I've been reflecting on this last month this morning and after reading a few posts from some of my favourite blogs, it got me thinking about the scenes behind my blog. That, together with a not so pleasant e-mail about my "wonderful life" a few days ago have been playing on my mind. So, this will be a little post about the scenes behind this blog, the truth if you like.
- Fact: My husband was unfairly dismissed from work in late May 2012 and suffered a relapse in his schitzo-affective-psychotic disorder and was re-admitted to a mental health unit to rehabilitate his unquiet mind.
- Fact: We have his tribunal next week and he became acutely unwell again over this past week, fortunately he has been able to be treated at home with medication. I live on a daily knife edge with the potential of him becoming unwell again.
- Fact: We live by the grace of God. Yes, we are Christians and get asked why we don't celebrate Halloween at this time of the year and go to Church. I'm used to it and my faith far over rides any poking or jabbing I might have from different people about believing in Jesus Christ as my Saviour. I have family and friends of all different beliefs and faiths and I do not judge them for this. Quite the opposite really, I embrace all people I know and meet and love them for who they are.
- Fact: I work 40 plus hours a week in a vocation that I absolutely love and feel very privileged to work in but it also takes it's toll supporting people who are coming to terms on an emotional roller coaster with their prognosis and treatment options with a new Cancer diagnosis. I am humbled to be in a position to support and care for them. I value each day at work and am very grateful to have a job.
- Fact: I am a Dietitian and I appreciate the daily struggle with keeping healthy and watching what I eat and keeping myself active and balanced. Hey, we are human too :o)
- Fact: I love my family and am fiercely faithful to them and loyal to all my friends
- Fact: We always have holidays and day trips anywhere on a shoe string and love the challenge of finding alternative ways to keep the costs down, it's part of the fun.
- Fact: Just about everything in our house is second hand, old or vintage if you like, we believe in recycling and being thrifty whilst still enjoying good quality design if we can get our hands on it.
- Fact: I have this blog to be my happy self on and love that I've 'met' so many gorgeous creative people. Thank you so much for all your inspiration, comments and conversation. I hope we can carry on enjoying each other's company.
- Fact: I love making, doing, creating things whether it's baking, planting a few seeds to grow some tomatoes, knitting socks, sewing patches on worn out jeans, drawing and playing with paints and crayons, cooking a new recipe, picking flowers, writing letters...etc etc. I have a busy, creative and scientific mind and my blog is a place to record these fun things.
- Fact: I am an optimist at heart and a sheer romantic. I love poetry and good literature.
- Fact: There are times when I just want to run away for a while and escape where I am at.
- Fact: I don't have a perfect, happy-go-lucky life but yes I do think it's wonderful.
- Fact: I'm starting November with a bang, going to see The Unthanks at the De La Warr Pavilion tomorrow night. Pop, bang and whizzzz.....
Thanks so much for stopping by,
Forgive me please, but
I just needed to clarify a few things.
xox
Here's to another day behind the scenes of this blog!
How about you? What's going on in the scenes behind your blog?
ps. If you want a chance at winning some skinny yarn in my little give-away check out this post here
Well, you have a strong faith, which is just what you need, you have lots of challenges! Don't take too much heed with the email you were sent, people are only usually spiteful to others because they are very sad, troubled individuals. You need those little (even if they are on a shoestring) treats, London, what a fantastic way to treat your daughter, she needs them too!
ReplyDeleteSupporting your husband and all those vulnerable people at work can't be the easiest thing to do! You must be a very strong person!
I LOVEvintage and old, even if I had millions, I'd still choose them over anything new! All of our lives have the good, and not so good bits, thank you for sharing! Take care of yourself too, not just others! Ada :) x
Oh Penelope,
ReplyDeleteIt does make me cross and sad that so many wonderful bloggers like yourself are targeted in this way. Enough to make you feel that you have to justify yourself and your way of life. Maybe I think some people don't get blogging well this small corner at least. It's all about appreciating what you have, whilst sometimes admiting your dreams big or small. It is what keeps us happy and in turn makes those around us happy too. I do truly believe that. I dont really know what I would do without my blog it is an outlet to so many things.
And although it is always lovely to hear about a person behind their blog it is just such a shame that you had to do it this way. But you are a wonderful kind strong woman. Hope everything goes as well for the tribunal, fingers crossed you get a good and fair result. Hope your husband grows strong too and gets the help and support he needs.
Sending hugs and positive thoughts your way.
P x
Well done girl for just being you and having your beliefs. Very sad to think that someone would take the time to be unpleasant. It just says a lot more about them than they realise.
ReplyDeleteBig pat on the back.
