Goodbye 2009 (and thanks).

Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 31 December 2009

I always have a bit of a think at the end of the year, summing up the last one and making plans for the next.

2009 had a big bump in it for us. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in September and has had treatment since. It came right out of the blue and for some time shook our world upside down. She is in fact a cancer specialist herself-but I can tell you that is not much help when it is you who is the patient! Anyway she has done well, is recovering and 2010 actually looks fine as we peep over the threshold of the New Year.

I've always used this forum as a bit of a stress-reliever. A quick dip into the Padded Cell or Music Room can clear my head or provide 10 minutes of diversion or stimulation. Music is my great relaxation too.

Unbeknown to you lot this forum has more than served its purpose in the last few months, and has been appreciated even more for the variety and quality of its content. You've actually helped me a bit with all that has been going on. So thanks to the Forum for being a bit of a laugh and so often interesting and engaging. I've been around here a few years and I have a genuine fondness for this community with all its moods.

So then farewell to 2009 and a happy, healthy 2010 to all.

Bruce

Posted on: 31 December 2009 by shoot6x7

Best wishes to your wife Bruce.

My mother in law has been in remission from breast cancer for two years now.

Health, wealth and happiness !

Posted on: 31 December 2009 by SC

All the best to you and your wife Bruce for 2010...

I sympathise with your feelings, as my mother has had a similar run in with breast cancer this past year.....so for that, and a few other reasons, I'm personally very glad to see the back of '09....

I'm glad the forum has helped you at times..! I've always enjoyed reading your posts and as I've said previously, it was your posted experiences of the HDX that helped me think seriously of getting one (if they ever sort out that software..!

)

Anyway, to all the reprobates around these parts, I wish you all the best for the year ahead...May it bring all you wish for and need - and many black boxes !!

Steve.

Posted on: 31 December 2009 by TomK

Bruce,
Best wishes to your wife, and fingers crossed for 2010.

I'm afraid I spent the first half of this year watching my mother die from Alzheimer's so I won't be sorry to see the back of it. I'd say 2010 has got to be better but that's tempting fate somewhat.

Tom.

Posted on: 31 December 2009 by toby

Bruce ,all the very best for 2010 and special wishes to your wife for a speedy recovery. I always look forward positively to the year ahead but 2009 was not a very good year.My daughter had a nervous breakdown last February and is still receiving treatment and my stepmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in September and has recently had a massectomy.
But we remain positive that both will make good progress in 2010.I always delve into the forum and have a good read and when I'm having an off day its great to log into the forum.I hope everyone has a great 2010.Happy New Year to you all.
Rgds,Toby.

Posted on: 31 December 2009 by Bruce Woodhouse

Thanks for all the good wishes.

More importantly I guess we have some sort of loose friendship here and we should endeavour to be amusing, informative, positive or just interesting when we post here-because you never know if somebody is looking for a bit of a boost. Sometimes we get to know when forumites are having a tough time but sometimes we've no idea what others are going through.

Enough navel gazing!

Anyway I'm off to spend time with my better half.

See you in 2010.

Bruce

Posted on: 31 December 2009 by ft-o8

Yes. 2009 was a shit year.
In march made a diagnosis breast cancer by my doughter. On the first may in this f.. year the doctors must resection ther abdomen - cancer.

Two of this devilsthing in one human - thaths to much.

I hope the year 2010 becomes better.

Best wishes at all naimies in the world.

Posted on: 31 December 2009 by Ian G.

quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
Sometimes we get to know when forumites are having a tough time but sometimes we've no idea what others are going through.

Bruce

True, my lovely partner of 20+ years passed away completely out of the blue in May. The world is a strange and unfamiliar place without her. I often noted Bruce's posts 'cos she was a GP too.

The forum is a strange but familiar place which provides a welcome distraction at times like these.

Bring on the new improved 2010 please..

Ian

Posted on: 31 December 2009 by shoot6x7

So sorry for your loss Ian.

Posted on: 31 December 2009 by reubs1981

Condolences to those who lost loved ones this year. Good luck to those who received bad diagnoses this year but who face 2010 with bravery.

This was a good year for me - my son came along on 25th November, and my wife's sister (herself in remission from breast cancer) gave birth to her daughter, who she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to have, on Boxing Day.

I'm no better off financially, but I'm much happier...

All the best for 2010 Naimees...

Posted on: 31 December 2009 by Jim Lawson

All the best to you Bruce and other Naimees.

Thanks 2009, you were sweet. 2010, please be as kind...

Posted on: 01 January 2010 by ewemon

I had a bad finish to 2008 when they told me I had an extremely rare form of Cancer. In 2009 they told me it wasn't after however at roughly 2 minutes to 12 last night I find out that my beloved sister in law has breast cancer.

So last year was a bit topsy turvy for me.

Posted on: 01 January 2010 by Stephen Tate

I've lost a couple of really good friends to cancer in 2009, though they lived life to the full, they have been immensely missed. It has been a very testing year to say the least. Can't remember harder times to be honest....

Glad all is well Bruce and all the very best wishes to you and your wife.

This forum has been invaluable for me too. So, I wish all the very best to everyone here for 2010!!!

Steve

Posted on: 02 January 2010 by Colin Lorenson

My commiserations to all who have had losses and set-backs in 2009.

I am happy to say I can paint a more hopeful picture.

I'm 52 and married for the second time and for 2009 we have been enjoyed the greatest gift possible, our little boy Connor Xian, now 13 1/2 months old and the most beautiful little boy you could imagine.

We am blessed and I wish everyone else on the forum a little bit of some of the joy he brings us for the coming year.

Posted on: 02 January 2010 by Paul Labrador

quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
...My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in September and has had treatment since.....She is in fact a cancer specialist herself-but I can tell you that is not much help when it is you who is the patient! ...
I've always used this forum as a bit of a stress-reliever.....
Bruce

Hi Bruce,

I just read your post.
To be a good doctor I think it's normally good not to feel all the intensity of the emotions with a certain disease.
Now you and your wife experience all that feelings and those are always different from what you thought as a professional, so is my experience (I'm an ex GP, now an occupational health doctor).
I wish that you both can manage the illness and treatment ! Make the best of 2010 !
And of course I hope the Naim music and forum wil help a bit.

Personally I try to recover from a motorcycle accident in early october.
After multiple fractures in left arm and hand daily practising improves the functions again.
Now concentration is possible up to almost 2 hours, also unfortunately a very slow recovery.
So I try to work a few hours every day, but every day I do also other things I like a lot. So my Naim system helps me also.
In addition I decided to stop with motorcycles. My brand new Moto Guzzi Stelvio is total loss and instead I bought a 1973 MG B Roadster, well restored in the early nineties. I think a good subject for Padded Cell in the future....

Again best wishes for 2010.

Paul