Thursday, 16 May 2013

Then God Created Woman.


Having spent my previous post pointing out all the obvious reasons why not to date a younger man, I thought that, in the name of equality, it would only be fair to now point out why one should date an older women. To re-address the balance, so to speak.

Contrary to popular belief, a woman does not blossom fully until her late 30’s at least. Far be it for me to criticise a 20 year old, for, indeed, I was one once, but it is of my opinion, (and always has been, for those doubting my motives and suggesting there is an underlying coincidence in my writing) that a ‘woman’ is far sexier than a ‘girl’. 

Take random celebrity examples - Demi Moore or Miley Cyrus? Both mental unstable, admittedly, but, whereas, you’ll find Demi quietly sectioning herself for a few months then discreetly returning to the public gaze more fabulous and toned than ever, Miley dyes her hair smokes some pot and spends half her waking life whining to anyone that will listen about how hard it is to be a celebrity. Catherine Zeta Jones or Katy Perry? Uma Thurman or Brittany Spears? Julianne Moore or Lindsay Lohan? I think I have made my point. 

You see, it my belief that life doesn't jade a women, Lord no, quite the opposite, a well lived life, chaotic or otherwise, shapes a girl into a woman; turning a giggly insecure, albeit wrinkle-free, child into somebody who, quite frankly, couldn't give a rat's ass about most things anymore, and (here comes the science bit) what does not giving rat's ass make? it makes you h.o.t ... hot. 

The more basic of men amongst us will argue that a mute blonde, barely through puberty on their arm far outweighs the trade in of an older woman with an opinion and much polished personality. However, I would argue that a) men such as these would fare well in a red light district in Bangkok and no doubt return with exactly what they are looking for in terms of intellectual stimulation and life enhancing  conversation and b) they clearly haven’t spent time to consider the list below. There is more to a women in her 40’s than laughter lines. 

 Confidence - An older woman undoubtedly has more confidence. Having had more worldly experience, both positive and negative, she is far less likely to give a flying f**k about most things in life. Whereas a girl in her 20’s will spend hours agonising over (and asking - groan) if her bum looks big in this, a 40 year old couldn’t care less what you think about her bum, she likes it, and that, my friend, is all that matters. 

She wont  try and pursued you to go clubbing in sweaty nightclubs until 5 in the morning and take mind altering drugs. Or share a bottle of Jack Daniel's with 5 friends whilst sitting on a bean bag in an unknown strangers studio flat in Brixton. Make no mistake, an older women knows how and when to get drunk, the difference being, it is on Chablis in Ciconnes ... at midday ... because she can.

She wont want to have babies or change her Facebook status within a week to ‘in a relationship’. The beauty of dating an older women is that the likelihood is she has either had babies, who are now mercifully rarely visible, or has no intention of polluting her life with such dependents. Meaning that, when she fucks you (and boy, will she fuck you) she is doing it to have a mind blowing orgasm not in the hope that you might impregnate her and you can start talking baby names in a months time. 

She has perfected the art of the blow job and understands their value within a relationship. An older woman, God willing, has collected a history of various partners and sexual experiences. She has had good and bad sex, and, as a consequence, knows exactly what she does and doesn't want. Meaning, (and this is the good news) that when it comes to the bedroom, she will not only have perfected the art of a blow job but will have no qualms in telling you how, what and where she likes to be touched. Whereas you are likely to waste the first 6 months of a relationship with a younger woman trying to second guess her sexual preferences because she is too embarrassed to tell you that her G-spot is not quite as near to her belly button as you think it is, a more mature woman will have told you how to make her come before you’ve paid the taxi fare. Less time for guessing more time for fun, simples. 

She has her own money and spends it on underwear and good wine ... both of which have become increasingly more important to her with time. Very little can upset a  women wearing La Perla and drinking Premier Cru, even you, young man. 

She has big boobs and brain, one might have been bought one might have been developed. Either way, they are both likely to be bigger and far more fabulous than before. 


