They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
They lied.
After going through what can only be described as the closest thing to a divorce, feeling strong I was not. The thought of having to start again close to my mid thirties was nerve-racking. Where did I even begin?
How does one date in the 21st century?
Where do single, strait, eligible men circulate these days?
Do bars work?
Tinder, Bumble. When did mobile phones become a weapon in the dating game?
I remember online dating, is that still a thing nowadays?
My brain felt like it was about to explode. These were all the questions I had whirling around in my head, and they were moving faster than Phar Lap!
I felt battered and broken, I had no self confidence and the thought of dating and physically trying to put myself out there terrified me. So, I became the cowardly lion and took what felt like the safe and easy option – online dating.
From the safety of my own home, I created a profile that was simple and honest. It wasn’t long before I realised profiles were not something that men took the time to read, particularly the specifics.
Quickly, I became bewildered. No where in my profile did it say I was searching for a man 25 years my senior, overweight, a regular smoker and had three kids. Nevertheless, this was the type of man I was attracting. Then there were the fake accounts, which any switched-on and cautious woman can pick a mile away.
I patiently waited to see if some sort of prince charming would find his way to me. 10 months went by with hardly a bite, then one evening my phone flashed with a kiss notification. The user’s alias was Last Real Man. I had a chuckle and thought, probably not mate, but let’s have a look at you.
I read the profile, which was full of spelling errors, but to my surprise I found myself attracted to this guy. Our interests matched and on paper we appeared to be seeking the same things in life. He was a tradesman and not the professional business man I usually had to deal with. I actually found him refreshing and exciting. English isn’t everyone’s strong point, so I wasn’t going to hold him to ransom over a few typos.
Oh my god, I think I’m actually going to accept this one! And like that, I found myself back in the dating game.
The Dating Diary 