These are copied from the site in Cambridge just to give a flavour of what you can expect...

Here are some of the things we have heard and that people have said. They are all true. We have only given one letter to protect identities except where people have agreed to give their real names/pseudonyms. If BristolRomance has had any impact on your life which you'd like to share with others, please let us know.

• November 25th: K writes that she has "met a really nice guy on here, and we've been going out for 2 months now. We met up just before I left Cambridge for a job - I've graduated, and planning to come back after this contract - and are managing to keep it going. Think we both went on the site as a joke originally, but things have worked out rather differently! Many, many thanks.
  Quite aside from meeting my man, I've made two very good friends on the site too....you do a brilliant job, which is sincerely appreciated."
  
  
• November 22nd: Remember the little birdie? Well, "Kitten and Llamaman have now been together for nearly 2 years...just as the little bird told you!"
  
  
• October 21st: This one from The Other Place deserves reprinting here! Greebo Features deleted her account "BECAUSE IM ADDICTED AND IM SPENDING EVERY SPARE MOMENT AND SOMETIMES EVEN NOT SPARE ONES ON OXFORD BLOODY ROMANCE!!! im going to fail my finals if i dont do this. i reckon you Cambridge scum made this thing to keep oxford down in the league tables. i may even need therapy. Look, its 2.01 am and i have a nine o clock lecture tomorrow morning. WHAT IS GOING On???? oxford bloody romance. its killing me. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh. PS you are all cool and this site is clearly successful and highly dangerous for addictive personalities. i strongly suggest you USE the extreme addictive nature of the site to market it. "Warning: Highly addictive" but that would be to the detriment of my fellow students." High praise indeed :-)
  
  
• October 10th: C: "I found this site on the recommendation of a good friend sometime last year, and it's been great. Being a gay man who's not too fond of the "scene", it's not only allowed me to make some great friends, but it's given me the feeling that I'm not the only one! Thanks a lot, it's been great. And will continue to be so."
  
  
• September 27th: Someone (who shall remain nameless!) "got a shag out of this site...cheers..."
  
  
• September 25th: Dylan "met someone very lovely."
  
  
• September 11th: N: "Hiya, found a bloke thanks!"
  
  
• September 2nd: Jayne: "Yes, it's because I've found the love of my life and no longer need you! More thanks than words can express... xxx"
  
  
• August 18th: S.M.: "I've met a fantastic girl on here....But I still want to mess around on here, its such fun!!! The people are so funny!"
  
  
• July 30th: "Lourdes has found her Guy Ritchie and LonelyGuy26 is lonely no more! Dating since early June, both very happy and hope everyone else on this site is as lucky."
  
  
• June 23rd: Friendly Girl and Callipygian have now been going out for a year and 4 months. (See May 24th 2001).
  
  
• June 21st: Top Cat and Venus: Still going strong...romantic trip to Brussels...
  
  
• June 20th: AJ: "I've been a long time user of this great site, and owing to general apathy and long periods of not using it, have only met two women this way. Although the second of these could be described as 'unpleasant', the first was extraordinary. No, there was no romance, but she has turned out to be a wonderful and much loved friend who has enriched my life in indescribable ways; and to be honest I think I prefer it this way. Thanks RUO!"
  
  
• June 19th: FunkyMunky: "[I] have found romance and have no need for this service, however my time here was wonderful - it has brought me happiness and I am greatful."
  
  
• June 14th: Juliet: "found a partner through the site."
  
