Retired off the railway, up at five anyway, and no use to anyone

Sixty six, retired off the railway three years ago after thirty two years of shifts, and what I miss is being needed at a particular time by a particular person. Not the work itself. The being needed at half past four in the morning by somebody who was counting on it.

East London, widowed, one son abroad, a flat I keep in good order and a van I should probably sell and will not.

The offer is straightforward. I am awake at five whether anybody wants me to be or not. I will drive, collect, deliver, queue, wait in for an engineer who says he will come between eight and one, and do a run to the airport at an hour nobody else will consider. I am reliable in a way that has rather gone out of fashion and I would like it to be of some use to somebody.

What I would want is a woman who leads and is honest that this is what she wants from me, rather than feeling awkward about asking. The asking seems to be the hard part for people. I would far rather be handed a list on a Sunday than be told repeatedly that I do not have to do any of it.

No money in either direction. I have a pension, I am comfortable, and I am not after being looked after. Not looking for anything sexual, and at my age I would rather say that plainly than leave it hanging about unsaid. Not looking to be introduced to anybody's family. Not looking for a woman who wants a friend and would find the rest of it awkward, because the rest of it is the whole point for me.