General Chat

Night all, I've just come back from Niagara Falls, where we spent almost 2 hours oohing and aahing over the light displays. It's absolutely frigid, so only Colleen got out of the van to take photos of the falls, very,very icy walking so we didn't dare let the little man loose by the falls. Across from the "trip under the falls" there's a broad expanse of park area, which was lit up by about 20 large Disney light displays, the kids were able to walk by there, as it was safer. It's been a couple of years since I went to see the lights, well worth it. Carole we were trying to get some photos for me to forward to you, so you could see the difference a few weeks has made. unfortunately when we were stopped the pink spotlights were on and with the mist it was somewhat blurry, she'll try and send them to me tomorrow, if any are worth forwarding. They turn off the lights on Little Christmas, so at least we've seen them and Sarah and Gareth fell asleep in the van on the way home. Gareth was most annoyed that he couldn't have a ride in one of the horse-drawn carraiges, and Sarah had a meltdown because we didn't go on the ferris wheel. But we are home safe and much warmer.

My beautiful Amaryllis decided to topple over and land on the floor, minus the 4 beautiful blooms. Somehow my attempts at Amaryllis bulbs never turn out as planned, for one reason or another. This is the woman who 5 years ago had 200 African violets in various stages, all different, many in bloom at the same time. It became too much to handle when we all moved in together. Now I can't even keep one Amaryllis safe LOL. I dream of expanding my dining room to create a conservatory room, which would be so good for my mental health. "Nothing so honest as soil", my Dad used to say, and for me, handling the earth has always been therapeutic (except when it's spread over the dog LOL.)
Here I'm rambling again, apologies, I seem to be more "up" today, a big change from the last 2 days. I'm starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel which is my house, making some progress clearing, little things, like the clear top of a dressing table can make me smile, I'm tackling the bathroom cupboards/medicine collection at the moment, have found lots of outdated items to go for destruction. So many people just throw old meds down the toilet, not thinking that some may remain in the water even after being treated; because we are between Lakes Erie and Ontario, we nurses have often wondered about the possibility of fish in the lakes becoming psychotic, or otherwise altered. There are now several studies about the remnants of meds perhaps being transferred to people once water has been treated and returned to the system. Scary stuff. My old meds are bagged and taken to the chemist who regularly has to send outdated meds for appropriate destruction.
I'm off to bed, Eileen I'll join you trying to find the proverbial light, which I know is shining somewhere. In the meantime my 20 minutes a day under the SADD light, while at my computer, will suffice.
Mary

Just a quick hello to all, and hope the weekend will bring some brightness into everyone's life, stay warm (or cool depending on your location) and know there is always support here for everyone.
love
Lizxx

Good evening Eileen, Hope 2009 brings you all you wish for and hope you and yours have a healthier 2009.

Ann xx

Good evening everyone,
I just want to wish all of you a really happy, healthy and peaceful new year.

There are too many wonderful people on this thread who have sent me such kind p.m's, wishing me well. Can't mention them all, but they know who they are. I just want to thank you all for your very kind wishes, and wish you all the same.

May 2009 bring all of you happiness-ALL of us, as we need to find the light which is shining somewhere, for us, but we maybe need to find it.

Love to all. Eileen xx

Mary, sorry you have been poorly, I suppose it was inevitable that you catch the bug with so many of them down with it. Hope you soon feel better anyway.

Ann
Glos

And a Happy new year to everyone, I also hope this thread will be around for a long time, a safe place to share, openly share fears and concerns , commiserate, and support each other.
I managed to catch the children's tummy bug on New years eve so have now missed 2 days of work, but feel much better for the extra sleep. I literally slept through the midnight hour.
Caz my heart goes out to you with the awful pain you are in, wretched sciatica on top of everything else. You are one amazing example to the rest of us. You appear to be in charge of your probs rather than them being in charge of you. Well done. You have my utmost respect.

Liz, Ann in Glos, AnnGG, Carole, Betty, David, Ben, Dutch, Deanna, Claire x2, Treehunter, Kathy, Whitenancy, Gail, and the list goes on, apologies to those I've missed, my memory isn't what it used to be. I send you all best wishes for a brighter 2009, whatever the issues, group hug . . . . .
Mary
freezing along the 49th parallel

Good morning all.
Caz I had sciatica years ago and know how much it hurt. On top of your other problems I can't begin to imagine your pain. You being here with us tells us what a strong person you are, I hope this gives you some time to think of something other than the pain for a while.

Deanna I agree you are doing so well. I was worried you would end up like my dad after he had a stroke. He can just manage to sign his name now without copying it. Did you loose any movement at all?

Claire whats that puppy up to? Bet the kids just adore it. (Is it male or female)? How come you haven't been out for seven years?