  
• May: Mary Poppins: "Just writing to let you know that I am sitting with my lovely boyfriend whom I met on your site and wanted to say a big thank you! We messaged on the Thursday, met on the Monday and had fallen head over heels for each other by the end of the week. I never thought I'd find someone so gorgeous and lovely and amazing on the internet....! Thank you so much! We'll send you an invite to the wedding :-)"
  Cupid had the pleasure to meet her while giving away RUO Helium Balloons at the Sidgwick Site on May 1st. This success story has actually been going on "about half a year now" - they "are very much in lurve....". The amusing part is that, apparently, her boyfriend has been too embarrassed to admit to meeting on RUO, and has been claiming it was Cindy's. Well, we can't let that pass - so now you all know the truth!
  May 12th: Mary says: "I am indeed leaving because I met the love of my life. So long, Cupid....(galloping off into sunset...)"
  May 14th: Irish says "I'm leaving because I've met someone, from this site! Thanks so much for a fantastic setup, and the last few months :)"
  
  
• May 9th: Z left, saying "Hey dudes, it was a success - don't need to be here anymore! Four days, not bad. Cheers!"
  
  
• May 8th: S.L. writes: "Believe it or not, I have met a luscious man...don't know what's gonna happen, but don't have enough energy to keep up with this thing. Will prob use again, it's been really fun!! just not before exams, bit of a dodgy time to start getting 'sociable'...."
  
  
• May 22nd: AL writes: "I've started seeing someone who I met on the site, and although obviously as yet I don't know how well it'll work, I'd prefer not to remain on RUO". Goodbye, and good luck...
  
  
• March 20th: P says: "You know what you are doing is much appreciated..I had the most fantastic time in Cambridge with a man I met on this site and who happened to be at my college too...It did not last unfortunately but that is only fair. Many thanks again..I will remember the night I actually cried here with so much joy.. and I thought about this web site..."
  
  
• Valentine's Day 14th February: Wonderful news from Top Cat who writes:
  "Hi Cupid, Thought I'd send you a message to let you know that we (Top Cat and Venus) who found love last term through your website are still together, more in love with every day that passes, and enjoying very much our first meaningful Valentine's Day together. We still can't thank you enough for what you have done, and we hope more lonesome couples in Cambridge find the same happiness through your work. Hope the website problems are solved soon...Cambridge students just can't manage without you!
  Keep up your good work, Top Cat & Venus"
  
  
• February: A again: " I started using this site completely by accident - I dropped down the the URL address banner (to use email) on one of the computers in the UL(!) - and I have had a great time since : ))
  I met four guys: two that I really liked but didn't want to get horizontal with.... and the others were really hot : ) I had two of the best experinces of my life, sexual and non-sexual. This site is exxxcelllent! Far better than any chat room because their is no rush. Use it!"
  
  
• February 1st: A says "Used sensibly, this site is wonderful! :-) I've had two of my best experiences of **my life** - in one week. I was so happy, left reeling from the heat :-)"
  

• 17th October: Venus left, saying: "You have probably heard of our success story (Top Cat and Venus) so you've done your job! Thank you so much!"
  
  
• October 16th: JFF "met her last boyfriend here and went out with him for 7 months..."
  
  
• June 26th: 'Mr Indie' "joined RUO for a laugh, and very quickly found an advert by a charming girl whose requirements I seemed to meet exactly. I couldn't pass this one up, and before I knew what was happenning, RUO became the vehicle for online conversations that lasted for hours. It was not long before our first 'date' and, since then, she has proved to be everything that I was looking for too..."
  They have been together for over a month already.
  
  
• May 26th: Me :) is now exceedingly happy! "I didn't have time for a long-term relationship because I've got work to do, and so I wasn't looking for romance, but lots of really interesting guys contacted me....one of them worked out, and thus 'mission accomplished' ".
  
  
• May 24th: Friendly Girl says: "I met my boyfriend three months ago on RUO and it still seems to be going brilliantly! I would never have met him without RUO as I'm an Undergrad and he's a Grad and we both do different subjects and are at different colleges. I just like to say thanks for setting up the service and wish everyone else good luck in the future!"
  
  
• May: A little birdie tells us "Yeah have heard loads of gossip! L-A is going out with Ford prefect!".
  
  
• May: "I'm deleting [my account] because I really need to get on with work for the finals and this thing is way too addictive. I've had some great dates from the site all of whom ranged from pretty good to absolutely stunning and I think the site is a great idea - much needed in this God-forsaken place."
  
