Aunty Bees PMR, GCA and Chronic Pain Sufferers Advent Calendar . Dec 7. The Christmas Spoon , and how it is the perfect gift for us All.

[Blearyeyed]

So , a week into Advent and I hope that the tips in ' Our' Calendar are helping you cope with whichever Winter Festival you are preparing for.

I must admit , I was struggling a bit today to decide what to write about ( there is so much to choose from ) when a big bolt of inspiration dropped into my Mail Box , from my Dear Friend and Forum Member , Scats.

A picture of a Christmas Spoon.

The message attached said, " An extra Christmas Spoon to help you through the season , might be useful for the Calendar too xx"

I knew exactly what she meant ; and instantly knew what tip I needed to share with you today. The Chronic Illness Sufferers Festive version of " Spooning"!

Christmas involves a lot of helpful spoons . Pudding spoons for stirring. Wooden spoons for waggling at naughty guests who try to steal from your feast before it's ready . Shiny silver spoons to dress your table and hold the perfect mouthful. Spoons for Fun , to test your skills and dangle from your nose. And that , one spoon that's a bit bent but you have been using for years to unscrew stubborn fixings on everything from new toys to Christmas Lights , it's just the right type of pointy . Spoons are helpful.

But in the World of Chronic Illness , Spoons have gained a whole new meaning with the most popular Pacing Technique of All called , Spoon Theory.

There are tons of books , blogs and Apps out there endorsing this style of Self Care in your Everyday Life , but in essence it is simple. Energy we use each day is measured out in Spoons and we all have a limited amount of them based on our Health Needs. Different activities use different amount of spoons , and we shouldn't use more than a few at once without resting . We are all Spoonies . But what do we do as Spoonies at special times of year when we just need more Spoons?

Aunty Bee decided to take her thoughts on Spoons a bit further outside the cutlery box!

Everybody , not just those in need, in my opinion , are Spoonies.

Some of us are Spoon Givers , others are Spoon Receivers. Sometimes a bit of both.

In the old days , we were all Spoon Givers . We just didn't know it!

We offered up help to others in need . We gave lifts , bought shopping , delivered parcels , decorated homes, and basically did all the jobs for that Friend or Family member whom because of Ill health , Age , New Babies , or Life's 'little' disasters needed that extra helping hand.

Now , with PMR, GCA or any Chronic Condition ; be we on the way to recovery , or just coming through the Pain Door ; be we mild sufferers , or bed bound , Men or Women, Old or Young, we need to take the time to measure our Energy out carefully to beat off Fatigue and stay Flare Free.

We need to become Spoon Receivers , and do so happily!

So , don't be guilty , if you are offered a Christmas Spoon , even if you didn't ask for it , just like any other unexpected Christmas gift , receive it with excitement, unwrap it , and accept it gratefully.

And just like days of Yore , when you might have needed to borrow a bowl of sugar , a step ladder, or a few extra chairs , before your cutlery drawer of Energy is empty , ask for a spoon of Activity from someone whom you know has extra spoons to spare . Because there's nothing worse at Christmas than to run out of something just at the point that you really need it.

So thank you again , Dear Scats , for lending me your Christmas Spoon and supplying me with today's supply of Creative Energy.

You see , today has proven, sometimes we can be both Spoon Giver and Receiver , every little spoon counts!

And to All our members , and supporters of the PMR/ GCA Christmas Freedom Party , before you follow the advice on Scats' spoon and ' Dive In' , check inside your Cutlery Drawer . And , if you are short of Spoons , grab whatever size or shape of spoon you need from someone who has some spares and doesn't need it . And remember too , they probably borrowed a few spoons from You years ago and had just forgotten to give them back!

Now , where is that coffee spoon , I've got some Fairy Lights to mend !

Christmas Spoons for All , hugs , Aunty Bee xx

[Hidden]

Don't forget the spoon stealers.... They just cause chaos and are energy vampires (watching vampire series). You can hide a couple of spoons and put them in a very quiet room or on the field with the dog (in my case). Some people are lucky and don't have a spoon stealer.... Enjoy! For those of you that have one or two.... Save some spoons for yourself.

