<p>While I was completing the project described here, I spent considerable time working alone. However, I read with great interest about (sometimes at the expense of literature pertaining to my research) or listened to the experience of others – especially novice researchers involved in qualitative projects. It was the experiential ‘coffee-break chat’ that I was missing out on as a lone worker who did not know many people with experiences close enough to my own. It was sometimes helpful, sometimes reassuring, occasionally worrying, but always compulsive reading or listening.</p>