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Life in Ambridge
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stasia
ReplyDeleteMarch 6, 2020 at 9:41 AM
I wholeheartedly agree, I dislike lots of nasty speech, up if we don’t speak up against the people who’s express such ideas then we are doomed. Dietrich Bonhoeffer set us an example when he Spoke out against fascism.
Martin Niemõller wrote a very moving poem, about what happens when we don’t speak out! Freedom of speech is an inalienable right.
I’m not a monarchist and have worked hard to try and support those who experience alienation. I:have tried to practice what I preach.
H. Mantel has the right to express her views, just as we do on this blog.
✔️✔️✔️
DeleteGG, thanks for the very pertinent poem.
Referring back to cherished kitchen utensils.. I have my Egg Spoon with which I eat my boiled eggs. It is at least 40 yrs old & has a small dent in the bowl. No other teaspoon will do.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite teaspoon has vanished. It is a bit bigger than usual and has a pretty pattern on the handle. Plates, mugs, cutlery migrate to my daughter's room, but on this occasion she swears it's not there. Our potato peeler can generally be found up in the compost bin in the orchard!
ReplyDeleteThe cat's knife regularly gets thrown out of the back door.
DeleteI have a favourite spoon too. It belonged to my Mum and is (I think) a child's spoon with a bent back handle which forms a loop, making it easier for a child to hold. It is very old, silver, and embossed with ‘This little pig went to market’ and a beautiful illustration.
DeleteI use it as a tea- caddy spoon for measuring out tea
Gary - I did see your answer about the prickly pear oil. Many thanks, I’ll get some and see if it helps.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely believe in speaking out when things are wrong. I just think some people in the public eye use their position to express personal views which are unacceptable to many. No further comment from me on this!!
ReplyDeleteStockpiling is happening in view of the virus and this, not the virus will probably lead to shortages. It’s a bit like Christmas when people pile up their trolley in view of the supermarkets being shut for one whole day!
My son went to Waitrose this morning.
ReplyDeleteHe said that all the packets of Paracetamol had been sold but not until Waitrose had put up the price to 70p. per packet.
How disgusting is that?
I found paracetamol were 70p in Sainsburys too. I’m sure their own brand ones are not that expensive normally. If I wanted the capsule shaped ones, which are easier to swallow, they were 90p for 16!
DeleteI am getting through quite a lot at the moment, with co-codamol too, so I hope they are not going to be in short supply
The bloke on the BBC news has just said that we don’t need to panic about the Corona virus.
ReplyDeleteThe chances of dying are is 1% and most of those will be the very elderly.
He didn’t quite say that we of a certain age had better not start reading the new Hilary Mantell book but I have decided to pass on doing so !
🤣🤣
DeleteGoing by our blogs there’s plenty of life left “in the section of our gang 🤗 “ to whom the newsreaders remark applies (even the poorly amongst us have strong spirit that’s for sure 😉)
DeleteGary many thanks for reproducing the poem.
ReplyDelete🥰
I had a lovely morning, in the cold + bright sunshine, in The Zoo today.
ReplyDeleteI, achieved, what I wanted - seeing the lions out in their new enclosure, the 4 red pandas all together for the 1st time, the new baby orangutan,
and the 10day old baby elephant.
I really enjoyed it (apart from the "boisterous" school parties).
I was surprised just how busy it was, especially with lots of young family groups, as it is not a cheap day out.
The baby elephant is just adorable. I will be back next week.
Sounds like a lovely day out Miriam
DeleteIt was.Thanks.
DeleteI have just seen on my local news feed, the situation at the big Sainsbury's close to the Cheshire Oaks "Outlet".
ReplyDeleteThey have no loo rolls and handwash, in stock, along with empty shelves.
Is it panic buying, or being sensible? By that I mean, are the general public stocking up, to then limit further outings and shopping, to limit any possible future exposure?
I have done similar, as to stocking up, but it won't prevent me from shopping. It just means a much quicker shop, so hopefully, less risk.
My personal plan is simple.
DeleteIt is to do a short shop, once a week.
Am I being neurotic, or sensible - even I don't know!
Belgian weather has been much like UK. My sister and I took in the “crossroads” exhibition this morning, Europe through the dark ages approximately 300-1000 CE (AD in old money) really interesting, well laid out and surprisingly quiet. We thought of going to the Van Eyck exhibition in Ghent but it’s sold out. Probably a Brueghel exhibition tomorrow morning then early evening train back home.
ReplyDeleteMy two great nieces (2&1/2 and 2 months) are as delightful as expected, but I wouldn’t want to be doing that full time.
When I lived in the US I experienced lots of extreme weather phenomenons...hurricanes, ice storms..blizzards..and naturally people would stock up on basic essentials knowing that it could be days maybe weeks before services would be restored.
ReplyDeleteBottled water, ice for the freezer, candles for the electricity outages, and of course The basic neccesities milk, bread, meat etc
What I could never understand was the panic buying of toilet paper. Was the anticipation of the impending weather enough to cause such a physiological condition to justify so much bog roll.
I always buy toilet paper on sale so I am never panic buying.
Love it!
DeleteI wouldn't like to be without loo rolls though, but that is a personal thing!
The one thing I have stocked up on, is my pusscats dried food.
She has priority..😺
Our grandparents used newspaper. .now newspapers are on line...the mind boggles😱😱😱
Delete😆😆
DeleteIn a chat with someone a day or so ago, talking about stockpiling I said just that A Leaves - "if the loo roll runs out I will resort to newspaper "
DeleteI always have piles of unread papers somewhere in the house.
Nowadays it's called recycling..Greta would be so proud😨😨
DeleteGrrrr....Greta ! It's unreal, & highly suspect, I think, that this 16-17yr old is given such a high profile. Why so hyped up in the media ? What does she know that scientists don't ?
DeleteActually, who does know how much climate change is down to human action, & how much to natural cycles ?
