Aunty Bees Advent Calendar . Dec 15. A bit of Stress Relief. The PMR/ GCA No.1 .... The Chronically Painful Christmas Alphabet!

[Blearyeyed]

So , if you like me , occasionally find that things feel a bit frazzled and tempers frayed at this point in the run up to Christmas , you might also be appreciating our little weekend break in festivities and tips , and just need a reminder to sit back and have a little relaxing fun.

So , I thought I would try my hand at one of the biggest of all Modern Christmas Traditions , the Christmas Song.

The Chronically Painful Christmas Alphabet , sang to the music of the Dickie Valentine ' Christmas Alphabet ' original , you can find his song on YouTube if you need a reminder of the tune.

Yet unlike his old favourite , us sufferers know that we don't just need the letters that spell Christmas but the whole flipping A to Z to capture our predicament appropriately.

It may never become Number 1 , but it may be helpful to learn to sing it to your friends when they ask you Why you can't do this , or that and want a Nap while the work is being done.

Now , get your tubular bells out kids , find that harmonic choir , imagine Me sitting on a sleigh in my Christmas Jumper and Bah humbug hat , "The Chronically Painful Christmas Alphabet " not great I'm no master of the art like Cliff Richard but off we go.....

🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲

A is for Arthralgia it's the Curse of You and Me,

B is for Bursitis that pops up quite regularly,

C is for the Crack are knees make when we all bend down,

D is for Digestion , Burps and Farts are all more common now,

E is for Evaluations never seem to stop,

F is for Fatigue , that forces us to drop,

G for G C A , our headaches drive us up the wall,

H is for the Hips that cause a wobble , trip or fall,

I is for Insomnia , wide eyed , endlessly awake,

Christmas Chronic Pain Alphabet , Please give Us a Break!

Capital J

is for our Joints that burn with very little work,

Capital K

Keeping our Diaries , sudden A and E alerts,

Capital L

for Ligaments that seem to ping with every move,

Capital M

our Minds are going and yet still we try to stay in groove,

N it's not Noel , without a little Flare ,

O ! I wish it was more simple to climb up the stair,

P M R , the Pacing and , of course , the Mighty Pred!

Quick dash to the toilet not long after we're in bed,

R is not for Rudolph but a hot and burning rash,

We wish it was done , but hardly begun this Painful Alphabet!

Big Side Effects ,

Who thought so many things could seriously go wrong,

Capital T ,

is Tinnitus , the bells ring out the whole year long,

Capital U,

is for a UTI so much for Christmas Cheer,

Big DoubleW,

wee samples, wobbles , stuff we all wish we could finally clear,

X is for the scans , on machines both big and small ,

Y is for the Yoghurt , breakfast has become a Ball!

Zed is for the Zebras that all Patients really are ,

We'd kick our Doctors in the pants but our feet won't reach that far!

I wish that Santa grants our wish and makes us well again,

Thank Goodness I'm done , I can't go on,

With this lousy , fiendish , Chronically Painful

Christ - Mas , Al - pha - bet ! ........ 😋😎😘

🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄

Have your self a bit of Fun and never forget your Forum Friends on PMR GCA UK will be here , all over Christmas to help you escape the drama , find the smile you have lost and basically get you back on your feet in the Dark Times throughout the Festive Season.

Peace and Goodwill to all our PMR/ GCA Family

Love and hugs , Aunty ' Cliff Richard ' Bee xxxx

🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲🎄🎅🌲

UPDATE: How many Christmas Jumpers Quiz Results and Winners!

Flipping too busy Singing and forgot to add the answer and winners of Fridays Quiz.

I have decided to acknowledge 2 groups of winners as two Forum Members spookily guessed the exact amount of Jumpers I have made for just my Closest Family Members living here with Me in ' The Asylum' and that was .... 96!

So those Guessing winners are ....

Sheffield Jane and Jackoh 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

Have you been sneeking in and looking in our wardrobes?!!😋

However , the actual question was how many Christmas Jumpers had I made in 24 years in total , and that number is a whopping ......522!

So the Grand Prize Winner with a guess of 480 is......

Marilyn 1959 💃💃💃🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆💃💃💃

If we add scarves , hat , socks and bootees , it comes to nearly 1200 Christmas pieces alone , I wonder could that be the cause of my GCA / PMR ??

