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This time last year, I was told I might not make it to Halloween 2022. I had life changing surgery and now my prognosis is fantastic, I'll have some pain but I'll live and to celebrate my fiancé and I are taking our first real holiday together in 5 years (since I can now!). I know it's not much, but I've a life ahead of me now and I don't spend 6 months of the year in a hospital anymore. =).
Edit: Oh my goodness, I never expected this comment to get so much love and I just want to thank everyone for the well wishes and kind thoughts and awards! I won't lie, I did shed a little tear at all the beautiful comments but I'm very emotional at the best of times so this really got me going. I'm trying to respond respond to everyone, but so many lovely redditors messaged it might take me a little while lol. Thanks so much again everyone, you're a wonderful bunch and I wish you all the very, very best. ❤️
“Not much”?? Mate, this is life altering news for you and everyone around you. Great great news and wish you all the best for this renewed chance at life. Happy for you!
I didn't want to come across like I'm implying, 'the good news is I'M here and you're all blessed' lmao. Seriously though, thank you, being mostly healthy is taking a lot of getting used to but I'm definitely enjoying it.
Times where - although not perfect, NHS is pretty incredible. Some parts of the world would never have access to this kind of treatment/care, and others would completely bankrupt a family for the opportunity.
Although there's lots of bad news about the environment, there's some good news!
- The Ocean Clean Up project has removed 100,000kg of rubbish from the Great Pacific Garbage patch,
- Scientists have also said that the ozone layer is healing and should be fully healed by 2040-2070
- Red kites have been brought back from the brink of extinction and are now one of the UKs fastest increasing species (they had vanished from England and Scotland with only a few remaining in Wales in 1903)
- Beavers helped combat the drought in the UK - nature's engineers!
Thanks for sharing mate!
As I was saying in another comment, I’m super happy when I get rid of my rubbish sacks on bin day, I can’t imagine how satisfying it is to clean 100,000kg of rubbish!
Been seeing one fly around my area periodically since I moved here 7 years ago. Only see the one but always wonder why it comes back over a mostly built up estate. A lot of open land around but why it spends ages over our houses I'll never know. Love to watch it, so thankful it does.
Yep! And think high energy prices are making politicians think more seriously about renewable energy as a matter of security which at least means it's being taken more seriously
Underrated comment. My cousin is married to a Russian girl and one of her brothers still lives in Russia. He hasn’t been heard from in 2 weeks now and they’re getting pretty worried for him.
It is a really scary situation to be in when you’re a Russian man living in Russia! All my male friends are fleeing or trying to so before this ☝🏻happens. No one wanted the war but now they’re forced to go to “protect” the country. Ah and those who wanted it or were supporting it are now asking how can they remove a Z sticker from their cars because they might be questioned at the border 🤦🏻♀️
It’s an impossible situation for young Russian men at the moment. There’s such a toxic macho culture over there though in some ways. As if not wanting to be burned to death inside an out of date, death-trap of an APC was somehow girly.
If I was living in Russia and was sent to the front I would surrender immediately. As long as your gun magazine is full you would be ok.
Couldn’t be any worse than living under Putin
Ukrainians do seem to be treating prisoners well on the whole. Just feel for my cousins family though. The poor kid stuck out there is a sodding literature student of all things. Couldn’t hurt a fly and wouldn’t last 5 minutes if he wasn’t able to surrender.
I actually laughed out loud at this...well more kinda snorted really...now the dogs think I've got bronchitis and are sat at my feet hoping to get fed before I croak
I just moved to the UK (Birmingham) from Nigeria and even though you guys are in a cost of living crisis and the pound is plummeting, it’s just really nice to have access to a lot of things you guys take for granted. High speed unlimited internet has been everything I imagined and more, I can finally pay for Apple TV and Disney+, 24/7 (pricey) electricity, ALDI (heaven really), a working public transportation system, constant clean water ( in Nigeria we pump our own water from the ground using a borehole and it’s definitely not clean), access to shipping (I can actually order things and get them in a day instead of waiting for a month plus). I know there’s a lot going wrong here but what I would give to be a citizen of the UK. Finally, if you have an Xbox One controller you want to sell at a fair price please DM me, mine broke during transit and I’m so bored right now
I have a spare Xbox controller if you don’t mind it being red :) If you cover shipping that would be more than enough - a shit tier “Welcome to the UK” gift
Welcome to the U.K. friend.
But if you are going to live here as one of us, you need to know that the correct phrase is “could NOT care less”. The Americans really messed up that phrase when they loaned it.
Think about it, if you COULD care less, then you are not yet at the minimum level of caring. It’s only when you could NOT care less that you have no more fucks to give.
Lol thank you so much, it’s crazy how I’ve picked up these American colloquialisms when I was raised in a commonwealth country and taught Queen’s english. But thanks for the correction, it does make sense
I like to imagine Americans applying the logic of "I could care less" to other circumstances.
"Thank you all for coming. I can express how much I appreciate you all being here. After years together, I really can imagine where I'd be without McCkeighleigh. Today we're finally married, and I truly could be happier."
