Life is too fast....or is it me?

I've been feeling very down a lot too, and I haven't even got a reason like you have annsixty. Is it an age thing? Or is it just the end of the winter? I hope it's the latter.

No jing I have been struck down by a really painful leg. Dr thinks it is coming from my back, all I know is that is very very painful. It is coinciding with H's Alzheimer's taking a downward turn so I am just feeling rather sorry for myself. Age isn't helping though?.

My theory is if you've had a "people" job, where you're giving out all the time plus looking after children & aging relatives there comes a time after retirement when you just can't stand anyone making demands on you. When visitors come to stay I get so worn out with the cleaning, bedmaking, cooking, being "Mrs nice hostess" that I slump on my sofa dressed in my slumdog clothes, hair unwashed for days on end, no make-up so hag- like appearance with my reading, iPad, knitting, TV; heaven help anyone expecting me to be nice on the phone, or expecting me to entertain them with afternoon tea. My sons rarely phone, however my daughter wants attention, and goes in for emotional blackmail if I dare not to Facetime several times a week. I love them all, but they're grown ups now.

annsixty .

I hope your leg gets better soon. x

Pain makes everything so hard to handle.

I am very nearly 70 and am doing jury duty. Travelling to the city centre in the rush hour is not much fun. I don't like the jury duty although I have met some very nice ladies and we help each other to pass the time while we are hanging round waiting to be called again.

I've never been called for jury duty ( nor has DH) has anyone else on here been asked to do this?

No, I couldn't when I was working and have not been called since I retired.
Are people over 70 still exempt? (the people with all the knowledge and experience!)

Today has been very busy, now I just want to slob out relax as tomorrow could be full-on as well (and the rest of the weekend).

Haven't touched my knitting for ages, although I suppose I could be doing it now

annsixty - hope you feel better soon.
Are there any red patches? If so, antibiotics straight away (cellulitis)

I have never been called. I think they pick the ones with careers. Or good educational qualifications. I don't think 60 wpm typing and 40 wpm shorthand quite cut it.

I think it's 75 now!

It was my job that prohibited me even though I was quite lowly .

I don't think they pick professional people a lot of the time though.

I was on a jury about 20 years ago. I was working as a cook at the time which wouldn't really have counted as a career. It was interesting but worrying to see how many people didn't understand thing like "Beyond reasonable doubt" or couldn't understand that disliking someone wasn't the same as proof.

Yes, twice. Excused first time (pregnant). Did it reluctantly but it was an eye opener and proved to me the system works. Would do it again if asked...

Totally agree with Jaxie I'm in a people job and can't wait for the occasional pyjamas day I make a point of keeping Sunday a day to do nothing just enjoy a bit of tv a long bath and to be honest dissuade any visitors my retired friends have been known to take offence at this but as I'm quick to point out they can have a lazy Sunday any day they choose.

Jurists are not just professionals who have been to university, my father was called for jury duty when he was 65 and he was a plumber.
I have never been called but hope I could be excused on medical grounds now.

I find that I don't like to have more than one 'commitment ' per day, be it social, health, family etc! Otherwise I feel pressured.

That way I can enjoy what I need to do and still have time for leisurely mornings, sewing, knitting, thinking, reading etc

Some people seem to have boundless energy for endless rounds of socialising, exercising and worthy retirement pursuits. But I think that we have earned our time to be a bit lazy if we want to be and we shouldn't feel guilty about doing what we want to. And, we are old enough now to say 'no' to things we don't want to do.

I've been called to do Jury duty twice, and both times I loved it!
It was time away from work (but on full pay) and I sat in on some interesting cases.
Just once, I recognised the defendant, but before I got the chance to notify anyone, he saw me and started jumping up and down shouting that he didn't want "that nasty old bat" on the jury. I didn't object to anything but the "old" comment, as I was in my mid thirties at the time! I had encountered the young man through my work, and had actually physically ejected him from our building once when he took a kick at a pregnant colleague, so he probably thought I'd have been against him from the start, and do you know what? I would!

jings know what you mean! Had to laugh at starting your list with the garden centre but have to admit that it was probably a very nice place to start! Did you ever make your own cake?

annsixty and ((hugs)) Do hope you will feel much better soon. Have you managed to get some help with DH and everything else? In my experience you really do need to ask as people are often not so very good at empathy sadly.

Juggernaut I can just see the whole scenario!

Deedaa I never cease to be amazed at how narrow some people's life experience and knowledge actually is so am not the least surprised at what you say!

I make all my arrangements with all good intentions, but sometimes when it gets to the actual day it often feels like an effort to meet these commitments. I may have slept badly, asthma might be playing me up-lots of reasons why much looked forward to plans can suddenly appear much less attractive. No plans at all however, on the off chance that I might not enjoy them on the day isn't an option. I could find myself sitting around wishing I was doing something!

Yep. Cake's in freezer ready to get out for Monday when grandsons come.

But you must have agreed to the dates/times in the first place! It might sound a bit tough but unless you take control of your own schedule, then other people's schedules will control you!

Start saying no - sometimes, but say it with a
smile at the same time - then add " but what about this date" ......

That should work - without offending anyone or you feeling awkward or put upon.

Don't forget - these Gransnet years belong to us - we have earned them - and there should be no guilt attached to how we choose to schedule our time.

There is a 'jury duty' thread here for those who are interested: www.gransnet.com/forums/legal_and_money/a1220807-I-have-been-summoned?msgid=25699187

I spent my time becoming more and more incensed with the process and believed that a grave injustice was done to the complainant. Afterwards I looked up the defendant and found that the forensic evidence (discounted by the other jury members!!!) did indeed fit the known past of the defendant. I'm still cross about it now and very glad I stuck to my guns and refused to agree with the other jurors to bring in a unanimous verdict.

Life's speed is perfect, it's the idiot that decided that 7 days a week was enough that causes my problems.
Trouble is, I seem to take up new activities, volunteer for things etc, without thinking if I will have time.
No one to blame but me, but there's not a lot of life left to fit an awful lot into.

found that the forensic evidence (discounted by the other jury members!!!) did indeed fit the known past of the defendant.

Why would they discount the evidence of an expert witness? This is an aspect of jury service that is worrying.
I sometimes wonder if a judgement by a tribunal of judges would be fairer; some jurers these days are very young and inexperienced.

I'm like PPP in that I dislike having more than one commitment in a day. It does, of course, happen from time to time that a couple of things get into my diary on the same day and I deal with it, but in the days leading up to it I feel stressed and just want to get it over.
Like others, I worked in a strongly people-oriented environment - at a University - so now I'm retired I like to feel my time is mine to do as I please. Of course, that includes seeing my DC and DGC, and helping them out when they need it, doing small things for them like making a cake, or cooking them a meal.
But oh, those rare days when I have no hospital/dentist/doctor/hairdresser appointments, no babysitting duties, no dog-sitting duties, when no-one rings, and no-one visits, when DH is out playing golf for hours, and I can just be. Total bliss . Wouldn't want it all the time, of course. They're only bliss because they're rare