Maybe we should do what the Romans did, a sponge on a stick soaked in vinegar! We do have a good stock as Katy buys it online in packs of 48! If it runs out don’t know what to do as I don’t buy newspapers!
ReplyDeleteAnything is better than the izal at primary school..
DeleteOh here here! Or the rolls of shiny paper in the loos at the research laboratory where I had my first job - and every sheet was printed with ‘Government Property’ to discourage staff from nicking it!
DeleteOh no Archerphile ‘Government property’ 🤣 🤣 as for Izal toilet paper 😱
DeleteArcherphile Is it a cruise you have booked for your Golden Wedding Anniversary - one part of me hopes not as if so you really are having a hard time holiday wise just now as your knee situation curtailed you on your late 2019 cruise and also hindered Dubai. So want you to have wonderful stress free celebration this time round 🤞🏼
Not sure that you can put newspaper down the toilet pan nowadays ,Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteWhen our grandparents used it perhaps they had outside toilets.
Well I’ve had a lovely day at Crufts. What an experience. It’s gun dog day so watched a couple of classes of golden retrievers. You’ve never seen so many of them in your life.
ReplyDeleteLeft Mr PtbY watching agility in the main arena whilst I walked my way round 500 trade stands! Bought my 2 a posh flowery going out to the pub collar each.
Saw Claire Balding but I had hoped Noel Fitzpatrick would be there, sadly he wasn’t.
On the way home now. 🦮🐩
That sounds great, PtbY, what a day with clever, beautiful animals !
DeleteI hope your 2 give a 'woof, woof' of appreciation at their new, going out for a beer gear...
I would love to go. And one year I will...
DeleteWow! Ptby. We watched it on TV. The red setter that won the class was very lovely!🐕
ReplyDeleteBack to stockpiling. I had an order from Morrison’s today but they had run out of hand wash! We only want to wash our hands as normal! Have put out a bar of soap in the bathroom. It is lavender which is a natural antiseptic.
ReplyDeleteI have panic bought some crisps & chocolate today...😉
DeleteGood for you, Gary!🍫🍭🍷Don’t forget the wine! We panic bought a Chinese takeaway!
ReplyDeleteThat's the spirit!
DeleteNo newspaper down the pan LJ.
ReplyDeleteIt can go in the compost instead.
Crufts for PtbY and the Zoo for Miriam.
Done Crufts enough times to satisfy, but long to go to the zoo again one of these days.
Carolyn - two of my G children were responsible for messing up the green in Bristol last Friday.
That Grata T has a lot to answer for !
Ironic that they are so concerned about climate change and can’t take care of their surroundings! I find Greta a bit spooky and wonder who writes her speeches. Sure enough the younger generation will inherit the world and have a vested interest in preserving it and should speak up but she is almost too driven. I think our actions may have accelerated climate change but the actions of previous generations in pumping out pollution such as in the industrial revolution will also have been damaging. There is no doubt also that climate has a natural evolution. We are all trying I think to change things but so much is ingrained and can’t be changed overnight. We rely too much on cars and air travel is so much more common now. Cruise ships pump out diesel. I could go on. I remember when smokeless coal became the norm. Previously just about every house had smoke pouring out of the chimney.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how we will heat our houses when gas boilers are outlawed!
DeleteOr oil-fired boilers for those of us with no gas? And who rely on a wood burning stove?
DeleteLady R: 12.04
ReplyDeleteThank you for your concern. Yes it is a cruise, on the Braemar, down to Cadiz, then up the Guadalquivir river to Seville for the spring festival.
But it’s not until the very end of April, so I still have several weeks to improve my walking etc.
My main concern is whether the cruise will be affected by coronavirus. As two cruise ships have now been affected and people have been quarantined on board, we are not sure if our holiday may be cancelled but we have not heard anything from the company yet, so keeping fingers crossed.
I suppose it might depend on whether Portugal and Spain become hotspots for the virus which might curtail shore trips.
Just to add, my next door neighbours have their anniversary ‘trip of à lifetime’ booked for later this month, touring around India and then taking a cruise around the coast of China, starting in Hong Kong and calling in at various places such as Shanghai, Beijing etc. It has cost them a fortune and they had to spend an extra £200 each for Chinese visas.
DeleteNow they are in limbo, waiting to hear what will happen, whether the trip is completely cancelled or if a totally different itinerary will be followed. Who knew that such a thing as a flu virus would cause such disruption to people’s lives and plans?
Yes indeed Archerphile so much in limbo for everyone at the moment (holiday wise in particular)
DeleteI’m sure your knee will be much improved by the end of April which is why I am hoping you will not have a third hols blighted this time by the virus 🤞🏼
Agree with everything you said Ev,7:41 am.
ReplyDeleteI think Greta’s parents have a lot to answer for.
Why encourage younger children to miss a day’s schooling ?
I don’t like the idea of these mass Rallies anyway but what was wrong with a Saturday if one had to be held?
Children will go on any school trip if it means missing a day out of school.
Each year there was a trip to The Great Yorkshire Show (although we lived in Lancashire the headmaster was from the other side of the Pennines)
I suspect that very few of the pupils were interested in farming but it was a day out and there were quite a few coach loads of pupils travelling across the Pennines.
I just cannot believe that Greta is 17yrs old. I see a 10yr old at most looking at her. So used to some 10yr olds here looking 17yrs I guess 😉
DeleteI do wonder whether many 'stars' and politicians will end up with egg on their faces when everybody recognises that Miss Thunberg is a seriously 'disturbed' young lady? She repeats the same speech ad nauseum; she has had little formal education (being a school refuser from a young age;) has had serious eating disorders and is completely off the autism spectrum.
ReplyDeleteIt is her parents I have concluded who are exploiting her and her sister.
'Her' book, I suspect is just another diatribe, the same as she spouts whether she is in Europe or America. In fact for someone who is telling us all not to fly etc and only publicied just one trip, there and back, between those two continents by boat, how does she manage to keep popping up one week in US and the next in Bristol?
