When I socialise this time of year, it seems that everyone is playing some automated routine under the influence of alcohol. There are some nice people but who never initiate contact because of no self-esteem; then there are people who are so impeccably varnished that all I can see being reflected in that varnish is me being not polished enough. Nail varnish, glitzy dresses - I don't do that any more because I choose to save money for things that I really love.

The only exceptions are my neighbours because life has thrown us up together through good times and bad, so I can distinguish their personas from the real people hiding behind all that.

I know this is because I didn't grow up in a family that created confidence and choice in how to handle social situations. How do you get to meet the people behind the drunken personas at this, or any, party time?

Saidso