Liz
Good on you. Just be true to yourself and to anyone who judges us because of our blogs can go and take a running jump. Why do people feel they need to be unkind? No one forces anyone to read our blogs. As that is what they are, ours, our way of recording things, good or bad that happen in our lives that we want to save, to lookback on. Makes me really cross.
ReplyDeleteI think most of us only blog the good things, so yes to some it may come across as our world is all roses but in fact it often means we want to remember the positive things.
I hope the tribunal has a good outcome and I think the job you do is amazing and I am really glad you love it so much.
Take care xx
Nobody's life is perfect and sometime it might even hit us hard. However, some people have more "tools" to keep themselves going. Faith is one, being an opitimist another. Being creative a third. Creative people know how to look for solutions if there happen to be problems and know that they can reach a goal. That's why I love hand craft so much. You learn for life, and it's a source of happiness.
ReplyDeleteI know how it feels when a family member has mental problems and needs the help of an institution. One of my sons just had to stay there for a while for the second time. Let's hope for the best! Regula
Oh man these troll-like beings that patrol the blogosphere looking for an outlet for their envy are sometimes just too tedious for words. I am so sorry you were targeted. Anyone with an ounce of sense knows that none of us have perfect lives and a lot of bloggers use their blogs as escapes - places to have fun and share the nicer things in life - which helps us keep perspective when things get tough.
ReplyDeleteI am glad your faith sustains you - and glad you have times to just unwind and relax...lovely that you can share it online with all of us.
I hope that the tribunal gives hubby a fair hearing and he gets back on an even keel soon.
xxx
You just remember there are also people you have never met who are kind. Loved your last post, great pictures.
ReplyDeleteI really dislike it when the brave-troll-warriors come out and attack other bloggers.
ReplyDeleteWe all have stuff going on in our lives but often as bloggers we only record the good/happy stuff probably because it makes for easier reading for our followers.
I hope your husband's tribunal goes in his favour - mental illness is something we don't take seriously in this country and people get treated badly - if they are able to fight back then hopefully the companies will learn a valuable lessons.
Thak you for sharing so much of yourself, and giving us a glimpse into your life. I have enjoyed reading your blog for the past 6 months. THank you again, and may God bless you and yours.
ReplyDeleteYou shouldn't have to explain yourself to anyone but well done for this post. Your faith is obviously strong and will help you through any problems as I know myself from things that have happened to me. If you have God on your side, it's hard still but knowing he's there taking care of you, you WILL get through it.
ReplyDeleteGaan blymoedig voort, P. Baie sterkte. Ek geniet jou blog.
ReplyDeletePenelope, I can only echo what everyone else has said. I'm sorry that you were the target of someone who doesn't realise that none of us know what is really going on in other people's lives. You seem to be facing a lot of challenges at the moment - good luck with them all.
ReplyDeleteVictoria x
Gosh, I really don't know what to say except keep your chin up, keep on doing what you're doing and don't let anyone bring you down. why oh why are there people out there who like to kick others? I really can't understand what thrill they get from it. Jealousy is a disease and we must try to feel sorry for those who cannot help themselves. I am so glad you have your faith and are strong and can see the comment for what it was. Rise above it. Please keep blogging as I love to hear about what you and your daughter have been up to. Debs x
ReplyDeleteQuick question....did you get an Oyster card for Alice for the bus? Or did you pay cash per fare and if so, how much is bus fare for a kid?
ReplyDeletewe're planning to go on Friday...trying to plan the day - so much to do, so little time... :)
DeleteThank you so much for your lovely comments over at mine Penelope. I don't have a e.mail contact on my blog to avoid unwanted mail .It seems to work but no doubt I miss out on contact with some lovely people too .
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping the stressful things you are living through all turn out o.k. and your blog continues to be a special place for you. It's certainly a place I love to visit.
Thinking of you
Jacquie x
Sorry to hear about the unpleasant email you received, people are very quick to judge and jump to conclusions. You certainly have enough to deal with at present without unhelpful comments from others.
ReplyDeleteWishing you & your family the very best, and enjoy the gig!
Bless you, sister in Christ. And thank you for your fearless witness, your openness, your joy in living, and the happy place you provide for so many others.
ReplyDeleteI can identify with EVERY item on your list (except possibly the dietitian part - and I don't work near as many hours as you). Here's hoping your dear husband's meds continue to work well for him, and that the tribunal will have a happy outcome.
"...but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect...."
I think you've illustrated this beautifully in your post. :)
Oh Pen, what a lovely post, don't you worry about what people think my hon, you are amazing and always such an inspiration to me.