.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Hidden]

I know what you mean , plus where do all our real teaspoons go ?

I seem to buy some every year and by December they have all gone again.

[Hidden in reply to Blearyeyed]

I start with 6 and run out during the year. And it's just me... There must be little people living in the cellar.... Spooked myself then. 😱

[Blearyeyed in reply to Hidden]

I've even started searching the bin , not the ' Bin of Doom' I'm not that brave , but apart from occasionally finding the odd escapee in a yoghurt tub the spoon losses and casualties are getting ridiculous .

I was getting desparate last year and checking people's bags before they left the house in case they had been taking them in lunch boxes , No??!!

Maybe I do have a Spoon Stealer ?!😮

[Hidden in reply to Blearyeyed]

😱

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Blearyeyed]

My daughters seemed to treat my metal teaspoons as disposable - both yogurt tub and spoon ended up in the bin ...

[Blearyeyed in reply to PMRpro]

Yes , exactly that was happening all the time but I'm vigilant on it now , yet they still keep disappearing , I do wonder if I can't keep track of my real spoons no wonder I don't do so well finding enough spoons to keep me going through the day as well.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Blearyeyed]

The annoying thing is that the spoons I'd happily see the back of, the ones that are almost never used but take up space in the drawer, persist ...

[Blearyeyed in reply to PMRpro]

Yes , I totally agree , I think it's the same with Spoons of Mental Energy , at the higher doses they seem to be non existent and then suddenly turn up in your bed just when you don't want them in the form of insomnia .

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

I can't cope with silver plated or anything with nickel in.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Stainless steel here - no idea how good though!

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Blearyeyed]

I have bought shares in cutlery over the last few years and have worked out the cutlery but mainly spoon their is my grandson!! We taught him to scrape his plate and he does but I suspect that's where my cutlery disappears to. So if you find you are missing some spoons that's where they hide!!

[Blearyeyed in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Have you just offered your Grandson up as guilty person in the multi thefts of Forum members real spoons ? Oh , Grandma YB , wait until he hears you grassed him up! 😋😂😂😂😂

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Blearyeyed]

He would probably laugh at the idea!! I know i should have at least 30 teaspoons based on my repeated purchases but i have 8!!

[Blearyeyed in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Maybe , it's like odd socks , the spoons just end up as offerings to the Kitchen pixies!

[scats in reply to Hidden]

Those spoon stealers are everywhere at this time of year.

Look out, look out, there's a stealer about.

[Hidden in reply to scats]

😂😂😂

You're enjoying the rhyming aren't you.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Hidden]

Yes , she slowly becoming the PMR/ GCA ' in house ' Poet perhaps if she stops giving away her creative spoons she'll be able provide us with some juicy festive nuggets by Christmas !😋😁😘

[Hidden in reply to Blearyeyed]

I would like it spat out in the style of Rap....

[Blearyeyed in reply to Hidden]

Jayzee Scats😎

[Hidden in reply to Blearyeyed]

🤣🤣🤣

[Blearyeyed in reply to scats]

😂😂😂😂😂 You were definitely a Spoon Giver today , thanks again , I couldn't have done it without you.

Well timed Spoon most gratefully received xxx

[scats in reply to Blearyeyed]

I just want to say, dream on you two!

[Yellowbluebell in reply to scats]

Thank God for that!; Just what I need when having coffee with you is rapping!!

[Blearyeyed in reply to Yellowbluebell]

I'm tempted to encourage her even more now , just watch out , if she turns up wearing a baseball cap the wrong way around , run ( ok Polywobble!) the other way or hide behind a Christmas Tree so she doesn't see you x😋😂😂😂

[Lizwillis]

Just love your helpful jocular handy hints at this time of year , always a joy to see them. In fact also you have been amazingly helpful as we have looked at Etsy ( hadn’t thought of that before) and found what seems like a lovely handmade chocolate company to send some chocolates to my 100 year old mother in a home ( we had been thinking of wrapping and sending some ourselves, but this has cut all that bother out! Also a box to take on Xmas day to my daughter who has a little girl with the same name of the company!

