2018 - how’s it going so far?

Not good so far we have a funeral next week and another friend has only days left so very sad news , a small win on the Premium Bonds. 4 out of 10 I think.

Not brilliant. Not bad. Flu doing the rounds in the family. Weather miserable. DS has health problems. DH turns out to not have cirrhosis - not quite - but is more diabetic than thought. £25 on the Premium Bonds. But we have several bills which are much larger than expected. Still, there's still time for things to pick up! 6 out of 10.

We have had no heating or hot water since December 29th when our hot water tank flooded the house. Need new heating system and have to have builders in to repair water damage. Insurance claim ongoing. The heating engineers have arrived and hopefully will have new system up and running tomorrow. But we’re ok and having a meal out with friends tonight, plus I’m going to the gym to have a shower and hair wash, plus a swim , so the only way is up.

Much the same as last year. Spending most of my time looking after elderly mother, unwell husband and grand children. Already drained. Thought I was going on holiday in a few weeks but travel companion seems to have changed her mind.

We've had a very good start to our new year, new car delivered on Monday, cheque received from a claim re bank charges and most importantly it's our eldest grandaughters 11 birthday and party.
After having a few bad years we hope this is the year that changes our luck.

I can't complain thus far - I'm ok , Grampy is OK, new house is coming together, the dog is fine, grandkids fine , kids fine, family fine.

Come to think of it - its pretty darn good !

Well, apart from the lurgy, which appears to be retreating, and turning 69, things seem to be ok!

A bit up and down. Dog went over the rainbow bridge at the end of December. DGD had her 11th birthday here on Tuesday and today is DD's birthday. Heard that a much respected ex work colleague has died, so am going to his funeral on Tuesday. On the plus side, we managed to book a room near Hampton Court for July when we go to the Flower Show.
I'll give it a 6 so far.

Good. My mother had a second fall, two days after the first, on 12 December. We were told we would get extra emergency care for her so she didn't have to go into hospital. Care was actually put in place this Monday - almost a month later - and I truly believe that if I hadn't sorted it out myself it would still not be there. As I was doing two, two and a half hour round trips each day and she only had a quarter of an hour visit by the care team who hadn't attended on the morning of her fall so I am utterly, utterly relieved that the new year has brought the new and very kind, efficient and knowledgeable care team. Would I say she shouldn't go to hospital another time? I thought I would do everything I could to keep her out but another time after this? I don't know.

Excellent. I am warm, have a good roof over my head and enough food - so much better off than many around the world this new year.

Curate's Egg. Got a better than hoped for diagnosis on one of my annoyingly growing list of 'conditions'. This is something that will get worse but I now know it will probably be a lot slower than at first thought. That is soooo good but ... no one will tell me what I can do for myself to help keep it at bay which is incredibly frustrating.

I can't even formulate an answer in my head. Last year was bloody awful, this year, well...

Mum died 3 months ago so still a bit raw, especiallay as dad died the year before. On the plus, we have a roof over our heads, though not ours, food on the table and we can just about cover our bills. Thanks to a pension payout we are having our first ever holiday on our own (always with the children except for a couple of city breaks in UK) and looking forward to some sun and relaxation. Best of all our daughter is getting married this year so after several awful years, this could be the one to turn it around.

Dull. Cold. Wet. DH made redundant two months ago and didn't get the job he interviewed for. DD with dreadful back trouble.

However, my view is that every day we draw breath without pain is a gift from the gods.

Good things:- I get to spend more time with the DH. He has had some contract work. The DD is slowly on the mend and back to work. Her wedding next year seems to be chugging along (dress chosen). DS coping with difficulties at work. Days slowly lengthening. Awesome TV series beginning. Everyone still alive.

It can easily improve - enough said!

DH had a heart attack just before Christmas so moving on and hopefully upwards from that. Now desolate GC have lost their little cat on the road. January is so grey and hard to get through.

Feel so lucky to have everything we need. We've health issues but are OK. Family are fine. Still standing & still here!

No changes here or likely to be, but, we haven't succumbed to the lurgy, we ,as others have said, have a home, food and warmth. I'll give it five.

Not so bad so far. All the family have been poorly except me. But they are all getting better now. Had a lovely Christmas. Did a bit of gardening yesterday, in the sunshine. Lots of builds coming up which always makes me feel happy. And DD and SiL agreed to come on a cruise with us in 2019 to see the Northern Lights. So booked that. Lots of good things to look forward to.