She does not whine. She leaves. Call it a better understanding of time, a shorter patience for things which displease her or a lack of interest in banal conversation. An older women is likely to spend far less time thrashing it out, whining in your ear, or good forbid sitting you down for lengthy heart felt conversation about ‘where the relationship is going’ she is more likely, however, to move on when she is not getting exactly what she wants from the relationship anymore. Meaning that, not only will you be spared the torture of having to discuss your feelings but you are safe in the knowledge that when she is with you she is with you for no other reason than she wants to be there. 

So there you have it, an older woman's stomach might not be as flat as it used to be but, my God, can she have a conversation, know a good wine and suck your cock like she’s done a 4 year degree in the art of fellatio ... look forward to the future boys, it’s looking bright. 

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Here Boy ...


A good friend of mine recently split from her boyfriend. They were together for a significant amount of time, but decided, after a number of months arguing over meaningless trivia, that it was best to call time on the relationship. To move on, as it were. Since that time, she has spread her proverbial wings, and has recognised, in herself, a growing interest in the younger man. What started off as an innocent flirtation with the local scaffolder (a fine breed of human, if ever I saw one.) has turned into a  fully fledged obsession with chaps half her age.  

I, myself, have never been overly attracted to young boys (Being in my mid 30’s it is worryingly fair to say that I could have born a man in his late teens by my very loins, nay, I could, should I have neglected all contraception from a very young age, be calling a 20 year old, son, as we speak). So the idea of entering into sexual liaisons with a gentleman of this generation attributes itself quite beyond my realms of imagination. However there is, it would seem, undoubtedly, a growing trend towards mixed age relationships. 

In a bid to understand the attraction I decided to research the reasons why a younger man might make a suitable partner and was interested to see the results. 

They including - 

They try harder.
They're more fun.
They're very eager to please.
They respect you more.
They will be your biggest fan. 
They bring out the best in you. 

It didn’t escape my attention that, in the article, should the words ‘younger guy’ be replaced by the word ‘puppy’ the piece still would have held it’s own perfectly and, indeed,  sat quite well in a double page spread in the Horse & Hounds. 

I dare say I might be accused of being stuck in a dating age rut myself, and, to some, the idea that I harbour not-so-secret fantasies for the likes of Brian Ferry (textbook), Piers Morgan (yes, really),  and Larry Lamb (new to the list) is quite appalling. However regardless, of my perverted OAP love-in I just can’t quite find it in myself to give the younguns' a go and despite them being fun! eager! respectful! ... playful! and full of boundless energy when thrown a stick! I am yet to be distracted by the thought of a boy gazing wistfully up at me after I have bought him dinner, ruffled his shaggy mop of hair, listened to an acoustic version of the lastest Killers song on his ipod and allowed him to go down on my for an hour.

In said article, an un-named, self proclaimed ‘cougar’ admitted to ‘Enjoying giving advice to ‘freddy’ ... he was energetic and eager to learn things. He treated me if I had hung the moon myself!’

Really?? 

Advice? Eager to learn? Freddy? This sounds to me more like a Monday afternoon session at an Early learning Centre than a passionate night a deux. What next? nappies, a dummy and a bag of sweets when he’s learnt his ABC!? 

If by chance, or intention, one does find oneself in the arms, or bed, of a man half one’s age, my advice is this.  You are not his mother. You are a middle-aged women at her sexual peak lying next to a walking talking cum machine, who, ideally, has very little to say for himself but is quite happy to bend you over for the majority of the evening and has the good sense to leave well  before there be need for mindless morning chit chat about cars, football, gigs, Glastonbury, Keith Lemon or the Star Wars trilogies. 

A younger man should, ideally, have his mouth full at all times ... and keep the high fives to a minimum. 

Failing that, should the worst happen, and they actually, God forbid, fall asleep, snuggling your breast and sucking their thumb, make sure you have your trainers at the ready. Nothing like a 9am run in the park to excite their little souls.

