General Chat

~~~~~ hello clairjo, present and correct. I don't look in every day.
Deanna, I also think you are marvellous, you too, Caz in Yorkshire. I am jealous of Carole in Florida, not that Florida is where I want to be. The Greek Islands sounds more like it for me. Or Corsica?
David, I agree that you should see a doctor, but we men have a reputation for avoiding them, don't we? Tell your brother to hang in there; my brother in law was operated on for low colon cancer early this year. No chance of reversal of the colostomy for him. He is coping enormously well. Has his chemo once a week, drives home (two hours, but rural highway). Then goes to work. He is a professional truck driver, but I think he overdoes it sometimes.
Hello Mary in Ontario: I think you have a wonderful family. Colleen sounds lovely, not just for her name, and your granddaughter sounds a delight. I hope it doesn't rebound on her when she becomes a teenager.
Hello Kathy by the Somewhere, I hope it's somewhere nice. Did you not know that reducing or eliminating benefits is exactly what social services (or whatever you call it in the UK) is for.
Our version has the snazzy name Centrelink. Over nearly 12 years of the previous government here (conservative) the unemployed were demonised as "dole bludgers" and Centrelink was trained to treat the unemployed as such. We not only had to deal with snotty nosed clerks one third our age and one third as intelligent, but have to "prove" that we are genuinely seeking work by filling in paperwork that we have gone for so many jobs a week. Not easy in a specialised field like mine. Of course, there is plenty of work available, stacking shelves, checkout chick, pizza delivery boy ... not quite what I had in mind.
Last time I was unemployed in Feb-March 2007 I was nowhere near completing the paperwork let alone waiting for the qualifying period when I got another job through my own efforts. Because I had quite a bit of savings, I would have had to wait six months before being paid any benefit at all. And I am one of the lucky ones- I own my flat and car, and have been careful with my money over the years.
I am so glad that this job will be my last. When it folds or when I feel like folding I will retire. I can't get an aged pension until I am 65, but can live on my savings.
Gripe over.
Gail, I am so glad your chickens or hens are pets. I think it would be dreadful to have to eat the pets.
One cloud on the horizon is my girlfriend. They still haven't found why she goes down in a heap.They don't think it is related to her epilepsy. Looking at heart arrhthmias at the moment. Also, a cousin's little fellow, nearly 5, have recently been diagnosed with autism. Obviously not as badly affected as some, but still a worry for his family. His parents think they are fortunate because the mother doesn't have to work, but she doesn't drive, either, and the father is away a lot so getting around can be a problem. It is early days yet, but he is already showing real signs of improvement.

xx to all I have forgotten.Colin by the river. That sounds better than by the creek, which is closer, but nowadaysthe creek is just a storm water drainage channel.

PS I have been keeping up with the posts, just didn't feel I had anything to add. Certainly have today. 3000 plus words.

Hello folks, I am here, just browsing the past few days, things are a bit stressful - our Sarah had a major seizure at school and she and I spent a day at hospital yest, even with 6 people,including 2 doctors, they couldn't get an IV into her, so decided they would wait till she was unconscious again!!! I couldn't believe what I was hearing when a nurse said, lets just give up now, wait till she seizes again and we can get it in without her fighting us. Ok leave her vulnerable to another seizure (which she had this morning BTW) let's not make a superhuman effort to sedate her overactive brain.
Regardless she seems better this evening - she ate a lot of weird combinations (corn chips with salsa and salad dressing, chicken dipped in salad dressing,a tin of pineapple, dried blueberries,and lots of water), before deciding she could lie down this evening.
Colleen has bought me a new flexible keyboard, amazing, if Sarah dumps cocoa or juice or salsa or milk powder on the keys I can just wash it off. Cheap too. Not only that, but one barely has to touch the keys to make contact ,so for arthritic fingers it's a real bonus. Made of rubber I think so doesn't slide on the keyboard shelf.

One of my third cousin's daughters has signed on our website that she will be attending our fundraiser on Dec 5th, I wrote and asked if she was really flying over the pond for the evening, but no response thus far. Sadly I fear she is pulling my leg. How excited I would be to have an overseas visitor.

Gareth disgraced himself this morning - it was to be 'pizza day' at school lunch, so when he came to the kitchen for bkfst he was looking for pizza, didn't see any of course so swept 8 bone china cups and saucers out of my china cabinet. (Easy to reach because he has already broken the glass front panel.) I've dusted myself off from that now but sad to lose my mothers child's teapot from about 1910, only part left of the teaset she played with. Perhaps we put too much importance on things. I know when my mother was about 92 y/o she informed me that she had spent too much of her life on formaility and not enough with people. I'm thinking the same thing now , , , time to minimalise.
