Just joined so I'm introducing myself.

Hi there Hildy1 thanks for your message, how are you?
I went to uni in Liverpool so the city is close to my heart, though I don't think I would like to live there, I'm more of a small town/village kind of gal!
You are right, life does chuck lemons at us and we can't make lemonade from them all, can we? I don't know what I have done to my lot but since my divorce almost 20 years ago I have seen almost nothing of my daughters, they took the side of my ex and I have been cast aside like a used bus ticket, no longer wanted and of no use to anyone.
I brought a little dog into my life 2 years ago and she is my constant companion, we go on lots of lovely walks over the hills that surround us, she has been there for me when no-one else has.
How old are you and what have yo done over the years?
Hoping to hear from you again.
Take care.

Hi celtwitch, I love your contact name:) I hope you are a witch, I would love to chat with you about your witchness heehee! I also love the fact that you went to uni at 59, high five to you!!! and you chose Liverpool, you brave women heehee!
What subject did you take at uni?
I'm just entering the world of OAP, I'm 55
I left school in the 70s and worked for Sunblest bakeries in their computer dpt, Nothing like the computers today lol! I worked there for several years but wanted to have a job working with humans not machines so left, trained as a telephonist then after the mass unemployment of the 80s I was sent on a back to work scheme working a youth worker and bob's your uncle I'd found my niche, I went on to go to college to get my diploma in youth work and the get a diploma in counselling (neither diploma's are worth the paper they were written on I'm now told),
I went on work in a very busy young peoples drop-in in the city centre, we offered counseling, information and avice to anyone aged 13 to 28. It was a fantastic job.
I later relocated to Northumberland to become deputy manger in a simular project, I had two kids by this time but aleays wanted to come back to Liverpool.
In 2005 me and a mate opened a small new age gift shop, I was a third generation Medium and she a witch so I read Tarot and she advised on spells and gave crystal healing etc. I still did p/t youth work but we also took over a busy cafe so life was hectic to say the least. Now I'm back in Liverpool, I've just got a job working in a childrens home and I love it, I seen as a gran figure, which suits lol! It means lots of sleep overs or 10-10 shifts but I have no dependants so I can do it, I feel sorry for the younger ones with families, they spend a lot of time away from home,
I've just met back up with a women friend I used to work with 30yrs ago and we've been meeting up once a month, I hope we can get up to mischief in the future lol!
I used to a lot of outdoor activities before I had the kids then never got the opportunity to indulge, even living in Northumberland. My son has Autism so I was the only person who wanted to look after him, everyone bailed, even his father, another lemon lol! Now I've got the time to indulge I've got rheumatism in my ankle and hip so can't lol!
It's sad you think of yourself as a discarded bus ticket, I hope you can work on changing that image of yourself. Maybe as well as lemons we can get ice cream ?? as well!!
Your turn now to spill the beans, what did you get upto before being a discarded bus ticket? lol!

Hi Hildy, just a quick note before bedtime. Well, you have certainly done lots of good stuff, and at 55 you ain't an OAP, my word, I was still rock climbing till 60, you are still relatively young, so make the most of it.
I studied Education at uni and if I had been younger I would have gone on to teacher training college, but there was no point as people do not enter the profession at 63-64 years of age, Pupils/students don't want to listen to oldies in the classroom. My time at uni was really a waste.
I'm dyslexic, though I didn't realise till I went to uni, they spotted it straight away. I think that it sort of sabotaged my progression at work, I could never cope with the paperwork, I would make the most terrible mistakes, I would get dates, times, places all jumbled up and the result would be chaos. I used to turn up on the wrong day for important meetings, usually a day early or a day late, everyone thought I was mad!
I was always in trouble at school, they used to tell me that I wasn't trying when actually I was trying so hard that my brain felt like an egg in a microwave on full power!
They didn't let me take GCE's and no-one told me why, there was no consultation with me, or my parents. My mum and dad went along with what the teachers told them, that I wasn't trying and I used to get a lot of anger from them. I used to feel so confused, I couldn't understand why they were all attacking me.
I stuck mainly to jobs that didn't involve writing, planning or organising because I knew that I would make a mess of it and get the sack. But, eventually I was forced into a management role. I sort of coped by carrying all of my assignments in my head, which made for some 'interesting' situations. I would be driving down to Wales when I would suddenly remember that I had a meeting in Leeds in 20 minutes! I would phone ahead and lie that I had a flat tyre to get myself out of trouble.
It got too much eventually and I was made 'redundant.'
Sorry for rambling on. Right then, I'm taking Poppy out for a wee, then I'm off to bed, we went hill walking today and I am so tired.
More tomorrow,
All the best,

