***MY EXPERIENCE OF LOVE SO FAR***
I am 26yrs of age and have had a few relationships, one of which lasted for 5 years, but ended in a bad way when I realised what he had been doing behind my back. In some of my other relationships which were shorter I have seen violence, effects or drinking and effects of drugs. I was much younger when some of these things happned to me and it's something you learn from. Luckily I wasn't the one drinking, using drugs or being violent, how-ever I did get the effects of it when my boyfriend at the time would become a totally different person and take things out on me all the time. After breaking up with my ex of 5 years, and being single for about 3yrs, I was sure I was never going to meet someone again who would care and love me for the way I was. In my last relationship I experienced bad self esteem issues so my confidence wasn't very high either. I did used to go out with my friends into my local town and sometimes I would chatted up by guys, but I was looking for someone different, someone whom I didn't know from my local town. I started to believe love didn't exist and that I would be on my own for many years to come. Some of my friends were in long term relationships and engaged so that was making me feel even worse but then I started thing think, maybe my time hasn't come yet.

About a year ago I was going through some very bad times and felt a bit lost and helpless, a friend of mine does something called angel readings, this doesn't look into your future but it can give you guidance. I know some people are probably thinking this is a load of rubbish but I really believe in things like that. Anyway the cards I choose happened to all represent love and I was told I would meet someone very soon whom I have never met before and was told I need to be patient. Some other things were said which were very accurate, how-ever these aren't relevant to this review so I'm not going to talk about those things. I wasn't quite sure whether to believe it or not, but decided I wasn't going to go out and look for love myself, I would let them look for me.


***INTERNET DATING***
I know there are many dating websites and I constantly see advertising for them on the tv or hear their adverts on the radio. I have never really though about internet dating before, probably because I thought I would never have to use as I could meet a nice guy without it (how wrong was I?)! I know some people have found love on the internet but I have always been worried about the safety aspect of it. What happens if the person you are tlaking to isn't really the person they say they are or are totally different from their picture? I know you have to be very careful with internet dating. I have maybe looked at a few sites just out of curiosity but have never joined any sites or created profiles on any dating website before. Also there are so many dating websites which one are you meant to join and how long should you wait before you might go on a date? All this internet dating was something I didn't really have a clue about!

***THE WEBSITE***
About 5-6 months after having the angel reading I was talking to a friend of mine online. He also wasn't having much luck with love and told me he was on a dating website (I'm not going to mention which one). He told me that he has been messaging a few people and had been on a date with someone. I thought to myself I would sign up and give it a go for a week, 2 at the most. When it comes to internet dating, it's something I thought I would never do and never even have a try at it. I created my profile and filled in some information about myself. I have previously done some modelling but decided not to mention any of this on my profile and I choose a nice picture of me (not a proffessional modelling shot) to upload onto my profile. i didn't want to mention anything about my modelling as people judge and I didn't want guys thinking they could take advantage.

Within a few days I started to receive messages from a few different guys, a lot of these I just wans't interested in as they didn't have the same interests as me or some I wasn't attracted to. I agree looks aren't everything and i tend to go for personality more than anything, how-ever I have to be attracted to them to want to go out and to be with them. Within the week and half I was on there, I didn't really find anyone I was interested in. I logged in towards the end of the 2nd week and checked my message. I was planning on leaving the website in a few days time. (Your probably thinking I was being very impatient!). I saw a message on there from a guy whom lived not too far form my town. His message was short but nice and he looked like a lovely guy and had some of the same interested as me. The dating site I was using actually only allowed you send a certain amount of messages a day as I didn't want to pay for membership. We agreed to add each other on facebook and continue to chat on there.

***THE FIRST MEET/DATE***
We exchanged quite a few messages on there and a week later he gave me his number, I dropped him a casual text one evening and he suggested we meet up for a drink. Although he has seen a few pictures of me, i was feeling very nervous and thought to myself what if he thinks I'm ugly in real life. Anyway we decided to meet in my local town at a nice bar. I didn't want to dress up too much but I wanted to look nice so opted for smart jeans, nice top and heels. I met him outside the bar and I coudln't believe how good looking he was. I was a bit taken back. He bought us a drink and we sat down and got to know each other by chatting about things we liked. The time went so quickly and it was time for me to get my bus home. He gave me a hug & kiss on the cheek and asked me to text him when I got home so he knew I got back safely. I did text him when he got home, and he replied saying he had a lovely evening and would be good to see me again.

We continued to meet every week and then meet a few times a week and I would go to his and watch a film or we would go out together for a meal or for a few drinks in the town. We both agreed we wanted to take things slow as we had both been hurt in the past. About a month past and I started staying at his at the weekends and would spend nearly every weekend with him.

***6 MONTHS LATER***
We have now been together for 6 months and I will be moving in with him by the end of october. I spend nearly all week and most weekends with him. I have met his mother and we get on very well and regularly meet to go out for lunch or to go ten pin bowling. He has met many of my friends and I have met many of his as well. We regularly go into town to meet our friends at the weekend. I never thought I could ever find someone to make me happy again and I didn't think I would be able to find someone who would accept me for who I am and not want to change me. The past 6 months has been the best 6 months, I have had in a very long time. I not only feel special but also feel wanted for the first in a very long time. We are very much in love with each other and care for each other very much. Some of our friends still don't know how we originally met, I think we are both a little embarrassed at how we met, but at the same time both very happy that we were both on there and managed to meet each other on there.

***OVERALL OPINION***
A few of my friends who know how me and my boyfriend met have teased me a little about internet dating but I don't care. I don't care because I have met the most amazing people who has made me very happy and we can both see us having a good future together. Some of you may not ever have to or will never try internet dating and just hope that the right on find's you or you find the right one. Because I wanted to meet someone I have never met before and wasn't having much luck, that's why I choose internet dating and for me it's worked out just fine. I wouldn't push others to do it, but it's worth a try as you never know who you might meet. Of course always be careful with regards to internet dating and never reveal too much information about yourself. For me internet dating worked really well and has bought me lots of happiness and smiles, and lots more to come.


(review may also appear on ciao)