Carole hope you are enjoying your time in Florida.
Lz glad you are back safe.
YCaz, thanks so much for sharing with us, how I wish we could provide some comfort from pain for you. I admire your gumption to keep going . . .

ClaireJo, hope P is keeping you young . . .
Colin you are a mind-reader, I also hope the good behaviour doesn't rebound in the teens LOL. mini-Mary has started baton-twirling classes and loves it, there may be more breakage as she thinks she can practise in the kitchen!!
Deanna I have books going begging again . . . and about 10 to read!!
Gail we had chicken for supper tonight - almost didn't because the oven sounded like it blew up, loud buzzing noise and then a bright flash which I thought was fire, all I could think was how I am going to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving (this weekend). Then I remembered that Colleen has a stove upstairs in her flat, so supper (and Tom's meeting with stuffing) was saved. The stove is still under warranty for another year so it will only cost a minimal amount to repair hopefully.
David you do not have a monopoly on being a grump, at the very least I run second.
Ann in Glos thank you so much for your encouragement.
Having much prob with my right hand, thought I had carpal tunnel but seems it's the (R) side of the neck 3 discs protruding and arthritic changes, the chiropractor actually stated he expects I will need that area "cleaned up" one of these days, suggested I talk to my GP about an MRI. No wonder the thumb and next 2 fingers are numb and painful. I keep hitting 2 keys on the keyboard, and dropping pins etc. On Tuesday Colleen was trying to put some furniture together (seems we always have to buy stuff that has to be put together instead of something decent and solid) - anyway I was supposed to be handing her the dowels and screws and of course couldn't get hold of them and then dropped them. Great assistant I am LOL. We were putting together a cube-type shelf unit for Gareth's toys and the damn thing collapsed like a pack of cards. So we are to pick up replacement parts tomorrow and my friends husband is coming in the evening to help Colleen,instead of me.

I've never been to Greece or Corfu or Tenerife but a trip there sounds inviting at this point. I fear Colleen is on the verge of a breakdown, she is overloaded with schoolwork, plus part-time work, plus Gareth & Sarah's antics, plus mary and Em. C has depression but because of her epilepsy she cannot take an anti-D, as they lower her seizure threshold and put her at high risk. One of her profs has been extremely kind, she is going to receive some special dispensation as to dates of exams etc, so she doesn't have too much in one day. The falling shelf just about finished her off. out of space .
Mary

Hi all,

Mary, it does sound as tho things are piling up for you all again, I do hope the dogs arrive soon and help to keep things calmer. While Gareth has meltdowns, wouldn't it be safer to pack away the rest of any nice family china etc so that you have a few heirlooms left? Seems a shame to lose so much family stuff.

I wonder if Colleen could take 5htp which is a natural antidepressant. Have a read about it and then ask her gp perhaps? I am glad she is getting help to lessen the pressure with her work.
Maybe if you have more furniture to put together another time, Colleen could lay out the dowels and screws on a strip of sellotape fixed sticky side up to a tray or something so you could pick them up more easily when they don't roll about? Of course, if you can get someone else to help her it takes the pressure off tho.

I hadn't realised it was Thanksgiving this weekend but hope you can cook the turkey and enjoy yourselves. You take care of yourself as much as you can.

love to all of you, must get some emails answered, trying hard to keep space in my box

love and hugs
Lizxxxxx

Oh Mary, so sorry to hear about your trials.
Normally, I do not like giving medical advice. From what I know of 5-hydroxytryptamine, it is a semi-natural substance and is reputed to be useful. I have a healthy skepticism of "natural" products, as some of them can be harmful. St John's wort is a reputed A-D but has side effects. And remember that nicotine, deadly nightshade and hemlock are also natural.
On the other hand, fish oil might be of benefit. It is supposed to be useful for depression. I was taking up to 6 x 1000 mg capsules a day for tendonitis, but I didn't notice any effect on my moods. However, I am not on a-ds at the moment. I still take a mood stabiliser which is actually an anti-convulsant (Epilim-sodium valproate).
Liz, you sound like you had a good holiday- I missed seeing where you went.
In Australia, we think of Europe more than you would imagine for holidays, as fares are "relatively" cheap. It's 24 hours in a plane, though. The US is closer and SE Asia closer still, and the favourite destination for Aussies is probably Bali (Indonesia) or Thailand.
xx Colin.

