Online encounters

Yes, the venture is up and running and we are holding an event in south London in September and another in central London in October.
These events are for women 50 plus who are separated, divorced or widowed and looking to start over. Our inaugural conference in June was a great success and everyone took some new ideas away with them.
We even got reported in the G2 section of the Guardian.
I will private message you with our website so you can see for yourself.

Grannylou have you set up your new venture, if so would love to hear about it.

Yes, I have tried internet dating having been in exactly your position.
I had to kiss a few frogs before I found my prince (imperfect but fun).
It is a real challenge for all of us, intelligent, sassy women to be brave and get out there.
As a result of this i am setting up a new venture to help women like us get on with what's going to be the best part of our lives.

Oh I'm completely with you there TwiceAsNice. Living on your own is bliss. I don't want to live with anyone again either.

It would just be nice to have someone to go out to dinner/lunch with now and again, rather than always being the one who turns a gathering into an odd number.

Good luck to all of you who are thinking of trying the on line dating thing, I,m sure there are plenty of reputable sites but (and it's a BIG but) here's one gran who is actively looking forward to living on her own very soon? I posted a while ago about my divorce after a long marriage to a very unpleasant man and Indont think I,ll be getting my fingers burnt again. Really looking forwrd to doing exactly as I like. But I do admire the rest of you for your optimism.

The funniest intro I read was from a man who was "Unexpectedly back on the market", didn't contact him as he wasn't for me but it did make me laugh. Keep us up to date Specki.

ps - he emailed me this morning to say thank you for my company which he had enjoyed. So at least he is polite.

He also offered timing details of a trip he is making next week, which I suspect is another 'encounter'. If he gave these thinking I would call him on his return, he's going to have a very long wait!!!!

Coo coo! Well, I went on the date; we met in the car park of the chosen restaurant. Immediately I thought "fibber"...he was shorter than he claimed on his profile - so much so that I would never be able to wear 'heels' again. Don't like fibbers. We had a nice lunch but there was a slight undercurrent of 'Its all about me' from him, but I did manage to get a few words in edgeways. I insisted on paying my half of the bill- that is something I feel is essential so as to clearly avoid any undercurrent of obligation (whether or not justified!) We parted on the car park afterwards with an unspecified plan to play golf together and we exchanged cards.

Whats the verdict? Don't know..gave him the benefit of the doubt regarding the relatively one sided conversation - perhaps he needed to get some points across initially. Ditto the height fib. I sensed that he has done, and is doing, a lot of internet encounters. Reading back what I've written - its a bit negative isnt it? We shall see, but I'm keeping my eye open on the rest of 'em. Will report further.

What larks eh!

I did type Bel Mooney but my Kindle changed it to Maloney behind my back!! Some lovely and optimistic posts on here - hope for me yet!!!

I love this forum - AKA you are a woman of few words, that did make me laugh!!!

Specki - loads of luck with internet dating, am seriously considering it myself now! Thanks for the info re the Bel Maloney book - I am off to Spain for a week shortly and was looking around for an interesting read, this looks perfect! Last year it was Bob the Street Cat but I suspect this will have a bit more content!!!

Thanks for the info Specki. x

Mimosa The site is in a 'quality' British newspaper and is not specifically for over 60s. The site matches you with people of your own era automatically - give or take 10 years, after you have typed in your birthdate and information. Living in France, I specified the department in which I live but it does match you up with British residents too. Its very clever, the way it all works. Just be careful to heed the warnings - the site is pretty keen to issue them.

Go for it Withany!!!!!!

Great news Specki, well done you!
I had to laugh at your comments you are so correct in your description of what men usually put on their profiles. So many of the profiles I read, when I did try online dating, used the line..'half glass full sort of man' what on earth does that actually mean?
I was surprised that there were so many men out there that had not even tried to put a reasonable photo of themselves on the site, some of them were really scary looking, one had just two teeth. Don't think that would encourage me to get in touch.
Would be interested to know Specki what site you went on. I did quite a bit of research and found that most of the dating sites for over 60's are run by the same company and a lot of the messages sent are just general messages and not actually sent by the guys on the site. I must admit my whole experience when I was on line was reasonably positive. Certainly there are a lot of lonely men out there but I think women are more careful who they contact, as of course we are so sensible!
Let us know how things progress, would love to know and best of luck.

I do agree with others about the shortage of men any of us would be prepared to share our lives with. I feel very lucky to have one, but have felt for many years that if (please it doesn't happen) I was left alone, I would get another dog and live a contented, single life. One happy marriage out of 2 feels like enough luck for one lifetime !

