..anyone else awake??

I should have joined you here last night. I had a very uncomfortable night. I'm waiting to have knee replacements and laying still causes my knees to sort of lock and then when I turn in my sleep it is quite painful and wakes me up. I was certainly awake more than asleep last night. It is hard to drift off again as once I'm awake my mind starts chattering on . Hope you all have a good night tonight.

Hoping you don't have too long still to wait ginny? Good luck!

jinny. Ouch, that sounds very painful. There's a few insomniacs here, and it helps make the long, dark, cold and in your case, painful hours of night a lot friendlier when there's someone else to chat to. My sleep pattern's all over the place, so I never know when I'll be sat at my computer or tucked away in bed (with the light on and my reading glasses still perched on my nose after nodding off for 40 winks). I hope (in a nice way) you're not here in the wee hours of tomorrow morning, though if you are, I'm sure there'll be another sleepless soul around to talk to

Are you all sleeping soundly, I wonder? My brain will not switch off so I have escaped DH's snoring and come down for a. It is now 4am here so I expect I shall doze off around 7am just as it is time to get up

It's midday for me, while it is 2am for most of you - so I'm up.

Wish the wind would stop moaning and whistling! Trying to sleep with mobile by me in case of a flood alert isn't much fun. Can't switch brain off exhausted but…can't sleep, won't sleep. Anyone else still awake?

Hello bohemian, yes I'm up too although can't blame the weather as it is really quiet here. I do have rather a lot on my mind though. Now shall I go downstairs and make ? Trouble with that is both dog and cat will think it is time to start their day and expect food!

I was still up walking about and folding laundry when, about 2.oo I heard a cat crying at the back door. Opened the cat flap and in came the wrong cat . I bunged it back out through the flap but while I was looking out the windows to locate our own 3 legged cat Cassidy, the 4 legged cat (whom we call Jake - after Jake the Peg with the extra leg) came back in, negotiating the flap himself. Chased him out again whereupon he took up residence right outside, sheltered in the porch. I located Cassidy sitting on the coal bunker in the pouring rain, but could not persuade him to come in past his rival. So, I had to unlock the door, chase Jake away, rescue Cassidy and carry him in. You don't half get wet, carrying a soggy moggy .

Cassidy is now fed and sound asleep in his favourite spot, perched on the back of the couch. Jake seems to be also asleep, snuggled up across the cat flap which I have blocked on the inside with a bag of tools. Off to bed now and will leave DH to cope with the next episode of cat wars when he gets up at 7 or 8 o'clock.

Good morning(?) Bellasnana and Granny23 (and to anyone else who didn't get much shuteye again last night). The wind continues to scream. No alarm call in the wee hours to evacuate so, 'could be worse' I suppose.

Two very animal orientated threads! The poor wee beasties must be pretty put out with all the wet stuff pouring down on them. I feel anxious as to how this deluge is going to affect our wildlife….

It's very lonely on this thread. I'm up again fretting about this and that

I'm up.
It's nearly 4pm which is 6am in the UK. Had a lovely day with birthday visits from family and friends (my bday was on Valentine's day - this is the nearest Sunday) Got a little tipsy on Jacob's Creek Merlot (very nice). Have loads of chocolate, other treats, reading matter, gardening stuff and little nic nacs, plus a scratchy and A$50 (about GBP25).

DH got up when they arrived at 11.45 and went back to bed just before 4pm after they left. He's got agoraphobia, depression, diabetes 2, painful hands and feet, and insomnia, which leaves him ultra tired.

I'm on a carer's pension and he's on a disability pension.

I try to be a good carer, but right now, there's a bit of anti-climax.

I want to scream and run. But we don't do we? We just, well, keep calm and carry on, like the tshirt says. If I was a good catholic and went to confession, I'd get a penance for having no interesting sins! Chance to sin would be a fine thing!!! Oh dear. I'm rambling. Must be the Merlot.....

