After being friends with this particular guy for ages he invited me to a restaurateurs charity ball (as he was a restaurant owner) and as it was being held in the Claridges Hotel I was quite excited. As I wasn’t sure if it was a ‘date’ as such I didn’t go overboard with the make-up etc but I did dip into my ski chalet holidays fund to buy myself a decent frock.

The day of the ball arrived and he was late picking me up, which resulted in a frantic car journey through the busy streets arriving at the hotel hot, sweaty and the hair already starting to frizz. When we arrived at the ballroom we were told everyone was waiting for us. Being a chivalrous male he opened the door for me to go through first- where upon the room fell silent and 200 pairs of eyes glared at me with contempt. Feeling a little uncomfortable I made my way to our table and sank into the seat as low as I could.

The evening got under way, and got worse. The couple to my right asked a million questions about me and my ‘date’ to which I made up a million answers. Then when they leant over to speak to him he told them a million contradictory tales. The dinner finished and the entertainment started. Somehow I ended up being part of the raffle and was the last one standing on my table with no-one bidding for me. Luckily my ‘date’ took pity on me and offered a measly sum to put me out of my misery. The dancing began, by which time the shoes I’d so carefully chosen were cutting into my feet and shooting hot flames of pain through me with each and every dip and swoop.

At last the evening ended and my ‘date’ dropped me home. As I staggered out of the car with my hair a ball of tumbleweed, my feet contorted backwards and my pride dented beyond repair I said I’d think about it when asked if I’d had a good evening. Charity balls and me- just don’t go together!!

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For single people in London who want to get a date one avenue you may need to consider is the Internet. Though it is not necessarily the ideal way, you can actually use the Internet to meet someone interesting. What you basically need is an online connection, your computer and the help of one of the numerous dating agencies that you can find on the Internet. When going through a dating agency there are some things you must do to enhance your chances.

Uploading a great photo of yours is one of the first steps in getting a good date online. You can have your photo taken by a professional photographer so that you look your best. Pictures are the first things that people look at whenever they view the profile of someone they do not personally know. Make sure that you are giving a good impression by showing your best shots. If you want to attract the good guys, make sure that you dress up nice and modest and do not do anything suggestive.

The next step is writing up your profile. Your profile should be fun and interesting. Be yourself and don’t pretend to be someone you are not. Dating agencies welcome people who are free spirited and entertaining that makes dating more fun and exciting. Your profile is very important if you want to grab a date online- some people even pay for professional profile writing services.

When you finally have some admirers sending you messages, make sure that you are friendly and open to meet new friends. Do not get too serious the first time you talk to them. Make it a point to chat about light issues during your first few encounters, and avoid things like the future italy ski holidays you may take together…

Do not be afraid to introduce yourself to other people. It is okay to message someone and make the first move. The purpose of an online dating agency is for you to meet people so make sure that you do that. Remember that you are paying these agencies for their dating services so put it into good use. Have fun and in the end you are sure to find Ms. or Mr. Right when you play your cards right.

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However, those terrible dates and ridiculous men have provided myself and my friends with a lot of entertainment, hopefully they shall now provide you with a giggle or two!

So one of the funnier ones, his name was Rob and in the daylight he looked like some kind of elf with far too much hair. However I did not meet him in the daylight but at a nightclub. Unfortunately it is not just men who suffer from beer goggles or wine/tequila/vodka goggles. Having said this we did have a fabulous evening dancing and laughing and we had alot in common, so decided to exchange numbers and meet up again.

The date went well(ish) however I did decide that he was a little weird; openly telling me about how he exposed his mother’s affair to his father and how much it destroyed their lives was a give away that he wasn’t quite right in the head.

Anyway the end of the evening came and we said goodbye and I thought that’s that then…little did I know.

A week later I went out dancing again with a few friends, and low and behold he was at the same bar. Wasn’t much of a problem as he was sucking face with another girl so, I believed, I had a lucky escape. However as the night drew to a close and I went to get in to a taxi I hear my name being desperately called out by a man. I turn around and it’s Rob, who is

“So sorry you had to see that, I didn’t know you were here, I’m so ashamed…”

After calming him down and preventing him from making the situation any worse I managed to hail a taxi, as I was about to get in the taxi however Rob dropped to one knee and declared his undying love and asked me to marry him…you can imagine how that turned out!

