General Chat

Oh dear, Mary..
.I wonder how many more of us are out there who have had similar experiences like yourself!..Many years ago, too numerous to mention, I was chastised, not personally by a neighbour, telephone call or letter, but out of the blue...criticism came from headlines in the local newspaper! This article was read by many of my colleagues at work and I was teased relentlessly. I was so saddened and disgusted that 'whoever' in question had not got the guts to approach me in person that I sat down and penned a reply to the same newspaper, which they published, as follows:

Pleasure and priorities.........
.
Sir,
'Love thy neighbours' - how the true meaning of these words has disappeared through the ages. Most people of today identify the text with a television programme of the same name, and there the true meaning ends, perhaps today the text should read 'Respect thy neighbour'.
In life there are many pleasures; pleasures of the mind and understanding, giving and receiving, of satisfaction and achievements and so on, but unfortunately pleasures are also derived from pettiness, lack of understanding and ignorance if life in general, to me these pleasures are so petty as to assume no importance what-so-ever.
Unfortunately though, I have become a victim to such a person enjoying such petty pleasures. Sadder still is the fact that this person, for his or her own reasons, saw fit to report me regarding the condition of my gardens.
Firstly, let me say that my gardens may not be stately; secondly, that if I lived off the state then time would be of no importance and the stately gardens would emerge.
But due to the fact that my priorities are governed by my commitments;, e.g.full time employment to enable me to bring up three children, alone, and helping persons less fortunate than myself which is time consuming, then, sorry to say, the least of my priorities must, out of necessity, take a back seat.
But if it will give the person concerned pleasure on seeing my gardens as they should be, if true pleasure it gives him/her, then they will be put to right...but let them remember this well - 'No one person has the right to condemn another, whatever the circumstances'
On reflection perhaps the text quoted above should now be changed to 'Understand thy neighbour'.
Yours sincerely
J E Page (Mrs)

So Mary lass take heart and do what I did, up came the lawn and weeds and was replaced by what would be a future allotment, the kids and I went shopping and returned with a gardening book, packets of seeds of every variety and tools..tv was forgotten once the seeds started to sprout and there was competition between them on who could grow the biggest vegetable...I reckon my son cheated really by growing some sunflowers which grew, and grew and grew! maybe he thought he was Jack and was going to climb the beanstalk lol......end results of our exercise being loads of fresh vegetables, endless fresh air and lots of fun and laughter, but best of all no more complaints..I often wonder if my so-called neighbour was shamed by their action!

Good luck with garden chores and love to your children and g/children.
Lots of love....Joyce xxx

p.s. I don't know if you missed my posting of the 18th July when I sent you a recipe for 'macaroni mess', sounds horrible I know but lovely as a meal, enjoy....

Joyce P

I decided to call the Dr's and see if I could see the asthma nurse and get some antibiotics. The reception said she had gone home but they would get the Dr to call me. So I ended up seeing him and getting antibiotics.

Mary my neighbourghs garden is a mess has been for years. Even if I was bothered (I'm not) there would be no one to complain to. If I told him his garden needed tidying up he would soon tell me to mind my own business and if I wanted it cleaned up to come and do it! Why has your neighbour been able to complain to anywhere about someone elses property. Can't you tell them the same to come clean it up if they are that bothered by it?

Oh my goodness here we go again, someone, apparently a neighbour, complained to the city about my snow tires being on the driveway, and weeds and 'lumber' which means that someone has looked in the back where I have pieces of wood neatly stacked beside the house, which the contractor was going to take away for me, then had a heart attack and won't be working again for some time. I flew off the handle at the person the other end nof the phone, there is NO way the inspector could have seen the wood pile unless he stood up high to see over the fence, so my neighbour who has mental issues, is obviously the person who called them. I was initially upset but now I am ready to spit nails; I have till next Wed to clear the weeds which are also behind the fence, and the wood. With my blood pressure having been high recently, each time I bend over I want to faint, so I cannot do it, was really waiting for the man to get back to work, and avoiding being outside in the heat. Now megan is cutting the lawn and Em is going to do the back. Why is it anybody's business what's behind my locked fence. It does not mar the local landscape, beyond me why a so-called neighbour would call the city rather than speak nicely to me about it. I really do not need the extra stress. Rant over.

Carole sorry to hear you have been poorly. Hope that you feel better soon.

Also hope your sister enjoys her surprise. Have to say camping would not be a good surprise for me Lol!!!

Hey Tinkers don't stay away just cos you are doing well! We like to keep intouch. Glad you are still keeping on top of those panic attacks, horrible things.

Ann how are you? I've been off work with a virus this week so spent more time on the computer than recently. Picking up now but really need anti biotics. My chest is full of crappy stuff.

My sisters 50th birthday today. Went last night with a card and gift voucher. I knew she would be at work, but her oh was sleeping so didn't see him. Her son was there with his girlfriend sneaking round trying to find a photo of her to put on a birthday cake. Left that a bit late! Think they are going to suprise her with a weekend away camping. Hope she enjoys it. Heard a whisper they are going localy with her three kids= partners and two grandchildren.

