Through the course of the night. Its going to be another muggy night, 16 degrees, we have had some very warm nights in the last week or so or more, that is not going to change and tomorrows weather forecast, i think the showers will become more widespread, also across northern parts of the uk, but again, very hit and miss, so some of us will miss the storms altogether. Hello, this is bbc news. The headlines. As students protest against the downgrading of a level results in england, more confusion as the exam regulator withdraws its guidance on appealing against grades just hours after publishing it. The search for two teenage brothers who went missing in the sea near Lytham St Annes in lancashire is called off by the coastguard. A huge crowd of opposition supporters gathers in the centre of the belarussian capital minsk to protest last weekends disputed election. Now on bbc news, Philippa Thomas hears from people around the world a sad bit of news regarding the search for the two teenagers. The police have found two bodies this afternoon. That news just in. Lets catch up with some other details now about the impact of covid 19. Now on bbc news, Philippa Thomas hears from people around the world about their extraordinary experiences during the pandemic and how covid 19 has changed their lives. Welcome to coronavirus your stories, a programme about how covid 19 is changing the lives of people around the world. Im Philippa Thomas, and this week were talking about relationships and the way we think about them. What the pandemic has done to change the way that we look at each other. Later, ill ask you to imagine that you just met someone, youve been on a few dates, its looking good and then suddenly its a lockdown and you have to spend every minute of every day together. Thats what happened to katie and ryan, a canadian and a brit travelling abroad. We will get the verdict on their lockdown love life in new zealand. First, since covid 19 swept the world, with perhaps weve perhaps all realised the importance of relationships, how much we all need to have somebody to love. Weve brought together two women who hear about a lot of relationships, the good, the bad and the ugly. Since 1997, carolyn hax has been writing her advice column in the washington post, its now read in more than 200 newspapers in the united states. Dating coach didi edet is the founder of lagos matchmaker. She has been helping single people in nigeria try to find meaningful romance in lockdown. The covid lockdown started in march in nigeria here, and in march, we had a huge spike in people wanting to date so we started something called dating in quarantine which was like an online speed dating, since there was no other way to meet people. And a lot of relationships started from there. That was something that was really positive from the covid. So does that mean for you, didi, single people are more focused on finding someone . Yes, they are more focused now because everyone is indoors, there are no social spaces open, and because of the whole social distance, people are forced to be at home, they do take time to get to know people more now. There is no pressure of any physical interaction so you do get to know the person and who they really are. Carolyn hax, you hear about all sorts of situations and if i can ask you about people who are in relationships already, what has pandemic done, what are you hearing about most . I think the pandemic has intensified whatever you have, and so if you are in a relationship that is a little bit suffocating, then you are to the point of desperation now. If you felt a little bit alienate it, then you feel like you never talk. I think people who are together want some space, i think people who are alone want to be together. Itsjust. Its almost like people were frozen exactly where they were when this started, so you have too much of whatever you were frozen with. And you refer to the fact, didi, that its more about talking, you cant get physical so quickly, so you need to have the skills to talk to somebody new. Yes, and its making a lot more creative ways to date, people attending concerts online together, they are having the video dates that you sent through to you rdate, and you get together and have a glass of wine, there are so many creative ways to date that we never thought about until now, so its been really exciting to see whats been happening with all this. When covid is over and everything goes back to normal, i think a lot of first dates still might happen ove video and online, and might not happen as much in restaurants and social spaces any more. If people are being forced to get to know each other and have conversations at arms length, and try to get to know each other intellectually, that cant hurt, i think. If you just. It slows things down, and i think one of the markers of a dangerous relationship is that it happens very quickly so this might actually end up being a benefit in the long run, if people get used to dating more slowly. Definitely, thats like the major. The testimonials have had deeper connections, weve had relationships start of and end really quickly. I smile a lot now right now, the relationships forming have had deeper connections, because there is no physical pressure, you get to know person, you get to see where they live, their living space, you get to see so much about the person before you see them. So this prolonged courtship is definitely in everyones favourite when it comes to dating. Carolyn hax, you talk about people getting stuck where they are. Do you think there is a lot of realisation going on, people finding out things about partners they might have known for a long time . People hearing their partners works personas, because theyre working