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windyweather's bio
Newly married. Two grown up children. Working full time. -
windyweather's latest comments
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22nd Jul 2017windyweather commented on:
Looking after a grandchildHi Marie I originally posted 2 years ago and yes things did work out fine in the end! The actual arrangement didn't last long as his daughter found other work that suited her lifestyle better. His other daughter now has a son and supports her sister in childcare. We still babysit on occasions. Oh and we got married 2 months after that post! WendyViewDate:
29th Mar 2016windyweather commented on:
Looking after a grandchildHi there! Its quite strange looking back on all the replies to my post which was made quite a time ago. I think at the time I was more aggrieved with the fact that he didn't consult me about his offer to look after his grandson rather than the actual act of looking after him. In practise it hasn't been as onerous as I thought it would be! Things have moved on...we are now married and my first grandchild is due in August!! Windyweather xViewDate:
10th Feb 2016windyweather commented on:
Career advice for over 50s please?Have a look at the National Careers Service webpages.... lots of helpful advice for all ages!ViewDate:
30th Jan 2016windyweather commented on:
Looking after a grandchildthanks for taking the time to comment...its been interesting finding out everyone's take on this especially as I'm sure that there are lots of second time relationships out there! Arrangements are working out ok and its not been too bad..although I still struggle to entertain a 6 yr old....!! xViewDate:
30th Jan 2016windyweather commented on:
Looking after a grandchildHi there..thanks for your interest! Looking after my husbands grandson hasn't been the problem that I thought it might be...arrangements changed shortly after they started as mum changed jobs which meant that we were only needed once a month. Still not really sure how to keep a 6 yr old entertained..its amazing how quickly you forget LOL but we seem to manage. Husband now has grandson no. 2 and my son has surprised me with an expected arrival due in August so I suppose I'm gonna have to get used to having little ones around!! xViewDate:
1st Jan 2016windyweather commented on:
Is anyone else lonely?Hi mandy gere.. Spice is a face to face group. It is a national social and adventure group aimed at getting people out having fun! Have a look at the Spice UK web page and you should be able to find a local group. xViewDate:
9th Dec 2015windyweather commented on:
Leaving money to familyI think that there is...something about setting it up in a trust fund. Best to speak to a solicitor....ViewDate:
30th Nov 2015windyweather commented on:
Is anyone else lonely?Hi How about joining Spice? This is a great social group that does a variety of activities to suit all ages and abilities. Your loneliness is not going to change unless you actively banish it..strangers are just friends you haven't met yet so get out there!! best wishes windweatherViewDate:
30th Nov 2015windyweather commented on:
Looking after a grandchildHi Deee1 Thanks for your reply. We are currently on babysitting duty twice a month and I am sometimes off getting my hair done LOL!! Have to say that OH hasn't let looking after his grandson get in the way of things we want to do and it seems to be working out ok. I quite like the idea of ending the visit with dinner..I might suggest that to him. It was the lack of consultation that rankled the most and I think I've made my point there. OH now has a new grandson from his other daughter so this one could run and run!! best wishes Windyweather xViewDate:
23rd Oct 2015windyweather commented on:
ADVICE please on No Win No Claim companies.I had a car accident that wasn't my fault last year and my car was written off. I used a company that my insurance company asked if they could pass my details through and in the first instance I thought I would have to pay a fee from any compensation (that's how it usually works). However, I remembered that I had GEM assistance and they agreed to pay the legal bill. Its worth checking any trade union, house insurance or road side breakdown cover to see if they will cover legal costs for you. Having said that, my fees would not have been massive even if I had to pay them. You won't get anything for the loss of your car (that's for the car insurance) but you could get loss of earnings, pain and suffering, cost of hospital/doctor visits, phone calls etc. Worth doing!ViewDate:
23rd Oct 2015windyweather commented on:
Navigating this decade and the nextHi there. Sounds like there is still some investigating for you to do. You may be able to get a smaller place with a yard/garden..maybe an apartment on the ground floor? You're right about being a landlord. It can bring difficulties. I have property with tenants and my first ones were okay until I discovered massive satellite dishes attached to my house! They wouldn't remove them so they were given notice to quit. Anyway, they left the place in a disgusting state. Fortunately my latest tenant is a dream and has no plans to leave any time soon. I do have a management company looking after the property which helps (obviously comes at a price!) Over here we have schemes where you can find reliable financial advisers, is there nothing like that in the US? I'm so glad that you have started to get some help though. It 's very difficult to make big decisions when you are on your own as you don't have anyone to talk them through. Just a thought though, have you talked to your family about what is happening to you. They may want to help more than you think...... best wishes xViewDate:
