what's your hopes and expectations?

[haganap]

Already well in to March.

This year has been one that is particularly shocking.

I have firstly lost My oldest brother at just 54 to a huge stroke in January.
I lost my best friend, loyal companion and beautiful Newfoundland dog in February having had to pull the trigger aged 12 (not in the literal sense)
My other brother of 53 has severe health problems diagnosed.
I have a broken mother (80)
A broken father (84) who both can't imagine life without their first born.
Of course, I haven't even mentioned the CV19 which has pretty much destroyed life as we know it right now, ripped through my pension pot and investments although theres far more serious damage for sure. (Im50)
3 or 4 weeks ago I went to a really dark place (those that know me will understand)
I have just begun self isolation due to a raging temp and a body made of led...

So I look at all the above and think to myself, where now,

oddly enough along with my coach I was feeling probably the fittest I have ever been, no drink, healthy food and ramping up for my challenge of Iron man this year.
Now?
Its an enforced break whilst I try to manouvre 1200 nurses and healthcare workers, and keep 1400 older people safe through the most difficult time of my healthcare career. All the time of course trying to keep the bankers happy.

But this isn't about any of the above...

It's about how we move forward with hope. The more lemons in life that are thrown at me, I like to squeeze them and make lemonade.

So, the CV19 will end, life will slowly get back to normal, our vans will be filled with Cheap fuel and we will be ready to go...

So where we all going to go?

Me I am hoping that Ironman in Vichy in August is back on, a few good get together s between ramping up training.

none of this taking one step at a time, we are going to all get through it, so how you going to plan to celebrate?
Maybe Nikki and I might get one of our old fashion New years meets together so we can kick this shit year in to touch once and for all.

come on, cheer the mood...

 

[old-mo]

Hopefully after all this...... Things will only get better for every one ..... cannot get any worse....

Can they..????

 

[MaidinDevon]

Hi Haganap,

I am very sorry to hear of your loss, and the impact on your family. Being isolated is likely to have an impact on all of our mental health, so i hope you are able to find support, and waysto manage it.

I am just trying to get home from Spain, as I write. I am really looking forward to being at home, and closer to my loved ones. i hope to be self isolating, and using the time to learn how to use my camera, catch up on lots of binge TV watching, and having a flush loo!

After that, the virus will burn down, and the countryside, and wonderful coastline will still be there. I hope to be out in my motorhome enjoying the beauty that the UK has to offer.

And i have a reasonable quantity of booze on board, so don't have to worry about panic buying that at home.


I like the sound of your New Years Eve party!! I am impressed by the Ironman stuff, but must admit, i don't understand it. My younger brother is an ultra marathon runner, and i don't get that either!!

Best wishes to you and yours.

Karen

Keep on keeping on

 

[Phill D]

I am with you Paul, There is only ever one way to look at situations like this and that is :-

"THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL"! you just need to look for it and make it appear.

 

[Carol]

Paul, the only way to look is forward many of us will stock take, make tweeks, and to be honest grateful if Eddie and I don't catch it and come through, but you can be damm sure if we do your New Year meet would be high on our list too aim for to you and Nikki xx

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[Janine]

I am very much in the 'one day at a time' camp.
Life throws up way too many variables to make plans.
Live life for today.

 

[Chris]

Sorry to hear about your brother.

I am currently fearing the worst I think, but hoping for the best.

That includes from a health and wealth point of view.

 

[Phill D]

hope things work out for you haganap and you Chris

 

[Chris]

hope things work out for you haganap and you Chris

You too

 

[Sandancers]

Looking to life After CV, (should there be a proper name for that, sort of B.C. / A.D. thing relating to Covid_19?) as long as everyone in the family is safely thro it I would like to see this Country realise that we really don't need Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Pret Manger (whatever) Love Island etc. But what we really DO need is manufacturing jobs, farmers, NHS, Community, anything which is not FROTH on daily lives. Let the real hero's of our Country be celebrated instead of air-headed Celebs !

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[haganap]

hope you get home safe MaidinDevon ..

Not a sympathy thread guys, lets warm it up... we will get through... And as for you Carol , you rill be fine I know you will, stay safe...

 

[haganap]

Do you know Mel really pleased to see you like this post. At the weekend whilst driving through Belgium on our way back from our ski trip Nikki and I spoke about your.... Wandering where you were what you were doing, whether you were still at it or not... We stop all the time in Belgium when abroad,... Must catch up..

