WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR FEBRUARY 2021

Beth - Yes, it has been horrible for people in some professions. I was very worried for my younger son at the beginning, who was starting in a new job trying to get AF drinks into restaurants!!!! He took a pay cut and had to take a mortgage holiday. However, he weathered the storm and switched to retail outlets, so has managed to keep his job. He did offer to resign at one stage as he felt completely useless.
I feel so sorry for musicians, performers, restaurants, pubs etc. The government here has made special provisions of benefits for a lot of people in those positions, but quite a lot of the self employed have fallen through the cracks. I know there is a large amount of suffering.
When your raison d'être is taken away, it is very hard. Mine has been enhanced by giving me time and concentration to get on with my memoir. I couldn't live my life without that outlet.
Has your son been able to compose, or is he too depressed? I can totally understand that lack of motivation. Not having an audience........

Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx

Heather ... only within the last 2 or 3 weeks have we heard music coming from his end of the house. I'm hoping it's a good sign. We have since learned that he experienced some very dark moments while alone in lockdown. He is in therapy and under a doctor's care, recognizes that life goes on, and is coming to the realization that he may never get back to where he was before March 2020. He is in contact with several very successful people in the field who keep him informed. The picture is bleak at the moment for new talent. Finding a new direction, if that is what eventually needs to happen, will take time.

💚❄❤

pipcd34 wrote: »

Whidislander wrote: »

Sorry for posting so many pics. I couldn't choose!😋

I would have posted them all too but wouldn’t have apologized:0/

Heehee, our Pip, outspoken, outgoing, outstanding, and wears a steel-toed boot, to boot!😋💕💖

snowpocolypse has begun

cityjaneLondon wrote: »

I think one thing that saves me from overdoing things is that I have a very low expectation of my energy. I have deliberately never done a full time job. I just know I couldn't. The mere idea of a long commute and then a full day's work seems impossible to me.
Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx

I've had no choice. No work = no money.

auntiebk wrote: »

Machka it is no wonder to me that you are tired. Tracey’s and KJs comments about long term stress, sleep deprivation and how long it takes to recoup from them are right on. After Papa passed away, Mama slept the whole summer. She’d cared for him in his wheelchair for 17 years and was completely worn out. As a band-aid, could you try eating a piece of fruit as you leave work? Might give you the energy to change into your cycling gear when you get home.

I was eating a piece of fruit as I leave work, but yesterday I tried a small low-calorie protein bar and I think it was better. Unfortunately they're not cheap!

Snowflake1968 wrote: »

Heather - I am more like you, I very rarely make plans for after work. I come home have supper and then watch tv most evenings. When I was walking regularly I did go for my walk in the evening.

I've never been one to sit and watch TV. Maybe that's because I didn't grow up with a TV - we didn't have one in the house until my late teens. So I grew up doing other things in the evenings like reading, cleaning, doing homework, playing games, etc. Much like I do now!

Also, since I was diagnosed with MTHFR and a high homocysteine level, after having a left leg full of blood clots (DVT) I was told I need to get up and move at least once an hour. The few times I've curled up to watch a movie (prefer movies to TV shows), I find I don't get up and move till the movie is over, which isn't good.

Snowflake1968 wrote: »

Machka - I never would have thought a heating pad wouldn’t be easily accessible anywhere.

I wouldn't have thought that either. So I've gone on hunts through department stores and chemists and all sorts to no avail. I've asked about them, and no one knows what I'm talking about. They direct me to hot water bottles or the heated mattress pads most accommodations (hotels, motels, cabins, etc.) have here.

I've got a hot water bottle and it's OK but I would prefer a heating pad.

I'm pretty sure I saw one in a medical supply store several blocks away from where I work so I'll go have a look. As I recall it was about twice what you'd pay for one in Canada.

Snowflake1968 wrote: »

Beth - thank you for the advice. I am doing some better today. My hip is not in pain anymore, it is just my lower back. I don’t know how to spell it but my sacaralic joint is about 3 inches from my hip joint which should be about 1 inch. My pelvis is out of neutral position and we need to get the pain and inflammation under control before a lot can be fixed. It is better today after not doing anything yesterday that she told me not to do.

