ha - we could set up a PGF-RL meet!

I agree with olivia. I try to see friends when I can, but none of them are doing a PhD, which can leave one feeling out on a limb.

As to sleep, there are lots of great suggestions here in this thread - if I was having trouble sleeping I think I'd work through the lot bit by bit and see which helped me the most. Good luck.

Doing a non-team based PhD is probably one of the worst ways to move abroad. I always had a job where I automatically met people. Sounds to me like you have been unlucky with your accommodation too.

One of these days I keep planning to go out with one of my old female friends in London but I am just too tired and disorganised to get to it. Maybe you should come out with us. Or you're welcome to come up and visit here. Let me know if you're interested and I'll figure out some way to descretely exchange some info.

Maybe a London PF meet would be fun. Or not. Only one way to find out I guess...