lily49

That's the thing! I Don't have any other suggestions! That's why i have "reached out " to others to see if They have any ideas! We Did meet a couple a few years ago ,and were on the same wavelength; we got to know them very well, gradually increasing our levels of trust and interaction, leading to days out,meals at each others' homes,etc etc, even talked about going on holiday, looked after their animals, shared gardening hobbies, the lot, Then, after a long since,when new knew they had a Lot of family problems and had also taken on a lot of new work linked with they church ~we were Dumped, as being "surplus to requirements, we don't have any time now for friends". Devastated and now totally lacking in trust . How would You react to that sort of behaviour? It's Certainly NOT very "Christian" of them. Time for Church matters, but Not friends.

if you nap in the day you are more likely to wake up in the early hours

definitely, count me in!

it came upon a midnight clear

Thanks for you reply, Houndie, at least there is Someone else out there with the same dilemma! How about all you other folks out there giving your take on this issue? I did think I had found someone on the same wavelength a little while ago, but she has had a big bust up with another in our group, so I don’t think Either of them will be coming any more, and I feel a little unsure of being seen to “side” with either of them; so I think I may have inadvertently lost both of these fledgling “friendships”. Such is life, so back to the drawing board.

I have got nowhere with writing to MP, so am not sure how much “higher” one can go!?

You could have put up a photo that is Not of yourself, (and how would you know?), so that “reason”doesn’t really hold water!

I am not sure there is a “need” to have photo on the page~ after all, we speak on the phone/text/email/write, etc, without having a visual image of the person/s at the other end. And what about the visually impaired? They do not need/use visual images. I do not think it fair say there will be no response if an image is not posted.

So agree with the difficulty of making friends ~(in any context of the word). This may sound a bit negative, but it is how I find things from my own perspective~ I do not use buses, so no chance to interact there. (We have to drive to most places, as there are limited shops/facilities nearby). I do not have a dog anymore, so no chance of chatting to the owners of the frequently- walked dogs on our road, apart from nodding as they pass by if I happen to be in the front garden. . I Have joined the local U3A, but they are not what I regard as “friends”, merely folks who are at the same meeting /monthly talk, etc. The interest groups are more of an opportunity to chat casually on the subject within the particular group, but no more than that. At the end of each session, it’s “goodbye, see you next time”, and everyone scoots off. I Was invited back once to one lady’s house, but all she could talk about was her grandchildren, and how awful her last job had been, so that didn’t go any further, I am sad to say. Other ladies at these groups seem to come in a pre-formed clique of neighbours or having met at different groups that I am not a member of, or do not have the time or the interest in those particular spheres; and don’t seem to want to include you ~(as a perceived outsider)~ in their conversations, which appear to continue from week to week on topics unknown to me, so I am unable to join in with them. I Do have a small circle of friends, from various times of my life, but some them are still at work, and have families; so Their time is very limited and precious, so I hardly ever get to see them either. As for trying to actually Phone ~(as opposed to texting)~it’s nigh on impossible, as they are multi-tasking whenever they Do pick up the phone, and are obviously not able to fully concentrate on a proper chat. Others have also retired, but are just So Very Busy doing all the lovely things the have always wanted to do,~ good luck to them, but Again they are Far too busy to see me, who I imagined to be a true friend . I see one pal 3 times a year, If I’m lucky! Another pal of over 25 years moved to Cornwall, so I now never see her, despite being godmother to her 2 sons. It’s just far too far to go on many visits, and a bit stressful the one time I did, as I don’t especially like her new partner, so couldn’t have a proper natter with her. I do not speak to anyone for days at a time, as my “other half” prefers silence, and is not much of conversationalist at the best of times! I have tried a bit of volunteering, but that just fills the time, as you are meant to be “on task” and are not there to make friends as such, so no joy there, either! Oh dear, I sound like a Very Grumpy Old woman, but I hope I am not, just would like to be able ~(like you~) to find a “real, true” friend to last for many years to come. Answers on a postcard, please!

I do so agree on the problem with finding “friends” for want of a better word. I have recently joined my local U3A, and met some people through the interest groups, and my one and only oldest friend ~(who hasn’t joined for reasons of her own)~ said”oh, you will now be able to make a lot of new friends!” to which I replied ”no, the folks there are only acquaintances who share an interest. They do not want to socialise after the group meetings, and during these sessions you are concentrating on the subject in question, e.g.,book club or chess, etc, and are not “chatting and making a new friend who will share your dreams, or come over for a coffee at a later date“ etc ,etc. Or is it just Me who finds that to be the case???? Would love to hear other comments.

The price of spectacles!!! It is one of my bugbears. I have had to wear glasses since I was 11, and have paid £1,000 over the years for the “privilege” of being short sighted. I classify myself as being disabled, as I cannot function without my glasses. But do any of us in this position get Any sort of allowances of discounts or vouchers???? I have taken up this with any MP who cares to listen. and all I get back in response is a bland letter, and several leaflets outlining all the conditions I have to satisfy to get any sort of discount. Of course, Not One applies to me ~ (an “ordinary person”) ~ who has worked hard, paid taxes, etc etc all her life and as a result, does Not qualify for Anything!!!! So many other folks seem to be able to get All sorts of benefits and vouchers. Nearly everytime i am in a shop, clinic, dentist or optician, I seem to be the only one who actually pays!!!! Rant over! what does anyone else think?

It’s been dreadful year so far!!!! Have been gardening for over 60 years and not has it as bad ~ my tomatoes in the greenhouse have hardly Any fruit ~(4 different varieties)~ but that’s maybe because I changed the brand of grow-bags this year? Slugs and snails have eaten nearly All my French marigolds, And we have A ^&%£@&* Mole doing his worst all over the garde ~ (never had one of Those before)~ is that something to do with the wet weather???? We are on pure sand.

if you can make a leaf cage out of chicken wire and 4 posts, and mix the beech leaves with other varieties, you will get good leaf mould in a year or 2. Beech leaves take a long time to decompose on their own, so best to mix with other leaves.

best to plant daffodils from late August, as soon as they are in the shelves or catalogues ~(tulips in November)

Nearly Everyone I know who has been on statins, has now been taken off, or come off them of their own volition,due to many adverse side effects. It seems to be Much more common than GPs are prepared to admit.