Also some beautiful roses to be sent to my daughter. So, thank you so much for these handy useful, relatively stress free ideas. Just like lots of us, though, could probably do with a few extra spoons 🥄.

Oh and like one of the other ladies on here, who used to make her own Xmas cards and other things, I have actually handmade some crackers for all the family, just taken it very slowly.

So, thank you all of you for all your helpful advice and ideas.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Lizwillis]

Oh , thank you , I'm so happy that it's helped you.

I do love the foodie people on Etsy and , wow , a company with your Grandaughters name she will be impressed when she opens the box. And please wish your Mum a Merry Christmas , 100 , just think if all those spoons over the years.

It can be a little hard to get used to , but if you remember to just press on the heart on shops or items you might like for later you can cut your shopping down for birthdays and things to under half an hour.

Yes , I used to make my cards , like some others , I also used to make crackers , and last year made some with handmade knitted crowns and badges in , just for my Family for Christmas lunch , they loved them so I bet your Family will too.

Have a lovely time and keep watch of your spoons. xx

[Lizwillis in reply to Blearyeyed]

Your posts do make me chuckle, so again, a great big thank you for that! Oh, it was you who used to make her own cards! All too much, sadly now, isn’t it? Gosh, handmade knitted crowns! I bet your family did love them, lucky them, and no doubt they can come out again this year, clever you. Have you taken photos?

I am slowly wrapping presents mostly for the grandchildren, fortunately, we have really stopped lots of other present exchanges.

Hope you have a really lovely time too, and maybe you can use your brilliant snowman and robin “quiz” , bet they will love it!

Hope we can all manage to keep hold of at least a few spoons 🥄! Xxx

[Blearyeyed in reply to Lizwillis]

There is actually a really bad photo of Me wearing a crown on here on a post I wrote last year called New Year's resolutions I can stick too... ( in my worst spotty nightgown too!) but I don't know how much of the crown is visible . I will have to put a better one up , I chose to do that as my homemade gift because it was the simplest thing I could make after many years of knitting or appliqueing Christmas jumpers. They did wear them everyday and they have already got them out for Christmas Parties so I think it was a winner.

As you say yourself , it's finding small projects you can manage but not too many of them , so you still have that bit of enjoyment without getting worn out and losing all your spoons.

Enjoy yourself and keep on pacing xx

[Dewdrop456]

Thanks again for the great reminder.Alas ,I didn’t heed my spoon allowance this week and I’m really paying for it now with a massive flare. I had to visit my daughter in Brighton overnight so was a bit stressed about the journey but I went on the train as driving would take a month’s worth of spoons!

At the beginning of the week I was feeling quite well ,I’ve been tapering DSNS down to 4 3/4 ,then the flare started. Then the journey and the visit. I’ve upped my dose as advised on here but it’s being stubborn.

Why to flares always happen when you just start to think you’re getting the hang of this business?!

Best wishes, Dewdrop456.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Dewdrop456]

Flares are sly devils , plus PMR doesn't like you to think you've got the better off it too quickly.

You need a nice rest this week until you can have a few more spoons delivered.

I wrote today's Advent Post on hints for tapering ( serious rather than the usual feeble attempts at wit ) it's a shame I hadn't done it sooner , it might have helped.

Give things time to settle on your new dose and try and enjoy a more peaceful Christmas.

Take care xx

[Dewdrop456]

It’s true ,they are sly.

I did rest on Sunday but have to work again this week. Still have a room to decorate as well then it’s full on til Christmas .I am trying to pace though ,even if the evidence is stacked against me!! Roll on January then it’s just the normal chaos.

Thanks for your good wishes and Happy Christmas Blearyeyed.