The best thing about meeting someone new for the first time is, without a doubt, the fact that you can just completely be yourself with them. You don't have to worry about them knowing all the little sordid details about your history - who you've slept with, who you haven't slept with, who you've insulted, who you've assaulted, how you made a drunken idiot out of yourself at your bosses birthday party and how you casually winded up unemployed.

Robin was a really sweet guy, but more importantly, he was really really funny. Hilarious actually. The way he spoke to me, the way he mocked others around him and even the stories and anecdotes he told me - he said them in such a way that made crack up every time. I always liked funny men. It's almost been important to me, but recently, looks and general gorgeousness had taken priority. Normally, I wouldn't have looked twice at Robin - he's no Orlando Bloom - but, once I got chatting to him (rather awkwardly in the park) I realised that despite his non-Orlando Bloominess, he was a really great person.

We walked out of the park and round the corner to this little cafe that had just opened up called "The Cheesecake Shop". It sounded and looked really quite sweet, and boy, do I love cheesecake.

"Have whatever you would like." Robin said. Wow. I had never been offered that before. Not even when I was a child. My father was always strict on how much one child should ever get...lets just say a lump of coal and a cotton bud would've been his idea of a merry Christmas.

I browsed the menu and was amazed and the diversity. It wasn't just cheesecakes, although the displays in the fridge suggested that cheesecakes were there speciality. There were sandwiches, panini's, soups and all kinds of drinks. It was a very good looking menu. I decided to pick a BLT panini. I have always had a soft spot for bacon, lettuce and tomato combo's, but on a panini? Now that was something new.

"That sounds great, I'll have the same." said Robin to the waiter, who was either Albanian or Polish, but either way, didn't speak much English.

"Well, this is rather pleasant, isn't it?" commented Robin, as he sipped his coffee.

"Yes, very. I had heard about this place but never got around to testing it out."

"Well, being a critic of literature, I tend to be quite harsh when it comes to things like this. Okay, sure, I don't make a living out of critiquing restaurants and cafes, but even so, it's good practice all the same!"

"So, you are a book critic?"

"Indeed I am. I also write a rather hard hitting column in the Evening Post about local plays and shows etc. It's quite a good deal. I am invited to go to different types of performances, then the paper pays me 5p per word. And I am always honest. The more people who read my column, the better, because I get a certain percentage of paper sales for that day, so it all comes back to Robin. One way or the other." he explained.

"How interesting. Sounds like you lead quite an exciting life."

"Well, I'm not so sure if I would describe it as exciting. But, at least I get paid to do something that I enjoy. I most certainly am in a minority when it comes to that."

That was true. I can only dream of what it would be like to get paid for doing something that I enjoyed.

And then the dreaded question...

"What do you do for a living, Annie?"

He had to ask that didn't he? What was I suppose to say? I was an unemployed bum that had been too busy dedicating her time to her failing love life to even look for something new? Well, I guess so...

"I am actually in between jobs at the moment." I finally said. "It is really just a case of, my last boss fired me because he thought I was the weak link in his chain. It was some dumb old call centre anyway, so it didn't really bother me. I just have to find myself another job. I can only live off my savings for so long." There. As brutally honest as I could make it. Will it put him off me? Well, if it does, then is he really a man that I want to be associated with? No. Not if he can't accept me for who I am.

"Well, it was only a call centre job. Besides, if I worked in one of them, I am sure I would get fired within a week!" Was that him accepting my truth? "Do you have a degree, Annie?" This one I could answer with pride!

"Yes, I have a 2.2 in fine art."

"An artist you say? How very cultured. Do you paint or draw?"

"Well, both really, but I would say painting was my strength. I have always dreamed about having my own exhibition, where I could display my works and have people looking at them, trying to figure them out. Getting paid to do what you love again!" I explained.

"Indeed. Well, do you have any paintings at home?"

"Yes, tons. But, I doubt anyone will want to see them, let alone buy them!"

"Oh, don't be so negative. I'm sure they are better than you think. You must show them to me. I am a great lover of art, and can appreciate it on many different levels." See? Cultured. Sarah was right. This man was the human definition of the word.

Our food arrived. The BLT panini's looked lovely. I picked mine and sighed discreetly - they had burnt it underneath. Nevertheless, I took a bite out of it, and started eating it. Robin was doing the same. About 5 chews later we both stopped, looked at each other, looked at our food, looked back at each other and exchanged what was looks of horror.

"What is in this panini?" I enquired.

"I think it's mustard." Robin replied.

"Mustard? In a panini? I thought it was always served with mayonnaise?"

"Yes, it is. But, obviously to these people, it's not." He got up with the menu and walked over to the counter. I overhead him speak to the waiter, saying that he did not want mustard on his panini.

"There is no mention on the menu that mustard is included in this sandwich, and therefore, I am not sure you should be putting it on, are you?"

I couldn't quite hear what the waiter said, but I heard Robins comeback.

"Well, you will care. Do you know what I do for a living? I write a column in the Evening Post. The critic column. I hope you can look forward to your first piece of bad press," at which point he placed his dish on the counter turned around and ushered me out of there. As we were leaving, the waited uttered something in foreign at us. God knows what he said, but I can only assume it wasn't "Have a good day, come back soon."

After the argument that Robin had with the waiter in the cafe, I was a little worried that I was with a man who lost his temper easily. When you are with a man who you have only known for the best part of 2 hours, these kinds of things pray on your mind. However, on the flip side, I have to admit, seeing him ripping the waiter to shreds and saying he would write his "first piece of bad press" sort of turned me on a little. There's nothing better than seeing a man with power. No, sorry, there is - seeing a man with power and then using it. Robin was becoming more and more attractive in my eyes, and I was starting to feel like meeting him in the park was meant to happen, in some bizarre way.

"Well, that was a disappointment. I am sorry. I had no idea it would be a sham. But, you have to try these places out to really know for sure. Now, I know for sure that I will never be going back there again." said Robin. "By the way, don't worry about the argument I had in there. I wasn't really angry. It's just my way of exerting authority. It's quite fun actually. I will of course be writing a terrible review on that place. If you would like to read it, it will be in tomorrow's post."

"Really? I'll be sure to buy that then. I would love to see your work."

"Great stuff. Well, I'm sorry that this has had to end on a down tone. But, we'll just blame the dodgy panini's!" he joked. "I am afraid I have to go now. I have some work to do at home, but it was very nice meeting you. I have to admit, it was rather random, and 10 out of 10 for your impressive ice breaker in the park by the way!"

"Oh, thank you. I am glad to have been of service." I said, glowing red.

"Me too. If you would like to do this again sometime, here is my card. You'll see there are two number on the bottom. Call the first one. The second one will just ring out if I'm not in my office."

"Oh, great. Thank you. I will call you sometime."

"Great. It was nice meeting you, Annie Ball. Take care now." he smiled as he walked down the street. He seemed to have an air of cheekiness to the way he walked. He seemed to have a certain bounce that made me want to walk by his side all the more. But, instead, I turned around and walked away in the opposite direction, towards the bus stop that would take me home, with a discreet smile on my face.