from home, and theyre hearing, overhearing meetings, and they cant believe that they married somebody who says, i want to circle back, or i actually got a question from somebody saying her husband often used to come home from work to complain about what was going on. And shes realised through overhearing him that hes the problem, she didnt know whether she should tell him that she has realised in all of the stories hes told from work, that he was the one causing them, and ive seen a lot of people laid off and unemployed all the time, and thats driving the partner crazy because their relationship worked because they were apart 40, 50 hours a week and so its really been eye opening for a lot of people. Carolyn, we are talking about the stresses of pandemic and lockdown, but have you seen positive takeaways as well, meaningful changes for the better . Absolutely. I think one of the things this whole situation has done is force people to reckon with things that they didnt want to think about, and i almost said this in response to the last question, that sometimes getting Bad Information about people can be useful anyway. Its painful, but i think when people are realising that they had problems they werent dealing with, and now theyre forced to deal with them, i think people are going in better directions for themselves where possible, and again, i dont want to overstate it because whats going on is terrifying and devastating and financially difficult, but people are really trying, its a real human test, and people are trying to make something of it. Looking at the dark side, or the difficult side, carolyn hax, ive read your column since i moved to the states back in 97 and you do often ring alarm bells in your column about situations people are in. Yes, and there are people right now in some dangerous situations. On fridays, i do a live online chat, and a woman wrote in from an abusive situation, and she was with her partner, and the lockdown came just as she was about to leave. She had all of her plans, and they alljust washed away suddenly, so she was in this dangerous situation and over several fridays, we were. | say we, because also readers were making suggestions, because we can do that in the live forum, and she ended up connecting with Domestic Violence support groups and she ended up getting out, but it took weeks, and it was terrifying. I mean, she had options, but they were very limited all of a sudden. And i think this is not uncommon, i think people again, their safety is in being able to circulate, being able to get away, being able to see a friend, being able go to work and when all those things were closed off, some people found themselves very quickly in big trouble. Carolyn, youve been giving advice for a long time now and through some periods of great uncertainty and change and national trauma, but given the fact were through or have gone through lockdown, does this feel different from anything youve seen before . Id never seen anything like this before, no. This is. This is unprecedented in its scope. Usually when something is going wrong, it affects a certain number of people, a section of our country or people in a certain socioeconomic group, but this is hitting everybody and hitting everybody in an asymmetrical way, so everybody is struggling but almost everybody is struggling with something different. And so it feels very, its like you can look out the window and everything seems normal, but you know in the background, that its not normal, and people dont feel like they can communicate or rally together for one thing to make it better, to help it make sense, so there is a sort of, i think people feel adrift and tired because being scared for a long period can make you very tired so i think itsjust this. A lot of people at loose ends and looking to connect. Didi, youve been telling us about how you have more subscribers, youre working harder at this point, but does that also lead to extra stress and tiredness for you . How is it personally for you now . Personally, at first, it did, but then we had to get more staff so we could do our work more properly. So we do have more people around, so its not as bad as it seems. And then having to pay people, its made it so much easier. Carolyn. People in my community are really rallying and being supportive, so the live discussions, for example, can turn around. If im feeling low, just having people weighing in. And looking out for each other and offering such good insights, and a good sense of community, has actually been really helpful. So its kind of long two tracks, its really difficult, i am tired, i am stressed. Two, like anybody else, at the same time, its put me in touch with some of the things that i find most rewarding about my life. Relationship advisors didi editin lagos and carolyn hax in washington, dc on the many different stories they are hearing about relationships in this time of coronavirus. Im Philippa Thomas and you are watching coronavirus your stories, a programme about how covid i9 is changing lives around the world. Next, were going to hear about an unintended whirlwind romance between two young lovers who found themselves suddenly locked down together. Back in the days before covid i9, canadian katie mattis met brit ryan minett. Shes a hairdresser, hes a builder. For the past few years they have been doing some world travelling. They hung out in australia. She dated his good friend. They met again in new zealand, and then the virus took hold and everything changed. Katie and ryan spoke to me just before news came through of further restrictions in new zealand, beginning with the moment they first realised they were going into lockdown together back in march. Katie and ryan, lets start with the moment