A Nottinghamshire couple defied critics to 'lockdown together' after having only officially been together for a month.
Jess Ashley and Rich Rawlings have celebrated 100 days of lockdown life despite comments that it was too soon for the lovebirds to shack up.
The pair met online back in February and became official around early March, when primary school teacher Jess, 26, said "things were just going really well".
On the night no one in the UK will ever forget (March 23) when Boris Johnson announced the country would be entering a lockdown phase to slow the spread of coronavirus, the couple, who lived 25 miles apart, had a decision to make.
Jess, who lived alone in Beeston, said: "It was very last minute and a very quick decision.
"We were both watching the briefing in our own homes, and then we had a chat and decided Rich would move in with me.
"He ended up getting here at nearly midnight with a suitcase, but obviously we had no idea how long it would be for."
Jess said she had brought up the subject earlier, pre-empting what might be round the corner, and said it was a "mutual decision" that they would weather the storm side by side.
Rich, 28, of Coalville, works as a flight instructor in Coventry but had already been signed off by the time lockdown was brought in and was more than happy to fly the nest.
He said: "I think my parents couldn't wait for me to move out seeing as I was the last one of my siblings to leave.
"My mum was a bit emotional that night - and it's ended up being the longest I've ever been away from home.
"But I think seeing how happy me and Jess were together put them at ease that we made the right decision."
Both said they felt anxious but excited on that first night but within the first week had created a steady routine of daily romantic walks, and eventually purchased bikes to spend more time exploring.
"We made dinner plans each week together, and always have a Sunday roast," Jess added.
"I just think I would have struggled to cope on my own for so long and we wouldn't have even been able to see each other for a while."
Rich also revealed that he had suffered two recent bereavements but felt the time spent with Jess had given him a fresh start and new, happier memories.
"We have a habit of always feeding the swans and geese together on our walks - I think we've named every one of them now," he added.
"It was also Jess' birthday in April so we celebrated that together and made a cake."
While Rich is back to work on Tuesday (July 7) and Jess will be gearing up to return full time to her school duties, the pair are comfortable with carrying on as roomies but added they are looking forward to some return to normality.
Jess added: "It has been a real test as obviously both of us would usually be at work at least some of the time, but being with each other so much has proved we can live together.
"And here we are 100 days later and we're staying put."
