Hello everyone I am new to this site and as I put it I live with copd.

[blackbird]

not written a blogg before so here goes - have been very in fortunate spending most of my working life working Animals ex zoo keeper and worked on a community city farm can no longer do that due to the dust and can no longer lift the hay bales! I am a single proud mum of one daughter - who leaves tommorow for a scholarship to a university in the USA. Proud as punch and excited for her - but going to miss her more than alot! I voulunteer at present for the NHS - as a tutor for a six week course which is open to all people with a chronic condition. well think thats it for now thanks again to all those who answered my question. Breathe easy people and keep a smilin.

[elian]

Hello blackbird glad you could join us ..... and welcome

You sound as though you've led a very interesting life. If you feel you're missing your daughter, then just come on here and you'll find someone around to cheer you up Will you be Skyping with her? That's how I keep in touch my daughter and grand-daughter who live in Switzerland It's brilliant !

[blackbird in reply to elian]

Hi elian - kind words thank you --- Oh yes I will be Skyping, emailing ect - is so much easier having a quick email saying I've arrived caught my bus ect without having to wait days or weeks for a postcard as reasurance!

[Lynne1955]

Hello Blackbird. Welcome to this lovely site.

[blackbird in reply to Lynne1955]

Thank you

[valm]

Hi and welcome, Val

[blackbird in reply to valm]

Thank you

[Hidden]

Welcome Blackbird.

[blackbird in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[jojam]

Hello & welcome. Jo

[blackbird in reply to jojam]

Thank you

[hufferpuffer]

Hello Blackbird, wonderful news for your daughter! I hope she enjoys her time in the U.S.A. , perhaps you will be able to visit her there!

[blackbird in reply to hufferpuffer]

Thank you hufferpuffer - As I left her at the bus station yesterday gotta say my first thoughts where new action plan of motivation - on getting out to florida to visit her!

[Hidden]

welcome blackbird - how lucky where you to have such an amazing job. - so sad you had to give it up but you must look after yourself.

hope to see more of you

[blackbird in reply to Hidden]

Hi Krazylady - yes been so luckey with work - done some loverly work satisfaction jobs - bit like having a hobby and getting paid for it the bank balance suffers though! So yes was sad when had to give it up - but dust hay straw feathers fur - can't think of a worse cocktail for someone with a bad chest! thanks for reply take care.

[RichardAT]

Hi, and welcome. Your daughter must be very excited with the scholarship and quite rightly you are proud of her! Can you give more details regarding the course that you run, you have piqued my curiosity. Take care, and keep on blogging. Richard

[blackbird in reply to RichardAT]

hi RichardAT -- The NHS run a 6 week course for people who have a long term health problem and people who live with them. And its free. The aim is to help people on a daily basis manage problums using different tools for example better breathing, distraction or relaxtion techniques. All volunteer tutors have taken the course themselves been on trainning have a crb check and have a long term condition - I know tutors with ms depression ect. For more information and to find courses in your area - ask your GP or google 'The Expert patients programme - NHS Choices. Just dropped my daughter off for flight today --- she is very excited about her adventure, I am excited for her too although alittle sad!

[O2Trees]

Hi Blackbird - im new here too and enjoyed reading your post which inspired me to reply, first time. Ive not introduced myself yet -hopefully get round to it soon.

Im also a tutor on possibly the same NHS course - the Expert Patients Programme? this teaches about self-management and self-advocacy for patients living with any long term (chronic) condition. So very relevant for anyone here who would be interested in doing it - and its free. Maybe people know about it already.

I also have been a single parent and have a daughter who lives in the U.S. who I miss hugely. And animal experience - i had many dogs all my adult life until our dear Rocky died a few years ago and my COPD - or at least its asthma component - unexpectedly improved so much Ive decided I cant get another dog i had thought the drugs i take (Symbicort) would have topped the asthma. so now I walk friends' dogs and have them to stay for short times which seems ok so far so not totally deprived.

Good luck to your daughter!

[blackbird]

Hi 02 - Yay we are both EPP Tutors and as you say relevant to anybody here and its free, a good way of meeting people and finding out local information ect. I have only taken a few courses - my last one was interesting as it was with the chinese community via an intrepreter! It was also attended by carers/family members to inprove their English! Some parts had to be omitted though as they did not translate and or would be felt unluckey by some members of the chinese community. I too have not replaced any pets who have sadly passed knowing it to be the sensible thing as I also have Asthma/copd - so now I just have 2 cats and 4 Chipmonks...I have been thinking about getting an older dog as daughter leaving for USA and as I used to work for a while at a dog rescue but I think after reading your post the most sensible thing to do is to volunteer to walk dogs for either a charity or friends - cuts down the costs and worry of taking them out on bad days and also stops as you say the feeling of being deprived. I see also you have a daughter in the US - hope you have found your way around Skype this helps....Thank you for your reply and kind wishes for my daughter.

[pechinawa]

You never said which Zoo you worked for i am being nosey but can u say which one ?

[blackbird in reply to pechinawa]

Battersea park zoo in london by the peace parcoda - Its a small zoo so you get a chance to work with all the animals mainly monkeys, marmosets otters ect but no big animals like lions tigers rhinos ect - I especially liked having lunch with the ring tailed lemurs and playing with the kea. Its a while back now but fond memories!