Kathy is J still going to uni? My son is anoying me again. Hardly spoke over Christmas then yesterday phoned me, his car had broken down and he was waiting for the RAC to tow him home. Then he come home talked to his dad and said could he use mums car to go to work! I was sat there, but must have been invisible again! He then asked me but I said I don't know. I thought I 'd let him sweat a while. He took the phone upstairs and come down with a plan. He got a lift to work this morning ( an hour away) don't know what he will do, try to stay at a friends the night, or come home and try use my car. In which case he will need to phone the insurance to get added on.

Liz I will try to ring you x

Betty I haven't seen you moaning. Just telling us a few problems xx

Tree Hunter thanks for the big hug x

Good morning everyone. I am sure I have said it somewhere, if not here then elsewhere on the boards. But A Happy New Year and I hope 2009 will be a year that your health improves and/or your pain gets less or more bearable

Caz, so sorry you are in pain again, I hope the illicit pain killer worked. ((((hugs)))) from me to you too.

Deanna, a nice long NY eve post from you, you are doing sow ell my friend, keep it up!

Betty, hope 2009 is better for you.

claire, glad you enjoyed your party, how is the pup?

Sorry, everyone else can't mention all names, too many, hope all are Ok today.

Ann
Glos

Thanks for the big hug Treehunter, I really needed it this morning, I'm poorly sob,sob. No my sciatica is back with a vengence and I was so desperate I had to take a quick acting capsule as soon as I got down. Not supposed to take anything but my bone strenghthener for half an hour but s*d that today.
I too hope this thread lasts into 2010, although I am not much help just now I used to love trying to help people, now I depend on you to help me. Thank you all for keeping me going.

Love and hugs to all.

Caz xx

Hi everyone, a Happier Year for us all, I am sure this thread will continue to let us help each other through difficult times and celebrate good things too.
Thanks to all those lovely people who make my life a great deal better by just being there and/or sending messages or calling me, or answering their phones when I call!
love to you all
Lizxxx

Happy new year to you all

Hope 2009 brings health and happiness to us all

thanks all my cyberfriends

luv

Kathy xxxxx

Hi Everyone,

Hope you all had good nite last nite/ I went to bed at 10.30 trying to get my grand daughter to sleep. She did go off in the end.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. Here is a big
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUG))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))for everyone.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY
and may this thread still be going strong in 2010

and may you all find what you are searching for during 2009

happiness health and good luck to you all xxxx

Gail is now in a different year to the rest of us ,so happy new year Gail xx

Everyone else we will join her soon! Hope it's a start of new health for us xxx

Just wanted to wish all my friends and fellow posters on here a very happy new year. Lets hope 2009 is a good year for all of us!!!

Gail, I did that years ago when I was at my VERY LOWEST POINT.
I would make myself a 'daydream' which would cover all my problems.... It worked and it allowed me to SLEEP and to give my poor sick mind the rest it needed to recover from the trauma it had had inflicted on it.

That then is the wish I have for all my friends with 'overpowering pain'.
I wish for us all to be healed this coming year. We deserve it.
For myself I wish that my typing skills come back and that I will be able to come on here and chat to my hearts content.... without having to search for the keys.... and still hit the wrong one!!
I should not moan.... I am doing so well.

If you are alone tonight, I wish you peace.
If you are with loved ones, I wish you a quiet evening.
We, Allan and I will be going to bed as usual. We don't drink... and late nights are a thing of the past in our house. ;-0)


that is it then.... I'm too tired to carry on.
Will have a read of the boards now.
Love to all, forgive me for not typing all your names... just can't do it anymore.
I will do it again with more practice though.
Good night all.
Deanna XXXX

Happy New year Carolina, may 2009 be healthy for you.

Happy New Year Ben, may you find all those elusive rellies in the 1911 census in 2009 and be convinced about them.

ann
Glos

happy new year hoping the new year will be better for us all

love and hugs

carolina xx

Hi

I now cannot wait for the 1911 census to be fully released now.

Luckily I found ancestors in London, Suffolk, Sussex and Oxford on the beta test one.

Ben

Hi All
claire, glad you got your pup OK. Have fun with him but, as Liz says do get insurance. One thing I read (I am no expert on dogs though) was to always feed yourself first, let him see you eat, then feed him, that way he knows he is not pack leader. pack leader always eats first.

Gail, I learnt to visualize when I used to go to Yoga 30 years ago. I still do it to relax. My place is on a low grassy cliff over a sandy beach on a summers day, warm with a light breeze and the sound of waves and children playing in the distance. I also sometimes just focus my mind on a single flower and think of that and only that.

EB good to see you, happy new year to you too.

Ann
Glos x