Please can I get a refund on 2023? And skip to 2024?

Sending hugs GA to you and everyone experiencing difficult times just now .💐💐💐💐💐💐💐

I am so sorry to hear about everybody's horrendous years. I have lost a number of friends through illness the last two years but I put this down to my age.
I hope you feel better soon Grannyactivist.

For me, or rather us, it was 2020 and 2021 that were plagued by ill-health and other things that were hard. Last year, apart from the war in Ukraine and rising prices was better then the two preceeding years, and so far 2023 looks fairly good.

So I am sorry to hear so many of you are having a bad time of it this year.

I hope the year improves for you all, as it goes on.

I just want to add what I hope is a little bit of a cheering note. Today is March 1st, so St Davids day and the first official day of spring, with some lighter days to come and the flowers starting in the garden. I am having cancer treatment and various other things happening but hanging on to the thought of the weather getting a bit better hopefully and that we can look forward to being able to open windows and turn off heating (if it is not already off) and not need to walk round in a coat. We will get by one way or another and it is good to be able to come on here and have a chat when you live alone and no one to talk things through with. Hope things improve for everyone

So far this year I have lost my sister-in-law to cancer and my mother-in-law has just passed away at the age of 101.
I have also been ill with what may have been Covid or a virus that lasted nearly 5 weeks.
Roll on March and please be a better month!

My thoughts are with everyone who is suffering one way or another in early 2023. One elderly sister (who has been like a mother to me) has broken her pelvis in 4 places and fractured a vertebrae, my second sister has just lost her husband and I’ve just been diagnosed with widespread cancer cells, secondary to appendix cancer 6 years ago. Currently inoperable. All in about a week of each other.

2022 was my first year without my beloved husband so there is no way 2023 could possibly be worse than that. I am an optimist by nature, things can and will get better - eventually.

to grandetanteMattie.

also to grannyactivist.

and to sunnyside up, and to all of you who have suffered.

Sorry to hear GA that you have been having such a rotten time.
Many commiserations.
Who are your insurers sarah1954?

My worst was from Nov 2020 when DH died until 2022.
The ceiling fell in and the insurance wouldn't pay up
A tree fell across the drive and a tree surgeon was costly.
Then my Rayburn was leaking gas and the CH boiler needed replacing.

It's taken me until then to get things repaired, replaced and paid for.

Saga insurance sent an assessor for the ceiling but it was deemed lack of maintenance. Well, I'd been nursing my DH through cancer for years so a bucket to catch the drips seemed to work and we really didn't want workmen about the house.
So a catalogue of awfulness but at least no fires and I had to install monitors and detectors all over the house which I am now glad of.
I have a far more efficient boiler and a new cooker but I miss the Rayburn.

I like to think DH would be proud of me

Sometimes it seems as though life is just throwing everything it can at you all at the same time to see if you can cope. Got scaffolding up the house to repair roof after storm damage, electric gates seized up and gate man is away, one of my closest friends has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, had to have my old (nearly 15) Lab put down last week and as the icing on the cake I have scraped the side of my car this afternoon doing a large amount of damage - still drivable but looks terrible! But not as bad as some people and the daffodils are coming out so spring is round the corner!

We are insured with Lloyd’s and they have always been brilliant.
We haven’t had to claim often fortunately, but we had one big claim about twenty years ago of about £40.00 and they didn’t quibble over anything.
More recently we had some storm damage, and they told us to just get it done, no quotes necessary.

Thanks Sara that's worth knowing!
Sorry Daisy that you're having a tough time
Sending hugs
As you say, Spring is arriving and there is always something to look forward to.

I don't think my 2023 will be as bad as 2022. I lost my sister, at least 3 of my best friends, 2 other friends and my beloved west highland terrier. Come back to me nearer the end of 2023 and I will tell you then.

UPDATE:

So, the decision has been made. I’m not well enough to attend the 40th party for my daughter this weekend so I shall be home alone. Boo hoo. 😥

I’m feeling very sad, but it’s the only sensible decision as with a baby and young children in the group it’s just not fair to:
a) risk passing on this awful virus and
b) spend half the night coughing and disturb everyone’s sleep.

I have missed out on family events because of ill health several times in the past, so it’s not a first, but I was a bit weepy earlier. I’m very grateful we have the technology for them to FaceTime me, so I shall still be able to take part in a limited way. Ho hum!

grannyactivist sorry you will miss your DDs party but you may not have enjoyed it while you are still ill.
I have had to miss a few things due to pesky viruses. They turn up at the most inconvenient times.