<p style="text-align: justify;">So you&#8217;ve spent time chatting to a certain interesting someone online, and you&#8217;re ready to take it to the next stage and actually meet. How do you take things forward?</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Speak on the Phone First</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This can be a really good way to bridge the gap between chatting online and actually meeting in person. You will be able to get a better sense of the person by hearing their voice, the way they speak and seeing if you can establish a rapport. Now if you find that the phone conversation isn&#8217;t exactly flowing and sparkling, don&#8217;t worry or instantly write off your potential date. Some people are just dreadful on the phone! However, if when you speak you have a gut feeling that this person isn&#8217;t right for you &#8211; or perhaps is very different to the persona projected via email &#8211; then you may wish to pause and investigate a little further before committing your time to a date.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10440" title="That First Blind Date — How To Prepare" alt="That First Blind Date — How To Prepare" src="https://medusamagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Blind-Date.jpg" width="620" height="413" /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The First Date</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If you are returning to the dating scene after a break, it can feel utterly nerve-wracking to be preparing to meet someone for the first time again. In fact, some people say that it kicks off a series of conflicting emotions, particularly if they have come out of a previous marriage or long-term relationship. Accept these feelings and work through them. Remind yourself that it is a chance to meet someone nice and new and to have a fun evening and to see if there is anything more. There is no expectation or onus on you to take things further if you don&#8217;t wish to. By removing any source of pressure from yourself, you can begin to relax and look forward to it.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Remember too that if you are one of the many over-50 age group trying Senior Dating for the first time, then you will very likely be meeting someone else with a similar background and probably similar mixed feelings — nervousness, slight apprehension, excitement and even discomfort at being thrown into a new situation.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Choose a nice, well-known and comfortable spot to meet. If it is somewhere that you know, then all the better — although you may prefer to avoid your local if you are likely to bump into a bunch of people that will interrupt your date and show eager interest in the proceedings. A quiet country pub can be a good option, as can a cafe or coffee shop for a midday drink or lunch rather than committing to a full evening. Remember that a dinner date can work wonderfully when you know a little about the other person, but it can also be a long evening if you don&#8217;t click.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10441" title="That First Blind Date — How To Prepare" alt="That First Blind Date — How To Prepare" src="https://medusamagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/First-Blind-Date-—-How-to-Prepare.jpg" width="550" height="364" /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Safety First</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Always remember to follow basic safety rules and look after yourself. Make sure someone trusted knows where you are and with whom. Ask a friend or family member to call you at some point to check that you are all right. Don&#8217;t drink too much and arrange your transport home. And above all, enjoy it, keep an open mind and have fun!</p>

That First Blind Date — How To Prepare