A toyboy might not maketh a husband but he sure as hell will keep you fit on a Sunday morning. 

Wednesday, 8 May 2013

How to Heal a Broken Heart.



I was reading an article recently on getting over a break up. Interestingly, the article in question, was aimed at women. Suggesting to me that men find it far easier to move on after a relationship breaks down. My thoughts are that beer and inserting their penis into something other than you has a lot to do with this, and that the temporary novelty of not having a ‘girlfriend’ moaning into their ear at every available opportunity also helps. 

The article in question set about recommending ways in which one could help oneself to get over an ex. It proposed chats with girlfriends, lavender oil infused baths, manicures and long walks as ways to help heal a broken heart. 

I’m not so sure.

You see, here’s the thing. In a situation where one might find oneself ‘dumped’ the chances are you are unlikely to be of sane enough mind to enter Boots without collapsing in a crumpled heap in the electrics aisle, much less, select a suitable aromatherapy treatment. You will feel rage, you will feel fury, you will feel a burning resentment and bitterness for each and every man walking the planet. You will not feel like a walk on Hampstead Heath or sitting still long enough to have your cuticles trimmed by a Vietnamese ‘beautician’.

Despite my scepticism I do believe there are a number of ways in which to help heal the wounds of a break up. They won’t rid you of your bitterness and rage, but hey, in small doses, who says ingrained hatred and loathing for the opposite sex is a bad thing, hell, I've lived with it for the last 20 years and it works for me. 

As we were. Ways in which to get over your ex include the following -  

Get drunk. You will find Sauvignon Blanc to be the most loyal of friends and companions when newly alone. Mercifully, a good bottle of dry white will not try to rationalise your hatred towards your ex, tell you everything will be alright in the end and that there are plenty more fish in the sea but it will totally numb your temporary sadness, remind you that there is much fun to be had in the gutter and, God willing, see you in bed with a totally inappropriate waiter you picked up in a West End bar on a gap year from Australia. 

Which leads me to my second point. Meaningless sex with total strangers. Regardless of your age, after being jilted one should spend as much time as possible seeking out inappropriate sex. The age, geographical location, intellectual compatibility and financial/social situation of your prey is of no matter. What is important is the speed and ease in which the volunteer is willing to bend you over. To simplify, fucking the life out of someone else will not necessarily encourage new relationships or make you feel fantastic about yourself in the morning, it will however give you something else to think about and, whereas before you would spend your time obsessing about your ex’s new girlfriend, you can now spend your time obsessing about whether it is illegal for a woman in her late 30’s to have sexual relations with a 19 year old from New Zealand who still has a skate board. Distraction my friends, it’s all about distraction. 

Look after yourself. By all means have a manicure, in fact do have a manicure. Speed diet, have sun-beds, re-mortgage your house in order to totally restyle your wardrobe, buy Louboutins and wear them to work, wear bright red lipstick, get a boob job, have Botox. In other words, do whatever is necessary to re shape you into the goddess that you really are. And do it for you not in the hope that one day you might bump into your ex in the street and he might want you back. (Of course, one can always hope this situation might arise ... at which point you will laugh in the face of your small penis-ed past and walk on by flashing your bright red sole on the way.)

Book holidays. In places where there is plenty of alcohol, sun and available men to have sex with. Do not go to a yoga retreat on a mountain in Croatia. Green tea and the downward dog will help your core not your heart. Let’s focus here, people. 

Spend time with your friends. Girlfriends are, without question, the most valuable thing in your life, and, if they are good ones, not only will they accompany you on holiday, encourage you to have sex with totally inappropriate strangers, get paralytic on tequila and spend ridiculous amounts of money on footwear you can’t walk in, they will also give up hours of their time to listen to you bitching about your ex-boyfriend ... 

