!! AOS insomniacs club !!

[Pigmy Pony]

Every year when it's time to get my bike on the road, I have bike-related dreams. Last night I dreamt my bike was a moped, an ex-GPO Raleigh Runabout. Someone had damaged one of the mirrors, and stolen the other one. And the brakes didn't work :eek: Crashing at 22mph is not a good thing, luckily I woke up just in time.

[Macca]

I've not driven in more than 30 years but still have dreams about it sometimes and they always end in a crash. Usually it is an emergency and I am deemed the only one who can do it. My protests about not having a license are waved aside.

So we set off an it all goes fine but as soon as it comes to the point where I have to stop accelerating and brake my feet inexplicably won't move and we crash. Usually into some parked or otherwise stationary vehicles. I quickly decide that my only option is to do a runner and at that point I wake up.

[Pigmy Pony]

I've not driven in more than 30 years but still have dreams about it sometimes and they always end in a crash. Usually it is an emergency and I am deemed the only one who can do it. My protests about not having a license are waved aside.

So we set off an it all goes fine but as soon as it comes to the point where I have to stop accelerating and brake my feet inexplicably won't move and we crash. Usually into some parked or otherwise stationary vehicles. I quickly decide that my only option is to do a runner and at that point I wake up.



Sounds more like an episode of Road Wars or Police Interceptors.

My 'dream crashes' usually come from going too fast round a bend, which I could never make. And sometimes I'm driving a bus with a seating position so high I'm above the tops of the houses. God knows how I avoid hitting them, in fact I don't.

[Pigmy Pony]

Not much kip last night. I ended up sleeping on the sofa, which was marginally cooler than the bed. As much as anything this was so I didn't disturb Anita, who'd been awake since 2am that previous morning. Couldn't even read myself to sleep as the kindle's light attracted all the midges. Little bastards, it's not like they can read :(

[Audio Al]

Morning people , We all tucked up in bed kipping again :doh:

The night is young , things to do , Ooo it's drink time :D:cool:

[Roy S]

Morning people , We all tucked up in bed kipping again :doh:

The night is young , things to do , Ooo it's drink time :D:cool:

No & :cool:

[Roy S]

Gone to bed Al?

(after calling everyone else out about being in their pit?)

:goodnight:

[Pigmy Pony]

Gone to bed Al?

(after calling everyone else out about being in their pit?)

:goodnight:

He does that all the time :sofa:

[Audio Al]

Needed some sleep as I have a trip to Mansfield to collect a planner thicknesser

Just hope its worth the journer , It is however super cheap , Fingers crossed :)

Time will tell

Predicted 3 + hours each way :( busmans holiday on my day off :doh:

[Audio Al]

Boy what a journey , 3 hours up and 4.5 hours back :doh:

All done now

Brandy and Coke zero :cool:

Time to crank up the record player adhearing to social listening :)

[Roy S]

Needed some sleep as I have a trip to Mansfield to collect a planner thicknesser



Every home should have one

[struth]

Every home should have oneA brandy and coke, or a thicknesser? [emoji23]
Worth the trip hopefully.

[Audio Al]

A brandy and coke, or a thicknesser? [emoji23]
Worth the trip hopefully.

Defiantly as I was given lots of other goodies as well , these were all foc , I will need to do a second journey with a tail lift van as I was offered a Royal 10" tilt about table saw and 2 outfield stands for free , The lady's father had passed away and her husband has no intrest in woodworking , she just wants the items gone so they can have their garage back

The free comment will cost me at least £140 in van hire and fuel , a good deal in my book :)

[Marco]

What's a planner thicknesser?

Never heard of it:scratch:

Marco.

[struth]

What's a planner thicknesser?

Never heard of it:scratch:

Marco.

its for getting regular thickness boards. you put the wood through the roller mech and it planes them to the same depth. marvellous

[Roy S]

its for getting regular thickness boards. you put the wood through the roller mech and it planes them to the same depth. marvellous

Something I feel the need to do on a daily basis :D

[Marco]

its for getting regular thickness boards. you put the wood through the roller mech and it planes them to the same depth. marvellous

Ah I see... Don't do joinery, so wouldn't have had a clue, lol!

Marco.

[Audio Al]

What's a planner thicknesser?

Never heard of it:scratch:

Marco.

This is the model I collected https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRpDSMznWa8

[Audio Al]

4 days and no post's , looks like everyone is sorted now re sleep

Errr NO i am wide awake :)

[AJSki2fly]

No not really, just not posted, woken up nearly every night for last 2weeks, usual reasons[emoji51]


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[AJSki2fly]

Hello I’m awake again after 3 hours. Woke with headache and hot, bp mucking me about again, hey-ho[emoji51]


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[struth]

Still awake too

[AJSki2fly]

Hi Grant, is your back any better?


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[Audio Al]

I am here also , and yes I went to bed about 23.00 :(

Still never mind I am alive thats the most important thing

Now then , What shall I do :scratch::D

[AJSki2fly]

Polish the turntable [emoji23]


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[Roy S]

half an hour of self abuse?

[struth]

Hi Grant, is your back any better?


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkNot much alas.. Neck is sore too.

[AJSki2fly]

Time for a massage


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[Roy S]

Time for a massage




What I said then ;)

[struth]

Time for a massage


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkChance would be a fine thing

[dave2010]

I missed all the action, then!

But I did go for a pee in the night, so I suppose that shows I was alive.

[Audio Al]

[QUOTE=AJSki2fly;1215045]Polish the turntable [emoji23]


YOU can stop it right now :D

[Audio Al]

Chance would be a fine thing

Marco could don his dominatrix outfit and pay you a visit :D

[struth]

Marco could don his dominatrix outfit and pay you a visit :D

he tried to gain entry, but i repelled him with smoke and stun grenades:eyebrows: at least thats what i think they were;)

[AJSki2fly]

[QUOTE=AJSki2fly;1215045]Polish the turntable [emoji23]


YOU can stop it right now :D

You need a good whipping and put to some serious hifi polishing, naughty boy[emoji23]


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[Audio Al]

It's that time again:)

[struth]

Sure is.. Got a film on

[Roy S]

Time for bed :goodnight:

[dave2010]

I haven't checked in here during the night so much lately. Tonight I woke not too long ago, and decided to do a few things before going back to bed. Maybe I'll get back so sleep by 6 am.

[Marco]

It's that time again:)

...when anyone normal is fast asleep!:ner:

;)

Marco.

[Audio Al]

...when anyone normal is fast asleep!:ner:

;)

Marco.

Come on Mr Marco , We all know I am far from normal :ner::ner:

[struth]

was up at that tme mysel.. i said to myself; im awake til get up time, put a film on and woke up at 8.20am :eyebrows:

[Marco]

Did you manage to watch it all, or fall asleep for most of it?:D

I was up to after 3am myself, listening to music, mainly vinyl (as I had a backlog of brand new records to listen to)... I cleaned down and fired up my main system for the first time in about 2 years [I know:eek:] and forgot just how good it was!!

Marco.

[struth]

Did you manage to watch it all, or fall asleep for most of it?:D

I was up to after 3am myself, listening to music, mainly vinyl (as I had a backlog of brand new records to listen to)... I cleaned down and fired up my main system for the first time in about 2 years [I know:eek:] and forgot just how good it was!!

Marco.

no, im lucky if i saw 5 mins :doh:

[Audio Al]

no, im lucky if i saw 5 mins :doh:

The same thing happens to me if I try and read a book , Nod off and wake up as my head drops , Then I can't remember what I have read and start again , and so it goes on and on and on :D

[Pigmy Pony]

The same thing happens to me if I try and read a book , Nod off and wake up as my head drops , Then I can't remember what I have read and start again , and so it goes on and on and on :D

Same happens with me, and it does my head in as I do like to read. But the only way I can stay awake is to keep moving. I'm a bit like my CD player in this respect - after 15 minutes with no input, I go into 'standby' mode :(

[Marco]

...after 15 minutes with no input, I go into 'standby' mode :(

Yesh, and I believe Anita does the same, after patiently (but unsuccessfully) waiting on 'little Percy' to point!:D;)

Marco.

[Audio Al]

Cock ( Insert name here ..... ) a doodle Do :D

Bed at 01.00 and up and atom now , My waist waste ? a few hours at the Dunton boot sale today , My local one is dire , If Dunton is crap as well that will be me done with boot sales :(

[AJSki2fly]

Well that was a truly terrible night as far as I am concerned. Awake at 12:30, 2 hours feeling unwell and eventually having to resort to the GTN spray. I think I actually dosed off at 4, oh well I live to rise for another day.[emoji1]


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[struth]

The spray usually works quick. Glad ur feeling better

[Marco]

Really sorry to hear that, Adrian. Hope you feel better very soon!:)

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

Really sorry to hear that, Adrian. Hope you feel better very soon!:)

Marco.

Thank you Marco, one of those things I am afraid, I seem to go up and down with no clear rhyme or reason to it, although it is usually due to doing to much physically during the day or from stress. I suspect at present it is due to some very difficult stressful discussions I am having with my employer concerning my long term illness, and a manager who wants to treat my absences as in her words "unacceptable levels of sickness" over 4 years, how you can apply this to anyone with a major on-going long term medical condition beggars belief. But there you go it's the modern world we live in.

[Marco]

Sorry to hear that, mate. She sounds like a right bitch! What age are you, are you not yet near time for retiring? What about disability benefits?

If I were in your position, I'd seriously consider retiring, even if it resulted in a significant drop in your disposable income, as life's too short to suffer all that stress, especially when you're in such poor health already.

Ultimately, quality of life/happiness is much more important than money, even if you had to downsize your house, move to a less expensive area, sell some stuff - whatever - to recoup your loss of earnings. For me it would be worth it simply to remove that level of stress from your daily life, and try and achieve some sort of a consistent and healthy sleep pattern, which in itself would pay dividends!:)

With respect, and this applies to all the resident insomniacs here, we can laugh and joke about it, but there's no doubt that by consistently only getting 3-4 hours sleep each night, you're taking years off your lives. Such a continual lack of sleep, even though you may feel you can function normally regardless, is fundamentally bad for you - and sadly it WILL eventually take its toll...:(

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

Sorry to hear that, mate. She sounds like a right bitch! What age are you, are you not yet near time for retiring? What about disability benefits?

If I were in your position, I'd seriously consider retiring, even if it resulted in a significant drop in your disposable income, as life's too short to suffer all that stress, especially when you're in such poor health already.

Ultimately, quality of life/happiness is much more important than money, even if you had to downsize your house, move to a less expensive area, sell some stuff - whatever - to recoup your loss of earnings. For me it would be worth it simply to remove that level of stress from your daily life, and try and achieve some sort of a consistent and healthy sleep pattern, which in itself would pay dividends!:)

With respect, and this applies to all the resident insomniacs here, we can laugh and joke about it, but there's no doubt that by consistently only getting 3-4 hours sleep every night, you're taking years off your lives. Such a continual lack of sleep, even though you may feel you can function normally regardless, is fundamentally bad for you - and it WILL eventually take its toll...:(

Marco.

