Forum Discussion
Doing what you LOVE to do - before, during & after BC! What's YOUR favourite?
Hi guys
I am really lucky in that I have 2 BIG passions that consume a lot of my time ..... and (no surprise to some of you ....)
Ukulele Playing - this was a library gig we did last year .... (I am 4th from left, front row.) Our ages range from the 50s - 80s. Every 4-6 weeks we play 'gigs' at 4 Nursing Homes - and we practise weekly at another nursing home ... so I guess you can call us 'volunteers'?? Some of our members are older than the people we are playing for! LOL
and
Kayak Fishing - I love nothing more than hitting the lake with a bunch of buddies.
Yesterday, I was getting cabin fever from lack of fishing (wet & windy here for the last week), so I grabbed a warm jacket
& walked the edge of the Boat Ramp .... I was busted off on the first fish :( (a good sized Flattie from the power of it's head shakes!) then dropped the next few that spat the hook .... then finally landed another nice one, that came home for dinner!!
So WHAT IS IT that puts that 'gleam in YOUR eye' - is it Golf (I play it badly), Playing Bridge (never tried it - I think you have to be 'serious' to play Bridge), Singing (that goes hand in hand with Uke Playing), Community Groups/Volunteering, Tapestry, Running (I couldn't run round the block to save my life!), ..... that gets you out of bed quicker in the morning if you know you are going to 'do it' ........
How has your surgery/treatment impacted on you doing 'YOUR TIME" stuff? Have you had to stop doing it or can't do it as often due to your treatment? Do you find you find you are still expected to do EVERYTHING ELSE at the expense of 'Your Time'?
Prior to my surgery, my uke group were amongst my greatest allies - I had to tell them straight away as we were gearing up for a big performance at the Blue Mountains Uke Festival - and I didn't know if I would be there for them!! After my surgery, I was back playing again 2 weeks later - but was very mindful of where my uke sat - as it was right across the affected boob!! The Blue Mountains gig was 3 weeks after my surgery - and luckily, I made it!! 4 of my Uke group have had BC & were able to offer info & support.
My Fishing Buddies were also an immense support to me as well (as indeed they were when Hubby was going thru his cancer in 2010) - I've caught up with a fair few of them since I was diagnosed & it has just been terrific. A bunch of my kayak fishing ladies had also had BC and were a wonderful source of info & advice!
Part of my philosophy to recovery is to try & keep 'busy' with 'stuff' so that your mind is kept active & is a 'happy thing' compared to what we are going thru daily just now (Hmmmm - tho I REALLY should be decluttering our home - but that doesn't excite me as much! LOL)
SO, let's get a list going of all your favourite pastimes ..... then, if anyone on the forum is living near you or passing thru - you may be able to share your passion with them to help them 'while away' the time!!
I am really lucky in that I have 2 BIG passions that consume a lot of my time ..... and (no surprise to some of you ....)
Ukulele Playing - this was a library gig we did last year .... (I am 4th from left, front row.) Our ages range from the 50s - 80s. Every 4-6 weeks we play 'gigs' at 4 Nursing Homes - and we practise weekly at another nursing home ... so I guess you can call us 'volunteers'?? Some of our members are older than the people we are playing for! LOL
and
Kayak Fishing - I love nothing more than hitting the lake with a bunch of buddies.
Yesterday, I was getting cabin fever from lack of fishing (wet & windy here for the last week), so I grabbed a warm jacket
& walked the edge of the Boat Ramp .... I was busted off on the first fish :( (a good sized Flattie from the power of it's head shakes!) then dropped the next few that spat the hook .... then finally landed another nice one, that came home for dinner!!
So WHAT IS IT that puts that 'gleam in YOUR eye' - is it Golf (I play it badly), Playing Bridge (never tried it - I think you have to be 'serious' to play Bridge), Singing (that goes hand in hand with Uke Playing), Community Groups/Volunteering, Tapestry, Running (I couldn't run round the block to save my life!), ..... that gets you out of bed quicker in the morning if you know you are going to 'do it' ........
How has your surgery/treatment impacted on you doing 'YOUR TIME" stuff? Have you had to stop doing it or can't do it as often due to your treatment? Do you find you find you are still expected to do EVERYTHING ELSE at the expense of 'Your Time'?
Prior to my surgery, my uke group were amongst my greatest allies - I had to tell them straight away as we were gearing up for a big performance at the Blue Mountains Uke Festival - and I didn't know if I would be there for them!! After my surgery, I was back playing again 2 weeks later - but was very mindful of where my uke sat - as it was right across the affected boob!! The Blue Mountains gig was 3 weeks after my surgery - and luckily, I made it!! 4 of my Uke group have had BC & were able to offer info & support.
