What are you all up to
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Glad to hear that you are home safe and sound WN. Hopefully the double will get sorted out quickly.
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I'll second that, WN. Many happy returns.
,Not quite as sunny today but still dry. That's been a week of good weather and the next couple might continue in the same vein. We had three walks in Stainburn Forest, dodging the guns of a shooting party and then the mountain bikes on the unofficial trails.
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Glad you're back safely WN - bet you're both exhausted.
Here's a view from the back garden, this afternoon - been a beautiful day, but very cold. Magnificent sunset - 'shepherd's delight'.
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We had another cold day here yesterday, warmer this morning but grey and clouds feel very low. We had a few beautiful cold days, don't think as many as others but that's OK. I wish the brightness would stay. Happy with the cold, you can wrap up against it or turn up the heating (if you're lucky enough to have clothes and sufficient funds for energy prices!) Harder to cool down in the heat 😉.
Beautiful sunset richardandros. Hope that means you've slowed down, as medically requested, and are taking time to enjoy nature's treats? 😉
Good to read you're home wherenext, treat yourself gently for a while, I know you like clean car but there are other things too, life is short as we've all been jolted into accepting recently. Stay safe,
Feels like halfway through the day, wel I've ve not slept since 2am....... Re-read all the paperwork received from the solicitors yesterday, report on our purchase, contracts for our sale and purchase arrived yesterday. Then all the other reports. These days there is so much, probably to cover everyone's posterior but a lot for the 'lay person' to taken board. Even that didn't help with sleep when I returned to bed, so finished a craft project and the usual chores before breakfast 🤣.
Hopefully a dog walk will lift my mood and stop my brain racing........ Must go and see if she'd care to join me soon. Going to finish washing the bird feeders, not a general morning chore before I stir her and OH. Am I jealous some folk just sleep like a baby??
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I do feel for you Bakers2. I’m sure your peaceful world will return when all the messing about stops, and it WILL. You have so much on your plate at present so it’s not surprising sleep is evading you! Be good to yourself as much as you can. Just think by the summer you will be moved, sorted and enjoying life again. Take care and fingers crossed all will be well soon.
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I can't give you any helpful hints about how to turn your brain off at Night Bakers as I've not worked it out yet. You'll be the first to know if I hit the magic button.
Although I can recommend a week of high on stress coupled with a lot of travel, throw in a funeral and a large glass or two of something Red and it works wonders. Well it did for me last night. 10 hours of sleep and pure bliss, I think. I can't understand your comment about car washing though B2. No-one here or anyone that knows me wouldn't recognise a strong desire to wash cars in me either.
I do hope that everything with the move goes smoothly from hereon in. Fingers crossed.Trying to sort out the "confusion" regarding the payments with the last hotel this morning. Have raised a section 75 with the bank so hopefully if the hotel do not respond the bank will help. The only good thing is that the exchange rate seems to be going up for the £.
Mrs WN has her first load of washing in. Will have some lunch and then go for a long walk after it. Haven't stretched the legs much lately.
Lovely photo Richard. That and the Song Thrush blasting away at the moment lifted the spirits. Good luck with the recovery programme, not just for you but for Ros as well.
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Thanks WN - we are lucky living here - with nothing to speak of between us and the North Sea. Main reason we bought the house - for the views. Pleased that you're back safe and well.
As for the recovery programme - I'm slowly going stir-crazy! I only have to move around a bit and the leg swells up like a balloon and there's only so much 'resting' I can cope with in a day. Yes - I'm impatient - always having been fairly active in the past. Just looking forward to getting the van back after the boiler repair and heading off to Skybarn Farm CL, near Lincoln, on 1 March
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Good to hear you are safely back WN.
We've had a few good settled days, not as cold as you guys south of us. For once we got it a bit milder, took advantage and managed to tidy another section of the garden.
Been busy around the house doing odd jobs and some work at the sewing machine.
Should have had our eldest grandchild here for the weekend but she decided at the last minute to stay on at school with her friends and go to the hockey and rugby games. We now know it wasn't just the stress of exams that she wanted a break from. It turns out her and her boyfriend have broken up, at 15 it's the end of the world (well for 3 days) all ok again now. Oh the fickleness of youth 😂😂😂
I'm having a lazy morning catching up on here. OH is sorting out admin, he has a pile of paperwork to file. Used to be my job but when he retired he took it over, think he might regret that nowadays.
Will go out after lunch for some fresh air, not looking great grey skies with the odd break in clouds, it looks chilly and breezy.
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Another sharp frost here and blue skies all the way beautiful and even a bit warmer upto 10C but ground is quite hard so no gardening yet. Just spoke to a friend who lives about 6 miles from us and said they have been eating lunch outside their back door as very sheltered we do not have a sheltered spot here really and OH said not warm enough for me yet and he does not feel the cold no comment.
Will go for a walk later even if it is around the village as the hunt are about with this weather.
Just take care Richard with your recovery good photo too.