I do not disagree that there is something going on with our climate but for what reason I am still working out. Probably won't find out for another thirty or forty years so my questions won't be answered!
Yesterday I had phone call from eldest son telling me he thinks I should stay at home as much as possible.
It's all very well saying that but middle son has gone to London today with some of his Scouts for the annual Monopoly Run (where teams work out clues and then travel to locations featured on the Monopoly board where they take selfies and register with their own app.) All very technical!
Now waiting for JS to deliver my shopping instead of going to Aldi today. Parcetemol still advertised as being available on their website but stronger remedies have "Max 2 packets" on the descriptions. Sadly no sanitiser at all otherwise that could have gone to London today!
I have sent said son off with blue disposable gloves, extra bottle of water, a bar of soap, tissues and strict instructions to wash his hands before eating his packed lunch! He's 41 years old by the way! 😀
🤣 understandable though Spicy!
DeleteSpicy- the ‘Max 2 packets’ for paracetamol is nothing to do with rationing for coronavirus.
DeleteYou can only ever buy two packs of paracetamol in supermarkets (incase you are planning to do yourself in!).
Which is why I usually go to the in store Lloyds pharmacy where they will let you buy much larger packs and also co-codamol which is not put out on the shelves.
I ordered paracetamol from Ocado this week and was similarly only allowed to buy 2 packs.
Ah right! I remember now! When oldest was with Oxfam and went to Indonesia after the Boxing Day Tsunami he had to do some shopping for the Aid workers and got special permission to buy a large quantity of various tablets to take with him!
DeleteThere are powers that be financing all of this.
ReplyDeleteSpicy..they never stop being your children do they...no matter what their age.
I said exactly the same to mine
They are trying to tackle the virus quite seriously in the Philippines. My son said when they arrived at Manila, they were all sprayed before being let off the plane. Then they were temperature checked before being allowed into their overnight hotel, and again the next day when they landed at Masbate airport. He thinks cases of the virus will be very much under reported because in areas of poverty, and because of the cost of medicines, people tend not to go to the doctor unless extremely ill. There are health insurance schemes, but again it's a question of whether they can be afforded. I have thought so often how lucky we are to have the N.H.S.
ReplyDeleteI understand your son worrying about you Spicycushion. My daughter works at a holiday park, and visitors come from all over. She is saying if anyone arrives who has it she will stay down in the village rather than risk bringing it home. She has got the house cleaning teams spraying all the door handles in addition to the normal things they do. She knows the sprays are mainly antibacterial rather than antiviral but reckons that just keeping things really clean will help.
DeleteJust heard from son in Dubai that all schools and colleges are being shut for 4 weeks.
ReplyDeleteTwo weeks are for the Easter holiday, brought forward very early and during the second two weeks schools will send some lessons to pupils at home via computer. Nobody working in a school is allowed to go abroad on holiday during the 4 weeks or they will face a compulsory quarantine on their return. So the grandchildren are stuck at home now for 4 weeks and the family has had to cancel their planned and paid for Easter
holiday as they can’t leave the country!
Dont know what this will mean for their summer visit here, we’ll just have to wait and see.
I've been lectured by son, &, more fiercely, by D in L today on the 'phone, about thinking I might go to London next week ( exhibition at Tate Modern which finishes 15/3). They think I should just stay local for a month or so. Was going with a friend, have to see what she thinks, I guess. Just don't know 😗 On the one hand, don't want to bring anything nasty home, or to the area, on the other, don't want to over react in a silly way.
Deletecarolyn - It's the handrails and handles really and then trying not to touch your face! I am always touching my face, pushing glasses up, pushing hair back, scratching etc.
DeleteYes ! D in L & I agreed about that - we all touch our faces far more than we realize !
DeleteNear impossible not to I think Spicy / Carolyn it is often only after the action that you realise what you have done!
DeleteI share the concerns of others regarding G Thunberg and of how she may be viewed in the future.
ReplyDeleteHowever I will not be having any conversations with my G children about the subject, until sometime in the future.
They were two of the teenagers on College Green last Friday.
It feels as if all the adult population is sleep walking, giving credence, time & space to this.
DeleteWhat will the poor girl do when there's a reaction against her constant berating of adults for being useless, when every generation has suffered at what they've inherited ? Nothing new there.
What bothers me most is that she's given a public platform(even editing a Today programme!), her book is published & advertised, she is applauded in print & online : emperor no clothes syndrome or something more sinister behind the exploitation of a vulnerable teenage girl ? Is there more to it than just her parents, Spicy ? I doubt they could have opened doors for her on their own in the way they have been opened.
Agree with you, as I said earlier, it is hard to know how much climate change is happening through natural agency, how much through human.
The mother has just published a book about their lives. Jumping on the band wagon or what? Mother is a singer and father is an actor, they also have another daughter.
DeleteParts of the book were reproduced in last weekends Times.
Unfortunately I think she being exploited and perhaps groomed by a number of individuals, including her father to push ideas that masquerade as scientific facts.
I watched her speak in Bristol and she read straight from her phone.
Why did the police act as a taxi service by commandeering an electric car to ferry her about? Even climate change denier D Trump has to provide his own transport and body guards.
I think that it is important for young people to be involved in politics, but have role models and seek out knowledge based on science and political theory.
But imo little Greta is not that person.
But then if I could go back to my 15 year old self I would; most likely be out on the streets demonstrating.
DeleteMaybe the climate is changing, however it is the big industrialists and their links with politicians and governments that we should be targeting. These are the people destroying the environment and I don’t think they will take any notice of a young girl and her even younger followers.
It's probably in the genes, either that or inspired by her ancestor Avante Arrhenius who won the Nobel prize in 1907 His discoveries apparently led to the conclusion that humanity's carbon dioxide emissions are linked to global warming. A man ahead of his time, and it must be so frustrating for his family that all this time later very little has been done about it.
ReplyDeleteSorry just checked it was 1903 not 1907.
