Here are some of the things we have heard and that people have said. They are all true, (but we have only given one letter to protect identities where requested). If OxfordRomance has had any impact on your life which you'd like to share with others, please let us know.

• 14th August: D has "met a great girl on here and things are going great - so thanks OxRo!"
  
  
• 12th June: This strange saga may now be revealed in full:

  Dear "Cupid", I am writing with what is perhaps an unusual request. Oxford Romance is a fantastic site and has provided me with several happy dates and a couple of fun relationships, and has served its purpose brilliantly. However, with impending exams which constitute a large proportion of my finals, this site will be my doom! I am of rather an addictive personality and am finding that I am spending increasingly large amounts of time on your website, to the point where I believe my work would improve considerably if I left the website. I know, however, that if I do this, in a moment of weakness, I shall undoubtedly rejoin (I have had 7 profiles over the past 2 terms!) and thus I am appealing to you to add me to your list of addresses which are blocked from joining the website. I appreciate that this probably sounds rather extreme, but I would be very grateful if you would do so and feel free to quote the above as a testimonial should you wish to! My email addresses that I may use to join are [details removed] and [details removed] and please block them both if possible! I may be contacted at either address should you wish to affirm that I am genuine and have not just hacked into this account or something! Many thanks for your help. Best wishes, S
  
  Following my email of 13th May requesting to be barred from the Oxford Romance website during my exams, I have now finished my exams. I would now be grateful if you would remove my name (S) from the list of barred names so that I can re-join the website for the rest of this term and the coming year. Many thanks again for helping earlier; it was very successful in helping me revise! Best wishes, S

  
  
• 7th April: Emma and Joe write to tell of their wedding! Congratulations! They met through OxfordRomance as smalldemureandcheeky and Mr Cousteau, and became engaged a year ago. They have been travelling the world, and got married on 19th of March 2004. Good luck to you both!
  
  
• February 8 2004: Little miss leprechaun wishes to thank us for Mr Cocteau and says "We'd love to share our smugness with the world". To quote from her ad: "...but I can say I've met someone amazing, that I feel scarily much for, and who riles me greatly then seduces me back with his beautiful eyes and by sending me lovely songs that make me cry....damnit I'm a sucker."
  

• 21st November: HC writes: "E of A and and I have been together 6 months now, though he's currently in America and will be for another 5 months. Also - for people wondering whether to put their photos up or not, do it! We wouldn't have met when we did if it hadn't been for our having photos up. We'd only ever chatted on here once before, for all of 10 minutes. We actually met the very next day, but it was accidental - simply recognised him in a pub, we got talking and it all went from there. He's so gorgeous I'd have probably talked to him anyway, but recognising him from here gave an instant opener! Although possibly asking someone if they're from oxfordromance isn't the coolest chat up line.... *cough*"
  
  
• 18th November: H says that she "also found someone on oxro though. I don't want a relationship, but in a week he has become one of my best friends - bonus!"
  
  
• 19th August: Kit "was starting to think I'd never get the opportunity to write an OxRo testimonial...until I met the utterly gorgeous Whiplash. Now I just seem to spend all my time walking round with a huge grin on my face, as I think about seeing her again. A sexy girlfriend and a summer of fun...what more could a guy ask for?!" Whiplash agrees: "We've been together a couple of weeks and my cheeks are starting to ache from smiling! Two very satisfied oxro users!"
  
  
• 30th July:

  'She said "You can be as corny as you like"...!
  Well, we've been going out for two months-ish now... it feels wonderful, strange and unforgettable. And it proved to both of us that the best people only seem to turn up when you're not looking for them!
  Many thanks...
  Laz & Machiavellian Babe'

  
  
• 29th July: B is "graduating, but am also still with the girl I met off Ox Rom over 15 months ago. So thank you Ox Rom and I wish you all success!! B"
  
  
• 8th July: SC writes that she has "no gossip really - no romance - just nice chats." but continues: "i've made a couple of brilliant friends off OxRom"
  
  
• 2nd July: H says "Hehe, yeah I have a few testimonials I guess. One with W, which I think you already have. Um.. another with E of A. And SW and I hit it off pretty well too, but I'd rather not put testimonials for relationship stuff up anymore.. cos its a bit weird once it ends and its still up there. But Oxro's been so awesome for friendship - P and I met through her recognising me from my oxro pic at a club and we've been inseparable every since :) so i owe u a thank you!
  
