Friends come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.  The lifers are few and far between, but you will know it when you trip on one. In the meantime - enjoy the reason or the season.

Cia is right with one exception, life is pretty random. Build a plan - work towards it, but stay flexible enough to grab the brass ring if it happens to swing past early!

There is nothing weird about you wanting things to be easier for Mikie. You care. That's what makes you a good person.

As for mom - again Cia is right, there isn't a lot you can do there. There are others around you that you can turn to tho for support. Let them ( us ) be there for you!

Hey, all mothers are "unique". And complex. And irrational The real questions are do you still love her and can you find a way to accommodate her behaviours while you're still living under her roof. Because you won't always be, and she won't always be around. It's worth taking the long view and accepting some compromise until you are fully independent.

"i've only truly accepted who I am in the past 12 months"

Well that's a big thing, maybe the most difficult step a gay person can ever take. Then there are other steps you need to be able to take too - such as liking yourself for who you are. This will then make you feel good about yourself. You see people who've developed this - it's attractive and makes people want to become friends.  I'm not saying this should be in a narcissistic way - very unattractive - it's more about becoming comfortable in your own skin, developing inner confidence and self esteem. Maybe you could try self-help books, or set yourself small daily targets - "I'll talk to two new people today", or "I'll follow up that conversation". Good luck. It gets easier as you get older

Patience my friend.

You cannot possibly change your relationship with your mother until you are on an equal footing. That means no longer being subject to her for your well-being.

What is your escape plan? You have 5 months. THAT'S ALL. You say nothing is certain. What are your backup plans? You obviously have "the dream", but what do you have in the way of contingency. You have a target - independence, and later, you have the potential of moving your BF over here.

You make a mistake if you thing everything comes at once. It almost never does. Your life is like salami - served slice by slice.

In the meantime, revel in small victories. Start by wearing the damn scarf where your mother cannot know.

Thanks everyone! The advice has really helped

Cia - You are right, i saw some friends from school yesterday and felt like they were the people I should be friends with and I shouldnt bother with the fidiots. I'm gonna sit down and sort out my goals etc. after the holimidays

Kitt - Thanks Yeah i just need to learn flexibility lol

Zombie - True I live under her roof so I have to be flexible to her i guess Oh yeah i'm a changed person definately I will learn to like myself hehe

Westie - You are so right. We get on much better when we don't live together lol

I'm hoping that when I graduate i'll probably move back home for a couple of months til I get everything sorted/everything is figured out then figure from there what I need to do So hopefully i'll be in my own place by September (if i have a job, if i dont have a job and I stay on for my Research Masters i'll stay at home and commute to the office [university is a 30 minute drive from home] or something lol)

I need to figure my s*** out over the next few months. I have two sort of plans but they both depend on other peoples decisions and my grades at uni. I need to come up with contingencies lol

The idea of everything at once being a mistake is a very good point - love the salami analogy lol

haha oh yeah i stll wear it xD it's my favourite damn scarf lol (I only have two lol)

Thanks everyone You're amazing