Bitch about your ex-boyfriend. In the previously referred to list of things to do to get over an ex, the author suggested ‘moving on’ as a successful healing method. Utter rubbish, I would suggest to you that, actually, the slagging off of your ex-boyfriend should be top of your priorities in the immediate aftermath of being dumped. By which, I do not mean announcing to the world your hatred on Facebook (dignity ladies, please.) but I do mean, that reminding yourself of all his weaknesses as often as possible to appropriate audiences can be amazingly beneficial. 
Why not start a blog  or an instagram account called my ex-boyfriend has a tiny penis?  You'll be amazed at how many followers you’ll get. 

Do not stalk him. be it virtually or otherwise. Checking his online account may feel therapeutic at the time but really means you are just wasting valuable amounts of time staring at a screen which could be spent doing other things that will genuinely help (see above). Similarly driving up and down his road on the other side of London in the hope of bumping into him will not make him go ‘Jeez, fancy seeing you here, what a coincidence, I've changed my mind I think we should get engaged’ it will however, make him call the local mental health hospital in order to have you sectioned. 

Do remind yourself of his weaknesses. Annoyingly, I fear, we, as women, have a tendency to fall rather in love with what we think we want as apposed to what we actually have. Meaning that, the man you are dating/have been dumped by, is not actually the man you thought he was. News flash; He wasn’t as good as you thought he was and by the very fact that you are not together anymore, not the man you should be with either. The only man worthy of your re-mortgaged, drunkard greatness is one that fully appreciates you and wouldn’t dream of leaving you for Dawn in HR.

And finally. Find your knickers, sober up, hold your head high and move on. Let go of the rage and the anger, fun though it is at the time it will make you ugly, a look not conducive to being single and fabulous. 

Focus on the future and the world you now have at your feet. And if that doesn’t work, photocopy a picture of his tiny penis and have it printed onto beer mats to distribute liberally at his local pub. 

Revenge will not help you be a better person, but, my God, does it feel good at the time. 

Friday, 3 May 2013

Getting Real.


Anyone who has ever online dated will know what a minefield it is out there! Endless profiles, random messages and men who wouldn't think twice at declaring undying love in opening emails (or filling a profile page with stories about dogs, but that's for another blog post).


Before you give up entirely and settle for a life of knitting and Sauvignon Blanc at midday you may want to read on. Finally a dating site that does the hard work for you and shows time wasters the red card.

The site was created by Eden and Charlie, two single people in the music industry who turned to online dating to meet people outside of the small industry circles they work in; after years of online dating and meeting people who were ‘not what it said on the tin’,  decided to build a dating site to make meeting others as honest and straightforward as possible.  

In short, an online dating site for genuine people with genuine goals, and I am thrilled to welcome Charlie Hoole, one of the founding members to the blog in an exclusive interview giving us an insight into the bewildering world of  online dating and the message behind the master plan ...  

You started the site after recognising that many people aren't who they say they are online, do you think this is more wide spread than people realize?
Definitely, though hopefully the recent rise in media horror stories, as well as the Catfish TV show, have opened people’s eyes to how widespread the issue is and made them more cautious.  I think the more surprising aspect has been that many of the dating sites have been proved to be adding fake profiles to their own websites to reel members in; in fact research shows this is the number one concern amongst online daters. 

Go on give us some horror stories! ..
Ooh, so many, but where to start?  Well, there are the classic ones like the person in the picture turning out to be a good decade or so older, a few inches shorter, and with alarmingly less hair or teeth!  Then there was this really cute guy I was chatting to on one site, we exchanged a bunch of messages and I was super excited to finally meet up with him as we seemed to have a lot in common and good banter.  I arrive at the pub and the man that approached me bore precisely ZERO resemblance to the man I was expecting.  It wasn’t a case of out of date pictures, it just wasn’t him full stop!  As you can imagine I hightailed it out of there sharpish.  Such a waste of good hair and make-up!  As someone who wouldn’t dream of even telling a little white lie on my own profile – I’m very open about my love of Take That – I just can’t get my head around why anyone would pretend to be someone else, let alone have the nerve to actually turn up for a date.  What do they genuinely expect to happen?  The truth always comes to light eventually.  We’ve heard some absolute jaw droppers over the past few months that put our own experiences in the shade.

