Writer. GQ columnist. That Blind Date blog guy. My real name is Justin. First novel for Little, Brown is called The Last Romeo and is out now. Second to follow in 2020.
Complaining about a couple's age gap is always about something else
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Concern about the age gap in a relationship nearly always comes down to fear of an imbalance of power. But, argues The Guyliner, age is far from the only factor in play
Maybe without realising, when seeking a partner we factor in what other people might think. We picture relatives’ waxen, horrified faces round the Christmas dinner table, glued to our new love’s eating habits. We ...
What to do if a stranger isn't complying with current pandemic guidelines
It's hard enough setting new, medical boundaries with friends and family: it's even harder when you're trying to ask a stranger to stand six feet away in the supermarket queue.
How to DM slide without coming off as a creep
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It's 2020 and the DM slide is a powerful and ubiquitous tool for showing respect and attraction. But, as The Guyliner points out, there's plenty of room to come off like a predator.
How to establish social distancing rules with friends and family
As people begin to see each other within the confines of the coronavirus, it's clear not everyone has the same rules in place about how to interact. Here's how to talk to those close to you about what you need and want.
It’s OK if, after lockdown, you have absolutely no desire to date
For some, lockdown proved the strength of their relationship; for others, it spelled the end. For those who spent it single, some might want to find the companion they missed, but this is a celebration of those who found solitude quite pleasant indeed.
How to deal with your coronavirus dating anxieties
After months of campaigns to keep us from the clutches of coronavirus, an unfortunate side-effect has come to the fore: we’re a little bit scared about what comes next.
Why video dating is here for the long run
When it comes to video dating, more and more of the people forced to acclimatise at the start of lockdown have come to see the merit in it. But does courtship via FaceTime dull the flame of romance?
There's nothing wrong with having 'casual sex'
A priest speaking out against the term “casual sex”, championing the cause of random hook-ups and no-strings flings, might sound unlikely. But this is no ordinary clergyman: I’m talking of course about actor Andrew Scott – now forever Fleabag's “Hot Priest”, whether he likes it or not.
Are you sure you want to shave your head?
You’re not as deft as your barber, you don’t have the patience. They make it look easy; that’s their craft. Hair-don’ts are hard to fix if you lack the training.
Four weddings, four babies, one pair of lost knickers: celebrating 10 years of Blind date
Did Saturdays even exist before the Blind date column? Not as far as I’m concerned.
How to react to your child coming out as gay
As open-minded as you are, you may still find yourself surprised if your child comes out to you. Handle it like a pro.
10 rules for flying together as a couple
There are few things lonelier than sitting on a plane by yourself, gazing out at the beautiful, messed-up world beneath, with only metal, avionics, and the luggage that will get lost en route to baggage reclaim separating you.
These sex scenes prove that post-Covid TV will be missing something major
We could be two years away from seeing newly filmed love scenes on screen and we may be all the poorer for it. Don’t believe me? There are hundreds of examples of on-screen flashes of flesh enriching the plot – here are just a few.
If we take anything away from this experience, hopefully it's kindness
Lockdown has been about the things we miss. Outrageous fantasies were replaced by day trips into the mundane: being stuck in traffic on a bus; wandering round a department store looking at crockery; McDonald’s breakfast.
How to deal with these inevitable lockdown arguments
Are you dealing with the quarantine quarrels? Here are some common ones to look out for and, if you can stop rowing long enough, what you can do to fix them.