Three months later my sister, who had met Rob, was at an Interpol gig, he was there and apparently asked why I had stopped returning his calls and messages. My sister looked at him in total shock and told him what he had done, he was so trashed he failed to remember the proposal or the dramatic scene…What would’ve happened if I’d said yes?

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Living in London has many advantages including great culture, brilliant nightlife and great jobs, but the dating scene can be daunting.

For those of us who are not keen on the bar or club pick up and who have not found Mr or Mrs Right in our extended group of friends or ’friends of friends’, what is the next option?

Office romances are often not allowed or at the very least discouraged, but this is where we spend a majority of our time.

Sports teams are often a great place to meet new people but we are not always feeling our most attractive after an hour plus running around in circles on a synthetic sports pitch.

Online dating? A huge group of willing and able daters right at our fingertips? But there is still that slight stigma of desperation to online dating.

Speed dating is another option, but the pressure of 5 minutes chatting to a complete stranger can be scary.

You might be thinking that this is a negative read so far, but my response is you have to know your fears in order to face them. These things listed above are some of the many woes that bog down London’s many singletons and now it is time to forget them.

My dating mantra is giving anything a go! I once got invited on a date with a guy to go windsurfing on the coast- something I am a COMPLETE novice at. I thought the usual, “how sexy can I possibly be in a wet suit”, “he will think I am useless for not picking this up quicker”, “we wont have anything to chat about in the long car ride to the coast”and many many more negative thoughts. Then one thought overpowered them all, “what if i don’t go and I missed the best day of my life and the man of my dreams”and that was enough for me to take the plunge. What a day it turned out to be! He had, in fact, invited some other friends which took the pressure of immediately and once I threw myself in completely we had the best day together laughing and being ridiculous in the chilly England waters.

In the end the magic wasn’t there and we became really good friends, and still are, but you know what? I recently met a lovely young man through him and so off I go again on the roller coaster that is dating in London.

My motto is that we should enjoy the ups and downs of dating because they are the journey that take us to that perfect partner. Dating in London might be tough but it’s worth the rewards!

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Online dating is becoming more and more popular these days. In fact, it has been shown that for every five relationships that have started, one of them have come through the use of online dating. There are some important tips to follow with online dating that will keep you safe and keep it fun and exciting.

The first step to enjoying a safe online dating experience is choosing a reputable dating site. These types of sites will use sophisticated systems that filter members. They will weed through the sex offenders, criminals and other types of people so that you can feel safe that you are talking only with trustworthy people.

When using a dating site it is advised to never provide personal information such as financial information or personal information such as address, phone numbers, etc. If you find a potential date pressuring you for this information, report them and drop them from your contacts. Additionally, it is not a very good idea to tell a stranger that you work locum jobs for doctors or any profession where you will be on a registar, it is relatively easy to track someone down once you know where they work.

Take things slow and be cautious of what you talk about at first. Make sure you really know the person before you get too personal or intimate with your conversations.

Once you find a potential mate, it is suggested that you do an online search of their name. See if you can find them on other sites such as social networking sites, etc. This will give you an idea of the type of person they are and the type of people they associate with.

Also, never ask for a personal meeting right away. Make sure you really get to know and trust the person before you meet offline. If you decide to give out an invitation for a personal meet up and they decline, respect their decision and understand that they might not be ready for it at the moment.

Online dating can be a great way to find your potential true love, but there are some rules that must be follow to ensure your own safety as well as the safety of others.

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Those that are still in the dating world or are just getting back into it would do with a little of advice. There are some definite no-nos and some must-dos.

First off make sure you give off the single and interested vibe. Don’t give off mixed signals. Either you’re interested or you’re not. If you’re not sure then be honest. “I’m looking to date but not get serious.” With the dating world the way it is today most people appreciate the upfront honesty.

Hygiene is a good thing. Make sure to shower, shave and for goodness sake use deodorant. Dig out the dirt from under your fingernails and wear clean clothing that has been ironed recently (and for the love of everything, stay away from running clothing, this is never a good fashion choice for a date). If you wear perfume or cologne don’t overdo it. Clean is one thing, a walking cloud of artificial odor is a whole other subject.

Don’t talk about your ex-anything. Really not something the other person needs to know. Unless maybe they are a stalker and your current date could be in harm’s way. In that case, it’s a toss up. Yes they deserve to know but will they want to go out with you anymore?

