What are you up to today if you have chronic illness? Thread 4

[MewithME]

Link to last thread 🧵 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5438353-what-are-you-up-to-today-if-you-have-chronic-illness-thread-3

This is the bumper Christmas issue with the added challenge of all the work Xmas brings and feelings it might bring up...but we're here. Highs and lows. 🌲🌲😴🤕🤗

@Songlines that sounds like a plan! We always used stay up for midnight but not these days. Would rather be tucked up in bed! Hope your blood results come through soon.

We enjoyed Astrid Murder in Paris very much, which I think Patience is another version of. Also eagerly waiting for the new series of Professor T. Frances De la Tour is brilliant as Professor T’s batty Mum. All very quirky.

Morning everyone. I've slept like hell for at least 3-4 days in a row now, it's really getting to me.

@TeaAndStrumpets did you enjoy dinner ladies? Such a good show, I used to watch it with my mum when I was young. Your nightmare sounds awful and I completely empathise, I have frequent nightmares due to my PTSD. They're horrible.

We're going to try and stay up to midnight as my ds11 really wants to for the first time and he has party poppers to let off bless him. My DH will have no problem staying up to midnight he's off work tomorrow so will have a few beers, it will just be me struggling as usual 🙄

Happy new year everyone x

I have been unable to stay up for NY for ages. Normal bedtime for me...I may get woken at midnight by the fireworks and look out of the window at them. I feel sorry for DH who sits downstairs on his own watching the telly.

@Realisation14 it’s as sharp witted as ever! Lots of very funny lines I’d forgotten and such an exceptional cast.

How exciting to stay up until midnight! My Auntie from Glasgow used to phone all her relatives to wish them happy New Year in the early hours, she assumed everyone would still be up partying!

@FuzzyPuffling I think most people are worn out by the time NYE comes round. I loved it growing up. I don’t remember fireworks being available at New Year when I was young, but lived near the Humber so would hear all the trawlers sounding their horns.

That is very much a Glasgow thing. Best Hogmanay's I had were when I lived there. They know how to do it! I remember walking home with friends and gets hugs and kisses and wishes from total strangers 😁 I remember the phone network being too busy to cope with all the calls!

Tonight will be a much duller affair! Going to get some nibbles in and have a party of just me and my boy. Bless him, he will want to stay up so I might just doze with Hootenanny in the background after 11!

I struggled to wake up this morning. Managed to put my bin out in a hurry as they came up the road in the wagon. It's a beautiful frosty morning here. Back in bed with a cuppa now.

I will have a bath and wash my hair ... That's as far as today's plans go.

@TeaAndStrumpets that's a lovely memory. No, we did not have fireworks. That was only for London and Edinburgh back then, I'm sure!

I'm sure there was a first footing tradition about tall dark haired men being the first to cross the threshold and my Dad being tall and dark being in demand!

@MewithME Yes I do remember the first footing! Never did it but it was talked about.

it’s a funny thing but when I was growing up I never realised my Dad had an accent LOL. After I left home and would speak on the phone I would hear it. Still sounds comforting to me.

Last day of festivities here - quite a relief. We've had a couple of birthdays too, and i never sleep well over this week.

Today is going to be quiet, a short dog walk and a little bit of tidying. I'm aiming to stay up (on the sofa) until midnight, but who knows 🤷‍♀️

Morning everyone, hope it’s a manageable day for you all.
Im not a fan of new year tbh, I’m not sure why, I think maybe just because every year since my diagnosis I’ve hoped for a better year health wise and the next year rolls around to be just the same which can be a bit depressing! So will be a very quiet one here, teen DD will be out with her friends so I’ll be woken at some point when she’s back. I might push the boat out and have a baileys in my pjs on the sofa but otherwise just be a normal night watching tv with DH and I don’t think I’ll see midnight unless the fireworks wake me or the dog gets stressed!

I like to set a few gentle goals sometimes at this time of year but just small things I’d like to aim for like managing a short walk on a more regular basis, look up stretches/ gentle yoga on you tube, plan a FaceTime catch up with a old friend etc but with no set time frame or pressure to do them.

I survived my trip to London yesterday 💂‍♂️

Was a lovely day actually with DD and DM. Travel was okay and I managed the exhibition in the V&A fine. The regular massages really do seem to be helping my legs, along with regular painkillers 💊

Legs are tight this morning and I am v tired despite better sleep, so my plan is to rest all day and wash my hair later, so nothing that requires walking or standing 🤣

My intentions for 2026 are to spend more time outside, all year around. This has been inspired by the allotment, so not just when a job needs doing but wrapping up and drinking a cuppa outside on my bench too. It wouldn't think twice about doing it in the summer, but I think being outside is even more valuable in the colder months ☕

A peaceful last day of 2025 to you all 💕

Yes it’s good to say goodbye to this year. For me it started with doing probate for my oldest brother who died last Christmas Eve. A lot of family stress from that. Selling his house. Trying to sell our house, amazed at dishonesty of some alleged buyers. Sick of being clean and tidy for viewings, but hope New Year well get a sale.

The absolutely most wonderful thing to happen this year has been our little grand daughter, born after several losses. Such a cherub.

So on balance a happy year so hoping for a great 2026!

