Here Comes the Sun

Little darlin' it's been a long cold lonely winter.  I remember my brother playing this on his guitar many summers ago.  As we start to believe that these sunny days may last, I welcome the warmth and promise of better days ahead.

I just found a diary fragment from 2014, a bad year for me in which I had a major depressive episode which rendered me unable to enjoy every aspect of my life, from eating to being with my family and friends.  Discharged from hospital in the spring, I found the first signs of summer - new growth on the trees, birdsong, the sun on my face - unbearable, and drifted about indoors, wishing for rain.  It was a glorious summer, with a new grandchild born in June, but I felt nothing, except a huge sense of guilt and loss.

The right medication and psychological help eventually helped me back to a kind of equilibrium, but it's only over the past year that I've felt secure enough to be happy.  One of the first signs of recovery was falling completely in love with my grandson.  Being with him is a constant joy.

On Thursday we we were back to seasonal rain for our trip down the Clyde by Steam Puffer VIC 32.  Our motley crew of retirees had a jolly time in spite of the weather.  Black smoke from the funnel and the toot of the steam whistle conjured instant Para Handy recall.  Two years ago I would have been unable to cope with talking to strangers in a confined space!  But I  chatted, sketched and enjoyed an excellent lunch with a few glasses of wine.

Beauty notes:   I've been noticing how many women over 60 have no eyebrows.  I counted at least four in our group today   Years of plucking have taken their toll and necessitate drawing in pencilled arches.  I only once had mine professionally done before my wedding in 1970, resulting in wedding photos marred by my minimal brows.  Mine are still fairly bushy but starting to grey.

  I use Laura Mercier gel brow definer in Fair, applied with an angled brush (Bobbie Brown does a good one).

I've also become a fan of MAC cosmetics, currently offering free delivery. I tend to browse the counters, get colour matched, then top-up online.  I've just invested in their Pro Longwear Waterproof Foundation and matching Pressed Powder, guaranteed to last all day in any climate conditions.  I'll see how they perform in my month-long trip to the US in July.

We've finally ordered our Volkswagen campervan.  It has to be built in Germany so we have to wait until Autumn for delivery, but we're having fun researching and buying things like melamine plates and a Remoska cooker.

I'd welcome comments if there's anything that strikes a chord with you.  Email me personally if you'd rather not post publicly.

Here Comes the Sun

Little darlin' it's been a long cold lonely winter.  I remember my brother playing this on his guitar many summers ago.  As we start to believe that these sunny days may last, I welcome the warmth and promise of better days ahead.

I just found a diary fragment from 2014, a bad year for me in which I had a major depressive episode which rendered me unable to enjoy every aspect of my life, from eating to being with my family and friends.  Discharged from hospital in the spring, I found the first signs of summer - new growth on the trees, birdsong, the sun on my face - unbearable, and drifted about indoors, wishing for rain.  It was a glorious summer, with a new grandchild born in June, but I felt nothing, except a huge sense of guilt and loss.

The right medication and psychological help eventually helped me back to a kind of equilibrium, but it's only over the past year that I've felt secure enough to be happy.  One of the first signs of recovery was falling completely in love with my grandson.  Being with him is a constant joy.

On Thursday we we were back to seasonal rain for our trip down the Clyde by Steam Puffer VIC 32.  Our motley crew of retirees had a jolly time in spite of the weather.  Black smoke from the funnel and the toot of the steam whistle conjured instant Para Handy recall.  Two years ago I would have been unable to cope with talking to strangers in a confined space!  But I  chatted, sketched and enjoyed an excellent lunch with a few glasses of wine.

Beauty notes:   I've been noticing how many women over 60 have no eyebrows.  I counted at least four in our group today   Years of plucking have taken their toll and necessitate drawing in pencilled arches.  I only once had mine professionally done before my wedding in 1970, resulting in wedding photos marred by my minimal brows.  Mine are still fairly bushy but starting to grey.

