Mum and daughter DATING SWAP

Gilly Chittenden and her daughter, Grace Udeh, reveal the positives and negatives that come with taking a different approach

- DEVINDER BAINS

Single mum Gilly and daughter Grace have agreed to take on a dating challenge – or, rather, a swap. Gilly was let loose on apps for the first time, while Grace had to try traditional methods. But who was more successful?

‘I FORGOT MEN ARE OUT THERE IN REAL LIFE’

Grace, 30, is an estates surveyor from the West Midlands. She has been single for two years.

Opening my front door, I peered out before slamming it shut. David*, a local guy I’d been on a date with, was walking past. I didn’t want a second date, so was determined to avoid him.

I’ve been on apps like Tinder and Bumble but haven’t had much luck. After being single for two years, I’m prepared to shake things up by doing some ‘old-fashioned’ dating. That means getting set up on blind dates, approaching men in real life and even trying to chat up guys at work – gulp.

Mum suggested asking out David, 30, a cute-looking businessman I often bumped into. She advised chatting to him the next time I saw him in our local shop. Smiling as I bought a pint of milk later that week, I asked him how his day was going. I was surprised when he suggested a drink.

Our date was fun, but I didn’t find him attractive. It got awkward when he kept texting me. If I’d met him on an app, it would have been easier to phase things out, but I didn’t want to be rude so continued to message for another week.