General Chat

And another thing, when I was a young man I was a drinker,
Have to confess on an open forum I drank to excess for years
wasting money. In 1987 I stopped cold turkey. Have since bought
two houses and a bungalow (not all at the same time)
Sober, clean living, not so young man then wrecks his left leg,
You couldn't make it up.

Well done Mary, keep it all moving

David I beat you by a year - I quit smoking finally in 1991, cold turkey. A very good decision!!! The years of smoking did leave a weakened lung situation but I am breathing just fine with my clean lungs!!!
I had a lovely cuddly evening with my 2 wee angels, Abi cried and cried and despite my experience with my own kids and grands, couldn't settle her for over an hour, but we cuddled and eventually sleep took over. Yesterday morning she sprung a new tooth!! Surprise!
Finally supposed to be getting the door installed on my new shower this morning but the contractor hasn't showed up yet. Bless him, he is retired and doing this job for me for the past 2 months, an inch at a time as he is very unwell, awaiting surgery for an aortic aneurysm on Jan 18th, very very risky surgery, but he has refused to stop this job for me. Three years ago he had a massive heart attack and quadruple bypass, then 3 months later diagnosed with lung cancer and had one lung removed. How can I tell him no when it makes him feel useful to do it - the money he has saved me is not even a consideration, nor the lengthy time it has taken. He has been told he has a 50/50 chance of getting off the OR table alive, but says " I cannot keep waiting for the time bomb to explode". I knitted one of Jean Greenhowe Tradesman clowns for him for Christmas, which did cheer him up, but within a few minutes he told his son, "when I'm not here, I want you to look after this for me", so I know he is very aware that he may be saying goodbye to his family. He was very appreciative of the amount of work that had gone into creating the clown.
Off to run some errands. Group hug. Mary

Ann, that accomplishment of mine was years ago.
Thought this particular thread might be interested.
Wish I'd done it 20 or more years earlier.
Also quit smoking in 1996 after years on the weed. Another habit that was an addiction. Have a nice day, whatever you do.

David, well done you and a Happy new year.

mary, I hope you can eventually get some quiet time for you. But it is lovely that she felt she could bring the children to you, and I bet you enjoy having them really especially the baby!
The weather here is strange too, so far very mild but also very wet and windy. Forecast to turn colder over the weekend though so maybe it will be more seasonal. :-)

Congratulations David on your progress re Valium removal and Happy New Year everyone!! Maybe because I have SADD I am really homesick at present. Except for the cold, we have had very little real winter thus far, grass still clearly visible, temps around freezing point so i don't know why my winter sadness is kicking in - I'd hoped the better weather and lack of snow would be a positive thing for me, mentally. My hands look like elephant feet at present LOL. In my infinite wisdom I ordered a pair of "arthritis compression gloves" to try and reduce the wretched affected hand and wrist joints. I should have known "one size fits all" couldn't possibly be realistic LOL Only the fingers fit, thumbs and hands are swimming in them. Quite comical actually. So much for treating myself to some compression therapy!!! Do not be taken in by online ads, my friends!!! Thank goodness I `m able at times to see the humour in things. I have 2 extra kidlings here this evening - my "adopted daughter" from Haiti, Naomie, called at the last minute before her 3-11 shift, because she had just discovered the student who has been staying with her in exchange for some child care, has been smoking marijuana in her home, and has had to kick her out immediately. So to protect the kidlings age 8yrs and 13 months she asked to bring them to me. How could I say no? The past 3 days I have had Sarah & Gareth each evening and was really looking forward to some quiet time tonight !! maybe tomorrow!!!
Looking forward to a good year - I hope. Night all.

It's been 4 or more years since I posed on this thread.
Got myself off Valium after many year.
I hope the regular posters are well, or getting there.

Mary, will be in touch soon, when I have the house to myself again.

Been thinking about you , so sorry life is still as hard as before, but in different ways

Love
Lizxxx

Mary. Good to see you on here but I thought the reason we have not seen so much of you was maybe because your family problems had hopefully eased. It does seem not though and I am so sorry to hear about the ongoing problems. It must be hard to cope with, especially with Gareth as he gets big and strong. Shame too the dogs are not proving their worth as much these days. Do please feel able to come on here and talk about it :-)

