Welcome to new members

I am new to your site and rather nervous of expressing my male views to what seems to be very many extremely articulate Grans. I am 85 with rather strong views about bad manners, greed in our society, vicious cuts in Care and Health services so I hope I do not upset anybody if from time to time express rather my own personal views. I have a desire before I leave this world behind to try to make it a better and far more fairer and tolerant place for younger people to grow up in.
My thought for today is "how I am saddened when I see the hate rage around religion and the intolerance being used to castigated everybody in those practicing nations for their believes. Why are we using social media to spread such hate? It reminds me of the many acts of intolerance we used to see towards Catholics and Jews in the 30's along with injustices around gay issues and those suffering from mental illness".

Can I plead for all grans and granddads to help to promote good manners, especially by being taught at home and in schools?
Bye for now, Brian.

Joining today, I live in Kent, I have 4 grandchildren, I retired late 2011 to spend more time with my mum, looking after her and work and wanting to spend time with the grandchildren just got to much, lost my mum early 2013, still miss her enormously, miss my job, hate being retired, feel like I don't have a purpose anymore, feel like I'm the only one in the world that feels this way, but common sense tells me I'm not. I would love to make new friends but lots of people don't seem to want to let you into their click, does anyone else feel this way, would love to chat. Bfn

Hello brendaj, welcome to Gransnet . I hope you will find what you are looking for on here. You will soon get to recognise names and be able to chat. I would recommend Soop's kitchen for a start. The Gransnet cafe is a new thing which might suit you.

Helloam afraid I am new to online forums .it will be nice to have people to chat to.

Hello.I hope everbody is okay.I live in Cambridgeshire andi don't want to appear sad but I would enjoy having a friend to talk to.

Hello and welcome glynis1234 . I hope you will enjoy all that Gransnet has to offer. Be warned, it can be addictive!

Hi, I am new to this too. I am Grandma to my 4 yr old and andma to the twins aged 2

Hi Tracey1012, welcome . Are you in the UK now, and are your grandchildren here or back in the US? Hope you will enjoy Gransnet.

Hi just joined today. Originally from Chicago grandmother of 2 girls 7 and almost 2.

Welcome clare1608 , you will soon find your way around on here. One thing to be careful of is to read the date of the posts on any thread you wish to join. It has been known for a newcomer to continue an ancient one by mistake. Most importantly don't be embarrassed if you think you have done something silly, we all have. You may also feel you have the knack of killing a thread stone dead like I do!

Playermojo117, a warm welcome to you too. I am so sorry that you have this split in your family. You will find a number of members of GN who have experienced the same, myself included. You are fortunate to still be on good terms with your DIL, which has not been easy for some. You will need to tread carefully, but hope when the dust settles your son will come to terms. My DD still has problems with her ex 4 years on!

Whoops - missed out that those little blue boxes are at the top of the page!

Hello clare1608 and welcome. You'll get an email to let you know if someone has sent you a Private Message (see to the right of the highlighted area where your name is at the top of your post). Otherwise click on I'm on in the blue outlined boxes just underneath where it says Gransnet forums. You'll soon find your way around.

Is there any grans in my position. My son and his partner split up before Christmas. They have a beauty 2 year old DD. My son works away bit cannot accept tge split and still tends to be nasty. We had the worst xmas ever due to his behaviour. (He is 23).
Life is difficult enough. It was my dads last xmas bcos he is terminal.
Due to my DGD being the apple of his eye my DIL let us have the DGD all day yet my son still wasn't happy. Performing like a spoilt child and walking out taking his D.
It broke my heart.
It has really had effects one this split. I still see my DGD often and get on really well with her mummy.
But my son is due home tomorrow and II dreading it. I spend all my time shaking and worrying at the atmosphere we will be getting.
We have a caravan to escape to but due to me taking my father to radio and chemo and also I take my auntie to her chemo this doesn't give me time to dissapear. I lnow my son normally has an heart of gold but is hurting inside. I just wonder how long this will go on for. Has anyone else gone through this

Hello, I'm new today. Thought forums would be a good starting point! I'm 52 and have a 3 year old granddaughter. I'm hoping to start finding some new hobbies, though that will have to wait as I move house in 5 weeks' time. One question, if I post in a forum will I get notification of any replies or further posts in the thread?

Welcome Poly580 . Hope you will enjoy GN. You will soon get the hang of the acronyms, it does save time when posting, but we don't all use them.

Hello Poly, welcome! If you scroll down the page you will see one of the small boxes has 'Acronyms'. Click on that and it will get you started HTH (hope that helps!)

Hello, I have just joined and wondered if you could help me out. Some of the abbreviations being used puzzle me. I get that DIL is daughter in law, GS is grandson but some of the others puzzle me. Is there s list somewhere, am I being dim?
Thank you for letting me join, it looks very interesting

Don't worry, Pammigran, you will soon feel at home.

I'm still finding my way around on here ( I'm easily confused lol ) I have 3 grandchildren and I live in Yorkshire. I love cardmaking.

brileo! Welcome to Gransnet, I hope you will enjoy the threads and everything else it has to offer.

I am Grani, Husband is Papi, both chosen by first Grandson, (spelling is mine). My SIL has a Grandson who is just 18mths and he calls her Mia! I just love that.
My Grand Daughter calls me Grandmother when she wants something and Grani when her bother is annoying her!
By the Way I am Scottish

Hi flaxwoven, welcome . You certainly have a full and varied life! Being a grandparent is fun isn't it?

I have just joined and I retired in 2014. I now care for my grandsons two days a week (2 years 8 months and 7 months) since my daughter has just gone back to work. I love to be with them very much but it is very hectic, especially with a very lively 2 year old. Any suggestions how to keep an active 2 years old busy would be appreciated. Toddler groups seem full of babies. We want them to know us as my husband and I never knew our grandparents. I also find time for art classes,swimming, church, and a walking group. I enjoy life as every day is different.

Hello Pammigran. This thread is a good place to start! You may find that you enjoy chatting to grandparents from all around the world. Have you tried clicking on the 'Local' button near the top of the page? These sites are not well supported I am afraid, but you might find one near you that is more active than others. Meet-ups are organized from time to time, keep an eye on the main threads. Hope you will soon feel part of the Gransnet family.

I'm new here so I'm not sure where to start. I have 3 grandchildren. I've been looking for a group near me but there isn't one, not confident as yet to start one either ?