by Sometimes the worst possible small talk topic turns into the best possible icebreaker
I told a date this week about my landlord cornering me for twenty minutes about ULEZ policy while my bathroom ceiling was actively leaking, expecting mild polite laughter and nothing more, and instead watched him nearly fall off his chair laughing, which turned out to be a considerably better icebreaker than anything either of us had actually planned to say.
Why This Story Apparently Works So Well
There is something universally, immediately recognisable about a landlord failing spectacularly to fix an actual problem while having extremely strong opinions about something entirely unrelated, and watching a genuine stranger’s face light up with recognition over a shared, very specific London experience felt like an actual, real connection rather than the usual polite first date small talk shuffle.
What Followed From There
We ended up trading landlord horror stories for a solid half hour, his considerably worse than mine, involving a boiler that took four months and an entire summer without hot water, a genuinely impressive tale of London rental suffering that somehow made for excellent, easy conversation rather than the usual awkward getting to know you formalities.
A Small Theory About Why This Worked
I think shared, specific frustration, rather than shared interests in the abstract sense, does more genuine bonding work on a first date than people give it credit for, there is something disarming about admitting your actual daily annoyances rather than performing your most impressive, curated self for the first hour.
Where The Evening Actually Went
We ended up back at his, ceiling fully intact I am pleased to report, and the evening extended considerably longer than either of us had originally planned when we sat down for what was meant to be a quick, casual drink.
Further Reading
For the original landlord saga itself, complete with the still unfixed leak, my earlier diary entry covers the whole ridiculous situation properly.
Closing Thought
Turns out the worst possible small talk topic, landlords, leaks, emissions policy, can occasionally become the best possible date story, entirely by accident. More London romance and rental horror stories at my author page on The London Prat.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com
