[Closed] how's everyone doing ?

Ehh. Been better. What are we getting closer to?

Not bad ton, slowly recovering from a second bout of Covid and just taking it one day at a time, how’re you? Hopefully we’ll be able to return to some semblance of normality this year.

Kids going back to school has taken much of the weight and worry off tbh. Luckily work for me and mrsdts has not gone quiet (yet)

I wish I felt like good times were closer. I'm alright don't get me wrong, but I feel like my career as a musician of 16 years is basically in tatters. I've still got some guitar teaching, but otherwise drive a van for a supermarket. Earning less than I was when I was 18 and have to talk myself into not sacking it off most weeks. Still, I've got the full impact of brexit and perpetual Tory rule to cheer me up at least, and at the age of 34, hopefully I'll be in slightly better nick than Phil the Greek currently is when I get to retire.

Not too bad everything considered,just back in from a night ride that felt almost normal.
How are things with you?
Hope you have managed to get out on your bike through all this and your heart's been behaving 🙂 .

What are we getting closer to?

Clocks changing. Can't wait!!!
Everything is better in the summer and that really starts to make it feel like it.

Brain is ****ed with lock down and am hating it.

Doing painting to relieve this a bit

BBB should be one again this year which is good but not sure if I can face it.

issed off and depressed.
P

Clocks changing. Can’t wait!!!
Everything is better in the summer and that really starts to make it feel like it.

Ooh yes. That does always make things better.

Hope you have managed to get out on your bike through all this and your heart’s been behaving

i was furloughed for 5 month, so rode my legs off locally. like 5000 miles.
and my ticker is now as good as it is ever gonna get.
thanks for asking mate.

Doing alright thanks. Working from home for about a year now, but that’s not unusual for me.

Just had cataract surgery on both eyes so I can see distance without glasses / contact lenses for the first time since about 1980. Delighted. Two weeks sick leave for each eye but I’ve had to isolate for 2 weeks up to each operation - 4 weeks now, finally over. Stir crazy? Not half. God knows how the clinically vulnerable have coped through a full year of isolation.

Vaccination #1 on Thursday so light at the end of the COVID tunnel

The short answer is 'cabin fever' and the long answer is long and I'll break the habit of a lifetime by not typing half a page of text.

Best wishes to all.

Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work-Work.

Utterly relentless that's been my last 12 months, I might be OK for money but I've ridden my bike 5 times in that year 🙁

Meh stressed in work

New house and I've uncovered a horror job no tradey wants so I'm stressed with that

Just stressed in general

Better than most.

And yet still hanging on by my fingernails.

Please stay safe out there my lovelies.

Climbing the walls like everyone - but hanging on. Getting vaccinated on Sunday feels like a real step towards the end of it all.

... and apologies to anyone on the receiving end of my ire on the forum. I'm trying to follow Wheaton's Law but it's leaking occasionally. I don't really mean it.

I'll be honest I was getting pretty beaten down. I didn't really realise it but the last week was probably about as bad as I've been this year. Today's news about scottish travel restrictions, and a bloody lovely afternoon with some bike riding to boot, was pretty much perfect medicine.

You're all quizzing with us tomorrow, right? That's almost normal.

Uh. Today.

Bloody hoover is broken, one of them dyson ball things thats been completely inadequate since i gave up the large hoover in favour of it.
Expensive crap, and in all honesty i've only used it under 30 times.
Previous hoovers working life was measured in decades.

Other than that pretty much as is, though not as enthusiastic for life as i was 10 years ago. Cant seem to be arsed doing as much or getting out as often.

Wide awake after getting woken by pup with a need to poo at 0215..... Busy mind, tired body..

No work since end of October, apart from the yearly sim check.

Got into a lockdown routine of napping 😴 n the afternoons but thank goodness the weather is improving as the turbo, even with zwift was tedious.

Can’t wait until the 29th as FoD beckons and some good club rides too.

Do feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Got into a lockdown routine of napping 😴 n the afternoons but thank goodness the weather is improving as the turbo, even with zwift was tedious.

Ooh bad lockdown habits there’s a life in a thread for that comedy gold 🙂

Even the Spanish don’t seem to be into siestas so much these days.

Mmm and to answer the question, like the Duracell bunny on speed.