  
• 29th April: OxRo works indirectly too! G says: "Well, I've found someone elsewhere but to be fair to your fantastic service I did meet her through one of my best friends, and I met *her* on OxRo!"
  
  
• 23rd March: newt and Jake "still seem to fancy each other lots, so it must be good". It is now "5 months so far and counting".
  
  
• 23rd March: Excellent news from J: "As one of the longest serving members of OxRo in some guise or another I had almost given up hope of finding someone with whom I clicked and managed anything more than a brief package-holiday-romance (that isn't counting the few friends I found on the site separate to the romance aspect). Then 'girl' came along and renewed my faith. Some months on and we have just returned from a romantic spring break"
  
  
• 22nd March: D and W have decided to make it official - so yes, a fine piece of oxro gossip for you I think! Seriously never thought I'd find someone who'd put up with my eccentricity, let alone love it. Thanks!
  
  
• 19th March: H says that she has "met lots of nice people from here, but about 2 or 3 weeks ago met up with one guy I got on really well with, turns out we used to go to school together, but he was 4 years above me so I didnt know him. I saw him a lot after the initial meeting, he came out with me and my friends, and then after a week or so he said how he felt, I felt the same way - very much an oxro success! I never thought I'd find a bf/gf on here, I was only ever really looking for random coffee dates/friends.
  [23/3/03: W adds: "...was 3 years above not 4!! I feel old enough as it is!!! grrrrr, will have to have words with a certain person..." and "[she] is the most amazing, gorgeous, fantastic non-depraved beautiful incredible girl in the whole world. (I either say that or get whipped again). And yes, I do love the abuse really"]
  
  
• 12th March: "Dear Cupid, it is my boyfriend's birthday this weekend and I would really appreciate if you could give us a mention in your "testimonials" section. We (that is, maestria and harry_p) met on OxRo about 13 months ago and immediately became friends. Our friendship got closer and we have been going out for five months now. We are inseparable even though we could not be more different but opposites really do seem to attract each other. A big thanks to the site- it has definetely made the two of us happy."
  (Actually, a little birdie had tipped us off to this already :-))
  
  
• 9th March: Maybe we need a helpline!! S writes: "Bit of a strange request here...basically I've become addicted to this service and find myself wasting vast amounts of time on this, only thing is, everytime I delete an account, I start all over again in a matter of days. Daft I know, but, going to delete it one final time, and would like to request that I am permanently barred, please do this favour for me!
  (OK - consider yourself blocked...but of course, we'll welcome you back if you let me know!).
  
  
• March 7th: J "went looking for the wrong girl...and I think I found the right one."
  
  
• March 7th: A.A. says that: "All will be revealed as long as reassurances are received that I can make it sound a bit different to the rest of the testimonials. They are somewhat sickly sweet." (We're still waiting...)
  
  
• 6th March: MR says he has: "..found someone nice through oxfordromance and well I'm a finalist so ought to resist the evilness[sic] of the oxfordromance void"
  
  
• 28th February: T writes that she "Met a really nice guy on here last week!"
  
  
• 27th February:Invisible Man says: "Have found a lovely girl on OxRo, no longer needed!" When asked for more details, this was his reply: "Didn't expect too much when I first signed up - slightly sceptical as you'd expect but after only a brief stay on the site I found the girl who has everything I've been looking for - all my ideals rolled into one. Highly recommend the site to anyone who may be sceptical - nothing to lose and believe me - a whole lot to gain. Everything is going fantastic 1 month on and hope for lots more good times to come, thanks for your help!"
  
  
• 25th February: G, aka C.S., aka P.M. "has made 2 good friends, also have become beter friends with other as a result of OxRo.
  
  
• 21st February: To celebrate our millionth message, we sent the sender and recipient on a blind date to be be wined and dined at the exclusive Savannah restaurant. "I had a superb time, partly due to the place and partly due to the company", said the millionth message sender, A-F.
  
  
• 10th Feb: griglett includes the following in her ad: "...I am only really looking for blokes to be friends with because I have just met the man of my dreams...(yes an oxro success!)..."
  
  
• 14th January: lyric left the site, saying "Thankfully, after about meeting up with about 5 different ladies, I have found a particularly pleasant one! I won't be needing OxRo anymore (!) but I'm in your debt. Thanks!
  

