Dating 101: Intelligent geezer

This former jock scrubs up well and is now a conventional, pretty successful thirty something. Spot him at after-work drinks, hair-waxed and sharp-suited, and you may snarl ‘wanker banker’ under your breath. But you believe there’s more to this one than meets the eye – he’s just as likely to be at a hot yoga class, or cooking a Julia Child-tastic treat for his eclectic gaggle of close friends. As his attractive, platonic chumettes file out into the night, he’ll wonder yet again why he is sleeping alone. Of course, it couldn’t be that he’s exceptionally picky; ‘discerning’ is the word that he’d prefer you use.

Where to find him:

Find the intellectual jock at Bikram yoga classes at Pure Yoga (#18-00 Ngee Ann City Tower A, 391A Orchard Rd; 6586 8476) or working off the boardroom angst doing mixed martial arts at Evolve MMA (#01-01 Far East Square, 26 China St; 6536 4525). Once a week, he’ll cycle to-and-from work on his $15,000 bike housed at The Bike Boutique (60 Kaki Bukit Place; 6225 1728). He likes to be in the know and won’t just finish off the night with his after-work drinks at Balaclava (#05-02 2 Orchard Turn ION Orchard; 6634 8377), hence he’s on first-name terms with the people at Speakeasy (54 Blair Rd; 6410 9026) and Raw Kitchen & Bar (276 Upper Bukit Timah Rd; 6467 3987). At weekends, he wants to do anything but sit still, so he keeps his active lifestyle going through wakeboarding sessions at Wakeboard Singapore! (Punggol Marina, 600 Punggol 17th Ave; www.wakeboard.com.sg), and when he can’t find any playmates, he hits the driving range at Marina Bay Golf Course (80 Rhu Cross; 6342 5730), rewarding himself afterwards with a nice smoke at Connoisseur Divan Bar (#01-62 UE Square, 207 River Valley Rd; 6733 7141).

Spot him:

Time is money, and he needs a lot more of the former and overly desires the latter. Never one to waste minutes (or seconds), he does everything – and we mean everything – fast. Most days before 10pm, he’s rushed off his feet, dashing to meetings, hurrying to his post-work workout session, all the while texting/ emailing/organising dates. He’s the dude with two phones going off at the same time.

One-liners to use:

This is a man who likes a bit of sass when it comes to his women. A come-hither three-second stare over the shoulder should get his attention but will it grab him? No, he’s seen too many of them in his lifetime. The trick is to speak with the right balance of confidence and cheek. Do it right and even a cheesy line like ‘Take me home, ’cause I’m money!’ will get him hooked.

Show your affection:

What can you buy a man who can buy everything? Something he’ll remember you by. You could get your self-portrait done but this might be a little OTT. If money is not an issue, consider Alfred Dunhill’s Pink Gold Four Leaf Clover Cufflinks ($5,210) (#01-10 Ngee Ann City, 390 Orchard Rd; 6735 1312). A sartorially informed choice, he’ll feel even more special when you tell him there are only 50 pairs.

Under the covers:

Nothing is impossible with this man. He likes to be a master of the universe and reminds himself of it, especially in the bedroom. Make sure you do your stretches, and keep your body limber enough to perform everything from a wheelbarrow to a scissors position. Be kind though – if he’s just come home from a 16-hour day, prepare to be satisfied with a quickie or to administer oral relief.

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