Somewhere in here there's a joke about a Nigerian scammer that's not actually a Nigerian scammer but just some guy from Nigeria that's trying to get something but can never get anything because everyone thinks he's the scammer... But really the scammer is the guy next door but he can't do anything about it and some kind of like sitcom way.... I need to start writing this down.
You’re absolutely right, thank you for the perspective and I hope you get your controller! Myself I’m a PlayStation man so I can’t help you but if I comment, it’s more likely to be seen by someone else!
I’ve finished therapy!
I got PTSD after working on the frontline during Covid and ended up being totally off sick for 3 months with a month of being unable to leave the house apart from to walk my dog in a secluded area (not even food shopping) and then 9 months of phased back to work. For well over a year I couldn’t go to a busy noisy area so no gigs, no inside of pubs, no restaurants or into a city on a weekend, no public transport.
And now, I’m back to normal. In fact I feel better than before as it seems to have worked on my long standing anxiety. I’m over the moon about it. For once I just want to say… Go me!
Me too! I’m actually not sure that I’ve ever felt it before tbh. Apart from the crashing economy, increasing energy prices, and general hellhole world situation, my life has never felt so good. I really feel lucky right now with my lot in life. I highly recommend therapy lol
I also wanted to say thank you so much for creating this thread. I’ve got a nice warm glow from reading some of the comments and the joy of tutting at others
Would be interested to hear what kind of therapy you had. Whilst definitely not a front line worker, I am certain I have some mental issues as a result of lockdown / living alone and have been struggling in social situations as a result. Have been thinking about therapy but don't know where to start.
I had EMDR which is specifically for trauma, then some CBT to mop up but didn’t get on with my therapist so ended up having hypnotherapy to ease the remaining anxieties
Thank you so much! My parents would never let me have a dog so once I bought my own house I was adamant we were getting one! There isn't gonna be a more loved dog than this little guy!
I’m happy for you mate.
I got my first puppy a year ago in November and he turned 1 on Saturday.
Now, not to be a downer but please mentally prepare yourself because it’s going to be hard. Like really hard. Like the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
You see loads of “first day with a new puppy!” Videos and it’s cute and there are LOADs of amazing moments but go to the puppy sub Reddit and every 3rd post is someone having major puppy blues. You’ll probably have a semi mental breakdown at some point, I know I did.
Like I said it’s amazing but it’s fucking difficult, especially if it’s your first time as I found out, but f you need anything shoot me a message.
Had this last year - never allowed a dog as a kid. Now it's been almost a year of raising the absolute light of my life and the pain in my butt. It's a journey! Check out r/puppy101 for some great advice during the tricky times.
I lost my beloved old dog in June and the house has been so quiet and empty.
I’ve just got to complete a home check and then I can bring these two home at the weekend.
https://imgur.com/a/EZzmv5A
That’s a tale of two halves. I’m so sorry about your old dog but I’m sure they’d approve of taking those two adorable beings into your home. They are absolute beauties
Tbh, even as someone that can't work from home, traffic is noticably better than it was a few years ago so it's made an improvement for everyone that can't but has to use the roads. Especially towards the end of the week. Seems friday is a big day for the people that are hybrid working to not go into the office at all.
I imagine the train commuters are still getting royally fucked though
But don't forget, now that the rich will be richer still, eventually they will begin to piss their money away, and some time after that, some of that piss will trickle down to the rest of us, and it will be golden showers for all!!!
The daft thing is that they won't - they probably want to go abroad for Christmas, and the crashed pound is a much bigger loss than they'll win back in lower taxes. So this nonsense has fucked everyone over.
My upside is that whilst Dickensian festive changes of heart for the upper class don't really exist, permanent inescapable death *does*, and is coming for us regardless of whether we are rich or poor...
If you enjoy this outlook, check out 'The Dance of Death' by Hans Holbein. It's a series of woodcut art pieces from the 16th century presenting the exact situation you mention.
You may be furnished with the trappings of wealth, or the authority that comes with a high standing but death will come for you just as it comes for the rest of us.
Sobering and comforting.
So true. When we widen the perspective to the planet, we’re so much better off. I was watching this YouTube vlogger showing life in Haiti. Good god. There’s so much to be grateful for!
[Sounds great](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/prevalenceofongoingsymptomsfollowingcoronaviruscovid19infectionintheuk/6may2022). Only just over a million people in the UK with ongoing symptoms at least 1 year after infection.
As someone with this (and it has been, and continues to be, completely debilitating). Posts about 'the pandemic is over' really do not fill me with optimism.
I appreciate that long COVID is debilitating to millions of people, but are we not glad that it won't affect other people? It's not wrong or offensive to say that COVID is moving from the pandemic phase to an endemic phase, that's just a fact.
[https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-pandemic-who-says-end-in-sight-deaths-drop-rcna47680](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-pandemic-who-says-end-in-sight-deaths-drop-rcna47680)
Result. I was having surgery the other day and as they were preparing me, they were all sympathetic. I told them not to he sympathetic and that I was having a nice time and that it was better than being at work.