Well done , folks xxxx

🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄🌲🎅🎄

[Marilyn1959]

How lovely Bee. Thank you. You are a 'creative genius'!

I am 'busting a gut' here in anticipation.....I can't bare the suspense any longer............ How many jumpers did you knit in 24 years????????

[Blearyeyed in reply to Marilyn1959]

Ooh yes , I forgot to add it to the bottom of the post , will do it now , flipping brain fog!!!

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Marilyn1959]

I had forgotten about that quiz question?

[Blearyeyed in reply to Yellowbluebell]

It's coming now , sorry I was too busy singing it's like Christmas it's coming .....

[Marilyn1959 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Well................?????????? Oh the suspense......................

[Blearyeyed in reply to Marilyn1959]

It's up , and it definitely is not a fix !😋😂😂😂😘

[Marilyn1959 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Now you really are playing with me..... WHERE have you posted the number????????? I can't find it....... just tell me here!

[Blearyeyed in reply to Marilyn1959]

I updated the post so it's at the bottom underneath the song you will see all the cheering emojis so you won't have to read it all again!

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Marilyn1959]

You are more impatient than mexx

[Marilyn1959 in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Shows how sad (or madly competitive) I am.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Marilyn1959]

She's testing you - have you learned the PMR lesson of patience????

[Marilyn1959 in reply to PMRpro]

A leopard never changes its spots. PMR or no PMR. I always want it yesterday, whatever 'it' may be!!!! I 😜😜

[Blearyeyed in reply to Marilyn1959]

Have you seen it now ? Winner!!!!

To be honest , you put your answer up and I thought , how many , that loads , you must be joking but then when I finally checked through my patterns and withering memory I was shocked myself when I , not only reached your total but exceeded it

( and that was with last year off !).

I can tell you were a prolific maker in the past , you must have based it on experience xxx

[Marilyn1959 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Oh my goodness! I feel like I am a winner at the Oscar's, all glammed up looking tall (just under 5ft in reality), looking leggy in black sequin dress with split. No pred face of course, with winners grin spread across my face.

Winners speech - I must acknowledge the support of my maths teachers during my time in primary and secondary school. Multiplying 20 by 24 is a testament to their teaching skills...... my birth parents of course...... and not least my thanks to a weird, wonderful and totally insane virtual friend Bee, without whom I would never have had the opportunity.....Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Seriously over 500???? You must be as prolific a knitter as you are nutter!!!!!! Congratulations, especially for your secret Santa acts. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[Blearyeyed in reply to Marilyn1959]

I love it ....

Our first Acceptance speech in full formal dress !!

Our future winners have got a lot to live up to now . 😋

Thank you so much to adding to the spirit of the occasion like all our great Competition winners before you. 😂😂😂😂

You deserve this award , Air Kisses 😘😘😘😍😋

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Marilyn1959]

Shes definitely a nutter. Her doctor agrees!!

[Blearyeyed in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Not true ! Just like Sheldon Cooper , " My Mum had Me tested!" Apparently I am completely normal ........ Which just goes to prove that those Normal Test results that we get from the Doctor aren't always a true picture of what's going on!😋😂😂

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Blearyeyed]

No way on earth you are normal

[Blearyeyed in reply to PMRpro]

😋😂😂😂😂😂😂 Oh you do make me laugh Pro , I'm blaming you along with all my other Forum Chums for the amount of times I have to wobble for a wee!😋😂😂😂

Thanks for the smiles ..... And the Physiotherapy!😋😘😘😍

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Marilyn1959]

Did you get a clue to the number?🥳

[Blearyeyed in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Nope , it was all her own work , along with the help of years of training under the guidance of state school Mathematics apparently!

[Marilyn1959 in reply to Yellowbluebell]

I made a guess at 20 a year and thought back to when my Mum used to knit at a rate of knots!

[Smokygirl]

Wonderful Bee! Both you and your Christmas Alphabet! Loved it! You are a comic genius! Have a wonderful time with your lovely family and every good wish for Christmas and 2020! Huge hugs xxxxx

[Blearyeyed in reply to Smokygirl]

And the same to you , and don't forget , keep singing, keep smiling , keep happy xxx

[Yellowbluebell]

stop being a pain in the bum

[Blearyeyed in reply to Yellowbluebell]

' Stop being a pain in the bum '....That would take going against a Lifetime of Dedicated Training! 😋

You can't swim against the tide YB , not with our shoulders anyway !😋😂😂😂😘😍

[scats]

Thanks Bee.

