How did you meet your partner?

[bananatwain]

I'm really lonely. I've been single for over three years. I've dated and not met the right person yet. I was in a very abusive relationship before so am being careful, listening to red flags, and looking for someone who I really think I'm compatible with. I am glad I'm at a point in my life where I can do this, but I honestly am close to giving up. One guy seemed great, but then kept turning up at my house randomly when I was working so I called it off due to lack of boundaries. Went on a date with someone who seemed great until he had a drink and kept commenting on my beasts. Went on an date with someone I met online who had clearly used photos from years ago and lied about his age. I have a few more of these!

I also still live with my parents and can't afford to move out, and also have a 3yo, but think I am deserving of love regardless....

I'd really like to hear some positive stories about how you met your other half?

On match.com in 1996. It was so new it was free and there were no photos. You have to keep trying with online dating. We're married for 23 years now, have two great kids in university and are very happy.

Sports club. It was a very sociable one and we met at a social event after we had both played our matches.

Married nearly 15 years

Volunteering.

@LadyCatStark

In the sauna at the gym 16 years ago!

This is like the start of a porno.

DH 1 strip club - married until he passed from cancer
DH 2 online but not a dating site - divorced

I literally fell from above and landed at her feet :)

....
....
....drunkenly, down a small hill she was walking by at an outdoor summer party. It wasn't the best first impression. It was a while before we got together.

I met mine whilst travelling around Asia, I was in my early 30s and was making a belated “gap year” trip.

He was a close old friend of a close new friend of mine. She introduced us as she knew we'd get on as friends but was delighted when within minutes it was quite clear we'd clicked.

If I had to start all over, I don't think I'd try online dating. It's so generic. You want a connection with someone. You want them to meet you as a person not a potential conquest. It's hard with a three-year-old, but I'd just try to widen my social circle as much as possible. Join parent groups for single parents, get involved in some community projects that are likely to attract people of your own age. Maybe join some online groups of special interest. I have several friends who met their partners online, but not through a dating site, just through chatting on special interest sites.

It might even be worth spreading the word among friends who might have brothers, cousins, friends who are lovely but not the kind who;d sign up for OLD.

At work.
He was a customer. His teenage DS hit me with a horrendously cheesy chat up line, and then I’ve since been told that he ran outside to his dad and said “Dad! You need to go get a look at the barmaid!”
He did indeed come inside, and the rest is history. (And yes, we all continue to wind his DS up about his horrendous chat up lines )

I was living in Florida, a sort of mini Cyclone/Hurricane thing came in and knocked over a huge palm tree that was in the front garden, the landlord said she would send someone around to sort it.

A few days later I got a call from a guy who sounded exactly like Liam Neeson!

I thought it was a prank call at first!

Anyway, the next day a guy showed up and I nearly passed out on the spot. My legs just went funny Lol! He looked like a young Tom Cruise (sort of) but the accent just blew me away.

Turns out he was completely Illegal and had overstayed his visa by a few years. He was heading back to Ireland a few weeks
before I was due back in London.

Long story, but a few months later we met up in Cardiff. I'm pleased to report that we have now been married for six years.

Tinder. We had both had enough but gave it one more 'swipe', we are getting married in July.
It really does only take one!

Met my exH in a nightclub but knew of each other through mutual friends/college. Met my current partner on tinder which I never thought I'd say - I didn't join it to find anything serious, just wanted to swipe and go on a few nice dates as a confidence booster after an abusive marriage. As soon as I started talking to my dp I knew he was special...then we met and we've been inseparable ever since.

Mutual friends wedding.

I met mine in local pub where he was working. Been together 20 years, married for 7 months

Both newish housemates in a houseshare who had both started working at the same place (coincidentally). Our departments were on the same floor. TBH I thought he was a bit peculiar and told all my friends. Been together 19 years, married 12. He's still a bit odd.