Hi all,

I see there have been some changes around here in the last year, new faces arrived and old ones have gone. I shall have to do some reading up to see where familiar faces have gone, hoping it's not bad news I stumble across though.

I've been battling a chronic illness called "Menieres Disease" for a couple of years now and last year it took a turn for the worse, completely debilitating and consuming my life. Menieres is a balance disorder of the inner ear, which in most people affects one side, in me, both - making it doubly bad to deal with and now impossible to "cure".

I have good days and bad days. The bad days can see me bed bound (and bad days can last weeks rather than hours) and on good days I look and act as "normal" as anyone (whatever normal is!)

Yesterday for example I was doing DIY one minute and on the floor having suffered a drop attack the next. BANG, just goes, no warning. Sometimes I pick myself up, brush myself off and carry on, other times I have to go to bed and sleep it off with drugs.

Anyway, all that said, I'm doing better at the moment and back on my feet, although lost my job since the illness got worse and have yet to find a patient employer who will put up with an unreliable person...

This image sums up the effects of the illness on me very well...

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Our hearts to your heart, dear friend.

Angela & Eric

Our hearts to your heart, dear friend.

Angela & Eric

Thank you Angela. I really do appreciate your kind words :)

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Hi Andy, So sorry to hear about your menieres disease. Its allways nice to see a Seti friend pop back in and say Hi. And welcome back.

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Old James

Thank you James. Stay in the warm, looks shocking for you guys right now.

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Its been brutally cold here. At least the snow is staying way up north.

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Old James

Its been brutally cold here. At least the snow is staying way up north.

A couple of Winters ago it reached -11C here and our houses are just not geared up for it, so consequently I ended up with burst water pipes and no heating for a couple of days.

Conversely, this Winter I've barely seen a frost. In fact, we haven't had a sub zero temperature since the end of November - and then it was only JUST a frost.

However, we've had some tremendous Atlantic storms battering our coastline, destroying rock formations that are thousands of years old.

Example:

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Wow Andy, They must have been some BIG waves.

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Old James

Wow Andy, They must have been some BIG waves.

This picture gives a sense of the severity of the waves...

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Andy, I'm also sorry to hear about your menieres disease. You seem upbeat and a caring person. You have friends here, if your down. Warm thoughts from the other side of the pond.

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Wow Andy, They must have been some BIG waves.

This picture gives a sense of the severity of the waves...

It sure does. Is the town still there?

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Old James

Wow Andy, They must have been some BIG waves.

This picture gives a sense of the severity of the waves...

It sure does. Is the town still there?

That one is, others have all but had their sea defences and sea front properties destroyed. There has been massive damage but fortunately little loss of life. The warnings of the incoming storm surge and waves were good and many areas evacuated in time. It's being called a once in "several hundred years" event, which is just as well!

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Andy, I'm also sorry to hear about your menieres disease. You seem upbeat and a caring person. You have friends here, if your down. Warm thoughts from the other side of the pond.

Thank you very much Lynn. I try to soldier on, last year it beat me though, this year I'm not letting it...

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Wow Andy, They must have been some BIG waves.

I took some pictures of the waves in my own town, we got off very lightly here though. Some pics and info here: http://www.westonweather.co.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4

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Interesting photos. And it sounds like your town was lucky.
I hope you all remain safe. Im off to bed now, Im on second shift since June. But Im glad your back Andy and I wish you well this year.

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Old James

Thanks for the Update Andy.

I hate to bring a Rolling Pin along :)

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Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt

Hi Andy, sorry to hear about the medical problems, but it seems clear that you remain upbeat which is good news. I wish you well friend.

Thanks Chris. I'm trying very hard to get through this :)

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Just glad to have you back Andy.

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Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt

Just glad to have you back Andy.

Hope I get to stick around. I just don't know what each hour / day will bring right now.

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Sorry to hear of your misfortune Andy. I wondered where you disappeared to. Nice to see you back and keep your chin up.

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