‘Are we ready to start?’ Everyone gathered round while a woman explained the rules. ‘I want all the ladies to take a table and a gentleman will talk to each of you. Have a chat, get to know each other. When I ring this bell after three minutes,’ – she struck it again just in case anyone was still unclear what it sounded like – ‘all the gentlemen will move to the next table in a clockwise direction, and so on. There are pencils and score sheets in front of you, ladies, and when we’re finished, I’d like you to tell me which of the gentlemen you’d be interested in seeing again.’

‘Good luck, Sasha.’ Lolly sat to her left. ‘Knock ’em dead!’

‘Are we all ready?’ The woman rang the bell, just as the man who had slipped in at the back of the pub took off his hoodie to reveal a loud Hawaiian shirt, and stepped forward to join the fun. ‘Happy romancing!’

The first man to sit in front of Sasha was the Asian guy from the bar. He squirmed in his chair, his gaze roaming everywhere but never quite landing on her face.

‘What’s your name, sweetheart?’ she asked.

‘Ajay.’

Bless him, he looked terrified. ‘Why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself, Ajay?’

‘I had a turtle once.’ His face reddened. ‘When I was a kid.’

It wasn’t much to work with, but it was a start. ‘What was his name?’

‘Frank.’ Ajay searched the ceiling. ‘And I had a guinea pig called Marmite.’

Sasha saw the man in the Hawaiian shirt chatting to Lolly. ‘Anything else, Ajay?’

‘I like sports and eating healthily. I’m a very spiritual person, I meditate. I try to hit the recommended daily intake of proteins and fats, although it’s true to say the data changes regularly.’ Sasha felt sorry for him, he looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. ‘After all, we only have one life and then we’re dead.’

‘You’re quite right.’

‘So I think it’s important to look after your mind, body and soul.’

‘That’s so true.’ Sasha was struggling with Ajay’s intensity. ‘Do you want to ask me any questions? My name, maybe?’

He looked surprised. ‘What’s your name?’

She smiled sweetly. ‘Sasha.’

‘What’s your favourite colour, Sasha?’

‘I’m glad you asked me that.’ Finally, here was something she could work with. ‘I have several. Cyan, mauve, I’m partial to aquamarine.’

Ajay thought about it. ‘Aquamarine is good.’

The bell rang – ‘All change!’ – and Ajay stood.

‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Have a nice evening.’

When he walked to the next table, she picked up the pencil to give him a score, but thought better of it.