make do and mend for tougher times

danetastic

That's good news about the pooch . Bet they are relieved even if it cost them a bit at least now they know .

fuddle

I like to withdraw, I'm happiest in my own home. I feel content and in control that way but I do like to get out and have a chat with people whether it be the library, 90 mins at work, old couple next door etc. Those few weeks when I was in the house 6 hours each day all on my lonesome (even though I really needed the break!) I found it very hard, even gabbing away to you all every day. OS is my social world, the one I love to be in, the comfy one, the being me one but by gawd I know I need to talk to real people, to smile or share a laugh.

There's a little old man in his 80's, I suspect, that watches for us walking past morning and night to go to and from school. He brings his little (bloomin' adorable!) c0cker spaniel out for the girls to stroke (and me!) I can tell he gets something out of it, I do, the girls do and Rexy does too. Just really simple things that make you smile

Popperwell

annie123 wrote: »

Popps you need to feel needed, we all do. Why don't you do some voluntary work? just a few hours each week. There are so many places that need help I'm sure you would find somewhere you liked, and I'm sure your mum would have/is (depending on your spiritual beliefs) been very proud of you for doing it too.

So true Annie, I think in time I will go down that route. We may if I see my Dr that I doing better than I fear and as Byatt says later I may still be going through the natural process of grieving.

MrsCD wrote: »

Everyone is different so if it works for you fuddle then go for it! Some people are better not going to work and others are better getting out of the house.

Pops - is there a charity shop you could help in nearby? They are always looking for volunteers, and it would get you into company, and save on your heating while you are out. You may even get some bargains as well

Yes another fair point, well made regarding what I may be able to do and yes everyone is different how they find their way,
how many people throw themselves into work.

Byatt wrote: »

Waving, that's me. I'll have a look at BlinkboX...

Fuddle I know many people who are depressed and work. Many also don't tell their employers.I've seen people who on first sight you would not think are depressed, but they are. I am very good at putting on an act and do work now, but in the privacy of my own home it's another matter. I tend to withdraw from people, friends and family, so no-one knows how badly I've felt or feel. I saw a programme the other day and found out Alistair Campbe££ suffers from depression, Ruby WaX does.

There is a difference IMHO, with depression as an illness and grieving. Grieving is a natural process as hard as it is. It's when it becomes excessive or goes on for too long that Ad's might be appropriate. I've had 3 breakdowns, the last one more recently when I realised I wasn't coping. I was pretending I was coping, which is all well and good but my home life was very different to my outside life. Seeing a counsellor now, which is helpful.

It's pouring with rain here!

I can so empathise with all that you say Byatt...I am getting my life back though...slowly I guess but the fact that I can listen to the radio and music, still bother with the internet, that I can watch television programmes again(I couldn't until recently)that I am able to eat and cook a meal even if I eat less is all in my favour.

As said before there are loads of "Free" or cheap exhibitions and concerts I could go to and get me out more, the trouble is they are mainly in two cities 12-17 miles away and the public transport isn't good. Not much happens in the immediate area. That's a pity...

smileyt_2

Shegar, glad you could bring Rosie home. We know when we get our dogs that we are likely to outlive them, but it is still painful seeing them age. Your love will be the most important thing in her life xx.

Fuddle, I take AD's and I am working. I have managed to find a balance that mostly helps me maintain a fairly steady state. I get very depressed over the summer when I'm not working. If working a couple of hours a day helps you, then go for it!

Ginny, would a hot water bottle help with the leg pain? I think you should get it checked out too. Last thing you need is to be off your feet.

Hugs to all. I wish I had a magic wand and could magic away all your problems xxx.

Off to the winter thread now to pinch some tips - I have offered to write a 'winter tips' article for my Housing Association's newsletter. I have plenty inside my own head that I do but thought I could well learn something new. Read a report today that we are in for a very hard winter with temperatures down to -18 in Scotland and the North :eek:.

stiltwalker

Hugs to all in need - Sheila, glad you could bring Rosie home and I'm glad you have some huggle time left.

