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

Read through this twice still typos . Doh!

Smiles must admit I don't like that person advertising about a site for estranged parents. I did post my concerns . As I suspect it is advertising or just a hate site for attacking estranged parents but that is just my opinion. But no answered. It will stick to the support thread. I do pop on others then I always end up with hate posts . I did report and get one poster banned. Like you suspect it was a previously banned posters getting back on as the thread attracted lot of new names and when I did a search their names didn't appear anywhere.
But as we all know as soon as a new thread appears on the estrangement forum the OP does get support then hatred and then suspicion its not a genuine poster . They usually appear in the very early hours of the morning .

To me this is the only safe site for new and old estranged parents. As we know how to get rid of the trolls and haters.

Can't remember if I said my brother and sister in law renewed their marriage vows last Saturday. They have been married 10 years. Originally it was going to be a big event so changed my holiday date for this month. Then changed their mind as lot of people couldn't make. Then they where just going to Gretna green just the 2 of them . But my nieces and nephew said they wanted to be there . But I told them I was not changing my plans again. At least they understand how my life works. That had given me months about the original change. But they know I don't change it twice. I can do emergencies but won't change things because of a whim.

It went well just his children and his daughters husband and their baby ,younger daughter and boyfriend. My nephew is on his own after a series of awful dates decided he would rather stay single rest of his life he's 38. Has lots of friends if both sexes and works hard and does have an active social life . He does have some physical and mental health problems but gets on enjoying his life.
Few friends who live close by and of course her dad or as I call him my adopted dad.

My brother as I have said is cheeky he brought his wife a beautiful trophy but he had the plaque say here name and shit wife of 10 years. My daughter said it should have said shit hot wife for ten years . I did tell my sister in law I hope she thumped him and to give him one for me. Her son's weren't invited. We don't talk about them . They don't bother with their mom they never text her and sometimes remember to send mother's day ,birthday and Christmas cards . If she does text them can take weeks for them to reply. They never thank her for cards and money she sends for birthdays or Christmas. I hate the fact they don't make it a clean break instead of giving her glimmers of hope.

Glad my son is out of the picture at least I know where I stand. As I have said before never want to see him or hear his voice again. My life is full and we are strangers. Glad I made that decision 3 years ago. And once I decide on something thats it done.

Funny enough met a Womble yesterday and had a nice chat. Have nothing against the members . But if it was one of the 3 head ones I would have ignored them but if they spoke to me then they would have wished they had kept their mouths shut.

Off to Dundee on Monday for 5 days . Taking warmer clothes with me as temps are low. Had my heating on for few hours yesterday.

The photo is of me in my official choir tee shirt. Starts again Wednesday will miss it but won't be missing other ones .
Hope no one is to much pain with various health problems.

Will be checking I am all packed just odd things to go in a bag Monday morning. Taxi coming at 6am so up at 4.

Take care of yourselves.

Morning all.

Glad the recording went well Whiff and you enjoyed the meal afterwards.

Hope you can get your toe sorted sooner rather than later Yogin.

Not a lot to say but I wanted to 'bump' this thread as I think the 'support for estranged parents' thread which essentially is advertising a new online forum may be confusing.

Have a good day everyone xx

Morning all

Well done Whiff on your choir recording and nice to hear you enjoyed your meal after. Thanks, re toe, I can't be out of action for 6 weeks, so fingers crossed for the simpler option.

Cooler this morning, but quite humid yesterday. I changed all my bedding Sunday, from 2tog duvet to 7tog, was boiling last night!

Take care all.

There where about 30 of us. Only 6 Altos and I was the only one from our choir . But we only 3 Altos. Sounds posh but I am not a good singer but been told by the choir director I have improved 🤣. It was lovely talking to members of the other 2 choirs. A few had come from Manchester to make up numbers in the tenor section. We rehearsed each song 3 times and recorded each of the 4 songs 3 times. I stood for the recordings which took over 2 hours. But it didn't seem that long as I was having fun . During the short break was talking to the man who was videoing it . Me talk to people shock horror . 😂.
One of the founders did say we may do a Christmas concert, but our big one will be in April and in the city with tickets being sold. By then we will have 12 songs. But I will do it and hopefully family and friends will come.

Meet at a Nepalese restaurant near our local train station including me 6 from our choir . Meal was delicious but it was lovely getting to know people better . One offered me a lift home her car was parked at the next train station. The one we where by opens out onto the main road . Next stop has a large car park . She lives by me and goes to move it or lose it class. Sunday I crashed and hit by chronic fatigue which I haven't had for years not since before I moved here . But it was worth it,back to my usual self last night .

