The big brush-off - SMH

RAD 005 The Sydney Morning Herald mar ch 21, 2007 radar 5 W hat could be more romantic than an evening of stargazing? With this in mind, the ever-optimistic Cupid sent our latest couple to Sydney Observatory for a night tour. After meeting at the Minus 5 ice bar a week earlier, film producer Peter Moss and IT analyst programmer Jacqueline Chachaty surprised many by selecting each other for a follow-up date from the line-up of unusual suspects. As Ash Donaldson and Kerry Langstaff looked like the hot couple on the night, Peter and Jacqueline’s mutual attraction went largely undetected. On Saturday evening our anxious suitor arrived early for dinner at Wagamama. Jacqueline appeared soon after but not so soon that Peter didn’t wonder for a moment whether she would turn up at all. He shared his fears with Cupid via text message. Fortunately the concern was unwarranted and the couple soon sat down for dinner. A leisurely stroll to the observatory followed and the pair joined a group of 10 or so celestial sightseers. Donning 3D glasses, they got into the swing of things by watching a short film. Moving to another room, each visitor took turns looking through Australia’s oldest telescope. The roof rotated to allow them to see various parts of the night sky. For the final trick, a more modern digital telescope was set in position focusing on the moon and a selection of planets. The couple finished the evening with a coffee at Circular Quay. After walking Jacqueline to her car, Peter said goodnight. The following afternoon, Cupid was eager to hear how it all went. Peter was the first to spill the beans. “We talked all night,” he said, adding that they “definitely have a lot in common”. This looked promising. “She’s a lovely girl and I really enjoyed the time with her.” Would he be seeing Jacqueline again? “Again and again and hopefully again after that,” he said. “Sooner rather than later.” Jacqueline, on the other hand, was not so sure. “Peter’s a lovely guy, well-mannered and polite,” she said. “I’m generally pretty fussy with the people I end up going out with.” Would “well-mannered and polite” be enough? “I’m not sure we’d be suited as a couple.” With a little prodding, Jacqueline remembered a key conversation theme during their date: “We chatted a lot about movies.” Not a film buff herself, she noted Peter’s passion for cinema captured all aspects of the art form – “It might be a bit too technical for me.” After Peter’s enthusiasm, Jacqueline’s ambivalence was disappointing – but there was a glimmer of hope. “I would be keen to see him again,” Jacqueline said, “but [I’m] not sure what would develop. Maybe it’s just early days ... it takes time for love to develop.” Ultimately we can’t be compatible with everyone, but when pragmatism meets old- fashioned romance, the best approach is to give the pairing a chance, which is exactly what our couple is doing. Perhaps the planets are not aligned in their favour, but only time will tell. Next week we join Ash and Kerry for their adventure. SKY BLUES I had only seen him a handful of times, but I was impressed. He took his time and seemed to know what he was doing, so I sat back and let him take control. But by the third time, he just wasn’t cutting it. Sure, he was still good with his hands. There was brilliance in the flash of his Edward Scissorhands moves and you couldn’t fault him on his arti stry. But something was missing: he didn’t understand my needs. He just didn’t get my hai r . Those of you who live in the purgatory of hair limbo may be familiar with this follicular dialogue: “I’m curly. No, I’m straight. No, curly ...” Personality parallels aside, the indecisiveness of my hair borders on schizophrenic. It only takes one wrong cut and my hair splits in two: a nice little ’fro on top that spends most of its time giving the finger to the limp lengths sitting on my shoulders. Braver men have tried to tame this shrew. Smug in their Ksubi jeans and gelled, spiky hair , they steamroll my hair into an air- blown and brushed version of its former self. For a short while, my hair gives in. “I’m straight, I’m straight, I’m straight,” it drones. But once past the pearly gates of sleek-gal salon, it changes its mind and changes its mind and ... So when a new hairdresser entered my life I thought things might be different; finally, someone who would understand. But did he listen? Noooooooo. What to do? Was it time to give him the big brush-off? Or was I giving up too soon? Did we just need to communicate better? And if it was time to start looking around for someone else, why did I feel so guilty? After all, how serious were we after only a few cuts? Perhaps we needed a trial separation. In the meantime I would be free to see other hairdressers. I told myself it wouldn’t mean anything; I just wanted to see what else was out there. Besides, he’d never know. I asked around and a friend recommended a swanky new salon around Oxford Street. It was $40 more than I had previously paid but that only served to heighten the thrill of my guilty little secret. That is, until I stepped through the salon door and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, waving at a familiar face. There he was, the new man in my life: my recently relocated hairdresser. YOU +ME I l l u s t r a t i o n : R o b e r t P a r k i n s o n TABLE FOR EIGHT THE RELATIONSHIPS GAME • THE FOLLOW-UP DATE Astronomic potential … Peter Moss, 32, and Jacqueline Chacha ty, 29 . Table for Eight is Radar’s relationships game. Four guys and four girls break the ice at Minus 5 in Circular Quay. Afterwards, each ranks members of the opposite sex and the “matches” are sent on a date including dinner at Wagamama. Runners-up score tickets to Single in the City (after-work drinks for under 35s) on April 19 at Mint, courtesy of www.fastimpressions.com.au. Email Cupid at brooke.jennine @gmail.com to volunteer. HOW IT WORKS Jane Lyons discovers that giving the brush-off is not always easy. P h o t o : F i o n a M o r r i s After a date at Sydney Observatory, did this week’s couple see stars in each other’s eyes? By Brooke Hemphill.

The big brush-off - SMH

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