Free for All on Friday

Good morning all and here we are on another Friday almost half way through 2021. Can you believe that? I'm struggling to pin down anything that happened in the last six months to be honest.

It being Friday, this is your chance to go as wildly off-topic as you wish (always remembering Community guidelines that is! 😃). Please do share with us your thoughts, comments, pictures, news........ Whatever you wish.

How nice it's been to have some warmer days. I actually enjoyed a walk to the shops with no bowed head or coat flapping in wind and rain. I'm incredulous that we've already eaten up six months of the year too! Where did that time go?

My good news is that my daughter has secured a new job, after 30+ year career as a police officer in the Met. She's really happy to be making the break and will in any case be doing work related to her speciality in the Met. It's a huge relief for her as it's not been a good time for job-hunting.

It's also a relief for me after so many telephone calls going over proposed CV's and practising interview techniques. I've been feeling almost like a recruiter myself.

It's much more humdrum here in Southampton and my only news is that I started a new craft project. I'm repurposing an old Kirsty Allsopp craft book, which I bought in a charity shop to find pages missing, so an ideal candidate for the 'chop'.

I love junk journalling. I can be as daft and creative as I please. There's no need for perfection. It seems to take on a life of its own and I never know how it will turn out until I'm there. And then I have a unique journal to scribble in and add my own thoughts, quotes, sketches, favourite poems etc.

Do any of you enjoy craft of any kind? Please let us know.

So, have a good weekend everyone, including the Bank Holiday if you happen to be doing anything. And if so, do let us know what that is! Take care.

[Hidden]

Hi Sue , yes half way through the year and it feels like we have been sat still to long let's hope in June restrictions are lifted and we are free to do as we like with caution . Congratulations to your daughter in her new job and I hope you have a nice weekend whatever you decide to do ,I'm just hoping I will be ok to do a few things in the garden after my second vaccine at noon . Anyway take care of yourself and speak soon Clive X 🤗

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Best of luck with your second vaccine!

Mine is due in a few weeks time.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Catgirl1976 , thank you for your kind wishes I don't feel any different since the second vaccine touch wood. Clive X 🤗

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Clive and I'll pass on your good wishes. Well done on reaching the time for your second vaccine and I hope you'll be spared any after-effects so that you can put in some time in the garden. It's such a relief to be able to go outside again without shivering or getting soaked. Have a good one Clive! x 👍😊🔆

[Hidden]

That's great to hear your daughter has got a new job!

I had an interview at 10 this morning in zoom and I went away from there feeling I had given it the best I could which is all that matters.

Wednesday I had a video interview that went badly and it felt like the end of the world when it happened but it wasnt a waste as I know not to go to that employer again.

What happened was I was due to have been seen at 2.30pm and at 1.30 got a call from them asking could I move the interview forward and I had just sat down to lunch and did the interview at 2.30 as booked and then they were rude to me then and I was fed up of their attitude so had ended the call early!

This mornings interview was more professional and they put me at ease and they said they will let everyone know perhaps at 4pm this afternoon.

Hubby and my mate had said how them calling me at 1.30 was cheeky just to move the interview forward and it would have annoyed them as well!

This weekend is a weekend at home after last week out in Taunton which I really enjoyed that was put off from last year and I feel you enjoy things more when you have had to have waited for them and appreciate them more as well.

Your daughter getting another job has given me hope that I will get one when I am good and ready for it!

One of my friends said how I will get something else when I am ready and when the times right for me.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Catgirl1976, Thanks so much for your good wishes for my daughter, and I'm really pleased it's encouraged you to persevere. My daughter too went through periods when she really wondered what was wrong with her. You do start to question everything, from your qualifications to your personality, but I think your friend's right. When the time's right, you will get your job, so hang in there! I hope you enjoy your quieter weekend. Take care!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

There was Mandy on the other board really wanting to move house and it was really eating at her and I had said how many years ago I had been house hunting and had been disappointed as well and did get something eventually and how time has passed by I now walk past the places I lost out in and I am glad I never got them as I reckon I would have hated them and I hope in time Mandy can do the same.

