Netting a New Love (Have you found love on the internet?)

Member Name: harmonyk

Product:	Have you found love on the internet?
Date:	29/11/01 (213 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You get to the heart and soul of the person on the other end of the computer

Disadvantages: The first meeting may not be as expected.

Have I found love on the internet?

Was I even looking for love?

After the breakdown and then breakup of my 23 year marriage over a year ago I thought I would never trust a man again. As would be expected, I was hurt, angry, bitter, hateful - in an emotional turmoil that showed no signs of subsiding.

I have always had an interest in computers , from the good old Commodore 64 to todays top of the range, multi megabyte models I have tried to keep up with the age of the PC. It naturally followed then, that as soon as I was able, I delved into the frightening quirky world of the internet. To begin with I was somewhat un-impressed but last year I spread my wings a bit.

I even discovered a free dating agency - UK personal. Despite my resolve to not get tied up with a man again I signed up. It was pretty good, I just filled in the on-screen application form, included a photo, typed a bit about my more attractive qualities (I know - too many to list!- not!) and a bit more about who I would like to find. It wasn't long before I'd had about 7 or 8 men contact me. I emailed a few for a while and did get as far as speaking to one or two a few times on the telephone but nothing made me want to meet any of them.

*HOW IT BEGAN*
Now whilst all this was going on I was also becoming more and more engrossed in DOOYOO. My sister, Sandyd, had introduced it to me early on in the year and I slowly but surely became obsessed! I gradually increased my circle of friends and began recognising certain names in my comments boxes.

By August/September one name began to stand out (as I'm sure it does for other members)it was that of ANDREWSJK. I noticed that this name seemed to pop up regularly on my own and other opinions I was reading. After a few weeks I began having little jokes and laughs with ANDREWSJK - although I know this kind of thing is frowned upon from our guides and leaders in DOOYOO land - but it was h
armless so why not?

I must now admit I secretly began to stalk Mr Andrews, his email address aroused my curiosity - hmmm - interesting, then his postcode, where does he live? hmmmmm... getting closer....

Then I realised it was his 50th birthday on 8th November (also my late dad's birthday) this rang bells - I am a sucker for coincidences like that. I sent him ecards and birthday emails - he responded favourably. It was at this stage that I realised I might actually be getting into something here! I told myself to get a grip! This is the internet - you never know who you are talking to - never trust ANYONE!

John (yes Christian names now!) was making all the right moves too, he was funny, popular, polite (ok not polite - he's a sarky bastard sometimes!!!) and personal - I told myself he probably chats to every DOOYOO member the same as he was to me. He asked me if I had thought about getting MSN or Yahoo installed so we could chat properly, this I did, and this is when the romance started in earnest. He told me he had been making discreet enquiries about me by asking friends to read between the lines of my opinions to judge what kind of person I was. WOW! It was like a bolt from the blue! I thought I'd been the sneaky one - and there he was, checking me out!!!

Anyway..... the first night on Yahoo we chatted non stop for 4 hours then on the telephone for a couple more! My daughter came downstairs at 1am to find me curled up on the sofa with the telephone in my hand. She thought I'd lost the plot! The next morning we were at it again (so to speak!) and that evening was the same as the previous. I stopped eating and sleeping altogether. I was totally bowled over by this voice. We were already talking of love. I had no idea what he looked like but it didn't seem to matter. I was falling in love with the most popular bloke on Dooyoo - it was bizarre.

THEN WE MET - DISASTER!

My first m
eeting with John was all wrong. I hadn't slept for 2 nights or eaten for 2 days (such was my nervousness about the liason). My senses were all over the place, my judgement didn't exist and I was a scared, hard faced bitch. I jumped on a train to Waterloo and into his car without a thought for my safety and ignoring everything I'd ever read about 'strange men on the met'. I was so stupid - I had fallen in love with a bunch of words on my pc. A voice on the end of the phone. Here I was faced with a flesh and blood man - a stranger. Nice looking, kind face, a bit damaged, and uncared for. John will tell you I was put off by his balding head, neglected teeth and old specs - RUBBISH! Superficial nonsense! Biggest downer? He smoked. As an ex-smoker (the worse kind of non smoker) I just couldn't deal with it. I could smell it everywhere, I wanted to bath in Fabreeze when I got home. That was all really - everything else about him was as he had described - a really nice gentle man. Smoking gentleman. I left him standing at Waterloo - half hopeful - half dejected by my rapid exit. And me? I was a bundle of confusion.

The next day I composed an email to tell him I didn't think it would work. By the time I knew he would be reading it I felt so sick I knew I had to try to stop it. I had to tell him that he meant so much to me - smoking or not. I caught him on Yahoo as soon as he had read it. We talked, and talked, and talked....... for 4 hours.

Now? Well the rest is history. John and I have not made any secret of our love for each other here on Dooyoo. We have had so many good wishes it is just wonderful. He has been to my house and will be here again tomorrow for the weekend and next week I will meet his parents. He has already met my tribe. What's next - well, who knows, maybe we will be going to visit Smark1985 in Cornwall (if he lets us in) or perhaps we'll go to France and stock up on booze fo
r Christmas - whatever we do - from now on it will be together. We are in LURVVVVE! and it's all down to DOOYOO!

UPDATE: 1ST MARCH 2002

John and I are known by most Dooyooers for our romance. The good news is we are now happily living together here in Southampton. My decree nisi is due this month, and John and I got engaged on St. Valentine's day. We had the pleasure of seeing many dooyoo friends at our engagement parties (yes there were 2!) and hope to see many more when we tie the knot - probably some time next year. We share a computer, and are about to sell both cars and buy one we both want. We are still, so, so in love and have Dooyoo to thank for bringing us together - if there was one person we could thank for that it would have to be my sister sandyd - if she hadn't told me about the website we might never have found one another.

*WARNING*

Although it has worked out wonderfully for John and me, a word of caution...

The world of the internet can be a very dangerous place. Use the same common sense you would in everyday life. If someone is flattering and compimentry - be flattered but take things slowly, be very careful about meeting - choose and open public place (at least Waterloo was that!) Perhaps take a friend. Make sure that someone at home knows where you are going.

Not everyone on the 'net' is an axe wielding homicidal maniac but you must be prepared. Hopefully you will be lucky enough to find the happiness we have. Good surfing!

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