All my friends have died.

I joined a knit and natter group and couple of years ago and have been made very welcome.

I am sorry you have lost your friends. I havnt lost mine in the same way but most moved away from this crowded part if the country years ago. We keep in touch but it’s not the same.
So I joined u3A where I have got to know a few people, most of them nice.
Old friends are gold but new friends are special too. At least the stories you tell aren’t the oft repeated ones we tell our old gold friends. My new friends are mostly sone years younger than me so hopefully shoukd see me out.

Don't be put off by the first club you join. It took me a few goes to find one that "fitted" I wouldn't say I have made new very close friends but more like casual friends if you know what I mean.
I am not sure any friendship is the same as those I made when I was younger, but still nice to have.

I'm a potter so am involved with local artist groups and I volunteer at a community shop.

I have lost some very good friends but there are still a few I see occasionally.

I'm on a church committee or 2.
I have joined U3A and belong to several interest groups.

There's plenty going on around here but I think really close friendships form over time, working or playing together.

I have lost 3 friends over the last year it’s not good is it ?
I don’t seem to manage very well in group situations like you manateay have found while one person may have racist or unwelcome thoughts they become brave in a group situations and I can’t be quiet in that situation I also found as the ‘new girl’ it was very cliquey
I have found my voluntary work has helped make one or two friends but my three best friends come from 40 years back and if anything happens to them no idea where I ll be

U3a is good. Join an art class. Ramblers or a local walking group. Pop into the library and see if they hold anything there like knit and natter or talking tables, Hope you find some company soon it’s not fun being lonely is it.

Sorry you’ve lost your friends and feel so alone. We have lost several friends recently, mostly quite unexpected. Unfortunately it is something that comes with age. Good suggestions from previous posters. Please persevere with going to groups until you find a more sympathetic group.

I dont think you ever replace those very special friends, sadly, but it is possible to still enjoy company.
Our walking group is sociable, when we're not huffing and puffing.

I look forward to my yarn group which is like knit and natter except all
kinds of handwork is done.

I used to play badminton once a week but I've not been back to that for a couple of years and a new hip.

Definitely getting older limits the things you can do but there are still plenty if you look around and if not, start something?

I’ve noticed, on another thread, that mantaray is still working part-time which is good to be getting out and about.

I lost 2 good friends and my DH within a couple of years. It’s not easy, as that circle contracts.

I’m so sorry so many of your dear friends have died.

I do hope you can meet some more people to chat and have coffee with.

Sometimes local libraries or community centres have notice boards of things to join or events. Good luck

I disengaged from a social group at the time of the EU referendum, shocked at some of the racist views that hitherto had never been voiced from people I had regarded as friends. So I do understand how unpleasant that can be. It seems even more prevalent nowadays with strangers wanting to bombard us with their prejudice without any encouragement whatsoever.

U3A comes up a lot as something to get involved with. Various people having had positive and negative experiences. I have only joined very recently and wanted to share mine.

I bypassed my village group which is limited in what it offers, mostly duplicating things I already do elsewhere. Instead, I’ve opted to join a much larger city group. Reading its past and present newsletters, it seemed to have a post-pandemic decline (like many local U3A, I suspect) but is now seeing a resurgence in interest with many new members joining and several new interest groups. It has over 50 in total.

I have chosen deliberately to ease in by joining one of the new interest groups. This has been started by a relatively new member and is also populated by mostly new members who did not know one another until they joined the group.

The group had only had two meetings before I joined - on the same day as a couple of other newbies. There are only eight of us, four women and four men including the leader. Nobody was there with a partner. The leader says he intends to cap the membership at twelve. He is very well organised, sent an agenda a week before the meeting with some prep to be done, and ran the session well. It was engaging, productive and very enjoyable. I think a leader of a new group has to be organised and fairly prescriptive at the very start else chaos would soon reign but it’s clear there will be some fluidity in what we do as we develop as a group. He is already asking for ideas for future activities.

We hadn’t had much time in the meeting for general conversation so afterwards, some of us who were heading in the same direction to catch our buses, went for coffee. We are all single, divorced or widowed, some new to the area, had much else to talk about and have already arranged to meet socially outside of U3A. A very positive start.

I'm involved with a local amdram society which has its own premises. Members can be involved in any capacity, on and off stage. There are many areas in which one can be useful: front of house (welcoming and seating audience members), bar work, coffee shop, wardrobe, props, backstage support with productions, set building and painting, etc. People of all ages are welcome, so you could see if there is a similar group near you with which you could become involved, mantaray. I have made some good friends through being involved with this group.

Thank you so much everyone. I'm sorry I haven't replied before now. I've been away for a few days with my husband. Bluebell I do keep quiet when people are expressing quite nasty racist view, but then I regret being a coward
Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm going to go back to painting classes and try U3A.
By the way my husband blames my loss of so many friends on the fact that they were older than me, ranging from 5 years older to 19 years older. My answer is that you can't pick friends according to their age.

I find it helpful to join groups and keep persevering! It's also good to volunteer and share a common goal with people. You sound like a kind, caring friend. Good luck.

Very sorry you have lost your close friends I dread losing mine as I have so few.
As others have suggested community centres usually have notices up about social groups.
In the local village there is knitting groups amateur acting and bowls.
At the local park they hold volunteer days for any person wishing to join. Also a Norwegian walking group and general walking group.
On another note if you don't want to join your local groups go to the next village or community hall. I hope you find something that interests you and meet new friends.

DH is in your position, lots of his friends were older and he misses them. He’s joined a repair club, where people bring anything that needs repairing along to the village hall and the lovely volunteers try to fix it. It’s a busy and popular club and he’s really enjoying helping out. I hope you can find something you enjoy too.