I'm here on my own today as husband has gone to a car rally. He's off to another one all day tomorrow - unusual for him to do two days. I daren't go out on my own as suffer from sudden vertigo so I'm stuck indoors. When I'm on my own I spend a lot of time playing online Scrabble and reading as I'm afraid to risk doing too much active stuff as it tends to bring the vertigo on. I feel incredibly lazy! My chest isn't too bad at the moment although I am wheezing a bit, so it's annoying that the vertigo holds me back.
I was mulling this over and I wondered 'what does everyone else fill their time with?'. I'm interested to know. xx Moy
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Hi Mom B, I know what you mean, I took up a hobby to fill my time in. But I also tstaryed a course with the open University, I'm in my fourth year this October. I was very surprised how much time and interest it has. There is also future learn courses you can find. Hope this helps, take care and have a great weekend.love 😊 Bernadette xx
Glad you are enjoying the OU. I did my degree with them -thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a few years ago, Don't think I really want to go down that route again as it was a lot of hard work too, but I have done a few of the Future Learn courses and found them interesting. Maybe I'll seek out some more. I find I lack motivation these days which saddens me as I used to be so busy. I like knitting but am finding it more and more difficult to follow a pattern. I like sewing, but won't get my machine out these days as I'm afraid of the vertigo starting when I'm focusing on where to stitch - I can imagine stitching my finger! I'm just a bit of a wimp really. My husband bought me a lovely cross stitch last year for my birthday but I'm finding it too difficult. I don't know whether the meds have anything to do with my lack of get-up-and-go but something's getting in the way of me doing things I used to enjoy. I'm getting old before my time! Lol! Thanks for your helpful reply, Bernadette, and good luck with the rest of your course. xx Moy
I play scrabble too! I play via facebook. All challengers welcome. Find me on facebook - Glenys West- my picture is I love Wales (love represented by a heart). Send a message with a friend request please as I normally reject requests if I don't know who is asking.
I knit and read a lot.
We have an allotment. It's mine really. Fortunately I'd planted trees, fruit bushes, rhubarb and asparagus before I developed lung problems. I use no dig methods, mulching a lot. Most jobs are done on my hands and knees or from a chair. My husband's no gardener but he has been helping with watering. Of course in the hot weather I have to do the allotment early in the morning.
I watch quite a lot of television now. Before I got bad lungs I rarely watched at all.
Thanks for your reply, Glenys. I'd love to play you at Scrabble sometime as I also play on Facebook. I'm not sure how to do it with a friend request though. Do you mean send an ordinary friend request through Facebook and then when that's accepted do a Scrabble request?
I admire you getting out on the allotment. My husband is the gardener in our family. I used to grow a lot myself from seed but since he retired he's rather taken over! The shed has become his domain and he's out there every five minutes doing something or other. As he retired before I did I rather let him get on with it so he had an interest. Now I'm the one who could do with an interest so I might have to shove him aside occasionally! Haha! xx Moy
Yes send me a facebook friend request, with a message saying you are from here. I don't accept random friend requests. Then we can get scrabbling.
I retired when I got ill. My husband is now my carer, housework is very difficult because dust sets of long coughing fits. He helps me in and out of the shower too. Now he runs the house, I hope he does not try to take over the allotment, be a disater, he can't tell one plant from another.
He's a lovely man, so this is not a complaint just fact lol xx
I've sent you a message on Facebook as couldn't seem to do a friend request. I must be a bit daft or something! Suggest you try adding me - Moy Brook - picture is of the Seven Sisters cliffs and sea near Eastbourne.
Hello there, @wheesyof, I play Facebook Scrabble online too. Could we be friends, so we can play some games? Name is Bev Morris and avatar is cats and a green shopping bag.
My OH goes to car rallies too, I took my degree with the OU ages ago and I still do Future learn courses, and I have given up knitting....but I still crochet blankets for charity.
I can't lift my sewing machine anymore as it is too heavy.....so no more sewing. I like the jigsaw puzzles on the Internet, the free ones. I can still garden a bit, do water colours , puzzle and colouring books and read.
I used to feel guilty if I sat and did nothing.....I can still hear my late parents saying to me ' do something, don't just sit there' ....but now I can just sit and look out of the window if I want to.
We have a few things in common there! What was your degree in - mine was Social Sciences - loved it, especially the psychology. It's all out of date now, of course. It's funny really as I intended to do Arts but the foundation course was full so I did the social science foundation and the whole arts idea got dropped.
Does your husband take a car to rallies? We have an Austin 7 and an A30. Reg has taken the A7 today and is taking the A30 tomorrow. I go to some of the rallies that we know well but don't like to go somewhere if I don't know what facilities there are. When the vertigo comes on I often need a loo quite urgently.
