Black Dog Gang 4

Hello Annie,
Thank you for your advice, yes I'm sure I have S.A.D., I do try to get as much sun as possible, I joined the S.A.D. Association a few years ago & was advised about Lightboxes, I did get one & I do use it, but I think this is quite common, after switching off I would be fine for a short time.
Doctor once suggested I move abroad for the Winter, mmm, if only I could win the Lottery
I just this operation over with as I feel that adds to my stress of being unsure of when it's going to happen.
But, Thank you for your response.
Tricia

I am so lucky and so grateful. I have my family close to me..
it makes me sad to think of people on there own.. you can all come to me we maybe have to use the garden to seat everyone but that’s ok

Hi all x

Flutterby I never had guests over Christmas, my daughters and I use to have lunch with my parents. When they married we use to take it in turns, my home, elder daughters home, younger daughters home, we lived very close so didn’t have to
stay the night.

My younger daughter has just told me they are coming to see me week after next, they have to stay in a hotel because I only
have one bedroom.

The tummy churning has started, longing to see her but as I live a very isolated life it means conversations for two days. H

Doodle yes, anything which is not part of every day living can raise my anxiety.

Tricia how stressful to have the op cancelled, this would raise anxiety for anyone.

You have S.A.D. Have you tried a light box, I used one for years, they do help. If anti depressants helped in the past see your G.P. about taking them again.

Also try to stay outdoors for 20 minutes every day, for natural daylight to
reach the back of your eyes. This was recommended by the
S.A.D. Association.

Nanny, in response to your post of Marshy on 19/11/2019. I have to say my daughter recently got a kitten, (Oswald).
He's just like Marshy, he is so mischievous, but them he looks at you with big doughy eyes & your gone.

Triciax

Oh! Nonnie, I'm sitting here at 3.16am, reading this collection of helpful messages.
I came to your one about the Rotary & their float & it made me smile as we do that too.
I'm sitting here at this time because the Winter Depression has taken hold, not helped by the fact that I was in hospital on Monday night scheduled for op., that I've been waiting for since January, needless to say once again it got cancelled. Me sent home & told to come back on December 16th.
It's rediculous, I stopped taking anti depressants a year ago September, I'm now thinking of starting them again.
I really don't think the NHS, is going to survive, my MIL, who passed many years ago now said when you had to pay the doctor at least they did their job,
I used to berate her & say not everyone was as wealthy as her, she on the other hand thought I was nuts!

Who knows maybe she was right.
Tricia

Doodle you know exactly. Yes let’s calm each other down.
How are you planning to spend Christmas?
Blue sky - no Christmas stress now that sounds fab.
Good night all. Talk soon xx

Close family far away so no big get together. Not that close to other relatives and friends, it'll be just the two of us. We'll eat in/out as we please. No Christmas stress!

Hi all x

Flutterby can’t help on this,I spend Christmas alone, have done for ten years. Never did get stressed though.

Are you stressed because you have visitors?

flutterby I get a bit anxious and stressed if anything slightly unusual is happening in my days. Hospital visit, trip somewhere. Understandable when Christmas is coming just heightened tension from others too. We must try and calm each other down ?
Hope you have a good weekend too.
Sleep well all x

Hi friends now that it is getting near the festive season with all the shopping food preparation, guests coming to stay etc etc. How do you cope with anxiety and stress at this time.
Beginning to get bit stressed thinking about it.
Hope you are all enjoying your weekend. X

Hi all x

Joce so pleased your feeling better and what a lovely way to relax x

Hope everyone is ok

Evening all, still in bed.. feeling better today I think.. there was something in the sky, today took me a while to recognise it it been that long since we have seen it in this part of England. I lay in bed with the sun on my face lovely.. hope every one else has had some sun.

Nanny I really enjoy York, my granddaughter lives there. Lovely place and my favourite bear shop..

Evening all thank you all for your for your concern, feeling a little better tonight, what a nasty bug... had to get out of my bed to go to docs for my B12 jab that was hard work, I did smile to my self sat waiting funny what amuses us.. an elderly gent came walking down the corridor after seeing the doc his walking stick click clicking very loudly, then a elderly lady came the other way in the door her stick click clicking they were playing a tune it really did make me smile.. anyway back in my bed, positive I have had some dry toast for my lunch...Nonnie that’s men for you they really know how to pull the wool ( well think they do) my grans little saying was if you have a good man blind him in one eye, if you have a bad one blind him in both .. she did have some funny little sayings...hope everyone is doing well ...