Hi Marco, yes all valid points and also all ones we are trying to address, and ultimately we will get there. I completely agree on the stress front and it is probably one of the key reason I have serious heart issue along with probably a genetic propensity for fat to attach to arteries.:doh:

All the best.

[Marco]

No worries, mate. Just trying to think in terms of what serves *your* best interests overall, as you're at a stage now in your life where you should be prioritising what's best for YOU and YOUR health, and the best interests of your loved ones, not what's best for your employers!

I mean, in all seriousness, what good will it do continuing to 'dance to their tune' [and of course I know the reason why you would, as natuarally would most people], if the stress ends up killing you? I don't need to tell you that stress *is* recognised as a major killer today, and with the pressurised lifestyles folks lead now, getting worse all the time.

Anyway, I truly hope that you can find a solution to the current situation that works for your family and you, and allows you to enjoy some well-deserved increased good health and well-being:cool:

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

Thanks for your kind words Marco, I am and have been moving to the place you describe. I have been signed of sick for the past 9 months due to the angina issues, and the GP has been totally supportive of me. During that time my job has changed by 50%, with no consultation or advisory on its impact on me or ability to return to work, and they are supposedly no other work fit. So I have been side lined, which is fine, as long as they deal with it properly.


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[Marco]

Good stuff, mate. You know it makes sense:)

Marco.

[Audio Al]

:) Good morning people

Bed at 00.30 and up again now :)

Twas a sad day yesterday , I sol- , not sure I can say this , Try again , I sol- , nope still can't get the word out

Try one last time , I sold :eek: a pair of speakers :( , Sad day indeed :doh: , However I now have room for another pair --------

Or two :D

[Roy S]

Try one last time , I sold :eek: a pair of speakers :( , Sad day indeed :doh: , However I now have room for another pair --------

Or two :D

Not the Tannoys Al :eek:

[Audio Al]

:nono::nono::nono::nono::nono::nono::nono::nono::n ono::nono:

[dave2010]

Thanks for your kind words Marco, I am and have been moving to the place you describe. I have been signed of sick for the past 9 months due to the angina issues, and the GP has been totally supportive of me. During that time my job has changed by 50%, with no consultation or advisory on its impact on me or ability to return to work, and they are supposedly no other work fit. So I have been side lined, which is fine, as long as they deal with it properly.
Adrian and Marco

Some good points - for example long term sleep deprivation not good - usually correlates with poor health and reduced life expectancy. Retiring - yes - can be a good option, but a lot depends on how viable it is. Relocating/downsizing - we can't talk. We relocated, but actually our new house is bigger than our previous one. This has enormous advantages in that we can store more of the things we have - so big speakers and musical instruments should be less of a problem - but getting that kind of advantage is I think unusual.

Relocating can be very stressful in itself, and doesn't necessarily bring benefits. Downsizing/relocating may bring financial benefits - but these need to be considered carefully. If you like the area you live in, and have friends and family there, and downsizing would be feasible and release capital, then think about that.

Weather also may be a significant factor - though affects people differently. I probably wouldn't advise anyone living in the very south of England to move to the far north of the UK without considering how the weather would affect them. What may be now extreme heat and sun could be swapped for a lot less sun and a significantly colder experience. The mid band - round where Marco lives is probably a fairly sweet spot.

The most capital release is probably going to be for people in and around London, moving to another more distant area. Sometimes it can work - but for other people it may not be a good move. Besides friends and family, there are other factors - health care in the area - do you get on with your GP and are the hospitals good?

If current work is difficult is there other work which can be done - for example using on-line working, which might now be more acceptable than it was a year ago? If someone has specific skills, then there are opportunities to generate income that way - and I don't mean by the sort of get rich quick adverts you see both on-line and in low end newspapers.

If work with the current employer is difficult, maybe try to negotiate a phased exit, rather that just go for a complete break. The employer might be happier with that, but would have to accept that you could take on other outside work. Note also that my observations from other people suggest that taking on "half time" work, for 50% of the pay isn't always a good deal, as often people on reduced hours working actually do proportionately more work, but get less reward. Also note that if one's agreed working hours are reduced below a certain level, then contracts and responsibilities can change quite a bit - not necessarily in an employee's favour. More unscrupulous empoyers will exploit that.

Mobility is another issue - if you moved. Would you be able to travel on public transport - would you still be able to drive? Driving in more remote parts of the UK is easier, but distances are further.

So yes - think carefully about how to proceed, but don't go jumping from one not very good situation into one which could be worse. Downsizing and relocating have to be thought out really rather carefully, as for many people there's no coming back.

Good luck with it all.

[struth]

wish i could relocate :lol: although i agree, you should be careful of what you wish for... grass and green springs to mind

[walpurgis]

Wiltshire appeals. Every time I drive through it I think 'what a beautiful county'. Forget any place within twenty miles of the M25, if it's not heading downhill yet, it will.

[Roy S]

Wiltshire appeals. Every time I drive through it I think 'what a beautiful county'. Forget any place within twenty miles of the M25, if it's not heading downhill yet, it will.

I'm only a mile from junction 28 and can't see any reason why the area should change significantly in the near future?

[Marco]

Isn't it bad enough already?:lol::eyebrows::eek::sorry:

:door:

;)

Marco.

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

All very good and valid points, which I totally agree with!


Retiring - yes - can be a good option, but a lot depends on how viable it is. Relocating/downsizing - we can't talk. We relocated, but actually our new house is bigger than our previous one.


Yes, but I'll wager bought and paid for by the sale of your house in London, or at least mortgaged at a much lower repayment rate, thus freeing up capital and increasing your disposable income accordingly!:)

*That* is exactly the point and what I'd always advocate as a being a good move: reducing debt/regular outgoings, increasing disposable income and subsequently putting YOURSELF in more control of your destiny, which in turn reduces the stress and pressure of having to rely upon others.

What's the point in being mortgaged up to the hilt, just to live in a 'fancy big house', if you have to work all the hours under the sun to pay for it, and suffer the stress of that in the process? Madness!:doh:

And yet, that's the position so many folk today finds themselves in, trying very hard (and often failing) to fund a lifestyle that they can ill afford, simply to maintain an image or keep up with others. That's why downsizing or downgrading, if necessary (or buying a bigger, but less expensive house in a less expensive area), and reducing your outgoings accordingly, can often pay dividends. And (misplaced) pride shouldn't come into it.

Quite simply, the MORE that YOU are in control of your life, instead of having to be at the beck and call of others (slave-driving employers, overly demanding/overbearing and selfish partners, etc), generally the happier and more contented you'll be. And if you genuinely love your wife or husband and have a good, solid marriage, then you'll be just as happy together in a smaller house, as ultimately it's your relationship that counts, nothing else.

Quite honestly, Del and I would be happy living in tent, if there was no other option, as long as we had each other!

I get all the points you've made about retirement, but the very important knock on effect of that, unless you're an incorrigible workaholic, is that it gives you more TIME to do the things that YOU want to do, including spending it with your loved ones and together making some nice memories. And for me, you can't put a price on that! Many of us today I believe would be happier with simpler lives and not wanting for superficial bollox that really ISN'T important.

The fact is, you'll always have your memories, which you can take with you and treasure beyond the grave, unlike the money in your bank account or big house... Ultimately, we are only custodians, for a limited period of time, of any property we live in - it's never truly ours - so why focus *so* much on what type of roof we have over our heads?

In today's materialistic world, we all get way too caught up in what we THINK we need (which is largely bullshit), rather than what we *actually* need, and that's a sense of self-worth, inner happiness and contentment, achieved by spending quality time in the company of those we love, and which is why PEOPLE will ultimately always matter more than possessions.....!

That's why that, whilst taking into account all of the valid points you've made, the above which I've outlined, should always act as the MAIN FOCUS for what is trying to be achieved, in terms of trying to improve your quality of life, as quite simply, life's too short to spend it in poor health being constantly stressed or miserable!:cool:

Marco.

[dave2010]

Hi Dave,

All very good and valid points, which I totally agree with!



Yes, but I'll wager bought and paid for by the sale of your house in London, or at least mortgaged at a much lower repayment rate, thus freeing up capital and increasing your disposable income accordingly!:)

*That* is exactly the point and what I'd always advocate as a being a good move: reducing debt/regular outgoings, increasing disposable income and subsequently putting YOURSELF in more control of your destiny, which in turn reduces the stress and pressure of having to rely upon others. Absolutely.

We have been free of mortgage debt for quite a while now - but we have been fortunate. Not everyone is anywhere near so lucky. Many people feel trapped by circumstances or are in relationships they don't like, or can't cope with. Many people carry on with jobs they don't really like because they can't see any other way.

Regarding retiring - it can be OK, but if one is forced into retirement it can be a real bummer, particularly if one doesn't have any chance of getting more employment or more income. Some people are lucky, others not. I can't advise Adrian - I don't know him or his circumstances - but it's not always a good idea to retire just because it suits an employer.

Some people have additional funds they can use as a cushion. In one job I had there was someone who had what I think he called a "F U" fund - he'd had one or two heart attacks and said he was happy to carry on working as long as he was treated reasonably well, but he told me that if things went bad he'd tell the employer to stuff it and walk away. That may have been a lump sum from an earlier retirement.

There are people who can manage to live on very little - even on the State pension - but few people can manage that and feel comfortable.
Look before you leap is still a reasonable motto - though in truth I have leapt a few times - and financially things have worked out.

I agree that money isn't everything. There is an old saying "Money doesn't make you happy ...... but it helps!"

[Audio Al]

A raining good morning to you all :)

[AJSki2fly]

Hi Dave and Marco, I thank you both for your concern which is nice, as it makes one think about the situation you are faced with.

So here I am at 2:30 in the morning, awake with some angina again and the first thing that came into my head was the issue I have with my employer, not great I have to say. As you point out Dave it is a big decision to do the FU and walk, and like for most it has big financial implications.

I have been completely open and honest with my employer about my illness, and dealt with them with honesty and integrity on my part even after having a major heart attack weeks after they put me through a disciplinary for sick absence for 1 day breaking their.guidelines, and even with me having proof of me going to the doctors. I subsequently found out it was all caused by a “friendly” colleague who was not meeting targets at work and having a hard time from management he thought he divert attention from him by making up issues about others, what a nice chap.

So possibly foolishly at the time I let it go instead of raising a grievance, and did my best to return to work and move on. Sadly for me over the next 6 months it became apparent the CVD was worse than the said and I had more time of work for investigations, being ill, and 2 angioplasties. So back to work for a year, then became unwell again, 6 months of tests, several times I tried to return to work but within 2 weeks my illness was getting the better of me. Then a triple heart bypass and after 4 months recovery I go back to work initially on reduced hours and not customer facing. After 2 months angina issue start to develop and its back to Dr’s, they are concerned and perplexed, so signed off work and told to be careful until they know what was going on. Lots of scans and various drugs and after 6 months told a 2nd diagonal artery off of LAD failed, so that was that I had to get on with it was. They tried another drug earlier this year but it made me ill and has taken 2 months to recover,

So over the last 6 months I have had at least 4 discussions with my employer, mainly with one manager, suggesting I was unfit for my job or any other and they could find me duties me duties or a role, also she suggested I found another job working from home. so bear in mind that I have been told by medics to avoid stress and so has my employer in a 2 occupational health reports on me. They also failed to manage salary for SSP and subsequently paid me money I should not have had even though they had 4 month long term sick note for me, managers failing to do their job, and saying it was my fault for not updating a time capture system with my sick leave, these is actually a breach of what an employer can ask a employee to do when signed of sick, even though as soon as I realised the error and asked the manager to get it correct, in writing, two of them failed to act and compounded the issue for another 2 months. So much for ensuring my am not stressed!