  
• 20th April: S says: "I have found happiness and love. Thank you RUO." We wish her good luck!
  
  
• 16th February: Ms X left, saying "I found a lovely man on the site so I think that staying on-line to find another one would just be greedy! Thanks, this is a really good idea!"
  
  
• 1st May: "I just thought you should know that life is wonderful. Started chatting a couple of weeks ago with someone who will be known as P...got on really well so met up for a drink, had a fabulous evening and have seen each other most days since. Never thought this would actually work; but it's delivered someone who is perfect for me. We do different subjects in different colleges with different hobbies, so would never have met if it wasn't for your website.
  So, thanks - 'C'
  
  
• 30th March: Another wonderful piece of news from a little birdie:
  "I live in a house with 2 mates. One of them is currently on his second girl from Romance.ucam.org. The first was just a quick fling, but his latest catch has lasted somewhat longer. They've basically been living together for the past 3 months - I think they've hardly spent a night apart. She has become a part of our house, and when my friend went away for a week, she stayed here more than she stayed in her own room! They're a wonderful couple and a testament to the success of your website, so keep it up...."
  
  
• 14th March: T and S are now a happy pair! T writes: I thought I ought to write to you as the creator of this heaven-sent dating site...... I have now acquired a girl-friend who is the most special person I have ever known, thanks to "meeting" her on your site!! Great invention!
  We asked him to tell the story:
  "I saw a poster for RUO in my college JCR and just thought I'd join up for the sake of it really, I never thought anything would come of it. But I was casually looking through the "females seeking males" adverts and I found one that sounded suitable, so I started corresponding with this girl - certainly I was quite happy to just acquire a new friend if nothing else. Within a week, we had exchanged real names and e-mail addresses and then soon after, we met up. By the end of the second date we had well and truly 'clicked' and, despite a month apart in the holidays, don't intend to look back! So we both feel unbelievably lucky and I guess that our luck is partly due to RUO."
  
  
• February: An informant, LM tells us that "Did you hear that one of my friends X has got together with a character called C on the site? They seem really happy at the moment :)"
  X has now left RUO, saying "I found a lovely man on the site so I think that staying on-line to find another one would just be greedy! Thanks, this is a really good idea!   - X"
  C tells us "Just thought I'd let you know that I think the site is excellent. I met up with a great girl through the RUO over 4 weeks ago now and we are still together so that just goes to prove that it all works, despite what people may say. Valentines day was fun this year thanks to RUO!    - C
  
  
• "I've met 3 ladies so far this term. All charming" We've had a great deal of fun!   - D
  
  
• November 20th: X and Y met up for coffee and later went to a nightclub. They are seeing one-another again... X comments on Romance.ucam.org "this really was a clever idea by you guys - much needed as well!"
  
  
• "A great idea, well implemented, good way to meet new people, and lots of fun. Every town should have a website like this!"
  
  
• January: We are informed that "S and B have hit it off and are apparently quite smitten with each other - ahh bless :)"
  
  
• "Most of the users are students here, so I feel safer meeting people from the site than if I were to meet someone from, say, a newspaper equivalent (which I don't think I'd do for safety reasons)."
  
  
• "I have got someone in mind...early days though"
  

• "I have just had the best and most adventurous weekend of my life - Thanks!"
  
  
• "F has a secret (from us, anyway) admirer....."
  
  
• "It's what Cambridge has been crying out for, and has been of seriously major benefit to many single students round town. And it's free (unlike other meeting facilities)."
  
  
• "Ruo is friendly and approachable"
  
  
• "The site is brilliant"
  
  
• "I got laid within 5 hours of joining - hurrah!"

If BristolRomance has helped any aspect of your life, please let us know - in complete confidence of course.

The following statistics are ancient! They need re-analysing... In the meantime, for interest, in Lent 2001, Romance.ucam.org was getting 400 logins, 600 messages and over 15,000 page views per day. This makes it is now the most popular student-run website in Cambridge by some margin.

Here are our web-traffic statistics for the lent term 2001: