It’s been a busy week, what with making ourselves at home in the new house and firing up the brain cells, which have got rather too used to operating on Spanish time. Fortunately we got broadband in time for me to hear through Twitter – where I seem to hear all the best stuff – about a talk last night at Bath University by James Alexander, one of the founders of Zopa.

Zopa isn’t a bank, it’s an ‘online place where people can lend and borrow money’ and was established following extensive research that showed the emergence of a new category of people known as freeformers. Freeformers have lost faith in the old systems to look after them, believe in self-reliance and collaboration, and value community and transparency. The kind of people who tend to be freelancers and home workers, in other words.

I came home feeling uplifted that there are people creating businesses like this, even when the ‘experts’ say it’s not possible. And feeling much more hopeful having heard James’ advice to ask for help and you will be surprised by how much you get.

I know the isolation of the home worker has become a bit of a cliche, but that’s because it’s so true, and it applies to me as much as anyone. Working by yourself at home can make you spiral further and further into yourself and your own resources without even realising what’s happening. I’m now intent on reaching out to find more likeminded people and I’d love to hear if you’ve had any good results from doing so.