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

(450 Posts)
Devine05 Sun 15-Dec-24 09:21:48

"Hello everyone,
I’ve been feeling lonely lately, and I know I can’t be the only one. I thought it might be nice to create a space where we can share, chat, and support each other. Whether you’re feeling down or just want a friendly chat, you’re welcome here."

Taichinan Fri 17-Jan-25 22:00:42

This evening's "Would I Lie to You" was particularly funny - I certainly laughed a lot!

Truffle43 Fri 17-Jan-25 21:11:17

Taichinan
I also hope this thread keeps going. I love both snowdrops and would I lie to you that show always makes me laugh. How they make up the stories they do on the spot is beyond me although it would be a good laugh trying. Spring is round the corner just a little more of winter to go. Here’s hoping more people join this lovely chat group.

Taichinan Fri 17-Jan-25 20:01:48

Hello everyone. I've been really busy lately - not complaining! So I haven't been popping into this site but decided to do so now and I'm so glad it's still going.
Polnan what a hard time you've had, losing your DH and then being thrust into lockdowns with nobody to hold you and comfort you. It must have been unbearable. My worst time was the winter lockdown - I'm always very down in January, an obvious case of SAD. Last January wasn't so bad as it was DD's 50th Birthday and her partner (they have both been widowed and have five teens and 20s between them) organised a big family weekend for our two families. That basically took up the first two weeks of January with the travelling involved, and the lovely afterglow buoyed me up for the rest of the time. Unfortunately she couldn't be 50 again this year! - but I bought myself a SAD lamp which is truly wonderful. It wasn't too expensive at £33, but it's worth its weight in gold.
Anyway. We were very lucky here on the Scottish north-east coast and escaped the snow wind and rain misery others have had. Now this week we have had beautiful Spring days, which are so uplifting. There's a lovely clump of snowdrops nodding their little heads in the breeze, and the goldfish in the pond have come up to say hello - they even accepted some food which they don't usually do at this time of year. It's all so uplifting - although I'm old enough to realise that winter isn't finished with us yet!
Must go now as "Would I Lie To You" is calling. Good to have a laugh - love that programme.
Take care all and do let's keep this thread going x

Truffle43 Fri 17-Jan-25 18:20:56

Hello everyone I hope you’re all well. I wanted to share my surprise letter in the post this morning.
It was addressed to grandma and was from my granddaughter age 6 she said I hope you have a lovely week lots of love with some pictures and stickers. It melted my heart.
Her mummy had been telling her how nice it was to receive letters in the post and that’s what prompted her to write. I have written back and hope she feels as good as I did. In this day of technology it was such an unexpected treat. Hope this cheers you up as it did me. Take care

polnan Fri 17-Jan-25 10:54:17

I am a bit like that "weirdo" can talk better online! but I am lonely.. anxiety? I am quite old and my dh died just before covid was announced and I still miss him... wish there was a magic wand..
I like this thread, it helps me to break out of my "self indulgence" as my mom used to say.. "feeling sorry for myself"

and these grey days in Merrie England! aren`t helping... I am in Swindon! not so cold, not so much snow, well hardly any.. but so very wet and miserable weather.

Hey Spring IS on its way! I have daffodils from our local morrisons,, £1 a bunch, been that price for years.. see, something no increased in price..

TheWeirdoAgain59 Fri 17-Jan-25 10:09:39

Devine05 it's a brilliant idea!

I live alone and am not lonely but I can talk better online than in person so I'm up for a laugh and a natter with you!

I'm not a walker but a runner and do 20 miles when my work shifts allow me the time to do it! I'm a carer in a home for the mentally/physically disabled and generally do 12 hours on 12 off including late night and early hours but my schedules can be all over the place so I squeeze the running in whenever I can!

love0c Fri 17-Jan-25 09:16:56

Morning everyone! Been a bit quiet in my absence. Enjoyed a few lovely sunny days. So pleased the ice has gone. Can finally walk!!!! Enjoyed the snow but not the ice. Going for a walk with OH this morning. Not as sunny today. Di two mega walks yesterday. One with a friend in the morning and then another in the afternoon as so nice. I can see my goldfish in the pond this morning. I have been a bit worried about t.hem. Enjoy your day whatever you do!