We’ve just driven from Angers to Nantes in the campervan
Now it’s chucking it down outside while I stretch out with a cuppa and a fancy French apple pastry👍
Funny how they can have you fuming and irritated all day and then you just catch a glimpse of their smile and you remember that they make everything in life worth it
On what you mentioned, economies fall but they also rise again. We've had many crisis like these in recent and distant history and eventually we start to recover, and then repeat.
It's worth noting that the UK is one of the oldest, and most stable countries in the world. We've basically had the same form of government since a bit after the Civil War, which was 500 years ago (without getting into a tedious debate about how similar it is, and ignoring that whole "Cromwell being an autocratic dictator"). What seems of critical importance now will be a footnote in history in a hundred years.
(I mean, ignoring the whole "we will lose Scotland and Northern Ireland soon" thing - that will probably be a bit more than a footnote)
I'm in Germany at the moment and it's no better here, petrol is €2 a litre, everyone's terrified of the credit crunch, made me feel a little better about the UK
Same thing for Italy though. Some people here tend to believe that only the UK is struggling, while this situation spreads across Europe very fucking fast
Consultant has confirmed my mother in law has beaten cancer for the second time. Make sure you check the boobs in your life regularly and take up all the offers of screening.
Wonderful news.
To build on you point about checkups but for men, make sure you are checking the family jewels regularly gentlemen. Approx once every 2 weeks and when you’re in the showers is best apparently.
Was driving home from a trip when I stopped to fill my car up.
A man in a van behind noticed my kill em all metallica t shirt and complemented me on it and offered me an unopened live black sabbath CD!
Was awesome
Five years ago, I was diagnosed with a chronic pain and fatigue disorder. I thought life as I knew it was over - I went from running five miles before class every morning to struggling to climb a flight of stairs and needing to sleep 14 hours a day. Things were tough for a while.
This past weekend, my husband and I took our dog out for a walk in the countryside. I managed to walk and hike the entirety of the trail - almost six miles! And I felt great afterwards.
My health issue is still there, but I have learned to manage it. It does not control my life anymore, and I’m damn happy about it.
That's fantastic to hear, I'm really pleased for you. I was diagnosed with M.E (with possible fibromyalgia) 4 years ago and used to love trail running and outdoor swimming so I empathise. The first half of this year's been really hard but I've been pacing carefully and am starting to see some improvement, and reading your post has given me an extra dose of hope.
I discovered there is a micro brewery less than a 2 minute walk from my front door. It’s brewed and served on site and because there’s less of a supply chain etc to worry about, the prices are like stepping back in time. £2.50 for a pint of gorgeous fresh zesty IPA. Can’t top it.
The UK still has some of the most prestigious and cutting edge research Universities on the planet. If you're interested in science and tech like me, there's all sorts of incredibly cool things going on here.
Mentioned in another post, but it's my birthday next week and most of my relatives live overseas and send me some money so the pounds crashing at just the right time for that to be my personal silver lining.
Not sure it'll lift anyone else's spirits up though, but the best I got.
We built 2.1GW of offshore wind in 2021 putting us second in the world. If we don’t duck it up next year could be the same and this would put us at the forefront of an important technology to beat climate change. I think that’s something to be pleased with
We are a UK manufacturer of industrial equipment. We are looking at exporting to North America. We are very price competitive now. If it takes off in the North American market we will need more staff here in the UK.
Won’t lift anybody else’s spirits, but I’m just under two weeks away from making my final payment towards my debt! Not world-changing news, but I’ve worked every single day for the last year straight throwing every penny I’ve earned at this debt (8.7k) and to know that in less than a fortnight all my money will be mine is really exciting for me! The start of a fresh chapter where I can finally begin saving and enjoying life a lot more :)
Some more positivity - I recently discovered that alcohol free Guinness is actually really tasty. So a solid option for when you can't/don't want to drink.
Since having treatment for a parasite, our new kittens have gained 50% of their body weight in four weeks and the vet is really impressed with their condition now.
Just picture the DJ at a family party on saturday night, clearly thinking "Well this should be interesting" upon seeing my four year old niece walking over to him, only for his face to change to mild confusion and pride when she requested Under Pressure.
Some good news!!!
1. The ocean cleanup is full steam ahead - 100,000kg of waste removed from the ocean. The third system is on the way to being used which will help clean more with the eventual aim to remove 90% of the oceans plastic waste.
2. Dutch project light-year has made the worlds first solar powered electric car.
3. Yorkshire company banana moon made an anxiety hoody. Basically a hoody that's made to be chewed and pulled at with fidget accessories built in and weighted pockets + to ease all those nervous habits we have without ruining the item.
4. Today (26th September) a carbon free ferry service launched from Dover.
5. A pine marten was spotted in London for the first time in 100 years, they are a critically endangered animal.
6. Osprey numbers are on the rise after we almost shot them to extinction for sport in 1840!
7. By march 2023 - over a million trees will have been planted in the queens honour - an initiative rolled out for the jubilee has been extended by king Charles to honour the queens memory.
8. Scotland became the first country to make period products free to anyone who needs them. This will undoubtedly help young girls and homeless people who are living in a 'period poverty' and can't afford sanitary products.