Same here I have no interesting sins apart from feeling sorry for myself and wallowing in a bit of self pity. They may be sins but there not interesting. I think the urge to run and scream "what about me?" Is pretty normall. Nice people like us don't though. We watch and pick up the pieces of people that do. You sound as if your a wonderful carer. Ramble as much as you like its one of life's little pleasures and this is a safe place to do it. Technology has its advantages but don't tell anyone. Gransnet my little secret. It's my counselor and physiatrist. Sleep well.

A belated Happy Birthday to you, Joan . Glad you enjoyed it. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate with your DH.

Happy Birthday, Joan [cake]. It was DGS's birthday on Valentines Day too and his party is this afternoon. We have had him and his wee sister here o'night while his Mum and Dad transform their house into a Tardis. It is a Dr Who themed Party.

It is unusual to hear you admit to being 'down'. I would blame the Birthday rather than the wine. DGS is newly 7 and has had a year full of improvements and developments. He has acquired interest in Sports, joined the Beavers, become a fluent reader, whereas, for us and our 'other halves', each year marks a steady decline. My 'other half' actually views this rather differently. He is 7 years older than me and having had Polio as a teenager and not expected to reach a ripe old age, he sees each year as an achievment and celebrates all the things he CAN do e.g still playing the drums with a band, rather than, like me, bemoaning all the skills and functions I seem to be losing.

I think, like DH you are usually another of the 'count your blessings' type but that you should allow yourself a 'wallow' from time to time. You have a big load to carry. (((hugs)))

Joan belated . Slept right through the night (a rarity). The relief of not having wind rattling windows and everything else finally overcame me, so I feel refreshingly awake. I don't have DH or DGC to worry about, so I sit here feeling sorry for myself because I'm alone and a lot of time lately is spent worrying about how will I lift settees and armchairs off the floor, or how do I get sandbags without a car (and lift them with a dodgy back). Phew! that 'offload' has left me feeling better. I'm going to take a rare opportunity of a blue (albeit cold) day to cycle into town, and see how the Thame's is looking.

Thanks everyone. Being a carer is not easy, but we do it for family, especially for a DH as a matter of course, don't we? Really it is his pessimism that gets me down, but I guess if I was in pain I'd be just as bad.

I hope your house survives with no damage, boheminan. Isn't there a disaster number to ring for help lifting stuff, and getting sandbags in the threat of flood? We have the SES here (State Emergency Service)

Failing that, I'd ring the council.But I've been away from the UK too long to know what is possible. I'm beginning to think we're a bit spoiled here in Oz.

Joan and

Boheminan Don't keep worrying, you will need help from someone, so ask for it. There surely will be an agency (or kind neighbours) who will be helping vulnerable people, and you are vulnerable in this instance.
Don't try to be too independent and proud, let people help you

Belated birthday greetings Joan
Granny23 my aunt had polio when she was three and lived until she was 97, despite having problems with one leg she lived an otherwise very healthy life. "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" she would say

Making up for last night's deep sleep with a sleepless one tonight. Quite still and cold outside, so going to crawl back to bed and try and unwind
again

Awake early today, but that is because I had nap, yesterday afternoon, that turned into a deep sleep for over an hour. So I am not really in insomniac mode. It was such a lovely day yesterday that I was quite busy, hanging out washing, sorting things out and generally enjoying being outside.

Two little DGSs and their parents arrive on Wednesday, so woke up planning what to cook..as you do.

Hi folks.
I'm awake since 4, still unwinding from yesterday in Oxford....birthday lunch for my youngest grandson, ate too much and my insides are complaining a bit - and taking in other people's problems a bit too much!

Good food though and - I got flowers!

It was my eldest grandson's birthday too yesterday he was 3 . We had our party with him and his one year old brother the previous Sunday on a steam train, it was just lovely.

Hope you feel better soon Alie.

Mine was 13. Now a (gulp) teenager.....think he may not be a typical one though!
How did you manage to have a party on a steam train?

The party Alie was on the Lavender Line in Sussex. The train carriage is static for the games and the children's lunch and then we all moved to this one carriage and engine (which has an open air bit as well as a snug carriage with a fire). The journey was about half an hour in total, stopping half way so that the birthday boy could wave the green flag and pull the whistle.

It was my older GS's idea of heaven. Fab day had by all.

Sounds great Kate!