Hi Lavender and welcome to this thread. I suggest you perhaps read just the last ten pages as the whole thread goes back several years.

Tinkers, glad you are managing the panic attacks better now. Hope that continues.

Mary I am so sorry about your friend, with that and deanna's news you are entitled to a 'down' day. But don't stay down there too long.


((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((group hug)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

hi lavender n welcome to the group
i havent been on here for abit as i have been doin so well wiv the panic attacks

im sendin deanna loads of hugs, life can be such a bi*ch sometimes

Hi Mary sorry to hear about your friend. And yes we need a group hug we are all sorry to learn how poorly our dear friend Deanna has become. I'm sure we all wish her pain free days

Hi Lavender welcome to our group, you have a lot of reading to do to catch up!

It will be quite a read Lavender, all 448 pages!!!!

I'm laughing...I think I only read a few pages from some years ago and thought that was the end of the thread...I can't find my way there!!!

Hi, A fellow sufferer but I have yet to take citalopram (although I do collect it for my m-i-l)! On lithium though and currently suffering a bad bout of anxiety. Am new to GR but enjoying every aspect of life here in this new world :-)

Hello all, not my best day, first of all feeling very sad about our Deanna, then received a call to say that a close Welsh friend has passed away this morning. Their family and mine have been close friends since 1951 when we all emigrated from south Wales- and one by one they are all leaving. So I have allowed myself a down day.
It is still very humid, not as hot, but the humidity is debilitating. Glad to see some old friends on here, may we all try to be, and stay, positive.
group hug please,
Mary

Hey Colin good to be able to say you are happy isn't it. Pleased to hear that from you xx

Hi Dorothy Teresa ~~

Dutch, Liz, Anne, Mary It's terribly sad news of Deanna. Poor Alan and Tony. I bet Deanna is still worrying about them.

Hey Colin good to be able to say you are happy isn't it. Pleased to hear that from you xx

Hi Dorothy Teresa ~~

Dutch, Liz, Anne, Mary It's terribly sad news of Deanna. Poor Alan and Tony. I bet Deanna is still worrying about them.

hello all#been on here before
hope you are all having a better day
take care
:-S

Hi Colin and all, haven't been able to get on these longer threads for ages now but seems ok at last.

Things much the same with me, but now on calcium antagonists to try and ease my high blood pressure which was discovered earlier this year. I am trying to lose some weight too but it's not working very well lol I like chocolate too much! My bp always used to be on the low side of normal so it was worrying when it went up but not at all surprising considering the stress I have in my life. My son still can't find a new job, he has been out of work since Maytime I think it was. He has done some voluntary work and is doing several short courses which are free to help his qualifications and look good on his cv. Wish he could find his niche and get himself straight, this hasn't helped his financial situation at all.

I do think about everyone here often, but don't spend as much time as I used to on the computer.

take care and stay positive folks

love and hugs
Lizxxx

Colin, good to see you on here. Joyce yes I saw that about Deanna, I hope she gets better soon.

Please have alook on gr thread LizP has put up our loverly Deanna is very poorly in hospital ,i knew she was ill when i spoke to her last week,so could we send our postive thoughts and hope she gets better soon
Love Dutchxx

Hello people. I have been keeping up with everyone's posts but have not been adding my own thoughts.

Merlin, I did google the bmj. I have been concerned for a long time that some antidepressants seem to increase the risk of suicide. I think the explanation is that in the depths of depression the person's ability to actually hurt themselves is lowered, but once on medication for a few days their ability to act on impulses increases a bit although they still feel that life is hopeless. However, studies seem to show no real increase, so it is not a reason for avoiding the drugs. They can be literally life saving.

I think I am grateful that I am not on SSRI drugs. When I was first diagnosed in 1985 even Prozac was new and my doctor prescribed doxepin (Sinequan). My current GP sees no reason to change it because it still seems to work. I probably have bipolar type 2 depression, or possibly what is sometimes called type 3 (although the term is not used in Australia) as my first hypomania occurred after I was put on anti-depressants. I took lithium for about ten years but my kidneys cannot cope with it now.

Depression can be insidious. My sister (also b-polar) asked me this morning - are you ever happy - to which I can honestly say yes. In fact, the only reason I am taking antidepressants at the moment is that I have some of my symptoms: great difficulty in getting up in the morning and even going outside, if I don't have to. Like on my day off work. I normally work 4 days a week now.

Also, hello Tinkers. I have been following your struggle with panic attacks. Dear lady, and I do not think you will ever be completely free from them, but now you know what they feel like and maybe understand what is causing them. That will help you to deal with them.

Hello Carole, Mary, Hazel, Joyce and other old GR friends on this board.

Warm hugs to all, Colin

Mary,
I hope that it has cooled down a little for you now. Our weather on the whol;e at the moment is quite pleasant, not hot by sunny and warm here anyway. We could do with some more rain.