I came across the Outsiders Club, a charity group only slightly older than me, back in 2007.
2 years earlier I'd been seriously ill in hospital with meningitis spent 10 weeks in hospital, lost my memory, my muscles & ability to walk. I'd even forgotten I had a girlfriend that I'd met some years earlier in my Uni days!
I've been an avid blogger & journaler most of my life and back in the days before FB, or even Myspace I think. LiveJournal filled a gap. (its now owned by Russia and a lot of original bloggers have left)
I'd met a lovely lady on LJ who actually lived nearby. We dated a couple of times, both had some pretty intimate interests including a love of many things kinky!
Forward a few months, or was it a year.. We ended up heading to an event known as the LFF
Lets just say this bazaar sold many things in leather, and other items that can excite things a bit in the bedroom.
But the Outsiders club also had a stand, with a couple of members & leaflets. I'd been involved with peer support groups for my own disability, but there was NEVER any workshops on relationships/sex etc
Finally a group that wasn't JUST my condition and that would openly talk about sex!
To be clear, Outsiders IS a social group, its evolved from having a written 'penpal' contacts list, to Facebook chat groups, and an Email newsletter with various online resources.
Its not a club for everyone, but joining outsiders gave me a massive boost in confidence, with dating, and some interesting experiences that were 'mostly' good.
It DID have a very successful London lunch,(the main social aspect for me), and a number of other lunches around the UK. Sadly numbers have dwindled, but the London lunch still goes on, and is welcoming.
Having left London I still miss the monthly lunches. But I do hope something can come along to fill that gap.
