Socially Isolated.

Posofserend

Hi, my name is Brian. I suffer chronic pain, workplace injury, North Sea. Although I drive, I am dreading the long winter, not so much the rising fuel costs, but rather the social isolation that entails. I am not originally from the Highlands, so I would like to make friends in a similar position. Thanks.

Ross_Alumni

Hello @Posofserend and welcome to the online community, thank you for introducing yourself. 

I'm sory to hear that you feel socially isolated and that you aren't looking forward to the long winter. I think that many other people are in a similar situation, so I'm sure that you'll find this community to be a positive outlet. 

This is a very supportive and welcoming site to be a part of so please feel free to have a look around and get involved wherever you’d like 😊 I have included below a few of the pages I’d recommend having a look through to get used to things:

• The virtual coffee lounge which is one of our categories, in which we play games and talk about general subjects such as hobbies and interests
• The recent discussions page, which shows an overview of everything happening across the community
• The categories page, which shows a full list of discussion groups on the community

If you have any questions at all then don’t hesitate to ask.

Posofserend

Thanks for those responses. Yes, I have already made enquiries. The problem is that you will be aware of are that resources are thin on the ground in the whole of the UK. The Highlands have the highest rate of male alcoholism/ suicide in the UK, if not Europe.

leeCal

@Posofserend said
The Highlands have the highest rate of male alcoholism/ suicide in the UK, if not Europe.

Why do you think that is the case if you don’t mind me asking? Is it caused by unemployment and high rainfall not to mention isolation?

while we’re on the topic of isolation

‘The last remaining member of an uncontacted indigenous group in Brazil has died, officials say.

The man, whose name was not known, had lived in total isolation for the past 26 years.’

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-62712318

Sandy_123

Oh wow @leeCal shame the last member has gone. 
Hi @Posofserend welcome, you won't feel lonely here, lots of us to natter to, lots of conversations going on if you want to join in with. Highlands sounds a nice place to be.

Posofserend

@leeCal. Thanks for the response. The Highlands and Islands are the most sparsely populated and biggest political land constituency of the UK, correct me if I am wrong. Many live in relative isolation even if their families go back centuries. Myself, I mix well with others, but as chronic pain sufferers will attest to, the long winter months can be very difficult. I have childhood friends, from the borders to the north east that are too far to visit in the winter. They keep busy in the winter, so I tend not to lean on them too much. As a voracious reader, this is interrupted often by my inflammation attacks. The year round weather and unemployment are also contributory factors, especially among young men. Our drug problem is a national scandal. The Highland capital, Inverness, is creaking at the seams, the infrastructure that is, lovely as it is. 

leeCal

I remember looking online at a house in Kinlochleven. It was a great property but I checked the local rainfall and it was three feet (one metre) a year! Wow!  The scenery was beautiful but as they say you can’t have it all. I’m retired by the way so the unemployment wouldn’t be a problem to me but the heating might be! we have stopped looking in the highlands though, but we’ve looked at the borders recently. 

Anyway as sandy says there there are plenty of conversations on the forum to get involved with and very friendly posters to engage with here. 

I wish you well with your health. 

Posofserend

@leeCal. Ah yes, but did anyone tell you about the Highland midgie. They come out when it's not raining. Beauty all over the Highlands, when you can see the tops. Yes that beauty has a sting in the tail, unless the wind is over three miles per hour or in bright sunlight. The female of the species is deadlier than the male, the male midgie doesn't bite.