“Feeling Lonely? Let’s Chat and Support Each Other”

Good evening people this is a good thread a lovely chat group . This morning I was up and about early and walked my little dog. I said a cheery hello to a couple of people saw 3 red squirrels and enjoyed the quiet walk. I thrive on a getting outdoors it’s not always easy as I struggle with balance issues but the rewards are worth it. I am very lucky as I can walk in the countryside or seaside in short spaces of time.I always appreciate this as I know many don’t have the same. Since coming home I’ve gone downhill… I have lounged about had a late lunch, now watching a wildlife programme with a small glass of wine and a biscuit . Ohh retirement feels good today.

We may not comment on everything thats written but im sure we're reading and enjoying everyones daily goings on.
My walk takes me 2 minutes round the corner to the park, just before the park is a bungalow and a disabled gent lives there every day hes outside with his dog and he chats to everyone going past mostly dog walkers I seem to be the only walker without a dog. I walk across the park and then the edge of the golf course. Well I think I've 'chatted' enough for now.

What a nice chatty thread this is becoming. Hearing what other people are doing. Everyone doing just well. ordinary things. It stops you thinking everybody else is doing really exciting things and you are missing out. Everyday life is everyday life.

I am glad to be able to read the posts and join in. Things have been quite tough lately and of course , life piles it up all at once. I am a widow, live alone and have a very bad back, so not able to do the walking I used to love doing up the dales etc. I also have cancer, which I recently had to go for treatment for., so a bit on the vunerable side right now. Having done hospital car service, for over ten years a couple of years ago I left a beloved house and big garden to come and live in a groundfloor flat, with public transport etc etc. to keep myself independant for as long as possible.It had a good bathroom with walk in shower with a seat etc etc. At the beginning of october, the hall carpet felt wet. Cut a long story short, major leak behind the tiling near the toilet. Result? Total bathroom had to come out. No loo, hot water etc etc. Had to be stripped completely out , sanitized and driers used for 3 weeks etc etc . Had to go and stay in local hotel, which had no lift, but very nice helpful staff and needed to be close. So , the hotel is totally booked over the christmas period, but hurray now have a working loo, thank goodness, and have cold water in the kitchen. Waiting for electrician to do his bit and then (fingers crossed) the plumber can finish off and I can return and begin sorting out the total chaos,. Well if they cant get it finished next week I may have to look for somewhere else to sleep! Two close friends have just recently moved away to live near their families and another close friend has family staying. My son and family had been away, and came back and his partner and my grandson have Covid, so cant go there. Anyway I need to be here to oversee stuff. Ah well I might find a bed in a stable locally, I think there was quite a good precedent for that!!! Really I shall just be grateful if I can sit in my own chair at home on christmas day, and eat a sandwich and listen to J S Bach on radio 3, might even be able to take a shower by then.!
Well there is one great piece of news that the Assads have gone. I lived in Damascus for a time when the father was the dictator, so that is one good piece of news in a sorry state of the world. , pity Trump doesnt join Putin and Assad and with a bit of luck there might be a n earthquake or a sudden hole appear and swallow the three of them!! So I am trying to let friends know why they havent heard from me , no cards sent etc, no access to lists, address books (still havent found the important one yet) as I had to leave suddenly in the afternoon and every plan up in smoke. Well looking at Syria, I am lucky to have a home to go back to , however long it takes. Thankyou for letting me rant on about it all . One of the problems living alone is you cant talk through things with anyone. Will hope to come back soon with news that I am home. (Do watch out for pigs flying overhead!!) By the way I have a rather cynical saying which seems appropriate at the moment "Cheer up" they said "Things could be worse" so I cheered up and they were!!

Just watched Songs of Praise,very uplifting, I really like Aled Jones..
Knitting to do tonight,a blanket for the Linus Foundation,keeps me busy and the last of Wolf Hall to watch.
Might have some toast before bed as didn’t have a lot at teatime.
Hope everyone has a peaceful night and this thread keeps going.

Life is very quiet for me so a place to chat sounds nice,
Just DH and I and he is not very chatty though I know we are liucky to still have each other and I am grateful for that.
Being vulnerable to covid has meant life has become very sheltered the last few years, winter especially so.
We don’t have a lot of family and non close by.
Still looking forward to Christmas,tree is up and cards posted,it’s still a magical time of year with happy memories and we are warm and safe with everything we need for Christmas Day in the freezer.
Lots of bulbs showing in the garden,signs that lighter nights and spring will come again,
Greetings to you all and happy to have a chat anytime.

