2023!!! Jan Army thread

[Battle_for_the_sun]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

I'd written something out and read it back and realised I'd just felt sorry for myself and made a bunch of excuses so editing to say what it comes down to is I did what we all do, i developed a coping mechanism that was definitely a terrible choice, and then I continued making the same bad choice on a daily basis by not trying to fix it.

[mollyka]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

I'd written something out and read it back and realised I'd just felt sorry for myself and made a bunch of excuses so editing to say what it comes down to is I did what we all do, i developed a coping mechanism that was definitely a terrible choice, and then I continued making the same bad choice on a daily basis by not trying to fix it.

I wallowed in self pity when in the grips of addiction...found anything and everyone to blame ...in hindsight ...my personality was compromised by my dependence...I can only describe my ability to cope unaided as really pathetic...I often looked back on my younger unaddicted days and wondered how I had the wherewithal to do the things I did....but now...post dependency...I can do those things again...its wonderful...don't bash yourself for moping...but be aware of it and all will be good!!!!

[Battle_for_the_sun]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

Thanks molly. I think a large part of my anxiety about the current plan to quit is that I haven't actually had 'unaddicted days' since my very early teens, I feel like I'm about to turn 30 having not really known what I'm like sober as an adult, it also means I'm having to work on identifying patterns like the moping without actually knowing if I'm just a really mopey person haha. I like to think I'm not, but my last point of reference was me as a fully signed up emo thirteen year old. Who knows, maybe I'll turn out to be delightful.

[Battle_for_the_sun]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

Good morning all, an early check in because I am super excited as today is my first day as an official phd student!

[mollyka]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

Oh well done Inchy...what an achievement!!! The world will be your oyster!
Morning all...going to get a car...maybe....

[rustop59]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

Afternoon everyone

Well done Battle and best of luck in your new venture.

Did you get the car Molly? Very hard to get second hand ones at the moment. Took my daughter weeks.

Frosty start this morning but lovely and bright and sunny now. Love this type of weather.
In my lunch break so just a quick check in. Catch up later.

[mollyka]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

Just back now....nothing bought...the love of HIS life (as in...a car) had too small a boot for the ebikes..the love of MY life he doesn't like...and they only offering 3k for our car ( it's 15 YEARS OLD FFS) and he's all hurt on our car's behalflease:

[Battle_for_the_sun]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

Very quiet in here today, hope everyone's alright.

Rustop - car dealerships were so short on used stock after the pandemic that I had to tell the dealership I got my car from to stop calling me trying to buy mine back off me. Love that car though, first one I've ever had so I'll part with her when she falls apart.

[starty]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

Whoop Inchy! New life new start!

Working today which was OK, really could do with dropping a few more hours I think. 8.30 to 5.30 is quite a long day. Ideally Id like to work until 4 I think. Maybe when I get my pension later this year Ill look into it. It feels like a balance between working less but not making yourself invisible so that they think they dont need you any more.

£3k seems pretty reasonable for an old car? What is he expecting Molls?

[mollyka]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

Whoop Inchy! New life new start!

Working today which was OK, really could do with dropping a few more hours I think. 8.30 to 5.30 is quite a long day. Ideally Id like to work until 4 I think. Maybe when I get my pension later this year Ill look into it. It feels like a balance between working less but not making yourself invisible so that they think they dont need you any more.

£3k seems pretty reasonable for an old car? What is he expecting Molls?

Bout 40k would do him grand:welldone:
Eejit!!
Do you work 5 days those hours Starty? I never craved retirement...loved being in the workforce...meeting people every day etc etc....but shit...I absolutely love retirement...I spose I'm helped by our adventure here out West but just can't imagine being tied to time anymore...hope I keep feeling like this! I sound a bit smug but feck it I worked many a long year!!!!

[starty]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

Nope, 3 days a week Molls, I dont think Im ready to fully retire but once again feeling like I dont have quite enough free time to do the things I want. When I first cut down to 3 days, I worried Id be bored. That absolutely didnt happen and I found myself with plenty to do. Now, after nearly 4 years of working 3 days, I am finding my 4 days off are pretty full and still could do with more free time. I guess its a gradual step into full retirement. I like my job and enjoy my comms with people. I work from home and dont have much face to face with my work colleagues.

