It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

ceridwen

Gigervamp wrote: »

BTW, I've been wondering for ages, are you a Libran? I ask because I am too and my dad was. You see both sides, but you seem a bit more like my dad in that he anylised everything to the nth degree, whereas I tend to go with the flo. :rotfl:

I'm from a "mixed" background - half and half working class and middle class....

So - it aint down to being a Libran to try and see things from both sides. Its down to a "mixed" background in my case personally - ie I've learnt to see the "set of expectations" both my parents have and understand where they are both coming from. Nope - I'm not even in that "set" of zodiac signs actually - but I understand why you might have wondered...

...and theres absolutely zilch chance of my ever "going with the flow" - at least not until I've made sure and certain that my "base" is absolutely secure. I do understand "going with the flow" to some extent and am well aware that sometimes "guidance" as to how to proceed with Life can and does happen - but as for any idea of letting Life "just happen to me" - NO chance:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:. I am just SO conscious that if I had taken whatever it was that Life dished out to me and accepted it - then my material circumstances (which are certainly nothing at all spectacular or out of the ordinary in any way....) would be one heck of a sight worse than they actually are and I would be Sh*t Street without a paddle if I hadnt kept abreast of what was what and what a pretty "standard/normal" life in our Society consists of. I would be a LOT worse off/have a LOT worse health/etc if I had just "gone with the flow" than the way things actually are for me. Not saying thats how it would be for everyone - and maybe some people are just much more aware of what direction The Flow is going than I am personally - but for my own personal level of awareness of how to tap into The Flow - I needed to plan as best I could in order not to be in Sh*t Street right now.

Personally - I simply dont believe in letting Life drag me down. It "gets me down" emotionally at times - as it does with all of us - but I dont believe in letting external circumstances drag me down if I can possibly help it. Sometimes/far too darn often one has "a fight on ones hands" not to be dragged down....but if need be...then I will fight back against some outside circumstance that is likely to drag me down if I dont do so. To me - it makes sense to do so if one possibly can. Some things cannot be dealt with - eg bad health problems that cannot be solved by any form of medicine going (be it conventional or alternative) - but, by and large, I think its possible to fight back (at least to some extent) against anything that threatens even a Basic Lifestyle.

...and yep...I DO "analyse everything to the nth degree".....and confess to never being quite sure why everyone else doesnt do so too... LOL...

ChocClare

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Re The financial crisis. It's certainly a worrying time but there is little to do but sit and watch it unfold. I do feel very sorry for people whose lives are changing beyond recognition in these hard times and I think it's a shame that those with Life Plans are having to rethink but I think that "life plans" are a dangerous thing to rely on. Life simply doesn't go according to plan. All humans cannot have what they want as that is simply impossible when we all want different things.
My Life Plan was to to find happiness. I achieved that a long time ago and while I have my family, friends and a reasonable enough standard of health to get by, I will continue to be happy. My Life plan could never be my own anyway. I have my husband's and my children's happiness to consider. A life plan that just considered my wants would be unthinkable. I make my own luck and if life deals me a rough hand I try my best to look at the best ways to deal with it. My worry about those who set so much store by their life plan is that there is the potential for them to live in a constant state of disappointment which breeds bitterness and discontent. Of course there is the potential for their plans to come true and then they will be happiness personified.

Very well put, HJ. I feel exactly the same about my own family and I think you're quite right - when one's own happiness is wrapped up in other people's happiness (whether or not it's immediate family), I think it makes for a more "complete" person and a better perspective on things.

And a tree which can't bend with the wind is destined to break eventually after all (ooh, that sounded a bit deep, didn't it ).

Gigervamp

Ceridwen, thanks for your answer.

I think my last really big *go with the flow* event happened when I split up with my son's father. He sold the house (I didn't have MSE then to realise that I could have stayed in the house) and was looking at being homeless. So I moved in with my boyfriend of 6 months. We're now married and fate had a big part to play about where we ended up living!
I knew she wanted us to live here in Wales, but it took a bit of nudging on her part to get hubby to realise it! :rotfl:

mardatha

If I'd had a life plan and stuck to it then I would've gone mad with boredom before I hit 20 LOL

