Nima on Maxim
What were you hoping for?
To meet someone interesting, with good chemistry, laughter and flowing conversation.
First impressions?
Warm and welcoming, immediately put me at ease. Also, tall.
What did you talk about?
Languages (we had a little chat in French). Travel. Music. Films/books with queer storylines. Reality TV (Drag Race for him, Real Housewives for me). Food (a shared love for Nigella).
Most awkward moment?
When he was talking about his “housemate”, which I misheard as his “husband”.
Good table manners?
Impeccable.
Best thing about Maxim?
He is effortlessly easy to talk to and has a strong sense of who he is.
Would you introduce Maxim to your friends?
I would indeed, I think they have a very similar energy.
Describe Maxim in three words.
Friendly, inquisitive, authentic.
Q&A
Fancy a blind date?
Show
Blind date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two
strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans
to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we
take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the
UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here.
What questions will I be asked?
We
ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of
person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions
cover everything you would like to know, tell us what’s on your mind.
Can I choose who I match with?
No,
it’s a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests,
preferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely
to be.
Can I pick the photograph?
No, but don’t worry: we’ll choose the nicest ones.
What personal details will appear?
Your first name, job and age.
How should I answer?
Honestly
but respectfully. Be mindful of how it will read to your date, and that
Blind date reaches a large audience, in print and online.
Will I see the other person’s answers?
No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more details.
Will you find me The One?
We’ll try! Marriage! Babies!
Can I do it in my home town?
Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we would love to hear from people living elsewhere.
How to apply
Email blind.date@theguardian.com
What do you think Maxim made of you?
Between my love for Gail’s coffee and weekend workout classes, I suspect he thinks I’m quite basic!
Did you go on somewhere?
We enjoyed three hours of lovely chat and I had an early start the next day, so we decided to call it a night.
And … did you kiss?
No.
If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
As much as I enjoyed the chocolate mousse, I should have joined Maxim and also ordered a basil panna cotta. It was outstanding.
Marks out of 10?
7.5.
Would you meet again?
I would, perhaps more as friends.
Maxim on Nima
What were you hoping for?
A date so tremendously electric and a write-up so supremely witty it single-handedly revives print journalism.
First impressions?
Smiley and open! Being my first ever blind date I was a bit nervous, but Nima immediately put me at ease.
What did you talk about?
Barry’s Bootcamp. Having non-traditional names. Both being Virgos. Growing up in London. Planes v trains. Call Me By Your Name. Nima correctly guessing my coffee order. Our Instagram algorithms. Nigella Lawson. The Real Housewives of New York. The simple pleasures of generic pop music.
Most awkward moment?
I overzealously ordered oysters, which neither of us had properly tried before. We both grimaced as we gulped them down and pretended to enjoy them.
Good table manners?
Superb. Nima handled the five-dishes-for-two-people small plates model with effortless ease.
Best thing about Nima?
He seems very secure and self-aware, which can be really difficult to achieve.
Would you introduce Nima to your friends?
Sure, they’ve got a lot in common.
Describe Nima in three words
Smart, kind, stylish.
What do you think Nima made of you?
A nice if slightly nervous guy with an obsession for the the London Underground.
Did you go on somewhere?
No, we had early meetings the next day.
And … did you kiss?
Just a quick hug goodbye before hopping on the Victoria line.
If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
Swapping Tuesday night for Friday – it would’ve been good to spend a bit more time getting to know each other .
Marks out of 10?
I’d say 8 – there wasn’t an instant romantic connection, but it was great to meet Nima and I’d be really interested to get to know him in a more relaxed setting.
Would you meet again?
I’d like that. We’ve swapped numbers, so hopefully we can grab a coffee.
Nima and Maxim ate at Prawn on the Lawn, London N1. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com