So on Saturday I received a letter from one of these managers inviting me to a formal meetings my to discuss my “unacceptable sick absence since 23 October 2019, and since 2016”, and that this could result in termination of my contract. Lovely hey!

So after 10 years service and 7 yearly reviews marked as meeting expectations and 2 years exceeding expectations, of which 4 years I have have been in and out of hospital and pretty unwell it comes to this.

So my options are immediately raise grievances with HR, and put myself through a load of pain and stress, for an unknown outcome, but having taken advise probably max will be 3 months salary and possibly a little more, I can do with t on my own or get professional support which will cost at least £1k. It might even have to go to a Tribunal, not a pleasant prospect. Other option is go to the meeting and make it hard for them, but they will probably just tear up the contract anyway.

Final option is just do the FU and walk away, which is probably what I will do, just what is the point of allowing them to subject me to masses of stress and grief all for a few thousand and no job. So I will be writing a letter saying I cannot attend due to advice from my GP that the stress would detrimental to my health, they have everything they need to make decide fairly and leave it up to them and their conscience to do the right thing by me. At least I will walk away with some dignity and peace of mind.

So there you have it, I hope it has not been too boring a story. unfortunately and sadly I have been advised by professional people that deal with this sort of thing all the time it is a very common occurrence for employers to do everything they can to do as little as possible for employees, even though they tell their staff and the world they are caring and their staff are their most important resource and they do not discriminate. Often the large major companies are the worst apparently, certainly this seems to be so in my case.

A sad reflection of what society and the modern world has come to, all driven by greed and false values and people are suckered into it. How many times do we hear large organisations and Even small companies issues words such as for the good of the company, making a difference in society, changing thing for the better, because we care we make a difference, we are green because we strive to be and re-cycle what we can. My experience is it’s all ballshit and psychological propaganda to gain market acceptance and share in a highly false commercial world,all that really matters to those in control is making money and power. Sorry to say that but I think there will be very few organisations out there that are morally and ethically sound and actually look after people inside and outside their control, or even want to for that matter,

So I will move on, and Sue and I will make the best of what we have and enjoy life as much we can.

Thank you for your advice and concern it is much appreciated. Apologies for poor English or typos it is the middle of the night [emoji51]




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[struth]

Try not to worry and just force them to make the hard decisions.
Your doc can write a letter saying such a stressful meeti g would be dangerous perhaps

[AJSki2fly]

Thanks Grant, I hope you are feeling better.

Yes, I had considered the doctors letter and consulted with him and legal professional advice, apparently they can choose to ignore it and just say failing to attend a meeting to discuss the matter means they can do so in my absence and do what they see fit, so a “Catch 22” scenario.

To be honest I am worn out, emotional, feel unfairly discriminated against, unwell and very disappointed with the company, but at my age I probably shouldn’t be surprised by their actions.

As Marco suggests I probably just need to move on, and look forward to the rest of my life and rise above it all.[emoji2]

All the best

[dave2010]

Adrian,

I think Grant has given you a hint, but there's no guarantee that anything really good will come out of it, except that it may take some stress off you, and give you a very little more time. It does sound as though you have been - indeed perhaps still are - very ill, so perhaps time to do the stuff you thing. If you have other family members or friends who can help, that may take some stress off you, though there again family members can sometimes turn out to be the most unhelpful of all and more of a liablility than otherwise.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. If financial issues are a problem, see if there are any benefits which can take the edge off things. You may have already explored those, but there are some. The forms and assessments can be a complete pain. We found out about some state benefits which we were totally unaware of for other family members quite by accident, while talking to our own GP. Not all GPs volunteer the information needed - or maybe assume that patients will find out for themselves. You may also need other help, if not now, later on. Sometimes our "health" service actually does provide appropriate assistance, though there might be arguments about who pays for it, which department, or whether the charge is back on the patient.

Although you don't appear to have too many good things to say about your employer, is there a health scheme provided? There may be a way you can draw down on funds from that source if you go for an exit strategy. However your employer may not have had any such insurance/health schemes, or you may have been working effectively as a self employed contractor (I don't think you were, but we can't be sure), so the employer would expect you to look after your own health and care provisions.

Good luck and best wishes, as always.

Maybe time to chill out and go and listen to some music you like.

[Audio Al]

Hi , Do you have a contract of employment ? if you do does it mention sick pay

From what I have read you have been off for 4 years ? Or have I missed something

I worked for a big uk company and they had a 3 and out policy , 3 Periods of sick in 12 months and you were gone

The bit I could not understand was , A period of sick could be one day or 6 months , If you came back the following day it was your first period , Rtn to work interview / interrogation etc

So most emplyees stayed of for a few weeks

Also in the first year , NO sick pay , After 5 years service this went up to 4 weeks , After 10 years 3 months and thats it , You were not sacked but did not get paid .

[Marco]

Hi Adrian,

What you've written is truly shocking to me, and I really feel for you mate. It's shocking to me not only because of the dreadful pain you've been put through, both mentally and physically, largely as a result of the behaviour of inhuman scum, and also because it's something I've never experienced myself during the time when I was employed, as I've only ever worked for people who do genuinely care, but then that was 25 years ago when the world was a different place!

Just utterly shocking though how any supposedly respectable company could treat a human being in such an appalling way, and it makes me sick to my stomach... When this is over, I'd like you to name and shame them, and I'll gladly use this forum as a platform to highlight their disgraceful behaviour, which will be picked up on Google searches, in order to try and put off anyone from joining them! Bastards:steam:

Anyway, I truly think that, although hard for you, that this is the correct decision:


Final option is just do the FU and walk away, which is probably what I will do, just what is the point of allowing them to subject me to masses of stress and grief all for a few thousand and no job. So I will be writing a letter saying I cannot attend due to advice from my GP that the stress would detrimental to my health, they have everything they need to make decide fairly and leave it up to them and their conscience to do the right thing by me. At least I will walk away with some dignity and peace of mind.

So I will move on, and Sue and I will make the best of what we have and enjoy life as much we can.


The bit in bold, mate, is really what it's now all about and the ONLY thing that matters, along with taking steps to improve your health, and trust me when that huge weight is lifted off of your shoulders, and all the stress with it, the sense of relief will be immense and you'll feel so much better!

Then you can concentrate solely on improving your health as much as possible and increasing your quality of life. But honestly, mate, that's what it's got to be about now: you and Sue, and the rest of your family, and LIVING life together, rather than merely existing, or inhabiting a living nightmare!

Anyway, I wish you well and hope that getting things off your chest here and listening to some of the advice has helped. Do keep us posted of forthcoming events, and most of all try and relax and look forward to your impending FREEDOM!:):cool:

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

Dave, Al and Marco

Thanks for your support and thoughts.

Just to clarify, out of the 4 years I talk about I have been off sick for approximately 22 months, which has been split, interspersed with about 12 months continuous attendance at work until I became ill again and had to undergo medical investigations whilst signed of sick and then have the triple bypass and recover from it. As well as this I returned to work on 3 occasions for several weeks/months at a time only to become ill though my cardiac medical issues. The most recent episode signed off from work bu my GP has been for a year. Legally once an individual goes beyond 6 months illness form work, even if it is due to a chronic illness the employer can seek to terminate employment, although morally that may not be viewed as a compassionate approach.

During all this the company has had several independent health reports undertaken, and ultimately the last identified how I could return to work and what I could be expected to do in the work place, and what my employer should address to meet my needs. However the last 6 months whilst I have been ill from drug changes and trying to get back to some level of medical stability for me my employer initiated several interviews/discussions at which they said I was not capable of performing my role anymore, and recently advising that it had changed so it was definitely not suitable anymore, so they failed to keep me informed. I offered to perform other roles and asked what might be suitable but any discussions along these line were firmly shut down. So as you may appreciate one could construe this as an interpretation of my capabilities and what is available to construct a reason for dismissal. Also what you need to consider is that the place I work is highly customer facing and due to the COVID19 impact the numbers of people needed to support that type of business is very likely being stripped back as much as possible. In fact I was told that another particular type of role that might have been suitable has been more than halved from 5 to 2 staff. I suspect this has been achieved by removing previously long serving part timers contracted to 18 hours or less a week, although I do not know if this is completely true or just a ruse.

I fully appreciate that my employer has been relatively supportive over the initial 3 years, when the heart attack occurred, through subsequent medical investigations and the bypass operation and my recovery. The issue now is as I have explained above, they either do not understand why I am not up and running normally having had a triple bypass. If they do understand, they do not want to accept what that means to them to accommodate me back at work. Another aspect is some senior management and style at my place of work has changed over the last 18 months during my absence, so that is very likely to be having a direct impact on how I am being dealt with, they have certainly distanced themselves from me and the process.

So as already said I am rapidly approaching the FU, and just move on from it all, which would be really nice to do. :)

Time to listen to some music, all the best.

[Marco]

I fully appreciate that my employer has been relatively supportive over the initial 3 years...

Struggling to see much evidence of that, Adrian, certainly now where the total opposite is true!:doh:

Are or were there not any union representatives you could've spoken to about the disgracefully unfair and draconian treatment you were being subjected to, and who could've fought your corner on your behalf? That's the problem now, as most unions are next to useless (way too soft), compared with how they once were, and as a result employers have been allowed to get away with murder...:rolleyes:

One of the reasons why I went self-employed at an early stage in my career, and started my own business, was because, even back then it was patently clear that I was too militant to thrive in a corporate environment! I've never been one to just sit back and take bullshit, but then as a, even if I say so myself, very good salesman, I was fortunate that I could take my skills elsewhere where they were better appreciated and have no qualms about doing that and finding a job elsewhere if I felt I was being shabbily treated, as life's too short to allow folk to trample over you.

However, I appreciate that those were different times, and that the pressures and demands of the working environment today are different - largely though because ineffectual unions have allowed employers to become way too powerful! We need to start getting more 'people power' back into this country and force employers to improve working conditions for their staff, instead of simply being allowed to run roughshod over them.... Makes me seethe!!:steam:

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

No unions allowed as I understand it although you can be a member of one. Only a work place forum, which is a nod to employee representation to air general issues, but generally is controlled by management and steered to in house improvements and steered away from grievances.

I spent 15 years in employed roles. 18 years in IT self employed or in contract roles working for my own company umbrella. I worked in some very big organisations, banks, insurance companies an so on and was generally treated very well. HP in Holland who asked me not to leave after 22 months as I was highly valued having saved a multi-million $ call centre project from failure and along with another colleague saved them $5m unnecessary spend with a 3rd party supplier, not my words but the words of the CEO who came to see me, asking me to stay on and thank me publicly, embarrassing but made me feel proud.