I seem to have just dived headlong into work, got taken over by the Aussies and the stuff I’ve been trying to get our (unimaginative)previous owners to do for years is exactly the direction the new overlords want and it’s great fun.(docker containerisation an a bit of K8 in Azureland)

Had a few days off long weekend riding and sunbathing not as much as I’d like as a few family issues so just can’t abandon everyone at the moment.

A bit of sun an a ride rocks 🙂

Can't complain about my life but I do seem to be pretty angry about.... Well, everything, these days. Still, had a couple of days in the office this week, and that's been fab - like a brief reminder of what's in the future to look forward to.

Working (on my own in the office since January) which is a distraction and also a pain as it's holidays, with people asking when can I go to France, Italy, Spain. . . Remaining calm and professional is becoming more of a strain as answering "My crystal ball is ****ed how the **** would I know" is not recommended.

I have deliberately not priced for mainland Europe to try and head them off. UK holidays are difficult as our smaller hotels are only answering email and that is delaying things for the customer. (In the main most of them are lovely and accept the delay with good grace).

Bike riding to work is keeping things on the level and the lighter, warmer evenings are making it all better. Me & Mrs Sandwich have had our first jabs so there's a light at the end of the tunnel that doesn't appear to be an oncoming train!|

Funnily enough was thinking about stuff this morning, mindfulness and being present kind of thing.

A year ago, the theatres closed and I know a lot of people affected. I had my last band rehearsal and I left a customer site and had to isolate due to them being blasé about someone with 'this Covid thing', then I was furloughed. I'm back at work and busier than ever which I'm grateful for and generally staying away from everyone. I don't like people 😉

So it led me to thinking about a thing I did a few years ago, 100 happy days.
Basically you look for just one thing in your day that makes you smile, you are grateful for or that you appreciate.
It doesn't matter how small, your first coffee of the day, a thank you email, the bluebells, wearing your fave socks! Anything. It makes us look for those things and hopefully just brightens the day a little.

I'm going to do more of that. Hopefully you might take away and it help you a bit too.

I like that! 😉

some good stuff here, keep positive people.

i had a few very good things happen in the last 14 month.
my 1st grandson was born last february. my 3rd grand daughter was born in august.
we have seen them all the way through as my kids were the only people we see.

and at xmas i decided to start plans to pack in work on my 55th birthday.
i start my gardening leave on monday, and then finish in mid may.
my wife retired in november. our reasoning was that we will have to be careful moneywise, but we want to spend time with our grandkids while we are fit and healthy and able to do stuff with em.
this last 12 month has made me decide time with people is far more important than money and material things.

I'm a stone heavier since the first lockdown, barely leave the house and working 10-13 hour days - life's great :p

I'm alright - hanging in there.
I had a wobble last summer and had some counselling which has really sorted my head out.
Work is super busy (has been all the way through) which i'm thankful for.
Both kids now back at school full time and my wife (secondary school teacher) had the vaccine a few weeks ago.
At 48 i think i'm in the next batch - so potentially before the end of the month..

Better than most.

And yet still hanging on by my fingernails.

Please stay safe out there my lovelies.

That's a great way of putting it

Can’t complain about my life but I do seem to be pretty angry about…. Well, everything, these days.

And that. Permanently on a hair trigger. Not violently physically angry just quietly, frustrating, seething angry.

Trying Headspace/mindfulness to try and calm the mind, but sitting still just gives all the noise more space.

Much better than last year. Turned out that i had pretty severe health anxiety which screwed my head up from about may to October.
Thankfully counselling and support from friends and family has got me out of it.
It is still there (almost like a groove in a record) but i can deal with it now.
Thankfully work and family have been great so am now looking forward to getting it and seeing people again soon.
Interestingly i have already run further in 2021 than i did in 2020 which shows me something was wrong even though i didn't know it at the time.
Scary how things creep up on you and you don't recognise when it is happening. In a strange way i am happy it was health anxiety rather than depression as it meant i was scared of losing my life rather than wanting to end it

I seen my parents for a short while yesterday when I collected something from them, we even made plans for April when we’ll see them properly again. This will be the third time in over a year. So yeah I’m good.

My business has pretty much gone tits up as far as making money is concerned. I lost a lot over the last 12 months including a new company based around the hospitality industry and I've had the three weeks in February that cover the anniversary of the deaths of three important people in my life who died a week apart in three consecutive years.
I've got past that again but the long planned going home to Weymouth will probably occur in the next month.
I do ride my bike every day, even if its just popping out to the shops on a ten mile round trip.

