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Love at first write

Sam Lister
30/ 1/2003

IT was love at first write for cyberspace sweethearts Gaynor Bramhall and Tim Baker, but the couple are now blissfully happy living in reality.

The Guide Bridge woman and her online man, who lives in the USA, found their love chats over the internet just weren't a patch on seeing each other in the flesh.

So Gaynor flew thousands of miles across the pond, leaving her friends and family behind, to marry the man she loved.

And the risk has paid off, "It was scary when I flew over here, I was full of anticipation and a bit nervous," Gaynor said.

"It was very hard leaving my mum and dad behind, I still get upset when I look at old pictures.

"But I have no regrets whatsoever. Everything is exactly how Tim said it would be, we are very happy.

"And his family has made us feel really welcome, they're so friendly."

Gaynor found love after logging on to an internet chat room where she started talking to 45-year-old Tim.

Within two days of bonding in cyberspace the pair were making transatlantic phone calls and were soon regularly flying out to see each other.

So last April the 38-year-old and her teenage son Jason left Tameside and headed off to start a new life in Cincinatti, Kentucky.

And two months later Gaynor and Tim, who works for the police department, married in an outdoor ceremony.

But adapting to marriage and a new way of life has not fazed Gaynor one bit.

"Life is so much more relaxed over here and everyone is really friendly, I don't really miss England.

"Jason has really settled in well at school and is getting mainly A grades. The kids at school love his accent and they keep asking him to talk like Harry Potter.

"Everything is different, especially shopping - everything is 24 hour and it's all drive-through.

"The post-office is drive-through, the library is drive-through, the bank is drive-through. You can do a whole day's shopping without leaving your car.

"I do miss shopping at markets, they don't have them over here, but the one thing I'm really missing is a bacon sandwich made with Warburtons' bread!"

Are you an ex-pat Tamesider with a story to tell? Email the Advertiser newsdesk at tamesideadvertiser@gmwn.co.uk