You've reminded me to get my water colours out and have a go again. I used to go to lessons with the U3A and the teacher was very good, but unfortunately he had to cut back on the lessons and I could only go once a month which didn't really work for me, so I stopped going. I haven't done much painting since. I went out a couple of times with a local lady who was trying to get a group together to go out an paint but it folded almost before it began which was a shame. I didn't realise how difficult it is to paint outdoors with the changing light. Have you tried it?
I didn't know you could get jigsaws on the internet!
Your reply has given me food for thought. Thank you! xx Moy
The jigsaws are from Magic Puzzles......I only sign up for the free ones though.
I forgot to mention that I have signed into Duolingo who do free internet language lessons......I have gone back to learning Welsh after a break of over 50 years, but my late mother was bilingual so I do remember some words......mostly things like ' stop it, or shut the door' .
Duolingo offer many other languages.
As an aside , has Mrs mummy been around on this site recently?
Haven't seen Mrs Mummy for some time - hope she's ok. Diolch for the info about the jigsaws and language sites. I might try them and see how I get on. xx Moy
I'm like you Moy, unable to go out on my own as I need to be on oxygen and unable to walk far now, so use a wheel chair while I'm out. Did venture out last Sunday to a card making class unfortunately it was a disaster as half way through the session I started to become delirious. I hadn't realised I had an infection and it kicked in big time I thought I felt unwell because of this years battle with the pollen demons. Anyway I know how you feel, its like being the puppy dog with its nose pressed up against a window waiting for its owner to come home.
I craft a little, listen to audio books, tinker around on the computer (my grandson likes the idea of becoming an 'IT' person). He asks me to find out to do how to do a task and then teach him, we are looking into Power point displays at the moment.
Hubby is catching up with his lawn green bowls at the moment he has been laid up for 7 months so I don't begrudge him being out and about and he neds a break from my coughing, just get a bit lonely, a couple of big sighs are allowed now and again and then lets get on with life.
What a rotten thing to happen at your card making class - must have been quite a fright. Good luck with your Power Point displays. My husband likes to take photos when he's out at rallies or on outings and he turns them into 'presentations' with Power Point. He likes to add applause at the end! They've turned out quite well and he's shown a couple of them at our local Austin Seven club. Maybe something for your grandson to do.
I hope you are feeling better now and over your infection.
Puppy looking through the glass is a good description!
I must admit it was the weirdest sensation, the girls were talking to me and I sort of understood what they were saying but I could not put their words into action and all my actions became jumbled. My craft classes are the last thing that I do solo but I have decided its not fair for the other people at the class to look after me, so I will go to the next class and then call it a day.
Bert (my grandson) has done a couple of presentations where we have added sounds and movements and he is working on one about his own timeline from birth with mummy.
I am finding it hard to come to terms with this disease now that it is digging in a bit harder but I am doing my best to stay positive and as the song goes 'Always look on the bright side of life'.
So sad you feel you have to give up your craft group. Is there any other option? You were poorly, but I don't think that was normal for you, was it? Or have I misunderstood. I must admit, though, that I understand why you feel like you do. I keep going to WI and every time I go I pray I won't have a vertigo attack, but if I do that might be the end for the very same reasons you are saying ie not fair on the others. Perhaps we should give them some credit and ask how they feel. What do you think about that idea?
It's nice your grandson has found some of the sounds and gizmos for his own presentations already. You must be doing your bit, too!
Hope you keep well - and keep crafting!
xx Moy
Hi. I make beaded jewellery and write poetry. I also like to read and play computer games. It can get quite boring when you can’t get around so I try and have a variety of things to do. I am trying to improve my drawing skills as well. In the winter months I crotchet squares and make blankets. It has been interesting hearing what other people are up to. I will have a look for you on Facebook. My name is Lesley and I am in Wales.
I'm finding it interesting hearing what others do to pass the time and am getting a few ideas. I seem to have sunk into 'do nothing' mode right now but am starting to feel I'd like to try some new things and have another go at things I used to enjoy. Beaded jewellery sounds a nice thing to be involved in. Do you make it for yourself or do you sell it somewhere? Will look out for you on Facebook. xx Moy
I have made jewellery for friends and family but mostly I make for local charities to sell. I have never been very interested in it as a money maker, just like making pretty things. I did a lot of beaded baubles for Christmas because every time people saw mine they wanted some! Sometimes I take pictures with my phone to remind myself of things I have made. There are also some great videos on YouTube to show you how to make things which is great if you can’t get to a class. Xx Lesley
That's great - not everything has to be a moneyspinner, but I bet people love to get something you've made and the charities benefit so it's win-win! I never thought of looking on You Tube - great idea - thank you!