• 19th December: Sugar Plum Fairy deleted her account, with these parting words: "I have found what I'm looking for: T-Rex! And it's wonderful!"
  
  
• 5th December: N says: "Well it's been over a month now and J and I still seem to fancy each other lots, so it must be good. Here's hoping. Thanks (and then some), n"
  
  
• 5th Dec: in response to the survey: $best_thing: It's so addictive!! Oh, and I met my blokey partially through it!!
  $worst_thing: It's so addictive!!
  
  
• 4th December: R says: "I have found someone!"
  
  
• 30th November: Bu-huddy says: For the past 4 months, I have been with a young lady whom I was re-introduced to on this very site. I really don't see the need for the account anymore!!
  [Update: 25/03/03 Bu-huddy and Candy Heart have now "been together for 8 great months now (actually yesterday!)".]
  
  
• 19th November: Oxford Romance's 2nd Engagement! We're really pleased to say that smalldemureandcheeky and Mr Cousteau got engaged over the weekend. She writes: "I was instantly drawn to his outdoor side and his admission that he was into bad dancing and was a bit insane!!! We met up one week later, got very drunk and have been inseparable ever since! He proposed on a crisp winter's day on Snowdon last Sunday which was extremely romantic and just over 3 months since we met on Oxford Romance. I never dreamed that I would meet my future husband on the internet but I knew it was right the moment we met. It is 'so 21st century'!!!! "
  
  
• 8th November: M has "found a lady friend. Whether or not she'll be the love of my life, I don't know. Time will tell. But for now I'm fairly chirpy! Cheers
  
  
• October 21st: Cambridge's Secret Weapon: G.F. 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 16th: Update - B and M (from April 25th) "have been together for 6 months now and all is going great."
  
  
• September 16th: Lady Godiva writes: "to say a massive thankyou! After several O.R. frogs, have finally found my prince! We've been together for over 3 months now and are in love :) Awwwww! The site is wicked, user friendly and fun. Might think about deleting my advert soon...
  
  
• Sometime over the summer: We have some really exciting news: X and Y are now married! They have asked us not to give any details. We wish them every happiness....
  
  
• 15th June: P writes: "Hey Cupid! Be it known unto you and the other folk at OxRo that I've had a short, but mutually enjoyed relationship with one young lady whom I first contacted here. Keep up the good work!
  
  
• May 15th: B and B.B. are a new item. B says "when Big Ben let me have a look at his (time)piece, I was sold...the handcuffs were put to good use and let's just say that this 'playful little minx' has most definitely found a man to satisfy her needs..."
  
  
• May 9th: H leaves, saying "Found him!". We wish her luck....
  
  
• May 6th: U "Met a fantastic girl through this site - your doing a great job, keep it up!"
  
  
• May 1st: OxfordRomance is the most popular site in Oxford! Computer-service figures show that we are 3rd only to the BBC and MSN, and within the University, we are ahead of the academic sites by some margin.
  
  
• May 1st: S leaves, saying "I think I may have met the love of my life."
  Shortly afterwards, L.M.T. leaves with "I've met the love of my life."
  
  
• April 29th: H says "I've found Mr right!"
  
  
• April 25th: Good news for M and B. M "was going to write something witty, but has no energy, as M and B have been together for 2 weeks now and I'll just say that sleep is a rare commodity these days ;) Just letting you know. Bye"
  B says "I'll just say that it's going very well and she's meeting the parents in a week's time. She's been the cause of much sleep deprivation!"
  
  
• April 22nd: T "Met a very nice girl. Thankyou!"
  
  
• April 18th: X "got laid within 3 days of joining."
  
  
• March 18th - Our second testimonial!
  Just wanted to let you know that **** and I have been inseparable since we met. After a few false starts, the site has found my soul mate! And I wasn't even looking for love! Hurrah! Would like to stop and say a lot more about how great he is, but I'm going to drag him back to bed instead...
  
  
• March 3rd - Our first testimonial!
  Just writing to let you of a success story from the site - on Friday night I went for a drink with [snip]. We went to the Zodaic and stayed for about an hour - since that time we've been out of bed for maybe about 4 hours. I'm seeing her again on [snip] and [snip] - don't think either of us will need to use OxRo for a while ;-) Thanks.
  

You might also like to know that OxfordRomance has been averaging over 1 Gigabyte(!) of traffic per day.

The following data is for Cambridge, but it may be of some interest if you are curious....