Blind date: ‘I was so thickened, I leaned over the candle and my sleeve caught on fire’ | relationships

Jemma on Pietro

What were you hoping for?
An interesting and fun chat with someone new.

First impressions?
Smart, well dressed, polite…

What did you talk about?
Our travels. Food. Animals (we both got a bit excited over Attenborough!). Places we’ve lived. TV shows.

Any awkward moments?
I got so thickened in the conversation I leaned over the candle and my shirt sleeve went up in flames. Waiters came over to put it out! Strange thing was, I was just telling a story about setting myself on fire doing a kids’ science show! Luckily, Pietro found it funny.

Good table manners?
And it is.

Best thing about Pietro?
He was very interesting and had a great sense of humour. I really enjoyed talking to him and conversation flowed naturally. We got along great!

Would you introduce Pietro to your friends?
Yes, in fact he reminded me of a few of them. I think they’d get on well.
Describe Pietro in three words?
Intelligent, interesting, funny …

What do you think he made of you?
Crazy, chatty, entertaining…

Did you go somewhere?
We couldn’t as I had to run off to catch my last train. We needed more time.

And…did you kiss?
No, it was a brief goodbye, but he chased after me to give me the takeaway pavlova to eat on the train. Very chivalrous of him.

If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
I’d say not setting my favorite shirt on fire. Also, that there had been a later last train so we could have had more time together.

Marks out of 10?
8.

Would you meet again?
Yes, we still had lots to chat about!

Pietro on Jemma

What were you hoping for?
To meet someone interesting.

First impressions?
She was immediately friendly and talkative, maybe nervous, but she made it very easy to start chatting.

What did you talk about?
Climate change. How to swear in Italian. Getting lost in London and Bulgaria without a phone. How Kesha Ruined The Simpsons. Futureplans.

Any awkward moments?
Five minutes after she’d told me how she set herself on fire for a children’s science show, her sleeve caught fire.

Good table manners?
Perfectly good. Responsible enough to ask the waiter for a quieter table, which got us a nice upgrade to a booth.

Best thing about Jemma?
She seems to have a big love for life and is very adventurous.

would you introduce her to your friends?
To the nice ones, yes.

Describe Jemma in three words?
Capable, experienced, approachable.

what do you think she made of you?
A bit young, soft spoken and nerdy; but hopefully nice and interesting.

Did you go somewhere?
Sadly, she had a train to catch, so our time was cut short.

And…did you kiss?
No. I don’t think I would do that on a first date.

If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
I would have done a brisk walk instead of a run after Jemma to give her the pavlova. I think it may have got a bit scrambled.

Marks out of 10?
9. Unforgettable.

Would you meet again?
Absolutely.

Jemma and Pietro ate at gun, London E1. Fancy a blind date? Email [email protected]