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Home alone. OH is somewhere over Athelney way (where King Alfred burnt the cakes..) and it's another grey day. No nice sunsets here at the moment Richard! Hope you start to feel improvements soon, take it easy.
I had an early walk with the dog, the mud has settled down to walkable but at least it's not Midlands clay where you have to stop every few minutes to remove the build up underfoot! No-one around, I think it's too chilly to tempt the fair weather walkers!
B2 I presume you've got to sign papers off now, get witnesses to signatures etc.? It's a sign of progress, do hope you don't have to wait too long. I believe some exchnages and completions go through very close together at the moment? Either way I hope you can send it all off soon and get some sleep.
I think you've done well WN hope you all get some time to unwind too.
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Been cat sitting today or more precisely cat feeding. My son has two Ragdoll cats. He and his wife have been in London overnight so we went across to feed them. ( he does have an automatic feeder but that only dispenses dry food) Strange animals are Ragdolls as they are not the sort of cat to snuggle up on the settee with you. They seem to like human contact but strictly on their terms!!! The male one is massive although if you pick him up you realise its all fur!!! The younger female is smaller and more timid. Anyway they were pretty hungry and polished of their food in short order!!!
David
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As a lifetime insomniac Bakers I can sympathise. Slept fine until I had my first baby, 50 years ago, and never since. My Mum was the same, never a proper nights sleep. She always said it was better to lay there and at least get some rest. I have tried everything, Dr sent me on a ‘course’ once, they said as I had already tried everything they could offer there was little point me keep attending. Sometimes I can go a whole night without any sleep at all, quite used to it and can manage. OH can’t make it out as a couple of hours of no sleep and he is not good the next day. He wants to move and put our house on the market! Really not looking forward to that!
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Same here re - moving DEBSC. Although it’s me instigating it mainly. I’d like to be nearer our Hertfordshire family. Reading B2’s trials it does make one think a little harder! As I have an scheduled operation soon, also our son and family visiting here for a few weeks/months from Macau it’s not top priority just yet, but when all settles down again it will be looked at again! 🥴🤦
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Thanks for your kind thoughts folks, much appreciated I can assure you.
Yes I think my current 'wobbles' are that the paperwork that has arrived is the actual contracts to be signed, at the solicitors but read and digested before, once exchanged, hopefully in the near future, it's final. Something we've wanted for months but now it's actually here it all seems very daunting, and I'm leading on it because I have to be the strong one now and I know we do both really want to do it. Oh how contrary is the human state at times??
I really hope I'm not putting folk off, it's just all so long winded and unsettling! A lovely estate agent phoned yesterday to see if we were sorted, we chatted generally about 'our house buying and selling' system, she has 25 years experience and thinks it awful still. Apparently a friend in the same trade went to Canada a few years back and its usually all sorted in 15 days 😱😱 with the seller obtaining reports etc so from the moment you view a property you have all the facts. 'We' have discovered there are chancel repair liabilities - sorted quite cheaply as an example. Never mind the home straight is in view, but like any marathon it's the stamina that's important. I'm sure the last couple of years have not aided our confidence, but we can't keep blaming it all on the pandemic! I might have become a jibbering wreck without its help!
I have spells of not sleeping, generally for a reason, and find it difficult to cope with - goodness knows how those of you who suffer regularly manage.
Heddlo how exciting that the family are visiting. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly. NZ entered 'red' for Covid a few hours ago, shouldn't make much difference to our fully vaccinated family but it's always on my mind.
Right I must take myself in hand and prepare a roast. Its cold grey and uninspiring here, variety got light. I came back from my earlier dog walk, fairly mud free - we stuck to hard surface paths and cycleways for 4 miles through parks - it wasn't all that busy either and nice to have a change of venue and Dora was able to have free run for almost all of it.
DavidKlyne those cats are beautiful 😍. We5ll be able to do similar, son has dog not cat, when were nearer and it will work both ways 😉🤣
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I went through a period of stress and not being able to sleep. Like others, tried all sorts, but finally dropped on something that worked for me. I listen to talking books as soon as I turn off the light. Just one bud of some small earphones in the ear I am not resting on, and it’s enough to dispel any other thoughts, and lull me to sleep. Doesn’t stop me hearing things, but stops the mind dwelling on things that it shouldn’t. OH has timed me, and from closing eyes to “fast on” can be less than a minute….Bliss.
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Very beautiful cats DK. I miss our cats.
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I use exactly the same method, don't always use an earphone as OH likes some 'white noise' too, we have a Bluetooth speaker in between our pillows.
I must sort out some new books, but I also use bbc sounds app, and have nature broadcasts, open country, ramblings etc. They go back several years, so lots of nights listening and very gentle each episode runs on to give continual listening. Its amazing how much you retain, I'm amazed at random quiz answers that appear from nowhere! I do have some comedies but they keep you alert so defeat the object.