Hi Colin, unfortunately even the more natural substances run the risk of lowering her seizure threshold, reducing the effect of her sodium valproate, of which she takes 2000mg. daily. You have Epilim, she has Epival. She has a history of 9 documented types of seizure so control is fragile if she does anything to lower the effect of her med. St John's wort is absolutely not to be used in her situation. With a strong familyhistory of depression, in both parents, paternal grandmother, maternal great-aunts,C is at-risk of the big D. She just cannot take a chance of compromising her seizure coontrol.
The stove will be repaired today, just waiting for the man to arrve. I made popcorn for the kids last evening, and there was a bowl left, apparently Sarah like margarine on her popcorn, because this morning she dumped the popcorn into the mrg contaier, that was fun to clean up, then tripped on her way to the lounge and a cup f hot cocoa went flying, which brought on the need to clean 2 lampshades. They have a day off school today so miniMary is busy at the sewing machine. Monday is Thanksgiving Day holiday so they have a 4 day weekend. We'll go to the pumpkin farm one day, was going to go today but it's raining cats and dogs. I suspect winter is coming early, it's already quite cold.
Hugs and warm wishes to those who are suffering, I am actually OK, just shaken temporarily by upsets. Then have to dust myself off, and start over.
This is NOT how I planned my retirement LOL.
Mary

Hello everyone!

Another person returns to the fold. I haven't been here for months, in fact not sure if I've been here this year! Sorry folks, life has been complicated.

I was lucky enough to get a council bungalow back in my home county of Suffolk. It's so much easier not having to struggle with stairs & also the big garden I had. Also I have a wet room instead of a bath.
My brother & uncles, aunts & cousins are all fairly close by. Unfortunately my kids & grandkids are still in Stevenage but I see them once a month or so & speak to them on phone or online.
My son got married again in August & I also went to a cousins wedding near here.
I still have the depression but not as bad as I was just before I moved. My osteoarthritis has got worse but I manage ok.

Hugs to all of you & I intend to be on here more again.

Hi everyone.
I love coming on here, you all make me feel so good.... important even.... ;-0)

Claire, Eileen is okay, I e-mail her sometimes and she seems okay, not yet able to chat a load yet, but we all get like that sometimes don't we?

My son asked me to do 2 small favours for him this morning, they involved phone calls.
He has been in quite a state and did not feel able to do it for himself.
He knows that I too often suffer irrational fears, so told me not to force myself if I felt bad.
They took me until THREE O'CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON!! Two phone calls which took about 2 minutes each!!

Allan does not understand the irrational fears we have.
I have suffered with Agoraphobia since my son was a babe in a pram.
I am better now, although I don't believe I will EVER be WELL.
For Allan's birthday, our son took us for a meal, we go out together quite often to different places. This time, Tony suggested a place I had never been before.
I can't even begin to explain the fear I felt at the very idea of a strange place. I am sure it would have been wonderful.... but that is my 'rational mind' telling me that!
My irrational mind gets frightened!!
I have been so ill with fear in my life that I am able to understand the fears of others.
Stupid fears?
Yes, we all know that, but that helps not one tiny bit.
So. That is why I tried to take the pressure off my son today.
He will do it for me, and has done often.
But my husband does not understand.
Please don't think he is a hard man, he is not, it is just that people do not always understand the fears of others, do they?

Mary.... God must have recognised you as the wonderful woman you are when he gave Gareth to you and your lovely daughter.
You 'always speak with a smile' no matter what happens to you.
I am sure you have your crying time.... the happiest of people have to have them.
But you are a gem.


I am beginning to really worry about the work on the kitchen and bathroom.
it will take about 3 weeks..... I am not doing it, but I am the one who is worrying about it.
The whole street will be being done so we may be able to sit up in the communal hall two doors up from me. We are the only ones who have a key and it is warm, airy and comfortable. there is a kitchen, a toilet and a laundry room, so what am I worried about???
I'm worried because I NEED to worry!!! ha ha ha.
Anyway.
Must go.
My BIL is doing very well in hospital, had his op yesterday and is feeling great today. Hoping to get home tomorrow, so we will see.

God bless everyone who is as worried as I am at this moment.... and if anyone tells you to stop being 'silly'..... just belt them one!!!
ha ha ha , I say that but I've never done it, might be therapeutic though, what do yo think?

Good night all, and have a lovely weekend.
Love to you all, and David, rest your shoulder.
Deanna XXXXX

