Last week the weather was good - the building work was going well and I could ignore what was happening on the news - making for a Good Life
So when this form arrived from the people who are organising the free 6 week exercise and wellbeing course for over 60s that I've just started, I had no idea how to fill it in.
Am I unhappy doing things alone? No, I've got used to it.
Have I no one to talk to? ..........I never have had often, spent most of my life home alone (Col was always Him Outside!)........nattering away on here is the remedy.
Does any one know me well? I'm sure my children do and other than them I'm not bothered!
I won't go on but couldn't tick the 3 box for any of the questions - but how weird would I be to tick the 0 box for all the questions?
I was surprised at how few people had taken up this opportunity of a free course - about a dozen all together. It's free as it's sponsored by the District Council and it was............OK. The exercises were straightforward and basic - thank goodness, but there was a weird bit of mindfulness when a young lady read out all these things we were supposed to concentrate on with our eyes shut - my mind went off somewhere else - so I couldn't "feel each part of you".
Then we had coffee - there was fruit and biscuits but I've managed to stop eating between breakfast and lunch so didn't partake.😇
Annoyingly there were a couple of Old Men there who, just like the Old Men who attend the village Over 60's, kept interrupting or saying things they thought were funny. (they weren't!) (and that's why I don't go to Over 60's group anymore).
Eldest Daughter has a friend who is a physio and H told me ages ago that her friend always concentrates on getting older people to walk with out shuffling and always walk heel first to avoid falls. Falling is one of the biggest causes of older people being in hospital and there's one meeting out of the six that has that as it's main topic.
Apparently there's funding for 12 more weeks of exercise after the 6 week course but with different people running it.
Just thing how fit I will be in 18 weeks time! (Ha!)
Back Soon
Sue
You're used to being self sufficient in many things Sue...not expecting someone else to sort it all for you...many people are not. Well done girl!! x
ReplyDeleteIt's true and I suppose I've always done things for myself
DeleteI have thought of joining something, but seem to be housebound because of the people working here at the moment. I enjoy solitude and doing my own thing as well. I never expected at this time of life to be cooking for the family as well but it is a question of taking life as it comes and if anyone gave me that questionnaire I should probably bin it.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy WI but need to be 20 years older to fit in at the over 60s!
DeleteIn Breckland we have a thing called Silver Social, with a free monthly 'cultural' activity for over 50s. When I went along on Tuesday, I was the youngest of the 4 who turned up. They were advertising "Odo" (isn't he a Hobbit?) A monthly craft afternoon for over 60s. The lady next to me said she went to that - then pointed out to the organiser that in November both events are on the same day! (Odo = One Day Out) A lot of money is being spent but there's not much take-up imho.
ReplyDeleteI expect councils get given money to spend even if no one is interested - a crazy way to work
DeleteMy goodness, if you didn’t feel miserable before reading that list you would after it. You wouldn’t be weird at all, comfortable with yourself and your feelings. I’d also have a big long line of ticks down the 0 column on the right hand side.
ReplyDeleteAnd ‘old men’ are the bane of many social groups….I’ve given up on my Probus group that amalgamated with a mixed group. Have joined another ladies only one - much more sensible conversations and outlooks on life.
I filled the questionnaire in and handed it in without putting my name on just to confuse them!
DeleteYour description of the Old Men made me chuckle. So very true.
ReplyDeletePuts me off joining anything else - just in case
DeleteThat questionnaire seems designed to make you feel miserable or a liar! I've come to the conclusion that a lot of men are just show-offs who like to be the centre of attention....oh, and always think they're right. Which they aren't.
ReplyDeleteIt really annoys me when they take over - trying to look witty - UGH
DeleteThe old men bit sounds like my Philosophy class where two or three men interrupt all the time and often only repeat what the tutor has already said, and say it as if they have just come up it. Very annoying and has put me off rejoining in January. The wording of that questionnaire is all in the negative. It looks like they asked each other for some ideas on questions about loneliness and decided on a whim to include the whole lot. One or two questions would have sufficed and achieved the same end.
ReplyDeleteA very depressing questionnaire - and silly, as this course certainly wouldn't help loneliness
DeleteMy comment disappeared into Spam.
ReplyDeleteIt did, but I wasn't at home to fish it out until much later
DeleteEnjoy the exercise and avoid the old men lol.
ReplyDeleteCathy
I shall keep well away from the old men!
DeleteIt’s a great opportunity Sue and we have something here where I live too. It’s to try and save the NHS from complete collapse if too many of us older people end up with broken bones and need care. People who make “funny” remarks during presentations drive me mad-if I am the presenter I try to ignore them for a while then invite them up to take my place!! Catriona
ReplyDeleteWe never have people interrupting at WI! We ladies are much better behaved
DeleteGosh, that's a depressing questionnaire :0/ The course is a jolly good idea though, wish we had something similar here. I still haven't found a group to go to even after a whole year.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the views expressed about old men too!
