These touching responses are one of the reasons its breaking my heart to go back - here I am part of a community of friends. There I am a stranger in a cold and windy place I dont really care for.
Ill be going back to Bolton and shacking up with my mum and dad, as hopefully it will be a short term thing just till I get things back on track. I have absolutely no intention of staying in the UK one day longer than I have to. But work and finances dictate I need to go back and rebuild - as Richard said, the economic collapse has truly been a wrecking ball for some of us that are still working, and some that are retired as well.
Theres silver linings....staying at ma and pa's may help me give up smoking for good, it will certainly mean I have more time and inclination to finish my novel and get it sent around the publishers, and it will allow me to return with a war chest to sink roots permanently, lessons learned.
And I will have plenty of time to carry on posting my usual nonsense.....

Dont worry.... I wont be going totally off radar.
So, thanks to all of you for reminding me why I want to be here, and steeling my resolve to return firing on all pistons.
If you can make it on Sunday we can share a beer and some laughs, if not my love and warmest for 2013 and see you when I get back.

"Science flew men to the moon. Religion flew men into buildings."
"To sin by silence makes cowards of men."