What makes your site unique to other dating sites?
Our primary goal when setting up Would Like To Meet was to create a dating site for people genuinely looking for love.   We hand verify every single member via webcam and also monitor every photo that’s subsequently added to ensure no rogues are slipped in for the life of each profile.  We want to be the most honest face of online dating, where what you see is what you get, and you don’t have to worry about investing your time, energy and emotions into building a relationship with someone online, only for when you do actually meet that they turn out to be someone else entirely.  Trust is such a huge part of a relationship and how can you ever have that if it starts with a lie?

Would you say it attracted a more genuine type of single person?
Yes, we believe it does; from the first timers who’ve never tried online dating and perhaps been wary because of the stories they’ve heard in the press or from their friends, through to the veteran online daters who’ve grown sick and tired of all the fake and spam profiles and are crying ‘hallelujah!’ that someone’s finally making the effort to verify their members. 

Have you found the response to be positive, that you are not alone in recognizing that online dating can be an easy place to deceive?
Absolutely.  We think the industry has been crying out for regulation and verification is a huge step towards creating a safer environment.  The cornerstone of our site is the verification process, which can be done in two ways – either by recording a unique video using our inbuilt webcam system, or via FaceTime.  The beauty of the ‘face to face’ webcam verification is that we’ve had a chance to talk direct to our members and hear their stories of previous online dating experiences, both the hilarious and the rather worrying.  Similarly through spreading the word amongst our friends and working with various collaborators you soon realise that everyone has a story and can’t believe no-one’s done this kind of verification before.  The internet is a wonderful creation but it’s also easily open to abuse by those who wish to deceive.  You can set up a fake dating profile in the time it takes to make a cup of tea by simply grabbing photos and personal information of a stranger/friend/celebrity from other social networks, modeling sites, and the like.

What are your plans for the future, any thoughts on events, singles nights, speed dating etc where there would be certainly no place for lying about your age/height/weight! Etc
We’d love to bring the Would Like To Meet experience into the ‘real world’, so to speak, and have lots of ideas for events and singles nights in the future.  But we want to hold events that aren’t the well worn road of ‘single nights in bars’ and alike…we have some really groundbreaking events in the development stages that should result in anyone that attends having gained more than just a few phone numbers! As we’re still very much in our infancy we’re focusing on making the site the best it can be and spreading the word of Would Like To Meet throughout the UK…so watch this space!

What advice would you give to singles with regards to recognizing the genuine and those who are slightly more creative with their profiles when online dating!


 
The biggest lies in online dating are generally height, income and age for guys, and weight and age for women.  Age is a very subjective thing so it may not be immediately apparent from a photo whether they are someone who genuinely looks ten years younger, or if they’ve used a decade old snap.  We try to help with this conundrum by ensuring the pictures a member uploads are an accurate representation of their current selves. On top of that we have a system where other members guess your age from your profile picture which we call ‘guesstimate’...if like millions of single people you look younger than you are this actually extends your search ability, and hopefully persuades people not to stretch the truth about their age in the first place!  In terms of height and weight, it’s helpful if they have a selection of photos including a full length body shot, or perhaps a group shot where you get a better sense of perspective. 
Check the fantastic site out for yourself over at https://www.wouldliketomeet.me/
 
follow them on twitter @wltmme or Facebook www.facebook.com/wouldliketomeet.me
And as if that wasn't enough Would Like To Meet are currently offering FREE lifetime membership for a limited time only! 
Come on people, what are you waiting for? It's time to get real!
              


Monday, 29 April 2013

Ignite Change Today!