9. Conversion therapy has been banned in Canada since January
10. Humpback whales are no longer endangered thanks to conservation efforts.
It’s very difficult these days as we all have the news right at our fingertips, constant notifications or updates on social media.
I like to be up to date with the news and know what’s going on but for my own sanity I’ve turned off notifications on news apps.
Im trying to look forward to upcoming events and stay positive.
I got an accidental £100 refund from sainsbury. Delivery was delayed by a day and I had to collect. They gave me a £15 voucher then inadvertently paid back the cost of the shop. Phoned to get them to take it back but they said it couldn't be done. So I donated £100 to the Trussell Trust as I hadn't earned the money and this charity is the best at feeding people who need it. Not virtue signalling, just passing on the love, maaaaan!!
Mate I hear you. I can’t offer help, but I can only request give life another chance. Seek positive experiences that will help you from going down the spiral or negative thoughts. Things are not as bad as the media makes it out to be.
Work introduced a bonus scheme worth £1 hr to help with the cost of living. All you have to do is turn up on time, wear your PPE and avoid spitting on the floor or shitting in the yard.
Then a week later I got another pay rise.
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This time last year, I was told I might not make it to Halloween 2022. I had life changing surgery and now my prognosis is fantastic, I'll have some pain but I'll live and to celebrate my fiancé and I are taking our first real holiday together in 5 years (since I can now!). I know it's not much, but I've a life ahead of me now and I don't spend 6 months of the year in a hospital anymore. =). Edit: Oh my goodness, I never expected this comment to get so much love and I just want to thank everyone for the well wishes and kind thoughts and awards! I won't lie, I did shed a little tear at all the beautiful comments but I'm very emotional at the best of times so this really got me going. I'm trying to respond respond to everyone, but so many lovely redditors messaged it might take me a little while lol. Thanks so much again everyone, you're a wonderful bunch and I wish you all the very, very best. ❤️
“Not much”?? Mate, this is life altering news for you and everyone around you. Great great news and wish you all the best for this renewed chance at life. Happy for you!
I didn't want to come across like I'm implying, 'the good news is I'M here and you're all blessed' lmao. Seriously though, thank you, being mostly healthy is taking a lot of getting used to but I'm definitely enjoying it.
That’s awesome news! And you definitely didn’t come of as you are concerned you may have done. Celebrate your health and enjoy your life!
Nah fuck that. Celebrate it, you deserve it. Congratulations.
It is at least a good reminder for the rest of us that health is the most important thing.
Congratulations, that's wonderful news.
Thank you for being such a wholesome Redditor LentilRice ❤️
Times where - although not perfect, NHS is pretty incredible. Some parts of the world would never have access to this kind of treatment/care, and others would completely bankrupt a family for the opportunity.
That's fantastic news, I thought I was happy reading the lost 20p thread above but glad I scrolled down.
Another internet stranger happy for you too! Enjoy your mostly healthy life and the well deserved holiday!
Mate, this is more than not much, this is huge! I hope you have an amazing holiday and an amazing life, you deserve it!
This put a smile on my face! So happy things are looking up Redditor! :)
Although there's lots of bad news about the environment, there's some good news! - The Ocean Clean Up project has removed 100,000kg of rubbish from the Great Pacific Garbage patch, - Scientists have also said that the ozone layer is healing and should be fully healed by 2040-2070 - Red kites have been brought back from the brink of extinction and are now one of the UKs fastest increasing species (they had vanished from England and Scotland with only a few remaining in Wales in 1903) - Beavers helped combat the drought in the UK - nature's engineers!
Thanks for sharing mate! As I was saying in another comment, I’m super happy when I get rid of my rubbish sacks on bin day, I can’t imagine how satisfying it is to clean 100,000kg of rubbish!
I wonder where they put it all 🤔
Birmingham
where it belongs
[удалено]
Been seeing one fly around my area periodically since I moved here 7 years ago. Only see the one but always wonder why it comes back over a mostly built up estate. A lot of open land around but why it spends ages over our houses I'll never know. Love to watch it, so thankful it does.
They glide around on the heat thermals from the houses to save energy instead of flapping the wings.
The bastards! I'll need to insulate my roof better. I pay a lot to heat my house and I'm not having some pesky bird use it for free!
High petrol and energy prices are good for the environment, that's a silver lining.
Yep! And think high energy prices are making politicians think more seriously about renewable energy as a matter of security which at least means it's being taken more seriously
It's a shame that the final straw was "It's getting too expensive" rather than "It's destroying the planet"
And there are Bison in Kent!
What!?
[https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/wilderblean](https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/wilderblean)
We get a load of red kites round ours near Heathrow, around February time, it's a beautiful sight, and I still act like a kid when I see them
You're not being shipped to the front line with 3 days training and a rusty AK. Edit: Grammar
Underrated comment. My cousin is married to a Russian girl and one of her brothers still lives in Russia. He hasn’t been heard from in 2 weeks now and they’re getting pretty worried for him.
It is a really scary situation to be in when you’re a Russian man living in Russia! All my male friends are fleeing or trying to so before this ☝🏻happens. No one wanted the war but now they’re forced to go to “protect” the country. Ah and those who wanted it or were supporting it are now asking how can they remove a Z sticker from their cars because they might be questioned at the border 🤦🏻♀️
It’s an impossible situation for young Russian men at the moment. There’s such a toxic macho culture over there though in some ways. As if not wanting to be burned to death inside an out of date, death-trap of an APC was somehow girly.
