BLACK DOG 9

Nonnie I bought an Emma pillow last year as someone on GN had recommended them. When it arrived, I thought this won’t be any good. It was so solid and heavy. I have always slept with two pillows so didn’t realise how I would manage with just this hard one. It had been such a help to my neck. Not for everyone I know. Bit like marmite, love it or hate it. I bought one for DH who was very sceptical but he loves it too.
Nice to do a spot of home baking. Takes your mind off things and has some lovely edible outcomes. ?
Scaredycake I love rock cakes too but haven’t had one for years......must think of baking some. Goodness, you’ve been baking too. It must be all this cold weather making people think of baking by a hot stove.
Annie I feel like cheering. ?. I am so pleased you will accept the wheelchair. I just feel that at least if you have it, there is a chance you can use it. I am so pleased you have decided to take it. I hope you and MT both have vaccinations soon so you can meet up again.
All this talk of baking reminds me of my lovely mum and her making Welsh cakes on a griddle. An old family griddle black with age and use. Made me wonder whatever happened to it.
I can’t remember.
Sleep well all and keep safe, x

Hi all x

nonnie I so wish you lived near, am sure you would give me
a wave through the window. Couldn’t eat cakes though, no wheat !
Am now wondering if the physiotherapy dept is open, was told
yesterday the podiatrist dept is closed, they have been relocated to other duties. Perhaps they are all working in the
vaccination centre.

Scardycat rock cakes and jam buns are much easier than a sponge, go for it, only takes a few minutes. I would have loved to have the gc to do it with me though.

Annie wish I lived near enough to drop some cakes in. For VE celebration I made some 1940s cakes for a very old lady in our road. When she died a few months later her son, who I had never met, sent a message saying how kind she thought I was and how much she had enjoyed them. Such small things can mean a lot.

Please chase up the physio, they may not be good at admin. I had to chase up a prescription, which I had ordered on 21st, yesterday and was told it was 'with the doctor to sign off'. Can't just assume everyone is efficient.

So good to hear you are being positive about the wheelchair, stay in that mindset.

Miserable damp day today, hope it is better for the rest of you.

Hi all x

nonnie I so miss baking ,

Scaredycat I have the lightheaded problem, it’s miserable isn’t it ?
I really need my stitching and my iPad for word games, with no one to talk to the days would be even more lonely.

Right, I have made a decision about the electric wheelchair,
when they bring one and check the bungalow I will accept it,
The physiotherapist hasn’t come back with the strapping for my knee , promised it in December.

There is a physiotherapist in my part of town so not near the bridge. I will have a wheelchair so can go to her surgery.

I looked up ‘muscle wasting, three recommendations -

Walking - can’t do it

Swimming ! ! ! !

Sound therapy - the physiotherapist offers this treatment.

Lockdown extended in Wales so my mini tornado can’t come,
but am sure she wouldn’t come until I have the vaccination,
not seen her since end of September, miss her so much , but
she graduates this summer and will be looking for a job so
I will have to find a cleaner then anyway

Hi all
Nonnie- What a lovely day you had yesterday - you sound like you really enjoyed it. Happy news. Now today lovely buns and rock cakes. I love rock cakes but haven,t had one for years. Yesterday I made a Victoria sponge as it’s my DH favourite so perhaps I,ll try rock cakes next. Hardly ever bake but as you say it feels like an achievement. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Annie- hope your neck feels better today and you can get on with your stitching and “i padding” without too much discomfort X
Doodle-I too have neck problems. My problem is it makes me dizzy and lightheaded often. It has been bad lately so today spoke to my new GP who was very kind but didn’t think there was anything to worry about. The health anxiety doesn’t help. Just have to get on with it. The towel advice is very good I use those microwave wheat bags which are nice. Your IKEA stand sounds good glad it has helped you. It sounds wonderful by your riverbank - I love photography and it sounds so photogenic. Hope you can get out soon.
To all in BDG hope you all enjoy this FridayX

Annie 'should have' again so easy in hindsight.

Doodle I think a lot of us don't use our devices as sensibly as we could. Having used a 'proper' keyboard for years I had wrist issues from using a laptop. DiL got a stand from Ikea and it is brilliant, I now type using the right angle. A simple thing which has made a huge difference.

I had neck problems and the physio said it was due to my scoliosis and I had to learn to live with it. I had always slept on a thin pillow and when I got a fatter one the pain went away.

Been baking old fashioned children's buns today, so easy. Jam buns and rock cakes. Took no time at all but has made me feel I've achieved something.

Hope you all achieve something today

Joce keep concentrating on your little man. Forget about the news and think about the joy the little chap has brought to you all.
Nonnie I bet you spend all your time looking at the magazines instead of sorting them out. ?
Glad you had a nice friendly walk .
Annie I think there may be some kind of stand you could get that might hold your iPad close to your face. Sorry, I hadn’t realised your eyesight was so bad. Can you see to get around in your house or is it just because everything is in a familiar place you can manage.
Glad you got your wrists strapped up. With regards to your neck, I sometimes have neck issues and a nurse once suggested to me that I fold up a small towel and wrap it rounf my neck a bit like a surgical collar. I do find when my neck is bad that this helps as it supports the head. Hope you feel better soon.
Sleep well all x

nonnie we posted at the same time,

I sprained my wrist by lifting a rather full bin bag . My neck ,
I spend all day and evening on the sofa , on iPad or stitching ,
tension in neck from bad posture and something in back of neck pulled , should have done neck exercises.

