Many thanks for all the helpful suggestions - especially to Rocky for his rapid and insightful response.

I'd just like to make it clear that I don't mind being thought a bit eccentric. It is part of my plan to grow old disgracefully because that adds a delicious bit of spice to life. I've never ever been in the mainstream of common interests and ideas but I did waste a great deal of time when young worrying about what others thought. I'm growing out of that.

No, the problem really is how to persuade someone you love to share these feelings.

I found Blu's suggestion to Hachiman on the recent thread http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=19797
to re-read the Braveheart material at http://www.kiltmen.com/advice.htm
was also very useful. I too had forgotten about that useful page.

Thanks again!