Honesty Time.

So Christmas approaches again. Another year nearing its close and the world is still turning.
Question - (Be honest. No Politicing. Answer when in a reasonably good mood.) Who is worse off than this time last year and 'who is better off than at this time last year and if no difference 'who is the same'.

For myself - I'm better off. Why? Because at this time last year I had torn some muscles in my back and was feeling like the wife - decidely grumpy. How's about you. Remember - BE HONEST.

Last year my wife fighting for her life. Also around this time last year my health went bad and nearly cost me my life. This year health a lot better and getting out more and seeing our family and friends and got the house decorated. Also had a brilliant holiday and most of all going to a couple of classical concerts and cannot wait to have our Christmas meal at the John Milne on Christmas Day again this year. Also to the New Years Eve party at the end of the year. And hope we put last year to bed once and for all. Most of all seeing our true friends and family in the last part of the year and making up for lost quality time that we had lost before. So there you have it Atlas.

What about the others.

Much better off this year. This time last year my son and his wife were told they had a 10% chance of having a baby naturally and were put on the list for IVF treatment for this year. Before they started the treatment my daughter in law became pregnant and their baby son was born on 17/10/12. So this year MUCH better than last year.

Three major differences from last year all positive. In no particular order.

1) My youngest child, my son has left school and gone to college-this time last year I was worried about the fact he might join the army, and frankly I did not like the prospect of him being sent to some pointless war, though I admit he would have learned to drive and a trade. He chose instead to go to college and gained the exam GCSEs required.

2) My youngest daughter, second youngest, gained her required "A" level grades and gained admittance to University.

3) My eldest daughter has become engaged and is to marry next year.

On the negative the household budget is suffering as prices/costs go up but incomes don't go up.

Financially just about the same.
Put on a lot of weight, got Bells palsy.
Did 11 miles of a sponsored walk of which I was very proud.
Father very ill, will probably be his last Christmas. This outweighs any plusses at the moment.

I'm sorry your dad is so poorly SB, perhaps all you can do is to cherish the time you have together and to try to build some happy memories this Christmas, these may be of some comfort to you in the future

I have had Bells Palsy too, rather a scary experience but my doctor told me that, once you have had it once, you will never get it again so, not all bad!

Highlight of the year was my son's wedding in September, that was a lovely day I will always remember.

Daughter struggled a bit financially this year, hope things improve for her in the future.

I am personally no better or worse off financially than I was last year, living on a pension becomes quite predictable...no bumper pay rises there. Thinking about it though, it could be said that I am actually worse off when I consider the rate my savings are going down but hey, I am still in reasonable health and so I am counting my blessings.

thanks poppyanna.

On the down side:

1. I'm skinter.

2. I've put weight on.

3. Boy Wonder has left home to go to University.

On the up side:

1. I at least have a challenge - to get skinny again.

2. Boy Wonder has only gone to Salford so I get to see him regularly (and he hsn't once brought laundry home!)

3. I have Glastonbury tickets!

4. I'm going away for Christmas so wont have to cope with the ridiculous whirlwind of picking up/dropping off/visiting/taking people to visit/ensuring everyone has seen everyone that has been my Christmas since I was 7 years old. Added bonus that it's Spain we're going to so it might be just a touch warmer than here. Hoping for some natural catastrophe (not a deadly one) that prevents us from flying home and going back to work.

Alison, I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. I hope you can have a nice Chritmas with him this year.

So - In the main everyone is somewhat better off than at this time last year. You wouldn't have thought so reading the forum week on week. Mr and Mrs Angry Person and Grumblers Anon would pale into insignificance to read some of the posts herein. So it's not so bad then yes -? Then - - - and get it over with.

My grandson is home again, safe and well from his fourth stint in Afghanisatan. It does not matter that he is living 200 miles away from me and I might not see him as often as I would like, at least this year we will all feel merrier when Christmas comes around.

I’m here on the computer today with what I can only describe as shear luck. My health has been pretty bad for a while and luck has been a big part of staying alive really. This year I’m just getting over my second P.E, (Pulmonary Embolism) my lungs are in a pretty bad state so it’s unsurprising really. The second one almost did for me, the third almost certainly will they tell me, so again another load of blood tests and more pills to look forward for the next few months.

Genuinely sorry to hear that Irish and so glad you joined the forum.

PE's are buggers to treat. Pulled a few patients through with 'em but lost some as well.

Keep taking the warfarin.

Hope the third one is a very long time coming, Irishman.

Hiya Irishman. Who luv's yer baby.

Not a good year for you. It never is where bad 'health' is concerned. You know everyone here hopes and wishes for your continued input. May it continue for many years to come.

On a lighter note - would you say that 'life' here is better now than it was when you were a sprog? (Putting age and bad health aside as it were). And would you also say that the people today have so little to really worry about that they manufacture 'grumbles' when in reality they are far better off than billions of others and ought to use some of their negative time in doing things that 'help' rather than 'hinder'? Just a thought.

Im pretty much in the same position as I was last year. What I have gained in some areas I've lost in others.

I had such a good childhood it’s difficult to compare; the technology of today has improved unbelievably from when I was a child but even though I was brought up in the back streets of Belfast as a child playing out I never felt unsafe or at risk of anything really, my mum worried naturally but all mums do and it was usually what I could do to myself rather than others doing it to me. A lad on my street was run over by a bus he ran out in front of so for years she would say to us leaving the house “mind them buses” so it was that sort of thing she was worried about. I tried for the life of me to remember if she’d ever warned us about talking to strangers; if she did I can’t remember it.

Certainly today when I hear things like charity begins at home and we should not help others in a far worse situation by giving hand outs, (I’m alright Jack to hell with you) attitude is sad to hear. Some very good people in the health service have managed to keep me alive over the last few years through some very serious illnesses and kids are dying for the lack of some basic needs like clean water and childhood illnesses we’ve wiped out here in our society. How do you compare that to a little hiccup in our economy?

Getting back to the question has society improved today, well I was watching a movie last night and an advert came on for a loan company, ring us we’ll sort you out ok easy with a loan on the bottom was the APR 4,049% says it all really.

Ah indeed. Don't you just love those little usury firms that offer jam today and jam tomorrow to the desperate and deprived for a mere bagatelle of interest. So heart-felt. So generous. Makes one feel like breaking in to tears and their conniving, scheming, obscene little necks into the bargain. I'd slam the lot of them in prison and throw away the b***** keys. Ar******* the lot of them.

Atlas wrote:Ah indeed. Don't you just love those little usury firms that offer jam today and jam tomorrow to the desperate and deprived for a mere bagatelle of interest. So heart-felt. So generous. Makes one feel like breaking in to tears and their conniving, scheming, obscene little necks into the bargain. I'd slam the lot of them in prison and throw away the b***** keys. Ar******* the lot of them.

Bit like theese loan shark shops offering cash on your car log book. Or the cash generator shops. How on earth can anyone let these shops even open.

Day light robbery springs to mind.

J wrote:Hope the third one is a very long time coming, Irishman.

Hope you're right...