Tied up in a shared family care arrangement, decorating (been converted to Osmo), tyres currently pretty well preserved, don't know how much nuttier we've become until we're out in the world.

Can’t complain about my life but I do seem to be pretty angry about…. Well, everything, these days.

And that. Permanently on a hair trigger. Not violently physically angry just quietly, frustrating, seething angry.

I know that feeling. Being cooped up with nowhere to go isn't nice.

10 of the last 12 months have been flat out work in a new job. It should involve travel but that's all been put on hold so I spend my life in the spare room having endless online meetings with customers. In the gaps I procrastinate to the best of my abilities. Bike riding and keeping some semblance of fitness has gone out the window.

The first 2 months I was unemployed (work went bump 2 weeks before lockdown). Spent it doing all the cliched lockdown things, baking bread, Joe Wicks PE etc etc and I actually rode my bike places. It was great.

Turned a corner recently (before that I was really struggling), I think the weather has helped and the fact that I can see life starting to show with daffs, snowdrops and hawthorn. Not ridden for months, as lacked no motivation to head out on very wet and muddy trails. Start of the river trout season where I am, so off to winkle out some brown trout on a tiny Devon stream. That'll put my head in a good place.
Plus, expecting our first child in August, so very excited about that.

A few things are now in my sights, that give me something to really look forward too. I think just having an end in sight has alleviated much of anxiety and stress.

Alright here really, been working all the way through anyway, 3 days a week for the most part, pootling round in a council minibus which is becoming a PITA at the mo cos I'm in Harrogate & the roadworks are Krap.
Looking forward to meeting up with Ton for a ride & stroke his new bike. (That's not a euphamism)

Today isn't a great day, 2 final interviews this week to prepare for and lots of uncertainty around what is next. Actual job ends on 26th March when I will be officially redundant. Dog has committed a list of crimes already today which has been the hardest part of the day as my patience isn't what it should be. Some feedback from an interview has been playing on my mind as it suggests a bias I didn't think I had and certainly don't want to have, that's taking up way too much of my brain at preventing me from being able to prepare for these final stage interviews properly.

BUT:
Up till now I and my wife have been employed all through Covid.
I've been lucky to work in tech and therefore working from home has been possible so no furlough.
We got a rescue dog who got sick a short while after we got her, but most of the cost has been covered by insurance and she's on the mend, but driving me round the bend.
Although I'm being made redundant the payout will be ok with 3 months notice and if all works out I'll have some offers in my final week to work out which to take up.
We've both been healthy through it all and my wife's father who had bladder cancer at the start of all this has been getting better not worse the whole time.

So there's stuff to be happy about, I'm just a grumpy git today by all accounts.

That 5000 miles sounds like a great way to spend furlough, nice one @ton!

Not too bad here, I think me and my wife have had it relatively easy compared to others though its certainly had its moments.

Readied the road bike for some proper road riding yesterday after about 4 months of indoor Traineroad and Zwift (which I actually quite like, but still).

I'm looking forward to (hopefully) some restrictions being eased but weirdly think it will take a little mental effort to get there. I of course don't want to live in lockdown forever but had been lulled (or forced) into a routine which I think will need to be put behind me at some point soon when a change comes.

Went for a walk earlier and could hear the kids playing in the local school playground which was good to hear as its been so silent there this year up to now.

OK here, had some niggling injuries since January which has meant a couple of weeks off the bike each time - just about clear of my current injury (dodgy foot) and managed the turbo yesterday. Off on a local loop later.

Been WFH last year, MrsF was on furlough then redundant in October. fortunately started a new Job in January and is WFH, and, her colleagues are really nice.

Son's been out of work since last summer, just doing Dominoes deliveries currently, but he's being a complete ar$e. Staying in bed all day, then gaming all night. It's got so bad I've installed smart sockets in his room so he loses all power at midnight. He's been warned and warned, and is still staying up. He's depressed and on meds, but I am so close to slinging him out as he does nothing to help out at home. He is incredibly selfish and thinks we're being awkward not letting him disturb us all night. He's 20... There is no help at the moment in MH. We're awaiting him getting some CBT.

I've been riding my road bikes more than ever since CV struck, making the most of less traffic. Just been out for 100km this morning, rode to a random train station and got the train back. Said hello to lots and people and had a quick chat with a couple of cyclists I came across. Quite a nice day really even though it was raining for half the ride.

