A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

meme30

Winchelsea, so sorry to hear your news. Am thinking of you and your family,take care xx

ginnyknit

Winchelsea and 3V3 thinking of you both x And yes I agree a very thought provoking post 3V3 x

Have spent the day watching Oh play as much as he could with DGS. They both go for a nap at the same time and wake up refreshed for more playtime. I always count my blessings at weekends when little man is here, his presence always makes OH a bit more lively and though he sleeps most of Sunday when he has gone home its well worth it for all of us. It makes me smile when I see his fingermarks on the tv screen when its off.

Stillstruggling

3v3 wrote: »

Evening Toughies

Not a jolly day today - suffice to say, it's a black arm band day

But, on a positive note: remember this - no matter how bleak life appears; at least you are breathing and therefore you have "hope". Without hope, who are we but deceased?

Just take one moment (the time it takes to hit "reply"?) and consider how much you have to be thankful for; or, if you prefer, take one moment (the time it takes to hit "reply") and consider, how much would you miss if you had no choice? That is the the reality of "thoughness" in its essence.

I am so glad I have breath in my body to see me though this post; I am so glad I have like-minded others who, despite life's set-backs, continue to strive for the future; I am so glad, today was not *my* last.

I do so dislike it when life throws a curve ball! At least it makes me think on a bigger level.

Think on a bigger level, Toughies! Nite-nite x

So very true and i for one have been so mithered with my own issues and problems that i had forgotten what the important things and people in my life are.

Winchelsea wrote: »

Haven't been on here lately for various reasons - can't believe we're on page 194 already - what a chatty lot!

Some of you may have seen on another thread that I, like some others, have not had a good month. My DH, who some may remember was in a nursing home with dementia, died of bronchopneumonia 3 weeks ago. He had a good Christmas, but went down with a chest infection on Dec. 28th, and gradually got worse.

We are a very strong family, and he had all of us around him for pretty much all of his last three days. He was unconscious, but I'm sure he knew we were there. The staff kept wheeling in trolleys of tea and biscuits night and day to keep us going. We did get some sleep each night - DD4 (who lives in Bath) and I had all our beds full, and more made up on floors with sofa cushions etc.

The funeral was last week, so we're getting back to normal now. It all seems unreal - I've visited that home nearly every day for the last year and a half, and still find myself planning all my jobs etc round the visit I'm expecting to make.

On the whole though I'm fine. At least he's not suffering any more, and I at least have got used to living here by myself - it must be a lot harder for widows whose husbands have always been at home with them.

Now have to get to grips with the finances - still not clear how it's all going to pan out, but don't expect to be much worse off, as have been paying nursing home fees with most of DH's pension.

So sorry to hear of your Loss, and wanted to send you Lots of ((( Hugs)))

smileyt - everything crossed for Bruno and that everything turns out to be fatty lumps -

Markdebby - :hello:

Good thoughts and Hugs to everyone Tonight Xx

Wow just done my first double quote Thank You to the person who posted previously how to do this

VJsmum

Thinking of you both 3v3 and Winchelsea.

On a slightly happier note
My visit to dad went well - he seems not too bad in himself. Still moaning which is a good thing. There is suspected renal failure but they definitely don't seem to be panicking about it. I think it is more because he got dehydrated which is also causing the odd bouts of confusion.

Off to the peaks today - I hope the gloriously promising start to the day continues. Enjoy your Sundays all.

Catbells

smileyt wrote: »

Good morning everyone, am I the first up? I'm off on a 'big birdwatch' starting in an hour's time, so just popped in before I walk the dogs. Very sorry to read of all these black dogs and of people feeling so poorly.

My own real black dog (well, black with a white blaze down his chest) has to have an operation on Tuesday to remove a couple of lumps. He is also losing weight, and is at the lowest weight he's ever been, so it's not looking good, but I won't know for sure until his lumps have been to the histology lab and his blood tests are back. As I type this I am quite calm, but last night I was in tears for a good part of the evening. I am terrified that he might die under the anaesthetic (he'll be 14 in a week's time, but he is extremely fit for his age) or that the vet will say the x-ray has revealed tumours internally and it would be kinder not to wake him up. Oh bum I'm crying again. Sorry. I know when you get an animal you are inevitably setting yourself up for a broken heart but it doesn't make it any easier!

Anyway, I'd better get going. I have my thermals on already .... :rotfl:

I hope your dog pulls through. You're so right about setting yourself up for a broken heart when you get an animal. I haven't got another dog since mine aged 15 departed last year. She had 'grown up' with the children and it felt like they all left home at the same time and now its just me making a new life on my own. So much of my energy is thrown into being positive making new structures in which to live and enjoy my life.

When I read many posts on this thread it takes me back to when I hardly had time to go to the loo because of three children, dog, shopping, part time working and......everything that goes with being a mum. And now I'm sleeping in on a Sunday morning with a cuppa and not a sound around me.

