A thread for calm - peace, happy thoughts, support.

[Ninkanink]

This is a place where those of you who might need to talk to someone can post for gentle support, a listening ear and someone to keep you company when needed. Anyone who is finding it difficult to manage fears, anxieties or just the stress of virus/isolation in general and needs a few minutes away from your thoughts, come and get comfy here and we’ll chat about anything and everything. Anyone welcome as long as everyone keeps it positive, supportive and light. No arguing, no bunfights, no politics/controversy/dragging one another down.

Hello 🌷

I’ve had a bit of a dip as well - nothing major, just feeling a bit antsy and far more impatient than usual. Most likely hormonal. Glad to hear that things are looking up for you today. 👍

The mental image of your DS2 with a huge mop of hair and a too-short dressing gown is very endearing. 🙂

We’ve finally got a grocery delivery tomorrow (we haven’t been to the shops in over 4 weeks now). I’m sooo hoping against hope that we magically manage to get everything on the list! 🤞

We’ve had glorious sunshine for weeks now, today is the first gloomy, overcast day we’ve had in a long time. I don’t mind though - I can feel cosy and comfy inside and get on with some baking, cleaning and chores.

Also looking forward to our pork belly roast tonight! 😋

Aldi and Tesco nearly broke me.
DONE for another 10 days or so.

I came back to find the kids had got the 'rainy day' sand art out. It is not raining, and they do not understand about containing the sand in one area of the house.

They wisely went out.

DS1 has given up his job. We had a talk and he's going to be SAHB (B = brother) and mind DS2 and do the housework/cooking etc. while I work. I wonder if he'll find another job very soon!

@TheOrigBrave if DS can help you with his brother and do jobs around the house that may be the best solution. Our DS was in a very bad place when DD was diagnosed with cancer 2 and a half years ago ( on top of her main condition) it gave him a wake up call, he ditched university ( which was definitely for the best, for him) and came home to live. He looked after the animals, did housework, cooked and was responsible and kind when we were living in the hospital for up to 3 weeks at a time for 5 months in cycles. It was the making of him. ( I now officially am my mother).

I've had a hard week with DD being extra ill and am struggling a bit. But yesterday was a bit better and our nurse has finally put DD on the shielded list so getting online deliveries may be easier now, she did apologise for how long it has taken. They are overwhelmed. It's raining which has scuppered my gardening plans but today I will listen to my book and knit ( around caring for DD). Take care everyone and I hope you feel some pleasure today . Photo is of my tulips planted a bit too late last autumn. Love the colours. It's a new bed and we are gradually getting the plants.

My little bit of happiness today came from the fact that all the potted fresh herbs I ordered in my grocery shop were available! I’m so excited about our delivery today (first proper grocery shop in over 4 weeks!).

@TheOrigBrave that sounds like a great plan with DS1! Hope it works out brilliantly for everyone!

@Sooverthemill ❤️ and 💐 to you and your daughter. I’m so glad things are looking up a little bit. The tulips are absolutely beautiful, they’re some of my favourite flowers.

Hello there! I would love to join you if I may. I am generally anxious and sometimes it all gets a bit out of hand but weirdly hasn't been too bad, especially given I am pretty much full time at a hospital. I love all these ideas to slow down and self care - I am definitely going to start making the most of my downtime with these great hints and tips.
Wishing everyone a peaceful week ahead x

@Wren77 welcome. We just take it very slowly here!
Yesterday we had good enough weather to do gardening together and amazingly didn't argue even when assembling a giant wooden planter to use as a veg bed ( dogs wee on anything at ground level in our small garden). It was very satisfying.

@Ninkanink we have a kind neighbour who gets a few extras for us in her weekly shop to supermarket which is an hour away. Each week I've asked for a lot of a different herb. This week she got rosemary which made me very happy. Small pleasures are worth every penny!
Photo is giant planter plus DHs elbow! It's 6ft long and we fear people will think it's a coffin!

Welcome @Wren77! 🌻

@Sooverthemill we didn’t get rosemary and thyme but luckily we’ve got plenty of each in the freezer. I’ll order tarragon and several others next time.

I love the planter! And no argument?! 😄 We don’t have a garden just now as we live in a flat rather than our house, for work. I really miss having that outside space right now! But we had a lovely walk in the sunshine yesterday, and dropped off a bag of groceries for my daughters. It was lovely to chat with my eldest for a few minutes.

My happy window sill. ☺️

And another lovely piece of artwork, again from Sam Cannon Art. ❤️

Gorgeous.

