many times about this.

 The unexpected turn of events wasn’t finished yet though as when we reached my house, I asked Pete if he would like to come in for a cuppa before he went home. I was merely being polite I never for one second expected him to answer in the affirmative. However, he called my bluff, so a few minutes later we were sat in my living room with my mother having a cup of tea. I don’t think I said much to be honest I was to shocked that he had come in and faced my mum mere hours after we had met. After he left my poor mum went crimson as she discovered she had left the tea bag in his cup.

           When I was lying in bed that night my thoughts ruminated over my evening like watching a cine reel of film with the images flying past one after the other. I concluded that I had made the correct decision in meeting Peter. There was something about him that made me feel comfortable in his presence and he was easy to talk too. By mutual consent we had decided to meet again the following week.

           My date with Peter certainly did not go as expected for one I never saw myself as a woman who would agree to a blind date in the first place. However, the most unexpected outcome of the evening is that a mere 24 days later on Christmas Eve Peter got down on one knee and asked me to be like a phone in use: ever the romantic. I was only 20 but I knew both my mind and my feelings and even though I knew that everyone would be shocked especially my mother I said yes, I knew it was the right decision for me. Turns out Anne was right, Peter was the man for me and 18 months after that unexpected date we married and 31 years later we are still really happy and share our life with our beautiful daughter Maria.