tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388Fri, 17 May 2013 08:11:51 +0000mediaaddictionplansin lawssupportfishconnectioncounsellingretirementmindfulnessjealousydeathchristmasresistancemarriagebeingrelationshipsmental healthgoaltheatredebatepersonal stuffmeditationsocial networkinglesbianfamilypersonal. facebookangertransitionshappinessdog walkingpacifistchangesfolkfriendsexercisesexualisationcohabitationbookclubgaychildrenoperationobservationssexual dysfunctionpoliticsold ageconsiderationcommunicationpositivitydepressioninfidelitybullyingpleasurefriendshipplanopinionproblems and advicereikifilmblogginghealthfitnesshttp://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/noreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)Blogger119125BabsBriefhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-8820878362451512448Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:02:00 +00002013-03-01T20:02:24.146Zsocial networkingmental healthdepressiondebateold agepersonal stuffhealthobservationsfamilycommunication I met up with Twitter friend Kathryn yesterday and it was lovely to see her. I have been in the doldrums recently and I was telling her briefly about it. She asked if that was the reason I'd stopped blogging and I said yes opining that when in a depressed state I find communicating in any intellectual sense quite difficult. In fact communication of any kind becomes difficult. All I want to do ishttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/GECMgnCuxDs/a-day-of-pleasure-and-sadness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/GECMgnCuxDs" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/03/a-day-of-pleasure-and-sadness.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-8832211433940431076Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:32:00 +00002013-02-13T21:32:13.691Zdepressiontransitionsfriendshipconnectionpersonal stuffoperationhealthchangesobservationsfitness I was tweeting yesterday with a friend and congratulating her on her success at stopping smoking and recovering from some health issues caused by an accident. She is one of many brave people I have met on twitter. All of whom have their stories of trials experienced and sometimes overcome. It occurred to me later that we are all in transitional states for much of the time. We experience all http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/79QuYnstgPc/life-is-about-transitions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/79QuYnstgPc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/02/life-is-about-transitions.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-8423481696628466014Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:59:00 +00002013-02-08T19:03:48.049Zopiniondebatebookclubpersonal stuffobservationsfilmpolitics I have been looking forward to today. It is Book Club day and I invariably find the group discussions both interesting and stimulating. I don't know whether you belong to a book group but I can highly recommend it. I guess as with most things there are pros and cons but the opportunity to have an intelligent discussion makes any drawbacks pale into insignificance. I began the day thinking it http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/qHjAk_O5MdA/a-first-rate-friday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/qHjAk_O5MdA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/02/a-first-rate-friday.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-877304311017693439Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:48:00 +00002013-02-07T19:48:56.352Zretirementhappinessold agefriendshipconnectionpersonal stuffexerciseobservationsfriendsfitnesscommunicationmarriage When I woke up this morning I felt a little fuzzy. I had spent a fitful night which is not unusual for me. As per I had no idea why. I just kept dozing and then waking up with a very dry and uncomfortable mouth. My OH also as per slept peacefully beside me emitting the odd contented snore. At around 7.30am he, fully refreshed decided to get up and I reluctantly followed suit about half an hour http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/Kn0w1uz0IRU/rother-valley-country-park-exercise-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/Kn0w1uz0IRU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/02/rother-valley-country-park-exercise-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-7122970579642431445Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:04:00 +00002013-02-06T18:04:48.844Zfolkhappinesspleasurerelationshipspersonal stuffobservationstheatre Last evening we went to The Crucible to see Woody Sez the story of folk legend and political activist Woody Guthrie . We were in doubt for most of the day as to whether we would make it. We'd woken up to a heavy fall of snow and the forecast was horrendous. But for once luck was with us. The rain arrived and we decided to go for it! I had booked the tickets as a gift for my husband. He'shttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/rcXYk-aAUr0/woody-sez-it-was-fab-night-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/rcXYk-aAUr0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/02/woody-sez-it-was-fab-night-out.