I've just looked up the ukulele chords so I can strum along when the tears of laughter clear.

If the neighbours complain I'll refer them to you

[Blearyeyed in reply to scats]

Oh gosh yes , and Grandma could do it and accompany me on her ukelele too !

Brilliant idea, then if I'm up to rising out of the chair and not just judging the "Christmas Day Skit " but actually taking part in it this year I might get the chance of a win🙆🙆🙆

We could even start a PMR/ GCA band , I wonder whom else has musical talents to accompany us as well.

Imagine the pop video ?!!😋😂😂😂😘

[scats in reply to Blearyeyed]

I'd rather not. It would be a horror movie.

[Blearyeyed in reply to scats]

I think it would be hilarious , a bit like the funny ones of yesteryear . Perhaps we could get Bill Nighy to guest star in it on the vocals . His "No.1" video at the end of Love Actually was worth watching the Film alone xxx

[scats in reply to Blearyeyed]

It would be a laugh. So much so we'd probably need a whole row of portaloos to cater for our needs😂🥴

[Blearyeyed in reply to scats]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 oh ! Flipping heck , yet another wobble for a wee , thanks mate !!😋😂😂😂😂😘

[scats in reply to Blearyeyed]

Just learnt that PMR effects my ability to strum in rhythm. It's the arm equivalent of the pollywaddle!

[Blearyeyed in reply to scats]

Oh , you as well , you should try playing a clarinet , I got mine out the other day , three toots and I went light headed and thought I was going to pass out !

[scats in reply to Blearyeyed]

Actually with me its the flute. Poor choice it has to be held up! I've lost the ability to do that and breath control is compromised. Amazing how PMR/GCA changes our lives.

I wasn't very good it's probably a blessed relief to others!

[Blearyeyed in reply to scats]

Yes , double punishment with our instruments , both my clarinet and saxophone , and your flute , involve quite a squared firm set shoulder frame to hold them out from the body as well as all the blowing and finger movements. At least you can relax back on the sofa with a ukelele or guitar.

[CT-5012 in reply to Blearyeyed]

I can play a marching bell but only one tune so wouldn’t be much use for the alphabet song. 😂🤣

[Blearyeyed in reply to CT-5012]

Awesome , no it will do , you and your bell get into training now , we will work with it , and having a person in marching band uniform would make us look really festive , wow !!!

[CT-5012 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Sorry no fancy uniform, just a T-shirt, parent support group decided to surprise the kids at the end of season party. Only percussion instruments as not one parent had ever blown anything bigger than a recorder, the following year we added kazoos. 🥳🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Blearyeyed in reply to CT-5012]

I love a kazoo !

We got Christmas crackers with them in about ten years ago , and still use them with the Music Sheets at parties or Christmas Lunch to amuse ourselves between courses or in supposed ' rest' spots!!

You could multitask , bell and kazoo , and unless you are happy in the t-shirt , I have one of those quality street tin soldier costumes that you could dress in as you lead us all along the way. Magic xxx

[CT-5012 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Don’t think I could cope with multi tasking, cannot even think about it but the uniform sounds fantastic, will you be wearing it when you play? 🥳🥳🥳🤣

[Blearyeyed in reply to CT-5012]

I was considering my glittery Mrs Santa Suit ( like the end of white Christmas) or I have everything to dress like Noddy Holder , including platforms and giant stove pipe hat , so the soldier suit is up for grabs and I can save it just for you xxx

[Maisie1958]

Thank you for this Blearyeyed , had forgotten about Christmas Alphabet and Dickie Valentine-took me back to my childhood. I had been feeling a bit sorry for myself lately though I’m very blessed, PMR perhaps still lurking and definitely feeling a bit overwhelmed at this time of year, whereas I would have just got on with things as would my late parents. Spurred me on to get organised-life is pretty good really. Best wishes x

PS love Love Actually

[Blearyeyed in reply to Maisie1958]

I'm so happy if my posts are helping you through what can be a hard time of year , even without the extra burden of PMR.

My Mum was always singing that song around the House when I was a child so it's the first tune that pops in my head whenever Pre Christmas Festivities start.

