A few weeks ago, Guardian Soulmates members were asked to fill in a Guardian/Netflix Love compatibility questionnaire, which matched their personalities according to their streaming habits. Let’s face it, a person’s viewing style says a hell of a lot about them.
This week Kimberley and Sree both order the gnocchi and proceed to shoot the breeze about Kanye, Donald and part-time vegetarianism.
Kimberley Faulkner, 28, a junior merchandiser at Top Shop
From the ability to converse on random trivia (Kanye for president?) to both ordering exactly the dish (gnocchi, FYI), Kimberley and the date she landed after filling in the Guardian/Netflix Love compatibility questionnaire seemingly have a lot in common. But having the same tastes doesn’t always guarantee a love match; sometimes it - unhelpfully - throws up even more questions.
Kimberley says, “Noticing neither of us had ordered meat, Sree asked, ‘Are you a vegetarian?’ and I was like, ‘Funnily enough, I’m actually not.’ But then he told me he was a part-time vegetarian who eats meat during the week and not at the weekend … Isn’t it usually the other way around?”
Kimberley sounds equally baffled by his social media habits. “He uses Twitter, but doesn’t use Instagram. In fact, he didn’t really know what it was. He was like, ‘I don’t really get it,’ and I was like, ‘It’s just for photos’.”
Essentially, while being suited “on paper”, Kimberley and Sree have rather different personalities. “He was nice but he was quite nervous and quiet; I’m quite loud and all over the place. I found myself asking a lot of questions to get the conversation started. And he’s not really my type.”
What is her type? “I think I normally go for quite laddy guys and he was a lot more gentlemanly. We didn’t exchange numbers or anything. We had one last glass of wine after dinner at Beaufort House in Chelsea, he walked me to the bus stop, said thanks and that he’d had a good evening, and that was that. I’m guessing I wasn’t his type either.”
At least the feeling is mutual. Kimberley certainly isn’t in a huge rush to meet Mr Right. “I’ve been dating on and off for five years,” she explains. “I have a busy social life with my mates, and dating is a time investment. Plus, you get used to being single. You get used to not having a side of the bed - the whole thing is yours.”
Kimberley on Sree: 7/10
Sree Selvam, 28, a financial statistician from London
“I think we are really similar,” enthuses Sree, 28, of his match through the Guardian/Netflix Love compatibility questionnaire. “We had a lot of shared experiences and shared tastes which was quite exciting … but I think opposites are quite nice as well.”
It’s his characteristically shy and polite way of saying that it doesn’t matter how much you have in common - if the chemistry isn’t there, it isn’t there. You can’t make it appear by magic. “I’m not sure I have a type as such, chemistry is my only real criteria.”
They talked about everything from travelling to, erm, Donald Trump, the time passed quickly and Kimberley was “chatty, open, and relaxed; great company”. But despite parting ways outside Beaufort House in Chelsea with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, Sree didn’t consider asking for her number. “I don’t think either of us were particularly attracted to each other.”
But they got on so well! “I’m not entirely sure what either of us was looking for. I doubt we will see each other again.”
Not even as friends? Is it a case of, you’ve got enough friends, you want a girlfriend? “I guess so. I think if you’re going on a date, you approach it in a certain way. I’ve no idea how I’d try and form a friendship off a date.”
Well that’s that, then. Like Kimberley, Sree doesn’t seem to be too bothered either way. “I’m relatively happy being single,” he admits. “I’m not overly engaged in dating. I’m guess at the moment I’m not trying too hard.”
Those two have even more in common than they realise.
Sree on Kimberley: 9/10
Overall verdict: Damn – they’d make perfect friends, but even that is not going to happen.
What personality type are you? Take the Love Calculator Quiz
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