When was dating ever something to aspire to? At school the boy you fancied was never the one who asked you out, rather the one you were always nice to because no one else was. The one you fancied was the one who didn’t follow the rules, was cheeky and made you laugh and who liked blondes with big boobs – as a quiet, petite red head you didn’t quite fit the grade somehow - the wild child hadn’t yet arrived.

Dating when older seems to have entirely different rules – or does it? I’ve panicked, laughed, refused my hand and a kiss, been incredibly nervous and had agonising decisions to make, for example – what do I wear, how much perfume should be sprayed, should I defoliate………. amongst others.

One such date threw all the others out with the proverbial bath water. Never set a challenge that you are not prepared to follow through! Sending an e-mail inviting a new ‘friend’ to walk the dogs with you and then going to bed is a recipe for disaster. Particularly as having had yet another sleepless night you can’t be arsed to get up, so switch your computer on at 8.55am to an e-mail, sent the night before, taking you up your challenge and suggesting a meeting at the head of Glastonbury Tor at 9.00am “Please let me know by 7.30 am”. Shit! Quick phone call (first one – pleasant voice) apologise profusely and agree a 9.30 meeting at the said tor. Race off to the shower, throw on the first items on top of the ironing pile – shit again, only one outfit ironed……… white jeans (to go up Glastonbury Tor………….ummm) – o’ what the……………. Jump in the car and go in the wrong direction, turn back and eventually arrive on the right road. Phew – can I remember how to get to the head of the tor………….?

If you’ve read any of the other chapters you will know of my total failure at finding the right place. I rang Mike repeatedly as I failed to find an entrance to the tor, I knew I was at the foot but I couldn’t even see the tower. I eventually found the entrance, I say ‘the’ – apparently there are three entrances……. No Mike – another telephone call, I stayed put, he drove to another entrance…………. Bloke walking down from the tor waved to me – ahh this must be Mike so waved back and proceed to walk towards him. Oh shit, can’t be him, he’s at least 80 years old, I smile sweetly and pretend I waved at some other random bloke………….. Yet another phone call – I will say we were both laughing so much that agreeing to meet at the top of the tor could well have ended in complete and utter disaster.

Racing up the tor on the sheer side is quick but killing on the knees, Mike climbed for the second time, up the longer route so I had time at the top to wonder at the sheer beauty of all that I could see. For some Glastonbury Tor is a place for spiritual enlightenment, for me it was certainly a wild and auspicious place to conduct a first date. The laughter that continued throughout the wind swept conversation broke the ice that invariably occurs on the first meeting – will we meet again, no plans as yet but ‘speed dating’ works for me!

On the Barn Dance front – the Wurzels are appearing at a local farm in Bruton on Saturday for an evening of music and food – not quite a Barn Dance but could come a close second? Hey, I’m trying………….