Matching on Facebook dating, I was impressed with this man. He was forward with planning a date and seemed to grasp the concept of masculine and feminine energy. He booked a table for drinks and snacks.

I was early- I always am. So I popped into the pub for a quick trip to the bathroom. We’d arranged to meet at the entrance to the pub so I approached him from behind as he stood facing outwards to the car park. I was greeted with a smile and a hug.

We chatted whilst waiting for our table and quickly settled into the usual pleasantries of first date conversation. It was very easy and chilled.

This guy has a lot going for him:

-Self employed as a prominent and successful business and life coach ✅
-Good Dad to his teenage children ✅
-Several owned properties inc one gifted to his ex wife so the children feel secure ✅
-Author of 3 books ✅
-Podcaster and previously been on TV ✅
-Lived relatively locally ✅
-Conversation flowed ✅

There was only one problem really, and it was a problem that was evident as soon as he turned and faced me at the entrance to the pub.

The stench of his breath was unbearable 😷

We sat opposite each other at the table and I could smell him.

When he ordered a lamb shank meal, I was surprised and explained that I thought we were just there for drinks and snacks. He said ‘you can have soup or whatever you want but I’m having a main meal’.

Ok, fair enough. I explained I had had a late lunch and graciously ordered a starter, despite not being hungry.

The food arrived together and it was now that I could get a word in edgeways as he ate. Until then, he’d been talking a lot, about himself! He stopped eating to ask me a question and I answered. I was hoping that him eating would be the saving grace of this date and help cure his halitosis. He was making various appreciative noises whilst he ate, praising the tenderness of the meat. It was then that he picked up the bone and began sucking the remnants of meat off from it. I watched on with part admiration, part disbelief. You get to my age and you soon learn to lose some inhibitions and that is what I had put this down to. He was clearly a very confident man. Not shying away from eating every morsel of food on his plate.

Unfortunately, his meat sucking and confidence hadn’t cured what was clearly a medical issue. The smell was ever present.

He spoke of a date he had a short while before, where she had been offended by something he said and left before the food arrived. Was it actually the smell, rather than his opinions, that offended her?

He spoke of his last relationship and how it had ended as she kept cancelling plans for weekends away. Could she just not face his breath in the morning?

Why hadn’t his friends, family or children informed him of this issue. The plaque on his teeth was more visible the more he spoke.

Now, I’m not perfect-far from it. We all stink from time to time. But I like to think my personal and oral hygiene is acceptable. Especially before a date. I always brush my teeth-twice! 🦷🪥

Out in the car park he gave me a long and lingering hug. I commented on how good his aftershave smelt-it did. But I continued to smell the breath. I got in my car and drove home (5 minutes away). I have never left a date heaving before but my heaving was so severe I was almost sick. Once home, I had to wash my face, clean my teeth and change my clothes. I felt like a green fog of bad odour was surrounding me.

I heard from him afterwards. I don’t like to ghost people so I replied but slowly fizzled the conversation out. He asked if I’d been on any other dates and told me he’d had a few after ours. I was relieved.

My friends told me I’m too nice and I should tell him he has bad breath. I can’t. I’d rather just reverse slowly out of his life through the green mist he leaves in his wake.