Spring-Cleaning
I've been doing a bit of spring-cleaning on the Friends-List, address book, and the contacts stored in my phone: feel free to poke me here (comments are screened) if you would pefer that I hadn't.
Apologies and errors notwithstanding, it's clear that I should've done this some time ago. I've hung onto contact details for too many people I don't actually know (and who probably don't have a clue who I am), too many who are no longer active online, and a fair few who never respond to mail, comments, texts and calls.
I think this is an inevitable consequence of the 'scatter-gun' approach I took to building a social life (from scratch!) five years ago: it was the only way to do it, but it left me with a huge number of acquaintances, people I've communicated with once or twice, or not at all. And a fair number of people who dislike me! It's also left me on the periphery of several groups where I am barely known, and will get no further, and closer-in with one or two where I fear that my welcome is more a reflection of their good manners than an actual liking for me.
Plus, I am happy to say, a few places where I enjoy being genuinely welcome, and participating fully.
What next? I'm always happy for introductions - I have found, much to my surprise, that I actually like meeting new people - but I know full well that many people are ill-at-ease around me. I am very, very careful indeed to manage my way around that, and to stay at the periphery of groups where, it must be said, I probably belong; and to take great care, even then, not to venture where I am uncertain of my welcome.
What next, I think, is an effort to expand my 'dining list' of people who enjoy fine food. There's a thought to get me through the long dark teatime of the soul.