Carpe Diem
Personal Introductions

'After 46 years of very happy marriage, I lost my wife to cancer and was devastated. Some 18 months later, realising I still had a need for a caring relationship I tentatively contacted Carpe Diem. Sarah was so easy to talk to and understood how difficult it was for a professional gentleman over 60 to re enter the dating world. After two meetings I had gained sufficient confidence in Sarah to believe she would do her best to help me find a lady with whom I could develop a caring relationship. Hence I took a deep breathe and took the plunge and signed up - what a good thing I did!

Over the next three months I was introduced to a number of charming women but no ‘magic’- Sarah persuaded me to be persistent and continue - again what a good thing I did!

As soon as I meet the new lady in my life, I knew instantly, she is everything I could have wished for including that ‘magic’ and we are now planning our new life together.

Starting the process was a little daunting and being persistent required Sarah’s gentle persuasion, but how it paid off. We can’t imagine our lives without each other. Sarah, from both of us, thank you so very much.'

' St Albans , Herts

'Dear Sarah

Please please put this up on your website and show your clients – prospective or otherwise.  I want them to know how amazing you’ve been.  And I want to offer them hope…!

When I met you I’d been widowed for five years following a long and happy marriage to a wonderful man.   I was in a dark and lonely place and was sceptical that I’d ever meet anyone who could make me happy again - but felt I had to try.  My demands about the type of man I was interested in would have sent most people in your position running.

You introduced me to about fifteen very eligible men.  (Sarah, I was with another very well-known agency before I came to you and in the space of three years I met just a handful!)  Every one matched my criteria; they were all lovely, just not quite ‘right’.

You never gave up on me and I found your observations about dating and relationships so pertinent I grew to trust you totally.  So when you asked me to meet ‘Richard’ I agreed, though my instincts told me not to.  On paper we had nothing in common (and I mean nothing).  He also had a complicated life with pressures which might make a relationship difficult and to top it all he lived 200 miles away!

I liked him but wasn’t sure about meeting him again. (You must have been tearing your hair out).  You persuaded me.  It took three meetings for me to realise I’d finally met the man I want to spend my life with.  We still have nothing in common except for the fact that we’re madly in love, can’t bear to be apart and are making plans for the future.  You have changed my life and I feel so very lucky to have come across you. 

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s to keep an open mind.  And if there’s another, it is that you are the best matchmaker in the UK.  (Sorry, I’ve gone all soppy…)'

Kensington/Shepherds Bush

'Just when I thought my chances of finding my soul mate were passing me by, up came my trump card so carefully dealt by Sarah. Where other agencies had been unable to find a good match for me, Sarah’s brilliant intuition and personal touch very quickly resulted in my meeting a delightful lady I adore and hope to spend the rest of my life with.'

Hampshire

'Sarah, thank you so much for introducing me to Richard and providing such an impecable service. Having tried other Introduction Agencies, I can say without doubt that yours is the best. It was such a relief to have met you. I believe you have a natural gift of getting to the heart of the matter! You are kind, intuitive and perceptively understanding of what makes a person tick and perhaps gel and connect with someone else. For you I believe it is not just a business, you really care about people. I have not found this before with any other agency.

I am now happily settled with Richard and we both wish to thank you and would highly recommend you to others.' London, Herefordshire

'A great big thank you for your advice, help, trouble-shooting and for being a broad shoulder over the last 15 months. Being such an awkward and opinionated chap I would never have dared tell a lady I didn't fancy her, - a go-between was essential - you have been a real friend and constantly brilliant go-between through a variety of awkwardnesses. Mainly I have appreciated the flexibility and freely offered follow-up attitude you provided, nothing was ever a problem. Yours is the only dating arrangement I have ever used simply because I never felt Carpe Diem could be bettered. As you know I seriosly dated half a dozen of your introductions; and got cold feet several times. They were all lovely, attractive, genuine, interesting ladies. Thanks to your diplomacy I never fell out with any of them or felt guilty when we broke up. Also - having paid an initial very reasonable fee you never asked me for another penny. I would have coughed-up willingly if you had.

FINALLY - I have, through you, found a true kindred spirit in 'Jane' and we intend making it permanent.

This letter is just to say a thousand thankyous. You are the best so should you ever want a confidential word of recommendation count on me.' Sussex

‘I am undoubtedly the world’s most difficult client. I set out on the journey towards a new and lasting relationship after having made a conscious decision to eschew such relationships more than 10 years previously, and to focus entirely on my career. The result-well, treating the whole thing as a business transaction-not necessarily the most constructive way to start a new relationship. And I nearly gave up several times-clearly being out of practise and out of my comfort zone. I have now found something (and someone) I didn’t know existed, which is making me happy in a way I had no idea was available to me. None of this would have happened without Sarah. Using a professional matchmaker might seem the obvious solution, but Sarah never operates within the obvious envelope. She has the talent to spot potential matches (where others perhaps might not), but also she motivates, supports, mentors and provides a shoulder without noticing what time of day it might be. If you are a potential client, hesitating about the cost, I assure you-it’s worth it!’ Hampshire

‘Sarah, I am not just happy, I am extremely happy! Like I had forgotten I could be. I must say the whole thing did take me by surprise as I would never have thought Numero Uno would be the one! But he is just so lovely, down to earth, funny, very considerate, quite organised for a man, nothing seems to faze him, we can talk about anything and everything (he's a very good listener - which is good as I can talk for England!), the list can go on and on……….And I have stopped behaving like a complete airhead at work (honestly I felt like a teenager in love for the first time and couldn't concentrate at work!).’ France, England

'Nearly three years ago my life as I knew it imploded. My husband whom I still adored suffered a massive coronary. He was only 53 and so it seemed in perfect health. We were happy together and he was my best friend. We could finish each other's sentences. We had been married since 1989 and we had two sons. We were utterly devoted to each other and had never looked at another person since we met in 1985.