Just put in an AF order - they've got some good bottles of juice 5 for £1 and still in date til the end of Nov so got 50 in a variety of flavours for the kids and non drinkers at our evening do - also planning to get 2 or 3 interesting cordials and take our soda stream machine - as I've always hated it when preggers or driving and being stuck drinking boring old lemonade - I drank loads of nettle cordial made up with soda in a wineglass when pregnant as it had similar tasting notes to a sauvingnon blanc.

monnagran

Made it! I missed 3 days here and it's taken me 4 days to catch up. I've been bent like a hairpin since I did my back in dragging a great AF box full of tins through the house. Still it seems a bit easier today so I went off to my first Beginner's Patchwork Course. Loved it and I can see how addictive it could become.

Spent Saturday with my autistic GS who came over to meet his new sister Mia and celebrate his 11th birthday. We had a great present giving ceremony and he was so excited to get the present that he had been poring over in the catalogue for weeks. He breathed, "Ohhh! Thank you" and leant across and shook his Dad's hand and patted his stepmum on the knee. I could have cried. He finds it quite hard to show emotion but he is besotted with his baby sister and according to his Mum he kisses her photo every night and says, "Goodnight, Mia." If you have never had anything to do with autistic children this probably sounds like nothing but I can tell you it is a huge something.

Fuddle: I hope you get to see your nephew soon, particularly if he looks like you. As my boys are both adopted I didn't expect them to look like me but when my niece was born she looked just like me as a baby, and I had a shock when I saw her. There was an instant recognition. I thought, "I know you!" when I looked into her eyes. I don't know if it's the same for all birth parents.
And by the way, Docky may well be a German but I can tell you, he is a dyslexic German. Well, I've offered help to sort him out. I can do no more.

SpikyHedgehog: Make sure it's a flu jab you are getting, not a gerbil.

That's it for now folks, I will try to keep up in future.

Cheapskate

Morning all

Lots of love and hugs to those with illness/bad news (sorry, brain fog stopping me remember most names, but please accept the love anyway!).

Weather's been pants here the last few days and we've had the heating on a fair bit. We're all shattered here, even DH looks worn out and he's always bouncing around like a little kid. DD had a nice birthday, fell in love with the dolls' house we gave her, had my mum to herself for a while until DS came home from school and we had a nice, peaceful meal with no arguing , for a change! :rotfl:

Got my blood tests back, all ok apart from vit D levels; they said it was 15, apparently quite low so have a px for tablets for a couple of months. Will have to research more, although after what folks here said I did look a bit - one of symptoms seems to be depression, but I'm not sure yet - even when I ate well and got out a lot more I felt depressed, so will see. Think my GP is very loathe to hand out AD without lots of evidence, so if these vit D tablets don't help I will need a longer appt to be able to tell him how bad I've felt for so long.

Just thinking about those of you with poorly pets, my mum gave DD a tiny dog and cat for her dolls' house - DD has named them after my sister's dog and the cat who's just passed away (cat not dog) - rather poignant, especially when she made a comment about the real cat not being here, but still in her house, very deep for a 3 year old! (We have Scottish blood and are a bit fey, by the way! :rotfl:)

A xo

meme30

Byatt wrote: »

Mrs C, wanted to let you know I have been doing the low carbing for about 4 days now, need to get a memory transplant organised, and I no longer look like a pregnant elephant! :eek::D:o

Any more recipes or ideas gratefully received especially bearing in mind cost. :T

I have used this site for recipes, although I have to halve the amounts to fit our needs. http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/recipes.html

I am on an induction level of low carbing. So eating 0.7oz of carbs a day. This works out at 6oz of salad and 10 oz of veg per day. This depends on the carb level per type of veg. This is the equivalent of 19gms. The recipes say how many gms of carbs are in each serving.
Hope this helps.
How is your sister doing?

westcoastscot

Morning All,
Chilly here again but a clear day over the loch.
Ginny please get yourself checked, I have arthritis too and my first slipped disc presented as you say - the pain transfers from your lower back down your leg - front/outside and is really painful.
Better be safe!
Have a good day - i'm off to work today
WCS

SDG31000

Morning everyone

My SAD symptoms are kicking my butt at the moment, so I'm feeling the need to withdraw from everything and everyone. I did make it to my volunteer job yesterday which helped and I have up'ed my vit D3 intake. I am still at the self sabotage stage but have DH under orders to make me eat and use my light box.
I am reading along and am sending everyone hugs and get well soon vibes.

Take care everyone xxxx