A Better Afternoon Than BobD

[Ducky2003]

Well, unlike poor Bob, I had a great afternoon over a couple of fluffy coffees with the lovely @wilsond.

Had a fab chat, mainly me flapping my gums whilst the poor lady politely listened 😁.

It was good to chat with someone who has ridden the AF roller coaster and has had to endure the net underwear. It's always difficult to explain to anyone else exactly what effect AF has on you.

We both decided that we are not axe wielding homicidal maniacs so will hopefully be indulging in another fluffy coffee again soon.

Thanks again Dawn.

Ang x

[sassy59]

What a lovely way to spend an afternoon. X

[Ducky2003 in reply to sassy59]

It was but I think wilsond now has earache 😁.

[sassy59 in reply to Ducky2003]

Oh well, never mind. 😂

[wilsond in reply to Ducky2003]

No she is fine!! 🤣🤣

[Ducky2003 in reply to wilsond]

🙉 😁

[Hidden]

Reminds me of my first visit to a Natter ‘n Nosh get together in Waterloo. It was held at a restaurant about a mile from the station and when I got there, everyone was tucking into some healthy Turkish, predominantly vegetarian food under canopies in a garden area. Apart from RosyG, I didn’t know anybody and really didn’t know what to expect. Nobody had two heads, three legs or was different in any way and after the initial exchange of AF experiences, AF was hardly mentioned. After several similar meets, sadly the pandemic took its toll but they were great ways help people to come to terms with condition and get on with their lives. Then in 2018, Jean and Bob (Jean really) organised a Brunch in Exeter where well over a dozen of us met up and I was coffee monitor!! Great opportunities to meet and chat, hopefully next year eh!

[Ducky2003 in reply to Hidden]

That all sounds fab. Gatherings of the AF Posse 😁. I had hoped to meet up with his Bobship at Silverstone a few months ago but sadly, I couldn't make it. I suppose it depends where everyone is around the country but I'd be game for jumping on the train to London, for example.

Fingers crossed for chances to meet up next year.😁.

[Singwell in reply to Hidden]

I'll have to organise a Welsh marches contingent-maybe mid Wakes, Shropshire and Herefordshire?

[secondtry in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I did 'the Turkish' in London once. I was lucky enough to have a long chat with someone with similar Lone PAF and a similar approach, which helped.

[meadfoot]

Tomorrow will see JeanJeannie and myself have one of our one to one get togethers for a natter and to put the world to right. Its usually either a night in, a leisurely lunch or a retail therapy session. Tomorrow its a coffee on a beautiful hotel patio under a sun umbrella looking out at the amazing sea vista, one of the most glorious sea views in the country, mm good times.

[Ducky2003 in reply to meadfoot]

Sounds lovely. wilsond and I had coffees in a Costa overlooking a KFC and Tesco car park 🤣. It was all about the company 😁.

[wilsond in reply to Ducky2003]

Lol! Coffee with a view,who needs it when you got that ambience!! Xxx

[Frances123]

Oh how I would love to have been with you or indeed with Jean and Meadowfoot and putting the world to rights with likeminded people. Hmm, hard to decide which view though 🤔🤣

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Frances123]

You'd have been welcome Frances.

[Ducky2003 in reply to Frances123]

A sea view is ok but you cant beat the architectural magnificence of the Colonel's chicken shack or the sweeping vista of a supermarket car park near the M6. 😁.

[belindalore in reply to Ducky2003]

😂😂

[wilsond in reply to Ducky2003]

Or the vista of Tesco and the ten pin bowling alley in the distance and the faint rumble of the M6....

[Ducky2003 in reply to wilsond]

Ah, I couldn't see beyond the Pizza Hut to the bowling alley 😁. I'd had spicy noodles for lunch so the rumble may not have been the M6 😁.

[wilsond in reply to Ducky2003]

Lol,me new glasses have extra powers!