Celieanne86 Thu 09-Jan-25 14:07:19

How about quite an extra flight in the morning? 🤷‍♀️

This was supposed to say I’ve had quite an exciting morning, just the voice actives version, I swear sometimes I speak a foreign language….anyway what I wanted to say was that I’ve been shouted out on the phone by the manager of the care company I employ at £40 an hour.

If you read my earlier post you will see how I didn’t have a carer on Tuesday due to an inch of snow on my drive and on which she refused to walk.

To say I was cross is rather mild. I was fuming. I’m disabled can’t walk and reliant on a carer to at least make me a cup of tea and some toast.

From what I can gather the manager of the care business must’ve told the carers line manager off, she was the one who phoned me in the first place. She’s the one who phoned me and she has given me hell she raised her voice practically accused me of lying and insisted I had agreed to the carer not coming. No way, Jose I might be old but by God I’ve still got my wits about me and I know what I said and when she asked me if there was snow on the drive and to go and look through the window I told her I couldn’t walk and I couldn’t see through brickwork so I didn’t know if there was snow on the drive or not. I ended up demanding an apology and an assurance in writing that this circumstance would never happen again. She refused so I told her what she could do so now I haven’t got any carers at all.

Oh dear, what a mess I’m in but never fear I’m not worried something will happen, time to search through Amazon, wish me luck.

Doodle Thu 09-Jan-25 11:07:30

Morning all. Well a late morning. I’m going to tea with friends this afternoon. I’m lucky I have friends to be with but nothing is the same without my DH so I still feel very lonely.
Hope all have a good day.

polnan Thu 09-Jan-25 10:53:52

Mandymoo.. I have a 7 year old cat, I am 88 but not too bad for my age,, I worry which one of goes first..I do have her registered in the Cats Protection Society in case I go first.

polnan Thu 09-Jan-25 10:52:40

Hello whywhywhy... I am also in a small Craft/social group. we have had a problems,, but just now, after Christmas difficulties with key holders to let us in, I admit I chickened out of the difficulties as perhaps only 2 or 3 would have turned up.. now hearing what you have to say, perhaps we should have tried harder to meet up, but the stress of it all was too much for me. Thanks for telling us ...

Mandymoo456 Thu 09-Jan-25 09:50:59

Hi there,loved reading all your messages
I'm feeling lonely as my cat has to be euthanized a week before Christmas, had cats for 35 years, I didn't realize how quiet it would be, won't be having another cat any time soon as the cost is above my budget, it's great to see the bulbs coming up that cheers me up

love0c Thu 09-Jan-25 09:19:12

Morning all, thank you for your concern Doodle! What a laugh we had! we had a good walk, kept to the snow and what a work out that turned out to be. Over a golf course as nobody playing golf ha ha. Nice and sunny so did not feel too cold either. Enjoyed a coffee and it was so warm in there. Out today with OH as looks sunny again/ enjoy your day whatever you decide to do today. Take care though!!!!

whywhywhy Thu 09-Jan-25 00:04:40

I managed to email some close friends and waiting replies. I’m feeling needy at this time of year. Went along to my knitting group on Tuesday but only two turned up. It did cheer me up. Speaking to a best friend tomorrow afternoon on the phone. It’s hard feeling this lonely, not being able to sleep and being married as well. I try and keep busy with my knitting. Take care.