Hi all x

Have strapping on my wrists now which is a help for using iPad, I have low vision so have to hold iPad close to eyes.

Joyce do look at the ‘No Panic’ site, look at the -Resources page, covers every anxiety problem , each page written by
Professor Kevin Gourney , I met him some years ago when
Colin and Marion started the No Panic charity and I was a fundraiser then worked on the helpline .

This link may be of interest to all x

youtu.be/oQ3uGHD4xYM

Annie mind boggling about how you did those two things. When you can please let us know and in the meantime look after yourself.

Doodle only a small amount of progress, found one I just have to keep and suspect there will be more.

Almost nothing to show for my day yesterday but a good day. Walked round the cul de sacs I have never been round before, several people smiled and said 'good morning' and some stopped and chatted, met some lovely dogs too. Stopped to pick up a prescription and had great help from the pharmacy assistant. Just about to do something useful and a friend phoned for about an hour then lots of messages and video calls from people so I never got round to starting anything useful.

I think there are a lot of people out walking who just want to see a smile and a kindly face and all we have to do is make the first move.

Hope you all had a good night's sleep

Annie sorry to hear you are in so much pain..

Doodle I agree the news is so so sad and depressing.
a quiet mind would be lovely it really would.
We have not had any snowdrops or daffodils yet

Scaredycat pleased you have had your jab.. hopefully they will keep come for al... Some normality in sight I pray...
Night all sleep well stay safe ?

Annie sorry to hear you have hurt your wrist and neck.
Can you prop your iPad up on a pillow to save holding it. I can’t hold mine so I have a sort of pillow thing it sits on.
Do you have anything you can take for the pain. I do hope you feel better soon.x A picture of some snowdrops for you. ?
Nonnie have you made any headway with your magazines yet ? ?
The news is so depressing. Such sadness all around is bound to bring us down. So many lost lives and sad children. I just hope this vaccine rollout continues and things improve.
Scaredycat oh the joy of a quiet mind. Would be lovely wouldn’t it. At last you’ve had your vaccination. That is good news.
We usually have thousands of daffodils here along the riverbank. Not been out to see them though because of DH. Perhaps soon.
Sleep well all x

Hello all.
Doodle- I have had my first jab and now the debate about the longer gap between jabs doesn’t give much reassurance. However I am very grateful to have had it.I know I look at the news too much but I tend to keep looking at anything that worries me- a bit like picking at a spot! I must try to ration my newsfeed! I would so love to have a quiet mind sometimes.
Nonnie- It is a continuous feeling of being anxious but not depressed. The lack of any spontaneity and fun is wearing everyone out I think. I know I have never felt so tired or been so inactive.
Hope you have a nice walk - we just got back and it was very mild compared to yesterday. The daffodils are starting to come out - a lovely sign of the Spring to come.
Annie- so sorry you have hurt your wrist. iPads and laptops definitely hurt your neck. I have cervical spondylosis and I always put my iPad on top of 2 cushions so they are nearer eye level. I do that when reading too. Hope it gets better soon.x
Love to all

Annie thank you for your help. I will definitely ave a look at it.
X

Hi all x

Can’t say much, have a sprained wrist and have hurt my neck,
holding iPad rather painful !

Joyce do google ‘No Panic’, a really good charity , they have
a help line, many articles on anxiety etc, I use to work for them years ago , if you join you can be included in a weekly chat group too, but you don’t have to join to ring the helpline x

Yes, Doodle, you are right but so much easier said than done!

I've read that too, so confusing and I suppose they are all theories because it is all so new that no one knows.

Oh I do have lots of magazines, can only do about an hour a day so looks like the rest of my life before I finish.

Scardycat & others I just read this in one of my daily readings: "Most people do things because they feel like doing them. But when you’re depressed… you don’t feel. Or, whatever you do feel isn’t motivating you to do anything worthwhile, such as setting goals or looking for purpose." Pretty much sums it up for me and I expect most of you too. When I was seriously ill my consultant told me I wouldn't feel anything if I won the lottery and he was right.

I totally get what you are saying about it all being out of control. Can you find something/things which you can control? I have been doing that for some while and it has helped me. I control my weight and get some satisfaction for reaching small goals. I could be sorting out some of the 'stuff' we all accumulate over time or taking on some sort of project.

Doodle I think some of us feel anxious without knowing why, just the doom and gloom feeling, anticipating a calamity based on nothing at all, just an irrational feeling.