Your retirement sounds amazing. A whole new life. I would love to move and have a new house and garden to focus on but that cant happen just now.

[satz123]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

I would love to move and have a new house and garden to focus on but that cant happen just now.

Morning Starts.
I would love to live in a modernized house but funds do not allow for it at the moment.
MrS does not want to move - which is fair enough as we both love this house. It is in a quiet area but still close to everything, which is important I suppose as we age and perhaps have to stop driving at some stage.
So plan B will need to be used.
Plan B involves dragging him kicking & screaming along until he thinks it was all his idea - I just do not have the energy for playing those games at present.

I too like my job [MENTION=22456]starty[/MENTION] - gives me a sense of purpose. I enjoy the interaction with others of different ages and walks of life. Hearing the perspective of the generation that came before me & those coming behind me is invaluable.

On that note - off to work. :llama:

[JackieClaire]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

Morning from sporadic Mrs Doom and Gloom.
One of the cousins is staying with us for my Aunt's funeral..........in fact he's the youngest. As he has health problems we got a list of what he can and can't eat. One of them being diabetes which I am sorry about but tbh he's a bit of a sponger. He's got long pockets and short arms.
The funeral is 11am on Friday which is Mr. JC's busiest day of the week so we're escaping straight after the funeral (already discussed with the cousin who's doing the organizing) then handing him over to my brother and his missus for the wake. We've had a word with the cousin who's organising then we asked my little brother said it was no bother and he'll drive him about then drop him off here after the wake.

Did have a lovely time on Saturday with our Alfie.........he's nearly crawling and got a tooth. I was a very good Granny and didn't mention that this is when the fun starts. I remember when I found son and heir chewing one of my wellies. I got shot of the steriliser.

I volunteered after I stopped working. Before the pandemic I was volunteering in a 'peoples library'. Sadly its now gone. Before that I volunteered as a child mentor (I got a 9 year old little boy) who lived with his 6 siblings. He also had two brothers in prison. I've also volunteered at the Cancer Research shop.

[rustop59]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

Afternoon everyone

How did your first day go Battle? Love that expression about long pockets, short hands JC, have not heard it in years. Delighted you are enjoying your granny duties.

I find my 5 days off are really full. Working two days ticks a lot of boxes, getting me out of the house etc but come retirement in a few years I will be happy to retire.

Did I tell ye we got the first draft of the plans for the refurbishment if the cottage. Very exciting! Will probably divide our time between the two places. Long road ahead of us but good to get started.

Another frosty one here but sun is now shining.

[Battle_for_the_sun]

Re: 2023!!! Jan Army thread

Evening all

what an unrelentingly awful bloody day it's been haha, works been a mess since someone left and they didn't replace her, except somehow people have gotten the idea that I now do her job and mine so constant e-mails I have no answer to, management are a useless bunch sorting it, I'm lucky my boss is technically not one of them and is one of the nicest people you could hope to meet, if it weren't for her I think this past couple of weeks would've had me out the door. Some nastiness going on with my flat as well, landlord is fine but the building manager is a jobsworth and then some - have heard her talking about going through peoples bins before because 'she has a right to know what's in them'. Mad as can be. Nothing major but definitely an incentive to move - me and a friend of mine are thinking about getting a place together once my tenancy is up here, not eager to deal with moving stress but been dealing with the manager (oh so affectionately nicknamed 'von kaiser') for nearly five years and my patience is running very very thin. Anyway, day 19, didn't use, really really wanted to. Thank god the campus had 'dog therapy' going on in one of the buildings, something about having a french bulldog climb all over you really does help with cravings haha.

JC: be stealing that expression from you. Glad you at least had a nice day in amongst the rougher ones you've had of late. Hope the funeral goes well.

Rustop: Yesterday was actually wonderful haha. I didn't have to be on campus so was just studying from home but with more purpose which was nice, starting to find my footing with the project a bit more, laying out a timeline for what needs doing and when. I love what I do so feel very lucky that its going to be consuming most of my time for the next three years.