Fast love

by Rachel Roberts

25 dates in one night. Welcome to the world of speed dating

Ella Fitzgerald's velvety voice floats through the air, singing Someone To Watch Over Me, only to be abruptly silenced by the high-pitched squeal of a whistle. The next sound is that of clattering feet as 50 people run to the nearest seat.

It's not musical chairs, but a game of the adult kind. Welcome to the brave world of speed dating, where people searching for love are lured by the promise of meeting a potential partner within three minutes.

Hands up, I am one of the above. In the last five years, I've run the emotional gamut of singledom. I've been through the 'I'm OK on my own' phase; the 'Please God, let me meet someone' phase; and finally the 'It will happen when it happens' phase (yeah, right!). I've done 'em all.

And while each stage had its highs - a marriage proposal - and lows - he was eating fish and chips at the time - love keeps giving me the slip.

Well, no more! After hearing about a friend's love-at-first-sight experience at a speed dating event, I couldn't wait to join up. A few clicks on the Internet plus a bargain fee of £20, and I've bought myself 25 arrows for Cupid's bow.

I'm not shy, but on the night of the event, I get butterflies - not the nice fluttery ones: these fellas are going berserk.

One nerve-calming vodka later and I take my seat alongside the other glammed-up women. With the 25 nervous men in a row opposite, it feels like a kids' party - I half expect some jelly and ice-cream to appear.

Instead, Mario, the organiser, explains the rules. You get three minutes to talk to your 'date', then a whistle blows and the guys move on to the next table. We're all given a form so you can mark down who you fancy and those who you would rather snog Jimmy Savile than go on a date with.

And so the strange courting ritual begins. Ian* is my first, and he's very nearly my last. A cocky 23-year-old, he squints at the obligatory name tag on my top. 'It's too dark to make out your name,' he says, pulling his chair closer. 'And I want to get a better look at your boobs...'

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Fast love