There are certain things about sex that will never be sexy. Sadly most of those things are fairly essential should one want to avoid troublesome events such as genital warts, reoccurring herpes, HIV and babies. Indeed, though I would rate the '69-er' as up there with the best of them, in terms of turn offs to suggest during sex, condoms can be another such passion dampening topic (and putting it on with your mouth only makes it marginally better, if you don't mind the taste of rubber bands.) 

Sadly I struggle to think of a form of contraception that is conducive to stoking the fires of passion. After all, who, in God's name, could contemplate buying/suggesting/inserting a Femidom is quite beyond me, and although withdrawal is probably the best of a bad bunch, it may save you from babies (may) but will undoubtedly serve as successful in protecting you from STD’s as dancing around an old oak tree at midnight reciting the Ancient Mariner backwards. 

Contraception is not great fun. But it is cool, kids. 

Especially teamed with the likes of MTV. 

Now, I am an extremely irresponsible sex and relationship blogger, who only takes full adult responsibility of her mortality because she absolutely has to. Durex and MTV however are not. They are much bigger and cooler than I am and strange as it may seem, slightly more respected then myself in terms of being leading worldwide brands. 

So, in terms of life saving advice you can either listen to me or two of the most iconic brands known to the majority of the Western World. you will also, as a consequence, avoid the most iconic STD's . Tough choice I know but hell, I'd take a gamble on the second.

Here's the deal, the The MTV Staying Alive Foundation and Durex have joined forces to share their knowledge, expertise and global reach with young people across the world, to create a supportive environment, in which to empower young people worldwide to have positive sexual attitudes and behaviours, in short, they have collaborated to ignite change today and man, do they know how to do it! 

Their sexual health programs not only work with key organisations and governments, they also reach small communities to help improve sexual health across the world from the ground upwards,The The MTV Staying Alive Foundation fights HIV the smart way, supporting innovative programs in the areas that need it most by funding the creative and ambitious young leaders that run them and also creating and distributing challenging and entertaining HIV prevention content across MTV channels and third-party broadcasters.

In other worlds, read through the grown up stuff, and what do you get? ... spot on buddy, a safer sexual world to live in, fun heavy and STD/HIV light, sounds pretty good to me.

So, come on, let's spread the word, and get sex savvy! 

(and if MTV can come up with a way to enjoy a 69-er ... you'll be the first to know.)



To celebrate this fantastic cause I have some fabulous MTV T-shirts, pins and wrist bands to give away ... to win, simply tweet, facebook or message #ignitechangetoday 

Monday, 22 April 2013

Getting Lovestruck.



I'm thrilled to welcome Brett Harding to my blog, Managing Director and Co-founder of the fantastic online dating site Lovestruck What this man doesn't know about dating nobody does, and he's here to give us some first date tips ... notepads at the ready! 



 Tips To Ensure Your First Date Goes Smoothly 

First dates are nerve-wracking for everybody. Thankfully, Lovestruck.com conducted a survey to find out what men really look for. Follow these tips to maximise your chances on your first date!

Make Plans for Lunch or Coffee.

Dinner dates can be fun, but they are a major commitment in terms of time and money. If there's no chemistry, you're in for a long three hours! 75% of respondents could tell if there was a spark after just thirty minutes, so it’s okay to plan for a shorter meeting. You can always extend the date if you're having a good time.

Let Him Pay.

It turns out that chivalry isn't dead – 81% of respondents think men should pay for the first date. However, it wasn't the men who wanted women to pitch in: women were three times more likely than men to suggest going dutch. Most men expect to pay for the first date, so save arguing over the bill for later in the relationship.

Make a Good First Impression.

We all know that men are visual creatures. Men were three times more likely than women to find a good face essential, and five times as likely to look for a gorgeous body. First impressions are lasting impressions, so it's a good idea to put a little extra effort into your appearance for your date.

Avoid These Deal Breakers.

Bad hygiene – Bad breath and body odour are not attractive on anybody.
Rudeness – Rude behaviour is off-putting and makes your date uncomfortable around you. It also reflects poorly on your character.
Nose picking – I hope I don’t have to explain why this is a turn off!
Constant phone checking – This tells your date that they aren't important or interesting. Your texts can wait until after you've said goodbye.