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I used to listen to the World Service on Radio 4, but some of the topics, particularly from Africa, were so horrific, I couldn’t listen. I like unabridged, very long books, certainly at least 8 hours to get me through a night. I have a few listening gadgets, but to all my books are on IPhone and IPad now, so it’s easy. My OH could hear my underpillow speaker, so I don’t use it much.
Has to be interesting, but not riveting, otherwise that keeps me awake🤣1 -
If I am going to sleep at all it’s not getting to sleep at first, it’s waking up after the first hour or so, my brain seems to believe that’s enough and I’m awake and sorting out the worlds problems, or not. Regularly then awake for 4 or 5 hours. Have tried music, books, all to no avail. A Dr, long ago, suggested a hot toddy, milk and brandy does sometimes help. I always read for a while in bed, always a paper book never a kindle due to the screen. Never ever allow myself a nap in the day and don’t really seem to need that. I think that it may actually be hereditary.
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DEBSC yes if I'm going to be wakeful it will be after an hour or two of sleep. Often falling back to sleep when it's time to get up.
Why do we feel we should solve the world's problems?
I suspect you're right it could be hereditary- mine isn't! Look how little sleep some folk manage on with high flying jobs, it's just personal I suppose. I'd be a hibernate given a choice
Like Takethedogalong I liked the World Service, but if I awoke when a quiz was on..... I can still remember dreaming about Russian gas pipes years ago obviously listening and dreaming . The news bulletins are very frequent and whilst the factual documentaries are very good they are not conducive to restful sleep - more problems to solve!
Just enjoyed a very nice roast chicken dinner with the last of the 'emergency' Christmas trimmings from the freezer. That's another contemplateable issue, running it down and keeping supplies for however long. I will probably have to start doing my own shopping rather than having deliveries because of the minimum spend, I can't keep adding stock cupboard items to make it up.
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It's interesting reading about help with sleep. After an illness I found I was waking at 3am and got worried that I just couldn't sleep. This got worse to the point that I was worried about it before I even went to bed. My Mum, who was good at practical thinking suggested lying down for a rest in the afternoon this gradually led to an afternoon "switch off" sleep and then my brain seemed to gradually re-set itself. Luckily I was at home at the time so could try this out. Sorry to hear what it's like for others, we all need a restful sleep!
My Mum's practicality didn't stretch to switching her radio off when staying with us and keeping us all awake whilst she slept!
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Never understood folk being unable to sleep like you lot on 'ere ! Having done the best part of thirty (30) years on call with BT I could, and still do , drop off to sleep halfway thro the News Headlines unless very interesting !!
DK, it would be a close run thing between me and your gorgeous moggies as to who/which of us can get more hours of zzzz's in a day
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You and other sufferers have my sympathy Brue. I’ve had similar episodes in the past. As you say anxiety about not sleeping feeds of itself and becomes a vicious cycle. At its worse I’ve gone 3 days without a wink of sleep and you begin to understand how effective sleep deprivation is as an instrument of torture. I find white noise useful to block out other sounds when necessary.
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It’s interesting using something like a Fitbit Watch that analyses your sleep patterns. Shows the different phases such as deep, light, rapid eye movement, awake. OH says mine needs an asleep but walking mode as well😯
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My pattern of sleep is, at best, inconsistent and 'unpredictable. I rarely get to bed before 1am, but it's sometimes a question of sleeping at the wrong time and in the wrong place. I've been asleep in the chair for a couple of hours tonight and have just woke up (2am).....
My Fitbit analysis of sleep pattern usually comes out as Fair or Good - usually a score in the 70's. Very occasionally I get an Excellent or Poor.
Now I've woken, I'll go to bed and watch TV on the phone (with earbuds). I'll eventually fall to sleep and probably won't last out the 'first programme!! 😀😀
David
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I'm another one who has trouble sleeping - or rather, sleeping at the wrong time! I go to bed early - even more so of late as my leg tends to get more and more swollen and painful as the day goes on - but then I'm usually awake about 4 am. Can't be doing with lounging about in bed, so get up to make a cuppa and browse the 'net - read the papers etc, on this computer. It becomes a bit of a vicious circle.
In summer, I see what I consider to be the best part of the day - but can't say the same at this time of the year.
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Yes, those gadgets are interesting. Makes you realise that sleep duration and quality of sleep are two entirely different things. I’m usually in bed around midnight and up after 9am. That’s my natural rhythm. By the time I’ve had several cups of tea, eaten breakfast and faffed about I often find toilet blocks closed for cleaning on CMC sites!
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Expensive needing to put the heating on early 🥴
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I don't need a Fitbit to tell me I have had a rotten nights sleep
I sometimes feel better after a poor nights sleep than when I have had a good nights sleep, all a bit odd!David
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Not odd really, just illustrates the points made previously - it’s about how much time you spend in the various phases of sleep (which can be measured), each playing a vital role in maintaining your physical and mental health. If that pattern is disturbed, the restorative benefits of sleep can be diminished.
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