I only went where I am currently by accident really and to get some extra cash at the time. I saw it as an straight forward 8 hours a day in a technical role and forget it, but as we all know that rarely is the reality in today’s fast paced and demanding world.

It’s no wonder younger people have such a hard time with the pressures they are put under at work and the reported high levels of depression and suicide.


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[struth]

sounds like apple :lol:

[Marco]

No unions allowed as I understand it although you can be a member of one. Only a work place forum, which is a nod to employee representation to air general issues, but generally is controlled by management and steered to in house improvements and steered away from grievances.


I must be out of touch, but that seems crazy to me.

In any large organisation I've known or worked for, there was always a union rep, whom you could go to with any grievances, which they'd then take to management and fight your corner with, based on any infringements of the terms and conditions of your contract or illegal behaviour of the employer. And the union reps knew the law and what you were entitled to inside out!

So does that not happen now?:scratch:

Quite simply, there's NO way I'd work for any large company without a union presence, and also I'd ensure that before I joined them, I'd scrutinise my contract and ensure that *I* was happy with it before I took the job, and then make damn sure that they honoured every word! Plus also that I wasn't made to do anything outside of that unpaid (work overtime or whatever).

But hey, maybe that's just me.... The problem is, if you show employers that you're an 'easy touch', they'll gladly take full advantage and you'll get no respect. Not saying that you were like that, but for those who are it's a big reason why they've been put upon and taken advantage of.

At some point, folks need to have the gumption to stick up for themselves and learn when to say 'No'!

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

Unfortunately as a direct result of the Maggie Thatcher years she decimated the unions and their power base and credibility, and possibly compounded by the following Labour government of Blair. I was relatively young at the time of Thatcher and it did feel that the unions were all encompassing and too powerful, however with the advent of age I now realise that there are some really nasty negatives as a result, and the unions did give some benefit to society. Interestingly I believe that there is a very strong union base in Germany and the Employers and Unions work very closely to ensure everyone is happy and looked after properly so that all benefit, the business, workers and owners, if only we had that approach and mentality here.

Also my understanding is that contractural employment laws in the UK were gradually relaxed allowing employers greater freedom. I presume this is why we have the ubiquitous Zero hours contracts which really are not worth anything, its virtually back to the days when workers queued up outside a factory for work for the day and hoped they got selected, only it is done over the phone now. Seems we have gone back in time on that one.

Along with this we have encouraged and sent every young man and woman we can off into higher education with the promise of higher paid and better paid jobs, but the reality of this is that there are only so many jobs that will satisfy the expectations of the numbers in higher education. This has created a highly competitive and disproportionately aggressive job market place, and it has allowed employers to raise the bar in ever increasing levels for what would normally be considered mundane and simple jobs. Some would argue that this improves quality at work, creativity and a more focused work force, I am not so sure about that. In my experience of working with younger people who have been forced into lesser jobs than what they expected they gradually become to feel duped, dissatisfied, difficult to motivate at work and very unhappy. A few just do as they are told, work harder and harder and if they are lucky get a break in the organisation if their face fits, but gradually the majority go off to find other challenges and the next batch come along to replace them for a few years, it probably explains why we have so many self-employed trying to make their own way in the UK.

Along with this we are told that in an adults working life they need to expect to change careers at least 2 or 3 times, really? Just what does this actually mean, if on average most people will need to work for 45 years then, after 15 years they will be wasted in their first career choice, so probably around mid to late 30's, just as they are establishing family, house and security. So do they retrain to higher education, if they can get accepted, and do something else, and where do they get the money from to do so? I tried this 17 years ago when I was 45 and I wanted to leave IT, I wanted to become a teacher using my Maths and IT skills, I was very firmly told that there was no government aid or grants as these had be stopped for anyone over 35 years, huh what the F**k does any government and society think people will do when faced with this sort of dilemma. Luckily Sue and I had our own guest house business to support us, but not sufficient for me to go off to Uni for 3 years to get the necessary. So one only has to presume that at the next career change at around 50 for most it will be into a more mundane and menial job rolls, it may explain why we are already beginning to see more and more older people working in shops, supermarkets, doing delivery jobs and so on, I suspect not out of choice but because they have been forced into it. This really does not bode well for the future where employers just keep bringing in fresh faced and keen young talent to be burnt out and wasted every 10-15 years.

Another and even more horrible aspect of employment I have witnessed is the deliberate attempt by an employer to remove someone from a job to allow a company to hire and replace them with a younger person to do exactly the same job, paying them less and also doing it in such a way that the original employee looses their pension rights. This happened to my best friend of 35 years, he worked for the same bank since 18 years, worked his way up from nothing to a senior manager and was very loyal. He was reasonably well paid, received a small annual bonus if he met his targets, we are talking a few thousand here, not the City bonuses. So in his early to mid 50s the targets were raised massively and key performance criteria added to his job spec, all on the basis of improving the job and customer service, the result was they were virtually unachievable and he would probably never get another bonus. Within a year he was taken to a disciplinary for failing to meet one target by 1/4% for that year, he had easily achieved the rest and was the best performer in the South of England, to put this in perspective he had also been ill for 10 weeks that year recovering from a heart attack, and he had worked every hour he could to ensure he met his targets. Why because he had been told failure to meet targets would mean disciplinary action and could ultimately result in loss of job. If you loose your job through a disciplinary you also loose your pension rights, and guess who keeps that nice big pot? The disciplinary got thrown out as he proved the targets were unachievable especially having been ill for 10 weeks. The following year more targets were introduced and technical procedures changed for certain products making it virtually impossible to support certain high value customers in any meaningful way, making targets even harder. In one instance he went to a very senior manager to get permission to support a customer in specific way which was granted, his immediate boss within a few weeks notified him of a disciplinary for not following procedures, which once again was sackable offence. My friend being a shrewd chap had kept all the documentary evidence and paper trails he needed to prove his innocence and authorisation from god on high, went to the meeting after 2 months suspension with a union rep and got it thrown out. Within a few months he reached the age where he could take his pension pot without penalty and the bank could not stop him, since then he has been left alone. Understand his story is one of many, some lost everything, but a lot just up and left just to preserve what they had in the pension fund out of fear of loosing a disciplinary hearing. A pretty pretty horrible way to treat people I think you will agree.

I have another friend who worked for a council in a social care role for 35+ years looking after vulnerable children and young adults with mental issues, a highly qualified and skilled person. He was called into to see his manager one day to say that he was to take a group of 8 out for the day in the institutions transit, and that he was to do so on his own due to other staff being unavailable. Mark pointed out that this was against regulations and that one of the people was consider a risk to themselves if left unattended, also another was wheel chair bound and it require two people to manage that person with the others. Mark also had a known back injury and was receiving treatment for it at the time. The manager told him to do it or face a disciplinary, he refused in writing and asked for an assistant for the day, this was taken to the wire but the manager had to backed down due to health and safety, when this was done he was presented with a new contract of employment and told to sign or loose his job. He took legal advice and then he did not sign as they could not enforce it immediately, however they revised the contract from which there was no way out, this meant his old role ceased in 2 years time and he would then be given a new job description and role, with a cut of salary of £20K. This also meant his final pension based on final salary from the point would be halved, so he worked another very stressful year and left taking his full pension.

I am sure this stuff is happening all over the place at the expense of many individuals who have work hard and conscientiously all there lives only to be cheated and manipulated at the end of it all, not just by companies but government organisations as well.

I hope you may find these true and interesting and cautionary tales informative.

[Macca]

Zero hour contracts are not a new thing, I was on one back in 1991. I think middle class Guardian reader types only discovered there was such a thing fairly recently which is why you hear so much about them these days.

Under current legislation companies don't have to recognise Unions but they can't stop employees from joining one and they can't (legally) discriminate against staff who are union members. I did work for mnay years at a company that had a somewhat cavalier attitude to employment legislation. Most of the staff were young and so had no idea of their rights. I represented a few of them unofficially but when the CWU found out they wanted to make me a paid shop steward. I declined which looking back was probably stupid but then I still had high career hopes at that stage in my life.

Employment laws have actually tightened not relaxed, it isn't easy to get rid of someone these days. That's why they are giving you all this hassle where you work, in the hope that you will just walk away. There's ways around that but if you don't want the stress I can understand that.

[dave2010]

It's a while since I saw any situations like this - but forms of constructive dismissal are a real pain IMO. Toughing it out may sometimes give results, such as leaving with a significantly enhanced leaving package, and a tax free ex-gratia payment. I suspect that legally your employer can't dismiss you - being ill isn't something one has much control over. If they tried you could perhaps take them to a tribunal and maybe win, but it would probably be a lot of hassle. Sometimes this can lead to a very significant pay out, but often it doesn't.

I can't assess whether you should try to obtain a better package from your employer. Sometimes the choices boil down to whether to take the best package the company offers to leave, or to (threaten to) carry on working - which you may be legally entitled to do, even if that is difficult. My understanding is that an employer can't use the fact that you are ill in order to dismiss you, as long as the correct procedures are followed, as you may eventually recover sufficiently well to be able to fulfil a useful role in the organisation. Often a reasonable compromise is reached - but perhaps not always. You should remember that there is no longer any legal retirement age in the UK, though if the employer is certain that you are never going to recover well enough to be able to function, they will want to encourage some form of tidying up. AFAIK they can't just dismiss you to solve a problem because you are ill.

You may need to negotiate something called a Compromise Agreement - but it may not be the only way to act.

[Pigmy Pony]

Only you know your circumstances and whether just leaving is financially viable, but if it is, you will find telling them to stick it up their arses very liberating. Remember you owe these people nothing, but you owe yourself and Sue everything.

Even though your health problems are very real I suspect that much of it will be exacerbated by the job-related stress. Removing that can only be a good thing. Could you not then work from home on a consultative basis (self employed) to bring in a bit of income, or does it not work like with what you do? I need a bit of IT doing, and I'm happy to pay a fiver :) Only kidding, I don't have a fiver

[dave2010]

Only you know your circumstances and whether just leaving is financially viable, but if it is, you will find telling them to stick it up their arses very liberating. Remember you owe these people nothing, but you owe yourself and Sue everything.

Even though your health problems are very real I suspect that much of it will be exacerbated by the job-related stress. Removing that can only be a good thing. Could you not then work from home on a consultative basis (self employed) to bring in a bit of income, or does it not work like with what you do? I need a bit of IT doing, and I'm happy to pay a fiver :) Only kidding, I don't have a fiverI agree, but "Just" leaving isn't always the best strategy. I have known people leave employment with a reasonable leaving package, and others who just got so fed up that they handed their notice in and left. The difference in financial value between these two - really quite similar cases - was probably about £50,000 - and remember also that a signifiant part of a leaving package can be tax free. Employers aren't obliged to do anything special for people who leave without asking for some form of exit payout. Whether there is a case for some form of exit payout will depend on lots of factors - such as organisational restructuring, or individual circumstances - which may apply here - such as illness, and also age. Age discrimination is now illegal in the UK, so someone who is ill may recover sufficiently to be able to carry on working for years. Illness (about which I know relatively little directly) is a particular case, as I think employers are legally required to act "reasonably" - whatever that is, and negotiate. That doesn't mean that an employee can screw over a company, and "win the jackpot", but it should be possible to do better than simply walking away.

