Slow Living - Doing It Old Style!

Moorviews

@Slowdown - there is so much in your post that resonates with me. Thank you for putting things so beautifully into words. I actually do love to walk in both directions so that I can appreciate the view on the way back. You have reminded me that we have not done a long walk in a while. 

tooldle

dND said:

@Elisheba, Welcome.  I used to follow Rhonda too a lot of years back but then RL took over. Would you remind me of her blog title so I can follow again - thinking about how long ago it was, I don't think I I-gram and the birdy were commonly used then. 😱🤣

Down to Earth is the blog

Brie

Semi-retired.  I'm sure I've mentioned it several times before but I was thrilled to be told I was being made redundant at the age of 64.  I was beginning to think of retiring so this was a nice push with a year's wages being put into the bank. 

Still trying to sort my pensions as we haven't really needed all the money yet.  Following redundancy I found a lovely role working 10 hours a week with a charity and this was increased to 14 hours a few months later.  I've had in the back of my mind that I would continue with this for a couple more years (now 66 so until 68?) before giving up the paid work but continuing with the charity as a volunteer for perhaps 3 or 4 hours a week.   The major difference in this is currently the 14 hours is spread over 4 days whereas as a volunteer it would be one day a week.  The thought too was that would give me more time to do the painting that I enjoy so much.

But things can change quite quickly.  A year back the OH was hospitalised with a heart condition.  He's struggled with making the changes the doctors say are necessary and I suppose I've not been supporting him to make those changes either.  And then in the last week he's been hospitalised again, this time with kidney problems.  So changes will need to be made, with him and therefore with me.  And that may mean stopping working or bringing forward in some way my plan of cutting back.  I'm hoping I can have a clear brain to talk to my manager about it in the next few days.  It may be that she can support me to not work while he recovers or do more WFH.  It will depend on his progress over the next few days and what the doctors tell us needs to be done.

So short version of above.....smell the roses, listen to the birds, enjoy your life in the most positive way you can.   

Cherryfudge

I'm sorry to hear of your husband's health problems, @Brie. Can you speak to Occupational Health and see what they advise? I'm not sure whether it covers family health as well but they may have some useful ideas.

When I applied to reduce my hours a few years ago, I was asked it I wanted it to be temporary or permanent. I'd not realised there was an option, but if your workplace allows for it, perhaps you could try something for a while. It's early days, though, so I appreciate you won't have a realistic idea of what will be best. Do bear in mind, though, that work can be a useful change of scene when you have a lot of time together with someone. It's income, continuity, social contact, validation of your abilities and probably more that don't come to mind straight away.

I hope he has good news and you can both prioritise the changes he needs and build them into life in a positive way.

Wednesday2000

I'm sorry about your husband Brie. x

Wednesday2000

I haven't been keeping up with my meditation, but I am planning on having a bath tonight so I will do it then. I put magnesium flakes in there and I have some magnesium butter to put on my feet afterwards. It is meant to help with sleep.

I'm just watching a woman on YouTube who lives in Svalbard. I could not cope with the darkness! I can't wait for Spring.

Elisheba

tooldle said:

dND said:

@Elisheba, Welcome.  I used to follow Rhonda too a lot of years back but then RL took over. Would you remind me of her blog title so I can follow again - thinking about how long ago it was, I don't think I I-gram and the birdy were commonly used then. 😱🤣

Down to Earth is the blog

Ah yes @dND, as @Toodle said - Down to Earth.  She has a book out by the same name as well which is very good.  She lost her husband recently which has been very sad to follow on Insta, but she seems to be rallying well and addressing the changes she needs to make as best she can.

Wraithlady

mrs_motivated said:

currenlty sat catching up on the forum with a facemask on as I’m finally feeling better and my skin has suffered (ok I look like Rudolph) with the constant nose blowing and a lack of proper sleep.  Planning on an early night with my book and fingers crossed a good nights sleep.

If your nose start getting chapped (or the bit between them and the top of your mouth, whatever that's called) due to nose-blowing then I find lip balm works wonders

Floss

Wraithlady said:

mrs_motivated said:

currenlty sat catching up on the forum with a facemask on as I’m finally feeling better and my skin has suffered (ok I look like Rudolph) with the constant nose blowing and a lack of proper sleep.  Planning on an early night with my book and fingers crossed a good nights sleep.

If your nose start getting chapped (or the bit between them and the top of your mouth, whatever that's called) due to nose-blowing then I find lip balm works wonders

Or the green Vaseline as it has aloe vera.

Brie

Cherryfudge said:

I'm sorry to hear of your husband's health problems, @Brie. Can you speak to Occupational Health and see what they advise? I'm not sure whether it covers family health as well but they may have some useful ideas.

When I applied to reduce my hours a few years ago, I was asked it I wanted it to be temporary or permanent. I'd not realised there was an option, but if your workplace allows for it, perhaps you could try something for a while. It's early days, though, so I appreciate you won't have a realistic idea of what will be best. Do bear in mind, though, that work can be a useful change of scene when you have a lot of time together with someone. It's income, continuity, social contact, validation of your abilities and probably more that don't come to mind straight away.

I hope he has good news and you can both prioritise the changes he needs and build them into life in a positive way.

Thanks for these ideas.  And you too @Wednesday2000

No need to talk to OH.  The organisation is overtly Christian (not that I am)  and very supportive so they will likely agree a positive way forward to help me get through this.  I was talking to my manager last week about their offer to allow all of us to have private counselling because we deal with a very loaded set of clients (fyi - I'm a debt adviser at a food bank).  I have said I don't want counselling as I've tried it in the past and frankly didn't like it at all.  I've got supportive friends and am not shy at talking about things that bother me to most people around when appropriate.  I know that the counselling on offer is limited (time/numbers etc) so am happy to have others get on with it.  She said that if that ever changed she would find a way to get me time on the programme.  In some ways the mere fact that it's available means I don't need it - if you know what I mean.