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-7516134289654127651Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:58:00 +00002013-02-02T20:58:10.673Zopinioncounsellingpersonal stuffconsiderationobservationsproblems and advicecommunication I don't know about you but housework doesn't do it for me? However, today was the day I had decided we needed to buckle down to it. We'd only done the bare minimum this week making beds, washing pots etc. I'm sure I don't need to draw you a picture. Anyway it had felt as if we'd had better things to do or perhaps we just lacked the motivation? There was the day, long, long ago, when I found http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/yarPy9r4zHY/its-chore-doing-chores.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/yarPy9r4zHY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/02/its-chore-doing-chores.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-5774106940836931510Thu, 31 Jan 2013 23:10:00 +00002013-02-01T08:42:35.292Zold ageconnectionpersonal stuffobservationsfamilycommunication It's been a funny old week. Plans have been made and changed several times and disappointment has ensued. One of them was that I was supposed to pick my sister-in-law up today from the care home where she is staying but it was cancelled last night. Apparantly they have closed the home for four days because some of the residents have contracted the Novovirus.  As I said, I was disappointed. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/_9r1uYGI5EI/the-best-laid-schemes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/_9r1uYGI5EI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/the-best-laid-schemes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-5000157237803106972Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:07:00 +00002013-01-29T17:07:06.743Zsocial networkingdepressionhappinessold agefriendshippersonal stuffobservationsfriendspositivitycommunication When I woke up this morning I felt tired and demotivated. I have no idea why apart from the fact that I'm an occasional insomniac and I haven't been sleeping well for the last week or so. I am sure there will be many of you who will empathise. Just skimming over my timeline on Facebook or Twitter reveals quite a few bemoaning the fact that they can't sleep. Anyway there I am feeling jaded and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/U_ieiybiBYo/a-wet-dull-tuesday-in-january.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/U_ieiybiBYo" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/a-wet-dull-tuesday-in-january.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-3765759390239038509Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:57:00 +00002013-01-28T21:57:14.690Zmental healthhappinesspersonal stuffpositivityreikimindfulnessmeditation I watched  an Andy Puddicombe video today. I was trawling the internet looking for relevant snippets for my Facebook Page when I came across it. The video 'All it takes is 10 mindful minutes' is really informative and entertaining. It is part of the TED Talks series. I don't know whether you've heard about TED but if not check them out. They disseminate some interesting stuff.  The http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/Fwpvko3nah8/a-positive-daily-routine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/Fwpvko3nah8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/a-positive-daily-routine.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-4229200838368927669Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:20:00 +00002013-01-27T22:20:05.877Zhappinesspleasuredog walkingpersonal stuffobservationsfriendsfilmfamily It's been a good weekend with time spent with my favourite people - the kids. To be precise they're mature adults but they are our kids and I love being with them. Yesterday thanks to our daughter Alison looking after our much pampered pooches we were able to spend the night with her brother Alan and our daughter-in-law Liz. They prepared a great meal for us and as always when we're together thehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/NncJAwZk-2g/happiness-is.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/NncJAwZk-2g" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/happiness-is.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-6867438403916760116Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:27:00 +00002013-01-25T22:21:13.061Zopinionpleasurepersonal stuffconsiderationobservationsfilmblogging My treat today was a trip to the cinema (yes I know I go a lot) to see The Sessions.   The Sessions is based on a true story about poet and polio victim Mark O'Brien  and his journey into sensuality with sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen-Greene. The film is incredibly moving. It's also witty and the performances are admirable. But alas, I didn't lose myself in it entirely - not because the film http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/rZKdMfUwlMs/please-try-to-be-considerate.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/rZKdMfUwlMs" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/please-try-to-be-considerate.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-6540401457467184974Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:45:00 +00002013-01-24T19:45:44.022Zsocial networkingopinionobservationsmediacommunicationpolitics One of the news stories running today which I posted to my Dump Him Love Facebook page is about the faux pas that Anna Soubry the Public Health Minister made. In this article in The Independent she is quoted as saying, 'when I walk around my constituency you can almost tell somebody’s background by their weight'. Now you don't have to be a public relations type to see that this is not onlyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/XzNSuhhbIQY/its-not-what-you-say-its-way-that-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/XzNSuhhbIQY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/its-not-what-you-say-its-way-that-you.