Watty's Awakening

KajiKita · 21 May 2025 at 5:51AM

It would be a big club! 😊👏❤️

KK

Watty1 · 21 May 2025 at 7:43AM

I'm having so much fun imaging a meet up with lashings of ginger beer and cake

You have all made me smile, thank you for the support.

I think on here I am probably more honest about the hard stuff than in real life, and even on here, I try to find a positive and when I can't then one or more or you lovely lot usually do that for me. I also think you "see" the rebuilding. For example take the course, my friends got fed up that I was prioritising work over fun, that weekends were not for going out with them but researching, writing, planning. Whereas I think you all knew I had no money behind me and that, for me was not a good place to be. I think they saw the trauma as it unfolded and they probably still think I am in the same financial and emotional place whereas here I shared more, as I think a lot of us do. I continue to try to journal, I continue to use the tape from my hypnotherapist and so on.

As for soon to be redundant friend, I listened sympathetically and asked about opportunities that crossed my mind but mainly was just a shoulder to cry on. The only bit of advice I actually gave was not to take the 20% enhancement on redundancy pay as it comes with a condition that she cannot be re-employed by the same place, and, there is still one role which has been given to a person on maternity leave. Now my way of thinking were the odds were high that the maternity leave person might not come back, or, might come back part time or whatever leaving a role she might want to fill and that she should consider leaving the door open even though the extra cash seems useful. Another friend mentioned NHS bank roles, apparently there are temp jobs the NHS advertise that someone with medical training and secretarial skills could probably pick up easily so she would not be unemployed and therefore without any income.

Over possibly the last cup of tea, friend did mention buying a van and living in that and travelling the UK with her dog whilst renting out her house. Magical thinking as @Humdinger1 would say for sure there. (Although I have often thought whilst scrolling on insta how charming that might be, but I'm sure the sunsets and sunrises over empty beaches and stunning hills would not make up for the reality of needing the loo in a thunderstorm!)

Watty1 · 21 May 2025 at 7:53AM

In other news the builder came and £1500 to rebuild the wall that came down. £300 will be covered by the farmer that knocked it down as he can put it up for that but all 3 of us agreed that it was so badly built that if it is to go back it should be done properly or I should go for a free option that will work.

The 'free to me' option that might work is to clear the area of the broken wall and slope the ground as the farmer will do that for nothing - but - having thought about it this will leave me with banks that will then need strimming as I dont want the ponies in with the machinery so will call the farmer and the builder and go for the £1500 plus VAT option and have the poor job that has been there for years taken down and rebuilt correctly.

The VNM suggested I consider extending the area and concreting further back to make more parking for machinery currently tightly packed in a barn, but, I might move and at over £1000 for a 4 x 3 area plus costs of removing soil etc, I decided nice "extra" but no.

Watty1 · 22 May 2025 at 7:42AM

Didn't manage to call the builder yesterday and not sure I will get to it today. Frantic day yesterday, course taught AM.

Now that was interesting I finished the course with a practical. I had emailed out the night before an exercise and asked people to think about it and they loved it and asked if I would consider running weekly (paid for) sessions. I'm thinking that over although my instinct is I don't want to do that I might adapt the idea somehow.

I've also been given another idea for a "one off" so I've mostly written that and I plan to deliver that in a couple of weeks as a trial and see how it works.

So business building in the morning, afternoon went to osteopath who thinks that last session should have sorted out shoulder pain. My goodness that hurt, but, lots of water drunk as per advice on here in the past.

Then off to London for a business event, which was quite inspiring and educational. Enjoyed that. Home late, very tired. Joy dot: I went on the high speed train into St Pancras station. PPH used to moan about the cost of the highspeed so I rarely used it. However, the event was a 10 mins walk from the station so I enjoyed the walk, I love St Pancras station, its architecture, the pointlessly expensive shops, the statues (The Meeting Place is such a favourite of mine) and I always say hello to St John Betjeman as I walk past him.

I evaluated the pleasure the trip would bring against the additional cost of the ticket and knew it was worth it and I could nod to my past and think how lovely my present is in comparison.

Humdinger1 · 22 May 2025 at 2:47PM

PPH is Dracula, while you dear @Watty1 are Van Helsing xxx

Cherryfudge · 22 May 2025 at 8:14PM

And you think I seem busy! That's huge - in terms of your business, having your shoulder fixed, getting to London and having a good day, how far you've come... Brilliant.

Watty1 · 23 May 2025 at 7:27AM

Well thank you @Humdinger1 and @Cherryfudge

Was planning on going to local Meadows Trust AGM last night but got stuck in traffic on way home from dentist so was running very late and WattyDog had been on his own for too long so I took him for a walk. Probably a good thing, I was only going to ask about the Meadow up the road, they keep the gate locked so no one can access it and this is not in keeping with their aims, and frankly, because it is so close it irritates me every time I go past so I wanted to raise that. I think locals should be able to use it. I thought AGM was a good place to raise that their mission statement and this meadow do not align and there is no good reason to deny accesss.

Watty1 · 24 May 2025 at 5:27PM

WattyDog had to visit the vet yesterday, a trip he thoroughly enjoyed. As a young dog I took him regularly and asked the receptionists to give him treats so he has always associated such trips as good fun. (As a puppy he was allowed to play ball in the waiting room too to build positive memories).

He has been really off colour, my list of what is wrong included "much less barking than usual" and a "willingness to do as he is told" and "so much better behaved than normal" and "quiet". I'm impressed on the vet that whilst most people would be delighted, I love his perceived inability to remember simple commands and irrepressible nature and he is just not himself. After a thorough check up it seems he has arthritis. This makes sense as this morning when I dried his back off with a towel he yelped in pain and he has been grumpy with other dogs which is unlike him.

He is now on the same joint supplement as Charming Cob (the packet gave a canine dose) and I have messaged a hydrotherapy spa and physio place as he adores swimming and I think that might help him. £70 vet fee covered by bills account and I will, at vets suggestion, try physio and hydrotherapy before moving on to drugs.

Today was "village safari" so went with girlfriends. £3.50 spent on tea and cake (church gone up by £1) but so much laughter with friends it was lovely. Then walked around the very few stalls (the weather we think put people off as it was raining early morning) and the only thing I found to buy was a very pretty box of pencils (6 unused for 50p). I found some bits I liked, but, if I am to move no point in adding clutter.