I think I know about 10 people who aren't on Facebook. All for various reasons. Some say its because its not their cup of tea, others have no idea how it works and then those who say it causes them more hassle then it's worth.
I'm personally seeing that its not Facebook that's the culprit but people on Facebook themselves!!!
I'm not pointing fingers at anyone specific as I think every single person on the site has had 'hassle' from being a member. It's more of a case that something you have said, be it a status, a comment, picture upload or checking in somewhere that has caused trouble, or on the opposite scale you having an issue with somebody else doing exactly that.
I'm a true Facebook addict. I love passing time catching up on what's going on with 'friends', seeing their photos and what they're doing. Equally I love showing off pictures of my beautiful family and updating my status with 'what's on my mind'.
Facebook infuriates me but also fills me with a happy buzz, depending on what I'm reading. Some people just constantly moan, others non stop bitching, and there is always someone constantly bragging that their life is the best. I also see things that fill me with admiration for some people. It's amazing how some have the worst things thrown at them yet they hold their head high, never moan, update on the situation and deal with it, truly inspirational!!!
I'm a big fan and don't see myself ever leaving the site, but before you moan about Facebook causing you hassle or grief think it through...is it Facebook...really????
Friday, 12 October 2012
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Don't expect the worst.
I had been dreading the summer holidays more then I can say. How would I manage keeping three monkeys entertained for 6 whole weeks alone, I honestly thought I'd end up back in hospital like I did during the Easter holidays.
Well with only two weeks to go the end is in sight and I have loved the holidays!! The kids have been laid back and enjoyed restful days aswell as busy ones.
We haven't done anything massively exciting as I haven't yet found a money tree but we've enjoyed walks in the woods, trips to the park with friends, lots of picnics and of course both reggie and Ethan have had birthdays. Luckily Darren has had most Wednesdays off which split the week up making it more manageable in bite size pieces.
I regret expecting the worst but I think most people do, after all 6weeks is a long time.
Well with only two weeks to go the end is in sight and I have loved the holidays!! The kids have been laid back and enjoyed restful days aswell as busy ones.
We haven't done anything massively exciting as I haven't yet found a money tree but we've enjoyed walks in the woods, trips to the park with friends, lots of picnics and of course both reggie and Ethan have had birthdays. Luckily Darren has had most Wednesdays off which split the week up making it more manageable in bite size pieces.
I regret expecting the worst but I think most people do, after all 6weeks is a long time.
Friday, 8 June 2012
Let the redecorating commence
It's June half term and I'd hoped to spend it enjoying the sun and taking trips to the park with the children. Instead we've spent most of our time indoors playing, watching films and doing jigsaw puzzles because of the horrid weather. Don't get me wrong, it's been nice, but not as nice as running around outside would have been.
The children don't go back to school until Tuesday as Monday is an inset day. This weekend all three children are going to stay with their auntie, uncle and two cousins for two nights. They are incredibly excited, they love being there. I'm a little anxious. Two nights seems like such a long time. I've never been apart from them for that long. However, Darren and I have a busy weekend planned. As a surprise for the children we are redecorating their rooms. The boys are now in one room and Georgina has her own room. We will be spending every second painting, sorting electrics and making curtains ready for their return on Sunday. I can't wait to see their faces! They are absolutely clueless to our plans. They haven't even asked what we will be doing while they are away.
Let the busy weekend commence!!!
The children don't go back to school until Tuesday as Monday is an inset day. This weekend all three children are going to stay with their auntie, uncle and two cousins for two nights. They are incredibly excited, they love being there. I'm a little anxious. Two nights seems like such a long time. I've never been apart from them for that long. However, Darren and I have a busy weekend planned. As a surprise for the children we are redecorating their rooms. The boys are now in one room and Georgina has her own room. We will be spending every second painting, sorting electrics and making curtains ready for their return on Sunday. I can't wait to see their faces! They are absolutely clueless to our plans. They haven't even asked what we will be doing while they are away.
Let the busy weekend commence!!!
Friday, 18 May 2012
Our shocking school walks
While Darren had 5weeks off work to help me recover from my low phase of bipolar he didn't get paid, therefore we've obviously not got much money. As a result I had to cancel the swimming membership I'd started to help me with my weightless journey. I'm now trying free ways of exercising. I'm feeling fairly stable mood wise at the moment so feel more able to kick start losing weight again. The best free form of exercise for me is walking so I'm back to walking as many school runs as possible. I love walking with the children but the things we see while walking to and from school is shocking!!