If there are issues with dates for meetings to negotiate, then ask for them to be changed to suit you - for valid reasons, and also ask if you can take someone else with you to advise in any meeting.

[AJSki2fly]

Hi Steve

Yes I agree with you and they now have a letter telling them that I will not be attending a shitty meeting on my dr’s advice, and how their attitude and approach has impacted my condition over the past 8 months. Pointing out the salient aspects of my illness and the history, they have everything they need to decide what is best to do for me, and if they no longer have a role for me to return to meeting my needs when I am well enough that they offer me a fair redundancy, I also highlight the co’s “discrimination, inclusion, and long term illness” policies which they seem to be far away from applying to me.

So we shall see, if nothing else the letter will make them feel extremely awkward, and hopefully wary of dealing with it in a tactless and unfair manner. They will wonder if I might go to a tribunal if they do the dirty.

I have considered doing some s/e work based at home, in fact 3.5 years ago I voluntarily developed a web site for a car club to help me recuperate and not get bored. It turned into a poison chalice, lots of stress and demands from end users that actually had no experience or understanding of what was practical or vision of a modern multi-media site, I met my obligations and handed it over to a 3rd party web co. To continue to support it, they told them it was extremely well done. So the lesson here for me is working at home is not necessarily any easier than in an office, all the pressure and stress can and will still be there.

As most people know stress for a person with a heart condition is a bit like a poison, it causes raised Adrenalin levels, which can only be controlled to a limited level with beta blockers, but the body can and does overcome their effectiveness, it also causes raises blood pressure and various other issues. Ultimately for those with a bad CHD if the above is prolonged then health rapidly deteriorates and life expectancy shortens dramatically. We all hear about the medical successes of bypasses and stent treatments where individuals live on for another 15-20 years after a heart attack, but not so much those that only manage a few years. In fact statistics show about 25-30% push up daisies within 5 years of the first incident. Usually in those in there 50’s to mid 60’s who have no choice but to continue working and possibly experience too high stress levels.

I and Sue have a plan of sorts and like everyone else we will muddle our way through and have a happy life[emoji3]

By the way you left a zero off of my hourly rates, and that is the minimum. Thanks for the work offer.

All the best.[emoji8]

[Pigmy Pony]

Hi Steve

Yes I agree with you and they now have a letter telling them that I will not be attending a shitty meeting on my dr’s advice, and how their attitude and approach has impacted my condition over the past 8 months. Pointing out the salient aspects of my illness and the history, they have everything they need to decide what is best to do for me, and if they no longer have a role for me to return to meeting my needs when I am well enough that they offer me a fair redundancy, I also highlight the co’s “discrimination, inclusion, and long term illness” policies which they seem to be far away from applying to me.

So we shall see, if nothing else the letter will make them feel extremely awkward, and hopefully wary of dealing with it in a tactless and unfair manner. They will wonder if I might go to a tribunal if they do the dirty.

I have considered doing some s/e work based at home, in fact 3.5 years ago I voluntarily developed a web site for a car club to help me recuperate and not get bored. It turned into a poison chalice, lots of stress and demands from end users that actually had no experience or understanding of what was practical or vision of a modern multi-media site, I met my obligations and handed it over to a 3rd party web co. To continue to support it, they told them it was extremely well done. So the lesson here for me is working at home is not necessarily any easier than in an office, all the pressure and stress can and will still be there.

As most people know stress for a person with a heart condition is a bit like a poison, it causes raised Adrenalin levels, which can only be controlled to a limited level with beta blockers, but the body can and does overcome their effectiveness, it also causes raises blood pressure and various other issues. Ultimately for those with a bad CHD if the above is prolonged then health rapidly deteriorates and life expectancy shortens dramatically. We all hear about the medical successes of bypasses and stent treatments where individuals live on for another 15-20 years after a heart attack, but not so much those that only manage a few years. In fact statistics show about 25-30% push up daisies within 5 years of the first incident. Usually in those in there 50’s to mid 60’s who have no choice but to continue working and possibly experience too high stress levels.

I and Sue have a plan of sorts and like everyone else we will muddle our way through and have a happy life[emoji3]

By the way you left a zero off of my hourly rates, and that is the minimum. Thanks for the work offer.

All the best.[emoji8]

Good man, it looks like you've got a good handle on the situation. I wish you well.

And just as well you declined my job offer, which has now expired as I went to the chippy at lunchtime and spent the fiver :)

[AJSki2fly]

Good man, it looks like you've got a good handle on the situation. I wish you well.

And just as well you declined my job offer, which has now expired as I went to the chippy at lunchtime and spent the fiver :)

Your obviously a big spender. [emoji23]


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[Audio Al]

Morning people , A chill in the air a noticeable one , Sure signs autumn is on the horizon :(

Not long untill we are back to dull and dreary and no i'm not talking about Mr Marco :ner:

[Pigmy Pony]

Not long untill we are back to dull and dreary and no i'm not talking about Mr Marco :ner:

Absolutely not - him putting on his Fabletics exercise leggings in the morning is a sight to behold, like putting away a sleeping bag :D What time is it, 7.30? I should be safe for a couple of hours yet :)

[struth]

What a thought [emoji23]

[Macca]

Actually had trouble waking up this morning.

[walpurgis]

Actually had trouble waking up this morning.

Same here. I laid in until 7.45! :eek:

[AJSki2fly]

Absolutely not - him putting on his Fabletics exercise leggings in the morning is a sight to behold, like putting away a sleeping bag :D .........)

Can we have a short vid, for amusement purposes only?:D

[Marco]

Absolutely not - him putting on his Fabletics exercise leggings in the morning is a sight to behold, like putting away a sleeping bag :D

Ha - I always lead by your example, darling, as no-one 'fills' a pair of Lycra pants quite like you!:D

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

That’s what all the boys say, I’m not one to boast[emoji23]


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[Pigmy Pony]

Can we have a short vid, for amusement purposes only?:D

Be careful what you wish for! :eek: A video of this already exists - he was happy to offer it to "You've been Framed", and he was happy to bank their £250 payment (even though they never actually used the clip, for fear of giving children nightmares). Harry Hill used to have hair, until he saw the vid.

[Pigmy Pony]

Ha - I always lead by your example, darling, as no-one 'fills' a pair of Lycra pants quite like you!:D

Marco.

I stopped wearing Lycra after someone said I had legs like two piles of crumpets :(

[Audio Al]

Morning everyone :)

I had a massive 3 1/2 hours sleep , Lucky me :D

[struth]

You seem refreshed. Sleep apnoea can cause people to sleep less as it awakens the brain

[AJSki2fly]

Well I was up again at midnight and after usual rubbish and GTN, went back to sleep about 1:30, and woke again at 5:45. All things considered I feel quite good [emoji3]

[Audio Al]

:)

[AJSki2fly]

:)

[emoji41]


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[Audio Al]

Morning people , Bed at 0100
Up about 1 hour ago doing some domestic duties
Settling down with a coffee and now time for some surfing and some tunes :)

[struth]

I'm still asleep, and thus is a dream.

[Audio Al]

I'm still asleep, and thus is a dream.

Lucky you :D

[dave2010]

Puzzle solved. We had to wake up/get up early (well, earlier) today, as have internal work scheduled - smart meter installation. Scheduled for any time between 8am and 5pm. So of course we got up just in time. Now we're expecting a phone call about 4.55pm saying that the team is running late, and will either come after 5pm, or reschedule!

No - that hasn't happened yet - let's hope it all works out OK :)

What was the puzzle was the alarm setting on the clock - which we don't normally use. It's a portable alarm clock - really neat, which folds up for travel. I found a battery and got it going a few weeks ago, but didn't set the alarm. Last night I tried to set the alarm to 7.30am. Successfully, I thought, except that when I set it back to run mode it clearly displayed 8.30.

The alarm did go off at 7.30 as desired - well not actually - but it got us up, but then I noticed the clock was showing 8.31.

Finally the penny dropped!

[Marco]

I'm still asleep, and thus is a dream.

Is it a wet one, though?:D

Marco.

[struth]

Nope. Not even sweaty

[StingRay]

Smartmetres are a waste of money and time, IMO. When I changed energy supplier, it is no longer any use as a smart metre and it's more difficult to read than a standard metre.

[Marco]

Nope. Not even sweaty

Not even a damp patch?:D

Marco.

[struth]

Not even a damp patch?:D

Marco.

dont have those.. no great desires i think.

[Audio Al]

Morning any who is awake , A record for me , Bed at 23.00 and up 04.15 :eek: thats over 5 hours :eek:

Just changed the filter in my Britta water filter , Good to go for another 4 weeks

Coffee machine on , Will be good to go soon :cool:

[dave2010]

Tonight I've given up the struggle to go back to sleep and it's now 4.24am. Hopefully I'll resume a horizontal pose in an hour or so, but right now that's not working.

[struth]

Was like that earlier but snatched a couple of hrs

[dave2010]

Nearly time to give up. I wonder what caused this - hasn't happened for a while.

Maybe the decaff coffee I had around 9pm - and yes - I know that people think decaff is OK - but that was the first one I've had for weeks.

[Macca]

Not had any booze since last Sunday and I'm back to waking up early. Clearly some sort of connection. I wonder how many of the insomniacs are teetotal?

Even if I do drink it's only one, or occasionally two, cans of Guinness. But it does seem to have a considerable 'doping' effect on me.

[struth]

Booze, even small amounts relaxes the brain so you will probably sleep better. Too much can cause other issue tho and your sleep will maybe have issues that leave you tired.
Or so I've found.. Now where is that bottle [emoji23]

[dave2010]

Not had any booze since last Sunday and I'm back to waking up early. Clearly some sort of connection. I wonder how many of the insomniacs are teetotal?
You need to beware of short term effects, and uncertain correlations. Post hoc ergo propter hoc - doesn't always work. You might find that if you keep off the booze that the tendency to wake up diminishes. Some research tends to show that alcohol isn't really a good idea, though I use it sometimes. I think that you might find that if you go and move a ton of logs each day you'll sleep better - dare I say it - like a ___.

[walpurgis]

I'm just wondering if the insomniacs are predominantly single? Maybe having a nice cuddly woman next to you in bed may promote better kip :).

[struth]

I'm just wondering if the insomniacs are predominantly single? Maybe having a nice cuddly woman next to you in bed may promote better kip :).

not sure about that:D they usually steal the blankets

[Macca]

You need to beware of short term effects, and uncertain correlations. Post hoc ergo propter hoc - doesn't always work. You might find that if you keep off the booze that the tendency to wake up diminishes. Some research tends to show that alcohol isn't really a good idea, though I use it sometimes. I think that you might find that if you go and move a ton of logs each day you'll sleep better - dare I say it - like a ___.

Completely agree, there's nothing like feeling tired from physical exertion. You do get a better night's sleep. Trouble is if you move a ton of logs every day you get used to it and are no longer tired afterwards. Then you have to up it to two tons of logs ;)

[dave2010]

I'm just wondering if the insomniacs are predominantly single? Maybe having a nice cuddly woman next to you in bed may promote better kip :).I don't think it works that way.