Laura

Hi Laura,
Sorry I didn't get back right away I was called into work to cover shifts for a colleague, what you said about discovering you had dyslexia has certainly made your life difficult, wow! My name is Hilary by the way 🙂
I hope life is more managable these days, life takes us on twists and turns when we least expect it, then we sink or swim!!! 🙂 It's only now when I look back I think I could write a book about the things I've done and the people that have shaped my life, especially some people lol!!,
I always wanted to be a teacher but by the end of my schooling I became disillusioned with the whole education system, most of my teachers ended up policing the classroom, thats why I went into youth work, it seemed more rewarding at that time.
I know you are surrounded by wonderful hills and beautiful contryside, I would love to walk and climb again but I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, arthritis in the muscles, I sometimes can't lift my arms and I stumble alot, It's managable with meds, I'm hoping to find a swimming keepfit classs that fits in with my shifts, I don't know if you are aware but the government have decided that those born after 1956 can't retire on state pension until they are 68 so I am trying to keep as fit as poss so I can work and manage the pain for the next 13 years lol:) I have been discussing fostering but I want to leave that for a few years yet to see what else might be available to me as I reach retirement. As you say the younger generation don't see any value in older peolpe but I am determind to end my days working in youth work lol:)
You didn't tell me if you had any witching experience ?? I would love to know 🙂

Hildy, I am wondering why you regret moving back near your family. I know that sometimes it can be hard being too involved with family, but it's also good to be near blood relatives as you get older. Anyway, I'm looking for friends and people to correspond with. If you want to drop me a line, my email is [email protected]. I don't think there is an actual chat feature or room here...

Hi SuzeK,
Thanx for the email address I'll get back to on that, I'ts a bit long winded on here lol ! x

Good evening and welcome to the site, I hope you will find lots of friends, there are many nice people on here and lots to chat

Sorry for your loss. It takes time to get through it…not over it, just through it. It is said that it takes about 1/3 the number of years together for the healing process to start. So don't think that there's something wrong with you if the process takes a while it's not moribund mourning.... it's actually quite normal.
Bless you

Hi there, I'm also recently widowed, very suddenly in January not easy is it? I have good days and bad, the evenings are the worst I find.

Good evening, welcome to the site , there are lots of people here and from..all walks of life , many topics you can chat about

Thank you Patricia : -)

Good evening, I hope you will make lots of new friends here , it's a nice site,

Good morning and welcome to the site , I hope you will make lots of new friends here , there are many nice people here , lots to.chat about , good luck .

I see from your posting - and so many other posts - that many people come from the UK. I, on the other hand, come from one of the colonies… America. I welcome and appreciate the opportunity to communicate with you and exchange ideas about what's going on in your world and mine. Thank you.

I see from your posting - and so many other posts - that many people come from the UK. I, on the other hand, come from one of the colonies… America. I welcome and appreciate the opportunity to communicate with you and exchange ideas about what's going on in your world and mine. Thank you.

Hello Fugazi64 Just to say I hope you have a lovely 60th birthday. I come from Scotland and thought I would come on and see who I could chat too as the weather here is horrible . Iss

Hello Iss,

Lovely to hear from you. I had a good day on my birthday (just quiet drinks with my brother and sister) and a few days off work either side, which was nice.

In Gateshead the weather is drizzly.....always!!!.....I quite like it really.

Take care and keep in touch. it would be nice to know more about you.

Bob

Good afternoon and welcome to the site , I hope you make lots of new friends here , many nice people and lots to chat about , enjoy your day

Hi LissaJ Just to say so very sorry to hear about you losing your husband 2 months ago so sad . I hope you find some friends on here to chat too soon if you like you can chat with me anytime so don’t hesitate to do that please . I am a retired lady from Scotland. Hope to hear from you soon. Iss

Good afternoon, it's a nice site , many nice people are here , I hope you will enjoy your time here

Hi SG etc Hope you make friends on here....friendly site. All the best

Good morning, nice to you a new member too

Thank you, its a little mid boggling to maneuver this site, any tips?

Hi , no tips , sorry , just a little patience, your get used to it