Yogin glad your daughters feet getting treatment..Fingers crossed for your appointment on the 28th that your toes are a simple fix. My daughter's father in law had an operation on his foot few years ago on NHS but done at private hospital. But he couldn't drive for 6 weeks as his car was manual. But he is glad he had it done. He is plays golf couple of times a week and playing better since having it done.

Off to Dundee next week my last hol this year. So not going mad this week. Will miss our first choir meeting but won't be missing anyothers.

Glad my gardener came yesterday as pouring with rain today.

Take care everyone .

There are a number of people here that train guide dogs and assistance dogs. Where we had our first house a couple trained guide dogs. In those days once trained the blind person had the dog for 7 years before they were retired. This couple got very fond of one dog so when he was retired they had him back as a pet ,they trained guide dogs for 20 years . But blind people now have the dogs for longer only found that out couple of months ago . I helped a blind lady with a white stick sit down on the bus. And she told me she had recently had to have her dog put down he was 13 and had him from once they finished their training . Guide dog owners have to be trained for 8 weeks with their dog. Said she couldn't have another dog as she couldn't go through the heart ache of losing one again. I said do you mind me asking a question she said anything. How do you collect the dogs poo. She laughed and said only her family ever asked and glad I had asked as people assume they leave it. Once the dog has been they stand still and with double thickness bags over their hand run their hand along the dogs back and down and feel the warmth and bag it turning the bags round the back and tie it . They do it twice to make sure they collect everything.

Wish some sighted dog owners took their own dog poo home as they have no excuse. Not like the xxxx who let their dog who had diarrhoea do it on bottom of my drive . Took me 45 mins to clean the mess using bleach ,cardboard and buckets of boiling water . I was exhausted and put me out of action for the rest of the day. We had local Facebook groups for different areas so posted about . Out rage from responsible dog owners who said they should have come back and cleaned up the mess . But one just said nothing you can do with softies so I assume he was the xxxx who's dog it was .

As always at the Quaker meeting place we where going to record our CD. And as you might guess talked to lot of people attending other groups . Huge building and hired out rooms for different groups. It was very interesting to read about Quakers and people of all religions and atheists welcome to come to come to their meetings as they believe all are equal and offer help to anyone who needs it . Reading it was refreshing that they don't to para phrase pushing their religious believes down peoples throats .

I know someone on a different forum and thread has been helped by Quakers and now see why . They have helped her through some very difficult times and you can see through her posts how much confidence she has now . Taken years but she is a different person now. It was heartbreaking reading her earlier posts but now a different person thanks to the Quakers.

Morning fellow campers.
It was on the radio today that people who have cats as pets are less likely to have a heart attack.

Looking forward to this week, as the weather cools down, I can relax more.

Have a great week everyone. And if not a great week, a comfortable one.

Yoga, cannot believe how cheap your heating is, I panicked and signed up to FR for 12 months, already without any heating on its more than yours but tied in. Next time i will shop around instead if staying where I am,
Hope your day went well Whiff.

Allsorts yes, those folk that train the guide dogs are very special people, I couldn't do it as I wouldn't want to give them up after the 6mnths training. I'm on a new tariff with E-On were deferent times have deferent rates, only costing about £2 per day if I avoid the top rate between 4-7pm, in fact even if I don't. So, when I put my heating on, I'll be sure to turn off at peak time.

Whiff best of luck with your choir recording today . You'll have to give us the link to it.

Yes, dogs are very intelligent as well as very loving and loyal, couldn't be without my little Joey. Gave him a good bath and full groom yesterday and I must say he looks smashing, saved me £50 as well

Have a nice day all.

Morning all

Nice and sunny but not too hot, great having some rain over night & Tuesday all day though.

I think the same Whiff re our feet being so important not to injure or get something wrong with them. My DD fell down the stairs again, only the last 2 thankfully, hurt them a bit but not too bad. She has physio once a week, from her work health plan, she would still be waiting for her 1st app if she'd waited for the NHS.

I have a problem with my toe curling over the big toe, bought some toe separator's which do help, but it's compromising my balance for my yoga teaching, which is not good. Having an Xray on the 28th at a private hospital but through the NHS. I was offered an op by the consultant, but that would put me out of action for 2 weeks, so hoping for the procedure were they just snipe the back of your toe and cut the tendon, afterwards you are good to go.

Lovely to hear about Ziggy's progress Smiles, take it Poppy is enjoying the new member of the family as much as you are. Enjoy your meal tonight.

Just seen your post Allsorts. Guide dog foster parents are amazing aren't they. Not something we could do because we'd fall in love with them and not want to give them back even though that's the arrangement.