 

[Mel]

Hi Paul
Sorry to hear you have had all the above
All he best to you and the family

Give 2020 a kick up the a—- at the end of the year

Mel & Lieve

(Caravan now but might have to give that up
(Also deaf 96% Never easy)

Just had an opperation so might get some hearing back
When all his is over wewill have to meet up

 

[TheBig1]

as you may remember Paul, both my wife and daughter have BPD so this tress is fun. But we are looking forward to getting away in the van with the family when this is over. Somewhere sunny, either a beach or a forest someplace. We are looking for positives every day and find happiness in the small things

 

[Sandancers]

as you may remember Paul, both my wife and daughter have BPD so this tress is fun. But we are looking forward to getting away in the van with the family when this is over. Somewhere sunny, either a beach or a forest someplace. We are looking for positives every day and find happiness in the small things

THAT'S all we can do for a while, but it will help us thro it !

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[maison]

Sorry to hear of your family problems haganap .

It puts our “worry” in proportion.

We are both in our early seventies, so in the “at risk” group, although we are both well. Our “worry” is that, when the travel bans are lifted and we can return to our place in France, will we able to cut through our rampant grape vine to get into the house?

 

[Oscar]

Paul -all the best to you & Nikki, stay safe guys & stay well. All our best wishes ......

 

[Grianan]

What a crap time you’ve had ?. First holiday we get I’m off to south of Franc to get some heat. Keep trying to look positive ... we could have been self isolating in winter, instead we are looking forward to warmer spring days.
Can’t take in the enormity of what we face ... One day at a time.

 

[h1ghway1]

That is a Top,Top attitude and your optimism is brilliant.. I'm an older guy and we need to be positive and embrace the good things in life... at the end of the day .. its the end of the day and we are gone but lets leave a reminder to family and friends that we got out there... crapped in our cassette's... sat in fields drinking tea,wine, water soft drinks .. talking sh*t.. but enjoyed meeting lots of totally different people who enjoy life under fibreglass or whatever the bloody things are made of

 

[Wildbill]

Hope you get better soon
Bill

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[lorger]

This year started off quite positive for us, we sold our MH and placed a deposit on a new one. As its our 30th anniversary this April we had planned to go away for 30 days, we should have left on Tuesday. I know its not the end of the world and we're fit enough and young enough for another big trip, the main disappointment is not meeting up with our wee girl ok she's 22. She is currently backpacking around Oz (currently in NZ for 4 weeks) and we'd planned to spend 18 days with her. I also managed to get back into running after a new hip replacement in May and slowly and I mean slowly getting back to fitness.

My main concern at this moment is for my dad 79, he's in good health but you never know with this CV.
I'm also quite worried about our daughter, I know she's fine and not in any danger but i'd prefer she was close by at this time.

Like you Paul my pension pot has shrunk considerably but to be honest I'm not overly concerned as it will bounce back and we have time for that, we plan to retire in under 4 years but wont need our pension for another 4 or 5 so plenty of time to make gains.

Once all this is over or we get back to some kind of normality we'll head away in the van (collect on the 18/4) for 3 weeks somewhere nice and warm.

Hope you all stay safe.

 

[Minxy]

I am with you Paul, There is only ever one way to look at situations like this and that is :-

"THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL"! you just need to look for it and make it appear.

... I'd rather walk towards the lsd lights that movan has just fitted ... ?

 

[Larrynwin]

Stay strong Paul and Nikki, life never easy and frequently proves just how vulnerable us humans are.
Get well soon and look to the future

 

[DavidG58]

Our short term future is out of our hands but then grandchild number 4 , is due hopefully just after CV19 is declared all over ??

so it has till early Sept to do one please

 

[Parrot Face]

2018 was our bad year. I won't go into all of the details but one bad thing was the loss of a grandchild. Lots of bad things happened that year but everything improved dramatically the following year. I wish you well.

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[Beemobile]

At 76 I don't want to waste one minute of my optomistic life, my arthritis creeps ever debilitating in most joints, but it's nothing compared to those who suffer depression, loss and loneliness, we grumbled through brexit and now we have this virus war, we must stay safe and possative and hope to be out and about on the road again soon.

 

[Puddleduck]

No hug big enough.

 

[Oscar]

Sending virtual hugs to everyone

 

[Beemobile]

2018 was our bad year. I won't go into all of the details but one bad thing was the loss of a grandchild. Lots of bad things happened that year but everything improved dramatically the following year. I wish you well.

Big hug.

 

[buttons]

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