I chanced upon the info on the local Facebook or Nextdoor page by luck as I don't often look
DeleteHow I agree with your comment about 60 plus guys need to interrupt and be amusing at social events - apologies- for generalisation but it does seem to be a trait! I'm wondering if we are just much more aware these days of the potential for some older people to be lonely and yet there seems to be more resources available to address the problem. Seems to me that there is a big difference between aloneness and loneliness - sorry to ramble - just found your post thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I thought it was just at the Over 60s where they all know each other but seems not.
DeleteI read through the list and thought Good Grief - I'm OK!
It is good to keep moving! How nice that you are happy with your life and used to managing yourself. I think the questions are set up to find those with depression or anxiety. It is good that they are reaching out to those who need help. Keep up the great work, Sue!
ReplyDeleteThat was one of their main themes for the course. A survey of over 70s said some people are only moving for a total of 3 hours out of 24
DeleteGosh that's a depressing questionnaire, I think there should be another column on the end entitled 'BUT I Like it This Way'. There are a lot of lonely people about these days, so it could help some folk monitor how well they feel after the course.
ReplyDeleteWhy do some older men think that a 'funny' remark will be funny to everyone and not just them ... and I'm afraid Alan is heading in that direction!!
Oh no to Alan becoming an annoying Old Man! You'd better show him this!
DeleteThe questions are looking for depression. I wonder what they will do for people deemed depressed. I've not come across the older men being obnoxious. That said, I prefer a mix of people in any group. (Possibly in a mixed group the older men are less likely to embarrass themselves?) I would love your WI group with the excellent speakers. I did join a walking/hiking group and it is working out well most days. When the group gets odd, I walk away. (Escape works well.)
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what they would be able to do if anyone ticked the 3 box for all the questions - with funding only for 6 weeks and this course isn't really aimed at depressed people anyway - very odd
DeleteThe thing about that questionaire, is that I could fill it out one way today, and tomorrow's might be very different. I do not always feel the same, my days are not all the same, people come, people go. We have a Silver Sneaker class I'd like to join up with, but to be perfecctly honest, I have a daily challenge: I look for opportunities to be kind. Every day. It sounds very simple, but in the looking outward, I see many opportunities to do so. At the end of the day, washing my dishes, I take stock of my day...and, most of those days, it is well with my soul.
ReplyDeleteExactly right - on a wet miserable day with nothing to read I'd probably feel very depressed!
DeleteOh, I stockpile books for that very reason right now.. You never can tell when you might be stuck at home for 20 years, and I'd hate to be caught short!
DeleteThere is a bit of a "one size fits all" and "we know what's best for you" aspect to some of these groups and courses. My dad was as good as "sent" on one after leaving hospital - they didn't want to allow him home otherwise as they thought he ought to be more sociable. He said it was awful and went along with it only to get back to his books and reading.
ReplyDeleteHooray for your Dad - he sounds a very sensible person
DeleteThere are a few advantages to being an older woman - and one of them is telling the Old Men to shut up and not give a stuff if they don't like it :-) You do not have to put up with bad behaviour, whatever form it takes.
ReplyDeleteIf you do not want to tell them to be quiet yourself, speak to whoever is running your class next week and tell her if she doesn't sort the men out you will not be able to come back and it will be her fault . . .
I find I usually much prefer the company of women, more fun, less posturing. I think there's a general move in the medical world to check on depression in seniors. Every year I get a form to fill out noting how many days in the last month I've felt sad or down etc, and my doctor always checks on exercise and social life. I suppose it's good, except that I wonder if depressed people would even go for a physical checkup.
ReplyDeleteI believe weaver of grass has fallen and broken her hip. Wishing her a speedy recovery. It’s something I’m afraid of being 80 . My hip replacement broke spontaneously two years ago, my mobility is still poor.
ReplyDeleteOh, Anonymous, I hope, I hope, I HOPE that you're wrong about Pat. I've been concerned as well.
DeleteThat questionnaire is so typical of today's belief that we should all be suffering problems in some way and thus are all desperately in need of counselling. It makes a bit of a mockery of the few souls who really do need help.
ReplyDeleteOn a happy note, enjoy your exercise classes. I wish we had something like that here :)
It sounds interesting. I actually enjoy being alone, but my Mum always said that was because I never was alone lol. I actually find it really difficult to talk to new people. Sometimes I think I'd like to meet a few different people and other days I'm sure I'd rather just be by myself.
ReplyDelete