DeleteGreta is already starting to fizzle out, only diehards and politicians falling over themselves to have a photo op. See yesterday's paper when she was "addressing" the European parliament. With all the problems that are going on in Europe with coronavirus and the problems in Greece and yet this is how they spend their time? I am speechless.
ReplyDeleteNo I can see here that schools and parents are starting to put their foot down regarding these strikes. Her days are numbered as far as her popularity is concerned. There are a lot more serious things going on.
Hear hear Autumnleaves.
ReplyDeleteSuggestion to Carolyn.
ReplyDeleteMake your own alcohol wipes and pack into a jar.
Use wipes to open doors push or pull handles etc and to wipe hands every five minutes or so.
Upon return home either put all clothes into W machine on hot wash or hang in garden overnight.
Shower or bath body.
I thought it daft that schoolchildren, including from 3 schools here in Cornwall, were allowed to go on holiday to northern Italy during the half term.
ReplyDeleteFurther to rationing of pills. I went to Boots today and was allowed 3 packs of Ibuprofen 16 to a pack. It occurs that if I wanted to top myself I could always then visit another pharmacy or lurk until a different assistant! I wanted a good supply as they are much cheaper there and nowadays I don’t go into Newport often. The local pharmacy charge an arm and a leg! I only use them occasionally for headaches!
ReplyDeleteExactly Ev! Had you wanted Paracetamols I wonder if you would have been able to buy them. Speaking to my Sandown sister today the Island appears to be more controlled than the mainland re panic buying.
DeleteThe restriction on paracetamol is because an overdose causes liver damage and has often been used to commit suicide. I don’t think that is the case with ibuprofen which is a drug very similar to aspirin.
DeleteI’m sure Miriam would be able to enlighten us.
I went to Cheltenham yesterday to do a bit of shopping. Hoards of people about the town.
DeleteWent to M&S to buy a couple of things and the staff were busy wiping every down, including after every transaction.
Then to Waitrose, no loo roll, no tea except fruit types, no hand wash soaps, bacterial anything! Not much in the way of dried foods.
Lots of angry customers complaining about panic buying.
Didn’t see any staff cleaning any surfaces.
It’s a mad, 😡 mad world, at the moment.
We now have our first case of the virus on the island. The person had been abroad and is in isolation in hospital. Panic buying has happened at big Tesco where the pasta shelves are empty. Staggering when you think that even if in isolation at home it is only 14 days. How much pasta can you eat in that time? If you get the virus the last thing you’ll want is pasta!🤔
ReplyDeleteAgree Ev. As far as I know this virus doesn’t cause diarrhoea so why the panic for loo rolls.
DeleteI can understand paracetamol as it will help with high fevers, but eventually there will be shops full of toilet paper and it will left sitting there because those who panicked won’t need to buy any for a long time.
Ev., I wonder. I made a comment earlier about it being daft that school children hadn't been stopped from travelling to northern Italy; and, regarding the first case on the Isle of Wight, I know that children, teachers and helpers from Ryde Independent School went out there skiing during the half term holiday. It seems to me our Government is sadly lacking in common sense.
DeleteWe used to be able to buy bottles of Paracetamol years ago ,didn’t we Archerphile?
ReplyDeleteAs Ev says if you really wanted to take loads of them to do yourself in , you could go from shop to shop and buy them but hopefully by the time you had done all that you might have changed your mind.
I am pretty sure that you do need to take an awful load before you do really serious damage but I don’t intend to try to find out!
I don’t think one should regularly take ibuprofen.
I watched the football on TV yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThe players were not allowed to shake hands with the players on the other team.
One of the Bournemouth players later crashed into the side fence when going for a ball.
A Liverpool player went and helped him up by grabbing his hand. to help him up.
Lanjan, re paracetamol and suicidal intentions. How many tablets one individual needs to erase their existence depends on each individual and their physiology and if they drink too much alcohol.
DeleteThanks to the heads up from PtbY a few days ago, we saw Dark Waters, followed by a rather tasty supper nearby. Gripping film, so well done in every way. Nuanced, convincing performances from everyone. ( Can't think why some rate the acting better in the 50s & 60s - utter ham by comparison, imo, with many films I've seen this century)
ReplyDeletePtbY, Teflon still flourishing !! 😚😎
I just googled what every day products contain PFAS..the list includes non stick cookware, stain repellent, fire repellent , make up, household cleaners, packaged food containers, furniture, carpets and rugs and even dental floss.
DeleteHealth problems associated with PFAS include cancer, liver damage, infertility, birth defects, asthma and respiratory condition.
Makes coronacirus look like day at the beach ( i'm being ironic when I say this).
On the subject of irony.
ReplyDeleteThis is not a complaint, rather an illustration of how innocent comments can, and might be construed as upsetting by different individuals. And I am not writing as ' aggrieved of Ambridge'
A week or so ago, there were complaints on the discussion of child abuse and the possible effects upon those who might have been abused being affected by such discussions, because 'they might have put it behind them and moved on' and didn't need to be reminded of such events, because it could upset them.
The same might be said in discussions of the buying of multiple bottles of paracetamol at different chemists and of 'doing yourself in '.
This remark too, however innocently made, might recall events for some, that they have put behind them and having read, stay with that person for possibly hours.
And as a result be ' upsetting'.
We are of course, all likely to be upset by something said innocently or otherwise as we travel through life, and we cannot isolate ourselves from being so.
As I said....... just an illustration
It’s difficult not to upset others with chance remarks. In a social situation I was asked where my husband was and the person looked around for a likely candidate. In that circumstance it was hard to explain he was no longer with us especially as it would have caused embarrassment. If in the early days it would have been very upsetting but that person wasn’t to know and couldn’t be blamed. These things happen. The daughter of friends found her husband in the garage having killed himself so I am only too aware of the gravity of suicide. I think we were just commenting on the futility of limiting purchases of the various pills.
ReplyDeleteMrs P, my apologies.
ReplyDeleteWith reference to Paracetamol tablets and what one could do with a full bottle .
I could have put it better.