I have interviews next week both Wednesday and Thursday nice and early and some the following week in Newport and also for now an early one at 9am up in Newport the week after.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Good luck with those Catgirl1976 and I'll keep you in my thoughts! 🙏

[Sara_2611]

I like embroidery although ive not done any for a while I've done about 13 pictures altogether -some ive got at home some ive done for mum & dad Now & again I like to do some colouring

Well Ive actually got my ride out in this morning (Friday 28th) -the weather was decent for a change unlike last week

Well I've had the NHS rochdale health authority harrasing me on the phone this afternoon -they cancelled an online course due to covid . & Last week they phoned harrasing me about the self help management course & I told then I have college tutorials on a wednesday & they were very rude going Cant you change it?? So I was rude back saying I can only ask my tutor & if she says no outright I will be giving my college tutorials priority which is non negotiable by the NHS & told them I would NOT be bullied into changing it .

Any wa cutting a long story short my tutor said yes do the course & she ll contact me & arrange a tutorial to work round it

What I am SICK & TIRED OF !! is the NHS BULLYING!! me into doing something I dont particularly want to do -

At 3pm BANG ON THE BLOODY DOT & NOT A MOMENT BEFORE OR AFTER THEY BLOODY WELL CONTACTED ME & you shouldve heard the woman's high pitch voice when I told her I ll just try it & see how it goes She said OH BRILLIANT in a high pitch that gave clear indication of VICTORY !!!

I was quick to tell her that if after a couple of weeks I decide its not for me then I WILL DECIDE TO LEAVE & ITS NOT NEGOTIABLE & NOR WILL I BE BULLIED INTO STAYING & that there may be Wednesdays when I will be absent due to blood tests which to my surprise they approved of -well they would wouldnt they!!!

Its like for a good long while I was having 2 blood tests for mycophenalate -one at the surgery one at the hospital -the it occured to me that I saw no reason to have it done twice so when i went to the doctors to have one I put it in writing that i saw no reason to ahve it done twice & made it clear to my GP in writing that i saw no reason to have it done twice & the results of it will be the same as when its done at the hospital & they can have access to them with my blessing & I made it clear to them that I would NOT be bullied by NHS bullying sentences like " we need it for our own separate records" or "it goes to separate blood banks" & that this was a decison which is non negotiable

Why do the NHS bully people into having treatments done a patient doesnt want to ahve done

I watch these programmes about people defrauding the NHS & I find myself thinking they deserve it - for bullying me into doing activities I dont really wanna do & for using me as a pin cushion as & when it suits them & using giving me new medication as an excuse to use me as a pin cushion

[Hidden in reply to Sara_2611]

I used to work for the health service and the management there were horrible beyond belief and were a load of rude, inconsiderate bullies and were foul to lots of staff there and I had stood up to them and I don't regret it either and feel I made the right choice in leaving off my own accord!

I'm glad I'm not there anymore!

[Sara_2611 in reply to Hidden]

I think on that basis its fair to say theyre poor service & bad practice

[Hidden in reply to Sara_2611]

Hi Sara_2611, I'm so sorry you had such a frustrating and anger-making time. I can empathise with that, and understand your frustration boiling over, but I can't actually agree with regard to the NHS, which despite its failings from time to time is an excellent service which we don't appreciate enough. I've lived in countries where there is no free at point of service health care, and its expensive and relies upon your being able to find huge sums of money to even have tests or treatments. I've been absolutely grateful myself recently to have the NHS available, even in the middle of the pandemic, to help with a frozen shoulder, and now with a heart arrhythmia and although there is a cost to us all through taxes, I haven't had to get my purse out once. When I broke a leg and had to have private treatment overseas a few years ago it cost me £8000, whether I had it or not. Sometimes it can be worth considering how we'd get on if there was no NHS here. But I hope you feel better for getting your frustrations off your chest.

[sassy59 in reply to Hidden]

Totally agree Callendersgal xxx

[Hellebelle in reply to Hidden]

Couldn't agree more. I broke my arm when I was in America and all the hospital staff worried about was whether I had health insurance. They whisked my husband off as soon as we got through the doors and took his credit card details, just in case. By far the fairest way to pay for this service is through our taxes so that everyone, regardless of age, ability to pay or status gets treatment when needed. Most people would not be able to afford to pay the extortionate cost of treatment out of their own pocket.

[Hellebelle]

Hi Callendersgal,

Congratulations to your daughter for securing her new job. It is an achievement in this difficult environment with so much unemployment.