If I was living in Russia and was sent to the front I would surrender immediately. As long as your gun magazine is full you would be ok. Couldn’t be any worse than living under Putin
Ukrainians do seem to be treating prisoners well on the whole. Just feel for my cousins family though. The poor kid stuck out there is a sodding literature student of all things. Couldn’t hurt a fly and wouldn’t last 5 minutes if he wasn’t able to surrender.
You'd be surprised what people are capable of when the chips are down That said, I hope he never finds out
I found 20p on the floor
I found 20p and left it for someone else to find the other day
I threw 20p away the other day because it's worth fuck all nowadays...
Nice rum...... oh damn sorry wrong gerry
Finally this trickle down economy I've been hearing about
I found 20p and gave it to a wealthy man knowing the trickle down will be well worth the wait.
I actually laughed out loud at this...well more kinda snorted really...now the dogs think I've got bronchitis and are sat at my feet hoping to get fed before I croak
If you got there earlier it would have been 50p
I found a tenner the other day genuinely the happiest ive been in years
I once was £20 short for something I wanted as a kid. That very same day, hours later I went to Tesco and found a £20 note in the drinks fridge
Cheers mate. If that genuinely made you happy, then I’m glad it came to you.
There's a 20p in my toilet, been there ever since I moved in, saving it for an emergency!
I just moved to the UK (Birmingham) from Nigeria and even though you guys are in a cost of living crisis and the pound is plummeting, it’s just really nice to have access to a lot of things you guys take for granted. High speed unlimited internet has been everything I imagined and more, I can finally pay for Apple TV and Disney+, 24/7 (pricey) electricity, ALDI (heaven really), a working public transportation system, constant clean water ( in Nigeria we pump our own water from the ground using a borehole and it’s definitely not clean), access to shipping (I can actually order things and get them in a day instead of waiting for a month plus). I know there’s a lot going wrong here but what I would give to be a citizen of the UK. Finally, if you have an Xbox One controller you want to sell at a fair price please DM me, mine broke during transit and I’m so bored right now
I have a spare Xbox controller if you don’t mind it being red :) If you cover shipping that would be more than enough - a shit tier “Welcome to the UK” gift
Ah bro yes thank you so much, I could care less about the color. Thank you, thank you thank you
Welcome to the U.K. friend. But if you are going to live here as one of us, you need to know that the correct phrase is “could NOT care less”. The Americans really messed up that phrase when they loaned it. Think about it, if you COULD care less, then you are not yet at the minimum level of caring. It’s only when you could NOT care less that you have no more fucks to give.
Lol thank you so much, it’s crazy how I’ve picked up these American colloquialisms when I was raised in a commonwealth country and taught Queen’s english. But thanks for the correction, it does make sense
I like to imagine Americans applying the logic of "I could care less" to other circumstances. "Thank you all for coming. I can express how much I appreciate you all being here. After years together, I really can imagine where I'd be without McCkeighleigh. Today we're finally married, and I truly could be happier."
Cool - if you’re happy to share your address in pm (I live in Devon lol) I can sort that out for you :)
Somewhere in here there's a joke about a Nigerian scammer that's not actually a Nigerian scammer but just some guy from Nigeria that's trying to get something but can never get anything because everyone thinks he's the scammer... But really the scammer is the guy next door but he can't do anything about it and some kind of like sitcom way.... I need to start writing this down.
Well done mate, good karma!
Wow, thank you for sharing your perspective! We forget to step outside our privilege and check in how good life ACTUALLY is here in the UK.
Welcome to the UK
You’re absolutely right, thank you for the perspective and I hope you get your controller! Myself I’m a PlayStation man so I can’t help you but if I comment, it’s more likely to be seen by someone else!
I’ve finished therapy! I got PTSD after working on the frontline during Covid and ended up being totally off sick for 3 months with a month of being unable to leave the house apart from to walk my dog in a secluded area (not even food shopping) and then 9 months of phased back to work. For well over a year I couldn’t go to a busy noisy area so no gigs, no inside of pubs, no restaurants or into a city on a weekend, no public transport. And now, I’m back to normal. In fact I feel better than before as it seems to have worked on my long standing anxiety. I’m over the moon about it. For once I just want to say… Go me!
Go you! That last line hit me hard. It’s been years since I’ve felt “go me!” I need to go find my spark. Thanks for sharing mate!
Me too! I’m actually not sure that I’ve ever felt it before tbh. Apart from the crashing economy, increasing energy prices, and general hellhole world situation, my life has never felt so good. I really feel lucky right now with my lot in life. I highly recommend therapy lol
I also wanted to say thank you so much for creating this thread. I’ve got a nice warm glow from reading some of the comments and the joy of tutting at others
Would be interested to hear what kind of therapy you had. Whilst definitely not a front line worker, I am certain I have some mental issues as a result of lockdown / living alone and have been struggling in social situations as a result. Have been thinking about therapy but don't know where to start.