[Singwell]

Brilliant! It's so good to chat sometimes with others who've had the AF experience. I discovered a bloke in our town who's had it for about 15 years - we've had many a chat about the anxiety it induces and tips on management. And laughs- no good if it's all doom and gloom is it?

[KentAndrew]

I have never met in person anyone who has AF /AFib. Very few people understand what it is. I know people who had just about every other heart condition.

(By the way - What is net underwear?)

[Ducky2003 in reply to KentAndrew]

🤣🤣🤣. You generally experience the joys of net underwear when you have an ablation. It's supposed to preserve your modesty but fails miserably 😁.I know folks who have AF but none who have symptoms, apart from one of my patients.

All the others take a beta blocker and have no issues with it.....lucky them 😊.

[KentAndrew in reply to Ducky2003]

I wasn’t offered anything to save my modesty!

[Ducky2003 in reply to KentAndrew]

To be fair, I had mine done in the private wing of the hospital (on the NHS) and had my own room with TV, toiletries and one of those "sanitised for you" strips across the loo seat......... perhaps the net undies were part of the private experience 😁.

[Frances123 in reply to Ducky2003]

Same here ducky. Mine were more a thin J cloth. Nearly put them on my head until I saw the 2 leg holes. They were on when I went to sleep but had been ripped when I woke up! x

[Ducky2003 in reply to Frances123]

😀. Mine were more like a string vest and yes, they had been shredded somewhat afterwards. They didn't cover much in the first place to be honest.

[wilsond in reply to Frances123]

For all the use they were I thinknon the head or as a blindfold would have been better!

[Buffafly]

How lovely, I know a few people with AF but none of them are interested in a discussion - the English custom of ‘How are you?’ being a rhetorical question prevailing, and certainly nobody without AF is interested either. The concept of a heart condition that can floor you for a few hours or alternatively a week while you are otherwise fairly fit just puts you in the ‘unreliable poorly person’ category so you can also be left out of things.

Getting into a rant, sorry, just feeling very down at the moment, with a flare up of osteoarthritis adding to my problems which include an impossibly overgrown garden partly thanks to my unreliable gardener who came to tell me at some length this morning how he couldn’t work because he now has long covid and burnout.

Thank goodness for this forum and hooray for meetings with fluffy coffee, real or virtual ☕️

[Ducky2003 in reply to Buffafly]

A You rant away. I'm quite lucky with most of my friends as they've been keen to learn about the condition. It's usually me who organises any lunches or coffee gatherings so they don't have a choice but to include me 🤣.They do keep wanting to meet up before my surgery, with a hint of "just in case" about it. I don't know what they know that I don't but it doesn't do wonders for my already frayed nerves 😆.

[belindalore in reply to Buffafly]

Hoping you feel better soon. Ask around. Must be someone who can suggest another gardener for you.

[Ablation7]

Ducky, you will do great! I know what you’re saying, but I think people also want to do something for you and don’t know what to do. And they think you’ll be layed up for a bit. Good luck!!

[Ducky2003 in reply to Ablation7]

No, they're just a greedy bunch who'll use any excuse for a meal out 🤣.No, I'm sure you are right rather than them trying to reenact the last supper 😊.

[wilsond]

Oh Ducky it was ,as you say,a lovely ole natter with some one who understands! Definetly up for another fluffy coffee slurp.

I wont need a lift from Mr W next time either!🤞🤞

We will set a date soon ,it was lovely to meet you xxx

[Ducky2003 in reply to wilsond]

It was lovely to meet you too. Did feel sorry for Mr W hovering, bless him.x

[wilsond in reply to Ducky2003]

His own fault,what was that about?! Come in and have a coffee too! 🤣🤣

[Ducky2003 in reply to wilsond]

It's that Y chromosome to blame 😁.x

[wilsond in reply to Ducky2003]

Yes ,without clear instruction,i.e,if you finish looking at bowling or whatever join us!....He has been in training 40 years...you try your best.

[Ducky2003 in reply to wilsond]

😄