Self-deprecation

Hopefully your comments were said mainly in jest and tongue in cheek*Galen*. 1. We all love you too much, 2. You are NOT an old lady. If you are even a teensy bit serious please do as jingl suggests

Galen, you usually come over as a loving mum and gran, a brave, humorous and supportive woman - and note I didn't say 'elderly woman'. Who is the real Galen? The one we have known and loved for several years now or the one in this morning's post?

No point telling darling daughter, she'd be most unsympathetic.
Was just having a very bad day, both with pain and feeling sorry for myself. It happens sometimes.
Usually in the past I'd just sit and cry, but since you lot are here I might as well moan at you!
Seriously though, it does help to have someone to moan to occasionally.
Thanks for being concerned. I'm much better today.

The news when everyone does seem to be blaming our generation for everything and saying what a drain we are on the NHS, pensions, housing and anything else you can think of (probably depleting the oxygen levels as well by breathing) does not help does it?

I am so pleased to read you are feeling much brighter this morning, Galen. Take care.

DebnCreme, you missed something - , ,

Galen we can demonstrate our value to this country when they start wanting the grey vote and discover all of a sudden that we have saved the country a fortune in childminding, educating, accommodating and funding our children and grandchildren. Ignore the criticism - it's misguided. I'm glad you're feeling a bit chirpier today

Gary has just set up my target for me in the garden.
In future when I'm feeling frustrated, I'll go and shoot some arrows!

That sounds like a good idea Galen. I sometimes resort to throwing an old plate into the sink!

Glad to hear you are feeling better this morning.

Galen and a virtual Easter Egg.

this one in fact

And I will have that one too

Thank you. I always wanted one like that.

My bloody dog just tried to escape - I'll send her your way Galen, use her for target practice. Glad you're a bit cheerier today. X

I love dogs. Would like to have one.

I have a very realistic looking house brick made of foam.It is fantastic for throwing at walls(or annoying people) when frustration or bloody-mindedness takes over.I will send you all a virtual one to do with as you wish.

Dogs are great company.

Galen you are good at archery and Latin, that's two things straightaway.

23% for o level Latin. Hit the target at archery occasionally!
I'm quite good at simple crochet
But thanks

of course self deprecation only really works when the person really has something they could crow about but doesn't.
Too much [ as just about everyone has said] isn't good, balance etc.
There's an episode of Blackadder Goes Forth [in the trenches] where George has to paint a picture and it's amazingly good,and Blackadder says ' George! Why didn't you tell us that you could paint?' George says ' Well, one doesn't want to blow ones own trumpet y'know' and Blackadder replies 'you could at least have told us you HAD a trumpet!'
Mishap your DGS is charming bounding in and saying 'I'm here!' at 2.5 years old, but wouldn't be half as charming at 25.

Hope today is looking brighter for you galen. Don't let the b*****s grind you down. We do not have to be productive, we just have to be ourselves. When did this idea enter the public consciousness that those of us who are retired have no value? - many cultures look up to their elders. Just because our culture seems to have gone astray in that regard does not mean we should sell ourselves short or devalue our lives. Being restricted in mobility gives us a chance to develop other aspects of our personalities - I write poetry and enjoy our local book club too. I think, therefore I am; not I produce therefore I am! Onwards and upwards! We must stick together!

Agreed Mishap!
Galen, so pleased to read you're feeling less fed up today.

Just finished today's DT cryptic crossword!

Oh well done! I am struggling with the last clues on Saturday's Guardian Cryptic..based on Under Milkwood.

I became head of a primary school where kids got stickers for anything! I stopped it quickly but it was hard work changing the minds of some staff. Kids are not silly and they know a readily awarded 'sticker' is a 'sop'. I think if praise/reward is given too freely it becomes worthless and has the reverse effect. Eventually we only gave awards for extra effort and for good deeds. We expected kids to behave, work well and learn. That was the baseline so no reward for that! But persevering in a difficult task, spontaneous acts of kindness etc were rewarded. Obviously we said positive things when kids did good work but we did not go overboard as there was always the next thing to learn! Standards, of behaviour and work, began to rise...but it took time!

Picking up on your post of Monday morning Soutra - what a sad comment. I think this "know your place" conditioning of children was common in the 19th and 20th century amongst the "lower classes" while the upper layers were, if they were male, trained to believe they were born to rule. There's the verse in All things Bright and Beautiful, isn't there

The rich man in his castle
The poor man at his gate
They made them high and lowly
And ordered their estate