Going out for a walk shortly as the rest of the week will be wet.

scaredycat good job you’ve got your appointment. Is it the virus that’s worrying your or something else that’s causing you to feel anxious? Do you listen to the news on a daily basis?
I find sometimes I stop reading or listening to the news if I find it is making me miserable. I try and read a book or something instead.
Sleep well everyone x

Hi everyone.
Doodle- It is that horrible feeling of unease that lurks all the time at the moment. I feel so scared a lot of the time. The news today re the Pfizer jab distribution immediately made me feel so worried. I just get on with everything though same as always but often with that horrible internal shaking and sinking stomach feeling.
Annie- I hope your MT does well in her exams she has worked so hard. I expect she will be very glad when they are all finished.
I feel certain that there will be help for you to get the vaccine.
Joce- you are braver than you think. You still get up and carry on with your day despite feeling so fearful.that takes courage.
Nonnie - our surgery sent a text saying I was next for the jab and to text back YES if I wanted it. I couldn’t text quick enough!! They then phoned very quickly to give me my appointment. DH has to wait a bit longer.
I think one of the reasons I am so anxious is because everything is so out of our control.I don’t like having to rely on other people to be sensible and obey the rules etc.
Lavender,Chrissy,Rafichagran,Bluesky and all in BDG take care and stay safe xx

Annie I do hope your MT does well in her exams. She deserves something good happening for her.
I am fine thank you. Still following DH around to make sure he doesn’t fall but he is much more independent now.
Joce I am so sorry you feel so afraid. Is it just being alone that makes you afraid or are you fearful of something happening to you? Don’t answer if you don’t want to, this is an open forum, we must not forget that.
Nonnie be kind to yourself. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to cope. We all have times when we can’t manage.
I did read in the paper this morning that one of the medical advisers said it was better to leave the vaccine 12 weeks. We just have to hope they know what they’re doing.
Good you’ve found something of interest to do to keep you busy. Sounds as though you have lots of magazines ?

annie our surgery phoned to make the appointments which is probably unusual as I keep hearing about the letters. I think phone calls are better as people can ask questions and say whether they will/can go or not. Best of luck for you.

My answer: I think the virus has had only a minor effect on my depression, mostly I can cope with things I know I cannot control, it is the things I think I should be able to sort that get to me. I have always demanded far more of myself than I would expect for anyone else. That's doesn't mean I don't miss so many things like meeting up with family and friends although we do all keep in touch one way or another.

Joce the only advice I can give is that you stop feeling guilty about mornings. Why should you get up? Do you really need to? Can you plan in something which you want to do in the mornings so you have motivation to get up? Is it that you miss the routine? Sorry, you have probably already thought all this but its the best I can do.

Scardycat same here, we read so much about UK being the only country leaving the Pfizer injections 12 weeks and now I feel like a guinea pig.

The overthinking is made worse by having so much time to do it during lockdown. I now notice whether TV presenters have had haircuts as all the hairdressers are supposed to be close, I even notice whether what they are wearing suits them or not! Who cares!!!

My small positive. I have boxes of specialist magazines going back to 1982. Some time ago I sorted into titles and dates and then couldn't face doing more. In the last couple of days I have gone back to look at each one and see if there are any I want to keep. It is going to take years as I keep stopping and reading interesting articles! I am up to 1986 in one title only

Morning all,
Annie yes it’s a fear I have being on my own.. if I’m honest Annie I just live in fear every day ...

Joyce I don’t want to ask questions you may not want to
answer but I so want you to beat this fear

Two types of fear, rational and irrational, you know this my love, to be afraid to get up from bed and go downstairs would be rational if you heard someone breaking in yes ?

So what could happen to you when you get up in the morning and go downstairs ? are you always afraid of being on your own?

Annie I feel for your mini tornado, it’s been a horrible time to have to sit exams...
how can I beat my fear Annie? I don’t know how you do it. I no I’m not really on my own when my hubby is only upstairs but that’s how I feel scared...

Doodle I will certainly not refuse the vaccine so they surely
will do something to help me and others who cannot physically get there.

How are you today ?

My mini tornado has more exams tomorrow and Thursday,
she has had a rotten three years at university bless her.

Hello all.
Nanny glad to hear your DH is getting better. That was a really nasty injury. Glad Binks is behaving himself.
Joce I’m sure your little man just like having a nice cuddle with his grandma. The singing is an extra. ?
Sorry you have been anxious recently. I don’t think it does any good to lay in bed and worry. If you are able to cut off then go back to sleep, otherwise getting up may be the best thing. Perhaps be active, read something, go on GN, play online games, something that distracts you from your anxiety. Hope your spirits lift soon.
Scaredycat hopefully they will roll out the second vaccine quicker if they get more supplies. Do you know what you are anxious about or is it a general feeling of unease? I hope things improve soon. It’s a horrid feeling.
Nonnie there are some people on GN who have reported being given the vaccine at home so I’m sure it can happen if necessary. You must have a lot of snow. We had some yesterday but it has melted away during the day today.
Annie I’m sure they will come to you for a vaccine. They can’t expect you to travel. I hope you are ok and there isn’t much snow around. Is your lovely MT ok?