General Chat

Hi everyone,

It started off with an even more dense fog/mist, but the sun has been shining for hours, all to no avail, the snow shows no sign of wanting to leave us yet.How's that for undying love!

Gail, you talking about jam-making and sun, makes me almost envious.I love making jam, but not eating it.

Carole, how you can remember to mention all those names is beyond me.Trying to remember my own is bad enough. lol.

I always listen to music on youtube whilst behind the p.c, and stumbled over someone called Paul Potts singing Nessun Dorma for some t.v competition or other. What a voice, it moved me to tears.Took me back to childhood, when I ws about 10, sister & brother 4 & 5 years older.We were at a Labour Party party for the children.My uncle Paddy used to have a great voice too, always singing (opera).This one time has stuck in my head, as we and grown ups of course, were standing in a circle, he was singing N.Dorma and shaking hands with everyone.We were acutely embarrassed and got a fit of the giggles. His nostrils were flaring like a frightened horse, eyes rolled up to the heavens and had tears in them.OMG, wonderful and funny at the same time. Saturday evenings were especially nice, some friends of his used to come around then we would have a sing song and story-telling.One man came from the Welsh valleys.What a voice he had! Fond memories have risen to the surface lately,because he phoned me on tuesday, sounded so ill and weak. He has been on my mind for a long time, knowing how frail he has become, and him being the last one left after aunty died.

Sorry for rambling on so much, don't want to bore the pants off anyone.

Keep warm and safe everyone.

Love to all.

Eileen xx

Hi Colin, you are right you do not get depressed because of something like your dog dying, upset and feeling low yes. But loosing a member of your family seems to have a very deep affect on a lot of people. I use to go with the chemical inballance in the brain, but now think it is more of an underlying cause maybe not even known to the depressed person. My own I found out with counselling from a psychologist last year. That doesn't make me better. But a great relief to understand and try to change my behaviour, to give me more confidence and in that, some control over my life. So yes cognitive work does help, but you need stamina, which is hard to find when you just can't be bothered because of your depression. Catch 22. I think we all need a personal trainer to give us that lift every day! A kick up the A***. But then we might feel like thumping that trainer.

Dutch Joyce is ok but feeling out of sorts so love to Joyce xx
Deanna xx
Gail well done with all your preserving. x
Betty what have you been up to? Stay off the whisky! x
Eileen thanks for the emailx
Caz Y sending you (((hugs)))x
Sharron has your dad got his electric chair back? x
Ann xx
Kathy you are very quiet hope you are ok x
Mary always in my thoughts x
Clairejo have you got the drains sorted out? x
Liz I will ring you again soon x

Any one seen Angela ?

Love to all

Thanks Ann, I know I am an opinionated sod but I like to think that I am sometimes on the right track.

Thank you for your input Colin.

Ann
Glos

Hello all, may I add my tuppence worth to this long thread. I have a view on this topic, as depression and alcoholism are quite prevalent in my extended family.To try and summarise:
1. Depression and anxiety (and OCD) may be aspects of the same disorder, but as my then GP said 20 years ago, when you find yourself in a field with a bull you don't have time to be depressed. But you might be anxious,
2. Depression is I believe intrinsic. You have it because of internal factors, not external causes. You don't get depressed because your pet died. However in some cases it seems to be seasonal (some people get it in spring, not the shortening days of autumn-winter). Also, Christmas-New Year is a hellish time for some people. One of my triggers is Mother's Day which is always the week of my mother's birthday, and she died tragically a couple of weeks after her 46th birthday after years of depression.
3. The chemical imbalance in the brain theory is unfashionable at the moment, but I think it makes sense.
4. Even considering the previous point, talk tratments especially cognitive behavioural therapy may be more useful than drugs. But drugs can be a life-saver.
5. For those who think that they are instant happiness in a pill, they can take 2-4 WEEKS before you fel human again.
5. Modern expensive antidepressants (SRIs) seem to be really no more effective than the older tricyclics, but I concede that they may have fewer side effects. However they are not free of these.
6. I think you need to talk to your doctor and most important, even when you don't feel like it, trust him/her.
With affection, Colin

Hi Gail, I am following you around lol
You have been busy with all that preserving, how industrious and green you are, well done. Take a rest now, don't make yourself unwell by pushing yourself more, just take a day or so out to relax.

Our Betty phoned me last night/early this morning, bless her. Her leg is healing fairly well but the other day she went out and thought the ground was wet, turned out to be icy and she slipped and knocked her head and everywhere else so is a bit bruised now.
She has to get new Virus beater on the computer so will be back on line when that's done. She sends her love to all as do I.

Carole, hope you are feeling better soon, and Caz my apologies for not being in touch, the week has flown by too fast. You have been in my thoughts and I hope the pain is bearable at least some of the time.

Claire-Jo, hope the Puppy is learning who is boss and you are all enjoying him. Hope you got the pipe work sorted out now.

Eileen, you take care, will pm properly later, honest!

And to all my lovely friends, I send strength, cheer and support for all you have to cope with.