It is interesting and this is a lovely conversation. I've tried posting in several threads but none of my posts show up. I read the How To thread but I'm doing just like it says. I also look for things to pass the time at night as I can't sleep. I actually joined this group looking for medical advice and answers but have just been enjoying,if that's the right word, reading all the conversations here. Though not being able to post I feel a bit like a stalker! Maybe this one will work.
It has worked! Lovely to hear from you. To start this thread I just went to the right hand corner of the page where it says 'write' in blue, clicked on that and Bob's your uncle! Good luck if you try again. xx Moy
Hi MoyB, i had a bad case of labyrinthitis whilst on holiday in Tenerife and this lasted for 4 years, it made my life hell as I was still working in finance on a computer daily, it took 6 months for my eyes to stop jumping and I still cant focus on distance and still have periods where I cant walk a straight line, so I can sympathise with your condition, it is so debilitating. I couldnt stay on the medication as it made me too sleepy. I do find travel tablets that contain cinazzerine helpful or betahistine if I feel the dizziness coming on and always have them in my handbag. Talk to your doctor about your meds and how they affect you, there maybe something else that can help. Its a shame you cant do the garden as this would help alot being in the fresh air, I have to wear sunglasses as the light affects my eyes since I had this but I love being outside. You can get free games on your tablet that may help to pass the time. I want to learn a language but never seem to have the time. I do spend alot of time in the kitchen as I love cooking. Hope you find something to hold your interest, perhaps your friends can help with this, I find they are the ones that put me back on track and fire up interest. Irene x
You sound as though you are still suffering too - I didn't realise labyrinthitis could go on so long. Mine is Menieres Disease. I first had problems back in 1996 when I was a social worker - difficult to manage, but I usually got some warning of the pending attack so was able to keep working. Then I had about fifteen years free of vertigo and came off all the medication for it and was fine. Four years ago it all came back. Now the attacks can come on really suddenly and can be quite violent. The last one felt like I was being tumbled in a washing machine. I find it so frustrating.
Regarding the meds, I have seen a new consultant recently and he has upped my Betahistine to 32mg three times a day. I'm also on Bendroflumethiazide (diuretic) for it, plus a low salt (2mg a day) and caffeine free diet. I take Buccastem when the attacks start to help stop the sickness. I'm not sure there's much room to manoeuvre on the meds. Oh, and of course I take other meds for my chest and my heart.
Still, thanks to all you lovely people on this site, I've got some fresh ideas for activities and have been reminded of some I've forgotten, so onwards and upwards! I'm going to get out some long forgotten knitting later and see if I can sort it out - it's a start!
Thanks for your reply, Irene. Enjoy your day! xx Moy
Hi Moy, there is a site loveknitting.com/Free-Patterns that you can download patterns for free. I used this thinking I could teach myself how to knit ha! needless to say it didnt happen as i need to be shown, am thinking of joining a knitting club. Irene x
I think there may be some tutorials on YouTube, but a knitting club would be even better! Some of the patterns on Love knitting aren't very easy. You need someone to point you in the direction of something simple to start with. Good luck xx Moy
Hi Moy, Can't the doctor help with your vertigo, I do hope so it is an awful complaint and it does of course mean you are afraid of falling. I go to aqua aerobics, I read, play games on my kindle, I dressmake, I quilt and I knit, oh and I did my ancestry when I was housebound after an operation, if you can use a computer this is a really good way of passing time and enjoying yourself at the same time. Add all the hours I spend watching movies and dramas and there is no time left. Take care of yourself, Maximonkey.
Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, the treatments I've tried so far don't seem to be working for the vertigo. I've paid to see two different consultants several times and don't seem to be improving. It's a real nuisance as I can't safely go out on my own. The attacks come on very suddenly sometimes - other times I get a bit of warning. The ones with warning aren't so bad as I can sit down (if there is access to a seat, of course) but when the sudden ones happen, I just have to hope I'm already sitting down, or next to someone who can help me. Luckily, most of those have happened indoors.
You sound a very busy person. As you say, the computer is a good way of passing some time so I do spend quite a bit of time on it. I love the online Scrabble and play that every day. I also read. I don't feel so inclined to get the sewing machine out these days as am a bit afraid of sewing my finger if I have a sudden vertigo attack. Maybe I should give it another go, though, as I have a lovely sewing machine sitting forlorn and unused at the moment. We'll see. I watch a fair bit of TV too - but not so much while the footie and tennis have been on. I love the antique programmes.
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