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-8208775894750449256Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:19:00 +00002013-01-23T19:19:04.313Zsocial networkingpersonal stuffobservationsbloggingcommunicationpolitics I have spent some time pondering on what I could write about today. This is not unusual for me. As I commented to a fellow tweep the other day, 'we Geminis are usually in at least two minds'! I think one of the problems for me is that whilst I like to share what I'm thinking and feeling I don't want to appear preachy. I think there are enough people busy telling others what to think and feel. Inhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/C2B2WGFXUtw/everyone-is-entitled-to-point-of-view.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/C2B2WGFXUtw" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/everyone-is-entitled-to-point-of-view.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-3384177542730052222Mon, 21 Jan 2013 22:30:00 +00002013-01-21T23:02:53.806Zdepressionpersonal stuffobservationsfilmfamilyblogging Today is Blue Monday. So called because it is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year according to Dr Cliff Arnall and a survey credited to Cardiff University. However, this article in The Guardian refutes the science and questions whether Arnall was indeed associated with Cardiff University. But true or not it does seem to have entered the annals for mental health. This is evidenced http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/OhlKWo7wuBU/am-i-blue.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/OhlKWo7wuBU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/am-i-blue.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-4337920726551090364Sun, 20 Jan 2013 18:35:00 +00002013-01-21T22:31:21.555Zopinionold agepersonal stuffobservationsfamilybloggingin lawscommunication I love Sundays. I know as a retiree you could say every day is a Sunday since I have no regular calls on my time. However, Sunday is still special. Sunday is when I get to see our daughter and my only surviving brother. It's also when I get to chat with our son for longer than two minutes. The day began as usual with breakfast and The Andrew Marr Show which was hosted today by Jeremy Vine. Vinehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/foDa2Kts278/simple-sunday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/foDa2Kts278" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/simple-sunday.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-8569215661751779146Sat, 19 Jan 2013 17:56:00 +00002013-01-19T19:03:21.242Zdepressiondeathold agepersonal stuffobservationsfamily I have been thinking about death. Not because I'm ill, depressed or morbid but because I've recently read Death Matters by Sally Petch. It had been brought to my attention by Ceri at Fab After Fifty. She had done a blog post on Petch and it piqued my interest. The book as the title infers is about the importance of death and dying. Her premise is that we need to accept that death is a part of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/35bxDaREIu4/it-happens-to-us-all.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/35bxDaREIu4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/it-happens-to-us-all.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-2941143512581437714Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:50:00 +00002013-01-19T00:20:51.397Zold agepersonal stuffobservationsfriendsbloggingchildren It has been a fairly productive day - walking dogs, clearing snow and doing numerous chores. I had arranged to see one of my friends today but we made the mutual decision to reschedule because of the forecast of heavy snow. I think that was a good decision - no use risking life and limb if it's not necessary and to be fair I've had a week fairly heavy in enjoyment. I have just been looking http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/o3RETIyEBGQ/the-things-kids-do.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/o3RETIyEBGQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/the-things-kids-do.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-1109639141958770252Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:29:00 +00002013-01-18T20:52:23.291Zpersonal stuffobservationsfilmfamilyblogging I'm all for picturesque snow scenes and I don't mind the dogs getting their jollies frisking about it in but to be frank I find it a pain in the butt. When I was still working it made me anxious wondering whether clients would be able to make their appointments or, if I was working in surgery, I would be anxious making the drive up the motorway. I am not a particularly confident driver http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/b6BW0kqqwOw/snow-good-this-has-to-stop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/b6BW0kqqwOw" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/snow-good-this-has-to-stop.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-1486511453163462064Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:35:00 +00002013-01-16T19:35:38.108Zopinionobservationsbloggingcommunicationpoliticsanger How do you feel about anger? Are you someone who feels it's not ok to be angry or are you like me and think anger has it's place?  