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. 🌲🌲😴🤕🤗

@Bluebellsandwishingwells yep, those sound crappy to deal with.....you're in!

What's your novel about? How exciting? Will you have it published?

@Bluebellsandwishingwells the more the merrier! There’s a nice spot by the fire!

Hello @MewithMe
Thanks for letting me join in xx
It's about home and community, pretty much up-lit, a soothing place that I love to visit. Writing it was the first thing I did when I got my rather nasty blood diagnosis. I've always been a writer but never quite buckled down to 'the novel' (although I did write a book in lockdown but then put it in a drawer).
Am on the second draft, yes, hope to get it published somehow. It's really getting me through the rough times, my little place of hope.

Why thankyou @TeaAndStrumpets its bloomin' freezing here and I do like a nice fireplace. My recently acquired Christmas book 'A Winter Dictionary' might call me a 'fire-scordel' (someone - in particular a house cat - who could sit by the fire all day). Am having great fun with this book as I love words and I love winter.

I'm slow at reading now with MEcfs but I have some lovely winter books.

I was rereading Moominland in Winter. I also love Wintering by Katherine May and I have still to finish The Dead of Winter by Sarah someone. It was on BBC sounds that one. It's great. Folksy winter stuff.

I gift copies of Wintering to my friends. I think it's an amazing book.

My favourite winter book is The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L Sayers. Sadly my copy is packed for our house move. I would in desperation buy a copy on Kindle but thanks to having no internet my kindle won’t work! I have very few books unpacked and available so this for me is a nightmare scenario!

I remember loving The Nine Tailors when I first read it in my teens, read it again recently and was glad to find that I still loved it. I really felt that I understood the complexities of bell ringing afterwards (which of course I don't !)
I think Gaudy Night is my favourite

Swoon…me too! I have the lot in the old hardback yellow jackets and reread them in order every few years.

I also love Have His Carcase and spent many hours as a teen working out the coded letters and inventing my own

@MewithME Lots of love for the Moomins in this house!

at first it autocorrected to Mormons…

Oh, I love Moominland in Midwinter, it's one of my favourites. Their strange moonlit dreamy world... my heart is broken annually by the Groke. Its so wonderfully imaginative and in the most mythical sort of way. I'd definitely gravitate to Moomins rather than Mormons @TeaAndStrumpets
I asked for Wintering for Christmas but no-one put it in my stocking! The Winter Dictionary made up for it though. I dip into it everyday :-)
Have heard about Gaudy Night down the years, never read it, maybe in 2026?

I love Moomins ( had to test that, no Mormons) and i have the Wintering book on my book pile.
I'm currently reading and enjoying "Introducing Mrs Collins" by Rachel Parris: and imagining of Charlotte Lucas's life (P&P) after her marriage.

Welcome @Bluebellsandwishingwells to our lovely little corner.
Thanks to those who recommended the book ‘Wintering’ I got it on audible recently and I’m so enjoying it, have to keep going back a bit as audiobooks tend to make me nod off but it’s a very calming, comforting listen.
Had to take my DD to GP again today ( second visit) as DH isn’t feeling great either. She was finally given antibiotics as well as treatment for an ear infection and conjunctivitis which suddenly flared up on top of the flu like symptoms she’s had since before Xmas. She has mock exams next week but very little revision happening but I don’t care at this point, I just want her to feel better!
Its very unusual for me to the healthiest member of the household!

I bought wintering for my step mum. I do hope she’s going to enjoy it. I think she might save it for her holiday.

I listened to the new year episode of calm Christmas today, lots of things to think about.

Oh and for someone that barely leaves the house at the moment I’m cross that I’ve picked up a cold! Must have been at hydrotherapy. I’ve started taking first defence nasal spray and I’m going to neck some vitamin c and zinc. Feeling very miserable.

@FuzzyPuffling I very much enjoyed Expectations by Frances Murray which was written ages ago and is on Kindle Unlimited. It follows a poor relation of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and features the Collins family and the Bennets, mainly Mr Bennet. Very well written.

I have read quite a few of the P&P continuations and the quality can be variable but I will act upon your recommendation, thank you!

@Bluebellsandwishingwells you could start with the early ones but the novels leading up to Gaudy Night start with Strong Poison which is wonderful.

@TodayIsatrickyone really hope your DD perks up soon. It sounds miserable for her.

@FurForksSake that is tough! Hope you feel better soon.

Have you read " The Other Bennet Girl"? I absolutely loved it.
The BBC are apparently making a telly prog from it. They'd better do it justice..

@Bluebellsandwishingwells welcome to the thread!

Reading - now we're talking my language lol! Anyone read freida McFadden? Discovered her at the end of 2024 and have read about 13 maybe of hers since then. I do the Goodreads app challenge the last few years, I got 60 books read in 2025 but some of those are books I read aloud to my son as well as my own novels.

Today has been pain and fatigue and mental overwhelm. Currently listening to music in bed.

Yes I have and hadn’t realised there was a dramatisation. Fingers crossed!

@FuzzyPuffling I’ve been binge reading P+P variations for the last few months Labara Kendig writes some of my favourite easy read ones. So comforting.

I bought myself a nanna shopping trolley with wheels as I’ve been finding it harder to walk home with my little top up shops. I took it out for a test drive today and it was so much better! I’m trying to convince myself I look chic and cosmopolitan while dragging it around but I was probably more like the pigeon lady in Home Alone 😂

I’ve spent the evening embroidering a heart on Ds(7)’s vest. He was worried he will miss us when he’s at school tomorrow. So I said I’d put a heart on his vest so he’ll have us with him all day. It’s a little lop sided as I didn’t have a hoop handy so had to freestyle, still it’s the thought that counts!

Feeling a little better, sent DH off to do the big Lidl shop and he came back with an very odd selection. Landlord wants to do a standard visit to review property, any repairs etc but given the phone calls is really to check dogs etc and probably argue with DH. We're putting him off for now. Booking a viewing of another place to see what's out there.
Have just bought Wintering after reading the kindle sample, feels very peaceful, thanks for the recommendation.
I recently liked Longbourn which is about the kitchen staff during the events of pride and prejudice. Have read the other Bennett sister. Looking forward to the TV adaptation about Mary.
Hi to @Bluebellsandwishingwells welcome!

@SugarCookieMonster that is so sweet! What a lovely Mum.

i love shopping trolleys they are so useful! I bought my DD one when her boys were young. It was a very sturdy German one and could take a weary toddler on occasion, standing on the back of the chassis!

@Stressybetty glad you are feeling a bit better. I’m sure the landlord will be reassured when he visits, although it’s a good idea to see what’s out there. I know you have a lot of stairs so maybe something more on a level?