Here we can all be heard for a little while. Part 2

pollyanna_26

I have been agonising about my earlier posts . I would never upset anyone here willingly . I was talking to Pyxis about a different time and a very different society . We did not have the media pressures , celebrity culture and multiple life challenges of recent eras .
My experience was of a close knit small community where everyone knew each other and we were all in a similar position . When you started work you pretty much had a career for life if you wished . You could leave and have a new job the following week . There were no minimum hours contracts or long commutes . It was almost unheard of to have abusive neighbours like melly has to put up with . Of course people had illness and post war mental health problems due to war time traumas and no doubt there were others with inherited mental health problems who went untreated as the nhs and knowledge of mental health were still in their infancy .
Long story short we mainly had the control of our lives , we were living the sixties and we didn't in the main need to try to control any of our lives . Life now can be too hard . I spoke earlier of almost being an nhs baby . Over the years I have seen the wonders of the nhs and am now watching it and our welfare state fight to survive .
I care for every person on this thread as you are having to fight right now for a little of what we knew .
Gentle hugs and Squishes for any who would like .
polly

Izadora

Melly, it all sounds very promising, hopefully you'll get a proper offer soon. Was that the job which would've meant you could move?

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Just goes to show that us women are never happy (in general) with our figures, but that also, we judge ourselves way too harshly.

So very true!! I've been a lot heavier than I am now but I tend to forget how far I've come and end up just hating the fact that I've put some of what I lost back on. It also shocks me when I look at photos from years ago and realise that I'd kill to have that figure now, although I was seriously unhappy with it at the time.

Georgiegirl256

whitewing wrote: »

I now have anaesthetic throat spray and it still hurts.

But I am enjoying your chatting. I think I am twins, judging by the waist measurements.

ETA: remind me again why your husband is your ex, calley!

I was just thinking the very same thing and have always wondered that!

Birdie85 wrote: »

I used to love Wet Wet Wet too, growing up we had their cassettes in our car so I knew a lot of their songs off by heart! I'd love to go to see them live but I daren't admit it to anyone!! :rotfl:
.

:rotfl: I've still got the tape somewhere! Was tempted to try and dig it out before, but it could be anywhere tbh!

Waves_and_Smiles

Good afternoon all!

Tentative congratulations Melly! It sounds to me like you have the job!

Big hugs whitewing, so sorry you feel so ill. Have you tried old fashioned things like honey and lemon?

Aww, polly you didn't say anything wrong at all! Big squish!

I beat you all! Size 20 on top and size 18 hips with a size 16 waist! I have no idea how much I weigh because it is a trigger to me so no one tells me. I also don't measure myself, I go on clothes size. Sometimes I am a 22 in the odd shop, not all shops have the same size measurements. I used to be very ashamed of talking about my weight even when I was a size 10 but part of my healing is to try to accept myself as I am so now I announce it (but I still cringe). If there is competition for matriarch of the thread I take my place as the most errr...squishiest? person!

Birdie85

tea_lover wrote: »

I've always thought I wouldn't mind the large hips if I had the large bust to go with it! Am a flipping triangle :rotfl:.

V dark here too calley - been grey and raining all day. Have awarded myself a week of evenings off. Am usually out 3 or 4 evening a week, but it's quieter this week as it's half term. Was feeling guilty about not making the most of the free time by going to the gym or walking but then thought why stress about it? It's cold and dark, I'm so stressed I might burst - nothing wrong with some pj and DVD evenings.

Am meeting my guiding mentor tomorrow evening and I've just realised how little I've achieved since I last saw her. Oh well, sure I'm not the only one that takes ages.

ETA: Birdie! We really are shape twins!

I think we are! People are always going on about finding good bras for big boobs and I'm like, 'What about me?! I can't find one that actually fits without gaping!'

I think treating yourself to a week 'off' sounds like a good thing! I haven't done much with my evenings once I've sent Baby Bird to bed apart from watching TV and reading a new big book on the history of fashion that I found in The Works for £4!

Pollyanna, have you watched any of the 'Back in time...' series? There was one that focussed on food, then a Christmas special and now there's a 'Weekend' one where it's about leisure pursuits. I really enjoy it, it's on BBC iplayer.

ETA: WaS, sounds like you're the coveted hourglass shape!! ((Squish))

Pyxis

pollyanna_26 wrote: »

I have been agonising about my earlier posts . I would never upset anyone here willingly . I was talking to Pyxis about a different time and a very different society . We did not have the media pressures , celebrity culture and multiple life challenges of recent eras .
My experience was of a close knit small community where everyone knew each other and we were all in a similar position . When you started work you pretty much had a career for life if you wished . You could leave and have a new job the following week . There were no minimum hours contracts or long commutes . It was almost unheard of to have abusive neighbours like melly has to put up with . Of course people had illness and post war mental health problems due to war time traumas and no doubt there were others with inherited mental health problems who went untreated as the nhs and knowledge of mental health were still in their infancy .
Long story short we mainly had the control of our lives , we were living the sixties and we didn't in the main need to try to control any of our lives . Life now can be too hard . I spoke earlier of almost being an nhs baby . Over the years I have seen the wonders of the nhs and am now watching it and our welfare state fight to survive .
I care for every person on this thread as you are having to fight right now for a little of what we knew .
Gentle hugs and Squishes for any who would like .
polly

Thanks for that, Polly.

However, despite all the problems with MH funding these days, attitudes to and knowledge of MH is much better these days. "Mental asylums" then weren't very nice places still, with electro-convulsive therapy used far too much. There was a huge stigma attached to having a relative with MH problems, so it was often kept a secret. Suicide or attempted suicide was the ultimate stigma. When I was at school, a friend of mine had a grown-up sister who killed herself, and she didn't tell me for a few weeks as she was so ashamed. 'Odd' people tended to be shunned or given a wide berth.

In the 70s, things started to change, and by the time I was (wrongly, but never mind!) diagnosed with depression in the late 70s, it wasn't anything like such a stigma.

Waves_and_Smiles

I did used to be hourglass when I was a lot slimmer Birdie, now it doesn't really show. My waist has always been a size smaller than the rest of me and clothes have always been loose at the waist, even now if jeans fit my hips I can fit a fist in the waistband. As for my top half they have always turned corners before me.

Pyxis

Yes WaS, you can be super-squish matriarch!
And Polly is super-years matriarch!
And Ono can be patriarch-(honorary)matriarch!

calleyw

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

I was just thinking the very same thing and have always wondered that!

GG is that aimed at me?

Its very complicated for many reasons. Also he is not the man I married and I know people change. But it was a massive change. he is not happy that he can't be the man I married.

I remember the way he was pre stroke. And it just breaks my heart now to see him like this. And I will be very honest it is very hard work dealing with him. Lots of things we can't do any more like go for a walk or cycle together.

I have to drive everywhere and find it really boring and don't enjoy it. but needs must.

He is still witty and can be very kind and caring. And writing this is making me cry. Maybe I am still not over him who knows. We had so many plans and they were taken away from us.

Yours

Calley

Waves_and_Smiles

What counts, Calley is you are still part of each others lives and you both still care deeply for one another. You have a very close friendship which is lovely. Your relationship has changed but it still exists in a different form and you will likely be best friends for life who can always be there for each other. Few people have that. Have a hug.