Please no advice, just a friendly ear if you have one.

[Lonelymum]

Don't really want to start this because I have read other people's threads under Feeling Low and they all have real problems whereas I am just a miserable old cow. I don't think there is anything anyone could say to cheer me up, anyway. So many of you have offered me advice in the past and I haven't been able to do anything to make a difference so I don't expect I will be able to now.
BUT, I am so lonely and unhappy and can't stop crying and shouting at my kids and I get no pleasure from anything except curling up in bed with the TV on. Yesterday was particularly bad. This can't be normal. Please don't advise me to take AD's because that is not my style. I don't really want advice at all, just a friendly ear to listen to my woes.

Sorry you are so pissed off. I am not surprised. It is so hard raising children, especially with your dh not working regular hours. It can get so lonely. Has there been any luck on the job front yet?

Remember that it wont always be like this. The kids will get older an you will get more independence.

have you thought of trying the Womans Institute? (I think that we have spoken about this before), or the National womans register - both perfect for meeting people. If you want their web sites let me know.

((big hugs)) It is a depressing time of year! Bar humbug

I know Ludgershall very well (drove through it frequently to visit rellies when I was a child since 1970) If it is any consolation, our family have always described the place as the archetypal dump. No wonder you feel low! And not being able to drive! Can't you learn? Living in Ludgershall must be incentive enough for anyone!

Off now to get ds3 his lunch, but will be abck later. Oh Zephyrcat - LUDGERSHALL!!! You poor poor thing!

Lonelymum, I'm afraid I find Pudsey and the Telethon completely toxic, eek I've said it. Wonderful causes, vile way to get the money.
You have lots of friendly ears trained your way this morning

Thanks lonleymum!!!! lol We moved here thinking it would be nice to be in a little countryside village - which it is - BUT!! Going to Salisbury is nice but an hour on the bus and, well, there are no words to describe Andover Town Centre!!!

I don't really know Andover town centre (though Salisbury is lovely, don't you think?) but my children were first introduced to soft play centres at Jungle, Jungle in one of the industrial estates in Andover. Do you know it? Is it still going? If you can find it, it is worth going to, although I don't know how old your child/children is/are.
The countryside round Ludgershall is lovely, but I suppose a lot of it is MOD land.

How old are your children, LM? By the way, dh would DREAM of putting his arm round me whenever I cry. He just doesn't know how to deal with it!

Totally agree about CIN - the last straw was when I saw Lakeland selling Pudsey-shaped muffin tins >>

OMG Carla! The other day, I bought a teddy bear biscuit cutter in the shape of Pudsey Bear and didn't even realise it until you mentioned that! I'll never be able to use it again!
BTW, my children are 8, nearly 7, 4 and 20 months.

Have you got one or two at home LM?

imho any problem is real if it makes you feel unhappy, and deserving of a listening ear.

is there anything you enjoy doing for you

I think you are a keen reader from other threads - don't suppose there is a book group you could go to near you?

Hi again - Salisbury is lovely. Andover is ok but there is nothing there really - I come from Reading so I'm used to a huge town! Ludgershall was a culture shock to say the least!! It is lovely around here but just too far away from anyone and anything! Jungle Jungle is still going so we take dd (2.11) every now and then

Carla - just the one.
MTS - my pleasures do tend to be solitary (no dirty comments please)
Zephyrcat - glad to know JJ is still going. Mine used to go on and on about it, but now it is so long since they have been there and they have been to so many other soft play centres since that, when I mentioned it the other day, they looked at me balnkly and said they didn't remember it. It made me quite sad.

I dont know if it helps you feel any better but you definately arent alone in feeling the way you do LM. I try to work my way out of it because i refuse to take anti depressants, and i always end up shouting at the kids - usually over something stupid and then feel guilty for it - poor little things!

Depression is pants and advice even worse. Unicef and Amnesty are possibles for your coffee morning - I think it's a really good idea. They both have helpful websites and Amnesty do a great Christmas card project - you could get everyone to write a card. I have one of those little trampolines and instead of yelling I recommend bouncing - neighbours think I am mad as I keep appearing over their fence. Look after yourself

Can't you offer to help at the kids school, reading or something I'm sure they'd be grateful and you get to meet people and you get to occupy yourself(which I find really hard to do when I'm depressed)
I hate pudsey bear and red noses too? I work at a hospice if you want ideas for a coffee morning I'm sure people would support something like that- is there a local one?