the bottom line...

HIV prevention work has certainly moved on from the deadly earnest stuff of the early 80s when the message was more or less straightforward: do and die. PACE have just released a fantastic FREE workbook called Getting Ready: improving your self-esteem and getting ready for relationships. It is filled with really interesting exercises that you can do alone and which allow you the opportunity to think about what you expect from a relationship. It's aimed at gay men and lesbians but it's about relationships and self esteem and so can apply to anyone. Although, the images used in the book may put off some straight folk. I can't believe that I am endorsing a self-help book, given that I hope to make my living from other people's pain one day, but the writers also recommend a short course of therapy too. So everyone comes out a winner! For what it's worth I recommend this little book to everyone. Unfortunately, you don't seem to be able to get the book through the PACE website, but you can get a copy by phoning this number: 020 7700 1323. By the way, I love the picture. It makes me chuckle every time I think about it. Mrs McMuffin says that it is all too depressingly familiar. I'm not sure what she means.