*SUPPORT* for all who are living with estrangement

The checkout person said that they had 20 staff off sick which was a worry

The toilet roll is back!

He must have been a sight hugshelp but you couldn't fault his intuition could you .

I was relieved to hear this morning that although Boris remains in ICU he's no worse. The news last night was both shocking and upsetting .

On a brighter note it's another lovely morning here and I woke to the sound of seagulls which always makes me smile and reminds me how fortunate we were to find this fabulous house in a place we love so much, and begin a new chapter in our lives.

Shopping this morning, wish me luck. Nearly out of toilet roll and my anxiety is through the roof.

That did make me giggle smiles

You're welcome NanNanCake xx

Thank you Smileless2012 and Yogagirl, xxx

NanNancake I'm so sorry to hear your story & pleased you have managed to move on, I'll bet with a heavy heart still We on here all understand & know how you feel, so keep posting for support xx

That does sound original hugshelp the 'always ultra' example reminds me of something Mr. S. told me happened to his friend's brother years ago.

He'd fallen and badly cut his chin, his mum was at work and told him to go there so she could see how bad it was as it was bleeding quite badly.

He couldn't find anything to put on as a dressing so used one of his mum's sanitary towels, you know the ones that had a loop either end.

He put one under his chin, put a loop around each ear and then walked to his mum's place of work.

Haha, smiles - someone shared a compilation of people going out in assorted homemade masks - from 'always ultra', with the wings stuck to your face, to see through plastic boxes and bags and even cut-away milk cartons and pop bottles, as well as lots of bras. Wish I could find it to show you it was highly original!
I'm a bit all over the place emotionally atm, so many things to process, but thinking of you all. xx

NanNanCakeyou have this support thread too, it's for you and anyone who needs support because they're living with estrangement.

As you so rightly say, it's very hard to move on but it is possible. Thank you for sharing with us here and please now you have found us, when you feel the need, talk to us again.

I am glad you have this support thread, thank you. The pain of estrangement from my son and Grandaughter caused me to have a heart attack, and was annoyed I survived as my pain was so great... but now it is 2 yrs on I have a new Grandaughter and I have never seen her maybe I never will.

I will not say I am happy but I have moved on, and wanted others to know it is possible it is very hard but possible.

What a lovely thing to say 3nanny. We've had a lovely day that was topped by one of Mr. S's wonderful BBQ's but your post has made my day, it really has.

You're right of course "much is lost in estrangement" but with time you can see that some of what's been lost you're better off without.

The support threads have kept me going for more than 7 years. To begin with I needed all the care and support that they gave me and now, I am strong enough to be able to give that same care and support to others.

What I love about this thread, all the ones that came before and all the ones that will follow is that the overall sense we get from the EP's and EGP's is their pain. That pain overrides the anger and bitterness which we all understandably feel especially in the early days of our estrangement.

EP's and EGP's seem with time to be able to let go of their anger and bitterness despite never being able to totally let go of their pain.

Smileless 2012 It sounds like you have had the perfect day and the food is making my mouth water especially the Strawberries. I am having some in a while after tea.

Without wanting to upset you it seems despite estrangement you have really embraced life and moved happily into the future.

Much is lost in estrangement and even though I have struggled with estrangement I do get pulled back to wanting
to often try to reconcile with family much of it being complete habit and the hopes that this time it will be alright.

I do think yourself and Mr. S have done things quite remarkably.

It's a beautiful evening here and Mr. S. has lit the BBQ. Steaks are ready and the salad is prepared and ready to go. Strawberries prepared and the cream whipped so enjoying a glass of.

Hopefully weather permitting this will be the first of many.

DS in Aus. was talking about Zoom when we face timed him today Rhinestone; never heard of it before.

We're having our BBQ this afternoon and really looking forward to it. We usually eat out several times a week so I'm finding all this cooking a bit of a drag TBH.

At least with a BBQ I don't have to cook the meat.

It's the same here Rhinestone, masks are more about preventing you from infecting someone else although they do seem to jump around with that one.

Rhinestone that makes sense. Shopping is such an odd experience. Trying to avoid it as much as possible. Glad it's such a beautiful day, might blow out the cobwebs a bit.

NamsnannyHa Ha I didn’t realize what I wrote. You gave me a laugh today.
YogagirlI used Zoom to talk with my cousins and it was just wonderful . I did hear that some business calls had scammers
interrupting conferences.
SmilelessI told my cousins that if I were to use an old bra for a mask that person would have to have a big face.Hope your bbq was good. We couldn’t find chicken last week as I wanted to grill also.
StarblazeThey told us here the masks we make are only to prevent others from getting it in case we have the virus and don’t know we do or are carrier of the germs.
Have a safe day all?

What a beautiful morning. A clear blue sky and a slight breeze so it's looking good for our BBQ for 2 this evening.

We were really pleased to be able to get some plants for our tubs and baskets Namsnanny. It brings a little sense of normality when you can at least do some of the things you'd normally be doing at this time of the year.

What a lovely gesture from M&S, often it's the smallest of gestures that mean the most isn't it. I hope you'll get on the delivery list soon. Several GN's have been having problems too but do seem to have managed it in the end. Fingers crossed.

I don't know about you Yogagirl but going to the shops is the one thing that worries me. Aldi's organisation is excellent; one out one in and this week only one person with the trolley or basket. Very few in the store at a time but it's a huge sense of relief to get home and know that job's done for another week.

I couldn't believe the pictures of Richmond park in London yesterday. London is the epicentre of the UK for goodness sake. The selfishness and stupidity of some is beyond comprehension.

Namsnanny thank you. I love daffodils, always get some when I go shopping. I too haven't managed to get a home delivery or C&C slot, so have to brave the shops. I tried out an eye mask, it worked well at home, could breath through it, but didn't seem to need it with the sol dis. in place inside the shop.

Rhinestone Yes I am looking into online yoga classes, zoom seems to be the thing to use, but I heard yesterday that if it's open, as it would have to be for my yoga, then it's malware!
May try my yoga FB page and yes I will definitely be wearing a bra

Rhinestone … I did a conference call, and actually put makeup on and a bra!!
What just makeup 'n bra?
I bet that was a treat for your cousins!

But on a more serious note, if DD's boyfriend has it will you have to isolate?

Smileless … I'm glad some things are working out for you and Mr S
long may it continue.

Pf … Thank you for finding the time to update us.
Wishing you and Mr Pf plain sailing!

Yogagirl …. Feeling teary here as well. It's to be expected I suppose.
Also I cant yet get on the supermarket delivery.
I'm very glad that your son is home safe and sound.

Hugshelp

I agree with everyone about the sea and bras!!

I'm buying summer bedding plants from T&M to keep the blues at bay.
Fussing over them is helping.

Went to M&S for weekly shop and they gave us 3 bunches of daff for free!
A lovely gesture, admittedly one bunch was too old for the flowers to open, but the others did, and look really cheery in the hallway.

Thank you for sharing ladies, I so appreciate it.
Look after yourselves
X

Yes, unlikely to offer enough protection. Surgical masks don't even offer full protection. Shame.

I saw that picture, hilarious. I'm about the right cup size but can't get over the whole walking about with what obviously used to be a bra on my face. I think face masks need special filter material to work anyway. I will look into it and get back to you.

Mr. S. has just cracked me up hugshelp. He found an post on FB from a woman who'd seen a face mask made from the cup of a bra.

There followed a picture of a woman whose entire face was covered with the cup of a bra because the bra was so big; that would be me.