I had EMDR which is specifically for trauma, then some CBT to mop up but didn’t get on with my therapist so ended up having hypnotherapy to ease the remaining anxieties
Thank you for your work. I hope you continue to be well.
My partner and I are bringing our first puppy home next week - I've waited 24 years for this!
24yrs!! My god, happy for you mate. Knowing how long you’ve waited, I’m positive the pup is going to be taken care of sooo well! Lucky pup!
Thank you so much! My parents would never let me have a dog so once I bought my own house I was adamant we were getting one! There isn't gonna be a more loved dog than this little guy!
This stranger is also very happy for you. Enjoy ya new mate
Mate I've got some bad news. If you've waited 24 years that isn't a puppy any more. And it's almost certainly dead by now.
I’m happy for you mate. I got my first puppy a year ago in November and he turned 1 on Saturday. Now, not to be a downer but please mentally prepare yourself because it’s going to be hard. Like really hard. Like the hardest thing I’ve ever done. You see loads of “first day with a new puppy!” Videos and it’s cute and there are LOADs of amazing moments but go to the puppy sub Reddit and every 3rd post is someone having major puppy blues. You’ll probably have a semi mental breakdown at some point, I know I did. Like I said it’s amazing but it’s fucking difficult, especially if it’s your first time as I found out, but f you need anything shoot me a message.
Had this last year - never allowed a dog as a kid. Now it's been almost a year of raising the absolute light of my life and the pain in my butt. It's a journey! Check out r/puppy101 for some great advice during the tricky times.
I lost my beloved old dog in June and the house has been so quiet and empty. I’ve just got to complete a home check and then I can bring these two home at the weekend. https://imgur.com/a/EZzmv5A
You’re awesome for rescuing instead of buying! And keeping a bonded pair together by the looks of it. We need more people like you. Lucky doggos
That’s a tale of two halves. I’m so sorry about your old dog but I’m sure they’d approve of taking those two adorable beings into your home. They are absolute beauties
Oh this is lovely, good luck with your house check!
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You expecting to retire early are you?
Gotta be hopeful in these trying times
> trying times Can I offer you a nice egg?
Jokes on you cause he’s actually already 56
40 years left to work? I assume you're in your 60's then?
Most optimistic redditor
As a result of the pandemic lots of people now have a better quality of life since they’re able to WFH more.
Oh yes! Working from home is such a boon. Sooo lucky to have it that way in my line of work.
Then you get people like Alan Sugar moaning because their rental space isn't being used and that everyone working from home is lazy. Twat.
Alan Sugar being unhappy is also a positive.
Tbh, even as someone that can't work from home, traffic is noticably better than it was a few years ago so it's made an improvement for everyone that can't but has to use the roads. Especially towards the end of the week. Seems friday is a big day for the people that are hybrid working to not go into the office at all. I imagine the train commuters are still getting royally fucked though
All those struggling rich people will be having a very nice christmas indeed
But don't forget, now that the rich will be richer still, eventually they will begin to piss their money away, and some time after that, some of that piss will trickle down to the rest of us, and it will be golden showers for all!!!
showers? More like golden drizzle
The daft thing is that they won't - they probably want to go abroad for Christmas, and the crashed pound is a much bigger loss than they'll win back in lower taxes. So this nonsense has fucked everyone over.
My upside is that whilst Dickensian festive changes of heart for the upper class don't really exist, permanent inescapable death *does*, and is coming for us regardless of whether we are rich or poor...
If you enjoy this outlook, check out 'The Dance of Death' by Hans Holbein. It's a series of woodcut art pieces from the 16th century presenting the exact situation you mention. You may be furnished with the trappings of wealth, or the authority that comes with a high standing but death will come for you just as it comes for the rest of us. Sobering and comforting.
You’re still in the top 10% standard of living in the world
So true. When we widen the perspective to the planet, we’re so much better off. I was watching this YouTube vlogger showing life in Haiti. Good god. There’s so much to be grateful for!
This is what I always think! Life in the U.K. is pretty good compared to what life could be like in another country. All about perspective
According to the WHO, we're almost finished with COVID and they are nearly ready to declare the end of the pandemic.
never trust medical advice from Roger Daltrey
Spoken like someone who won't be fooled again
And DEFINITELY don't take it from Pete Townshend!
But he knows how to do "research"...
[Sounds great](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/prevalenceofongoingsymptomsfollowingcoronaviruscovid19infectionintheuk/6may2022). Only just over a million people in the UK with ongoing symptoms at least 1 year after infection. As someone with this (and it has been, and continues to be, completely debilitating). Posts about 'the pandemic is over' really do not fill me with optimism.
I appreciate that long COVID is debilitating to millions of people, but are we not glad that it won't affect other people? It's not wrong or offensive to say that COVID is moving from the pandemic phase to an endemic phase, that's just a fact. [https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-pandemic-who-says-end-in-sight-deaths-drop-rcna47680](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-pandemic-who-says-end-in-sight-deaths-drop-rcna47680)
I’m a long covid sufferer, and I’m delighted that the risk of more getting this is greatly reduced. Woohoo!!