you realised you were going to be lockdown together. What was that like . Panic. Laughter. Please, no. No, it was a shock to the system, but not necessarily a bad one. Just a bit of a shock. I mean, im sure it was a shock for everyone, really, just knowing that we would be cooped up in a house for a long period of time. And it was really new so it was terrifying because we both did not want to live with each other right away. How strict was your lockdown . For maybe six or seven weeks we kind of did not leave the house at all. Yeah, we could go for hour long walks, but you could not really go out of your neighbourhood i think its more than three kilometre. And only going out for essentials, one person from the house going. Yeah, it was pretty strict. Before i ask you more about what those weeks were like, i just want to roll back a bit. Tell us how you met. We met initially in australia, on a banana farm, four years ago. We were both there to do our farm work to be able to get second year visa and we were both in mission beach, in queensland. And, yeah, thats where we met. Just friends there. Ahh, you told me you loved me first day we met, and i did not reciprocate. I was probably drunk. I dont know, i dont remember that but ill take it, ill take it. Never forget. Would it be fair for me to say that, as romantic partners, you hadnt really got together until you were in new zealand this year . Yeah, yeah. I mean, fate hasjust kind of brought it together properly. I went away on a trip to the south island and upon coming back, the spark ignited. It happened. Yeah, yeah. An then you find out that, from a few dates and knowing the spark is there, youre going to be living together, and it is going to be nonstop. So tell us a little bit more about what that life was like . What was most memorable about having to be locked down together . We taught the cat how to walk on a harness, so now he is our dog. Thats probably the best, most memorable thing thats come out of lockdown because we can take him on oui adventurous now. Its actually youd be surprised, hes so good on the lead. Like, for a cat, we always get people stop and say, oh, my god, it is a cat on a lead but in terms of living together, yeah, i guess, that was an adjustment for sure. Yeah, yeah, i mean, you know, we never spent as much time with one Single Person before so it took some adjustment. There was moments were we had to have, obviously, i was upstairs, she was downstairs, we were taking our free time, but it kind of forced us to understand each other quickly and really get to know each other quickly, and im sure that if it wasnt for lockdown, we would not be in this position we are in at the moment, we wouldnt still be living together. So tell us about some of of the understandings you reached . What are you talking about . Um, well, basically. Ryan snores and, when he snores really bad, he has to go to a different room. Understanding number one. Number two, dont mix the dirty laundry and the clean laundry together. Yeah, its life lessons, hey. Where did you learn that . And ryan, what did you find out about katie . I found out that basically i was searching for someone that was similar to me, and i was searching for someone that wanted to explore and travel and see the world and, you know, we go on adventures all the time together, and i have not really had that before, because i have always been like, do you want to got here, do you want to go there . But my previous partners have not really been too interested, but she is straight on it, shes like, lets go, lets go away and i really love that about her. She is always up for doing something fun. So its really nice. I always knew that about you but never thought you would be the romantic one. Thanks katie, just looking back at where we started this conversation, went lockdown happen, you said you were panicking a bit, you were not ready for that sort of relationship and commitment. How do you feel now looking back at the way you went into this . I actually did a lot more soul searching than i thought. As soon as lockdown was over, we did take a week break, because it was just so much of seeing each other and being in each others space we just needed time to breathe. And in that week that he went away, is when i really realised, like, ah, this is what a normal relationship is supposed to feel like, and how much i really cared for ryan, and how much i wanted him around. So i dont regret anything. And i wasnt ready at the time but now i am, so im glad he was patient with me during that period because im sure i was not always enjoyable. Actually, i know i wasnt. So youre both locked down together in new zealand, via australia. Youre from canada and the uk. What were your families thinking . What kind of reaction did you get from your families . My parents are kind ofjust realise i am not coming back, probably ever, unless i have to. They know i am over here. I think they are just happy that i found someone and, from what they know of ryan, they really love him and are quite supportive and they are pushing from grandchildren. No pressure then . No, no, none at all. I think they would be sad if ryan was not around any more. Probably really sad, actually. And ryan, what about you . What about the reaction from family and friends when they find out you were living with someone full time . Well, i must say, my mum was really happy for the fact that i found someone that stopped me from biting my nails. All my life i have always been biting my nails and during lockdown, as we were always together, whenever i had my fingers in my mouth, biting my nails, she would, stop it and i actually grew some nails and it was really a surprise for my mum and she said to me, if katie is able to do