I step out of the shower and the cab has already been beeping outside for the last two minutes. So far, it could be the start of any date for me.
But that's where the similarities end.
If being late for a normal rendezvous is bad enough, how about when you have 12 single women to meet in one evening?
Because tonight I will be sampling the latest craze sweeping singleland in the US and the UK - speed dating.
It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.
The blind date of the "Noughties", it uses simple mathematics to increase the chance of that elusive chemistry.
Equal numbers of men and women are pitched together for the evening and given a strict three-minute window to make their mark on each other.
In keeping with the "subtlety" of the event, each singleton has a "yes/no" scoresheet for each individual - any "hits" are informed within 48 hours and the rest, its organisers hope, could well be history.
"They say it only takes about 60 seconds to know if you like someone," said Keith Biglands, who organised the event alongside fiancee Ellen McNulty.
"And it's not that awkward blind date experience, you don't have to spend the whole evening with that person."
The couple, who met through the Internet, decided to set up Teesside's first speed dating service - Match-A-Mate.
"To be honest we don't know what to expect," said Ellen before the night got under way.
"Obviously we want people to enjoy themselves."
The idea is already a huge hit in London, with events almost every night and dates sold out months ahead, so the Gazette went undercover to check out Teesside's first dabble.
And with only one relationship breaching the two-month barrier to my name (and quite comfortable with that, thank you), you would think I was quite adept at "speed dating" already.
But this involved a whole different set of dating muscles.
The first 30 minutes are set aside for a Dutch-courage free drink - just as well for some of the nervous singletons.
The function room at the Ladle Hotel, bless it, is hardly a backdrop out of Sex and The City.
Twelve numbered tables are laid out in a solid grid iron format, each soon to be guarded by a bachelorette while the men work their way - and hopefully their "magic" - around them.
For some it is quite an intimidating concept, like playing speed chess simultaneously with 12 people - and you have to get a checkmate in your first move.
Unsurprising then that the complimentary drinks table is the first "hit" of the evening.
"I have just come for a laugh and if something happens, it does, and if it doesn't then that's OK," said 21-year-old John, who works in IT.
The group is a mix of those looking for a bit of fun, a girls' night out and meeting people.
Those hoping to find a bit of romance keep their cards close to their chest - but the giveaway are the friends/relatives roped into coming along for support.
Each group checks out the weird and wonderful selection of the opposite sex, aged in their twenties and thirties and in all shapes, sizes and dress codes.
But then playtime is over - the tables are loaded and the whistle literally blows... GO!
You soon learn the laws of physics don't apply - three-minutes can feel as long as waiting for the plumber to arrive or as short as it takes for him to tighten a joint and knife you for £100.
But my personal experience is quite pleasant, like a series of random excerpts from a normal chat with a number of bubbly girls.
Unencumbered by any desperate need to find a partner, the conversations flow, with three minutes more often than not being too short.
I hear it all: tragic break-ups, dramatic family tales, job woes and night-out jamborees. Again and again. And that's just me talking.
And when that whistle blows off you go - some people stop mid-word others keep chatting away, conversations to be finished later in the evening.
Some are comfortable, others quite self conscious and nervous, many with set questions "in case of an emergency".
But there was no need for drastic measures and soon I decided to throw a few things in the mixer in the interests of science.
Egged on by an over-confident photographer - the reporter's newsroom nemesis - I claim to be a "snapper" for a couple of dates.
The results are disheartening for a proud journalist!
Then I branch out and try the ever-heroic firefighter role - seems to go down well. Librarians, however, don't seem to hold the same clout.
And, as self-employed Mark tells me afterwards, that is the beauty and downfall of the game.
"If it's ten seconds or three-minutes you are not going to get anything meaningful. And it could all be lies," he said.
"But it was fun. This takes out the stress - let's face it nobody likes being knocked back."
It is all over in a second, but the format seems to have worked as a good ice-breaker
The usual loud, harsh and often adversarial mating ground of pubs and clubs is not for everybody.
"I'm not the kind of guy who walks up to girls," said Mark. "I need a helping hand."
Afterwards in the bar everybody seems to be enjoying themselves after some initial nerves.
"It was a good laugh," said John.
"It got easier as the night went on, once you got into it. I'd probably do it again."
The girls were equally positive.
Health care assistant Paula said: "At first I thought 'oh dear' but then when it got going it was good fun.
"But I think they should have sent the men back round again - I was just getting into it!"
And fellow singleton Michelle said: "I have met a few people I wouldn't usually.
"I came for a bit of fun and looking to meet new people and that's what I got."
As it turns out, there were a handful of matches, more than Ellen had predicted.
"I think it went really well, better than I expected," she said.
"Everybody was the right sort of person for the event, they were all bubbly and up for a laugh.
"Nobody took it too seriously and they all seemed to have enjoyed it."
A night for singles in their thirties and forties has been organised for Thursday - and the event is running short on men.
* Anyone interested should call 01642 812193 or email firstname.lastname@example.org. Registration, which includes a free drink on arrival, costs £15.