The Dangers Of Drink Dating....

Dating is a nervous experience. I don't know anyone who doesn't feel the nerves and in my case, the horrendous sick feeling, prior to a date. Especially blind first dates (if you've read the previous blogs, you'd see why I, more than others, worry before a blind date....it hasn't always been a pleasant surprise). What a lot of us do to help calm the nerves, is have a drink.

I'm telling you now, this is a really, really bad idea. You may think that a few cheeky vinos might make you more confident and alluring, but in realistic terms, it makes you look like a prize tit in the long run. It's something about a drink and nerves that seems to turn the sanest of people into a cross between Jodie Marsh and Sue Pollard....on speed. (FYI - especially be careful if they are driving or not drinking....dating car crash people, dating car crash).

It will also make the details of the night a little bit hazy. I once text what I thought was a hot man I'd met the night before, only to realise a little later, it was the cab driver who'd called me when he'd picked me up. (I'd assumed we'd swapped numbers by the hot man calling me....can you imagine how confused the cab driver was to receive a message saying "great meeting you last night, I had so much fun, lets meet up again soon." He'd only driven me a few miles from my house, he must've thought I was a right nutter).

The last time I made the fatal drinking whilst dating error, it was horrendous. Although, partly his fault, as you will see...

I'd been chatting to this guys via an internet dating site (or "catalogue" as someone described it today - so true), and I was a little bit excited. I love a man who has spark and banter, and this man had it in abundance. A good feeling was surrounding the date, and even my friends were amazed by the excitement levels. We arranged a date mid week, but I had the following day off work so knew I could kick back a bit.A hair appointment was made, new outfit purchased, and a taxi booked. This was rookie error number one - I should've driven. Whilst on route, the date, who we will call Gary (as that's his name), text and asked what my "poison was". White wine was my reply. On arrival to the restaurant, I realised he'd bought me a bottle. And wasn't drinking. WTF?? Who does that? (See why this is all his fault?!)

Now, I like a glass of white, and nerves, mixed with excitement, led to me consuming the whole thing. At this point I was still ok, but it was touch and go. We ventured to a nearby bar, where, after the fresh air hit me, I realised I was a bit smasho. I changed to soft drinks.

But it was too late. The wine was coursing through my veins, and the tongue loosened. He got the Lady Danger life story. And this is an interesting one. He was told all about the nutty ex, past relationships, how I've been proposed to 4 times (said yes just the three times) and all about my checkered past.

Now, other than drinking on dates, another rule is don't tell your next, about your ex. So telling this poor guy the whole sha-bang was dating suicide. I'm still blaming him - he insisted I had another glass of wine, after the bottle he'd already plied me with, and I'm sorry, but you feed the devil, and you shouldn't moan when it's unleashed.A drunken ravishing then occurred, and depending on who's version of events, a bit of harmless biting...(I'd love to say it doesn't sound like me, as I don't remember, but I'm not called Lady Danger for nothing).

The outcome of drinking and dating in this case, well shock horror, we haven't had a date two, but still get on. In hindsight, a man that plies a girl with drink is a bit dodgy, and he did seem to have a mission to date the whole of match. C'est le vie - onwards and upwards, and if they scare that easily, well, then they're not the man for this dangerous little lady....

(NB: My good friend, the teacher, has since written me a list of subjects to discuss on dates: on the list are: my job (current only - my last job raises eyebrows); penguins; holidays; friends; tigers....ermmm, I'm not really allowed to talk much on dates - most things are off the list since this date as she doesn't trust me not to turn the simplest of subjects into a hot potato).