Well, if we're going to talk about sht times. let me tell you about my year - Oct 2000, diagnosed breast cancer. Nov 200 surgery to remove 2 Grade 3 (aggressive, fast-growing) tumours and all the lymph nodes under one arm. Youngest child 7 at the time.
Jan - Jun 2001, 12 doses of chemotherapy, 2 every 4 weeks, feeling like sht a lot of the time, can't work, no pay, house going to rack and rooney etc.
June/July 2001, blood clot on lung, 8 days in hospital during hottest spell of year, daily heparin injections into lower abdomen; discharged to free bed but daily (30 mile round trip) visits to blood clinic until correct dose of Warfarin established, followed by weekly visits, which coincide with 4 weeks of 50 mile daily round trips for radiotherapy, taking up most of the school holidays.
4 weeks after that back to work (finances desperate), having lost most of hair it starts growing back all in different directions in total confusion. And to cap it all, now I am fit enough to catch up with all the stuff I couldn't do while undergoing treatment, I have massive astigmatism in one eye which means I can't see to do cleaning properly, let alone sensible organising or decorating, and I am on the waiting list just to SEE a consultant before I go on another waiting list for cataract-type surgery. I can't drive at night and probably shouldn't during the day.
A pretty sh*t year, no?
Throughout I have tried to post nice helpful messages on here, many of which have been ignored, some of which have been misinterpreted, a few of which have been received in the spirit in which they were intended. Some people have either a gift for concise reasoned arguments or lots of time to polish - don't know which. But some of us just sit down and type and it comes out wrong.
JanZ recently started a thread about the importance of non-verbal signals in communication and how the lack is responsible for a lot of the misunderstandings and arguments on here, and she is quite right, but robinw refused to take even that get out and went on incorporating snide little attacks like this:
By robinw on Thursday, 21 February, 2002 9:41:57 PM
I appreciate what you are saying JanZ but some of the personal abuse posted on mumsnet recently is clearly designed to insult and upset. It was defended as "vigorous debate" but abuse is not debate. We can tolerate any type of view on this site or try to set some sort of standard for what is acceptable.
By robinw on Thursday, 21 February, 2002 9:55:12 PM
This isn't a high crime area so I'm more concerned about bad behaviour in children (and those posting on mumsnet) than reported crime.
By robinw on Thursday, 21 February, 2002 7:04:10 AM
It is no kindness to the children to keep quiet as they will lack friends later. Could explain some of the people who post on mumsnet, jasper.
There are many more like this but these are just the most recent, and yes, I am aware that the date is the same as that on which she posted her "bereavement and grief" message but it makes no difference to the style and spirit of these messages which have been going on for weeks.
And this from the person who started a thread specifically for the "bigots and bitches" to have a "vigorous debate" away from her delicate sensibilities. I believe virtually nobody on mumsnet sets out to insult but if robinw thinks you have you are a non-person. If you are a member of her approved circle you probably don't even notice what she's doing.
Anyway I have had the say I wanted to say and I am off. It was nice knowing some of you.