However as Ev says it is difficult not to upset other people with chance remarks.
There have been very few mentions of Paracetamol and in most cases it has been with reference to the increase in price .
I doubt it will be mentioned again.
When we were discussing the child abuse situation I was one of the people who mentioned how awful it is being kept on being reminded of something that happened years ago.
At the end of each episode we were hearing the Continuity Announcer saying “If you have been upset etc.
We had weeks of it .
I really don’t think one can compare a few perhaps badly worded posts with weeks of upsetting story lines .
In the words of a renowned Canadian clinical psychologist..if you havn't done anything wrong , don't apologise.
DeleteIn the words a of less well - renowned archers blogger...you are responsible for what you say..but NOT how it is interpreted.
The Archers cant avoid discussing sensitive issues because it might upset someone. From my perspective the issues around child abuse/ coercive control have been sensitively handled and indeed may have helped some people, to understand or come to terms with things that have happened in the past either to themselves or others.
DeleteWe all have the choice of switching off if we are distressed.
A sanitised Archers is not for me.
Interesting discussion. I’m actually in favour of discussing why individuals seek to behave in a way that may confuse or make us angry. The more we express our feelings the greater our understanding of mental health issues and suicidal behaviour is one such issue.
ReplyDeleteA large number of those who attempt to end their own lives will have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Around 90%.
These are made up of those diagnosed with Mood disorders, Schizophrenia, Substance Misuse, Personality Disorders and some Organic/ physical illnesses. There may be a cultural aspect to the action of suicide and reactions from others to this behaviour. Recognising emotional distress is not always easy and for some not being able to convey their feeling could be due to a number of factors. Social, political, cultural and religious.
How many of us would feel comfortable or even safe enough to let someone know that they didn’t feel like living any longer.
Psychosis is also a factor in individuals committing suicide, hearing voices etc.
Some individuals such as young men are a high risk and this is increasing in young woman. Add to that the factor for that for this group social media will play an important part of their lives. There are many websites giving details on how to end one life.
Prevention is important but to do that we need to know and understand the risks. We can only do that if those who vulnerable can feel safe to express how they are feeling. Of course some individuals are impulsive and and they can cover up and simply act on their thoughts.
I believe that if we normalised and felt more comfortable talking about mental illness then fantasy soaps/dramas wouldn’t be so interesting.
Apologies for this long comment. But when it comes to mental health we should share our own experiences of vulnerability. I had many colleagues who did just that. There is nothing worse than someone saying, but you don’t know what’s like to be.............. Fill in your dots.
Thought provoking Stasia. I don't think any one truly wants to die it's more to do with escaping something too painful to bear.
DeleteThat'very balanced & true, Stasia.
DeleteJanice, I agree that many, perhaps the majority, want to end their lives, because they see no other way through the pain they are suffering. There are, however, those who see no point in their lives, perhaps no point in life at all, have no fear of any hereafter & decide to
to end the experience.
I think these are people who do not make many suicide attempts but who generally succeed in their objective. ( Stasia, you may have a better informed view on this !)
This is neither a virus post, nor one about other issues!.
ReplyDeleteI just want to say-
Firstly - Go Scotland. 🏈
Secondly - I had a lovely evening meal with family last night.
I messed things up, as I can't tolerate cheese, and lasagne was on the menu.
Luckily, I was there earlier enough, to remind my niece about it. I had a lovely spag. bol meal which was the same, but minus the cheese sauce.
This was a true family feast, to celebrate my grand-nephews, 6th birthday. There were 7 adults + the two, now getting, very grown-up, kids (8/9 + 6).
My grand-nephew, has changed so much, but can still be a pain! His latest, is to switch off the light, for the downstairs loo (the switch is outside in the hall), so "one" is plunged into darkness.
It's certainly doing things, "by numbers".
PS I cut some fresh pasta, (which was used in the lasagne), into papparedelle, for me.
DeleteIt worked out well and was delicious.
....with a portion of the meat mixture.
DeleteI am posting this here, as it is more "off topic".
ReplyDeleteMy comment relates to Kirsty + Phil's, wedding venue.
I remember seeing a BBC TV programme, but not sure what, be it Countryfile, Escape to the Country, or similar.
This showcased, a folly on a hill, which was built for exactly the same purpose. That is, to provide a Fine Dining Experience, for "gentlemen".
I cannot recall either its name, or where it is.
Please tell me, those who know..
Ev. I made a little comment after yours of 8.51 a.m.
ReplyDeleteWell Done Scotland.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant result. 👍
AutumnLeaves - ' but NOT how it is interpreted '
ReplyDeletePrecisely my point. Thank you.
If nothing was said, nothing would ever be discussed and ' bogeys' would stay hidden in the closet.
We all make innocent remarks and sometimes someone will be hurt or reminded by what they hear or read. But we should not be silenced for fear of upsetting anyone because most will recognise an innocent remark without being upset by it.
And no one person needs to apologise for having said anything at all.
A quick extra.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely not, joining in with the paracetamol etc. topic of conversation.
I know too much, and any post would end up like a "know it all" lecture, which I don't want to do.
Just follow advice from Dr's + Pharmacists...
Back to the serious comments above I would just add that whatever ,whenever, we make a comment it *may* upset someone because we cannot know what has happened to that person in the past.
ReplyDeleteThe main reason I turned off mostly, during the Rob and Helen storyline, was because it dragged and was in places too graffic and made me very uncomfortable. Did it help women and men to escape their situation? I wonder? It may, however, have upset more people who have 'come to terms' with what happened to them and have moved on.
The same with the case of Jim's childhood experiences. Very naive to think he was a curmudgingly old man because of his childhood! Some people are born and develop with that sort of personality!
BTW I have never used paracetemol because I believed I was 'allergic' to it. On two occasions, years apart, I took paracetemol and almost immediately each time doubled over with stomach cramp soon followed by having to rush to the loo! So for forty years I have had aspirin or ibuprofen. Until when I went to hospital last summer with my blistered and raw arms when the nurse immediately ordered intravenous paracetemol to relieve the pain.
