getting used to being on my own

I don't really have anything new to say but felt I should add an update on the loneliness bit, as I know that at least one of my readers was a little concerned about me.

Nothing has changed in a practical sense - the friendships with local men had to be terminated as I had anticipated, the man who'd given me his card at the British Embassy never responded to my follow-up message, and I haven't met anyone else to socialise with.  However, I am pleased to report that I no longer feel lonely!  I suppose I've got used to being alone already - and always have things to keep me busy, whether it is work, listening to music, sorting out my extensive photo collection, or just arguing with strangers about politics on Facebook.  & of course my periods of being alone here in Dakar are always interspersed with overseas trips for my work (Cameroon last month, Guinea next week), which are pretty intensive and leave me needing a few quiet days to recover.  I do also have the odd conversation with colleagues in the office here.

The only thing I think I have to watch out for is that having no-one to go out to meet leaves it very tempting to spend all my time inside my flat.  That I must avoid, as I would hate for my time here to come to an end with the realisation that I didn't make the most of it.  So tonight I am off to a bar to watch live music - yes, on my own, but who talks during a concert anyway?

Going in to edit this only three hours after writing it, to admit that I never made it to see the live music, as I was mugged on the way there by two men with a very large knife.  Thankfully I came away with just a large bruise, but without my bag, purse, money, mobile phone, ring and earrings.  I went to the police on the way home to report it (not sure why, really, what will they do?) and they told me I shouldn't have been on that particular road, that it is known to be dangerous.  Well I certainly know it now...