Support and friendship for those whose lives have been affected by estrangement.

300 steps Whiff you're good!

Babs enjoy your trip to London to look after your GS. Sorry to hear your H is in a lot of pain, meds give their own problems don't they.

My friend just sent me a flyer for a long weekend in Minehead to see Madness, but it is over 5hrs to drive there, so more like 6hrs, which is too long for just a weekend.

Looking forward to a picture of your new suit Smiles your new home must be all finished how you like it now, well done.

Oh dear Spring that is so bad and cruel, so your friend doesn't even know who has them?

Good morning all, so glad your party went so well Yogi, a shame about the dress but looks like you managed admirably with your handy little cocktail number. I imagine that it did run over but that is the sign of a good party 🎉 when people don’t want to leave. I know that this party was also a lot of hard work for you though so is nice to know you did it and don’t have to worry about it anymore.
I certainly missed out but will settle for our usual coffee ☕️ soon. 🙂

@Spring, what can I say, estrangement really is the gift that continues to give 😩
Feel so sorry for your friend but perhaps she can organise her own ‘letting go’ by going where her daughter like to go in happier times and letting go of a helium balloon 🎈 or leaving a bunch of flowers.
So sad and so brutal.
Take care 🌺🙏🏾

Sparkly need to apologise I didn't ask how you where. But see you are still suffering the after effects of the nova virus. That's the problem with viruses they take a long time to go and nothing you can really take to make them go quicker.

Babs sorry Mr B is in so much pain . Mind you bet he is enjoying have the bed and TV remote to himself and no doubt you have stocked up on goodies for him. Have a lovely time nana sitting .

My daughter came with the boys yesterday she was relieved to see I look better. The boys did some cleaning in between playing . They love my hand held vacs and the youngest my carpet sweeper as well. The oldest had his birthday presents a week late but it stretched his birthday out glad to say everything was a hit . But my daughter had suggested some of the things . And the things I had chosen where a hit.

Phoned my cardiologists secretary yesterday morning to see if the referral to the stroke neurologist had gone. He sent it the day I saw him . She said hopefully I will get an appointment soon.

Smiles glad your suite arrived and looks lovely and the bonus of having the floor done as well . I put a picture on my wall and it fell off ripping the lining paper so brought a tester paint in what I thought I had the living room painted . Turns out it wasn't that colour it's to light. Looked in all the paperwork from my decorator and no mention of the colour . I know what I had the bedrooms done in but can't remember what the kitchen or hall was either. Should have asked my daughter yesterday as she probably remembers. Unfortunately I haven't your gift of colour .

Spring that is so cruel of your friends family to do that . It's bad enough they plunge the knife it but twist it as well. I am so glad I have silence from my son . Can't imagine the pain she is feeling . The pain of a child dieing no matter how old are must be unbearable whether estranged or not it's still a child you gave birth to and loved unconditionally.

Shed a few tears this morning but then thought of all his kultz moments which made me smile .

Yogin hope Joey's check up went well. Sorry your dress didn't arrive in time for your party but glad it was a hit and you had so many presents. And your pamper day at the spa. That's the problem with having a good party is the tidying up but glad you had help. Shows how much people enjoyed themselves if it ran over.

No Yogin - no idea who has the ashes or where they might have been scattered/buried.
Good ideas re a letting go Babs. I’d suggested deciding on a bench in a lovely spot (park maybe) and making that the go to place to remember. I had thought the death would at least have brought a sort of closure to the estrangement…but clearly not.
Thinking of you Whiff, and hope your appointment comes through soon. Shame about the dress not arriving Yogin but nice to hear of the celebrations. We need happier content here to all enjoy as well!

@whiff thinking of you today.
Sending hugs 🤗🌺

Whiff, sending ❤️, take care x

Sorry missed so much, your birthday Yoga but see it was a great success, so happy belated birthday.
Didn't realise your concert had been and gone Whiff, knew is was around now though. A day if memories for you today as well. I don’t get so upset on the day as I used to, I think about him every day and the good times. The sadness comes over me at the oddest times.
Babs sorry your husband is in so much pain, I have for weeks now and it takes a lot out of you. I had very strong painkillers but I felt like a zombie on them, so stopped taking them.
Spring, your friend’s daughter seems to be using her mother as a scapegoat. To lose a child must be so horrendous, I can only think she is lashing out and not thinking straight" Your friend must be so worried for her daughter. They have to do what they need to do with the child's ashes.
When I think of my daughter I know theres no reconciliation and she and only she knows why. I am only sorry I was so unapproachable she couldn't level with me but it had obviously gone past that stage for her. How we hurt those we love or loved.
I read that book and what it really says is that none of us have perfect lives, we all have our sadness.
Smileless, glad your suite is just perfect you have the home now you needed.

Smileless thank you for saying take it easy…another aspect is I’ve eaten too much after fasting for 2 days to try and see off the virus.

Dull and misty here after 2 gorgeous sunny days.

Yogi no problem, hun ☕️

Happy Friday..

Thank you Babs Yes, my party was a lot of work & worry that I'd get it all right, but all was well and everyone had a good time. I wouldn't do it that way again, I'd hire a venue where everything is done for you and you just turned up . But I'm not intending to do another.

Think I got it wrong about the trip to Minehead being 5hrs, I looked up the journey in rush hour time, so I'll check again around 11am. It will still be a long journey though, so doubt I'll go.

I've already been out and it is a foul day, the wind and rain making it feel much colder. Poor Joey may not get his walkies again today, his not done too well this week, normal every day without fail.

Spring thinking about your friend, I can't believe anyone would be so cruel, as to denie the mother the knowledge of where her DD is. It must be agony for her!