The calls for limits on the medicine was instigated because, as someone said above, it damages the liver, and then it takes three or four days before the liver fails during which time the poor person may have changed their mind. That was my impression anyway.
Yesterday I got 2 packets of Hedex delivered instead of the plain paracetemol (Unavailable.) I have kept them because I got them for the same price of the Sainsbury's own tablets!
How disappointing for you that you went for all those years without the possibility of pain relief given by paracetamol Spicy.
DeleteI (and I think Gary, too) cannot take aspirin or ibuprofen because they give me dreadful heartburn and stomach pain within minutes of swallowing them. I have been warned by my GP not to take even the very low dose aspirin often prescribed to prevent heart attacks. (Mr A has to take one daily). Apparently I am super-sensitive to aspirin and it’s derivitives and could suffer stomach bleeds very easily. So I am stuck with just paracetamol for pain relief or the opioid drugs, which is what I have been relying on since my operation.
Mrs P - Typing at the same time as you were obviously! Ditto all your comments! 😀
ReplyDeleteAs to the meds topic, yet again, I don't want to be drawn into it, to give my valuable + extensive knowledge...
ReplyDeleteI am just here to say:-
How much I enjoyed the final episode of Endeavour.
It was a good one, and tied so many loose threads together. I wish that TA, could, once in a while, do the same.
My advice is for any-one taking meds or with a medical condition, is:-
DeleteDo Not, buy off the shelf in a supermarket
Instead go to a pharmacy, to say what is required + why, and saying what meds are normally being taken.
All staff are very well trained, have qualifications to match, Also, the Pharmacist in charge, will have trained for 4/5 years, (like I did) before being registered.
That's me off for a while now. 😣😣
To add, I have provided and supervised, all the required training programmes for staff, such as :- pharmacy counter assistants.
Deletedispensers (up to NVQ level 3) plus a pre-reg Pharmacist. This person had attained their degree, and was trained by me, for their final year "on the job" to then pass their final exam, register as a Pharmacist. I was so proud, to have been a tutor + mentor.
So you should Miriam 👏🏻 ⭐️
DeleteJanice at 4. 37. Ryde school is independent and they had their half term break a week earlier than state schools so it was before the Italian outbreak but only just! This one case of the virus is someone who travelled abroad themselves and it seems self isolated. No further case today so fingers crossed! I am wondering whether our Tenerife and my Italian trip will go ahead. We can only wait and see.
ReplyDeleteMiriam you asked earlier about the location of a folly you had seen on T.V. I have no idea if this is the same one but there is a folly called Doyden Castle high up on the cliffs above Port Quin. It is owned by the National Trust who let it out to holidaymakers. It was used in the original Poldark series as the home of Doctor Enys. A local wealthy man had it built in the early 1800's as a place in which to play cards/gamble and have supper with his gentlemen friends. His lady wife did not approve of card games, and didn't like them being played at home so he built the folly to keep the peace. I guess an early version of the man cave. The views are fantastic there.
ReplyDeleteLooked it up Janice.
ReplyDeleteLovely for a romantic getaway, and hope it is the place that Miriam spoke of.
But it can't have been the inspiration for Philip and Kirsty venue as she said it looked like a bothy.
Janice are you still recovering ?
I do hope so and are better able to get out and about and do more now.
Thank you Mrs P. Had a couple of blips, mainly I think my own fault thinking that I was better than I actually am and overdid things. The doc fixed me with a stern eye and said I may have to accept I cannot do all the things I used to do (drat that for a laugh) and is packing me off for another echocardiogram on the 20th just to try to work out what is going on. Originally he said the muscle damage/whatever would heal in a year but the year is almost up, and I have been cheesed off to hear someone else say the same thing took 3 years for her to get back to strength. BUT (and I know I shouldn't begin a sentence with But but it is for emphasis!) I am much improved from those first months when I couldn't do anything except sit in a chair and read books and listen to music, and occasionally wander round the house and get tired. Life is beginning to feel good again, and here I would like to say thank you to all of you, because in the times when I couldn't do anything this blog was a source of great interest and entertainment and moral support. I just hope that everyone here who has health problems continue to improve. X
DeleteMay you continue to improve Janice, this blog has been a source of solace to most us at some point. Who can believe it will be 2 years old next month!
DeleteGary put a call out to you Ruthy recently but nothing yet ......if you are looking in do hope you are ok and to say still very grateful to you - and now GG of course 👍
Janice Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI think you are so right with my query and it could well be Doyden Castle. As I said, it is something I remember, without any real details.
I had in my mind, a taller structure, but I realise that my image is probably Broadway Tower, which is so different.
I have just been speaking on the telephone to my Dr son who tells me (as he has mentioned before many times) that one of the best supplements to take is Vitamin D ,the sunshine vitamin.
ReplyDeleteFlu like symptoms and other viruses attack more in the winter when there is not as much sun so a daily vitamin D supplement is very beneficial.
It makes good sense.
I'm pleased to hear about vitamin D supplement Lanjan as I have been taking it regularly since I had my thyroid removed 2 years ago. We are supposedly in quarantine in Emilia Romagna but people still seem to be carrying on as usual. It was such a mild sunny day that I went for a walk without contact with other people.
DeleteWas just thinking about you guys over in Italy Gianna. How does it work - are there literally roadblocks and people manning barriers to make sure you don't travel?
DeleteNo I don't think so. I read that in Milan people were out as usual. I haven't actually been to the border with Tuscany but don't see how they could police the whole border.
ReplyDeleteWe don't seem to have had the panic buying either. The health service in this part of Italy is excellent so I have confidence that we'll get through it.
Glad to hear your confidence Gianna!
DeleteGood to hear from you Gianna and pleased to hear that you are well.
ReplyDeleteLots of news from Italy explaining your situation today. We are all thinking of you.
And good to hear from Janice that she is much improved from a year ago.
Thank you Janice for letting us know.
