This is the first installment of our new "Featured Couples" segment. Every so often, we will feature a couple from the website! Today, we are featuring Andy and Tanja! Andy and Tanja are officially the most active couple on the forum, with over 3,000 posts between the two of them. Constantly coming up with new, creative ideas to help improve the member’s area, Andy and Tanja are two valuable members always willing to give anyone some friendly advice or play along in a forum game. I am sure anyone that has been in the member’s area knows the both of them…but how much do you really know about them? I recently sent off some questions in hopes that I could solicit some answers for everyone. - Frank


1. Where do you live?

Andy: I live in North Wales, UK

Tanja: I live in Middle Finland. We are approximately 1200 miles/1900 km's apart.



2. Roughly, what are your ages and how long have you been together as a couple?

Andy: I'm 22 although I certainly don't feel like it!

Tanja: I'm 27 and having an age crisis

It's complicated

We met on the 14th of November 2007 but didn't become official until the 1st of September 2008 despite being "romantically involved" since late 2007/early 2008



3. How did you decide to start dating?

Both: We decided to dig out the exact moment from our chat history from the night we agreed to become exclusive to one another. Here it is

We had a long serious conversation about kissing other people and how we would both feel about it and it led to that



4. Have you seen each other in person since you have been a couple? How long do you spend together during your visits?

Both: We certainly have. We're writing this while we're together in Finland, this is our 8th visit

Our shortest visit was one weekend for our first visit in Helsinki and the longest was 2 months when we spent the summer of 2009 together.

The average amount of time we get to spend together is around 3-4 weeks. We think we're very lucky



5. Share what happened when you first saw each other in person since you started dating.

Andy: We met for the first time in Helsinki 13 months after meeting online. I flew from Manchester and Tanja took a 4-hour coach trip to get there. I remember it all happening very fast as soon as the plane landed, it felt like seconds between touching down and then walking through the doors straight into a big long overdue hug with Tanja

I was incredibly nervous, more than I've ever been and I truly mean that! It was very surreal being able to see and touch and feel someone I'd gotten to know intimately over the past year or so. I found it overwhelming, even to the extent of finding it hard to look her in the eyes, not only at the airport, but during our taxi journey to the hotel too!

We held each other for what seemed like an age before grabbing a drink and sitting opposite each other at a table in the airport for a while. I'll never forget it

Tanja: We met at the airport, I was waiting for him at the exit... He looked super nervous and I thought he was going to faint! That's when I went into sort of a Mommy-mode and just wanted to take care of him!

We hugged for a while and I could feel him shaking against me. It was very unreal and dream-like to see him face to face.

We spent almost an hour just sitting in a coffee table staring at each other and finding it hard to believe that we were really there, able to touch and look into each other's eyes...

It was all so wonderful and confusing at the same time! I'll never forget it either



6. Are you cat or dog people?

Andy: I'm a 100% dog person

I've got a German shepherd called Sam plus I'm allergic to cats

Tanja: A bit of both, I've got 3 dogs and a cat



7. Can you share a little of what you each do?

Andy: Nothing at the moment! I recently completed a Maths degree from the University of Chester, getting a First Class Honours. I'm hoping for a career in logistics or finance...

Tanja: I work with my sister in our family business as a machinist, secretary and an IT-support - having my dad as my boss can be extremely frustrating yet very useful!



8. What three objects could you not have a relationship without?

Both: Our phones, the Internet and free landline calls from Wales to Finland



9. Which one of you was more reluctant to have an LDR? Be honest...

Both: Neither of us were particularly reluctant but there was a time when Tanja was a bit unsure whether or not a LDR could work out. We managed to work through it though and there's not a doubt in our minds anymore, LDRs can definitely work and make you just as happy as being in a close distance relationship, if not even happier



10. How did you find LFAD?

Andy: I was Googling for things that LDR couples could do together online when I came across the famous LFAD list (you could link to it from here Frank/Michelle ) and found the forums soon after

Tanja: Andy found it and gave me the link - I was hooked right away and the rest is history



11. Any quick advice for couples just starting out?

Both: COMMUNICATE! Talk talk and talk and you'll get through anything! Try to make sure you express your feelings about things as clearly as possible to your SO, especially when it comes to such things as boundaries in your relationship.

Also don't forget to have a life/friends outside your relationship, don't be afraid to give space and be apart from each other sometimes.



12. Do you have any plans on ending the distance?

Both: We just made a happy thread about this on the forum: http://members.lovingfromadistance.c...ance-)&p=43433

As things stand, Andy could be moving to Finland next summer!



Bonus Question: Share one thing each that people might not know about you.

Andy: I once went to watch a football (soccer) game knowing I had a punctured lung

In my defence it was Everton's (my team) first semi-final for 14 years

Tanja: I'm licensed to drive a 15-ton truck