Mmm. Trouble with that approach is that it also enables me to lock myself out if for some reason I nip outside without my keys (e.g. for something trivial like putting the bin out). I do generally have my keys on me anyway when I do that, but I wouldn't be confident enough of it to install a self-closer. (And since I live alone, no other housemate is going to rescue me, and it'll be locksmith time.)

Step 1) Learn the tricks used by a locksmith (last time I called one he opened my door in about a minute with a piece of cardboard). Step 2) Install self-closing lock thing Step 3)Never go out without a piece of cardboard ;)

(I recently came home from work after midnight to find one of my friends waiting for me *inside* my flat---he'd got cold waiting for me after about an hour, wasn't able to contact me because I'd disconnected the net connection, found a phonecard and opened the door with it)

This is why Laura has a spare key for my house :)

Isn't it worth leaving a spare key with a friend somewhere in Cambridge anyway? I agree you don't want to have to go to them every time you put the bin out and the door swings shut, but it's less faff than a locksmith if you do manage to leave your key somewhere, and in an emergency you can always ring them up and say "I swore I'd never ask you to fetch something for me, but I'm trapped in a kryptonite mineshaft. Could you use the spare key and bring me the batterang on my sideboard?"

I admit, when leaving a key with Tim became an endless faff, but mainly because we both like pedantry, it wasn't an inherently bad idea.

For example: Laura, I have been admitted to A&E, please come and visit. Laura takes spare key, goes into my house, arrives at hospital with spare pants and my embroidery! V good. Forgot bunny slippers though.

Yes, exactly :)

(I didn't say that because you might end up giving your key to your closest (in the euclidean metric), rather than someone who'd be sure to visit you at the hospital. Besides, I liked the batcave idea, though admittedly, not as much as I liked the bunny slippers :))

Mmm, fair one - mind you, that's why I wore my keys of a big heavy belt chain for several years.

As an aside, I can recommend the tactic of leaving an emergency set with a trusted friend (as mentioned by the good people above) Now that I *don't* wear a chain, that's asaved my bacon more than once.