Just wanted to wish you luck (not that you'll need it) with today's recording Whiff.

We're really looking forward to going out for a couple of hours this evening to a lovely Italian restaurant.

Ziggy met our neighbours dog Banjo yesterday. He's a little sweetie but barks a lot which Ziggy didn't like but they charged around together and Mr. S. got some great video footage.

Poppy was quite content to be out of the fray, just sat and watched while enjoying her chew.

It's so true what you say about the benefit of pets Whiff. Even though we still had Poppy, we felt completely lost when we had to say goodbye to Pip who as you know, came into our lives at the very worse time and almost instantly made us feel so much better.

Whiff, Have a wonderful day, looking forward to hearing all about it.
I too love hearing about people's animal friends, been reading about the people that foster guide dogs from 8 week puppies until 14 months, socialising using them prior to training, what wonderful people they are, it transforms lives.
Feels chilly in the evenings now but still not putting heating on, trying to wait until 01 October but don't know if I will.

Smiles love hearing about Ziggy and you could never be boring . If you think that is boring just look at my rambles. As a non pet owner love hearing and seeing pictures of friends on here cats and dogs. They have become the support group mascots . It has been proven by the Brain Charity how important pets are for people's physical and mental health. Children who are non verbal will talk to assistance dogs but won't talk to their own families. And it has been reported that they eat and sleep better especially if they have an assistance dog at home. Helps them learn. Know several who's children learnt to read but will only read to their dogs and one said one can count as he sends his dog to get the dog toys and counts them when he gets them.
The Brain Charity has several owners who have assistance dogs that do activities with adults and children at the centre. And know of other owners who take dogs into nursing homes and local hospices.

I love seeing people by me with their dogs. I always ask if I can pet them funny enough the regular ones drag their owners when they see me.

Aggie never forgets me and I only see her once a year . She always knows when my sister in law is going to have a MS episode so she knows she must sit or lie down. Aggie has only had normal dog training since a pup. She always knows when I need am in more pain or my HPX is on the fitz as she jumps on my lap for some cuddles and doggy massage well that's what I call it. As she she turns where she needs stroking.

Yogin I know how much Babs misses seeing you and Joey. Before she left she wanted a dog when she moved to the bungalow. But with all that's going on and Mr B's health its not possible.

Anyway exciting day we are making our CD today and with be with the other 2 choirs . Even brought the official tee shirt to wear as we are going to be videoed and it will be on Facebook. Then some from our choir going to a Nepalese restaurant for a meal . But those who can't make the meal we have decided to meet up another time. I have missed singing with them but others have said the same thing . Still have to laugh me in a choir Mr W would laugh his socks off.

Went out for an Italian restaurant last evening with one of the GN friends who lives near me. It was delicious. Have to give her a review of tonight's meal as we will probably go there next month. Unfortunately our 3rd musketeer is still not well enough to be with us yet but hopefully we will see her before Christmas even if its only over a cuppa.

To excited to write more you will be glad to know . 🤣.

Good morning all.

It's lovely to catch up with all your news Whiff and to see how busy you've been.

It's a good job I'm not a member of a choir because there's no way I could have been involved for the last 9 weeks with little Ziggy needing so much time and attention.

It's been hard work but worth every minute as we are now seeing the rewards. He had his first groom on Wednesday and R said he was so good that she managed to do more than she'd expected.

He now has that poodle face, with the beginnings of a top knot and his little body shape although mostly hidden under a thick puppy coat, is already beginning to look more mature.

I'll get Mr. S. to take a pic for you to see.

We've booked an Italian for tomorrow evening, just a 10 minute drive which will be our first evening out since we got him and we're really looking forward to it, having spent the last 2 weeks getting him used to us going out without him.

He'll have Poppy for company whose 'crate' is opposite his playpen so he knows he's not alone. It's going well with just a few minutes protest when we leave, and quiet until we open the door when we get back.

Oh dear, I've become a 'puppy bore'. Can you imagine how boring I'd be if we had a relationship with our GC .

Yogin hope you had lovely time with your granddaughters. Sorry it is going to take so long for your daughters feet to recover. Why is it its always parts of your body you rely on all the time that get injured or through health problems? Also why are they the parts that take the longest to feel better and its not as if you can rest them for long.

