What a week! and it is not even half way through - don't know why, but i thought of your guys to share this with. On Sunday, whilst Pete was at golf, one of the guys told him that he had inoperable cancer with about 14 mths to live, sounded like he had quite a good posistive outlook, and he at least had time to put things in order for his family. The yesterday - not a good day - received a phone call from our son to say that his cousin (one his mothers side) has been diagnosed with terminal cancer - she is around late 30's I think. Couple of hours later our daughter rings to tell me that her granfather (on her father's side) is in hospital with fluid on the lungs and a DNR registered. By this stage Pete & I are feeling not exactly the best - and I know you are never given more than you can cope with, but another phone call from our son lifted our spirits no end - our second granchild is on the way!!!!

It's strange isn't it, so many people tell me that things coming in three's is a myth - do I believe that? No. Here we have three lots of terrible news in three days, however, we now have three new beginnings for the start of the new year - a new beginning for us with Pete retiring in 50 days (but who's counting - Pete is!), a new beginning for our daughter with a new bub on the way, and a new beginning for our son with a new bub on the way. Life is strange, but I llove the ending to a rotten day!!!

-- Edited by Pejay on Wednesday 27th of October 2010 12:27:43 PM

What can we say.... life gives us some awful jolts, and some pick ups... my sympathies and also my congratulations.... we just hope it gets better for you.. cheers

Everything in life happens for a reason. It all goes to show how temporary life is. Living is very unpredictable. All we can do is make the most of everyday, be as kind as polite as we know how, while enjoying what we have. If you're planning to go, go now! Good luck post-retirement. A new life begins for you too, from that point on. I get the impression you're planning to do the nomad thing. Safe and happy travels to you.

You would not believe this - I think I shall disconnect the phone!!! Got another phone call from our daughter this morning to tell us her father in law is in hospital this morning with what looks like a mild heart attack!!!!!! Yep, Cruising Granny, you are so right, and also yes, we plan to 'rack off' once the house is sold hopefully in the new year - hope to see you on the road one day.

When life throws you a curved ball................get a bigger catcher's mitt.

Yeah Right,   Not always easy is it.    We've had a few curved balls lately too PJ.

February can't come quick enough for us.

my mum always used to say here today, gone tomorrow..

milo, I always say " Today is the first day of the rest of your life" Get out and enjoy!!

Hi Pejay

Here I am, whinging and moaning that my mighty muscle car, is in need of some serious hospital treatments, as in mechanical, and the RetroLiner is also in caravan hospital with issues.....bring out the razor blades I cried!!!!!!!

Geeeeeezus that is nothing to what, was put on your shoulders.

I will agree with everybody, get out and do it...who cares if you have a million in your back pocket, or living on the pension, no one gives a hoot. 

As my dear old Dad said, "Now that I have reached three score and ten, every day's a bonus. He got to four score.......pretty good dig. 

Chin up Pejay, and look forward to meeting all, some where in the great outdoors.

Cheers & beers
vkgreenie

Thanks guys, guess what??? 50 DAYS TO GO!!!!! Heading up to Bjelke Peterson Dam next Wednesday for a week, then we will be back and putting in those pension papers - yes!!!!! Gotta say that the van and Crosby T. Bear are chaffing at the bit to get going.

Pejay...you sure have a lot on your plate right now.

Hope that any surprises you get from now on are good ones.

All the best with your travel plans and hope to meet up on the road sometime

Yep know how you feel just got a phone call to say my daughter in law has to go for further radiation treatment when we all thought everything was O.K. Life can sure hit low sometimes can't it. Sympathy and congrats in order Helena.

Chin up pejay...... Chill out at the dam. It's a grear place. Restore some strength, and smile each time you think of the soon "new" grandkids. Dellie.

Hello pejay We are very new at this but can sympathise with all of it. We too are counting the days: 36 working days to throwing in the towel at the uni and dreaming, planning and, exploring and hoping it all comes together for us. However, whatever comes, we know we need to face it, deal with it and come out the other side. Having said this, I know it does not make it easier. I can see that Graham and I are joining a strong and close knit community with the GNs and we hope to give as much moral support to you as I can see you give each other. Take good care and look forward to spoling those wonderfuol grandkids when they arrive. Margaret

Hi Margaret, first up - welcome to the Forum - and yes, everyone is so supportive if you have a problem or just need to blow off steam ocassionally. The latest today is that our daughter's paternal grandfather passed away this morning - can anyone tell me what I should do please? I would like to send perhaps a card to my ex-husband (divorced some 17 years ago, but hey! he was MY father-in-law for just on twenty years), and yeah, what happened had nothing to do with the in-laws. The other bit of news is that our daughter's father-in-law is doing OK, and it was not a mild heart attack, but somehow he tore a lung from it's cavity (????) anyway he seems OK and they are keeping him in for another night to keep an eye on him. Been down to see my mother today in the home - her birthday - and bless her soul, you could really have some fun with her confusion, but that's not fair on the staff - so we don't. However, I wish to thank everyone for all their thoughts, it is greatly appreciated. Ta & thank you

If there was no ill feeling between you and the in-laws, then yes, I would send a card.    I know I will send a card when the time comes with my ex's    -    which evidently won't be very far off unfortunately.

Yes i would send a card at least ....few months ago my daughter grandfather passed away .. i when to his funeral with her after all he still was granddad .. But i still get along fine with my ex family so maybe that different .....

Hi Pejay - send a card & at the very least YOU will feel good...

Had the same thing with my ex's dad, I really loved him and I went to the funeral to say 'good bye' in person. He was my 'other dad' for 30 years. Send a card. Grief overides animosity.

Yep, same here. I wasn't sure whether to go...but I did, and was going to just leave afterwards. But former sister-in-law came up and gave me a hug, then others followed suit. And non of them would hear of me NOT going to the wake. A year later, when his Dad passed, I went along without a worry.

And, by the way, at his Dad's house everyone was discussing who would take what, and I said quietly to my son, 'if no-one wants that particular tapestry, I'd love to have it.' Later that night at home, my boys arrived with the tapestry. They were all happy for me to have it. I burst into tears. It's a beautiful Spanish dancing scene, very colourful, 110cm by 60cm, and mother-in-law had done it herself.

It still sits on my wall right here near my desk.

Oh, and Peejay, you have all my simpathy too.

Being afflicted with superciliousness, I still maintain that: "Life is simply a sexually transmitted terminal condition". Contrary to CG's claim that: "Everything in life happens for a reason." I maintain that the very opposite is true. Anything and everything can happen, at any time and in any place. No rhyme nor reason behind it. So, I ride with the punches and go with the flow, and am all the happier for it. Still, I genuinely commiserate with with your difficulties, Peejay. I hope that things get better soon.