Wow, what a response! My computer decided to switch itself off last night so I've only just seen all of this!

Thanks ever so much to everyone for everything you've said and all of the advice you've given. But I'd like to address three in particular:

December - great ideas! I'll dig out my watercolours and acrylics, and if I can't find them then my word processing program is always accessible! I used to write and paint loads, I have no idea why I've stopped ... But as for the inviting friends round, I have consciously been avoiding that. The painkillers I've been on have made me properly tetchy, plus not-quite-there, so I've been snapping at people in a very incoherent way. Apparently it's quite amusing, but I haven't been finding it funny! But I'm off those now, so maybe I can reconsider ...

Broomy - as usual the voice of reason. You're so absolutely right. And it's one of the reason's I'm so annoyed, to be honest. Things could be so much worse than they have been, and knowing that makes me quite angry at myself for being so down. I think I was allowed some time, but too much is self-indulgent. So I may well look into taking your advice too.

Tempest - first of all, loving the charades, they deserve a thread all of their own ^_^ Thanks for the offer of the books, but I will politely decline for two reasons: 1) My huse looks like a bomb site and I wouldn't trust myself not to lose anything you sent 2) I've just discovered the complete Chronicles of Narnia on the shelf which I haven't read for years ... ^__^

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