[Pigmy Pony]

You need to beware of short term effects, and uncertain correlations. Post hoc ergo propter hoc - doesn't always work. You might find that if you keep off the booze that the tendency to wake up diminishes. Some research tends to show that alcohol isn't really a good idea, though I use it sometimes. I think that you might find that if you go and move a ton of logs each day you'll sleep better - dare I say it - like a ___.


Changing your toilet habits is easier said than done - I shift my logs first thing in the morning, then spend the rest of the day restocking.

[Pigmy Pony]

I'm just wondering if the insomniacs are predominantly single? Maybe having a nice cuddly woman next to you in bed may promote better kip :).

Not in my case - Mrs. P's farts are loud enough to wake the neighbours, so I've no chance :(

[Marco]

I shift my logs first thing in the morning, then spend the rest of the day restocking.

Ever thought of applying for a job in Tunnock's:

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/urbzyD.jpg

i'm sure that your 'skill sets' would go to good use!:D:eyebrows:

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Ever thought of applying for a job in Tunnock's:

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/urbzyD.jpg

i'm sure that your 'skill sets' would go to good use!:D:eyebrows:

Marco.

I was sacked from Tunnock's for stealing the caramel logs then refilling the wrappers 12-24 hours later :(

[Barry]

not sure about that:D they usually steal the blankets

:lol: Or meander into the middle of the bed and almost push you out.

[struth]

[emoji38] Or meander into the middle of the bed and almost push you out.No meandering about it. Just shoved their ass into any space.. Bed hogs the lot of them. [emoji23]

[Marco]

You must not have had a big enough bed!:D;)

We've got a king size and it's plenty wide enough for both Del and I to have our own space, although she usually spends most of the night cuddled up to me, surrounded by the cats (and her soft toys/teddies), bless:)

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

Not many on here nowadays, must all be cured. I’m not still waking nearly every night [emoji853]


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[dave2010]

Not many on here nowadays, must all be cured. I’m not still waking nearly every night [emoji853]


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkIt's been a few days, but last night/this morning couldn't stay asleep. Or rather, couldn't get back to sleep after waking for a pee.

[AJSki2fly]

Hi Dave, hopefully you got off back to sleep in the end. I am as awake earlier so staying in bed dozing this morning.


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[dave2010]

Hi Dave, hopefully you got off back to sleep in the end. I am as awake earlier so staying in bed dozing this morning.


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkNope - just did other things. Probably be OK today, and will be tired tonight. I need to send the robot lawnmower out to the back garden, so maybe good to be awake.

Thanks for concern.

[Pigmy Pony]

Allen, your witty and imaginative posts and threads have been missing for nearly a month - hoping that everything's ok, and you're just having a massive lie-in :)

[walpurgis]

Allen, your witty and imaginative posts and threads have been missing for nearly a month - hoping that everything's ok, and you're just having a massive lie-in :)

I was also wondering where Al had got to. He is a busy guy though.

[Marco]

Yeah I was thinking the same myself... 3 weeks since his last log-in is not like him. So come on, super-daftee, let us know you're ok!:)

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

Yes I had noticed Al's absence, I hope he is OK.

[Audio Al]

Hi People

It's me , Yes I am fine thanks for asking

Bored with the internet at the moment , More to life , I am persuing other life interests at the moment , Some will know what thay are
May pop in from time to time
Hope you are all well

Bye :)

[struth]

You got a Burd Al? [emoji106]

[Audio Al]

:nono:

[Barry]

So it's either boating or wood turning?

[AJSki2fly]

You got a Burd Al? [emoji106]

One in the bush I expect.:lol:

[AJSki2fly]

Awake again, and no Allen[emoji853]


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[Pigmy Pony]

Awake again, and no Allen[emoji853]


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That's a shame, Allen is very cuddly. You'll just have to settle for Sue :)

[walpurgis]

I was awake at 5.40am, decided it was too early to get up and dozed off until 8.00.

[struth]

I was awake at 5.40am, decided it was too early to get up and dozed off until 8.00.

was up at that time too. fortunately i fell asleep again

[dave2010]

Lucky people! I woke up just before 6am, and have been awake since.

I was begining to think everyone had gone into hibernation.

[Pigmy Pony]

I was awake at 5.40am, decided it was too early to get up and dozed off until 8.00.

That's just the worst application for AOS Insomniacs club membership. Perhaps you could be signed in as a guest, if you can drag yourself out of your pit :D

[Macca]

That's just the worst application for AOS Insomniacs club membership. Perhaps you could be signed in as a guest, if you can drag yourself out of your pit :D

I can't qualify either, with the dark mornings recently I've been getting a solid nine hours every night.

[Pigmy Pony]

It's now that time of year when I need the alarm to get me up, now that it's too dark to see the clock on the wall. I am sleeping slightly longer, but don't feel any better for it.

[Macca]

It's now that time of year when I need the alarm to get me up, now that it's too dark to see the clock on the wall. I am sleeping slightly longer, but don't feel any better for it.

Nor do I. Wake up feeling like I'm recovering from being chloroformed.

Dull again this morning but the binmen woke me up early the noisy bastards.

[Marco]

It's now that time of year when I need the alarm to get me up, now that it's too dark to see the clock on the wall. I am sleeping slightly longer, but don't feel any better for it.

Wait until the clock's go back on Sunday - it'll be even darker after that! Another hour in your kip though, woo-hoo!:yay:

Marco [enjoys a solid 9-10 hours sleep, no matter the time of year].

[Roy S]

enjoys a solid 9-10 hours sleep, no matter the time of year

Thought it was only teenagers who spent half their life in their pit? ;)

I get by with about 5 hours a night & a cat nap in the afternoon (don't do much to make myself tired these days anyway).

[Marco]

Lol... I can't help it. Once my head hits the pillow, that's me comatose for the duration. No matter what time I go to bed, 9-10 hours will pass before I awaken. I've even slept through the burglar alarm going off once (in error)!

I just naturally drift into a very deep sleep, and it would literally take a bomb going off under the bed to wake me!!:D

Del's the opposite, and can hear the grass grow... In any case, plenty of (quality) sleep is good for you and keeps you looking young!

Marco.

[struth]

No often I'm only person on site. Lol. Last man standing.

[AJSki2fly]

I’m here too, yet again waking at 4:30[emoji33] never mind


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[struth]

Hope you slip back to dreamland lol. I did

[AJSki2fly]

I dosed off but woke to 6:15 alarm

[Macca]

Wait until the clock's go back on Sunday - it'll be even darker after that! Another hour in your kip though, woo-hoo!:yay:

.

Actually it won't. The whole purpose of putting the clocks back is so it is lighter earlier in the morning.

[Marco]

Actually it won't. The whole purpose of putting the clocks back is so it is lighter earlier in the morning.

Of course, I should've been clearer... I meant gets dark earlier, later in the day, but I do enjoy the extra hour's sleep afforded by putting the clock's back!:)

And unlike you, darkness (rain, cold whatever), whenever it happens, doesn't bother me at all. I simply adjust for the seasons and expect it. No biggie! I've never found the winter months in any way 'depressing'. You just make the most of it:cool:

Marco.

[Marco]

No often I'm only person on site. Lol. Last man standing.

Are you not sleeping properly again, mate? It'll be all that whisky!:ner:;)

Seriously though, what time do you have your last dram?

Marco.

[Marco]

:popcorn::popcorn:

Marco.

[struth]

Are you not sleeping properly again, mate? It'll be all that whisky!:ner:;)

Seriously though, what time do you have your last dram?

Marco.

no, i usually wake every 2 hrs for toilet. often im still tired and just fall back, but ive caught summat; not sure what but am blaming the garage who worked on car ;)
im hitting booze today as its making me feel better. i go to bed early as always tho.. well before 8pm.. often 6

[Marco]

no, i usually wake every 2 hrs for toilet. often im still tired and just fall back, but ive caught summat; not sure what but am blaming the garage who worked on car ;) #


Ah I see... Hope you've not caught anything major. In terms of that, how are you feeling - is it different from normal, in such as way for you to suspect that something has changed?

If a drink makes you feel better, then carry on. However, one of the reasons, aside from pish breaks, I think you're waking up in the wee small hours is because your sleep pattern is rather irregular. Going to bed at the likes of 6pm, aside from anything else, is going to guarantee that you'll be wide awake at 'funny o'clock' in the morning - even I would be!

Therefore, it would be good if you could, say, have a nap for an hour or so in the afternoon, perhaps after lunch, and then stay up until around 10pm (or later), then go to bed at a more normal time, which would then (aside from toilet breaks) make you likelier to rise at a more normal time, until your body gets used to that regime and your sleep pattern improves.

But going to bed so early every night, unless your *really* need to (if you're in too much pain or whatever) is always going to fuck up your body clock, as indeed will drinking alcohol, or coffee, (which as you know are both stimulants) too near to your bedtime.

Just some advice, mate:cool:

Marco.

[struth]

Ah I see... Hope you've not caught anything major. In terms of that, how are you feeling - is it different from normal, in such as way for you to suspect that something has changed?

If a drink makes you feel better, then carry on. However, one of the reasons, aside from pish breaks, I think you're waking up in the wee small hours is because your sleep pattern is rather irregular. Going to bed at the likes of 6pm, aside from anything else, is going to guarantee that you'll be wide awake at 'funny o'clock' in the morning - even I would be!

Therefore, it would be good if you could, say, have a nap for an hour or so in the afternoon, perhaps after lunch, and then stay up until around 10pm (or later), then go to bed at a more normal time, which would then (aside from toilet breaks) make you likelier to rise at a more normal time, until your body gets used to that regime and your sleep pattern improves.

But going to bed so early every night, unless your *really* need to (if you're in too much pain or whatever) is always going to fuck up your body clock, as indeed will drinking alcohol, or coffee, (which as you know are both stimulants) too near to your bedtime.

Just some advice, mate:cool:

Marco.

no, my bladder is f**ked and it can only last for a couple of hrs when i lie down as it seems that lying down causes the retained fluid to be treated. otherwise during day i can manage 3 hrs sometimes. bladder only holds about 130ml these days.

[Marco]

Ah ok, fair enough, but do you really have to go to bed so early if you're not in too much pain?

Marco.

[struth]

Ah ok, fair enough, but do you really have to go to bed so early if you're not in too much pain?

Marco.

always in a lot of pain by then, and tired too. if you had to distrobute your weight through your arms, you would likely be to. its tiring tbh, and when pain is added to mix, 10/12 hrs is a max. not always asleep of course but it does ease things somewhat to be lying down

[Marco]

Ok, fair enough. Just trying to think of ways that would prevent you from waking up at silly-o-clock in the morning, other than for a pish. Can not just 'empty yourself', then lie back down and go to sleep afterwards? I'd imagine you'd still be tired.

Marco.