Postpone Sleeping Together Until the Third Date.

62% of responders expect to get together on the third date, so don't feel pressured after just one date. And don't be afraid to wait even longer – the key is to wait until you feel comfortable.

Let Him Down Gently.

For most people, a text or a face-to-face conversation are acceptable ways to convey disinterest. The cold shoulder may be tempting if you want to avoid confrontation but it's disrespectful to your date's feelings.

Hopefully these tips have helped you improve your dating life and remember, dating should be fun! Relax and have a good time.



Fancy some more dating tips from the man in the know? Look no further, dating tips or for a delicious selection of some *very* hot singles why not head over to Lovestruck ... you'll be spoilt for choice!






Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Datecrashing.


Finally, it seems, that Winter is behind us. The weather is decidedly more clement and the temperatures, far more agreeable. In a bid to celebrate this recent turnaround, myself and a friend met for a few glasses of wine over the weekend. It was quite a refreshing novelty to be able to sit outside with a glass of something cold, and, what started off as a quick one, quickly turned into slightly more. 
She had made arrangements for later that afternoon, however, and was due to meet a gentleman for a date in a nearby location. Unfortunately for the gentleman in question I decided, with the help of 500 mls of fine Sauvignon Blanc, that I wasn’t quite ready to go home yet (blame the light evenings), and  that myself and my 4 year old daughter, slightly wayward and over-stimulated by this point, would join them for another libation. 
The friend in question was powerless to refuse and the gentleman surprised to go on a first date with a lady, her friend and a small (debatably feral by this stage) child in tow.

It has been rather sometime since I've had a first date to call my own and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and would recommend date-crashing to anyone as a most excellent way to pass a balmy Spring afternoon. 

The event as it was, led me to think. Perhaps there are certain things that one shouldn't bring on a first date. Best friends and small children being one of them. 

Interestingly when researching the subject, a number of other suggestions came to light of what to avoid bringing when meeting a potential partner for the first time. Those most popular included -

  • Your mother.
  • Inappropriate footwear.
  • A friend (unless they are a positive addition to the first half an hour of your meeting, thanking you)
  • A negative attitude.
  • A toothbrush.
  • Your own alcohol.
All valid points, however, as an experienced dater, I would say there are far more important things to leave at home when on a first date, for example - 

‘Funny anecdotes’ that last longer than 3 minutes each.
Pictures of dogs.
Pictures of nieces and nephews.
Funny anecdotes about dogs.
Funny anecdotes about nieces and nephews
2 for 1 meal deal vouchers.
A crack pipe.
The bible. 
Your ex.

Yes, you read right, I find the thought of a man pulling out a picture of his dog or a four year old child that isn't his far more off putting than him carrying a hip flask of vodka and introducing me to his previous LTR, as you should too. First dates have no place for canine love-ins. 

But to top all the above, to my mind, there is something far my offensive not mentioned, a far more heinous thing to consider acceptable on a first date ...

 A bunch of flowers. 

I would rather my date turn up with a fully tattooed face and a heroin needle hanging out of his right eyeball than with a bunch of carnations. What, pray tell, screams desperation more than a £9.99 M&S bunch of Spring's finest blooms?

You will instantly present yourself as either looking like you fancy yourself as 'rather a dapper young chap from 1941' or as having severe underlying social/learning disabilities. Trust me, with flowers, it will not be a second date your date will be looking for but your community chaperon sipping a diet Coke at the next table on hand for when you start dribbling down your Status Quo T-shirt and inappropriately exposing yourself to passers by. 

On a positive note, what is necessary to bring on a first date is far less complicated. 

Your wallet, your wits and a get away plan (should you need one) should pretty much cover all aspects of the evening. 
Oh and a download of Peppa Pig on your iPad, better safe than sorry, eh fellas.