Utterly miserable and angry, no reason just tis.

I’ve not read the whole thread yet, but I just wanted to say if anyone wanted a stranger to talk to about anything to drop me a pm.

Lockdown has only affected me in that I’m ready for a change of scenery for a week. My mental health is fine and if I can help someone else I’d like to

Hello Ton, lovely to hear from you again.
I'm doing absolutely marvellously. I'm just about finishing off my last few jobs for a few months; spent yesterday cleaning and servicing my 2 best bikes with new chains and a pair of GP5000s on the road bike. Today, sorted out a kiddie seat on the hybrid to take one grandchild up to school tomorrow afternoon to meet another grandchild and all cycle home together. Also started getting my windsurfing gear spick and span ready for the lake reopening on the 29th. Did a bit of guitar practice (Oh Well pt. 1, brilliant song) and finished off with some Bushmills with my post prandial double espresso. As it's St Patrick's Day.
Did I mention I'm enjoying my life?

I’ve not read the whole thread yet, but I just wanted to say if anyone wanted a stranger to talk to about anything to drop me a pm.

Lockdown has only affected me in that I’m ready for a change of scenery for a week. My mental health is fine and if I can help someone else I’d like to

Can I just say that's a super nice thing to offer. 👍

Not sure where to start.
I've been self-employed for the last 25 years but my business started going down the pan 18 months ago when my main client of 19 years stopped using me simply because they had a change of management and wanted to be seen to make changes.

The pandemic has compounded the business decline.
So I have no money, but at 57 and with no real qualifications my employment chances are slim.
The government grants have kept me going.
On top of that 2 years ago I discovered that my wife was having a second affair - I decided to give her a second chance after the first one four years ago.
We're still together but the tension in the house is horrible some days - this is because I started seeing someone 18 months ago and my wife knows about it.... But now she wants to stay together.
I would never have seen anyone else but felt forced into it by my wife's actions
I've known and "admired" the other person for about 18 years - her marriage is a facade and has been for years but, although I'd like our relationship to be made official, I'm not sure what will happen in the future which leaves me in limbo.
That said, if it wasn't for her, then I doubt I would be here and I'm certainly not giving her up for the sake of trying to keep my wife happy.

I also have three daughters at university and my sole aim is to ensure they have enough money to do what they want.
So my money and marriage issues keep me awake at night and I generally dread every day.
To be honest I've never been unhappier or low.

On the plus side I have, what would be regarded as, a big house with land and a very small mortgage and no other debts.
I'm not fit (although rowing every day this month has really helped) but my health is basically good.
Easing of lockdown will allow me to start seeing friends again (although I can't afford to go out much!) and I may even be getting a few volunteer vaccinator shifts next month!

There's always someone far far worse off than me, so I'll keep on going.
Things will change sometime.

I’m in limbo and it sucks. Furloughed from the start last year then notice of redundancy served in July. The consultation for that dragged into the autumn and my final day at work was the 4th of Jan.
I worked for a national charity doing outdoor pursuits and got a decent payout as I’d been there for 12 years so I can pay the bills for a while.
‘Succeeded’ in passing everything required to get a job with the coastguard but there were no posts available so I have an offer just sitting there for a year.
Another job I am well qualified for has just extended the deadline for applications for another two weeks as there were only three applicants! So I’m now back to job hunting while waiting for that decision.
I’m just keen to go to work but can’t.
I have good and bad days at home; my wife is working from home which is good as it stops me just snoozing on the sofa every day but I’m sick of odd jobs around the house and can’t really afford the funds to do anything big.
Haven’t touched my mountain bike for months as everything is so wet and roadie-ing only keeps me entertained for an hour before I get bored.

Bored. Annoyed. Angry at the world. But somehow still ok in myself. It’s all crap though.

Ton. Great to hear the heart is in good shape as result of all of this.

We are both fundamentally fine. Both working. I am pretty fed up with long COVID, WFH and lockdown but in reality it’s no crisis. Looking forward to seeing family in gardens and a change of scene in the Dales. I’m very unfit having only walked for 4 months but body is slowly allowing me to do some gym and I’m back working with an old PT as I try and recover from COVID. Frustrating at times, but work has been very understanding - I hope to be back working full time by Easter. Would just like to be able to ride for more than 20 mins! But it could be much worse.

