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I’ve not read the whole thread yet, but I just wanted to say if anyone wanted a stranger to talk to about anything to drop me a pm.
Lockdown has only affected me in that I’m ready for a change of scenery for a week. My mental health is fine and if I can help someone else I’d like to
Hello Ton, lovely to hear from you again.
I'm doing absolutely marvellously. I'm just about finishing off my last few jobs for a few months; spent yesterday cleaning and servicing my 2 best bikes with new chains and a pair of GP5000s on the road bike. Today, sorted out a kiddie seat on the hybrid to take one grandchild up to school tomorrow afternoon to meet another grandchild and all cycle home together. Also started getting my windsurfing gear spick and span ready for the lake reopening on the 29th. Did a bit of guitar practice (Oh Well pt. 1, brilliant song) and finished off with some Bushmills with my post prandial double espresso. As it's St Patrick's Day.
Did I mention I'm enjoying my life?
I’ve not read the whole thread yet, but I just wanted to say if anyone wanted a stranger to talk to about anything to drop me a pm.
Lockdown has only affected me in that I’m ready for a change of scenery for a week. My mental health is fine and if I can help someone else I’d like to
Can I just say that's a super nice thing to offer. 👍
Not sure where to start.
I've been self-employed for the last 25 years but my business started going down the pan 18 months ago when my main client of 19 years stopped using me simply because they had a change of management and wanted to be seen to make changes.
The pandemic has compounded the business decline.
So I have no money, but at 57 and with no real qualifications my employment chances are slim.
The government grants have kept me going.
On top of that 2 years ago I discovered that my wife was having a second affair - I decided to give her a second chance after the first one four years ago.
We're still together but the tension in the house is horrible some days - this is because I started seeing someone 18 months ago and my wife knows about it.... But now she wants to stay together.
I would never have seen anyone else but felt forced into it by my wife's actions
I've known and "admired" the other person for about 18 years - her marriage is a facade and has been for years but, although I'd like our relationship to be made official, I'm not sure what will happen in the future which leaves me in limbo.
That said, if it wasn't for her, then I doubt I would be here and I'm certainly not giving her up for the sake of trying to keep my wife happy.
I also have three daughters at university and my sole aim is to ensure they have enough money to do what they want.
So my money and marriage issues keep me awake at night and I generally dread every day.
To be honest I've never been unhappier or low.
On the plus side I have, what would be regarded as, a big house with land and a very small mortgage and no other debts.
I'm not fit (although rowing every day this month has really helped) but my health is basically good.
Easing of lockdown will allow me to start seeing friends again (although I can't afford to go out much!) and I may even be getting a few volunteer vaccinator shifts next month!
There's always someone far far worse off than me, so I'll keep on going.
Things will change sometime.
I’m in limbo and it sucks. Furloughed from the start last year then notice of redundancy served in July. The consultation for that dragged into the autumn and my final day at work was the 4th of Jan.
I worked for a national charity doing outdoor pursuits and got a decent payout as I’d been there for 12 years so I can pay the bills for a while.
‘Succeeded’ in passing everything required to get a job with the coastguard but there were no posts available so I have an offer just sitting there for a year.
Another job I am well qualified for has just extended the deadline for applications for another two weeks as there were only three applicants! So I’m now back to job hunting while waiting for that decision.
I’m just keen to go to work but can’t.
I have good and bad days at home; my wife is working from home which is good as it stops me just snoozing on the sofa every day but I’m sick of odd jobs around the house and can’t really afford the funds to do anything big.
Haven’t touched my mountain bike for months as everything is so wet and roadie-ing only keeps me entertained for an hour before I get bored.
Bored. Annoyed. Angry at the world. But somehow still ok in myself. It’s all crap though.
Ton. Great to hear the heart is in good shape as result of all of this.
We are both fundamentally fine. Both working. I am pretty fed up with long COVID, WFH and lockdown but in reality it’s no crisis. Looking forward to seeing family in gardens and a change of scene in the Dales. I’m very unfit having only walked for 4 months but body is slowly allowing me to do some gym and I’m back working with an old PT as I try and recover from COVID. Frustrating at times, but work has been very understanding - I hope to be back working full time by Easter. Would just like to be able to ride for more than 20 mins! But it could be much worse.
Approaching ten years since my brother died, always a tough time.