We have been doing lots of Hama beading so now have many ermm coasters?
The chalk paint (for glass/windows etc) has been a hit, the pavement chalk and sand art less so.

Stephen Fry reading Harry Potter can often be heard, as can my older son playing his guitar (lovely) or doing weird things with his DJ decks (less lovely).

Back to 'school' today and over 1hr in and the brothers are sitting working well together learning about angles.

I need to prioritise getting out on my bike alone. I did so yesterday and felt so good.

We're doing OK, folks.

Hi everyone! 🌸🌼🌺

My treats from Bobbi Brown have arrived, so I thought I would do a mini unboxing for you! ☺️

3 happy little boxes...

The eyeshadow palette has an attractive faux leather case in a matte grainy black. It’s a great size - will fit nicely into my handbag make up pouch.

The BB x Morag Myerscough L.E. lipstick case is prettier IRL than I thought it would be.

And the little mini crushed lip colour lip balm is a happy bonus!

The colours in the palette are just what I wanted! Very wearable for every day subtle make up. 👍

The Peach Passion is a good, subtle peach with a marked brown undertone; I think I will find it very wearable. 👍

And the Crushed Lip Colour is a very nice pinky brown which also suits me very well! 👍

That looks lovely @Ninkanink. What a treat!

Kitten thinking she is hidden ( look closely!)

Yes, it’s my birthday in May and in lieu of the standard celebration I’m just treating myself to a few things here and there...🎉

Love the kitten, and the bed!

Can I join please? I've been prescribed sertraline this morning, thanks

Not such a good day today.
I won't say why cos this is Calm Thread.

Does it sound bonkers to say that I can kind of feel the calm and peace in this thread? You all seem like lovely people.

Hello @danni0509 and welcome! 🌻

@TheOrigBrave I’m not all that calm in real life (or at least not all the time) but this is our special place for calm, happy, peaceful thoughts, so I try to enter that headspace before I post, to ensure it stays that way for everyone’s benefit. I hope things will look up for you soon. 🌷

Hi everyone are you all doing okay? I never know if the quietness means it's all good or so bad no one can post

Here is a photo of niceness

We had a good weekend. I got quite a few things done and also spent some nice time with both boys as well as some lone time doing my exercise.

I had a 6am work Zoom this morning (I have colleagues across many time zones). I am NOT a morning person and I go to sleep late.
I think I may peak soon.

I managed to get a click and collect for Sainsbury's later. To my delight they substituted the 6 litre watering can I ordered for a 10 litre one.
Hmmm, I wonder if I'll actually be able to control 10kg of water!

How were all your weekends?

We had a fine time! Very relaxed as DH didn't have to take any work calls ( he shouldn't but as NHS management there's usually so thing). We did gardening, tons of washing ( all our throws etc) and had a delivery from our favourite cafe of a roast dinner ( we are ordering a delivery weekly to try to keep them open) and a good bottle of wine. It was nice but then yesterday it all got hectic again. DD not too bad so that's good too.
Photo is a cat not helping with me making the beds.,

Hi everyone are you all doing okay? I never know if the quietness means it's all good or so bad no one can post

I was sure I had replied to that! I obviously meant to but must have got distracted and forgotten. And then the thread fell off my ‘threads I’m on’ - I actually had to search for it today.

Things are good here, just ticking along I guess. Although the rain yesterday and today has put me in a bit of a pensive mood. Trying to keep busy to keep it at bay.

Hello,

Ticking along. I've been granted a couple of days special leave from work to allow me to focus on my 11yo who is struggling with lockdown.

We both need to get back on track.

I am tired and often low, but trying to work on healthy coping mechanisms.

@TheOrigBrave good luck with that. This time has been tough for so many. We are okay still, had my 'shielded' phone call today ( think nurse put both me and DD who is the sick one on list). That was kind of odd. I wish the sun would come back. Miserable weather makes me feel a bit down. But we are all well. I've ordered a new WiFi speaker thingy for listening to audiobooks and music on as a treat. And at the weekend we rented a great film via cursor home cinema which is so good, new films on your TV!
This is my old boy who has picked up a lot recently ( thought he was not going to get through a recent illness) but is still very clingy!

I've just shed a little tear reading a lovely email from one of my FIL's carers. I am divorced but very close to FIL and have somehow taken on some caring responsibilities due to his Parkinson's disease (I guess that's how it often happens.....do bits here and there and then boom....we're everyone else?!).

Anyway, we've built up a friendly but professional relationship and it just made me feel warm and that we both have FILs interest at heart even if he did complain when I got his groceries from Tesco not his usual Waitrose