This morning we left home at 8.15. It's roughly a mile to get Ethan to school and takes us about 20 minutes. The first thing we came across that makes me cross is dog poo. It drives me bonkers that people walking their dogs dont pick up after they've been. It's not the dogs fault, they've obviously got to go, but if the owner wants a dog as a pet and walks along busy pavements pick it up. It doesn't take long and saves people having to constantly say to their children watch where your walking. The amount of times I've had to clean the wheels on my pushchair because I've wheeled through some without seeing it first or had to get the children to wipe their shoes on grass is madness.
Further up the road we were approaching some traffic lights. We have to walk along a very busy road and cross at a few places. Ethan and Georgina generally take it in turns to press the button. We then wait for the lights to turn red and the green man to light up. We'd just got to the other side as a car sped past us, running the red light. I was furious. They couldn't have been paying any attention as I checked to see if the lights were still red and they were. The driver could have caused serious injury if we'd been a little slower crossing.
We passed so many people driving while being on their mobile phones. Some were talking, holding the phone up to their ear and others were texting with the phones by their laps and flicking their eyes between the road and their lap. Another dangerous thing that infuriates me.
The final thing we saw this morning was a man driving along and reaching down into the passengers footwell. While fiddling with whatever it was he mounted the curb on his side, luckily it was on the opposite side of where we were walking. There were no pedestrians walking on the pavement that side, good thing too else that could have been awful!
We see so many people driving dangerously while we walk. Wether it be running red lights, talking on their phones, speeding or just generally not paying attention. Like I've said, I enjoy walking with my children, but I find it terrifying to think of how many people drive with no care in the world of what's going on around them. I try to keep the children safe along the road and we try to avoid dog poo but with people driving as they do and not cleaning up their dogs mess it's not easy!!
Rant over!!!
This morning we left home at 8.15. It's roughly a mile to get Ethan to school and takes us about 20 minutes. The first thing we came across that makes me cross is dog poo. It drives me bonkers that people walking their dogs dont pick up after they've been. It's not the dogs fault, they've obviously got to go, but if the owner wants a dog as a pet and walks along busy pavements pick it up. It doesn't take long and saves people having to constantly say to their children watch where your walking. The amount of times I've had to clean the wheels on my pushchair because I've wheeled through some without seeing it first or had to get the children to wipe their shoes on grass is madness.
Further up the road we were approaching some traffic lights. We have to walk along a very busy road and cross at a few places. Ethan and Georgina generally take it in turns to press the button. We then wait for the lights to turn red and the green man to light up. We'd just got to the other side as a car sped past us, running the red light. I was furious. They couldn't have been paying any attention as I checked to see if the lights were still red and they were. The driver could have caused serious injury if we'd been a little slower crossing.
We passed so many people driving while being on their mobile phones. Some were talking, holding the phone up to their ear and others were texting with the phones by their laps and flicking their eyes between the road and their lap. Another dangerous thing that infuriates me.
The final thing we saw this morning was a man driving along and reaching down into the passengers footwell. While fiddling with whatever it was he mounted the curb on his side, luckily it was on the opposite side of where we were walking. There were no pedestrians walking on the pavement that side, good thing too else that could have been awful!
We see so many people driving dangerously while we walk. Wether it be running red lights, talking on their phones, speeding or just generally not paying attention. Like I've said, I enjoy walking with my children, but I find it terrifying to think of how many people drive with no care in the world of what's going on around them. I try to keep the children safe along the road and we try to avoid dog poo but with people driving as they do and not cleaning up their dogs mess it's not easy!!
Rant over!!!
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Leaving hospital
It's been a while since I last blogged as I've not really had much to write about.
Three weeks ago today I was discharged from hospital so I've been focusing on trying to pick up and getting back to day to day life. It's been harder then I ever expected it to be!! I've been so lucky to have Darren. He is so supportive and has done everything that needs doing to take the stress from me while I've been getting back on track. He's been doing the school runs, cleaning, washing, getting the kids dressed and has even learnt to tie Georgina's hair up. He has done everything!!
It's been a rollercoster, which I knew it would be, but I wasn't prepared for it. I assumed that once leaving hospital everything would just fall back into place. When I arrived home I felt glad to be back. Being with the children and in my own bed excited me, for a few hours anyway. I didn't sleep well my first night home and for the first day or two I felt rock bottom. I just kept the thought in my head that things would improve.
Over the next few days I'd have a good day and then a couple that were bad. Slowly the good days became more frequent and started to even out with the bad. I felt I was getting somewhere at last.
