The Edinburgh people who found love during the pandemic

Georgraphical tiers, social distancing, constantly-changing laws, and household mixing limits have meant that those looking for their perfect partner have had to get creative.

But for a handful of Evening News readers, who shared their stories on our Facebook page, these were challenges worth overcoming.

Danny Marr met his partner in November when restrictions still allowed you to meet people outside: “We went on dates to places such as Deep Sea World, Edinburgh Zoo and took part in an alpaca trek – basically keeping everything outdoors to try stay with the restrictions.”

As their relationship progressed, the couple carefully consulted Scottish Government advice before making the next legical step in Covid Scotland: "We both live on our own so after about seven weeks we formed an extended household which allowed us both to stay over at each other’s houses. We’ve always stuck to the rules and I’m extremely grateful to have met her. She’s made the second lockdown a lot easier.”

They are now looking forward to their first Valentine’s Day together, something that will again by impacted by the health crisis: “We work in the NHS and we are working opposite shifts on Valentine’s so we won’t see each other. We’re having it over the next two days instead. I’m cooking her a meal and we’ll likely go for a nice walk round the loch in the snow and relax, playing board games or something. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re in great company then that’s all that matters. She’s beautiful inside and out and I consider myself an extremely lucky man.”

Making the best of circumstances is something that fledgling couples are now used to, with meeting online taking the place of traditional dates.

Jen Swan’s relationship has never known a world without Covid: “Today is exactly a year since my partner first messaged me. We met on February 22, 2020 and our whole relationship has been through lockdown. We've managed one actual date, but I couldn't be happier.”

Scott Fraser has had a similar experience: “I met her on August 1 and managed to get out for two dates before everything locked down again.”

And being able to legally form a social bubble has been a blessing for former singletons like Leanne Innes: “We met in local park, had a drink and he paid for my taxi home. That was nine months ago. We are still going strong in our own bubble. It's been brillant. We’ve not met in a pub or for a meal – it’s been walks, walks and more walks. It’s been the best.”

And for the lucky few, like Vivienne Gaynor, it’s even been possible to have a lockdown walk down the aisle: “I got engaged just as lockdown started and married in September – so is was a true covid wedding.”