Dating

I've dated in the past and will again going forward, I haven't looked for the last year or so as I moved back in with my mum for a bit to allow me to save extra to buy a house, which I've now done. I'll probably start looking again in a few months, right now I'm working a lot so it would be difficult but once the two biggest projects are delivered I'll have quite a bit more time.

In the past I've used Match.com and Tinder, both went pretty well in that I got a reasonable level of replies, Match was about 6-7 years ago and I think it's quite different now. Tinder I tried a few times and although the response rate is quite low (men outnumber women and there are a lot of "like" collectors on there. But I went on a 14 dates and about 10 second and third dates, however you do have to make yourself stand out from the crowd a little, a generic head shot, standing around shot and sparse profile detail really won't work, you need something to be able to work with.

I also know from talking to other people that the online dating world is brutal on men (less so on women), if you're over 25, 30 max and live with your parents then women aren't interested, if you're overweight they probably aren't interested, if you're short they probably aren't interested, if you'e unemployed your chance is almost zero, if you live outside of London and don't drive they probably aren't interested. I was on Match at a point when I was 16 stone and unfit, I toned up as I was on a fitness drive and got down to a lean, trim toned 12 stone 4 lbs and I went from getting virtually no replies to messages I sent, to being actively messaged by women. It's as much about making yourself as marketable as anything else. You want someone to find you attractive as a person, but you won't get the chance to meet them and let them find out who you are if you don't sell yourself enough to engage in the first place.

I've also met people in the past doing things, but that does involve actively forcing myself to do them, I've done cooking courses, cocktail making, one year I learnt to surf (and drunk more sea water than anyone ever should) etc. and they work because there's a task to focus on that you're all sharing and can talk about rather than having to think about what to say all the time. I've also met people through a work environment. Now I'm not saying I've dated loads, maybe a couple dozen people in my adult life (and none as a teenager), three of which were serious and lasted more than a year. I'm also currently single so take my advice with a pinch of salt, I put that down to not having found the right person yet, others might say I'm just not a relationship person (and to an extent I'd have to agree as I don't need anyone, I'm very much happy with my own company).

Now I'm not saying I've dated loads, maybe a couple dozen people in my adult life (and none as a teenager), three of which were serious and lasted more than a year. I'm also currently single so take my advice with a pinch of salt, I put that down to not having found the right person yet, others might say I'm just not a relationship person (and to an extent I'd have to agree as I don't need anyone, I'm very much happy with my own company).

Pretty much my position, too.

Now I'm not saying I've dated loads, maybe a couple dozen people in my adult life (and none as a teenager), three of which were serious and lasted more than a year. I'm also currently single so take my advice with a pinch of salt, I put that down to not having found the right person yet, others might say I'm just not a relationship person (and to an extent I'd have to agree as I don't need anyone, I'm very much happy with my own company).

Pretty much my position, too.