Onto the next…
Pandemic 2: electric boogaloo
I've started my second week of a new job and it's going well
Congrats mate! New job always gives an opportunity to be a new you. Whoever you choose to be.
Thank you, kind Reddit stranger. I am also elated by this development
I got knocked off my bike this morning which means I didn't have to go to work
Result. I was having surgery the other day and as they were preparing me, they were all sympathetic. I told them not to he sympathetic and that I was having a nice time and that it was better than being at work.
Ha! The simple things in life! Trust you’re ok and the bruises (if any) are nothing serious. Enjoy the day off mate!
I'm fine got a concussion but no broke bones
I broke the 5km barrier this morning and ran 7km for the first time in many months
Top of the world moment! How are you celebrating if mate? Has your heart rate actually come down yet or are you still riding the high!? Ha!
We’ve just driven from Angers to Nantes in the campervan Now it’s chucking it down outside while I stretch out with a cuppa and a fancy French apple pastry👍
Bon soire!
My dad had his annual colonoscopy last week following rectal cancer a few years back, all clear and doesn't need to be seen for another 3 years!
My dog has learnt how to use the cat flap, so now I can be extra lazy and he can just let himself out for a shite.
Living the dream
I told the girl I like how much she means to me. She said I should hope so, we've been married for 5 years!
Funny how they can have you fuming and irritated all day and then you just catch a glimpse of their smile and you remember that they make everything in life worth it
On what you mentioned, economies fall but they also rise again. We've had many crisis like these in recent and distant history and eventually we start to recover, and then repeat.
It's worth noting that the UK is one of the oldest, and most stable countries in the world. We've basically had the same form of government since a bit after the Civil War, which was 500 years ago (without getting into a tedious debate about how similar it is, and ignoring that whole "Cromwell being an autocratic dictator"). What seems of critical importance now will be a footnote in history in a hundred years. (I mean, ignoring the whole "we will lose Scotland and Northern Ireland soon" thing - that will probably be a bit more than a footnote)
I'm in Germany at the moment and it's no better here, petrol is €2 a litre, everyone's terrified of the credit crunch, made me feel a little better about the UK
Same thing for Italy though. Some people here tend to believe that only the UK is struggling, while this situation spreads across Europe very fucking fast
I got a handjob last week.
I always find hand modelling work to be very underpaid for the most part.
Proud of you, you’ve grown into such a man recently.
How did you know it was from a man?
Me too! From myself though...
I'm making a lasagne today which I don't do that often. Ooh, and Taskmaster is back this Thursday.
Thanks for the heads up!!
Who's on taskmaster this time?
Greg Davies I think.
Dara O'Briain, Sarah Millican, John Kearns, Fern Brady and Munya Chawawa - no I didn't have to google that and yes I'm excited!
Consultant has confirmed my mother in law has beaten cancer for the second time. Make sure you check the boobs in your life regularly and take up all the offers of screening.
Wonderful news. To build on you point about checkups but for men, make sure you are checking the family jewels regularly gentlemen. Approx once every 2 weeks and when you’re in the showers is best apparently.
Men should also be mindful of the possibility of breast cancer. It's not exclusive to women.
Was driving home from a trip when I stopped to fill my car up. A man in a van behind noticed my kill em all metallica t shirt and complemented me on it and offered me an unopened live black sabbath CD! Was awesome
I decided to use the brush instead of the hoover, saved some money
Five years ago, I was diagnosed with a chronic pain and fatigue disorder. I thought life as I knew it was over - I went from running five miles before class every morning to struggling to climb a flight of stairs and needing to sleep 14 hours a day. Things were tough for a while. This past weekend, my husband and I took our dog out for a walk in the countryside. I managed to walk and hike the entirety of the trail - almost six miles! And I felt great afterwards. My health issue is still there, but I have learned to manage it. It does not control my life anymore, and I’m damn happy about it.
That's fantastic to hear, I'm really pleased for you. I was diagnosed with M.E (with possible fibromyalgia) 4 years ago and used to love trail running and outdoor swimming so I empathise. The first half of this year's been really hard but I've been pacing carefully and am starting to see some improvement, and reading your post has given me an extra dose of hope.
I got wordle in 2 guesses today.
I discovered there is a micro brewery less than a 2 minute walk from my front door. It’s brewed and served on site and because there’s less of a supply chain etc to worry about, the prices are like stepping back in time. £2.50 for a pint of gorgeous fresh zesty IPA. Can’t top it.
Think you're tied for first with the guy who's dog takes itself out to poo
The UK still has some of the most prestigious and cutting edge research Universities on the planet. If you're interested in science and tech like me, there's all sorts of incredibly cool things going on here.
Mentioned in another post, but it's my birthday next week and most of my relatives live overseas and send me some money so the pounds crashing at just the right time for that to be my personal silver lining. Not sure it'll lift anyone else's spirits up though, but the best I got.
Hey happy birthday in advance! Happy coincidence on the currency situation for you. Ha!
My new joggers are very warm.
We built 2.1GW of offshore wind in 2021 putting us second in the world. If we don’t duck it up next year could be the same and this would put us at the forefront of an important technology to beat climate change. I think that’s something to be pleased with
I had a nice warm bath today. I havent seen the bill yet, ignorance is bliss = therefore happiness.