I'm now feeling fairly stable and having more good days then bad, but I know I will still get days of feeling hopeless while my medication is still settling down.
I'm glad I went into hospital, it was what was needed at the time. I left at the right time and have slowly recovered. None of that would have happened if it hadn't been for the support I've had, so thank you to those.
I am scared of the future. I'm worried of how I'm going to manage my bipolar so that I don't get the highs and the lows but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now I'm focusing on my family, getting Darren back to work (as he's now been off for five weeks) and trying to get life back to how it was, full of health and happiness.
Three weeks ago today I was discharged from hospital so I've been focusing on trying to pick up and getting back to day to day life. It's been harder then I ever expected it to be!! I've been so lucky to have Darren. He is so supportive and has done everything that needs doing to take the stress from me while I've been getting back on track. He's been doing the school runs, cleaning, washing, getting the kids dressed and has even learnt to tie Georgina's hair up. He has done everything!!
It's been a rollercoster, which I knew it would be, but I wasn't prepared for it. I assumed that once leaving hospital everything would just fall back into place. When I arrived home I felt glad to be back. Being with the children and in my own bed excited me, for a few hours anyway. I didn't sleep well my first night home and for the first day or two I felt rock bottom. I just kept the thought in my head that things would improve.
Over the next few days I'd have a good day and then a couple that were bad. Slowly the good days became more frequent and started to even out with the bad. I felt I was getting somewhere at last.
I'm now feeling fairly stable and having more good days then bad, but I know I will still get days of feeling hopeless while my medication is still settling down.
I'm glad I went into hospital, it was what was needed at the time. I left at the right time and have slowly recovered. None of that would have happened if it hadn't been for the support I've had, so thank you to those.
I am scared of the future. I'm worried of how I'm going to manage my bipolar so that I don't get the highs and the lows but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now I'm focusing on my family, getting Darren back to work (as he's now been off for five weeks) and trying to get life back to how it was, full of health and happiness.
Saturday, 14 April 2012
I want to be normal!!!
The last blog I wrote was about being in Stuart lodge in Sherborne which is a psychiatric unit. Since being here I've had a huge rollercoaster of emotions!
When I first arrived I had a very very low mood. I'd seen my psychiatrist before being admitted and it was her and my community psychiatric nurse who felt it was best I came here. On my arrival I saw the ward psychiatrist who agreed that I should stay until I was more stable.
It took a few days to adjust to the quiet surroundings, completely different to how things are at home. I felt relaxed and enjoyed the time out to try and rest. I thought I'd be bored and home within 48 hours which much to my surprise hasnt been the case.
I've been here for over a week now. On Wednesdays they have a ward round where you have a meeting about how things are going etc. I was seen last week and Darren came with me. It was a very emotional meeting with alot of tears. There were two psychiatrists and a member of the home treatment team there. We all agreed that I hadn't improved since being here so it was decided that I'd stay in longer while trying some new medication in hope that it would help.
Here I am on Saturday after being on new medication since Wednesday. I feel better then when I first arrived on the ward but If I'm honest I still feel like I have a huge uphill battle before getting back to 'normal'.
I have spent the day today at home with Darren and the children which has been really pleasant but I felt the need to come back to the ward after 6 hours of being home. This morning I felt full of life and contemplated the possibility of coming home. Now I'm realising that I'm not yet ready for the giant leap back into normality but I plan on doing more home visits in the next few days to ease myself back into luife slowly.
I now know I will get better but I have realised that I have got to be patient, which is a first for me!! I've been truly overwhelmed with all the help and support I've received from so many people!! Thank you to those people, it's been so much easier knowing people do actually care!!
When I first arrived I had a very very low mood. I'd seen my psychiatrist before being admitted and it was her and my community psychiatric nurse who felt it was best I came here. On my arrival I saw the ward psychiatrist who agreed that I should stay until I was more stable.
It took a few days to adjust to the quiet surroundings, completely different to how things are at home. I felt relaxed and enjoyed the time out to try and rest. I thought I'd be bored and home within 48 hours which much to my surprise hasnt been the case.
I've been here for over a week now. On Wednesdays they have a ward round where you have a meeting about how things are going etc. I was seen last week and Darren came with me. It was a very emotional meeting with alot of tears. There were two psychiatrists and a member of the home treatment team there. We all agreed that I hadn't improved since being here so it was decided that I'd stay in longer while trying some new medication in hope that it would help.
Here I am on Saturday after being on new medication since Wednesday. I feel better then when I first arrived on the ward but If I'm honest I still feel like I have a huge uphill battle before getting back to 'normal'.