1st Oct 2015windyweather commented on:
Navigating this decade and the nextWould there be a possibility of you investing the money made from selling your property rather than trying to live off the money? It might make it last longer for you. I do think that moving somewhere cheaper will help you, after all a home is what you make of it! If I was on my own I'd be looking at a dinky one bed apartment or small house..you only need a bedroom , a kitchen and a sitting room! Just a thought...remortgage, release the equity, get somewhere smaller and rent out the bigger property..could give you an income.... Maybe you need to speak to a financial adviser to see what your options could be! Its sad to hope for not being here past 68. Take care xViewDate:
28th Sep 2015windyweather commented on:
Hip replacement - any advice please?!Well done on getting out and about! You do get to a point where you are getting a bit stir crazy I think! You live in a lovely part of the country as well...Harrogate is so pretty! I live in Streetly, Sutton Coldfield..not so pretty but could be worse. Yes I work full time. I'm 53 so still a way to go yet before I can retire although some days I feel like throwing the towel in! I had something like the Advanced Recovery Plan. I had to attend 'Hip School' before my op so they could go through all the procedures etc. They do major on how its your responsibility to get better and your recovery is in your hands! I think that they do get some people who think the op is a magic cure all and that they don't have to do anything other than attend the surgery. At my first check up after the op I didn't see the consultant but I did see one of his team. I think she was a senior physiotherapist. I had an x-ray taken which they showed me..totally fascinating! She also went through a series of exercises to check the mobility of my hip. She thought I was doing really well which I took as a good sign as she must see people with new hips all the time. I just used the time to ask about things like swimming and having a bath and driving, although returning to work was a big one for me as well, so getting advice about that was good. Just ask whatever you want to really. I did write some questions down before I went as well as I'm rubbish at remembering stuff! Have you been out driving today? Seems you get different advice about driving depending on which hip you had replaced and whether you have an automatic car! Think left leg and automatic is the best combination lol. I have had my right hip done and my car is manual so all they said to me was that providing I could do an emergency stop I would be fine. Hospital also said to let my insurance company know but they got confused when I did and said they were only really interested if DVLA had said you shouldn't drive! Been and bought my first lot of Christmas cards today..suppose that will soon be here! Have a good day! xViewDate:
26th Sep 2015windyweather commented on:
Hip replacement - any advice please?!Strange about not finding the thread..I get emails when someone replies to anything I've commented on and I use the Forum Notifications at the bottom of the page. Good to hear you had a better day, just be careful to pace yourself. My physio told me that I would need to be walking about a mile a day by the 6 week stage so I downloaded 'Runkeeper' to my phone and used that to record my daily walks. It was useful as I haven't got a clue what a mile would look like! Have you noticed whether one leg is shorter than the other? I've been told that my operated leg is a slightly different length than the other. Sometimes I notice it but most times its ok. Supposed to be seeing the orthotics people about it but nothing has happened there. Loved your comment about the shower! I couldn't have one until about wk 6 as my shower is over the bath and they said I could risk climbing in and out so it was strip washes for me. It was bliss when I could eventually have a shower and as for my fist bath...well I never knew a bath good feel so good LOL! Are you doing your daily exercises? I was very good and did mine religiously. I'm due at the hospital next week for my 6 month check. I'm thinking of trying out Pilates if they say I can do it. My lower spine has been pretty bad this week so I think I need to do something to strengthen the muscles there. I think I've probably done too much as I'm on leave from work for a couple of weeks. It's made me realise that not all my pre op pain was coming from my hip and that some of the stiffness was caused by my back rather than my hip. We visited the Coronation Street Tour last Tuesday and I managed all the walking around that. I know that before my op I would have really struggled even with a walking stick. If I can get my lower spine sorted I'll be laughing!! Which part of the country are you based? Nice chatting! xViewDate:
24th Sep 2015windyweather commented on:
Navigating this decade and the nextHi Sorry to hear of your circumstances. Would downsizing release equity in your property and make things a little easier for you? Especially if the house if too much for you. Maybe even consider selling your house and then renting somewhere. The beauty of that would be that you would no longer be responsible for repairs and maintenance. Are you able to partially retire? In the UK I would be able to take some of my pension benefits and work part time from age 55 yrs. I know some people who were having financial difficulties who did this and feel so much better for doing it. Difficult to make suggestions as I don't know what's available in the US, but if your health is not good then even a reduced income may be better if your health improves by not working. best wishes xViewDate:
19th Sep 2015ViewDate:
19th Sep 2015windyweather commented on:
Looking after a grandchildHi Andre What a lovely reply..thank you! I know in my heart of hearts that i was unreasonable just as I know he should have talked it through first! Things have moved on a little as we only have his grandson about once a month now. I am starting to enjoy it but still find it difficult to remember how to keep a small person amused lol!! Thanks for taking time to comment xViewDate:
19th Sep 2015windyweather commented on:
Hip replacement - any advice please?!I started sleeping on my side because i found I was trying to do it in my sleep anyway. I'd also read up on internet about the way I'd been operated on and it gave me reassurance to try it. It seems that a lot of the information you are given even by the hospital is still based on the operation being done posterior. Although I'd had raised loo seat and settee I was told I didn't really need it so things haven't really caught up with the changes in operating techniques. Funnily enough I started getting knee pain on my operated side. I put it down to walking differently. I suppose if you've been compensating for pain before the op plus the general mankiness of the joint ,when its replaced by a sparkly new one you are going to walk differently!! Be kind to yourself..do what you feel you can do and rest if you need to. I still get swelling if I do too much. Like I said, this is a major op and if you've ever watched it on YouTube it's pretty brutal!! I still can't watch it all the way through lol. Thinking about it I think I had a pretty rough time at about 3 weeks for several days. I felt quite low and wondered what I'd done and whether it was the right thing to do which was silly really cos a lot of the pre op pain had gone! Sorry if I've whittered on but I haven't come across anyone who has had the op recently so its nice to chat! XxViewDate:
18th Sep 2015windyweather commented on:
Motoring: Dashboard Cameras on private vehiclesI have a dashboard camera. I had a car accident last year where it was blatantly the other motorists fault. I was lucky in that I had a very good witness to the accident who stayed and gave details to the police but it made me realise that it could have ended up as my word against the other motorists. I also had friends telling me horror stories of their accidents where the other party had lied about what had happened. I bought the camera in case anything like that happened again and I wasn't lucky enough to have a witness. I think they should be fitted as standard in all vehicles.ViewDate:
18th Sep 2015windyweather commented on:
Hip replacement - any advice please?!Hi I had a THR in March this year so I'm just coming up to 6 months post op. I had an uncemented ceramic replacement because of my age..apparently they last longer! The surgeon I had also operated from the front of my leg (anterior) which apparently gives more stability and is less likely to dislocate after. I was using crutches for 6 weeks and started driving at about 7 weeks post op. I started sleeping on my side with a pillow between my legs from about 3 wks. I had exercises to do at home and if anything my advice would be to stick with them cos they work! Its difficult to tell how good the THR has been as I also have arthritis at the base of my spine. The operation site is still very tender and feels bruised. My operated leg is slightly longer than the other..a common problem. Whilst I am not in the constant pain that I was in before my op, I do still find walking any distance uncomfortable but this could be the arthritis in my spine. I do feel that the muscles in my operated leg need some work and I'm due to see my consultant on 1/10 so I will be asking about returning to the gym to try and build them up. I was back at work at 7 weeks post op on a part time basis gradually building back up to full time from June. Overall I still feel that I am in the recovery stage, it is, after all, a major operation. Most people need a good 12 months to return to normal..whatever their normal is! I'm just glad to be out of the constant pain and no longer have to live on pain killers. How do you feel you are doing?ViewDate:
18th Sep 2015windyweather commented on:
My perfect retirement !Sounds like you have achieved a perfect balance! xViewDate:
18th Sep 2015windyweather commented on:
