First Date Taboos…

First dates can make us all nervous which in turn can make us say and do things that we would not under normal circumstances.  So we have put together some first date taboos in order to help you:

Banish the ghosts from the past:

Even the mere mention of an ex can lead you to dig a hole so deep not even a miner can rescue you.  Before you know it you’re spilling all the bitter, gory details about your ex and let’s face it we’ve all fallen victim to that one.  Reliving a bad breakup can be an appetite suppressant, especially if your date has recently gone through one of their own.

Instead you should remain in the present tense, talk about your family, places you have been to and places you would like to visit.  Who knows perhaps you could be visiting these new places with your date.  You should talk about your interests especially if they are mutual.  Before you know it you’ll be making plans to schedule a second date.

Don’t give out TMI – Too much information:

The wine may be flowing and so too the conversation but don’t be tempted to give too much away about yourself.  Be authentic but don’t share all your secrets such as sexual practices or how much money you earn.  It may sound cliché but leave an air of mystery about yourself which will leave your date wanting more.

Use of mobile phone or social media:

Have you ever looked around a restaurant to find people swiping endlessly on their smart phones whilst sitting opposite someone in a restaurant?  The first time my partner did this to me I threatened to get up and walk out, he hasn’t done it since.  We all know that smart phone apps can be addictive, but leave this addiction at the venue door.

Don’t drink too much:

There is no harm in having a glass of champagne whilst getting ready to take the edge off those first date giddy nerves.  But know your limits.  You would not want to end up sitting opposite a date that slurred their speech and stumbled about aimlessly trying to locate the lavatory.  This exact situation happened to me, where my date drank so much he fell off his chair.  Needless to say when he stumbled off to find the gents I made my quick escape.  I never returned his calls. Remember you won’t get another chance to make a great impression, so by all means have a nice glass of merlot with dinner but not the bottle.