Show your interested without jumping in their lap. Don’t call them (or email or text or instant message ) every minute of every day. Huge stalker red flags will pop up and they will run away screaming. If you made the first move then let them make the second or just drop one phone call or email if you want to get together again. Be sure to know when and where when you talk so as to not have to call a gazillion times. On the opposite side, don’t be so cool and collected that the other person thinks you’re not interested. So somewhere between ice queen and stalker mode is acceptable.

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This can be a huge question if you like someone that just will not seem to take the hint. There are a few reasons why this may be. The first step if you have a friendly relationship is to try and see if you can figure out why. It could be that he was interested in you before you became friends. A lot of guys think once they hit friend status that they are not dateable. If this is why he is not asking you out it is easy to fix. The simplest way is to ask him if he wants to go see a movie or something. You do not need to label it as a date, you could even take him with you to look for Angel flats and houses for rent. While you are out make sure that you listen to him more and give him those subtle hints that you would on a date.

If you are not quite at friend status and just acquaintances it could be that you don’t have all of the facts. He could have a girlfriend or a wife that just has not come up in conversation. He could also have just not noticed that you were interested in him. Maybe your subtle flirting is subtler than you thought it was. The best step to take here is to make sure that you do get all of the facts. Try a mildly probing conversation about significant others. You can also ask a mutual friend if you have one they may know. He could also be very shy and just afraid to ask you out or unsure of himself. If all of your hinting and subtlety do fail you can always just ask him out. I know it can be scary the fear of rejection can be very powerful and stops a lot of people from asking someone else out, but it’s a bit like putting yourself in his shoes.

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There once was a day and time where for women and men to go anywhere alone together was taboo. There was no grinding on each other on the dance floor. There was no kissing and making out in public. In fact, men pulled out chairs for ladies when they went to sit. They stood when a lady came to or left the table. Now men barely open doors for women. There is no longer a push for celibacy or discretion. Now it is a goal or joke to see how many people you can sleep with.

When dating we need to be able to spot the warning signs that you make be dating a jerk. This is in reference to both men and women. Women can be sexual deviants just as quickly as men. They can have no regard for themselves or others. When people choose to play these sex games of divide and conquer they are endangering not only themselves but, all of the people they are sleeping with so, if you protect yourself and know the signs you may be able to prevent a tragic outcome.

If you go on a date and the first thing that is offered is to get some drinks you should pass or offer another idea of a place to go. It is a bad sign if getting liquored up is essential to the date. Be able to spot the suave, debonair approach. Constant touching, constant complements, and the slimy full body, top to bottom gaze that makes you want to drench them in red diesel and set them alight. Yes a good date will give you compliments but they will also ask questions. They will genuinely want to know more about you not just your bra size or if you wear boxers or briefs. Make sure that you are not being bowled over. You can feel if someone is faking who they are. No matter what, if you think they may be the one or just the one for right now, do not sleep with them on the first date. Make them wait. If someone is just looking to add on a few more numbers they will not wait a month to sleep with you. They will chalk it up as a loss and move on. By doing this you may be saving your own life. People who act that way are opening themselves up to a whole plethora of diseases. Be safe and wise when it comes to your sexual acts.

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It may be difficult to pick out the best place for a first date. If you know the person then you will have at least an idea of what they are interested in. If it is a blind date picking a great spot may be more difficult. It is not a lost cause either way. There are plenty of great things to do on a first date.

Going out for drinks on the first date is never a good idea. Drinking will make you act differently then you usually do. Your date will not get to see you as you really are and may get a false interpretation of who you are. It is best to stay sober during a first date not only so you can be yourself but also so you can remember the activities that took place and do not regret any decision that you have made.

A great location for the date is a coffee house or a restaurant. You can talk while you grab a bite to eat. Try to order things that don’t upset your stomach. You do not want to spend the night feeling ill, having heart burn, or fearful of passing gas. After grabbing a bite to eat you can go to see a movie. Discuss what movie your date wants to see. Be ready to compromise as your date may not have the same taste as you (a lot like your date may not want to sit through you talking about vet jobs all evening). Be polite and let them decide where to sit. When you are finished watching the movie you could go eat ice cream. There are not many people that do not like ice cream. If someone is lactose intolerant they can still have a snow cone or slushy.

No matter where you go or what you do make sure to be respectful. Be polite at all times. Say please and thank you. Make sure to try not to curse too much. It is best to try to just put your best foot forward and show your date who you really are.

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