Simplifying Life - Mark II

mary43

No one around -hope everyones ok and its just the fact they're either well stuck in to de-cluttering/simplifying their lives or they've done it and are relaxing and enjoying themselves. Hope thats the reason anyway.

For me, things are improving with MIL............after a bit of a blow with heart probs and blood pressure her medications been changed and she's now on the orthapedic ward and using a zimmer frame so that's taken a lot of pressure of us.
I'm getting on top of christmas projects -well, sort of - getting all the silly little things done like santa letter that I always write to baby grandson, stuff like that.
Kids running amok - again !! Doesn;t help clear the mind thats for sure ......still, they seem to have settled down today thank goodness.
My Mum seems to plod along in her own sweet way. On Monday she told her friend she'd cooked Christmas Dinner the previous week, enjoyed it but wished she hadn't as it upset her stomach.................lol I had to laugh. Mum hasn't cooked christmas dinner for 8 years...........its all her mind playing tricks or she dreams and it becomes reality.
After trying our hardest to hold back till Novemer before flicking the switch for the heating we just couldn't wait any longer and have to admit I feel a lot more comfortable and look less like the Michelin Man !
Have gained a new cat.........think it belongs to one of our neighbours but it wanders in from time to time, our cats take no notice so it obviously gives off the right vibes (do cats do that?), curls up on the kitchen chair to sleep then wanders off again during the night.
Maybe our house is more peaceful than we realise, otherwise it wouldnt stay.
Hope all is well with everyone anyway

lilac_lady

I need space and silence too. I've always felt like this and used to spend hours reading when I was little. I wasn't antisocial but after being with people I always felt the need to be by myself for a while. Now that I'm retired I try to have 3 days a week on my own (gardening, reading, decluttering, pottering) but seldom manage it. There are different paces of life for different people and that's fine by me.

echelon101

Ah simplifying life currently on my plate I have:

3rd/4 Civil Engineering Course
Ballet Beginners Rep, ie PR
JSoc co-chair/treasurer/cook
Rowing Coach (on-off)


However I train in the morning before lectures taking a big bag with food already made then eat, go to lectures, go to library and work then go to ballet/cook depending. Seems to be working.

+D

ceridwen

Hi Mary

Glad to see things are getting sorted with M.I.L. One less worry for you. Hope the new resident continues to settle in well...

I'm still around. Feeling a bit like I'm running a "dual track" life at the moment - I always thought it took time to lead one life, but trying to lead two at a time whoops! - LOL. My job is feeling more insecure by the week (like a lot of people at the moment :cool: ). So - I'm on the one hand getting on with life as per normal. On the other hand - making preparations/getting involved with things for the next stage of my life - in case I'm there sooner than anticipated. I would say theres the greatest chance my job will go - its a question of when basically. I may be wrong and things are all very uncertain all round on that front at present. I've worked out what I think is what all round - time will tell.

So - I guess the combination of preparing for next stage of life and preparing for the changes I see happening in wider Society at the same time is something I am focusing a lot on at present. I figure any preparation for my "next stage" wont go to waste even if the job carries on - as I'm approaching retirement age anyway.

Brings me on to my thought for the day I guess - that people vary a lot as to how much of a planner they are. I'm in the camp that I like to be as "in charge of my life" as possible - so I do plan things out fairly precisely and some time in advance in my life as best possible and I know many people would be astonished/think I was daft if they knew JUST how far ahead I do have at least tentative plans for. Other people are more inclined to "go with the flow" - but, like Aril, I know I "should" spend more time doing things like meditating, I "should" be better at relaxing.....well....I'll get there....:D

Charis

Sorry Mary, we seem to have left you on your own for ages. I've been involved in a running argument on the 'Preparing for Winter' thread, with people who, because they are managing, announce to the world that no elderly person should be having money problems. I had to sit on my hands, virtually speaking, when I answered one of them, then was accused by someone else of writing a hostile answer. :mad: I can see evidence of elderly people worrying in my own neighbourhood and I tend to react on their behalf, although as another person pointed out young childless couples and singles are just as badly off. My own daughter and partner are in that bracket.

I think I'll simplify life and stay off that thread till next weekend. I've just started a new course of study and most of that, being long distance, is supported by emails. I'll concentrate on that for now.

I did simplify my life a little more this week - or maybe complicated it? I signed up for Southern Electrics 'better plan'. I was already a SE customer and they offer incentives to save energy and a free monitor so you can watch your own consumption. Now I know I am getting a bonus to cut down I am being even more careful than usual. Plus it is warmer here than it was this time last year, although I expect the first frost before long. I was trying to think of another company that pays you to use less of its services. Apart from insurance, where they hope you will never claim, I can't think of one.

Justamum

lilac_lady wrote: »

I need space and silence too. I've always felt like this and used to spend hours reading when I was little. I wasn't antisocial but after being with people I always felt the need to be by myself for a while. Now that I'm retired I try to have 3 days a week on my own (gardening, reading, decluttering, pottering) but seldom manage it. There are different paces of life for different people and that's fine by me.

