Woman About To Turn 70 Shares Her Two Dating Non-Negotiables

A 69-year-old newly-single woman now has two non-negotiables for date nights, after the husband she is divorcing treated her to a gas station sandwich on her birthday.

Tina (@tinagoesdating), who'd prefer to keep her full identity private, is turning 70 soon but is certain that her days of fun, flirtation and romance are far from over—even though she's only recently separated from her husband.

And she's not asking for much on a date, just "rooftop bars and romantic settings."

"We've not actually signed divorce papers yet, but we're separated and live in different parts of the country," Tina told Newsweek.

"He's in his late 80s and wanted a more quiet life, which is fair enough! We're just not on the same page anymore. I don't see old age like that, I like the excitement of the city which is why I moved to London. And there's more opportunities to date here, of course."

She took to TikTok, where she has over 6,000 followers, to share why the pair split up and how the breakup has led to her finally recognizing her worth. The unlikely TikTok star keeps her loyal following up-to-date on every new detail of her dating life, and they're always keen to cheer the internet's latest darling on.

She'd taken to the social media platform on March 31 with the latest installment of her short dating debriefs: a summary of what she now seeks in a romantic relationship.

"I'm 69 and I'm dating," Tina told her followers.

"My ex husband hated celebrations and special occasions. I think the last straw was one time we were in London. It was my birthday and he wouldn't stay in London to have lunch."

"He said 'no, we will find somewhere on the way home'. We ended up in a petrol station eating an ice cold sandwich. I want rooftop bars and romantic settings for date nights when I finally get into a good relationship," she said in the post.

The Brit appeared in a stylish blue gown, with a glass of prosecco in her hand—her trademark mode of storytelling online. But until a few years ago, Tina was totally new to online dating and to the online world in general.

"It's like starting all over again and that's why I started TikTok. I want to inspire other people my age that it's never too late to have a fling," she said.

She called the response to the post "overwhelming" and shared that it led to women of all ages confiding their own dating trials, tribulations and hopes to her. The viral post has seen the newly-single woman connect with others who can relate to how she felt in her past relationship.

"It wasn't just the petrol station sandwich. It was a build-up of lots of things over the years where I just became part of the furniture, and that happens to many married women my age," Tina told Newsweek.

"We all deserve to be treated like princesses every once in a while, but when you've been married for so long, couples just stop caring. It's not about spending money, it's about romantic gestures."

"Some of my girlfriends thought I was mad taking that leap into the unknown when I left my husband. And he got the shock of his life because he never thought I would either!"

Tina went on to say that her ex is "not a bad man". "He's always been a good father to my sons and we now share two beautiful grandchildren. We'll always be friends," she explained.

"In fact, after I left, he suddenly wanted to celebrate special occasions; to take me out for dinner and send Valentine's cards in the post! For me, it was too late."

For now—until she finds the man of her dreams—Tina says that her separation has given her a new lease of life.

"I feel like a teenager again and there's nothing wrong with that," Tina said.

"It's not easy to find new love at this age but I really hope by the time I'm 70, Mr Right will come along. I speak four languages, so the dating world is my oyster!"

While her new quest for love has certainly brought a smile to her face, her newfound skill at social media has done so too and has also led to her picking up some new lingo.

"I didn't know what 'slay queen' meant before all this, now I'm embracing it! I've already had trolls and hateful comments, but you don't get to my age without having a thick skin, darling," she said.

Have you noticed any red flags that made you end a relationship? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.