Sounds like a lovely journey Doodle. I had a good bus ride too. I ran for the bus but it was 'not in service'. Another one went past the same so we became a group of 'little old ladies' waiting. I was determined to say how good the bus service was to try and cheer everyone. I stood back to let an infirm lady get on before me and then sat near her. She kept trying to clear the mist off the window to see where her stop was and said what she was looking for. About 5 people told her which stop it was and then 3 of us pressed the stop button. Later in the High St an elderly man was putting his brolly up and a shop worker ran out and said he had left his gloves on the counter. I stopped and had a little chat with him and we discussed how lucky we were to live in a place with nice people. I then went to the shop I was planning to go and buy some presents from and they had 20% off everything! As if that was not enough I read that Father Christmas is coming round on Monday! Local Rotary club do a lovely float and collection each year.

There you are folks, lots of positives.

Hi all x

I thought I would share a poem with you, it’s from a book
‘The Poetry Pharmacy’

‘EVERY NEW MORNING’

Every day is a fresh beginning,
Listen my soul, to the glad refrain,
And, spite of old sorrow and older sinning,
And puzzles forecasted and possible pain,
Take heart with the day, and begin again.

Hello all. Back home after a long day. Hospital visit for DH went well and we had a nice time in Covent Garden. Got a bit wet with the rain but not too bad. Had a very interesting train journey home. Went 10 stops with a group of school children on their way back from a museum visit. They were about 8 or 9 years old and fascinating to watch and listen to their comments and how they amused themselves on their journey. Sitting with a cup of coffee now and then to bed I think.
Sleep well all x
joce hope you feel better soon.

Hi all x

Doodle I so hope you enjoyed your visit to Covent Gardenx

nanny 3 days in York, how lovely, so pleased you enjoyed
your self x

nonnie the Christmas singalong sounds so enjoyable, x

Joce be kind to yourself, get better soon x

Yes annie Nintedo does count as screen time but if it helps you sleep why not?

Joce hope it goes quickly, my neighbour has had it for weeks but DH had it for a day but then left his bed when we had a better offer. Went back to bed for a day and then improved in time to go to the match. Now he is poorly again, hmmmm I have made good use of the time and sorted and cleaned in his 'work space'.

Nanny York is lovely and it sounds like a great break. Always good to treat yourself.

We went to a Christmas singalong last night. Yes, I know it was early but we enjoyed it. We have a lovely small theatre where we listened to the Salvation Army brass band, an excellent singer and a good actor who told the story of Joseph as if it was modern day. The theatre was full and I think we brought down the average age. No queue in the car park afterwards so think most of them must have been picked up by their carers!!

Early to bed for me today. Up at the crack of dawn tomorrow (6am ?) off to London hospital with DH to see his consultant. Just a routine visit so then plan going to Covent Garden for a look round. Hope it’s not too cold ?.....or wet ☔️.
Sleep well all xx

Hi nanna i have arthritis and take a few meds..what one will you be on.

nonnie hope you are feeling better today. Hope all my friends are well. I have just spent 3 days in york, in the most gorgeous hotel called the grand it cost me a fortune and i had to pay for it in bits but it was so nice and i got a bit of xmas shopping done for my DD SIL DS and GD

Hi all Nonnie yes I think it the bug.. I feel really bad today hope it passes soon...
Annie what are you like haha ..
Sorry all need my bed I think it’s the best place for me...

Hi all x

nonnie hope your ‘strop’ in John Lewis didn’t lead to you being escorted from the building ? x

Have heard many ‘sleep experts’ say computers etc in the evening are a no no. I take my iPad to bed but to use in the morning with my first cuppa. Wonder if a Nintendo counts as
screen use, I play a game on it in bed when listening to my
audio book.

Joce is it the bug?

Nanna58 hope it works, pain is very wearing.

I seem to come on a different time to the rest of you. I stay off in the evening because of my insomnia, apparently screen use makes it worse.

Must look old today because a nice man on the bus treated me like a little old lady! Tired because of lack of sleep and the need to have a strop in John Lewis. However, grateful for the lovely lady in Boots who couldn't have done more to help me.

Hope you all have a lovely peaceful evening and a good night sleep. Night all