I was like you when I was little, and I still need space and time on my own. It's difficult to get when you have young children though, so sometimes my only quiet time is when I take my daughter swimming on a Friday and I can sit quietly for an hour with a book and a coffee (I have to insist that the other two stay at home though). Sometimes I'll take the car and drive down to the breakwater for a few minutes. I'm going away on Wednesday until Friday for my brother's wedding, and I am really looking forward to the peace and quiet!

ceridwen

JUSTAMUM

That must be difficult - ie getting some "space" for yourself with young children around. Good that you have found a way to "carve out a little time" for yourself. Thats the plus side to living on ones own that I remind myself of every time I panic about only one income being available to pay for everything - "at least I have no problem getting time/space on my own".

CHARIS
My blood was...shall we say...simmering a bit....reading those comments you refer to on the "heating" thread. I honestly think that it suits the "powers that be" that people are being forced to cut back on their heating - as it helps to deal with the situation of our ailing power stations not being up to the job. I know obviously that one has to take into account the environmental considerations as well - but I think the figures indicate that there are three main culprits there: industry, car use and plane use. I dont think the heating we use in our homes plays a very big part in Global Warming compared to the Big Three I mentioned (errrr.....and the huge Elephant in the Room that no-one mentions..ie overpopulation). We do need a bit of compassion here - its not reasonable to expect people to sit freezing in their own homes. I have been quite horrified to read accounts of just how much some people are cutting back on the heating and how cold some of them are as a consequence.

Anyways - congrats on starting that Open University course you mentioned on another thread that you are doing

mardatha

Ceridwen, you are definitely psychic. Or I am. I read a few posts on here this morning and came in looking for a space to rant. There is a distinct lack of compassion around!! We talk of the old days when people stuck together and helped each other out ---well now there are far too many smart butts with NO experience whatsoever of life, just waiting to jump in and mouth off, condescending and patronising. And most of them couldn't spell that never mind feel it !!
I need more tea!!!!
Edited to say I'm not getting at anybody in here at all --it was after reading a few in the house price forum who seem to be city-money-whizz-kids...

mary43

Hello all - good to see you and know you're ok.

Charis - know what you mean about other peoples views on the elderly and what they think they should or should not have. No doubt there are some who are comfortable off (my mum was left some money from grandad - OH's mum is ok for similar reasons) but there are those who haven't benefited in this way. My mum and MIL only struck lucky as their parents owned the properties they lived in and the assetts were passed on. But by no means does this apply to all and the elderly particularly, who are unable to move about as quick to keep warm and may well suffer from circulation problems shouldn't have to think twice before they put their heating on. Same goes for young families, thinking of my son in particular with baby just over a year old, mum returning to work part time in the evenings when my son finishes work. Income limited, high rents to pay etc. in fact my other son who lives in sussex has a high rent and even less wage than his brother. They're both very frugal -always have been thank goodness but it'll still be a struggle for them. As for changing suppliers, wellI thought about it but to be honest the whole thing seemed so complicated I gave up in the end.
Anyway - enough of my little rant..............hope the o.u. course goes well for you.

ceridwen - my word you are a 'planner' aren''t you. Wish I was that organised...........its in my head,all the things I ought to do, just getting around to doing them............lol Thats always been my problem.........a thinker not a doer...............thats what my Mum always said.........Dad just called it day dreaming.................lol

mardatha - what can I say..............I could have almost said that word for word. You put it so well - such a lack of compassion or understanding around - where did it go, when did it all change ? I've racked my brain trying to understand that part of it. Thank goodness there are at least some segments of our society that still believe in the 'caring and sharing'

ceridwen

mardatha wrote: »

Ceridwen, you are definitely psychic. Or I am. I read a few posts on here this morning and came in looking for a space to rant. There is a distinct lack of compassion around!! We talk of the old days when people stuck together and helped each other out ---well now there are far too many smart butts with NO experience whatsoever of life, just waiting to jump in and mouth off, condescending and patronising. And most of them couldn't spell that never mind feel it !!
I need more tea!!!!
Edited to say I'm not getting at anybody in here at all --it was after reading a few in the house price forum who seem to be city-money-whizz-kids...

Re the "psychic" - welll...I've had my moments! But not enough to make a living from - damn it!

Amused/pleased you felt mine is t'appropriate thread to have a rant about lack of compassion. I'll take that as a compliment to those of us who "visit" it regularly:D 'Tis true that I know I get a bit sickened (as obviously do a lot of the "regulars" on this thread by the "Greed is Good" mindset that is obvious sometimes in other places on M.S.E.) - usually the other Boards. I've seen some mind-boggling examples of "Greed is Good" thinking sometimes:eek:

We all of us (well - with certain shining examples - but they are very very few and far between) have an element of "looking out for our own interests" in us - 'tis true - but one hopes we can keep that "raging beast" under control to some extent and bear in mind what is reasonable to expect/hope for and what it is fair to extend to others in the way of a "helping hand". There but for the grace of God and all that.....

I do think we need to take reasonable responsibility for how our lives turn out and do a reasonable amount of planning re our finances/etc and then, having said that, 'tis true that even those who have a "charmed life" or have planned to within an inch of their life can turn round the next day and find that Life has found a way to "bite them on the bum" and some disaster that they couldnt have avoided with the best will in the world has just befallen them - so it behoves us to show due compassion when it is required.