General chat thread

[OneFrenchEgg]

Hi all

I just thought, as I'm wandering shopping on my own, that I don't have everyday people to chat to - I didn't make school gate friends and I don't have work friends (work at home) although I like my colleagues and we do chat. Locally I realised I have no one to say hi to really or to ask to the cinema or for coffee.
So I thought - why don't we have a general chat thread? Like how's your day not disasters type thing?

I'll start - I made a start on Christmas shopping today which feels a bit daft. And I'm faffing round while my kids buy clothes until we meet at 5.30pm.

I've found a foolproof hampers or alcohol formula for presents. So that's what everyone gets! Chocolate hampers, gin, food hampers - easy peasy.

That sounds like a good idea @OneFrenchEgg . Do you have a specific supplier you use or do you make them yourself?

Lakeland, John Lewis or Cadbury - I find they are really nice quality and often have deals etc if you sign up for membership or updates

Is booking appointments on the phone a thing? I would be ok if I could book everything online but hate phoning to book appointments.

I've just listened to "Driven to distraction" over the course of the middle of the night can't sleeps. OMG I feel seen.

In other news I've also decided to live my life as if I've been diagnosed with ADHD and have been trialling loads of tools and I have found my music. Entertaining AND keeping me on task. What a revelation (It's laid back electronica btw)

@20DigitCombination Phone booking is deff a thing for me. Even though it's so easy (usually) when I actually do it - it can take weeks to accomplish

My husband is in an enormous strop because I'm trying to get some order into my paperwork but all he can see is untidy piles - I know it's really frustrating for him, but if I bow to his discomfort and shove it all in a drawer I'll next look at it in about 6 months - I really want to get some of this done and I'm on a roll.

I had a pretty bad day today with symptoms. Had a full on day which I was prepared for and wanted to get to bed reasonably early last night i.e. before 11.30. The dog chose last night to have D&V, so a night of having one eye open all night and a few trips up and down stairs to let them out. This morning I managed to focus, but this afternoon fell apart. What I'd managed to do passably this morning just disappeared this afternoon and you'd swear I'd never done it before (don't want to say what as it may be too outing). Add to that the left overs of a head cold that affected my performance too and it was a pretty disappointing day. It was my first day working as part of this team, although I have worked with them in other ways before, and I'm left wondering if they're thinking what the hell they've done in hiring me.

I haven't pursued an ADHD or ASD (I tick many of the boxes for both) diagnosis before but I think it's time. How have others worded it to their GPs? Have you just said that you think you may have ADHD/ASD and want to pursue a diagnosis and the ball started rolling or has it been more difficult? It's half term next week so I'll have time to call the GP but whether I'll get round to it or not soon is anyone's guess.😞

I said that to my GP and they had no idea about pathways etc so I had to tell them how to refer. In the end I went private.

I have terrible imposter syndrome so the idea of going to my GP makes me feel very uncomfortable, and that he'll think I'm a hypochondriac despite that I've not been to GP with anything for around 4 years. The idea of having my GP scoff at any private diagnosis is equally awful for me. It's one of the reasons that I've not formally sought diagnosis.

Started Xmas shopping today. Have bought a couple of dull but OK gifts.

I have serious imposter syndrome @Poffytop. Despite probably being the most qualified and experienced of the team today, I felt like a new graduate just starting out.

My surgery has a messaging service which I've just emailed 👊Go me!

I put in the email that I have suffered with symptoms my whole life but it is now affecting my work. I also added that I have completed several online questionnaires which lean heavily towards ADHD and ASD.

A-ha Thank you @Septemberbeginnings and @Poffytop you both nudged me today to get back on the case of sorting out an appointment with my GP for follow up on a haematology appointment I had in July. I've been trying to get an appt for about 6 weeks and they keep telling me different times and ways of getting appointments (I do follow the rules) I think I may have been rather rude on the phone BUT they keep contradicting what they have told me. It turns out there are four different ways of getting four different types of appointment and they don't know/understand the system. Anyway I am going to go in on Monday and ask for one and not leave until someone promises something. I'm overdue an HRT assessment and I have some new pain meds that my GP has to prescribe and the inclement weather is making every thing more painful.

Have any of you managed to book appointments? I've just not bothered with mine.

And I have two questions!

If you buy someone a gift and it comes with a freebie do you keep the freebie or wrap it with the gift?

If you are allowed to travel out from an alternative station, with existing tickets due to disruption, should you pay a surcharge to return once the disruption has finished? If you've driven and paid parking there etc?

To answer your first question: if the freebie is part of the gift, eg attached to it like say, a magazine with an attached book (bad example!) Then yes, give with the book. If it's say, you bought mascara from Rimmel and Boots had a "free eyeshadow when you spend £5" offer, then that freebie isn't linked to the gift and you can keep it/ give it as an extra/ give it to someone else etc.

Travel wise, I have no idea sorry.

Just come back to this - really interesting as my NT friends think they can keep it if they want it. It must be a 'rule' I've created, I'll start revisiting it!

How are people doing? I'm avoiding Christmas work parties at the moment. Tried to get out of it once already.