Columnist Liz Jones described an upcoming lunch at the exclusive Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire, where she is set to meet a millionaire, but expressed reservations about the encounter and her own dating history.
Jones detailed her difficulty arranging transportation to the member-only venue, receiving a response from the hotel that prioritized overnight stays or membership applications over simple arrival logistics. The lunch, facilitated by a friend, is intended as an introduction to a potential romantic interest.
Reflecting on past relationships, Jones stated that a lack of self-esteem had previously led her to date men with limited financial means, a dynamic she felt gave her power. However, she indicated a shift in this mindset as she has gotten older. She noted observing other women at a recent wedding and questioning her own lack of a "powerful husband."
Jones outlined her planned attire for the lunch and mentioned reading about a young woman in New York who expects suitors to pay for dinner and arrange transportation. She contrasted this with her own past experiences, including paying for a date's Uber home, only to face difficulties arranging her own return trip. She also commented on the backlash such expectations can generate, while simultaneously highlighting the significant personal expense single women incur in preparing for dates, citing over £200 for beauty treatments and new makeup before a recent wedding.
Ultimately, Jones communicated to her friend that if the millionaire did not make an effort to meet her on her terms, she would prefer to stay home. She also expressed a general weariness with discussions on certain radio programs, which she feels present an overly problematic view of womanhood.