Keep things low key and let the good memories help get you through , and I hope you keep popping back for a bit more Festive Cheer or a chat whenever you need us , hugs , Bee xxx

[Slowdown]

Totally hilarious, you're all comic geniuses, Morecambe and Wise on steroids.. hundreds of likes and thanks for such a huge bedtime laugh. Love that Bee forgot to add the answer by which time YBB had forgotten the question...

[Blearyeyed in reply to Slowdown]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 love it , a bit of comic improve. from you too !

Oh! The Joys of Chronic illness , Brain Fog !

The irony is that when I wrote the song I struggled on B and forgot to mention Brain Fog !

Did you play an innkeeper in school Nativities out of interest , based on the fictitious Manual of casting school plays I wrote in the Nativity post, they missed a trick if they didn't choose you , and most of our forum members , you could have all stolen the show!!😋😂😂😂

Thanks for joining in ,

much Peace and Goodwill to rock you to a lovely winters sleep , hugs xxx

[Slowdown in reply to Blearyeyed]

Innkeeper???? for a start I'm rubbish at pulling pints, cocktails are a mystery, and as for adding up... the peanuts would end up in the straw on the floor and I would never turn people away who were seeking shelter ... ... donkeys at the bar could be a bit controversial...

Night night, expect you'll be rollicking through the small hours -peace and love all round xxx

[Blearyeyed in reply to Slowdown]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 night 😘

[Pixix]

Brilliant! Lovely to have a morning giggle, despite S for Sciatica all night! Thanks so much. As for the overwhelming number of items that is quite amazing! x

[Blearyeyed in reply to Pixix]

I know it shocked me too , that wasn't including Birthdays and births , but I suppose it was a lot of years.

My daughter has a t-shirt that says on it , " I knit and crochet so that I don't kill people !" Perhaps all that woolly industry has kept me out of prison all these years!!😋😂😂😂

But , who knows , perhaps it was an unusual cause for my GCA! 😋

Glad you are enjoying the fun , just hope you 'S' improves during the day xxx

[Pixix in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thanks...seem to have a lot of the alphabet right now! But crocheting for an hour or two late afternoon is proving therapeutic..partly as I’m still learning so it focuses my mind, but partly as it’s forcing me to sit down for a change! I did try to learn to knit, but failed dismally! Well done on your amazing outpouring of knitting! Last Santa appearance for David tomorrow afternoon, then a bit of peace and goodwill!

[Blearyeyed in reply to Pixix]

Oh , not all knitting , half knits , half appliques or crochet.

It's funny when I helped at a Craft Centre the pattern of knitter or crocheter was a real thing. I thought it was just me , I knitted but took years to get the knack of crochet .

The people that began with crochet found it really difficult to learn to knit . Then people who learned both at once had no problem at all.

From the sound of your growing symptom list , you definitely need something to force you to sit down and rest for a while though .

It's not just art therapy , crochet is great Brain Training and a little bit of focus like that each day helps to reduce the Brain Fog.

Gosh , it sounds sad to hear of Santa having his last appearance , and it a bit scary , shows it's getting very close , must think about getting my own decorations done!

[Pixix in reply to Blearyeyed]

We booked early appointments this year for Santa in order to reduce the bug catching possibilities! I think it was holding two needled and then managing the wool as well that stopped me knitting! Santa needs a rest before a hectic Christmas Eve. Will try and rest more but it’s boring! Thanks, x

[scats]

Have you and your family left a trail of melting, scary little snowmen across the world?

[Blearyeyed in reply to scats]

Yep!😋

Although this is another effort of Eric's trip to Sarajevo . Since I was at Uni and created a trail of them one night from the Union bar to halls , whenever I , or then the Family , have been anywhere with snow , a snowman selfie has been produced.

If it's sand , then sandman selfies , or sometimes ice-cream selfies ,substitute for snow❄⛄

[scats in reply to Blearyeyed]

Perhaps you have an ego problem?

I have never felt the need, prefer to go unnoticed, but this size is about all I could manage at the moment.

[Blearyeyed in reply to scats]

I don't think the snowmen are that recognisable!😋😂😂😂

The snowmen selfies are usually only kept in our photo galleries. They just get left with normal eyes etc. to make people wonder who had made it there.

Definitely the size that's perfect for PMR Snowman making though , the ice cream ones were , of course , not left wasted but eaten!😋

[Jackoh]

Wow what a lot of knitting in the past!! X