  I use Laura Mercier gel brow definer in Fair, applied with an angled brush (Bobbie Brown does a good one).

I've also become a fan of MAC cosmetics, currently offering free delivery. I tend to browse the counters, get colour matched, then top-up online.  I've just invested in their Pro Longwear Waterproof Foundation and matching Pressed Powder, guaranteed to last all day in any climate conditions.  I'll see how they perform in my month-long trip to the US in July.

We've finally ordered our Volkswagen campervan.  It has to be built in Germany so we have to wait until Autumn for delivery, but we're having fun researching and buying things like melamine plates and a Remoska cooker.

I'd welcome comments if there's anything that strikes a chord with you.  Email me personally if you'd rather not post publicly.

Feeling Fine?

Sometimes you just feel old, especially when you are not well.  I've spent a couple of days floored by a nasty cough, unable to shrug it off by just getting on with things regardless. We are used to putting on a good face, saying 'Fine!' when people ask how we are. Often it is only those closest to us who know about hospital visits, tests and medication.  I imagine there are few pensioners without some condition requiring treatment.  My grandmother, at the age I am now and when younger, always had something wrong with her, often the ailment described by 'The Doc' in The Sunday Post.  She generally sat with her feet up and was looked after.  She was a great believer  in her own home remedies - any admission of stomach pain resulted in a dose of brandy, sugar and hot water. (I still can't drink brandy!)  In spite of this, along with smoking, eating sweeties and taking no exercise, she lived until she was 89.

 Our generation of hill-walkers, charity parachute jumpers and cyclists appear to be glowing with health, making it difficult to admit to suffering from conditions associated with ageing.  We have also had to cope with the loss of parents, sometimes siblings and close friends, from illnesses like Parkinsons, MS and motor-neuron disease. Many families have had mental health issues to deal with, sometimes over many years.

As someone who has experienced losses and learned to live with health problems, I feel that I have learned about myself and others from getting through difficult times.  We are lucky enough to have healthcare which gets us access to specialists when we need it, as well as screening for conditions left untreated in my grandmother's time.  Being resilient and ready to take on the challenges of ageing is fine, but sometimes taking to your bed is the right way to look after yourself. What do you think? How has experience of ill-health or loss affected you?  Right now, I'm up, dressed and needed to resolve a tomato plant crisis. Such is life.

  

Feeling Fine?

Sometimes you just feel old, especially when you are not well.  I've spent a couple of days floored by a nasty cough, unable to shrug it off by just getting on with things regardless. We are used to putting on a good face, saying 'Fine!' when people ask how we are. Often it is only those closest to us who know about hospital visits, tests and medication.  I imagine there are few pensioners without some condition requiring treatment.  My grandmother, at the age I am now and when younger, always had something wrong with her, often the ailment described by 'The Doc' in The Sunday Post.  She generally sat with her feet up and was looked after.  She was a great believer  in her own home remedies - any admission of stomach pain resulted in a dose of brandy, sugar and hot water. (I still can't drink brandy!)  In spite of this, along with smoking, eating sweeties and taking no exercise, she lived until she was 89.

 Our generation of hill-walkers, charity parachute jumpers and cyclists appear to be glowing with health, making it difficult to admit to suffering from conditions associated with ageing.  We have also had to cope with the loss of parents, sometimes siblings and close friends, from illnesses like Parkinsons, MS and motor-neuron disease. Many families have had mental health issues to deal with, sometimes over many years.

As someone who has experienced losses and learned to live with health problems, I feel that I have learned about myself and others from getting through difficult times.  We are lucky enough to have healthcare which gets us access to specialists when we need it, as well as screening for conditions left untreated in my grandmother's time.  Being resilient and ready to take on the challenges of ageing is fine, but sometimes taking to your bed is the right way to look after yourself. What do you think? How has experience of ill-health or loss affected you?  Right now, I'm up, dressed and needed to resolve a tomato plant crisis. Such is life.