A rainy night and I'm sitting by a bar perusing the cocktail menu, nothing strange there you might think, but tonight is a little different. I am actually waiting for a blind date to arrive - and when I say blind date, I don't mean in the sense that the guide dog nudged him, I mean, well, that I am about to embark on an evening with a complete stranger who I know nothing about apart from his online moniker and that he is European.

You might be wondering how in the first place I've ended up on the most never-wracking, not to mention the most hated of all dates and why I am treading such unchartered water. Well, that reason is Valentine's Day. V-Day or as every singleton I know refers to it as D-Day...The one day of the year when you are made to feel like a social pariah for your single status. Sigh.

So, in a vain attempt to avoid pitying looks - I logged on and e-flirted my way to a drinks offer. And now I find myself hair-twiddling, clock-watching and trying to order a drink, waiting for DeeH57 to arrive.

Whilst I am waiting I'm playing a little game with myself to pass the time. I have decided that the cocktail I choose will determine what nationality and type of man will walk through the door and will be my blind date.

So, to the menu and the candidates:

Nationality: Russian

White Russian: Vodka, coffee liqueur, milk and cream.

Maybe, my date is from the Soviet. Exciting! Though, according to the cocktail menu the drink is "a simple, creamy drink with a nice coffee flavour that makes a great after-dinner sipper". I'm not sure simple is what I desire in a man. Next!

Nationality: Italian

Bellini: White peach purée, Prosecco and a dash of maraschino cherry juice.

Ah, a true classic Italian cocktail that was created in Harry's Bar in Venice. Maybe I should invite a bit of dolce vita into my life? Though as elegant as a Bellini is, I think I want my date to be a little less sweet.

Nationality: Greek

Ouzo Long Drink: Ouzo, vodka, sugar, soda water, orange juice.

I attended a wedding in Santorini recently which was spent drinking far too much ouzo, so I now associate the liquor with holiday flings and I am hoping this blind date might be a little more long-term.

Nationality: Spanish

Calimocho: Red wine and cola

This heady combination was invented in the Basque region by Kalimero and Motxo, called 'Kalimotxo' (the Basque pronunciation) in its makers' honour, when the wine they had bought was of such bad quality and they decided to mix it with something so as not to lose money. Now, as much as I love red wine, it gives me a headache - something I certainly don't want from a man!

Nationality: German

Berliner Weisse mit Schuss: Weißbier beer and sugar syrup.

This cocktail is actually beer-based and contains Weißbier beer brewed only in Berlin with a shot of sugar syrup, which can be apparently green, flavoured with woodruff, red, flavoured with raspberry; or yellow flavoured with lemon. Now I love German beer but German beer doesn't love me and leaves me bloated - not a hot look for a first date. Sadly, I'll have to move on.

Nationality: French

The Side Car: Cognac, Cointreau and lemon juice

This cocktail originated in Paris - and Paris is known as the City of Love. Maybe it's a sign it's meant to be? This is the cocktail for me!

So, with a Side Car in hand, all I have to do is keep my fingers crossed he's not Swiss as there are no chocolate-based cocktails on the menu...