Roofs started leaking above my head, where I sleep, waters dripping down - right on my head!
The downstairs loo smells like the drains are blocked, and no work until the 15th of Jan!

The cars gone in for its MOT, hoping the garage will be kind to me
And say ‘It’s passed - with no work to be done’
But it’s not the way my luck runs!

My DD left her job just before had Christmas started
She hated it there so she swiftly departed
Now can’t find a new one to go to each day
And is sleeping her days away!
(Not moaning about her really - she’s an amazing girl!)

I’m a self employed teacher, wishing I was more
But the imposter syndrome is keeping me floored,
Know that I can do better than teaching all day
But my ‘I’m not good enough’ feelings just won’t go away.

I’m stressed at the thought of self assessment day
31st January - please go away
I hate dealing with taxes and official stuff too
Makes me stressed just like nobody knew...

Healths actually crap - and I’m stuck in the rut
To the gym or not to shift this fat gut?
With the slim and lithe gym nuts who laugh (at the new members efforts) all the while
Did we laugh at you at Christmas when you was sneaking in the biscuit aisle?

Just had a letter from the hospital cancelling my date
That’s probably another 6 months that I’ll wait
They’ll leave you mid-treatment in pain and distressed
While your consultant goes skiing - he’s in need of a rest!

It’s Blue Monday next week - the worst day of the year,
Where we hide under the duvet - feeling no cheer
The start of another bad year then I guess
I’m depressed, distressed and a total sad mess.

But after all that I’ll give it a 10,
I’ll never get those days back again,
I’ve got to work hard and I know I’ll get by
But why I hear you cry, why?

Cos life is too short to let things make you sad
We’ve got to make the best of what we all have,
The good times, the bad ones they come for me and for you
But we put on our big girl pants and we battle right through.

Sadly tho, some people don’t get it
Life will only be as good as you let it
So fling back your sling backs - no more ‘have to fake it,’
Here’s to 2018 - let’s finally make it!

Erm... got carried away tea anyone?

So far so good. I've been in Oz so enjoying very hot weather and building up Vit D reserves ready for return home in a month. Staying with family so enjoying time with the gc's . Returning to my new abode 400 miles from the old one so exciting times ahead making a new life for myself and hopefully looking forward rather than back. Lots of plans .. so, yes. not a bad start to 2018 and fingers x'd it will continue.

Come to think of it, it’s not been so bad after all. No one has died or is sick, OH has work and we can pay our way. The move isn’t NOW. Everyone is happy, GD turns 7 tomorrow. What was I complaining about? So far so good!

Not too good so far. DH has had the dreaded lurgy since Christmas and is improving, but very slowly. Now I have it. A dear friend's mother has died, She was 96 and had Alzheimers, but her loss is still a sadness for our friend and for us, who have known her for 50 years. My cousin has been told that his cancer is terminal and the best he can hope for is a few more months.

On the other hand we have heard that DGD passed her ballet exam with distinction and has been selected for a weekend course with a professional ballet company, the builder has finally arrived (he was due at the beginning of December) and the car( over 10 years old) passed its MOT without any work being needed

Not brilliant so far. Spent New Years Eve and Day alone as friends usually spend it with gone to family -with 1 year old Granddaughter . DD on call all day New Year so did not see local family. Since then been ill with bad IBS and worrying about future. Can only rent as left with problems when lost DH 9 years ago. and contract up in May. Probably able to renew but not ideal as a lonely apartment . Need to be near other people as no neighbourliness here at all. 3 out of 10 .Hope it improves as the year progresses.

Not feeling very low in the first week of Jan. Yesterday I received the news that my friends husband who has been ill for some time died but at only 63. Also major row at the charity where I volunteer and some pretty nasty accusations related to loss of power of some of the men but directed at me. Sleepless nights and the fall out continues. Fat and lumpy, back pain but otherwise family all well and happy and that's what counts. Marks out of ten 5.

We have a plague of mice under the floorboards - 14 caught humanely so far.
One funeral a second cousin but she was 96 so good innings.
Now looking after Grandchildren for three weeks a massive privilege.
I've got a sore throat
5 out of 10 I think