When I say anger has it's place I'm not condoning shouting, screaming or physical violence although I have been known to give the odd bellow on occasion. I am talking about experiencing anger  and being able to express it appropriately. I often feel irritated or http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/1NYSZCru8zE/anger-has-its-place.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/1NYSZCru8zE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/anger-has-its-place.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-2100771252991531709Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:47:00 +00002013-01-14T23:47:16.428Zpleasurepersonal stuffaddictionobservationsblogging Today I fed my gizmos addiction by renewing my mobile contract and changing to the iPhone 5. At the moment I am wondering why I succumbed. I've had the iPhone 4 for about 3 years and it's a perfectly good piece of equipment. So what made me grab onto this shiny new mobile? If I'm honest I don't know. I thought briefly about it and then acted as they say, on impulse.  Any pleasure I felt when I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/SGhAESg-WbI/guilty-pleasures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/SGhAESg-WbI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/guilty-pleasures.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-3600563333716570401Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:04:00 +00002013-01-14T00:04:57.911Zpersonal stuffobservationsbloggingfitnesspositivity It's Sunday. I have a stinking cold and quite frankly I am feeling a little sorry for myself. As I type this I am aware of how pathetic that sounds. I know that in the discomforts of life it is mini league stuff so why aren't I thinking how lucky I am to just have a cold? This leads me on to the more interesting question of  what makes me and possibly you catastrophise sometimes? What stops http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/F6kCsnl3srg/poor-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/F6kCsnl3srg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/poor-me.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-4514890665327028075Sat, 12 Jan 2013 12:03:00 +00002013-01-12T12:41:58.389Zdebatefriendshipconnectionpersonal stuffobservationsfilmbloggingcommunicationpoliticsanger Sorry I missed you yesterday. I was mega busy. In the morning I attended Book Club. We were discussing A Train In Winter a true story of 230 women in the french resistance who were captured and imprisoned in Auschwitz. It is, I have to say, one of the most depressing books I've read in a long time. Yes it's about friendship and survival. Yes it's incredible the amount of detail the author goes http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/Ui8Tr8pfoYY/sorry-i-missed-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/Ui8Tr8pfoYY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/sorry-i-missed-you.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-8240620908674908422Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:36:00 +00002013-01-10T18:36:24.629Zold agefriendshipconnectionpersonal stuffobservationsfriendsbeingcommunicationchristmaspersonal. facebook 'What did you do today', is a question, as I've mentioned before, that I'm asked on a regular basis. It's a question I still find disconcerting. This may surprise you since the question in itself is harmless. However, when someone asks 'what did you do today' I experience a slight sense of panic. Will my answer be interesting enough or will they just think I'm a boring old fart who does http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/jdz825-Z57s/today-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/jdz825-Z57s" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/today-i.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-7227882551839590742Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:48:00 +00002013-01-09T21:50:54.854Zopinionpersonal stuffobservationsbeingpositivitypersonal. facebook It feels as if I've been banging on for years about me time. The message being that me time is important for our emotional and mental well being. We need to do something positive for ourselves at least once a week and if it's possible to take an hour each day so much the better in my opinion. Now you may think that as a retiree I would have no problem in having me time but that isn't the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/OwrydgMJp58/me-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/OwrydgMJp58" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/me-time.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616711674838273388.post-1010567281120635576Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:29:00 +00002013-01-08T19:33:38.440Zopiniondebatepersonal stuffobservationsbloggingbeingcommunicationpersonal. facebook I haven't posted since April of last year. I could go into the reasons but there doesn't seem to be any mileage in that. Suffice it to say that I lost my confidence and motivation. I had originally started blogging as an antidote to retirement. I was one of those lucky people who enjoyed their job. I was, however, getting long in the tooth and my peer group were retiring and it seemed as if Ihttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabsBrief/~3/oX1UKwWPH50/starting-again_8.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dump Him Love)5South Yorkshire, UK53.32759237756109 -1.49414062553.02460237756109 -2.139587625 53.63058237756109 -0.848693625<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BabsBrief/~4/oX1UKwWPH50" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.dumphimlove.co.uk/2013/01/starting-again_8.html