Julia F (44) from Suffolk

I'm 38, divorced with 3 children (all girls and teenagerish - worrying but hasn't been too bad so far!) I'm a teacher and teach English at a high school - in fact I'm surrounded by teenagers!

Personality wise, I'm quite shy, though I think many people who don't know me too well would be surprised by that. I'm also quite gregarious though - even if that is a bit of a contradiction. I enjoy socialising but feel happier in the company of people I know rather than a group of strangers. I'm reasonably intelligent, considerate and caring and constantly feel a pull between doing the career woman bit (I love my job) and my earth mother tendencies.) I have a good sense of humour and enjoy having fun and just occasionally being a bit daft.

I have a wide range of interests. Being an English teacher, I love reading, cinema and theatre - it goes with the territory I'm afraid. However, I also enjoy being active: I run though I'm not very dedicated always. I also enjoy walking, bowling, kayaking etc though I'm not particularly good at them - well walking I've kind of perfected now. My favourite place to be has to be the coast - either walking along it on a blustery day or in the sea if the weather is warm enough. I also love just spending time chatting with friends especially when good food and a bottle of wine are involved. I'm also a pretty good cook myself.

Although I have a number of good friends (again of both sexes) they are all married and at times I feel a bit of a spare part. So I would like to meet people of either sex who are interested in some of the same things as me in order to widen my circle of friends and to spend some of my precious leisure time having fun with.