ReplyDeleteYou don't need to justify yourself Penelope, you are a lovely person and that is enough. We, as the reader should feel privileged to be invited in to share any part of your life. I am not so narrow in my thoughts to think that you or anyone else has a life that is all roses and champange, we all have black, white and grey in our lives.
ReplyDeleteI hope all is resolved in a postive way for you with as little trauma to you and your husband as possible.
xox Sandi
Hello Penelope, what a lovely, honest post. People can be so stupid can't they...
ReplyDeleteI alwyas say that unhappy people don't like happy people because happy people make them aware of their unhappiness. It can be hard being a happy (sometimes sad but not a negative bastard) person in a world with many victims in it but at the end of the day we choose who we want to be in this world.
So sorry to hear about your husband, wow, it must have been an incredibly difficult time for you and Alice
XXXX
You are more lovely than I could ever put into words x
ReplyDeleteHi Penelope
ReplyDeleteYou really do not have to justify yourself, your blog is wonderful and I pop by weekly in the hope of more of your wonderful creations. There are some weird people in this world and I'm sorry you were subjected to an un-pleasent e-mail. My blog is my happy place, we don't need to share our grey days do we? I do hope your husbands health improves.
love and thoughts
Esther - handmadewithlove-esther.blogspot.com/
Dear Penelope, endorsing everything the others have said. AM emailing you, and my apologies for being so tardy! Lx
ReplyDeleteOOoh a PS, Pen, I hope you enjoy the Unthanks, they are lovely girls, they came to dance with us and film when Ouse Washes Mollies had our Plough Monday/Straw Bear dance out at Ramsay earlier this year. We taught them a couple of dances and they interviewed and filmed some of us. Lovely music, enjoy!!!
ReplyDeleteLxxxx
Penny did you get my email?
ReplyDeletePen, wont you send me your postal address please, I seem to have packed my address book by mistake.
ReplyDeleteHi there, I often read your blog but don't often comment. I love stopping by and feel really sad that someone would send you a nasty email. You shouldn't need to justify yourself and just carry on as you are. Lots of people love your blog and those that don't, don't deserve to read it xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Penelope
ReplyDeleteI felt equally cross that you were attacked in this way and then annoyed that it left you justifying exactly why your life is wonderful with all its struggles and blissful moments. I would respond in exactly the same way I know. Only inadequate people show spiteful sides. Never understood the need for it myself. The majority of people have to deal with life's up's and down's, some have more than others. If you're of even an average intellect you should be able to discern that there is some careful editing going on on a blog. Only a few will say exactly how they feel on any given day. Fine if that's the kind of blog you write, but if you write one, as you do, to find all there is to celebrate in life then why would you want to chew it over on here? Lots of sweary words to the foolish person Penelope.
Hugs to you .
Lisa X
Oh Pen, I missed this post ... I am just catching up with folk's blogs after a stupidly crazy week here ... crazy because of the kind of life stuff we all tend to keep to ourselves. And now I'm really cross that someone upset you ... don't they understand that a blog is just one way of looking at the life a blogger leads. You are so very good at finding the sunshine in everything and sharing it with others but you've hinted before at darker days and your friends in Blogtopia know that you've had your share of those. Keep smiling missus, we love you for it and most of us aren't fools enough to think that's all there is. And my sincere good wishes that the tribunal works out for you and yours exactly as you hope xxx
ReplyDeleteA brave post m'dear,
Oops, a whippet put a paw on the keyboard ... all that's missing is the hug for you I was attaching x
ReplyDeleteI have just been catching up with your lovely posts and am so sorry to read about your ignorant comment maker. I have no idea why some people behave as they do but suspect they are jealous of your positive approach to life. I hope the tribunal has had a positive outcome and keep smiling my dear and making things. From a fellow Bexhillian, Karen x
ReplyDeleteI got curious about your more recently post about your Husband so I back tracked here. I'm sorry to hear about his dismissal and I hope you can get it resolved.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say that I love the brutal honesty of this post. I think we all try to blog about the good things in our lives, and not "go on" about the things that aren't so good, so yeah quite often we probably do look like we have "wonderful lives" - whoever emailed you... Well I don't quite have words polite enough for them. I'm sure you can fill in the blanks ;-) Take care & keep us posted about the tribunal. x
thank you for your honest reflection of your life. i don't understand people who post hateful comments on blogs. my attitude is "if you don't like what you see, don't visit the blog again." i love visiting your blog as we have a lot in common. nobody has a perfect life, and if they say they do, they are liars. keep up your posts as you have a loyal following. have a great week ahead.
ReplyDelete