I think Mary is working this weekend coming so hope the week hasn't been too hard and not too many catastrophes for you all.
lots of love
Lizxxx

Tinkerbell hope you are feeling better, have noticed flu is bad there this year.

It appears by the news that Europe, Canada and Uk are all freezing this year. Who is snowed in?

The weather here over the last couple of days has only been 22-24 c. Which is not usual.

No I am not bragging about sunshine as has been overcast and cloudy as well. Very unseasonable weather here. I would say we will also have a colder than normal winter.

Have made jams and all fruit is now finished, will awate crab apples in Autumn, no pears this year though. Have had a great time but very tiring. Luckily we have plenty of storage. Only have a small house but a very large shed with loads of space to store preserves. I am sure the shed is bigger than the house.

Have not caught up on posts just yet, but hope everyone is okay and safe and warm.

Love and hugs

Gail

Good afternoon all,

Still freezing hard here.Am house-bound like many others are, but am going slowly stir -crazy.
Lucky that Victor, Eleanor's husband is free this week, he got me a few necessities when he went out for some for themselves.Eleanor had to go back to work, poor lass.Here in the south east, there is a blanket of thick mist, making driving hazardous in these freezing conditions.

On a brighter note, Douglas came home today, so they won't have to be chasing back & forth to visit him.

Have also worked out how to add Anna Sophie.

Mary, it sounds as if it's just as bad, weather-wise where you are too.

Claire, have you manage to sort out the sewer pipe problem yet? It must have been terrible for you and the guests!!!

Be safe and keep warm.

Eileen xx

Claire what a problem for you. Hope the insurers come up with the money, at least you have a helpful contractor. Is it an old house (& therefore pipe). I assume it is the frost that did it?

Anyway hope iit all gets sorted for you.

Ann
Glos

Mary, thank you for your lovely card and chatty letter which arrived today! Nice suprise.

Eleanor is used to having lots of Doug's friends around there, she's known them from when all started at the same school.Tire him? If only! He is bored out of his mind, does not like being confined, never has done.Probbly a good sign though.His friends have been at hospital for most of the day.

Hope you are all taking great care when, IF going out doors, if it is as dangerously slippery as it is here. Just wish the council would salt and grit the roads and parking places where the shopping centers are.The snow is very hard, will have to see how it is tomorrow, I am not a happy bunny being stuck inside either. Daft thing to say, most of us wouldn't be.

Have a peaceful evening and a good night's sleep.

Love. Eileen xx

Jude, great news that Dan's job is safe, one less thing to worry about. We keep getting flurries of snow here, are you getting it there?

Mary, sounds as if you are wise to stay home. It seems that the slightest bit of ice on the roads and playgrounds and our schools shut here, children home all over the place.

Carole, hope you feel better soon, if you don't feel like eating do keep drinking.

Eileen, it will be better for Douglas once he gets home, he will feel better then and his friends can call round. Although I guess Eleanor will have to keep them from over tiring him. Hope he continues to improve.

YCaz, hope you are OK. Also Deanna, Treehunter, Angela, Betty, Carolina, Liz, Bernie (where are you), Ben, Gail and anyone I have forgotten.

I have spent most of the day doing three scrap book pages of our Tenerife holiday last september. It has kept me occupied anyway.

Hope everyone is tucked up warm.

Ann
Glos xx

Morning all, have to be quick, kept the kids home from school today, southern Ontario is blanketed with snow and/or freezing rain, and it is positively dangerous to be outside. The school buses are all cancelled so I decided if those big buses think it's unsafe to be on the road, it would be prudent of me to think the same.
So we are covered in a layer of ice, my 200 y/o lilac, looks positively beautiful , covered in ice, almost lacy.
My sourdough GF bread was lovely, but it doesn't last long enough, so will have to make some more asap. Tonight will be turkey pie, Christmas leftovers, with GF pastry topping.
Sorry have to rush, the kids are alone upstairs while I came for a sec to check out my friends, but I hear some serious jumping going on, upstairs, so I'd better run before Gareth comes through to the kitchen ceiling.,
Sending virtual chicken soup to those ailing, hugs for the sad, and a soft virtual pillow for those who are tired.
love
Mary

Carole, forgot to thank you for 'reminding' about Doug's birthday.I am a complete nit.It is on the 24th of this month, not 19th. I am dreadful about such things, and names! Never forget a face or voice though.

Youngest daughter Sarah was born on 25th august, son Martin march 24th-I THINK, will have to look these dates (the months are correct) in the booklet we were given by the council at marriage, you put the dates, times and baptisms of your children in there. Can't remember my mother's birthdate, so always used to send a card within a week or so of what I thought it was.My sister is not certain of this either.Doesn't this sound callous?

Eleanor has just phoned again, the doctor had just been, Doug. will most probably be allowed home tomorrow.HIs friend Teun will be collecting Sally (sister) and her friend from school and taking them to hospital to visit Doug.

Love. Eileen xx

Morning everyone:o)

Yep its freezing here too, no frost though!!

Hope everyone has a better day today, stay in in the warm if possible.