The overhead lines have been reattached but the lower wiring has not been done yet.

can’t wait to resume watching Pluribus. @MewithME I particularly enjoyed the bit with the rubbish bag and the drone - our heroine obviously can’t be arsed to obey the weight limit!

So glad it went well @Swanhilde . I haven't been to London since I got ill. Had a wonderful trip with DS the year before.i love London and big cities. Always have.

I'm with you about being outside more. I wrapped up in my outdoor oodie and sat outside for a bit the other day.

I am actually going to attempt a plod somewhere with DS today. It's beautiful sunshine. Want to end the year with a smile.

I think I am going to ask myself questions next year. Not a resolution but a guiding question when I get stressed or have to make decisions... Will this bring me joy or peace? Either is good. If it brings more stress than joy or peace, then it's a no.

I have a feeling I might've to do a big NO at work soon.

Does it spark joy? is a question I've learned to ask myself too @MewithME . Whether it's a commitment or a thing, it helps to keep my life as small as is now necessary without loosing all the fun. Drinking tea in my garden sparks joy for me so it doesn't need to be big things 😊

Absolutely right. Little things are the way. ❤️

Getting outdoors is definitely something I try to do as well as asking ‘ does this spark joy?’ love that we’re all on the same page here!
My little dog means I’m getting outside more lately despite it being colder and I feel that’s really doing me good mentally. We have a large ( somewhat overgrown) garden that she loves so I wrapped up and took a cuppa out just now and even though it’s freezing today. I probably wouldn’t have had the dog not needed to go out but it was rather lovely. I like to potter and see what I can see growing. Spotted a lone snowdrop today!

I’m lucky too in that I’m only a 10 min drive from the beach though I don’t get there often enough but that’s definitely one thing that sparks joy. I actually prefer it on a cold winter day before it gets full of summer visitors so I must add that to my goals for the next few months.

Little things are definitely the way forward. I’ve started making the trifle for lunch tomorrow. It’ll be turkey pie and lots of veg and then a birds trifle made with the packet mixes and decorated by the kids.

we’ve for family coming tonight, I am dreading it but will get through.

I'm on the "small but good things" page with you all.

We have a Morrisons curry meal for tonight. New Year treat. Yum!

@MewithME @TeaAndStrumpets thank you xx
Feeling a little better today, think I'm very hormonal up and down atm, no idea why.
Had 4 hours sleep after a few very late nights but got up early to break the cycle.
Supermarket delivery of heavy awkward stuff for the month and got MIL changed and fed.
Going to get dressed and pop to Lidl quickly in order to get the 10% voucher to use for the monthly shop in Jan.
Attempting to clean the lounge, office and dining room over today and tomorrow with DH help.
Back to work Friday.
Have got utility room to sort and downstairs to clean but will leave that till weekend.
Love to all and Happy new year. xx

Not done much here except drink coffee, shopping was delivered, put that away.

It's nice having the headspace from MIL phoning me etc, maybe there are some good things from that argument. I was hoping to get some more time back anyway.

Happy new year to everyone x

I've been naughty. We went to the forest. Plodded way further than was wise. Hope k get away with it this week! God it was glorious though. Super cold but sunshine bathing the trees.

Picked up some bits for tonight to graze on. That's me now. Sofa, telly, cup of tea followed by fizz later.

I have seen out the year well today. Feel happy.

Thank you to you all for your wonderful company this year. This space has been wonderful. Xxx

The forest trip sounds fabulous @MewithME So pleased you managed that.

@Stressybetty glad today is easier. You’ve a lot on your plate and hormones/ broken sleep are not a good combination!

@Orangesandlemons77 glad you’re finding the break from MIL is doing you good. Enjoy the peace, don’t feel guilty and stick to your boundaries when you do have to see her again.

Sounds wonderful @MewithME the nice thing about this time of year is getting indoors and getting cosy again.

Still no internet apart from this mobile phone. I imagine it’ll be Friday at the earliest now before they finish. In lots of ways we have adapted quite well. I’m getting through my Christmas books and some from last year as well. My kindle has stopped working so it’s back to hard copies.

Bought some DVDs too. Dinnerladies is still superb. A box set of Fred and Ginger movies for nostalgia.

We have loved the rather old series of The Barchester Chronicles….such amazing actors Donald Pleasence and Nigel Hawthorne and of course Alan Rickman as the loathsome Obediah Slope. Classic era BBC drama!

DH has been clearing his study and packing. He just found my birthday present from 2024 which he’d hidden!

OK that’s my ramblings done. Wishing you all a fabulous New Year!

Sorry still no internet @TeaAndStrumpets but thank goodness for old school books and DVDs!
Your DH finding an old gift reminds me of finding a new boxed Dr WHO toy stuffed right at the back of the spare wardrobe a few years ago, obviously hidden for xmas. My DS is in his 20s now so it must have been there a long time. I had absolutely no recollection of hiding it there.

@TodayIsatrickyone I am guilty of the same sort of thing! I have my little hidey holes for Christmas and birthday presents all over the place. I do remember wondering why my gift hadn’t appeared ( I’d given him a link to it) but having completely forgotten about it he’d bought me something else.

we keep finding all sorts of things. On top of the wardrobe was a box containing a Japanese tea set which belonged to my Mum. I had no recollection of having it! It’s lovely though so I will find somewhere nice to display it.