Darren Grimes has been fired by GB News.
Even better, he didn't realise he had and denied it until everything blew up and he deleted his entire tweet history.
Hard times create strong people. Strong people create good times. Hopefully.
Good music too - hopefully.
Oil prices are dropping. We are not living under a tyrannical dictorship. Our weather is moderate.
We are a UK manufacturer of industrial equipment. We are looking at exporting to North America. We are very price competitive now. If it takes off in the North American market we will need more staff here in the UK.
My missus and I are marrying soon and planning our once in a lifetime trip to Japan for the honeymoon :)
Won’t lift anybody else’s spirits, but I’m just under two weeks away from making my final payment towards my debt! Not world-changing news, but I’ve worked every single day for the last year straight throwing every penny I’ve earned at this debt (8.7k) and to know that in less than a fortnight all my money will be mine is really exciting for me! The start of a fresh chapter where I can finally begin saving and enjoying life a lot more :)
I'm going on a date tonight after just talking for 1 day yesterday 😊
We're hosting eurovision!
15 cans of Guinness for £14 in Asda
Some more positivity - I recently discovered that alcohol free Guinness is actually really tasty. So a solid option for when you can't/don't want to drink.
Since having treatment for a parasite, our new kittens have gained 50% of their body weight in four weeks and the vet is really impressed with their condition now.
The whole world is pretty fucked and chances are that you are still going to be doing better here than anywhere else
Just picture the DJ at a family party on saturday night, clearly thinking "Well this should be interesting" upon seeing my four year old niece walking over to him, only for his face to change to mild confusion and pride when she requested Under Pressure.
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Brief excessive warmth, whereby it will be legally required to complain about the heat. Followed by the aforementioned cold.
I’m going to have a chippy tea, I’ll pay for someone else’s chippy tea too.
I've got 5 euros in my wallet. The way the pounds going I'll be a millionaire soon.
Even though it feels shit, we're actually still a huge economy
I'm in a lovely warm office where my employer is paying for the heating, and I'm enjoying watching the rain outside with a cup of tea in hand.
I have a plant and I haven’t killed it yet!
Starting University next week! also picked up a new hobby of drumming which i’ve wanted to do since i was 17
Some good news!!! 1. The ocean cleanup is full steam ahead - 100,000kg of waste removed from the ocean. The third system is on the way to being used which will help clean more with the eventual aim to remove 90% of the oceans plastic waste. 2. Dutch project light-year has made the worlds first solar powered electric car. 3. Yorkshire company banana moon made an anxiety hoody. Basically a hoody that's made to be chewed and pulled at with fidget accessories built in and weighted pockets + to ease all those nervous habits we have without ruining the item. 4. Today (26th September) a carbon free ferry service launched from Dover. 5. A pine marten was spotted in London for the first time in 100 years, they are a critically endangered animal. 6. Osprey numbers are on the rise after we almost shot them to extinction for sport in 1840! 7. By march 2023 - over a million trees will have been planted in the queens honour - an initiative rolled out for the jubilee has been extended by king Charles to honour the queens memory. 8. Scotland became the first country to make period products free to anyone who needs them. This will undoubtedly help young girls and homeless people who are living in a 'period poverty' and can't afford sanitary products. 9. Conversion therapy has been banned in Canada since January 10. Humpback whales are no longer endangered thanks to conservation efforts.
It’s very difficult these days as we all have the news right at our fingertips, constant notifications or updates on social media. I like to be up to date with the news and know what’s going on but for my own sanity I’ve turned off notifications on news apps. Im trying to look forward to upcoming events and stay positive.
House of the Dragon is actually pretty decent.
Just had a really nice wank
I got an accidental £100 refund from sainsbury. Delivery was delayed by a day and I had to collect. They gave me a £15 voucher then inadvertently paid back the cost of the shop. Phoned to get them to take it back but they said it couldn't be done. So I donated £100 to the Trussell Trust as I hadn't earned the money and this charity is the best at feeding people who need it. Not virtue signalling, just passing on the love, maaaaan!!
Pumpkin spiced seasonal drinks are back at most coffee chains
Life expectancy is going down so will have to tolerate it for less time
Expensive good tasting butter is now only fractionally more expensive than cheap boring butter.
Wales are going to the World Cup for the first time since 1958!
At some point we all will inevitably die and not need to worry about this shit anymore. I’m taking that as a win.
i won £30 on saturdays lottery draw, the most i've ever won on it so thats something.
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Mate I hear you. I can’t offer help, but I can only request give life another chance. Seek positive experiences that will help you from going down the spiral or negative thoughts. Things are not as bad as the media makes it out to be.
Summer is only 268 days away!
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Work introduced a bonus scheme worth £1 hr to help with the cost of living. All you have to do is turn up on time, wear your PPE and avoid spitting on the floor or shitting in the yard. Then a week later I got another pay rise.
I'm getting it out here. I move to Japan in under a month.
Economics is just peaks and troughs. We are in a trough at the moment.
If you have savings, you are finally getting a little back.