Carole.....sounds like you really have the virus bad, keep sipping on fluids if nothing else!!
We are all fine,although Dan is not as good as he would like to be, but a wee bit better. Also he heard last night that his job is safe, such a worry off his shoulders cause he thought it was going in March!! His wife has been made redundent and finishes end of first week Feb. Her Cv is winging its way to future employers!! Hope your son is talking to you properly again and has sorted his car out!!

Stillnothing from Bernie:o((

Take care everyone:o))

jude xx

Good morning all,

Yet another freezing cold day, the deep snow isn't showing any sign of thawing. Just trying to get to my car accross the road is a problem.You feel such a twit when you fall, so not going out today.Eleanor & Victor will be going to the hospital later on, as will my ex. Douglas will be allowed home tomorrow, if he is o.k Two of his friends were there yesterday for a coouple of hours, and 4 turned up at 21.00.El. felt very sorry for them, because they were stopped at the nurses bay.She was given the wrong info yesterday, was told vistors were allowed until 22.00, as long as they didn't make a noise, as it's the children's etage, so they had to leave.His friend Teun chucked in his job on yesterday when he was refused time off to see Doug. they have been friends from babyhood.He was intending to leave soon anyway, because he is going to Mexico.Job was only to get the money to go there.Would you believe it, they are forced to have 'children'up to 20 yrs.on this etage, because of the bed shortage!

Treehunter, Ann, Liz, Claire, Caz, Carole, thank you all for your very kind, supportive p.m's.It is great to know that people are rooting for you.Mary thank you for your p.m's, also thanks to above mentioned for theirs.
Treehunter,Liz said it all, lovely idea to put flowers near the old family house.Anniversaries of our loved ones who have died,are always extra difficult, sad times.

Sorry, but can't remark on all the threads,as there are so many things left undone for a long time,the house looks rather forlorn and a wee bit neglected, must make the effort, at least, but first reply to more mails and p.m's, whilst listening to beautiful cello music by Bach.

Haven't mentioned a lot of you, but there are so many of you!

Take care all of, wrap up warmly if you are going out.

Love to everyone. Eileen xx

well I fully intended to go back to work today but I hardly slept a wink last night. I got up at ten to seven this morning, and felt so sick, sweat covered my skin. I had that horrible acid taste in my mouth. I come down to eat and drink something thinking that would help me. I decided to ring in sick again and I'll go back to bed. I just know I am not up to driving and doing a days work on my feet. I feel bad but know it can't be helped. This virus has been hanging round for weeks I just can't shake it off.

Hi everyone, feeling down today. I think its because thinking about mum it be her birthday friday. Going to house were she and most of us kids were born and going to park at top of the road to put some flowers for her.

Jan is always a bad month for everyone i think, but when you have other things that you are down about dont help.

Hope everyone is ok

((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))

Sorry for got i had already put this on.

Morning all. I should have gone back to work yesterday but I am full of cold and have a temperature. My limbs ache and I have a bad head ache. Moan over!

Mary got your card this morning and the lovely letter. Thank you x. Will tear off the stamp :o)

Eileen hope Douglas is better for his birthday x Add on tree? I almost forgot about them! Hardly ever look at it these days!

Caz don't worry about pm's just make sure people know it's too much for you to reply to them. x

Gail it's 30 F here or -1c. Odd snow flake drifting down. And you have the nerve to tease us all with your sunshine! xx

Tree hunter what a lovely thought to place flowers where your mum said she will be. But I am plesed I don't live in that house!

Clairejo my dog was about three when we got him so I don't know what to sugest as to what to do when you leave her. But Gails idea of a play pen sounds good. My daughter was training for her new job with RBS last year, in Manchester. She stayed at a hotel where people with clip boards were with people who were guests on Jeremy Kyle show.Her collegue was in another better hotel! There were Graham, and others to do with the show! Daughter thought it was so funny! I like the way he (Jeremy) tells them how it is.

Jude how are you and your lot? x

Kathy whats it like up where you are?

Dutch hope you are feeling a little better in yourself. Missed you on here x

Sharron it's been a long time to be without his electric chair. Hope his mood will lift when he gets it back.x

Liz love the boot story!

Well going to get a bath warm my bones!

Love to all I haven't mentioned xxx

Hello everyone, Eileen I hope Douglas is ok and will soon be back with his family. Just popped on to say hello and I am still here, not doing much though. Sorry about not pming anyone but find it difficult to sit for long.
Claire your puppy sounds lovely and good fun. I haven't read any of the thread yet so can't comment on anything. It's freezing here and had a covering of snow this morning. I haven't had MRI yet so rang secretary yesterday in case it had gone astray, she said we might have to cancel next weeks appointment to hear the results.

Love and hugs to all

Caz xx

Well you lot are getting snow and we have a heatwave. It is 38 c in my laundry right now, so would be hotter outside. We have air con but usually only use it to cool the house of a night as easier to sleep. Also makes it worse when you have to go outside.

I will not complain as the hotter it gets the less the pain. Only problem is the humidity is about 35%, better when it is dry heat.

We made plum jam today, tomorrow it is nectarine jam.

Off to feed my girls (chickens).

Gail