I spent two years in a haze of anxiety, depression and breakdown. My children survived but not because of me. Somehow or other last Spring I managed to sell our house which was haunted for me by terrible sadness and ghosts of what should have been. I bought another home for us in London free of memory. At some point a dear friend sent me The Spectator with a note saying "one day you should get in touch with this person". ‘This person’ was Sarah of Carpe Diem.

I moved house and waited to feel better and very slowly I did start to feel stronger. But my self-confidence was at rock bottom. I had no new clothes and I barely went out or entertained or wore make-up. Then one day I picked up my copy of The Spectator and there was the advertisement for Carpe Diem winking at me. I took a huge terrified breath and rang Sarah.

Instantly I felt drawn to her and trusted her. It was ABSOLUTELY that she did not care about the fee; only that she understood my sadness and seemed to want to hold out the hand of friendship to me. No-one else seemed to care that I was only in my early 50s and had no-one in my life other than my sons. And it was not enough to spend my life like that.

I loved talking to her and she made it clear that I could take my own time over this. I left it for weeks and thought about it. She did not call me which I deeply appreciated. I rang her again and we met for coffee close to my home and I liked her even more. I thought, as I still believe, that she truly CARED about what would happen. I recall asking her if there was any chance I might be able to meet someone again. I trusted her to say that I needed to change and do whatever was necessary. But she said I was fine as I was. Then she came to see me in my home which is SO important because she could see what I like, my style, that I love books, my garden etc.

I felt in the safest possible hands. I felt that she would protect me and my boys, that she would always look out for my happiness and theirs and that there was no risk. She made it clear that I could set the pace and go slowly as I had been out of circulation forever. But she made me feel that I could be attractive again and loved and find someone to love. She did not make any silly promises or any assurances; only that we could make this journey together.

I met three men very simply and innocently and when for whatever reason there was no chemistry Sarah simply handled the situation so that I was relieved of all worry and anxiety. Now it’s possible that I have met someone, we have huge amounts in common and there is a chance that we may go forward together. There is every possibility that I am going to be able to love someone again which hitherto had been out of the question.

I cannot say how happy I am now and equally happy to have met Sarah. Whatever happens my life is richer emotionally than it was and without her there was just an emotional desert ahead of me. Now there is an oasis and a dream rather than a nightmare.

I would have trusted her with my life. I feel her intuition, her real CARE and most of all I trust her to protect me and my sons ….. and I am so fortunate to have made contact with her.'

..One year on

'Much excitement, Michael and I are buying a farmhouse together on Chichester harbour! Exchange next week! Our very own country retreat and mini farm only 15 acres but ponds and wild life etc. All our children get on so well. It is like a dream now! THANK you' Chelsea, London

'Sarah, I had to write to say hands up, I was wrong, you were right. I really didn't think that in my fifties men my own age would be interested. The media and my girlfriends all told me attractive, educated, successful men wanted younger models. They were all so wrong! I have met some gorgeous interesting chaps for supper and lazy days out. As you know, I'm now seeing a lovely man. We have so much in common, the same values and background and he is three years younger than me! Thanks so much for all your kindness and patience; you have made a quite terrifying journey rather fun.' Alderley Edge, Cheshire

'Dear Sarah, A big thank you to Carpe Diem and especially to you personally. As you know, I was slightly nervous about the concept to start with and you did a great deal to make me feel confident about the idea. You have a natural empathy with clients, so it was scarcely a surprise when you introduced me to two very nice women within a short time of my joining. I'm very happy to say that already one of those introductions looks as if it may lead to something more. I think your attention to detail and drawing up a real "compatibility specification" made a big difference. You also helped to steer me through the initial contact and meeting stages with sympathetic tips and encouragement. With many thanks for an excellent, professional and personal service.' Corsham, Wiltshire

'This is fantastic, Sarah! You have introduced me to some of the most affluent attractive men I have met in years. I must say that the calibre of chaps I have met through Carpe Diem has been quite outstanding….a really genuine bespoke service, just as you advertise.' Kensington, London

'Sarah, I thought you would like to hear that things are still going so well. It is quite extraordinary that John, the first gentleman I met, was everything I was looking for in a partner. I have been on my own for many years and thought finding the right chap was going to be an uphill struggle. I know you saw many men before finally introducing him to me, but it was worth the wait. We have only been with each other a few months but it feels like we have known each other for years. I can't thank you enough for the patience and understanding you showed; you were so helpful and kind and it really felt like you cared.' Salisbury, Wiltshire