My dress arrived yesterday, haven't tried it on yet.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202502/medium-859959-img-20250203-wa0028.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202502/medium-438458-img-20250203-wa0008.jpg

Couple of pics from my party:

Thank you Allsorts I would say you didn't do anything much wrong with your now estD, same as all of us on here. Of course we don't always get it right, but when you love your child, you do everything you can to make it as right as possible. So don't beat yourself up about the estrangement, it wasn't your fault, it was your D doing what a lot of young AC are doing now; cutting off the family that love them the most in the world; their mums.

QuoteSparklyGrandma Sun 02-Feb-25 20:09:31
Evening fellow Gransnetters,

Some ideas regarding therapists and estrangement;

Very good Sparkly and as others No.2 rings true for me too.

Yogin lovely pics . I take it's that is you by the 70. If so you don't look 70 more early 60's . Very glamorous.

Allsorts that the problem with strong painkillers they make you feel like a zombie but if you are having trouble sleeping might be worth taking one at night so you get a good night's sleep.

Only shed a few tears yesterday then was ok . Thank you all for your kind wishes.

When for a blood test my first outing on the bus since December. It was very frosty so wore my hiking boots as they have good tread Went into the village for a bit of shopping and had a naughty treat and hot chocolate at my favourite cafe. Saw one of my bus friends at the stop as we get the same bus so talked non stop even on the bus . By the time I got home had to use my spray for the first time as I was very breathless. But it worked after 10 mins. Glad I left the heating on lovely to walk back into the warm .

I knew my mobility had been effected but didn't realise by how much until today being out. Hopefully doing the 2 exercise classes will help . But going to phone my neurologist secretary about increasing my Clonazepam by 500 micrograms already have them in. When I saw his registrar before Christmas he said to phone I wanted to increase my dose. Didn't realise how stiff my legs where walking longer distance .

Hope you are keeping warm . My best friend is basking in 27° in Gran Canary .

@Yogi I honestly didn’t think it was your 70th. I’m 67 and would put you at mid sixties at the most. You look amazing in that outfit, don’t worry about the dress, save it for when I have my 70th, is not long off 😆
@Whiff you have really been in the wars so take it easy, no wonder your legs were stiff and you needed your spray, also has been an emotional few days and this does take its toll physically. The exercise classes should work, and do get meds sorted, Mr B was taking Amytriptil - not sure of the spelling,
It hadn’t done anything for the pain but just made him zonked out all the time so are going back to docs.
Take care all 🙏🏾❤️

Is actually Amytriptiline

Yoga, thank you girl tge pictures, you looked great, tge dress will keep for another time.
Last night I had one of the strong painkillers and I slept 8 hours. It must be wonderful to do that every night.
Today I am starting 2 short walks just 2/3000 steps each I am determined to,get ok for gardening season.
Babs do hope your husband is soon on the mend, hopefully with better weather round the corner he will improve.
Whiff with every day you will get better, you are being sensible and doing short journeys, getting out, a lot of people give up and sit in the chair and get worse, even 500 steps helps and strengthens. One thing I will not do again, after my fall on black ice, is go out in it whatever walking boots I have on.

Thank you so much for the lovely compliment Whiff & Babs if only that was true .

Hailstones here yesterday, poor little Joey missed another walkie. It's raining here at the mo. but must take Joey for a walk today. I'm free all day today, love Saturdays .

I'm babysitting next week as my DD is going to a wedding. I am going to pick them up after my Yoga class and bring them home for lunch and a roast dinner late afternoon. I thought they would be sleeping over but my DD wants them home as she is going out with her friend & C the next day as it's half-term. Seems like I will be driving them home that evening but I'm worried what the time will be as I go to bed by 10am and I wouldn't think they will leave the wedding reception that early.

Thank you Allsorts Yes walking is good. There is a man who speed-walks in the park every day, at least 3 rounds. I went out once in the snow & ice with new fashion boots on, slipped right onto my front, made my D [now estD] laugh though

The washing machine upstairs is going day and night, something is vibrating here, doesn't normally. I got up in the night and there WM was still going, it goes morning, noon, night and overnight every day, I know they are a family of 5 but?. You'd think they are running a laundry service but for the fact I don't see them carrying anything out. Also for the last 2.5 weeks they have dumped a broken pushchair in the middle of our driveway. I've kept quiet as I am imagining that they have booked it in for council collections, but you get a date set for that, so should keep your item in till then. I have my old mattress booked for collection, but wouldn't dream of dumping on the driveway till then! I'll put it out the night before.

Their

Evening all, shattered after three days in London. Hate getting the train but SiL drove into central to take my daughter and GS out for a meal with the in-laws so I got a lift at least and avoided the tube, just had to get the usual train home.
@Allsorts I really hope your pain lessens soon, glad you got a good nights sleep, am going with Mr B to docs Monday to see about pain relief. But anyway well done you with the walks. 🌺
@Yogi, sounds like your other neighbours are causing a bit of trouble. I don’t know how we managed back in the day with a twin tub and no tumble drier, it would have broken my back to do that much laundry and there were 6 of us all told.
The pram in the drive is a bit of a liberty, do you suppose they thought someone would want it, sometimes our neighbours put stuff out for people to take. But after a while they should remove it and discard of it accordingly.
Hope you don’t have to wait up too long when babysitting. They can push the envelope sometimes. My knees and hips are singing after looking after two of my GCs.
🌺🙏🏾

Btw good news, but don’t want to make a thing out of it in case I jinx it.
Have had an offer on our house and an offer accepted on a bungalow we loved initially but they took it off the market, anyway it just came back on the market and we offered the asking price to be assured of getting it.
Lovely views of the South Downs which is what we wanted.
🌺🙏🏾