🌟Attention 🌟 if you don't have time to read the post , please go and look at Jinascs reply below , she's sent us all a Christmas e-card and she plays a starring role !🌟
So Day 4 on the stiff and achy road to your Winter Festival of choice and I have taken inspiration from what our lovely Jinasc was doing today to give some tips on one of the potentially Pain creating chores of the Season , the Christmas Card Writing Marathon!
Writing cards ? "how can that be an assault on your PMR / GCA addled person?" Yell the Fit , Healthy and Festivals Able.
Well , if Louise Penygraig has a lesson to give us after beginning to enjoy crochet again , doing jobs that involve the hands , and sitting down in an unusual position , can definitely trigger a day of Fatigue and Pain in the arms and shoulders that none of you might have expected. Using those muscles and joints in a repetitive way that they don't often do can definitely bring on a sleepless night , which you can't even utilise by writing more cards because the only thing that's gone to sleep is your fingers!
You see if all we had to do was make cards , or write the messages inside, things would be more PMR Pain Friendly. It's the personalisation , writing the addresses on the envelopes, and then trying to get out to the Post Office , or horror of horrors , stick them through local doors that makes our joints and Psyche shudder. And that's before we have even attempted to pen the ' Christmas Letter'!
I can feel my back twitching already. what on earth do we write ? After jotting in the misadventures of our Family , or asking about the Families we are writing too.
What do I say?
" Hi All,
I'm sitting here listening to the not so gentle sound of the BP Monitor I have had on for the last two days after enjoying a year of Tremors , UTIs and an ever expanding list of hospital appointments . My Pain is registering on a steady 5.2 , my Fatigue a 9 , I have to sit down for an hour after going to the loo , oh , and by the way , the goldfish is dead . Love to you and yours , Aunty Beexxx"
It's enough to bring on a bout of the Blues for even the strongest amongst Us. In all seriousness , the End of Year Letter is probably one of the biggest possible Mood Alterers for the most vulnerable with any Chronic Condition . It can force us to think back over the year at a time we already feel Low , and if you are already tinkering with Pain or Fatigue , it can put your ability to write a hundred positive Christmas messages or do anything else to bed for another year.
But , don't worry , Forum !
Remember Festive Pacing , the great 2019 Experiment of the PMR/GCA Christmas Freedom Party ( and No , Suet , after much thought I decided not to run for Prime Minister when I realised I would have to share a stage with Nigel Farage!😋😂😂😂) We have the technology to inspire you to ditch card altogether if you don't fancy doing it , or have a few handy tips to help making , writing and sending cards easier for all of you. For some you won't even have to write your autobiography or even pick up a Pen!
1. Scale Down that list to only closest Family and Friends
If you are like me , and the Last Christmas Post feels like a Call to Arms , just grab that Card list , and only write or make for those closest to you . If you have some energy left , add those that are also Chronically Ill or live alone to the list , but as soon as you tire of the Writing Game and it becomes a Sadists Chore , say that's that for cards and go onto something you enjoy instead.
2. Grab a Volunteer to Address your envelopes and get them in the post
You may be able to manage to write and send all the cards you want to if only you had a little help with these two jobs. So , grab a willing friend or older grandchild to address the cards for you , drop them through the doors , and get your pile to the Post Office . Sometimes knowing those jobs can be put in other hands brings back the Joy of Cardwriting , and the Grandchildren can decorate the envelopes giving you a bit of PMR/ GCA Friendly activity time together with them too.
3. Don't make a mountain out of it by doing it all at once
Ultimate Pacing involves little activities with rests each day , even with things like this. Marilyn 1959 , gave a great tip the other day about Pacing your wrapping by doing a little each day when the gifts arrive in the post. The same method can be done with card writing. Do a few cards each day and beat the Message Writing Fatigue , then pop them in the post on the day you feel like you want a walk. Don't set a Date Deadline that fills you with Despair.
4. Don't write cards at all , but enjoy sending a Phone Video Message instead
Pop on your Santa hat , or last year's Cracker Crown , and make a quick simple cheery phone message video sending just love and best wishes to all ( it doesn't need to be your Oscar Speech ) then send it out to absolutely everyone you know , the quickest Christmas Card you will ever make , and even the Healthy will copy you next year.
5. Finally, My new find , the Animated eCard for Christmas and Hanukkah too!
Being an artist I always used to make my own cards or choose shop bought with Care so I was never very happy with sending an e-card , after years of creating with a Personal Touch they did not seem personal enough.
And then , last year I received my first animated eCard and I was wonderstruck. Some companies have free trials and free card accounts so it will literally cost you nothing but a little time to send them out to one and All. The cards can all be personalised too if you are up to messaging.
So , here are some of the best out there , and I would say , even if you do not need a card have a look at the Previews during a time when you need a festive boost , you will be warmed up better than downing a Mulled Wine ( and eCards are Carb Free).
1. jacquielawson.com , the John Lewis Ad of animated cards , watch the Carollers and you will see. It is the most expensive but at £15 / 20 dollars for an unlimited year of carding it still cheaper than snail mail.
2. doozycards.com , a lovely one called Hannukah Doves , plus a free ten day trial means you could get your cards for free!
3. ojolie.com , more gif like but very sweet and you can have free membership and use the basic selection as often as you like for nothing .
4. hallmark eCards.com , don't know if I'd use them but I loved the Preview of their Ittybittysnativity card .
Right , or should I say Don't Write! and I hope you feel you can card or not card , guilt free now , as even if you aren't up to doing anything at all , there is nothing wrong with that , there's always next year.
This photo was sent to me by my eldest , known as Eric , of the Advent Calendar I sent to her because although 21 she is still a kid at heart , and we all love to open an advent door.
More Fun , maybe a quiz tomorrow , keep Flare Free folks xxx
But here I see my young neighour downstairs outside with the boys in all weather so they can shovel snow. No ipads and films for them ...
Help in describing PMR to family. 
Happy New Year everyone !!!!!!
Recovery from GCA -regaining stamina, diminishing fatigue
A poem (or rather an attempt at a poem) for newbies, oldies and inbetweeners.
There’s Nowt so Queer as Folk