[struth]

mostly i go back to sleep, but sometimes not.. i have breathing issues too and still suffer from other things like nightmares which can wake u up.. trust me;)

[struth]

you got any further with the chickens? i like chickens:eyebrows:

[Marco]

Lol, ok no worries... Chickens? That will defo happen, as Del WANTS some (and you know what she's like when she wants something), but not until next year. She's bored with the garden at the moment and concentrating more on making crafty things for Christmas (her fav time of year):)

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

no, my bladder is f**ked and it can only last for a couple of hrs when i lie down as it seems that lying down causes the retained fluid to be treated. otherwise during day i can manage 3 hrs sometimes. bladder only holds about 130ml these days.

Sorry to hear that Grant, it sounds familiar to me as well, I seem to struggle to go more than 2-3 hours without a pee, which has been going on for several years, I put it down to drinking too much tea, maybe I ought to have a words with the quack.

[struth]

Sorry to hear that Grant, it sounds familiar to me as well, I seem to struggle to go more than 2-3 hours without a pee, which has been going on for several years, I put it down to drinking too much tea, maybe I ought to have a words with the quack.

yeah its not drinking anything... i stop drinking fluids at about 6pm. but i will be peeing 120ml at 8 in morn as ive done every 2 hrs. body does absorb fluids and when lying flat they are inclined to be processed then. usually very clear too

[Marco]

Sorry to hear that Grant, it sounds familiar to me as well, I seem to struggle to go more than 2-3 hours without a pee, which has been going on for several years, I put it down to drinking too much tea, maybe I ought to have a words with the quack.

Probably just an age thing, Adrian. How old are you. mate?:)

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

62 and still kicking after 4 heart ops[emoji41][emoji8]


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[Marco]

Long may that continue, mate! However, you're not THAT old, in terms of when I'd imagine frequent trips to the loo at night are the norm. Or at least I don't think so - Grant might know more about that than me.

Does it all go tits up after 60?:D

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

62 and still kicking after 4 heart ops[emoji41][emoji8]


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You and Sue doing your Tiller Girls routine? :)

[AJSki2fly]

Yes I’ve got my Tutu out[emoji1739]


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[Pigmy Pony]

Long may that continue, mate! However, you're not THAT old, in terms of when I'd imagine frequent trips to the loo at night are the norm. Or at least I don't think so - Grant might know more about that than me.

Does it all go tits up after 60?:D

Marco.

Actually my tits started going down, at about 55 :(

[struth]

Long may that continue, mate! However, you're not THAT old, in terms of when I'd imagine frequent trips to the loo at night are the norm. Or at least I don't think so - Grant might know more about that than me.

Does it all go tits up after 60?:D

Marco.

depends on how much your passing each time. if your bladder loses its elasticity then it doesnt hold as much before it complains. also any tube blockages can cause very slow passing; even painful if your too full. your dick tube especially can get narrow and need reamed :eek:

[struth]

Actually my tits started going down, at about 55 :(

yes a down and out :rolleyes:

[Marco]

Lol, so that's what I've got to look forward to?:D

Thankfully, so far, everything's still as 'firm & taut', as it should be, with nothing sagging (don't really have any wrinkles or 'bags'), and I can go for hours without needing a pish. TBH, my dad's largely the same, although at his age he has a few 'saggy bits', but only gets up for a pish once during the night and regularly enjoys a good 6 hours kip:)

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Lol, so that's what I've got to look forward to?:D

Thankfully, so far, everything's still as 'firm & taut', as it should be, with nothing sagging (don't really have any wrinkles or 'bags'), and I can go for hours without needing a pish. TBH, my dad's largely the same, although at his age he has a few 'saggy bits', but only gets up for a pish once during the night and regularly enjoys a good 6 hours kip:)

Marco.

Sounds about the same as me, which I think is just about right. If I was sleeping as deeply and as long as you do, I'd consider visiting the doctor or a sleep clinic, as it doesn't seem ideal.

An excess 2 hours kip per night equates to roughly 4 years of not living, and that's time you won't get back. And being 'dead to the world' is not evolutionary - if we lived in stone age times you would have been killed and eaten long ago :(

I'll catch up on any lost sleep after I'm dead :)

[Marco]

Sounds about the same as me, which I think is just about right. If I was sleeping as deeply and as long as you do, I'd consider visiting the doctor or a sleep clinic, as it doesn't seem ideal.


Lol - why? It's obviously what my body needs, and I've been like that since I was born! I've *always* been a 'sleepy head', been able to sleep anywhere at the drop of a hat and loved my bed! Plus, I'm fit and healthy, full of energy, bright and cheery, have a great appetite, and almost never ill - and most of all I'm totally HAPPY and contented!

So what's the problem?:)

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Lol - why? It's obviously what my body needs, and I've been like that since I was born! I've *always* been a 'sleepy head'/been able to sleep anywhere at the drop of a hat and loved my bed! Plus, I'm fit and healthy, full of energy, bright and cheery, have a great appetite, and almost never ill - and most of all I'm totally HAPPY and contented!

So what's the problem?:)

Marco.

Not a problem for me, I'm not sleeping my life away :ner: Still you're happy and healthy, so that's the main thing :) Whether that has anything to do with your chronic overkipitis is uncertain, and could be in spite of or because of. Who knows?

Oh and I have a great appetite too, in fact I could eat enough for two. Doesn't mean I should eat that much though, as it's obviously NOT what my body needs.

I think it's time you came clean about your part-time bed salesman job :)

[Macca]

Medical advice seems to suggest that between 7 and 8 hours of kip a night is optimal.

That assumes good quality sleep.

When I had a lot of problems in my life I'd go to bed exhausted and wake up 8 hours later feeling just as tired as when I went to bed.

I used to know an African bloke who had trained under the Maharishi Yogi and only slept once a week. The rest of the time if he was feeling tired he would just meditate for an hour or two.

[Pigmy Pony]

Midnight till 6.30 is about it for me, so I think that's ok. And I usually have half an hour after my tea (while Emmerdale is on). And those hours aren't driven by having to go to work, it's about the same at weekends. I do also have to get up once for a piss most nights.

[Macca]

yeah me too.

[Marco]

Not a problem for me, I'm not sleeping my life away :ner: Still you're happy and healthy, so that's the main thing :) Whether that has anything to do with your chronic overkipitis is uncertain, and could be in spite of or because of. Who knows?


But you're missing that point... I've been like that for 55 years, and it certainly hasn't done me any harm!:D

If I had any underlying health or emotional conditions, due to 'oversleeping', I could see the point, but I don't - quite the opposite.

Marco.

[Marco]

Midnight till 6.30 is about it for me, so I think that's ok. And I usually have half an hour after my tea (while Emmerdale is on). And those hours aren't driven by having to go to work, it's about the same at weekends. I do also have to get up once for a piss most nights.

I'm rarely awake at 6.30am, unless the alarm is set to get up for something, and btw I have no problem whatsoever getting up if I *need* to, such as to catch an early flight somewhere or whatever.

However, my lifestyle dictates that I don't need to get up at that time [indeed don't need to do *anything* I don't want to do, which is one of the main reasons why I'm happy and contented]:)

I only have to get up for a piss if I've had a lot to drink before going to bed, otherwise no. Also, when you've got no real worries or stress, and your mind's not racing thinking about this, that or the next thing, you can go to bed and just SLEEP, which is why as soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm off!

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

But you're missing that point... I've been like that for 55 years, and it certainly hasn't done me any harm!:D

If I had any underlying health or emotional conditions, due to 'oversleeping', I could see the point, but I don't - quite the opposite.

Marco.

No I didn't miss your point, but you missed mine. Which is that excessively long sleep takes away from your waking life, and likely has no health benefits. Being happy and healthy doesn't prove or disprove the efficacy of oversleeping, and as you've never been any different you have no way of knowing. Just saying.

That 'lost' 2 hours could be used for something productive, like practicing golf or archery or something, or even better, playing a musical instrument. Just think, after 55 years of an extra 2 hours, you could be doing so much better than farting the National Anthem :)

[Marco]

But I've got ALL day after that to do what I like, including what you've suggested, if I feel like it!:D You're making the mistake of judging me on your standards of 'correctness', not mine.

When you've got the whole day (every day) to do what you like, when you like, with no-one to answer to, you can afford to 'waste' some of it in bed:)

And I disagree about no health benefits. One of the reasons I look (and FEEL) younger than I am (and healthy) is because I get plenty of sleep and have a good diet. Ask anyone that looks young for their age what their 'secret' is (men or women), and they'll tell you: lack of stress, no smoking, drink lots of fluids, exercise regularly, eat healthily, and get plenty of sleep!

:trust:

And I do all of that. Oh, and get this, if I'm feeling a little weary, after a particularly boozy lunch, I'll have an afternoon nap, too!:lol:

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

But I've got ALL day after that to do what I like, including what you've suggested, if I feel like it!:D You're making the mistake of judging me on your standards of 'correctness', not mine.

And I disagree about no health benefits. One of the reasons I look (and FEEL) younger than I am is because I get plenty of sleep and have a good diet. Ask anyone that looks young for their age what their 'secret' is (men or women), and they'll tell you: lack of stress, no smoking, drink lots of fluids, exercise regularly, eat healthily, and get plenty of sleep!

:trust:

And I do all of that. Oh, and get this, if I'm feeling a little weary, after a particularly boozy lunch, I'll have an afternoon nap, too!:lol:

Marco.

Is it not past your bedtime?

[struth]

i often get more sleep than marco. :D when the wife was alive i regularly got 4/5 tops of broken sleep. it didnt do me much good. i like to get up in the 8 am area tho

[Marco]

Is it not past your bedtime?

:lolsign:

I haven't decided yet!

Marco.

[Marco]

i often get more sleep than marco. :D when the wife was alive i regularly got 4/5 tops of broken sleep. it didnt do me much good. i like to get up in the 8 am area tho

Lol... Me too, but what's the point in getting up then if you're still asleep and in no rush to do anything urgent? The point is, I'm not lying there wide awake thinking 'fuck it, I'll just stay here and twiddle my thumbs' - I'm FAST ASLEEP!

Unless that is, I'm awake, in which case I'll defo get up... But then I like to 'relax into' the day and slowly come to my senses. One thing I can't be doing with first thing in the morning is rushing around like a headless chicken!:nono:

No, I'll get up, and if Del's at home and still in bed, go downstairs, and if it's this time of year, put the heating on and make her hot-water bottle, (a pink furry cat one, as she likes to cuddle that), then make her a cup of tea, feed the cats and put away any dishes that were left drying overnight, then call her when everything is ready.

Then I clean out the wood burner (to my meticulous standards, as I HATE wood burners in rooms that look like big ashtrays!:spew:), get more coal and logs in from the store and set the fire for lighting later, usually around lunchtime, unless it's really cold.

Then after that, make myself a coffee [proper one from scratch with fresh beans - you know the score] and breakfast, put on some choons, deal with all my emails, and also PMs on here, (some which can be time consuming, and I get around 15-20 PMs a day from members, asking me all sorts), then post some pish on 3WD!:D

Only AFTER I've done all that, and not until I've also cleaned and hoovered the house, emptied and replenished the cat-litter trays and watered any plants that need so in the garden, do I decide what I'm going to do with the rest of the day!

Marco.