Looking after a grandchildHi Thank you for taking the time to comment. I am so sorry to hear about your circumstances and can understand that my post must have touched a nerve. I will take time to think about your comments as I did ask for people's opinions , warts and all! I hope that in time your daughter sees fit to allow you in your grandchildren's lives or that they seek you out when they are old enough to do so. Kind Regards Windyweather xViewDate:
29th Aug 2015windyweather commented on:
Looking after a grandchildHi there...the arrangement fell through fairly quickly as his daughter lost the job. She now has another one which means working alternate Saturdays which means we have the little one once a month.ViewDate:
29th Aug 2015windyweather commented on:
What book are you currently reading?My husband and I saw the play in Birmingham. I was intrigued as to how they would carry the story off especially the car chase at the end. If I'm honest I was a bit disappointed with the play as they seemed to play it for laughs and Tina Hobley was way too old to play the female lead character!! I've looked up all the 'Dead' titles so I'm going to get them downloaded to my Kindle. I still think that 'Dead Simple' would make an excellent film!ViewDate:
17th Aug 2015windyweather commented on:
How has your life been affected by arthritis?Hi EP..have a look at the Access to Work scheme. There may be something that can be done to help support your use of the computer. regards windyweather xViewDate:
17th Aug 2015windyweather commented on:
Looking after a grandchildHi Cathy thought I had replied to your post but I can't see it so don't know what happened! The day was lovely, the weather was great and everyone seemed to have a good time. WE went to Benalmadena for a week which was sooo hot! We usually have our holiday in June not July so the difference in temp was noticeable. Lovely place though, my OH has been before as he plays golf there but I hadn't been. We're now trying to come up with a special holiday for OH's 50th birthday in January. Wendy xViewDate:
17th Aug 2015windyweather commented on:
Looking after a grandchildHi cwtchy grandma, thanks for taking the time to write. I get what you say about taking on the family as well as the man but I think its probably less clear cut when the children are already grownups and have moved onto independent lives. I may have felt differently if I had been part of his children's upbringing but they were all adults when we got together. I do think that my biggest issue was not being asked!! I would not have assumed that he would help look after any children my children may have so I would have expected the same courtesy. Anyway, as always with his flaky children, the job didn't last long so the arrangement fell through quite quickly. thanks again for responding, regards Wendy xViewDate:
25th May 2015windyweather commented on:
Second MarriageHi again Cathy. Managed to get my dress at Phase Eight but I need a dress to wear at my daughters wedding in August so I'll have a look at the site you have mentioned. Thanks x:-D:-DViewDate:
25th May 2015windyweather commented on:
Looking after a grandchildHi Cathy Congratulations on your wedding..you must be getting quite excited now its so close! Have you chosen to have a big 'do' or just a small gathering? We get married on 4th July. I had a succesful shopping trip thanks. Managed to get my dress, shoes and some jewellery as well. The babysitting experience went okay i think...although he did look knackered I have to say!! My partner used to run the Bank of Dad but i think I've helped him to see the error of his ways on that front and his kids have stopped asking to be bailed out now on the financial front. I think I managed to make him see that he wasn't doing them any favours and they weren't actually learning any life lessons by him keep helping them when they ran into money problems. I have to say though that he is a really lovely man and I'm glad that we found each other :-D :-D Hope your day goes well and the sun shines for you x :-) :-DViewDate:
18th May 2015windyweather commented on:
Are you a Grandparent?I don't know is the short answer!! My children don't have any children but one of my partners children does and theres another one on the way...does that make me a grandparent? What about when we get married on 4/7? :-D:-D:-DViewDate:
18th May 2015windyweather commented on:
What book are you currently reading?I've just finished reading 'Dead Simple' by Peter James. This is about a stag night prank that goes badly wrong. The story came up with some unexpected twists and I could see this making an excellent film or TV series.ViewDate:
18th May 2015windyweather commented on:
Looking after a grandchildHi Both Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post and pointing out the positives of this arrangement. I do think its the lack of discussion that has peeved me the most and I think he gets that now. I think only time will tell as to how much this takes over our weekends. My partner still seems to think that he can do the things he wants to do while looking after his grandson. This Saturday will be the first time that he will be child minding...it will be interesting as I have arranged to be out all day l ooking for my wedding dress LOL!! :-D I think its probably that we met late in life and havent had children. together...we would have spent all our time arguing as I think he's too soft on his kids and he thinks I'm a hard woman!! :-D :-D -
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