I have spent the day today at home with Darren and the children which has been really pleasant but I felt the need to come back to the ward after 6 hours of being home. This morning I felt full of life and contemplated the possibility of coming home. Now I'm realising that I'm not yet ready for the giant leap back into normality but I plan on doing more home visits in the next few days to ease myself back into luife slowly.
I now know I will get better but I have realised that I have got to be patient, which is a first for me!! I've been truly overwhelmed with all the help and support I've received from so many people!! Thank you to those people, it's been so much easier knowing people do actually care!!
Saturday, 7 April 2012
My perception was so wrong....
I'm sat here in room 5 of Stewart lodge in Sherborne. Stewart lodge is a psychiatric ward for mentally unstable people. I currently fall into that category!
As I've previously blogged I have bipolar disorder. It's a mental illness that sends your mood from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. People can be admitted into a psychiatric hospital for being at either end of the scale as both can be dangerous for different reasons. I'm unfortunately here at the moment as I'm suffering from a particular low period.
I've never been to a ward like this before. I've only ever visited bog standard hospital wards to visit friends and relatives who have been physically unwell, never mentally. I'd always pictured a psychiatric ward to be very clinical with men in white coats. The typical 1960's stereotype I suppose. I've always drearded the thought of entering anywhere like this through fear of seeing 'crazy' people walking around and shouting and screaming. I'm glad to say I couldn't have been more wrong.
This unit is very laid back and relaxed. There is a communal area for watching tv, a dining room and kitchen and a small craft room along with individual rooms with your bed, sink and tv. You don't have an ensuite bathroom but all the toilets, showers and baths are very clean. There are members of staff here 24/7 and you can go to them at anytime. It's a small ward and currently only 4 of us here. We all sit together for meals at set times of the day but otherwise we are free to do as we please.
I never thought I'd be happy being away from my family and although I obviously miss them I feel much happier being here receiving the help that I need. I feel safe and secure here which is such a relief that I never thought this environment would provide.
I don't know how long I'll be here but I am aware that I'm fighting an uphill battle and to do so I need the support of the staff and other patients. Darren and the children have visited as have other people which is nice to know I'm not cut off from my outside life completely.
Some people may not understand why I'm being so open about where I am and why, but I do strongly feel that there shouldn't be a taboo about this subject and I want people to be aware that it's not a scary place like many would think it is.
While I've been here I've coloured an Easter picture for the children to have at home so that they know I'm with them in spirit during the Easter break which I actually found very therapeutic.
To sum it all up, i can't believe how wrong I was at my expectations of what a psychiatric ward would be, and I'm happy to say that I'm pleasantly surprised.
As I've previously blogged I have bipolar disorder. It's a mental illness that sends your mood from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. People can be admitted into a psychiatric hospital for being at either end of the scale as both can be dangerous for different reasons. I'm unfortunately here at the moment as I'm suffering from a particular low period.
I've never been to a ward like this before. I've only ever visited bog standard hospital wards to visit friends and relatives who have been physically unwell, never mentally. I'd always pictured a psychiatric ward to be very clinical with men in white coats. The typical 1960's stereotype I suppose. I've always drearded the thought of entering anywhere like this through fear of seeing 'crazy' people walking around and shouting and screaming. I'm glad to say I couldn't have been more wrong.
This unit is very laid back and relaxed. There is a communal area for watching tv, a dining room and kitchen and a small craft room along with individual rooms with your bed, sink and tv. You don't have an ensuite bathroom but all the toilets, showers and baths are very clean. There are members of staff here 24/7 and you can go to them at anytime. It's a small ward and currently only 4 of us here. We all sit together for meals at set times of the day but otherwise we are free to do as we please.
I never thought I'd be happy being away from my family and although I obviously miss them I feel much happier being here receiving the help that I need. I feel safe and secure here which is such a relief that I never thought this environment would provide.
I don't know how long I'll be here but I am aware that I'm fighting an uphill battle and to do so I need the support of the staff and other patients. Darren and the children have visited as have other people which is nice to know I'm not cut off from my outside life completely.
Some people may not understand why I'm being so open about where I am and why, but I do strongly feel that there shouldn't be a taboo about this subject and I want people to be aware that it's not a scary place like many would think it is.
While I've been here I've coloured an Easter picture for the children to have at home so that they know I'm with them in spirit during the Easter break which I actually found very therapeutic.
To sum it all up, i can't believe how wrong I was at my expectations of what a psychiatric ward would be, and I'm happy to say that I'm pleasantly surprised.
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