And as Lady R has said, we have all received so much from this blog each in our own way.
Is it really almost two years ?
Gianna....May I just ask, have you had any eye trouble since you had your thyroid out?
ReplyDeleteI know it’s a bit selfish asking this at the moment, sorry all.
No eye trouble.
ReplyDeleteThat’s good. I developed thyroid eye disease about 6 weeks after my op. Finally going to consultant on Wednesday. Be good to get proper info instead of frightening myself with google.
DeleteKeep safe over there. All our Italian friends.
Will be thinking of you, PtbY, having one apt. cancelled weeks ago, more time to worry in...horrible. Hope you get reassurance as well as info on Wed. !
DeleteP tb Y
DeleteStop googling .
It reminds me of my son who said the best part when training to become a doctor was when they were in the maternity department .
He knew then that he wasn’t suffering from that particular ailment.
Wishing Janice well and with continuing I provement. Hope you find a little progress every day and are able to enjoy your previous activités. Perhaps a little slower, as happens to us all, but with renewed enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteAnd to Gianna & Autumnleaves : the news from Italy seems to get worse daily but hope you are both coping with the restrictions and managing to carry on as normally as possible.
I don’t suppose you have to go stockpiling toilet rolls as some stupid folk are here in the UK!
As far as I know there is no stockpiling of toilet rolls. I am being cautious and staying away from crowded places.
ReplyDeleteI have enough supplies to last for a couple of weeks so can avoid the supermarket.
No panic buying here either, in fact quite the opposite. Despite recommendations to keep at least 1 metre distance from others and to avoid crowded places, the ski slopes were chock a block at the weekend with skiers crammed into skilift cabins. The ski slopes have now been closed.
ReplyDeleteWe have dedicated medical personnel working round the clock trying to take care of the sick at a risk of contamination themselves while others can only think of their own enjoyment.
Thanks Autumnleaves + Gianna, for sharing your experiences in Italy.
ReplyDeleteI was in the supermarket this morning and it was well stocked, though nearly empty of customers. It was bliss!
ReplyDeleteI noticed two things:-
a) The shelf of bread mixes was empty
b) How quiet it was.
This might be due to people keeping well away from each other, instead of the usual passing comments, between shoppers.
I did a self-scan shop, and the only person I spoke to, was the assistant. I needed an authorisation for a couple of bottles of wine, otherwise I would have spoken to no-one.
This didn't bother me (but was unusal for me, as I talk to anybody + everyone).
What concerns me, is that this could affect people, and who could become more isolated.
I am just caught the end of the Commonwealth Service.
ReplyDeleteMy only comments are....
How well HRH Her Majesty is doing.
How elegant The Duchess of Cambridge, aka Kate, looked.
How "smug" Meghan appeared..and also....
How subdued. HRH Harry, The Duke of Sussex looked.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Delete
DeleteCan we turn the hatred for Meghan Markle down a bit please? I don't open these blogs so that people can make snide comments about young men OR women. If you want to do that you can go to the website of The Daily Mail or similar.
I was very careful, as to how I expressed my thoughts.
DeleteBut agree with you re Harry.
I daren't say more, as I am sure that some bloggers are Royalists, wheras others are, Republicans.
I don't want to start, a heated discussion.
GG Understood. 😘
DeleteIt's got absolutely nothing to do with whether I am A Royalist or a Republican Miriam - it's to do with you and others making nasty comments about a young woman. I don't like it and I will call out anyone who uses these blogs to facilitate bullying in any way shape or form. I have no doubt that you will say that you were in no way bullying anyone. But you don't get to decide that Miriam. Others do.
DeleteI am assuming that you never bothered to read the poem at the top of this page....
My window cleaner appeared at 8.00am this morning. I was up and about, but was eating breakfast (weetabix + yoghurt) whilst still in my dressing gown + slippers. It was not a pretty sight.
ReplyDeleteWindows were spotless for a few hours.
Now it is pouring with rain, yet again, so they will be dirty + streaky by tomorrow.
A bit of an over reaction Gary if you don’t mind me saying.
ReplyDeleteGoodbye All.
ReplyDeleteI feel that I have been bullied,
regarding the so many nasty comments, which I post.
I know when to leave gracefully.
I just wish You All Well, both now and in the future.
Miriam.
My last comment, also applies to all your lovely families.
DeleteGood-bye. 😁 😭
I would like to thank the blogger who recommended Dark Waters, have just returned and an now worried about the amount of Nast chemicals I’m carrying in my body. Very insightful and sad. I’ve been to West Virginia and it is still a very poor place. I certainly don’t think I would have had the stamina or determination to take on those Hugh corporations. He is an admirable human being.
ReplyDeleteI think I am going to try and see it tomorrow stasia - it was PbtY that first mentioned it.
DeleteIt was PtbY, Stasia, who recommended this film. I went on Saturday, & was also impressed by the dogged determination of the lawyer. The campaign nearly cost him his life & his marriage. Even near the end, we didn't think he could win all those cases.
DeleteSorry, Gary, clearly posting at the same time...another one PtbY mentioned was Parasite, set in South Korea. I also want to see that - apparently, a renowned director & it should give a really fascinating insight into a society that I imagine most of us are not at all familiar with.
DeleteThat's what I will see if the showings of Dark Waters are not at suitable times!
DeleteWasn’t me that had seen parasite.
DeleteMy other one was “Judy”
PtbY. I went to see Parasite and as carolyn says it is an insight into class and culture in S, Korean culture
DeleteBtw yesterday I had my favourite cocktail. Brandy Alexander.
I always have Brandy Alexander on cruises. Half price with the drinks package on Fred. In Tenerife we like Loco Coco a coconut flavoured cocktail. The way things are going not sure we will make it there in April although so far the virus hasn’t spread from that hotel!🤞
Delete
ReplyDeleteMiriam you have not been bullied.
You posted something that was not suitable to be posted on this blog
Something I mentioned the other day was commented upon.
I apologised and moved on.