smileyt_2

No idea what fate has in store for me or even really what I want her to have in store for me! But tonight I went to a meeting where, out of the six young people there, two were ex-carees of mine (a bit like foster sons) and one is possibly about to come and live with me whilst he goes to college (parents can't deal with his sexuality and have chucked him out). One of my ex-carees is living on £90/week for everything as Housing Benefit has messed up his claim and hasn't paid him for ages. He has a fairly severe but intermittent disability/condition but decided to give up his disability benefits to get a part-time job because he feels better working (ie has more self-esteem). I took him to Aldi and bought him some shopping. What I am trying to say is that maybe I am where I am supposed to be at this point in my life, and I am grateful that I am in a position where I am able to help others, even if only a little. Sometimes I get really down and think I have achieved nothing in life because I live in rented accommodation, have an insecure job and can't work full time as my own disability has really limited my potential. My life certainly hasn't followed any plan I ever devised :rotfl:But I am basically content and so grateful when I think how wonderful my own parents are, how much love they showed me as a child, the education I was given which has helped me so much, and that I am blessed with general good health. I feel so frustrated for 'my' young people - their lives have been so hard already and they really struggle. Oops I am getting quite teary thinking about them. They're no angels but their hearts are in the right place and they deserve a chance.

Gosh, what a lot of waffle!

Kittie I am an economic ignoramus and don't understand a thing about the FTSE. Could you explain (probably best in words of one syllable :rotfl:) what it means for the OS-er in the street, please?

Taurus I hope you are getting some sleep as you need it to help you get better!

My little Hepzibah Hen went back to the vet's this afternoon. I was in tears as I thought it was curtains. However the jury is out whether she has a tumour or 'just' an infected oviduct. So she is back home with painkillers and antibiotics. If they don't make any difference over the weekend then she will have to be pts but at least I have given her a chance. She must think I don't love her because I keep grabbing her and shoving antibiotics and painkillers down her gullet!

smileyt_2

mardatha wrote: »

If I'd had a life plan and stuck to it then I would've gone mad with boredom before I hit 20 LOL

As opposed to going mad in your dotage, you mean?


:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

(*Runs away quickly to hide behind a kale bush*)

lizzyb1812

Smiley - that post reminded me that it is not who you are or what you have that matters but what you do - and you do a heck of a lot more than most. Well done you and good luck to you and your carees. :T

Oh, and as for the FTSE thingy it means TYBJIC - Tighten Your Belt Just In Case - and we're all good at that on here aren't we? After all we've been doing it for ages

ginnyknit

Aril, thank you for posting that piece, I had a copy of it and found it very inspiring and true.

Smiley its not a lot of waffle, it was honest to goodness sharing. You have obviously been a great comfort to your carees and Im sure they appreciate your support. Success is not measured by money as we all know on here with our trials and tribulations. I have to agree with you on the FTSE, I don't understand it all but just know theres a creek, a canoe and no flaming paddle! Maybe Hepzibah is staying put out of sheer bl**dy mindedness or she really likes medicine :T

Shergar, how are you doing? I have never tasted a greengage, but yes the Tes*o crumble mix is very nice and quite cheap to chuck a pud together.

Started my favours ...no...my silver stamp pad has 'gone off' yes it smells and isn't working. Never had that happen before -see global warming strikes again :mad:

Off for a shower and a meditate to prepare myself for another day of OH's present mood of indecisiveness - 'should I go fishing?' even though Im really not well...'can I have lasagne one night for tea?' well no leave it I feel like beans on toast... bath/shower/..hot/cold... etc etc

Hugs to all in need including Hezpzibah

lizzyb1812

Ginnyknit - having been through "similar but totally different" things with someone I do know what you're going through. Take care of yourself.

Softstuff

ginnyknit wrote: »

Then a little bag inside with 5 mints in , not sugared almonds as I find few people like them and as a mass of kiddies at the wedding they would simply either choke on almonds or use them as missiles :rotfl: 5 because I once read thats the lucky number for the original French bonbonierres.

It's 5 originally for health, wealth, happiness, longevity and fertility. I put four in mine quite deliberately to avoid the fertility!

Some potentially bad news here. Dad's been to see his specialist again, he has asbestosis, and this time there's a lung shadow on his x-ray. They've stuck him with a needle, and it's not an infection. So they're looking at a body scan and another appointment within 3 weeks, and if it is cancer, chemo after that. With his existing diagnosis of asbestosis we knew things weren't about to get better, but we were hoping for longer. In the instance of it being the worst outcome, I'll be flying back to England this year, and then maybe again the beginning of the next.

I guess now it's actually fortunate I don't have a job, hubby has a well paying one and we have redraw on the mortgage to pay for multiple flights. Also I'm always thankful for hubby, who when I told him I'd have to fly again soon if it came to it, just said "sure, that's fine".

In the past couple of years I've realised life is too short (with my own cancer scare, with my hubbys, and then with my dads illness). You don't know what's coming, and whilst it's prudent to plan for the future, I'm spending less time worrying about it, and more time doing and living in in the now. We're going to go out to dinner more, enjoy nicely furnishing our home, and eating well (all be it with reductions and whoopsies) and I'm not really worrying about what we're spending as long as the money is there to do so. It might not be OS, but there it is.