I'm doing the birdwatch later too. My new downsized house had no garden when I moved here so I've planted loads of shrubs and plants and hoping that some birds will have noticed. Only had Jackdaws, Magpies and crows before except for one gorgeous wren which kept his head down and flitted around on the ground looking for ants I expect.

Catbells

markdebby wrote: »

I am really enjoying this site and I love the long chatty posts.
I wish to retire next year and i am trying my best to get into the mode of being careful with my money as i won't have as much next year. My biggest thing was not having a budget or keeping a record of my spending:eek: so that is where I have started and it is surprising how well I have done this month. Its not payday until Tuesday.

Welcome markdebby, I'm also new to this thread and hope to come once a week or maybe more. I try to read as many of the posts as I can, usually in bed in the mornings with a cuppa. Its a nice to way to wake up.

Good luck with your budgeting. I have just written down everything I spent between 25/12/11 and 25/1/12 and now understand where I need to cut back and economise since I have just lost my lodger and his rent paid for food and petrol. I retired 3 years ago and worked initially from home, then moved house and haven't got back to working again. The lodger made me lazy!! I'm on the case for part time work but am visiting my son in the far east first next month - havent seen him for 6 months and we are going travelling together when I get there and staying in hostels for a week then I'm doing the remaining week on my own. It'll be like being 21 again and I can't wait. Life begins at 60!:)

Rosanna - Your post was very inspiring to me since I have been retired for a few years but always have a job on the side from time to time. I know what you mean about not having enough time to do things when retired and I'm wondering whether I should make a 'time management timetable' to make sure everything gets done!!!!

Hello Winchelsea As mentioned I am new here and I read your post about your recent loss. My sympathy to you and hope you begin to re-adjust soon.

To everyone Have a lovely Sunday.

jamanda

I'm so sorry for all those suffering bereavement, illness and poorly pets.

It has just made me think - Are we hearing more about this sadness because we all come on here for support, or is it because in general everyone is going through a bad time? There seem to be so many people with heartbreak or who are struggling with one thing or another. I haven't phrased that very well, I know. What I mean is, is it just us lot, the phases of the moon or something?

I ring my parents each evening and I used to say "Has anything exciting happened". I don't say that now, I think "I hope nothing exciting has happened", because it means we've got through another day without some catastrophe occurring.

This sounds a miserable post but it isn't meant to be.

On a positive and happier note, when I've got rid of this plague I seem to have caught, I'm looking forward to planting my onion seeds and getting out in the garden. The only time I moved outside yesterday (feeling sorry for my petty little self with this cold) was to go in the garden and pretend to be a pear tree so DH could see where best to plant it.

Puts things in perspective.

I truly hope life in general perks up for everyone soon.

Love and kisses
J

P.S. I look stunning as a pear tree. DH said so:D

Catbells

Possession wrote: »

In 2010 I was in a complete state and had both knees replaced (I was 40.), and while I was having all kinds of tests they found I was extremely low in Vitamin D. I must say it was never adequately explained to me what this meant and I had so much else on my plate I didn't research it. I'm probably deficient again as I have stopped taking the tablets. I was taking so may before and after the surgery, and the tramadol in particular completely messed me up - long story but morphine had no effect on me at all for either knee op so after the anaesthetic wore off I had a very unpleasant time until they could change the meds. So I wasn't keen to keep on taking tablets. I still have some so I should take them again.

Hi, I heard a news item last week about the importance of Vit D to all age groups. A breast feeding woman was deficient in it and her baby was also showing signs of first stages of deficiency. Her husband was a doctor too!
I thought it was only pre and post menopausal/menopausal women who had to worry (like me). My excellent GP practice sent me a letter telling me I was low in Vit D so I now take supplements with calcium. It helps with bone density and guards agains osteoporosis (sorry about spelling!).
Glad your bad year is in the past now. Sounds like you went through the mill

shelley_crow

Winchelsea and 3V3, my thoughts are with you both

Catbells

jamanda wrote: »

It has just made me think - Are we hearing more about this sadness because we all come on here for support, or is it because in general everyone is going through a bad time? There seem to be so many people with heartbreak or who are struggling with one thing or another. I haven't phrased that very well, I know. What I mean is, is it just us lot, the phases of the moon or something?

It could be because its January and not much daylight or sunshine to make us all happy. If I find myself going down that road I try to distract myself as like many I've had lows and when you're in the grip of them they are hard to climb out of. Some things are too much to climb out of though. I know its a cliche but time is sometimes the only healer.

On a positive and happier note, when I've got rid of this plague I seem to have caught, I'm looking forward to planting my onion seeds and getting out in the garden. The only time I moved outside yesterday (feeling sorry for my petty little self with this cold) was to go in the garden and pretend to be a pear tree so DH could see where best to plant it

.

Also cant wait to get into the garden and on the allotment. I bought some very cheap onion sets the other day. Too many for me so am sharing them with other fellow gardeners.
Bet any neighbours thought you looked great as a pear tree too.:)