Well, look. I'm not generally a fan of these things, but have you considered joining one of the legitimate dating sites relevant to your part of the UK? Not to find some kind of super-hot hookup situation, but just to maybe connect with somebody for a movie or a coffee or trip to the museum or whatever. Maybe another dog person? It might help push you out of the house and give you an opportunity to connect with other people in you area. I was on one of those sites some time ago and I must say, I still receive inquiries and texts and stuff from having been on there. Really surprised me. Just a thought. Also, what breed is your dog? Have you looked into whether there is a local club for owners of that breed in your area? That might be fun, too.