It is raining here today, it is just so wonderful, I would love to see it continue for a few day yet. We are officially in drought again, we need loads and buckets of the lovely stuff to get out of it again. Our last drought lasted 10 years and was just horrible. Some of you have seen our gardens on FB, so you know how big they are. Luckily we planned for not much water to be used, some times we have had to water from our large tank, but that is why we put the tank in. But in times of drought you only water the plants enough to keep them alive.

Happy day for me when it rains.

Love and hugs

Gail

Oh my dear friends, I wish I had the strength to help each and every one of you. Deanna, where is my magic wand and carpet, so I could whisk you away without fear to somewhere peaceful while your home is being worked on. It will be a stressful time but maybe if you can promise yourself a real treat that will be attainable and enjoyable for a few weeks after the work should be finished, you can focus on that and get through the changes necessary. Hope you can find an enthralling book or some to help you pass the time in the communal hall.

Gail, I hope the rain continues as you need it so much. Even on Corfu they were needing rain, as they haven't had much this summer. The storms we had while we were there were spectacular but the rain didn't make much impression on the ground. Loads of seaweed was tossed up along the shoreline by the heavy wind and tides and I would have thought it could be taken away and used for fertiliser and mulch but it was all left in heaps along the beach where it washed up. Many years ago I was in Malta with my son and he spent ages watching the lorries moving the seaweed away to be used as I mentioned, yet Corfu don't seem to bother.

My love to you all, I am very tired so must get to bed. Went out with o.h. to his family dinner in the usual restaurant, we have to go there as his step mother is a strict vegan and it's the only place she will go to eat out. Oh.'s son kept buying his father and others drinks, showing off I think, but meant o.h. behaved very stupidly and showed himself up, think the waitress was fit to slap his face, he kept taking photos of her and being obnoxious, even his son's partner told him he was being rude to me and then to the waitress, I think she is seeing more and more what the family is like and sees where her partner gets his odd ways from. i tried to warn her before she went ahead and bought a house with the son but hope it all works out as she is a lovely girl, and deserves better.
At least I didn't have to drive, we got a taxi out and one of his sisters gave us a lift as she was going to her boyfriend's for the weekend after the dinner, he wouldn't come. He lives not far from here so it wasn't too much out of her way to drop us off. O.h. came in and sat down and fell asleep for two hours, got up and had a drink of water and went to bed. He is such rubbish company and I feel so sad that I have to put up with him like this for the rest of the winter etc, stuck inside with someone slumped asleep in the chair all the time is no pleasure. Thank heavens I have the memories of the holiday to draw on, when there were lots of folk to chat with. As expected, I got the fact that he paid for the holiday thrown in my face last evening, his son's girlfriend was shocked and others told him not to be nasty, but it is typical of him and only what I expected would happen, heard it all before!

LIzxxx

I was so excited about the rain today only 6 mls I forgot to mention my poor OH.

Yesterday, OH and a friend went to get some wood (which was going free) they loaded up the ute (small truck) and this load came to us. OH got home and had unloaded most of it and he spotted a slimy tail partly out of one end of a hollow in the log. Luckily he wears protective gloves as a 2 foot brown snake slithered out of the hole and into the back of the ute. It was also a bit chilly so the snake was a bit sluggish or we could have had a problem. Ahh! Country living.

Gail

Awww Liz, is there no way out for you at all? I am sorry it is all such a mess but please don't let him ridiculing you change you and make you feel crap about yourself cos you are lovely, he is the one with the problems.
Hi to Colin by the river (does sound good!!)
Thanks Deanna for letting me know about Eileen I will try and get round to pm'ing her later and Lily too, I miss them :((
David hope you are feeling better after your'e fall?
Hope the rain keeps falling down Gail, it must be reasurring to see it when the drought is bad.
Hi to Alison, glad you got the bungalow, look forward to seeing you more on here xx
Mary, what do I say ,I think you are a saint. Please God the dogs help Gareth in his day to day life. Since we got our dog (not trained) we have found P to be easier and the dog will not leave P's side if he is "in one" (meltdown) Hope today is a good day for you all and the Colleen is ok?
Hi to Caz,hope you have managed to get some rest and the pain has not been too bad?
~~~~ to Ann, hope you are well?
Wonder how our leader is in the US lol, hope it's great Carol xx
Love to all, no doubt I have missed out people but I have to go now my net curtains have just been ripped down so I need to go and fix them asap, don't like people looking in.
Claire xxxx

