Chapter 1: Why on earth as an educated, reasonably sensible (and sane) woman did I decide to do this?

Okay, first of all, I never really pictured myself as a Martial Artist. I mean, I hate pain and I really really don’t like hurting people (honest). So why on earth did I decide to become an Aikidodocha?
Well, it sort of comes from wanting to be able to defend myself should anything happen in the street, I mean there are lots of complete idiots carrying knives and whatever else they can fit into their pockets wandering around.
I tried lots of places really, but there were no Martial Arts that offered what I wanted. I just wanted to get away from an attack, not knock the seven bells out of someone. So, I decided (after endless trawls on the Net) to choose Aikido. There was just one problem, living in a little-known town; I couldn’t find anywhere that did it. Never mind, thinks I, I will forget all about it and just do a course in self-defence….