At least my covid symptoms cleared up after a month or so..
Fingernails losing grip.
Hang on in there stcolin. Reach out to those offering a shoulder, on here or in the real world.
What a great thread.
Myself personally i'm feel i'm mostly doing very well, my work hasn't really been affected at all being an emergency service worker, in fact with some restrictions it's enabled me to use the gym at work more, with the result that last year i lost nearly 3 stone in weight, which has improved my cycling no end, social restrictions mean that i saved enough money to build a new road bike as well.
On the other hand my wife has been stuck WFH and she can get a little jealous of the normality of my life which has lead to a few strained moments at home, thankfully both our teenage children took very well to home schooling and were pretty much self sufficient in that regard and now they are back to school things seem to be looking up.
Increased hours of daylight and milder temperatures are helping us all to spend a little more time in the fresh air which is also improving the general mood as well. Roll on summer proper.
Take care all.
I'm a little bit scared and a little bit excited.
I've been undergoing bowel cancer treatment for the past six months and yesterday I went for a Cat scan, followed up by a MRI tomorrow to see how things are progressing.
The surgeon who's part of my treatment team phoned yesterday afternoon, and on the proviso that the scans are all positive (they'll be reviewed over the next few days), I'm scheduled for surgery in a fortnight. Trevor is finally getting his eviction notice.
Mind you, I do appear to be going for major surgery on April Fool's Day!
Kinda terrified at the prospect of surgery, but so excited that my wife and I might be about to release the pause button on our lives!
Reading through this, others' comments also resonate:
Funnily enough was thinking about stuff this morning
as every morning recently.
Better than most.
And yet still hanging on by my fingernails.
Yes
Can’t complain about my life but I do seem to be pretty angry about…
What? What am I angry about? It's more an utter sense of hopelessness. Oh yes, I remember
the full impact of brexit and perpetual Tory rule
Not that it's affecting me directly, but the direction of this country's politics is deeply troubling. It's what comes to mind when I feel like this -
I’ll be honest I was getting pretty beaten down. I didn’t really realise it but the last week was probably about as bad as I’ve been this year.
Today I feel better than I have for a couple of weeks. Sleep has been patchy, riddled with anxiety, causing a vicious circle.
But on the whole
Can’t complain about my life
I just worry for the future, my daughter's future mostly.
Pretty good. I recently got a new hardtail, training has been going well and I've lost a few kilos this year. Part of me is not looking forward to the relaxing of lockdown - I've enjoyed the relative quiet and staying at home. I've also just finished 6 counselling sessions that I was able to get through work for anxiety. That has been very helpful. It has reset my attitude a bit so I'm trying to look for the positives more often and choosing to be happy rather than get upset over things I have no control over.
Hey Ton, hope you're good,
Nothing has really changed for me, work has more or less carried on. It's not normal; GPs are on the phone and video calls and the waiting room is empty, but we've managed with just a few scares and lots and lots and lots of LFT...I think the routine has helped to make things seem more bearable, It's actually good to come to work, and (now we're on the vaccine programme) it does feel like we're finally getting on top of it. I worry about some patients who've seemingly disappeared, and we're starting to see more folk calling us who're stressed and anxious (and who wouldn't be?) Long COVID is on my mind and we're getting conflicting steers about what to do with these patients.
I worry that the trusts have now all got massive back logs for everything and our patients will be facing horrendous long waits again. I worry that the Tories will do something idiotic to be seen to be doing something about the queues,
But personally I'm good I think, daughter's coming down in a few weeks, which is something really excellent to focus on, can't wait to ride a bit further afield, the canal-side is getting a bit dull.
Bit shit. I've put on 2 stone since becoming unemployed 18 months ago. Can't seem to get motivated to exercise so my fitness level is back to couch potato standards. I need parkrun to start back up and I need to get my arse on the saddle again
I believe parkrun is due to start in the coming months? I know plenty of people who will be very happy to see it start again. Maybe my running will have come back by then.
Yeah, my local parkrun is due to start up again in June. I'm almost counting down the days.
We are both still working, both bored out of our minds, both missing family and friends.
I am desperate to get out wild camping and see something other than 'local stuff'.
I cant complain, so I wont, I know we are lucky to be here, both healthy and we are fully aware that there are people a lot worse off than us.
Stay safe everyone, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer! I hope! 🙂