So sorry about your situation, Liz. I hope you are able to stand up to all his bullying.

Love Hazel x

Oh Liz,
I spend time worrying about what I can do to help you too.... as you know.

I am in the middle of my dinner, but Carole asked me to let you all know what a lovely time she is having.
She saw U2 last night and loved it, but it was so hot in the Stadium. A temp of 101 the other day, too hot she says.
I just emailed back to tell her to ... stop making us all jealous.
Bless her, she is having a great and no doubt she will tell us all about it when she gets home.
Off for my Yogurt now, and will speak later.
Byeeeeeeeee
Deanna XXXXX

Those who know me - know I`m very cheery and happy most of the time but this weekend I`ve felt really down .I know what it is though.

awwwwwwwww tgis great post still going lol x

hope your all doing well

Deanna, Claire, and all, don't worry about me, I am ok, just angry with the idiot!

I gave him the cold shoulder all day, took the car and went to my house to pick up my mail, nothing exciting there like a premium bond win or owt lol!
Cooked dinner but only cos I was hungry or would have let the beggar starve lol He is on lates this week, yippee, so will catch up on phone calls if I can and get out and see folk too. If he thinks I am doing any swearword (h.......k) he can whistle!

Ros, hope you can get out from under that dark cloud. Will email you later.

Glad Carole is having fun - i can't believe I have been home almost a week already, the two weeks in Corfu went too fast and I wonder if the effort was worth it, all I have are memories of the warmth and my photos.

One nice thing, on Sat night, well around 5 am Sunday morning, as I was going to bed, I noticed a young hedgehog outside so threw some cheese out and it gobbled it up, put some more food out a while ago and two young ones together, tucking in. Hoping they stay away from next door's garden where their dog killed a young one before my holiday. Got some catfood when I was out so will put that out tomorrow and start building them up again ready for winter, and will sort out a hedgehog house too.

Take care everyone, lots to catch up

Lizxxx

Hello everyone,
Liz I will TRY and phone you sometime this week. I have so much to do thoughj.
We are having new kitchens and bathrooms put in our bungalows and I have so much to clear up and throw out/give away.

My friend Mary is doing a sale for the church in November so I will be able to give her some stuff... it is all good, it is just that we never use it.

See you all later.
Byeee
Deanna XXXX

If you do not hear from me in the next week, do not worry as grandson, daughter and her OH are visiting for a week. They are arriving tomorrow. Yeah!!!!!

Granny will be busy and having so much fun.

Love and hugs

Gail

Hi Everyone just popped on here for awhile hands not to good today.

Thinking of all who are having bad time of it.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}TO EVERYONE

The sun is out clear blue sky and i am having a bad day.

I will get myself up and dusted tomoro and go out.

Why do we have to have days like this.

I had a great w/e with my grand daughter and my granson.

Oh well the good comes with the bad.

Hazelx