Nobody has said that you post many nasty comments and with respect you are not leaving gracefully.
We can be rude about characters in The Archers because they are fictitious but we don’t do controversy on this part of the site.
Just do a Lynda and then normal service can be resumed.
Miriam only said that a certain person looked smug. Maybe she isn’t smug but saying she looked like that is merely a comment. I don’t know Miriam personally but it seems she is a nice lady who keeps herself to herself and is easily hurt. Looking back to that poem maybe we should speak out if we have certain feelings without being shot down in flames. Miriam is not the bully here. Sorry folks, my Glasgow side has come out over this. My Black. Country side is much milder and no matter what will not be offended.
ReplyDeleteYou've got my vote Ev👏👏👏
DeleteSorry, Ev, on this occasion you haven't mine on this. I'm not an ardent royalist, but most of them do their best to fulfil the peculiar rolethry have, & certainly the 2 younger couples do. The media has been very vicious & made assumptions about Harry & Meghan, but we don't need to accept that kind of thing on this blog. It's a 'fair cop', I'd say, & there's no bullying here, simply an objection raised to a certain type of comment, which I would hope most would accept
DeleteThat’s absolutely fine, Carolyn as I think we are all entitled to put our own view forward. Agree the media are vicious and have previously commented on the bad press Charles in particular has suffered. We all know Harry and Meghan’s story and can make our own assumptions. As far as I am concerned I will make no further comment on this but I still feel we should be able to make observations. I repeat that I found no offence in Miriam.
ReplyDeleteStasia....I’ll check out a brandy Alexander.
ReplyDeleteDon't choose to feel bullied Miriam.
ReplyDeleteSome you win, some you lose.
Take it on the chin that you had the back of your hand slapped in a mild way, say you'll try not to do it again, and carry on carrying on.
Gary was simply telling you straight that your comments on the Royal Family contained one opinion that was unacceptable.
Gary is our moderator and therefore has the right to say what's what, and that's what he did. It was not bullying.
And as LanJan has said, you ' flouncing off ' is not graceful.
Come on, be better than that.
I don’t think it was mild Mrs P but now I rest my case!
DeleteHeads up for Child of our time At 20 Wednesday 9 o'clock
ReplyDeleteI did not actually accuse Miriam of “flouncing off “ .Mrs P..
ReplyDeleteThat is all I want to say
No you didn't LanJan, apologies for rephrasing your comment on ' leaving' .
ReplyDeleteStasia, PtbY, quite relieved that this post is alcohol related. Brandy Alexander not for me, cream... yeuch. Mr P delivered a classic G&T earlier, added clout, no added bits n pieces to get in between your teeth.
ReplyDeleteGG, as always, you have my support.
ReplyDeleteI finally caught up with your talk at the conference, obviously very popular.
What I want to know is, what was your prize for?
PTBY - I haven't seen Dark Water, but it sounds like 'Erin Brochovitch' I know I've spelt that wrong (ly)
Grammer and spelling have gone to hell in a handcart, must be due to the explosion.
Thanks Mistral.
DeleteThe award was for being the first person to talk about taking the characters OUT of Ambridge! They always assumed that they would get papers proposing to take them elsewhere, but we're shocked that mine was the first one they had ever received. So it wasn't actually not an award for anything really, but hey - an award's an award!! It's in the study now and looks fantastic...
Dark Waters coming to our neck of the woods in the next couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteA popular local apéro is cognac /Schweppes, over ice, as long or short as you prefer. Don't think of ordering outside Charente..
ReplyDeleteMake mine a double please parsley...
DeleteThe boys have gone off for their walk with dog walker. She usually films the walks and it’s clear they thoroughly enjoy being with other dogs in open spaces. They have travelled more on the island than I have! Buddy is having tests this afternoon. A blood test showed he might have Addison’s disease which can be treated. Dudley has an eye problem and is partially sighted in his left eye as just discovered. Donal the vet wants to concentrate on keeping the right eye healthy. What with all that and Gypsy’s Cushing we have problems but will prevail! 🐶🐶🐶
ReplyDeleteStasia.... don’t think I’d like brandy Alexander. Too creamy. Prefer just blatant rocket fuel ones.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up Mrs P re the child of our time prog. Can’t wait. Just can’t believe they are 20. It doesn’t seem 5 minutes since they were born.
Ev: 6.43 yesterday
ReplyDeleteAs I am hoping to be cruising with Fred for our 5Oth anniversary at the end of April (virus permitting) can you tell me what a Brandy Alexander actually is? It sounds very exotic and I might give it a try. I did try a cocktail (very daring for me!) on our last cruise but didn’t like it very much.
It was very fruity but very sharp and sour and I left most of it. In the end, I stuck to a Brandy or Irish Cream after dinner as I knew exactly what was in the glass!
It’s quite a small cocktail so nice after a meal as a nightcap. It’s brandy with cacao and cream topped with nutmeg. Fred makes a nice one!
ReplyDeleteOh, that sounds delicious, right up my street. Thanks Ev! 😋🥳
DeleteHave only just caught up with yesterday’s posts on this blog and was very surprised and saddened to see the altercation re Miriam’s comment on certain members of the Royal family.
ReplyDeleteI think that Gary has a perfect right to refuse comments which he feels are unsuitable for this blog.
I didn’t think Miriam’s comment was that bad, perhaps written in haste and without proper thought of finding the right word, but Gary is correct that we shouldn’t be taking the Royals to task here, we are not a gossip column.
But also, Miriam is a very sensitive person who doesn’t take criticism well. I believe she left us once before, then returned and I can remember her being very much the same on the old BBC blog. Quick to take offence at what she feels is ‘bullying’ (which it never was) and leave, then return later. Nobody here, I am sure, wants to cause anyone distress, let alone ‘bully’ anyone.
But one has to be prepared that others may have different opinions to your own, and they have the right to express them
So, chin up, Miriam, stop apologising for your thoughts all the time, grow a slightly thicker skin and perhaps rejoin again sometime?