I had my eldest grandson few weeks ago for couple of hours he wanted to learn to cross stitch . He picked his design and sorted out his colours . I did warn him it is a slow craft but that doesn't bother him he's 8. He did brilliantly. They where here on Sunday and he wanted to carry on with it so supervised in between making a den for his 5 year old brother using clothes airers and blankets. He decided it was a cinema and the film was about his school. My daughter changed my bed and just had a rest. The boys are growing up so quickly. Still get hugs from the oldest as he decided no kisses when he was 6 but hus brother its hugs and kisses. The youngest wants to use my sewing machine told him once he is 6 we will make something. The oldest worked the pedal from 6 . He sat on my step stool with cushion on and worked the pedal he is very good at following instructions. When he is older he wants to use it . It will be up to his parents when I let him. Both boys are sensible and when I say no I mean it.

Funny thing I no longer think about what my other 3 grandsons are doing . Been 6 years so we are strangers. Don't know when I stopped wondering about them.

My youngest friend started college yesterday which is a huge achievement for her as due to health problems she has been home schooled but the college is going to give her the support she needs and its one of the top colleges up here. I knew the vicar would there yesterday morning so popped round with a card to give her as she attends the church and the vicar popped the card through their letterbox. Had lovely message from her thanking me . I do miss seeing the friends I made at the Wombles and thankfully the admin have left me alone as they won't like what I would have done next.

Realised on Friday it is my last visit to Chester. When I am holiday I pace myself and sit down or go back to the hotel to rest then go out again afterwards . But I was enjoying myself and only had 2 sit downs one to have cake and tea in the cathedral and the other eating icecream listening to street musicians. Folk rock music husband played the electric violin with lots if pedals for other sounds and his wife sang . I even brought their CD . I was going to buy a CD player so I can play the CD we are making. Its not big like my old one I got rid of before my move and has speakers, you can use ear plugs/ headphones if wanted even has remote which I won't use.

Sorry this has been all about me. But need to get up now . Move it or lose it class . Our teacher got married on Saturday . Taken me 2 hours to write this . But will be back .

Take care all.

Smiles and Mr S happy belated wedding anniversary. Hope you had a brilliant day. You got married a year before we did. You have weathered many a storm but together you can fight dragons. Wishing you many more happy years together.

Ziggy sounds like he is living his best life and given Poppy( hope I got her name correct ) a new lease of life.
Hope Mr S is still bowling and you are both playing golf.

Did you find a choir to join? I understand why you loved it so much. Making our CD on Saturday seems silly but I am excited about doing it . Not because I am a good singer but because I have missed singing with everyone and looking forward to meeting the other 2 choirs. Yesterday finalising those of us who want to go for a meal afterwards. We are going to a Nepalese restaurant one of our group recommended but she can't go but still organised it. But I did say I would be happy to meet up anytime with those who will be going and those that can't make it for a meal any time. Hopefully we have some new people come on the 23rd when term starts again . I won't be there my last holiday I will be in Dundee. But won't miss anyother dates. At least I know our April concert won't be on the 17th which I am glad of as I and a friend going to hear Sir Bryn Terfel sing at the Phil.

I am way behind on everyone's news I don't know where the days go. Some days even at home the days fly by.

Went to Chester on Friday had a lovely day went into lots of shops and talked to lot of people . Told my daughter about talking to men . She doesn't like me talking to men but we don't make an issue about it. But it won't stop me. When I was at high school my bullies were mainly girls ,but I was friends mainly with boys. I have my brother only one girl cousin who was born just before I was 19. Plus my husband being in the scouts being a scout ,cub and venture scout leader mixed more with boys and men .

Happy Anniversary Smileless and Mr Smileless.

It amazes me how much we can survive and live well. Long may your time together carry on Smileless.

Happy Anniversary Smileless and Mr. S 🥂

Happy Anniversary Mr.&Mrs Smiles*

Afternoon everyone.

Ziggy's settling in really well Sparkly . Not wanting to tempt fate but we've had 3 'accident free' days, in part because we're vigilant but also because he goes outside when the door's open or waits at the door when it's closed.

We have to be quick though .

Today is our 46th Wedding Anniversary . When I think of all we've done and been through, it has to have been that long or we'd never have fitted it all in, but it's still hard to believe.

Thank you about my cat Smileless how is little Ziggy settling in? Is it nice meeting other dog walkers when you are out walking him?

Allsorts an amazing intrepid jump for your cat, and landing on concrete!

Yogi thank you.

Morning all

What a little cuttie Ziggy is 'asking' to go to bed, and you and Mr.S getting out and about again, enjoying a meal whilst Ziggy snoozes in his playpen, good job x

Went for an early morning walk on the beach this morning, good job I put my raincoat on as a windbreaker, certainly needed it.

Have my GDs for a sleepover today, as their mum/DD has a training day tomorrow at her work. She is still suffering with her feet, her physio said it will take a year to be fully recovered and back to normal.

Have a lovely BHM all xx

Thank you to both of you for your replies. 🩷