that, she is the one. From the sound of it, lockdown has worked for you . Are you going to make any predictions about staying together . No, not so much predictions. I think if you have too many expectations you just set yourself up for disappointment. So we are just going to keep on going with it. We do have some future plans about goals and whatnot, once residency happens and, yeah, just keep crossing the path as it comes but were not planning on breaking up. And any tips for anyone else because there are a lot of people out there who are still feeling lonely or looking for love. Everybody has kind of got everybody interested in relationships . Any tips from what you guys have been through . To the Single Ladies out there, give the nice guy a chance. That is one thing i never did, i dont know why, and it is the best thing that can ever happen. Definitely, be open to kindness and accept it because it works sometimes. And i say, just listen, boys, just listen. Dont just say you are listening, actually take it in and listen properly. Katie, does ryan live by his own advice . He does, yes. It has been a work in progress. Like, if a nice bmw drives by, he doesnt listen to anything, but most of the other times then, yeah, we are good. And you have talked about residency. You are thinking about visas. Given that your homes have changed so much, is it possible to talk about what feels like home to you now . Yeah, i mean, ifeel like new zealand is my home now. I have been here for three years. I have a really greatjob that i love and all my friends, ive got a cat, got ryan. As much as my family is back home, this feels like my base now and where i want to start my life. What about you . Yeah, same, its home. This is our home. Coronavirus, this pandemic has been such an uncertain time for everybody. How has falling in love help you get through it . It has helped push the negative to the side because, during the whole pandemic, we have both been thinking a lot about each other and about what direction, we, as a relationship, are going to go in. Although it has been really worrying about the pandemic and everything, we have had our own little. I was going to say battle. It kind of was a battle. Basically you helped pull me out of bad places, i helped pull you out of bad places. We just push each other to achieve our goals and what makes us happy. And i think, outside the pandemic, that is also something we will take with us, the just keep on moving forward. Katie mattis and ryan minett with a heart warming story of love surviving lockdown. Good luck to them. Im Philippa Thomas, thank you for watching coronavirus your stories. Hello. Well, its very cloudy across the uk right now, there are a few scattered downpours as well and we will continue to see storms over the next couple of days, really very little change on the weather front. The air has become very stagnant across the uk and quite humid ever since the heatwave ended days ago in the south and central areas and we are seeing the same pattern day on day. Clouds reform in the south, they come in from the south, moving northwards and bringing the threat of showers, downpours and thunderstorms. So, this is what the picture looks like this evening. You can see where the showers are, some of them quite small, only a few miles across, one minute its dry and the next minute, the heavens open. Some thunder and lightning thrown in as well. I think there will be a tendency for these downpours to drift northwards as we go through the evening and the overnight period. Now, the temperatures overnight once again will be pretty high, 16 degrees in norwich and london, 14 in belfast, thatsjust an indication of how much moisture there is in the atmosphere, when you have a lot of moisture in the atmosphere, the temperatures dont tend to fall away much during the night. Now, the weak, low pressure still with us on monday, with the showers or the threat of showers. They circle very gently around this area of low pressure, the winds are so light, not an awful lot to push things out of the way, well have to wait before winds wrap up in the atlantic to waft away all this humid weather, the cloud and storms and the weather will change in the coming days, but notjust yet. In fact, the same weather pattern will continue into tuesday, so again, the threat of downpours with some sunshine in between and actually, if youll notice that the storms have become a little bit more widespread across the north, when i say storms, i mean downpours, rainstorms and thunderstorms now and then as well. Now, wednesday, we see a change. This area of low pressure actually within it, mixed in, it has the remnants of tropical storm. That means that the weather will be very unpredictable towards the end of the week, there is just the chance things might briefly warm up in the south east, but overall, unsettled weather at the end of the week. This is bbc news. The headlines at 6. As students protest against the downgrading of a level results in england, more confusion as the exam regulator withdraws its guidance on appealing against grades, just hours after publishing it. The common theme is anger. A lot of people are really sad and the stress, it is a really stressful time. Like, yourfuture is uncertain. I think the general attitude is, people want change. People want the government to be held accountable. Its about time that Boris Johnson takes personal responsibility for this and stops making it up as he goes along, because its far too serious for that, and i think in the next 24 hours hes got to come and explain to students, parents and teachers, how he will address this historic injustice. The coastguard says two bodies have been found after two teenage brothers went missing in the sea near