[struth]

i just give my face a slap and im ready for the day :eek: i dont really insist on getting up at 8, but i do have an alarm set for half past. its rarely used tho. i will be on bed soon with a film on and probably fall asleep. i badly need my beauty sleep, im told ;)

[Marco]

Lol... I'm NOT a 'morning person' though, so can be a bit grumpy until I'm properly awake and had my caffeine hit! Del's a bit better, in that respect, but she'll strop if I've forgotten to make her bottle or something.

The other morning, I'd done everything necessary, after she'd asked me to call her when it was ready, only to be met with a sleepy groan telling me 'I've decided I don't want up yet'...:doh:

Princesses, eh?:D

Marco.

[struth]

a good spanking will bring you both round :lolsign:

not saying who is doing what tho

[Marco]

Ha - I often threaten her with that, trouble is she likes it!:D

Marco.

[Marco]

Well, I'm up now! But... That's only because I went to bed just after 10pm last night, so a nice 10 hours or so as usual!:D

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Well, I'm up now! But... That's only because I went to bed just after 10pm last night, so a nice 10 hours or so as usual!:D

Marco.

That's good, and what's more the world kept on turning without you :) Shame there aren't more insomniacs on here, I'm sure they'd all be thrilled to read about what a good night's sleep you had! I wonder if Oxfam have a forum concerning starving kids in Africa, you could tell them about what you're having for breakfast :ner:

[Marco]

Lol - well anything to cheer up an otherwise depressing thread!:ner:;)

That said, I do have a lot of sympathy for anyone struggling to get a good night's sleep, especially for serious health reasons.

Marco.

[Barry]

That's good, and what's more the world kept on turning without you :) Shame there aren't more insomniacs on here, I'm sure they'd all be thrilled to read about what a good night's sleep you had! I wonder if Oxfam have a forum concerning starving kids in Africa, you could tell them about what you're having for breakfast :ner:

Sounds like you got out of the wrong side of the bed! :rolleyes:

[tapid]

Sounds like you got out of the wrong side of the bed! :rolleyes:
Well it made me laugh as I crunched on me Gails crusty loaf. It was all in jest, I'm sure

[Pigmy Pony]

Sounds like you got out of the wrong side of the bed! :rolleyes:

With winter approaching, there isn't a right side...

[Marco]

Nothing wrong with winter - it's just another season!:ner::)

As long as you avoid going up and down ladders, in all weathers, you'll be fine...;)

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

All ground floor jobs for the foreseeable, that suits me just fine :) The younger guys are getting the ladder jobs. I seem to be benefitting from some favouritism these days, and I don't feel the least bit guilty! I can be quite charming and likeable when I put my mind to it ;) Or maybe they think I'm too knackered to cope with ladders.

[struth]

All ground floor jobs for the foreseeable, that suits me just fine :) The younger guys are getting the ladder jobs. I seem to be benefitting from some favouritism these days, and I don't feel the least bit guilty! I can be quite charming and likeable when I put my mind to it ;) Or maybe they think I'm too knackered to cope with ladders.

climbing ladders is hard enough without having to carry something large and heavy too.... that is why marco never goes up em:eyebrows:

[Marco]

Good stuff, mate. Leave that to them.

Marco.

[struth]

Nothing wrong with winter - it's just another season!:ner::)

As long as you avoid going up and down ladders, in all weathers, you'll be fine...;)

Marco.

used to have to go up n down really big ladders quite a lot.. damned hard work they were too. forgot how high but abot 85 ft was possible. much preferred to use the basket on roof when it worked, bar getting into it, which could cause cloth touching on a breezy day:eek:

[dave2010]

used to have to go up n down really big ladders quite a lot.. damned hard work they were too. forgot how high but abot 85 ft was possible. much preferred to use the basket on roof when it worked, bar getting into it, which could cause cloth touching on a breezy day:eek:Wow - was that on a crane?

Not sure why, but tonight I woke up just after 4am, and haven't been able to get back to sleep. Seems quiet round here there days/nights.

[struth]

No just up/down sides of buildings.

[AJSki2fly]

Awake at 3:30 again


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[gninnam]

Awake at 3:30 again


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Not been to bed since yesterday - so just hit 24 hours being up.
Listened to records from 11pm yesterday and still going strong :)

[AJSki2fly]

Not been to bed since yesterday - so just hit 24 hours being up.
Listened to records from 11pm yesterday and still going strong :)

Party time [emoji3060]


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[gninnam]

Party time [emoji3060]


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You would think but on my own (apart from the cats) since 10pm...
On to my 10th album and will continue until my better half appears....

[Pigmy Pony]

While the cat's away you and the rest of the cats will play :guitar:

[gninnam]

While the cat's away you and the rest of the cats will play :guitar:

You would have thought - both have had there breakfast - Mortimer has gone out and Zeus (the kitten) has gone back up stairs so all alone.

But enjoying the tunes (hope the neighbours are heavy sleepers...)

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20201114_065143.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/92dda8bf-ca0b-468b-9e9f-c7f6f3dc85dc/p/d0d03079-6aa0-4f71-b180-a102a54aecab)

[Pigmy Pony]

You would have thought - both have had there breakfast - Mortimer has gone out and Zeus (the kitten) has gone back up stairs so all alone.

But enjoying the tunes (hope the neighbours are heavy sleepers...)

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20201114_065143.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/92dda8bf-ca0b-468b-9e9f-c7f6f3dc85dc/p/d0d03079-6aa0-4f71-b180-a102a54aecab)

They should be fine with "The Endless River", quite relaxing... perhaps you shouldn't have followed it with "Are we not Men, We are Devo!" :D

[Pigmy Pony]

If I put on that Devo record, my cat would bugger off upstairs. And we live in a bungalow :doh:

[gninnam]

If I put on that Devo record, my cat would bugger off upstairs. And we live in a bungalow :doh:

:lol:

Morty just came in but disappeared upstairs quickly
Zeus the kitten appeared, wanted more food then disappeared.

Playing this at the mo so not sure if this is the reason :)

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20201114_071930.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/p/d89353cd-a770-4bde-8afa-19676a7fd6af)

[Macca]

I was planning to sleep in but 0730 I was wide awake so thought I might as well get up. Dreamed I was having Sunday dinner with Margaret Thatcher. She'd cooked it and it was awful but I had a huge plateful to get through and didn't want to seem rude. Thankfully I woke up after a couple of mouthfuls.

[gninnam]

I was planning to sleep in but 0730 I was wide awake so thought I might as well get up. Dreamed I was having Sunday dinner with Margaret Thatcher. She'd cooked it and it was awful but I had a huge plateful to get through and didn't want to seem rude. Thankfully I woke up after a couple of mouthfuls.

:lol:
Not sure what that says but not a dream (nightmare for sure)

[Macca]

Close to one!

[struth]

I was planning to sleep in but 0730 I was wide awake so thought I might as well get up. Dreamed I was having Sunday dinner with Margaret Thatcher. She'd cooked it and it was awful but I had a huge plateful to get through and didn't want to seem rude. Thankfully I woke up after a couple of mouthfuls.

Eating a couple of Maggie's dumplings is enough to wake anyone.

[Marco]

:lol:
Not sure what that says but not a dream (nightmare for sure)

Lol - indeed... And perhaps a secret (and rather disturbing) fantasy? The REAL nightmare happened though, when he dreamt that he shagged her!:eek::D

Marco.

[Marco]

:lol:

Morty just came in but disappeared upstairs quickly
Zeus the kitten appeared, wanted more food then disappeared.

Playing this at the mo so not sure if this is the reason :)

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20201114_071930.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/p/d89353cd-a770-4bde-8afa-19676a7fd6af)

Good album... Always liked Gary Numan:cool:

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Good album... Always liked Gary Numan:cool:

Marco.

I quite like Gary Numan, but never actually bought any of his records. Is this album (Savage) one to put on my Christmas wish list, or are there better recommendations?

[Marco]

It is if you're a Numan fan. it's different from his 80s stuff (darker and grungier), but certainly an entertaining listen. Best thing to do is check out his output on You Tube or Spotify, etc, then decide if it's for you or not:)

Marco.

[struth]

ive noticed Bev(Ninanina) has not signed in for several months.. i hope she is ok

[walpurgis]

ive noticed Bev(Ninanina) has not signed in for several months.. i hope she is ok

I'd also wondered where she'd got to.

[Pigmy Pony]

I'd also wondered where she'd got to.

Bev posted a pic of her legs, then legged it. I miss the mucky humour.

[Pigmy Pony]

I think her friend Colin has ongoing health problems. Hope he's ok too.

[dave2010]

Lol - indeed... And perhaps a secret (and rather disturbing) fantasy? The REAL nightmare happened though, when he dreamt that he shagged her!:eek::D
People don't normally admit that they have that kind of dream - with anyone! Now what about dreaming that you'd changed sex and were on the receiving end?

[Barry]

People don't normally admit that they have that kind of dream - with anyone! Now what about dreaming that you'd changed sex and were on the receiving end?

What that you were Margaret Thatcher and were being shagged? Now that would be strange dream to have.

[AJSki2fly]

I quite like Gary Numan, but never actually bought any of his records. Is this album (Savage) one to put on my Christmas wish list, or are there better recommendations?

Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle is a goodie. One I found locally, hadn’t heard it in years, I still like it lots. It’s his top seller and voted his best.

Another would be Replicas by Tubeway Army, a classic.

[Pigmy Pony]

I remember "The Pleasure Principle" knocking about, I can picture the album cover. Thanks for the heads up Adrian, it's been added to my Christmas list :)

[Barry]

I remember "The Pleasure Principle" knocking about, I can picture the album cover. Thanks for the heads up Adrian, it's been added to my Christmas list :)

I used to have a copy of Gary Numan's 'The Pleasure Principle' - I didn't keep it for long before passing it on. ;)

[Pigmy Pony]

I used to have a copy of Gary Numan's 'The Pleasure Principle' - I didn't keep it for long before passing it on. ;)

And yet you're hanging on to your Dan LPs. Ooh, that doesn't bode well for Gary, but I'll risk it for a biscuit :)

[Marco]

To really appreciate GN, you need to be an '80s boy'... So not surprised then that Bazza didn't rate it, as he's more of '60s boy'!:D

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

To really appreciate GN, you need to be an '80s boy'... So not surprised then that Bazza didn't rate it, as he's more of '60s boy'!:D

Marco.

What, you mean he was in his 60s back in the 80s? :D

[Barry]

To really appreciate GN, you need to be an '80s boy'... So not surprised then that Bazza didn't rate it, as he's more of '60s boy'!:D

Marco.

I liked "Cars".

Actually I liked a lot of the '80 stuff and bought many LPs at the time, but much of it was ephemeral and so was my possession of it.

[Macca]

Woke up 0630, spent an hour trying to go back to sleep. Gave up and got up. Still dark outside.

[Barry]

What has happened to Audio Al, who started this thread?

[struth]

hes found something better, apparently..

[AJSki2fly]

Girlie On the scene I bet


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[Pigmy Pony]

Girlie On the scene I bet


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Attracted by his recently acquired big shiny equipment no doubt.

[struth]

Attracted by his recently acquired big shiny equipment no doubt.He said no girlie [emoji848]

Whatever, if Al is happy then good stuff.

[Vinyl turner]

As the song goes:- "Is there anybody out there .........?"