I am petrified

Hi Rolande,
I am sure the guy your going to meet on Saturday will be nervous too, us blokes are brave when in male company but often when on our own we have many misgivings worries and are well aware of our shortfalls As has been said on here be yourself and don't do anything or say anything that you wouldn't feel comfortable with doing saying to any of your friends We blokes do listen, usually, so if he is doing something or saying something your not at ease with tell him if its ll going well enjoy every minute and if its not get a sudden "phone call;) "and leave I truly hope everything goes really well for you and him too

Oh gosh! Thank you for all your good advice ladies. We've been speaking on the phone every night for at least one hour each time since the 14 Feb. I've got pics of his mother!, kids, dog, cat, his flowers and his motorbike too!!
I will let you all know how it went..if I'm still alive

If your online dating just be careful. Not everyone is what they say they are. This goes for any dating but online dating is certainly more of a minefield. I did it briefly but don't want to go down that road again.I'll take my chances doing the traditional way of meeting people. Saying that I do have a couple of friends who have met partners online. As its all about chemistry, I just feel to have that with someone on line is much more rare....and so many people lie!! Just be careful, dont believe everything someone says on the basis of a few dates, and I agree with other posts, dont tell him too much about yourself and meet in a public place. I went into online dating with an open mind, and maybe I just had some bad experiences.

I'd be terrified too and asking myself why I'd made the arrangement in the first place, in fact obsessing about it good and proper, tying myself in knots.
It will probably be perfectly all right. Bear in mind all the good advice you've been offered here and enjoy yourself.

I hope it all goes well. Just relax. Please report back...we all want to know how it goes x

Try to think of it as an opportunity, not a threat. Lots of good advice here. Take all the sensible safety precautions, arrange a phone call or text in case you really need an out. If you’ve chatted on line you will know some of his interests so maybe start the conversation there. I imagine he’ll be nervous too. Wear what you would usually wear for a pub lunch, it’s not formal, so be comfortable. I’ll be hoping you have a really good time.

Well done you for taking the first step. Just relax and enjoy yourself. It is only lunch, won’t last forever if you aren’t keen and you can go for dinner later if you are. Hope you have a lovely time.

Wear something attractive but that you yourself find comfortable. Table manners are important, but he is probably as nervous as you are. Relax. You could shake hands with him. Just have a pleasant time and ask him about himself. Hopefully he will want to know all about you. If you don't like him you will just have to think of an excuse why you need to leave - make one up, if necessary. Like you arranged to do babysitting or something at a certain time.

How exciting! Well done for taking the plunge. Keep it casual in every way! though if you've already been chatting in line, I'm guessing you already know a fair bit about one another so conversation shouldn't be too difficult. Hope you have a great time and if there's no chemistry or he has literally disgusting table manners ..... it doesn't matter. It's just lunch. Let us know how it goes .....

Rolande

I worry about this sort of thing. I had to go for a coffee with my Manager this week, after visiting a client. She was tense and so was I before the meeting with client, but it went wonderfully well. I had worried excessively beforehand.

We had coffee and she confided in me all sorts of things.

I can therefore totally understand the anxiety but if you have chatted beforehand I think when you get there all will go well. Please tell us briefly afterwards if you had a nice time. All the best !!!

Have money ready to pay for yourself.

If he is really nice, see if he has a ny brothers, plenty of us here waiting for nice men.

Take the book you're reading and read some while you wait. The book itself can be a topic of conversation ... "do you like biography/historical fiction/ gardening books?", and then you can find out what he likes to read. Have a few topics of conversation ready in your mind, but I suggest avoiding Brexit or Trump!

Yeh try not to pitch your expectations too high. It got to the point with me I was so relieved to get away from them... that I stopped doing it. But some are lucky. So that’s it. Good luck

Modern technology happened since you last dated so consider using it.

Take your mobile phone. Arrange to receive a call an hour in. Then either ignore the call or take it politely, make your apologies and leave.

Wishing you the very best.

It's an adventure, Rolande! 17 years ago I was in the same position - we met in a pub carpark and went in for a drink. We'd already, like you, been chatting online, so we knew some bits about each other. We ended up having dinner, and didn't stop talking and laughing all evening. We've been married for 16 years now and still laugh every day.

Good luck, and enjoy! Just meet a friend for lunch, and see what happens. Do come back and let us know how it went.

I agree - take the sensible precautions just in case, but then enjoy yourself. At worst you'll have nothing in common and what have you got to lose but an hour or so of your valuable time, but at best this may be your new best friend. Have a great time and - yes - let us know how it went. As for clothes, smart casual that you feel good in and be yourself. Good luck.

Good for you making that first step.. I'm far too chicken and I was widowed six years ago.

Good luck! I hope it goes well for you. Will you post an update for us all afterwards?

Gosh you’re brave long time since I had a blind date I d be terrified too No advice just good luck?

Some great advise already given, nothing to add apart from I hope all goes well for you

Rolande have a nice time. I met up with a gn friend this week for lunch. We have been in touch for some time but had never met. Pleased to say it went well and I hope we meet again.
I know this is somewhat different but take things slowly.
Don’t look too far ahead and be yourself as someone upthread said. Also try to get your daughter or a friend to ring or text you just in case you need an excuse to run.
Good luck, relax and hope you enjoy yourself.
Do let us know how it goes.

Rolande that was me ten years ago. We met in a local car park, I remember my first impression was 'oh not very tall' although taller than me. We walked to a restaurant I had booked for lunch, had a lovely lunch, chatted for hours and have been together ever since.
Smart casual clothing and try not to worry too much, he is probably just as apprehensive as you.
Good luck and enjoy yourself.

Hi Rolande, good luck. Remember he is just a person and you're meeting somewhere public so it will be fine. I hope you have a bit more luck than me, I've had loads and still haven't found the right one! When I'm meeting someone for the first time, I try not to worry if they like me or not, that only becomes important if I like them and more often than not, I'm not that keen. In my experience, they normally give you a quick peck on the cheek when you first meet, which is fine. So try not to worry and analyse everything. Hopefully you will have a great time. Will you post and let us know? I had a date last Sunday but he looked like Lord Farquaad from Shrek (basically a short little man who jumped out of a huge Audi). That was a first and last date although he was keen to tell me how rich he was, think he might have been compensating for something???!! Who knows?

Good Luck from me too. I haven't been on a date since 1967 so sorry no advice from me but I am keen to hear how it went!!