Thank you all for your responses. Some are harder to read than others, but this is a complex issue and it's good to stimulate new passages of thought. Everyone has a different perspective. Ultimately I know deep down in my heart that I must have a child. The way I see it, I could sit around feeling sorry for myself being single and therefore unable to have a child, and I think I'd end up suicidal going down this route; or I can go out there and get what I want. I am highly maternal and a 'natural' mother. One of my best friends had a daughter 5 years ago and I was her birth partner - she was a single mother and I spent a lot of time doing night feeds, supporting her physically and emotionally. I understand the needs of a child and while I obviously haven't got the experience of being completely responsible for a child, who does before they actually become a parent?

I do have some issues to work through which is why I say I'm not ready yet. I am trying to find a therapist at the moment as I may have a mild form of avoidant personality disorder. I certainly find communication difficult and have some very serious self esteem issues which I do not want to pass on to my child. So that's what I need to get sorted before I go for it. But I have the financial means, I have the determination and above all, Mother Nature is knocking on my door! I think I'd have to be a lot stronger NOT to answer than to answer.