The medical people I've seen so far think my "hip pain" is actually lower back so I'm being sent to a neurosurgeon who specialises in back issues.

I got a call from them already telling me they had received my referral and I would be hearing from them shortly to book an appointment. I am hoping I'll go for the necessary scans first, but already my GP is guessing they'll want to do surgery.

My pelvis is also out of neutral and I've noticed I've started to limp in a weird kind of way, like I'm hitching that painful right hip up when I walk. In the last few weeks, my back, hip, and whole right leg have been waking me up several times in the night.

Meanwhile, I've been given a medication often used for epilepsy to try to dull the nerve sensation and a very strong anti-inflammatory which I'm only to use 5 days a week. Unfortunately the epilepsy medication apparently causes drowsiness!! Just what I need! I'm to take it 2 times a day, 12 hours apart so I've opted for midnight and noon. Midnight because I'll be going to bed soon after and noon which gives me a decent morning of work, plus I usually go out for a walk about 12:30 or so and that might perk me up after taking the medication. We'll see.

kevrit wrote: »

I agree with KJ. Also, once I started working at a desk all day my energy just vanished. Can you get an adjustable desk at work where you can put it so you can stand? Adjustable so you can alternate between sitting and standing. That will help with the back/hip issues. I developed bursitis from sitting at work too much. Moving made it go away along with my back issues. I was a safety manager for a while and did research on sitting too much. Several people where I work had the adjustable desks and loved them!
RvRita

I can! Three people right in my area have them. That is something I have been thinking about, however, I'll wait to see what the surgeon says. If that's something he recommends too, I'll get him to provide me a note to hand to whoever orders the desks.


Machka in Oz

GodMomKim wrote: »

Hi Gals,

Interesting read, I’m 62 right now and expect to work full time, like I am now - which is 5-18 hours of paid gardening a week and 30-50 hours of embroidery a week until I am 70. In the states there is a government retirement program “Social Security” which reaches it’s maximum payment when you turn 70, and at that age allows you to continue to work without limits. For me “full retirement” is 66 and 8 months, but if I work until 70 that will add an additional $600 a month to my take home, seems like a good deal for 3 years and 4 months more. I also have private retirement money. I am hoping to drop all or most of my gardening clients at that point, and just do my own yard and some volunteer gardening, possibly selling the embroidery business and convert to a smaller machine and keep my friend clients and do stuff for myself. I am also hoping to be able to move then, I would like to be in a better floor plan in a quieter community, at that point possibly open an AirB&B. Looking at my families life spans and my current health – I figure I will need to provide for myself until I am at least 100, and with no kids I will need to pay for any help I would need as the USA’s senior health insurance is lacking in supportive “care” help.

Smiles Kim, in Northern California

Yep, me too. My grandparents have been in their 90s when they've passed away.

I think Australia and Canada have somewhat better care plans for seniors, but I'm not overly confident in that. I have always taken care of myself so I don't envision that changing.

The longer I work, the greater my pension so I can definitely see me working to 70. That was a motivating factor for going for my Master's degree at my age ... I may need it in order to keep working. It's also a motivating factor to keep learning on the job ... and a bit at home in the evenings too. In IT, I need to keep current.

The additional factor for me is that the specialists think my husband will start deteriorating soon and at some point I'll have to arrange for help in the home and eventually some sort of nursing home for him. If I want some hope of getting him good help, I've got to keep working.

It's a good thing I don't mind my job!


M in Oz

I'm mad at myself for burning a grilled cheese sandwich that was for my dad. I should know better than that! He ate it anyway.

It wasn't a great day. I didn't go to the pharmacy because rain was predicted, but it never rained. At least I did my marching indoors for fifteen minutes.

My book group was odd too. People kept going way off topic. We covered only twelve pages of the introductory chapter.

Just an off day.

Annie in Delaware

Heather: I have been remarkably content to stay home and spend quality time with DH. However, I do miss the physical contact with my family, especially DYD, who has gone through several upheavals in recent months (leaving a job where she was grossly under appreciated; break up of her civil partnership. Her partner dumped her just before Christmas). Our girl tends to hide her feelings, and it’s difficult to gauge how she is doing on the phone or Skype
Allie: Please rest up. You need to heal properly after your surgery.