Hi

Well, outside I can't walk unaided (have to lean on a walking aid, balance too poor) so if I was attacked, I couldn't get anything out of my pocket or bag because I need both hands to stay standing up.

I could buy a rape alarm and wear it round my neck, I suppose, but then they could use that to strangle me with. I don't wear necklaces unless out with friends as that can be used to choke people with, and I'm the same with scarves.

I feel safest in my house as there's panic alarms in every room, it's linked to the police station and there's an intercom in my hallway. I'd feel safer meeting a guy at home than I would in a bar.

In fact, I was chatting to one on my intercom just earlier! He shouted 'hello!' at me when I was just sitting down to eat this plate of fries. I was mightily annoyed that I'd just sat down to eat, and then he interupted, so we got talking and DD4 was looking really puzzled because of the man's voice in the wall, LOL, and by the time he'd gone, my dinner was cold.

Not really the way to meet anybody, though.

You can't volunteer to work with kids unless you're employed as a classroom assistant as far as I'm aware, with relevant teaching/childcare qualifications.

I could volunteer to go on the parent committee at my DD4's nursery, though.

It doesn't work with elderly people as I am not any better at walking than most of them and the care homes want you to do gardening, go on trips with them etc and old people stop me in the street to see if I want help crossing the road, I have thought about making them a Christmas hamper with delicious food in, as a season of goodwill gesture.

The only other voluntry stuff round here is a job at the food coop, selling cheap food to poor families. I could do that, I suppose.

Of course, I could employ some of my own volunteers for my organisation. That would be a way to meet people, or I could start doing public meetings again, but money is very tight, that's the only thing.

My friend is involved with Greenpeace - maybe I could join that and get arrested for absailing up office blocks
Ah, that would be remenisent of my teenage years

Jo.