Hi encouraged by your views I had a look at a senior dating site I could not believe how many request for a chat I had within 12 minutes not sure if that's just because I am a new kid on the block, or there are some truly lonely men out there. I have not posted a photo so after 7 chat requests I think it is the new kid on the block syndrome. But it has given me a lift to find there are some decent websites for the over 60s.
Good luck speckie, go for it .

Hi girlies! Right I exchanged a few messages with someone who looked reasonably interesting and had said all the right things (more on that later) and we exchanged email addresses. Actually in reality, it was just the same as connecting with a fellow Gransnetter - not at all scary. Lots of very spontaneous and amusing emails later - which made it clear that we had a lot in common and succeeded in allaying my fears and trepidation at the prospect - we have a lunch date!! Yay! So work in progress and I'll keep you posted.
So, back to profile information on the sites. It is absolutely clear that what they say about themselves is key to one's initial assessment and therefore governs whether or not you have a look at their profile So many guys give themselves away! Some offer nothing of themselves except a list of what they want.."a good cook" (aka worthy servant) "tactile" (aka sex goddess). Or they say things like "having achieved so much in my life which has made me so wealthy that I now own a Ferrari and a fabulous pad in the Tuscany hills" "Oo really Big Head - I will be truly humble and grateful to meet up with you!" would be my response - NOT! So many come across as boastful, demanding, controlling and downright boring. Some offer really scary photos of themselves, often wearing sunglasses - very offputting.
My lunch date talked interestingly about himself and without boasting. He said what he wanted initially was a friend to go out with now and again. He was a little self deprecating - always appealing in a man - and he told me not to worry about meeting up - we would just be two people having lunch together. I liked that. So watch this space!

The Internet has made finding someone so much easier and better than standing in pubs and clubs etc like we used to do. However being married since I was 18 I have no need of this service, but agree with those who do want to use it, why not?At our age nobody is going to drug our drinks etc and you need to be careful of anybody regarding your finances.The only thing is....... there aren't that many attractive men around are they?
Just saying!

Hi Lam64
Thank you so much for your lovely message. I would love to set up a dating site for women over 60 but think there might be a shortage of men that would be good enough for us!!!!!!!

Hi everyone, I am about to join the over 60 divorced women club I have 2 dogs. I will happily join if you start one Mimosa.
It has been really uplifting reading that so many have met and married via a dating web site. I am nowhere at that stage yet, still reeling from hubbies action's and pending divorce. But one day I will be, just got to get through the next few months. Good luck Speckie

Mimosa what a positive post. What a good idea to set up a dating site, aiming at the market you've identified. You could be dot.com millionaires in a blinking
Great story willsandco. Two of our closest friends met through a dating agency, 20 years ago. They are so happy together, and you're right, it can work

That's such a lovely happy story, fantastic! smile

well...in April 2010, I joined a service dating internet site cos I was ex services and so was my late husband so I thought I would take a chance with a world I knew something about. Within four days, I had found myself a suitor and we were married 13 days ago. We are idyllically happy so it does work!

Specki, I so enjoyed reading your post and all the other comments from other members that followed.

Like you, I find myself on my own in my 60's. I divorced my husband after a very long marriage, but we are still great friends. I so agree with what you say ...Is this it? Although I am blessed to have my children and grand children close by, I don't want to spend the rest of my life on my own, without a nice man.

I have a very busy and interesting life and yes I also have a dog, actually two! I feel like I am still 40 although the laughter lines say otherwise!!! There are thousands of women like us out there who know exactly what they are looking for. Personally, I would like to meet a happy man who likes macaroni cheese and dogs...not too much to ask for, is it. I have tried a few dating sites for the over 60's and met a few men in a safe environment, which is so important. It was a very interesting experience.

One lovely man I met online lives too far away, but he is a great friend now. Another date I had was with the most miserable man I have ever met. As soon as I saw him, alarm bells began to ring. Online he was charming. Needless to say although I was very polite I made a hasty exit.

Maybe Specki we should start a dating site to cater for all of the beautiful, intelligent and loving women out there, who are over 60 and single....and have dogs!

Aka's advice is good - I was invited to run off to his house in Spain by a dog walking pal. He was having a bad day with his partner but there was a glint in his eye. I see you have a dog speci - do you meet lots of friendly folks (some of them male) when you're out walking? Good luck whatever you decide to do.