What a difference in the sky in a matter of minutes from leaving my chair to make a cup of tea and get some shortbread biscuits which are my next favourite from wafer types. Pink to very dark grey.🌫️

Tend to do local walk. We are very lucky. Lakes and woods, paths at the side of fields with crops growing. I never seem to tire of them. You see other regular walkers too so nice to chat on the walks.

I live alone and have osteoarthritis in my spine and feet so going on walks is no longer an option for me. I've also just got over having a trapped sciatic nerve so I couldn't even drive anywhere as I couldn't press down on the pedals! Last week the only person I saw was the Sainsbury delivery driver.

Yesterday was the first day I felt able to drive and I went to the hairdressers. Most weeks I barely see anyone.

That's the way life has panned out for me and it is what it is.

Fortunately, being an only child has taught me to be comfortable with my own company, although sometimes I do yearn to have other people around.

I have 2 children but neither of them drive and they live quite some way away so I don't get to see them very often.

Afternoon everyone. I have been feeling very lonely and down recently. Have had sinusitis followed by a rotten head cold that isn't shifting which is probably acontributing factor but am struggling with my current living situation (longish story but I feel I have made a wrong and costly choice but it is something I am stuck with till my house is built). Luckily my part time job fills in some days and I do have good friends and family. It is the feeling of constant anxiety that is awful. Roll on spring!

Great idea for a chat thread Devine I m not lonely but I live alone and am alone a lot of the time which is why I need my voluntary work
I m another who has TV or radio on all the time even when I m asleep sometimes, I ve recently realised I have tinnitus not sure if I ve had it a long time and not realised or if it’s just started this year It’s not terrible but a sort of high pitched metallic sound which I lose when I m watching or listening to something
I ll go to eldest daughters and my granddaughters (after we ve done the Christmas Day swim) for dinner and stay till mid evening more or less the same Boxing Day then it’s over and thankfully the days will get gradually longer and we can imagine spring

Lovely idea. I am listening to the carols on Classic FM hoping they would get me into the Christmas spirit. Christmas this year will be me, DH and just the one cat. Her sibling died earlier in the year.
I like to have background 'noise' whilst pottering around but there are no pressies to wrap, cards (outbound and incoming) are fewer every year and the Christmas lunch has been bought and is waiting for prep.
For the first time in over 60yrs it's all taken care of, but I do mis the hustle and bustle of chaos!

love0c I feel I already watch too much tv and sitting for long periods isnt good.
So where do you all go to walk?
I'm nosy! 😃

I have TV or radio on almost all the time. It is better than silence, as I have tinnitus. I even put the radio on in the night when I couldn’t get back to sleep . Actually I love all the carols on Classic FM. Just watching Songs of Praise now.
I don’t like coming back to an empty house, especially if I went out before it was dark and too early to draw the curtains.

I love the idea of a chatty thread ,that would be good Devine

Tanith Why put off having the tv on. I've got it on while having lunch. Cruising with jane McDonald.

They do say you can feel loneliest in a crowd which is so true. Just about to have a bit of lunch and a cuppa, I had a walk earlier while the sun was shining briefly but now it’s clouded and gloomy again. The tv is beckoning I’ll try to put it off with my book.

Another walker here! Just got back in from a good hours walk! Whatever the weather I'm out there. Feel so much better.

I’m a chatty person but recovering from a nasty virus has left me with an awful gravelly sounding voice so I’ve left the phone calls for now and just using messenger which is better than no communication at all but oh I do hate auto correct ☹️

I agree about walks giving you a boost. I live alone but have a large family who don't live nearby but who keep in touch.
I think a friendly chatty thread would be good for people who are lonely or spend time alone.

I agree, Tanith. Both about the caring family and yet an empty house. And about the walks. I'm about to go for one in a minute. It does help. But I'm sorry for some people who can't.

I’m up for a chatty thread, it’s not that I don’t have a caring family around me but it’s when I come in to an empty house no one waiting for me and shut the door the silence affects me.

Does anyone else feel better after a good daily walk? I know I do and if it’s in a green space even better I’m lucky to be near a lovely green space even though I live in London.

Morning Devine, Like the sound of this. No particular topic, just chatting. A coffee morning on line!