Approaching ten years since my brother died, always a tough time.
At least my covid symptoms cleared up after a month or so..

Fingernails losing grip.

Hang on in there stcolin. Reach out to those offering a shoulder, on here or in the real world.

What a great thread.

Myself personally i'm feel i'm mostly doing very well, my work hasn't really been affected at all being an emergency service worker, in fact with some restrictions it's enabled me to use the gym at work more, with the result that last year i lost nearly 3 stone in weight, which has improved my cycling no end, social restrictions mean that i saved enough money to build a new road bike as well.

On the other hand my wife has been stuck WFH and she can get a little jealous of the normality of my life which has lead to a few strained moments at home, thankfully both our teenage children took very well to home schooling and were pretty much self sufficient in that regard and now they are back to school things seem to be looking up.

Increased hours of daylight and milder temperatures are helping us all to spend a little more time in the fresh air which is also improving the general mood as well. Roll on summer proper.

Take care all.

I'm a little bit scared and a little bit excited.

I've been undergoing bowel cancer treatment for the past six months and yesterday I went for a Cat scan, followed up by a MRI tomorrow to see how things are progressing.

The surgeon who's part of my treatment team phoned yesterday afternoon, and on the proviso that the scans are all positive (they'll be reviewed over the next few days), I'm scheduled for surgery in a fortnight. Trevor is finally getting his eviction notice.

Mind you, I do appear to be going for major surgery on April Fool's Day!

Kinda terrified at the prospect of surgery, but so excited that my wife and I might be about to release the pause button on our lives!

Reading through this, others' comments also resonate:

Funnily enough was thinking about stuff this morning

as every morning recently.

Better than most.

And yet still hanging on by my fingernails.

Yes

Can’t complain about my life but I do seem to be pretty angry about…

What? What am I angry about? It's more an utter sense of hopelessness. Oh yes, I remember

the full impact of brexit and perpetual Tory rule

Not that it's affecting me directly, but the direction of this country's politics is deeply troubling. It's what comes to mind when I feel like this -

I’ll be honest I was getting pretty beaten down. I didn’t really realise it but the last week was probably about as bad as I’ve been this year.

Today I feel better than I have for a couple of weeks. Sleep has been patchy, riddled with anxiety, causing a vicious circle.

But on the whole

Can’t complain about my life

I just worry for the future, my daughter's future mostly.

Pretty good. I recently got a new hardtail, training has been going well and I've lost a few kilos this year. Part of me is not looking forward to the relaxing of lockdown - I've enjoyed the relative quiet and staying at home. I've also just finished 6 counselling sessions that I was able to get through work for anxiety. That has been very helpful. It has reset my attitude a bit so I'm trying to look for the positives more often and choosing to be happy rather than get upset over things I have no control over.

Hey Ton, hope you're good,

Nothing has really changed for me,  work has more or less carried on. It's not normal; GPs are on the phone and video calls and the waiting room is empty, but we've managed with just a few scares and lots and lots and lots of LFT...I think the routine has helped to make things seem more bearable, It's actually good to come to work, and (now we're on the vaccine programme) it does feel like we're finally getting on top of it. I worry about some patients who've seemingly disappeared, and we're starting to see more folk calling us who're stressed and anxious (and who wouldn't be?) Long COVID is on my mind and we're getting conflicting steers about what to do with these patients.

I worry that the trusts have now all got massive back logs for everything and our patients will be facing horrendous long waits again. I worry that the Tories will do something idiotic to be seen to be doing something about the queues,

But personally I'm good I think, daughter's coming down in a few weeks, which is something really excellent to focus on, can't wait to ride a bit further afield, the canal-side is getting a bit dull.

Bit shit. I've put on 2 stone since becoming unemployed 18 months ago. Can't seem to get motivated to exercise so my fitness level is back to couch potato standards. I need parkrun to start back up and I need to get my arse on the saddle again

@allanoleary

I believe parkrun is due to start in the coming months? I know plenty of people who will be very happy to see it start again. Maybe my running will have come back by then.

Yeah, my local parkrun is due to start up again in June. I'm almost counting down the days.

We are both still working, both bored out of our minds, both missing family and friends.

I am desperate to get out wild camping and see something other than 'local stuff'.

I cant complain, so I wont, I know we are lucky to be here, both healthy and we are fully aware that there are people a lot worse off than us.

Stay safe everyone, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer! I hope! 🙂