So I was waiting by the massive concrete needle by London Bridge Station watching a truckfull of chilled water vending machines roll by. Yes, my date was late. We had hooked up through a dating website attached to one of the bigger circulating newspapers in the UK at that time. We had got into a conversation about cashless vending machines, and how they would be a fantastic idea, and from there an interesting, if slightly bizarre online relationship formed.

We had arranged to meet up at London Bridge, and she eventually came saundering over from the Station. Quite a vision- especially as she had used a fake picture on the dating website. The plan was to go over to the Design Museum take a look about the exhibition stands, and have a coffee whilst talking about random stuff. Goodness only knew how this was going to go as we had had conversations ranging from hair loss products to equine liability (she was a keen horselady by all accounts). So we strolled down the river getting used to one anothers actual presence, as opposed to online- and began noticing things, speech patterns that werent present in typing, touch- which is missing from the electronic world- and a myriad other things. The tension between us was palpable as we looked over the exhibition panels, dicussing what was interesting and what piqued our curisoity from behind the glass. I nearly blew the entire thing by saying that the most interesting exhibit was a Formula 1 car that I could have sat a looked at all day… but was saved by incredibly quick thinking and mentioning that in fact it was Her that I would rather spend my time being captivated by. Cheesy line, yes, but the smile lines around her eyes deepened.

We sat on the riverbank, sipping coffee and eating cake. (very good cake, it has to be said- always go for the chocolate if the lady doesnt, and cheese cake if vice versa- they will ALWAYS want to share a bit). We walked back along the bank, hand in hand, as the sun set over the city, street lights coming on, and, by the station, there was that moment on undefinable tension when youre not quite sure if its a good idea to kiss them… or if really, its the most important and defining moment of your life. If you get to this stage. Just do it. Whats the worst that could happen? We went out for months. It was beautiful.