My Fishing Buddies were also an immense support to me as well (as indeed they were when Hubby was going thru his cancer in 2010) - I've caught up with a fair few of them since I was diagnosed & it has just been terrific. A bunch of my kayak fishing ladies had also had BC and were a wonderful source of info & advice!
Part of my philosophy to recovery is to try & keep 'busy' with 'stuff' so that your mind is kept active & is a 'happy thing' compared to what we are going thru daily just now (Hmmmm - tho I REALLY should be decluttering our home - but that doesn't excite me as much! LOL)
SO, let's get a list going of all your favourite pastimes ..... then, if anyone on the forum is living near you or passing thru - you may be able to share your passion with them to help them 'while away' the time!!
184 Replies
- @"Annie C" I love Kolkata! I've only been once, can't wait to get back. How fabulous that you lived there for a year! I think you and I need to have a curry and a big chinwag next month when you're in town!
- @Stork I am mad for India and have been seven times! Three of those trips have been escorting small groups on trips that a friend and I have designed ourselves. I've been to Varanasi, and to Rajasthan amongst many places, the latter every trip but one as we have friends there.
Don't worry about the food. There's lots there that you don't get here, not everything is spicy hot, and you can find familiar food pretty much everywhere.
I really enjoyed that tv show, good fun.
If you want any help or advice, don't hesitate to PM me. India is my passion! Kate xox
Mehrangarh Fort under the harvest moon, Jodhpur. - @Stork I've been watching that show on Foxtel , shades of the Marigold Hotel , love it , India is on my list !!
@Arpie thanks I'll give you a few more of my favourites - @Karenhappyquilter
You have what I can only dream about - a Sweet 16. It was going to be my retirement present however 6 months into retirement I was given a present that I never once thought would be in my dreams - BC. The funds for the machine and a NZ trip was used to fund our living costs in Perth (2,300 kms from home) during treatment. Oh well, my domestic machine and quilt as you go keep me happy and sane.
@arpie there will be pics. Our local CWA branch will hold its annual craft show in 2 weeks so I will send photos. Now there will be hell to play if my husand knocks me off my craft winning perch again!
@kmakm back in the 70's in my hippy / ashram enlightened days I lived in India for 12 months. Best time of my life. In Kolkata (Calcutta in those days) of all places. Ate at all the street stalls -ah street food- never got sick once. The family servants just could not get used to a strong Australian woman. Created some highlights and mayhem, much to the chagrin of my then (Anglo Indian) husband! - Hi Kmakm been to Nepal and Thailand first time to Tibet and India
flying to Vanarassi mouth of the Ghanges then we leave on a 2 week trip around Rajasthan should be interesting, my sister and I are not keen on Indian food.
On Foxtel there is a BBC program about 8 famous British citizens living in Jaipur too See it they can retire there, it is very interesting and factual, the weather will be hot and the mass of people and animals will be slightly overwhelming.
Stork - Dear Annie C, I quilt all my quilts myself. I used to do them on my sewing machine but one day my life changed for the better when I got a sweet 16. I mainly do a biggish stipple which is quick and easy and enjoyable most of the time. Once I have pieced a quilt I am wanting to get the quilting over and done with.
However my daughter doesnt like stipple so I quilted in the ditch my quilt for her using the sweet 16 and a ruler. Time consuming and a bit fiddly but ok.
I also like quilt as you go. It may take slightly more time but is so much easier esp if using a domestic sewing machine. I have done a few quilts that way. I have sewn a few quilts by hand but now more often I sew by machine. Yes quilting is very meditative and calming for me. My sewing room is my happy place. Long may we quilters be well enough to quilt. It’s quite tiring sometimes.
Sorry everyone else for the technical talk. - Some lovely photos there, ladies! Those African shots are AMAZING @tigerbeth!
I LOVE the quilt, @Karenhappyquilter - that is awesome! I just wouldn't have the patience!!
Enjoy your big trip, @Stork ... it sounds AMAZING!
GO @Blondy !! You ROCK!!
Keep Quiltin', @"Annie C" ... looking forward to the pics! ;)
- @Karenhappyquilter a lovely quilt. I find quilting calming and soothing. Did you do the all over stippling yourself? I have now mastered the art of stippling. It has become a large part of my quilts.
My quilts have changed over the years from traditional patchworking to picture quilts that are a mixture of applique and machine embroidery. The day that I cannot go out to my sewing room ( a 40 foot 'donga' ) will be a sad day indeed. At the moment I am working on a queen size quilt in a 9 patch block in pinks and blues with floral machined embroidery in the sashing. I am using the "quilt as you go" method.
Like you I tire easily and lose concentration. I aim to have the quilt completed by early October this year. It will be a gift for a young friend's daughter's 18 th birthday. So I guess I had better get cracking.