Your new hobby sounds very absorbing and enjoyable. This last year has demonstrated that it's so important to have activities that bring us joy. It looks amazing what you are doing.

I am busy at the moment packing up the house as we are moving. It has taken up most of my time over the past weeks as you can imagine. I will be so sad to leave our house and beautiful garden but we have decided to move into town so it's easier to access services. Our new house will still have a lovely garden and great views across open farmland so we are lucky.

We are going out with friends tonight for our first meal out in many months. I am so looking forward to not having to cook! and of course to seeing my friends.

The weekend is supposed to be lovely and sunny so I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. 🌞💕

[sassy59 in reply to Hellebelle]

Enjoy your meal out tonight with friends and good luck with the house move Hellebelle. Hope you’ll be happy in your new home xxx🌹😘

[Hellebelle in reply to sassy59]

Thank you so much. I hope you have a relaxing weekend. It sounds like you have been very busy with family💕 xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hellebelle]

Thank you Hellebelle, and I'll pass on your good wishes to her. She's so excited to be going on to something new and interesting. And you are poised on the brink of something new too! What lovely news but I know it's all go and really hard work at the end. I agree that it is sad to leave a house where you've been happy and usually a lump in the throat moment as you walk through the door for the last time, but actually we take all our treasured memories with us and nothing can part us from those.

And meantime you now have an opportunity to make lots of new memories in a new location. Wishing you every happiness in your new home and it sounds just lovely.

I hope you have a fantastic time this evening and it's true that just a simple meal out sounds like such a treat now. 😊🌈💖

[Hellebelle in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your kind thoughts. We have just returned from having a lovely evening. You are so right about taking memories with you, it's a good way to look at things. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.💕

[sassy59]

I’ve been so busy today Callendersgal at Drusillas with our daughter, son, two grandsons, and granddaughter. We had a lovely day but are absolutely exhausted now. It was very busy.

Well done to your daughter in securing another job. That’s some achievement. We’ve not done much this week but it’s been great to see the sun.

Have a great weekend and enjoy your crafting.

Take care all xxxx❤️👍💖

[Hidden in reply to sassy59]

Hi sassy59, hope you are relaxing now after your busy day! It sounded really enjoyable though.Thanks for your good wishes for my daughter and I'm passing all of them on. She's really happy to try something new. I'll do my darndest to enjoy the weekend and hope you'll enjoy yours too! xx 👍🙏😃🔆🌸

[sassy59 in reply to Hidden]

I feel more relaxed now thank you Callendersgal. Hope you enjoy some lovely sunshine. Xxxx

[Jennymary]

Congratulations to your daughter, I hope she enjoys her new job when she startsMy second vaccine is booked for 8 June, I booked both at the same time, yesterday I get a text saying to bring the appt forward due to the new varients, I'm not going to because I was unwell after the first one, now I'm back at work I've booked annual leave for the Wednesday and following weekend just in case I react badly to the second one

[sassy59 in reply to Jennymary]

Good luck Jennymary. Xxx

[Hidden in reply to Jennymary]

Thanks Jennymary and I'll pass on your good wishes. Great news that your second vaccine dose is coming up shortly. It was really good news to hear that they tried to bring it forward, but no point in your case if you've been unwell and it's not so long until 8th June. I hope it all goes trouble-free and no trouble with side-effects, but I think it's very wise to be prepared and take some annual leave, just in case!

[thara9643]

heya

[Hidden in reply to thara9643]

Hello there thara9643, how are you doing? I hope all is well!

[thara9643 in reply to Hidden]

hi yh I am good

[Hidden]

Glad to hear.

[Hidden]

Back in 2019 my parents criticised me for going to an interview for a job at the a and e reception in Cardiff's Heath hospital and things had turned nasty when I was ordered to stay at the toxic job that I left that November!

Perhaps that wasn't what was best for me but ultimately it was up to me to be making that decision though whats best and what isn't!

I was upset when that happened as it stung but with recent events I feel that long term after having done that and other things that went before that is that the people they hurt the most was themselves as if they hadn't criticised maybe things would have been different but it's their loss at the end of it all!

The Bible is right in it's passage saying parents do not provoke your children to anger as what happened here and it all ended badly.

The lesson is is to have respect for others and their right to make their own decisions.