I'm new - this sounds really good
Hey everyone. Am new to LWI but have enjoyed everyone's posts so far. If you describe yourself as an older lesbian and happen to live in the south west I will faint from the shock. Still ever the optimist.

Re: I'm new - this sounds really good
Hey Sue, Welcome to the group and thanks for introducing yourself. Are you telling me that there aren't many lesbians in the south west who have a few more years' experience and are lacking in issues? I am an optimist too and am hoping we find some for you.

Thanks
It's great to be welcomed thanks Virginia. I agree with you - there must be some people beyond the Bristol scene who can celebrate lesbian identity beyond 40 years. Let's hope you can magic them up from somewhere. Thanks again,

Re: Thanks
Do you have any lesbian friends in Bristol? I have to say I find it hard meeting like-minded lesbians. I have great straight friends and one brilliant mate who's a lesbian but the only other ones I know outside of cyber space are exes.

Hey Virginia, yes a couple of people from the past I still see occasionally but not to rally hang out with. The majority of newer friends are straight - which has been fine, but recently I'm missing having lesbian community and culture around me. Like you, there are a significant number of exes in Bristol and from what I read, not that much in the way of events- just a couple of bars and clubs.

It is the same in Surrey. There is a lack of lesbian or even gay bars for that matter. To go anywhere decent means trekking to London or Brighton. I guess I've never been part of a lesbian community. There was a group of women a couple of years ago who I hung out with but only because it was a way of getting to know one of them who later became my girlfriend. Other than that I didn't really feel like I had much in common with them.

Virginia - Really? I thought it might be just the rural bits of the SW that lack any kind of opportunities. I'm really suprised. Don't you think it is a bit weird that with all the gains we now have re: civil partnerships etc, that we are even less visible than we were 10 even 20 years ago? I love checking out other places like USA & Australia just because they seem to want to still congregate and have an active lesbian community to provide a sense of identity (or something).