Doodle Wed 08-Jan-25 22:23:00

Charleygirl thank you 😊🌺

Truffle43 Wed 08-Jan-25 21:01:40

Celieanne86 I am horrified that a little snow put a carer off calling in to check on you. You sound like you can manage ok as you have done today. Surely only blizzard conditions should warrant a missed carer visit. I am glad you’re okay but I feel for them that cannot manage. Let’s hope they visit next time they are supposed to.

Indiebee Wed 08-Jan-25 14:55:27

Celieanne86 - hope you are ok. You sound wonderful! I think the carer was distinctly feeble! I still operate my mother’s system of having lots of back-up food in cans and freezer - it was the war and ration books wot did it! But good in snow, ice and blizzard.

Celieanne86 Wed 08-Jan-25 13:21:49

Hello everyone. Well I’m in a bit of a pickle today as I had a call from the care company I use telling me my carer would not be coming today as she had driven past my house and saw I had snow on my drive. Well as it had snowed twice in 24 hours I’m not surprised. I’m on my own, 87 years old, disabled and housebound and hardly able to walk never mind do snow shifting. Luckily I have a good supply of necessities in stock, I was trained by a mother who always bought one extra, just in case, wartime mentality.😊
I’m not complaining, I can manage to make a cup of tea and pop something under the grill and the heating is on but I’m still puzzled as to why a couple of inches of snow brings the country to a halt and are there other people far worse than me who have also not had a carer visit them today.
Oh yes, nearly forgot my gardener called to see if I was ok and swept the drive, note I said swept not shovelled and so hopefully the carer will manage to scale my Matterhorn tomorrow 🙇‍♀️

Charleygirl5 Wed 08-Jan-25 12:55:50

Doodle I promise spring is just around the corner, and this is just a blip if it is cold!

In a couple of months, I will hang my washing out to dry and look forward to the odd hour of sunbathing.

Doodle Wed 08-Jan-25 12:50:47

love0c please be really careful. I know two people who’ve fallen and broken their hip recently. Do you have good grippy shoes or a stick to help? Sorry if that sounds patronising, I have no idea how old you are just working on what I do when I go out

Doodle Wed 08-Jan-25 12:49:08

Deep frost this morning but gone now. Cold and wet though.
Been to church which was nice. Going to hospice shop this afternoon then maybe some knitting or crafting.
Have as good a day as possible all. This weather makes things a bit glum.

love0c Wed 08-Jan-25 09:10:15

Gosh it is cold outside. The ice is dreadful! Arranged to meet a friend and enjoy a coffee at a local cafe. Will I be able to walk??? I am a real scaredy cat on the ice! Will certainly try ha ha. We have not met up since before Christmas. Will report back later. Have a good day if you can.

Indiebee Tue 07-Jan-25 13:39:43

whywhywhy - so sorry. I so hope you can dig out some of your distant friends and keep in touch by emailing etc. Otherwise make huge efforts to meet up with local friends and neighbours. As Truffle43 says above.
It's so easy not to, especially in the winter.
My weekly exercise class is closed for locational refurb reasons and only reopens at the end of the month. In the meantime, I and my 3 close friends from the class are meeting regularly for the coffee out that we normally do after the class. We love chatting and keeping up with what is happening in our lives and in the locality. I really value it.

henetha Tue 07-Jan-25 09:56:06

It's cold here in south Devon, and I think there is snow on the moors, but none yet down here. But it's been raining so I hope that doesn't freeze and make the roads slippery.
It's strange to have this coldness after all the mild winters recently.
Take care everyone.

love0c Tue 07-Jan-25 09:47:56

Another cold frosty day here. Still lots of snow about but it is very crisp so fairly easy to walk on. Looked after grandchildren yesterday as a training day for them. Quieter day today. Heading out for the park and see what it is like down there. Hoping it is not too icy. I'm guessing a lot of people will have walked so the snow will be flattened and hard to walk on. i hate not being able to walk at a fast pace! thoughts to all feeling under the weather today and can hardly bear to think about anyone feeling cold due to lack of money. Stay safe and warm if you can today.