David I am sorry I didn't see either of your posts until just now, I do put on one of the "Solitudes" CD's when I am on the computer, never thought of you tube!
I now have 2 of my grandchildren diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and my challenged daughter Megan is becoming increasingly compromised by the same. Adding anxiety to my grandson's autism, OCD and ADHD is not the greatest blend of issues, certainly impacts the OCD and magnifies his hyper- focus on an issue. Please don't sit on the chair he has claimed for the day!!! Now aged 14 and 182 pounds, I have days I am literally afraid of him. His service dog is not as much help now as he backs away when Gareth becomes aggressive, instead of holding firm. Sarah's service dog is not great either - he's almost blind now but still VERY responsive to her seizures. MiniMary is in University 8 hours drive from home - taking a double major, English and Psychology plus drama, and working part-time in the university disability services department. Emlyn is of course dancing her way through life but her anxiety disorder has really been exacerbated by her sister's absence. Now it's just her and Mum to cope with the autism brigade. I fear Gareth will be the first, of the two with autism, to have to be placed in a group home, because of negative behaviour. I fear for his Mummy's mental health when that day comes. (Claire I can hear you nodding your agreement).
A very happy and healthy new year to all my pals on this thread. Group hug <3
Mary in Canada

Thoughts for all those we have lost from this thread, and thoughts to those struggling with depression at the time of year especially

Lizxx

I neglected to wish this thread a merry Christmas, my over sight, so I will
will you all a healthy, happy, prosperous 2016 :-D

that is interesting to know David, thank you.

Oh eileen, I had missed your post I am so sorry. what an awful experience for your family re the Paris atrocity. I hope they continue to stay safe. and also that your daughter who had the bad experience is ok now.

Again I am sorry not to have been on here to support you at the time

Mary, forgive me offering my two penny worth. I read up the page that you find walking beside water to be calming.
On You Tube you can get and play the sound of running water, be it rain. or a monsoon, or waves lapping at the sea side.
You can listen to this of your choice for 15 minutes or an hour or all night if you want.
You might find it very calming. Give it a try <3

I haven't been on here for a very long time, but do occasionally look in.
Still miss certain people, for example, Dizzy & Deanna.
Last year was quite horrendous. One of my adult children, bless her, had a terrifying experience, being her mother, I would have liked to have done some serious damage to a certain person.
It was my birthday on the 9th nov. My eldest daughter & husband came here from Brittany on the saturday, went back very early wednesday morning. Their son, my eldest g.son also came on saturday, went back early wednesday afternoon. None of us were prepared for the horrors of friday 13th, the whole world was dumb struck. I didn't watch the CNN news that night, so knew nothing about the evil b******s slaughtering all those innocent people. My daughter (the one I mentioned above, who lives 2 doors down) phoned to tell me to turn the t.v on....my eldest g.son & partner live & work in Paris in the 10th district, very near the 11th district where the other attrocity took place early this year. His mum phoned me again this morning, she is still very shaken....Finn (g.son) works a ten-hour work day, so was walking home, but had his head phones on as usual, so didn't even hear anything....his partner was celebrating a friend's birthday in a local cafe when all hell broke loose. The patron of the cafe ordered everyone down in the cellar & locked them all in, thus saving lives. No-one was allowed out again until 3 am next morning. We all, as a family, are still worried....just thinking about all those lives snuffed out by those depraved, evil creatures is enough to make you feel sick. i can't pray, but do think about all the loved ones who are grieving, bless them, wish it was possible to take their deep sorrow away. I feel the same about all the terrible suffering all over the world.
Sorry for rambling on, I suppose it is a way to talk the fear etc. Out of me, because talking to my loved ones,means going round and round in circles, am determind not to mentoon it again today.
Thanks for 'listening'. X

Thanks Mary. OH doesn't work on Mondays so we did try to get the housing benefit sorted out but life is never as straightforward as you would like it to be.

We went to a Harvester for a late lunch and I really wanted to go home and have a kip then but we went round Lidl instead.

That is a very full and busy day for me.

I do forget that I have not been well and think I should be doing much more by now and have started to try to push myself again.

Don't know if that is a good idea or not.

That a girl, Sharron, onward and upward!! Now is your time for YOU and I'm sure Fred would want you to be happy. Enjoy the weather before the winter sets in. be good to yourself, you have earned it. Hugs <3 <3 <3

:-) :-) <3 <3 <3

I think things might be happening.

I am not unhappy in any way today but have been playing Marty Robbins on You Tube, the Gunfighter Ballads.

Utah Carol has just played and I am weeping buckets, absolutely uncontrollable and Iam delighted!

Nobody, same as ever.

Well done Sharron, who knows where this will end?

Oh yes, Hotham park and I remember the seat by Humpty Dumpty.

ah but you were looking after Fred. Who is looking after you? <3