It looks like a few of us are in the same boat. I'm at the end of a relationship that I had high hopes for which crashed and burned badly - I'm still being hit by some of the shrapnel. The silly thing was, I had been perfectly content and comfortably single for some time until this person came along and turned my world upside down. Now I really don't feel like ever being in a relationship again.

I thought at least I was okay at home, but then my flatmates (two brothers) started to monster me, so basically I have decided to get out and leave them to it. A perfect offer came along at just the right time, so now I have decided to step out of the comfort zone again and do the thing I hate most - moving.

It encourages me to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel - it sounds like things are picking up for you already, Barbara. It's good to have a helpful son too, isn't it. My son set up my computer for me, and if I have problems with it, I know he's usually got the answers.

There will be a period of time when I will be offline around the time of the move. I hope it is only short, but one of the problems I had with the flatmates was that they started writing threatening notes demanding that I move my computer into my bedroom (or else - majority rules they said), and I was sufficiently worried by the tone of these notes, that I went along with it. I was afraid they would try to move it for me in my absence and do some damage. So once I have told them I am leaving, I might have to move it early, if I feel sufficiently threatened, and that would mean being offline earlier. It will be another week before I tell them, and the following 2 weeks before I move will be the hardest, I think. That's when I will be really glad I have friends and I will try to have them around me as much as possible. Some of them, like Sandra, are Sydney mudcatters.

Meanwhile I will stay in touch as long as I can. I love the virtual community here, and it helps me feel connected. One day I would love the chance to travel and meet other 'cats.

Sorry to go on so much - this thread is about you, and I feel like I am hijacking it. Would you mind a PM?

Jenny