2018 so far...rant alert.

So far 2018 hasn't impressed me in the slightest. Mid January my oldest friend (known him almost 40 years) died in hospital after a short illness. A family friend chose to end his life in the garage with the door down and this morning I had the task of taking my best little mate, our 18 year old spaniel, to the vet to go to sleep.
Nothing quite prepared me for the amount of grief I feel at holding a loved pet in my arms as he drew his last breath...
On top of all that my blood pressure reads like a cricket score, I'm unemployed for the first time in 42 years and stuck in this crappy rental house waiting for our own house to sell so we can move back to the UK and get our narrowboat.
Not even out of February yet and I don't know what 2018 is going to throw at us next....
Sorry for the rant but I don't have much in the way of friends these days so I make a nuisance of myself on forums....
Gary

Vent away sir.
i cant say much to help, but i am so sorry to hear about all the tradegy you have had to face so far this year.

i can only hope that things improve soon for you.

where will your narrow boat be Tony B

I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your friends, and your beloved pet, let's hope the next part of the year brings you some happiness.
We don't mind a rant on here, some of us relish a good rant.

i havent had a dog since we had to put Paddy down a wheaton terrier He was a total hooligan but so loveable and in later years Iwas able to walk him off the lead He was only 11 and lost the use of his rearlegsandwhen hewasput downbroke my heart.Myson joseph is in hospital with Liukemia and to see someone put through the brutal cure called chemotherapy is awful 2018 can only get better

Making 'that' decision for dogs is always difficult, yet we owe it to them for all the unconditional love they give us over the years, I've lost count of the number of 4 legged friends I've taken on their last car ride to the Vet. Somehow they always seem to know this is the last one. We do it for them, yet we're not allowed to make the same kind of decision for 2 legged loved ones! Mary has been told, when the time comes please put the means to an end in my hands and let me do it, don't wait too long.
I recently lost a friend of 30 years, a Dutchman (they're always the difficult ones [badass] ) we hadn't seen one another too often after I retired, then 2 years ago the dementia kicked in! I said to his wife Bets as I left the last time, 'sorry, I can't do this any more, this is the last time'. He died on Boxing day and Bets couldn't find my number, I only found out 2 weeks ago when I went to Pretoria to see the Doctor. Obviously I went to visit Bets, she said it was a happy release and we had a good grizzle. Turns out he left his rifle to me, it was a German Mauser that he took from a German solder at the end of WWII, he must have been all of 14 at the time. I will honour his memory by shooting it from time to time.
What I am trying to say, I think, is, we all have been there, many times, it never gets any easier, they, wherever they are would be the first to say, get on with your life while you can, grief is only because you're feeling sorry for yourself.
And whatever else happens, get another dog, cat or whatever.
That's my rant over, it brought tickles to the back of my eyes but it needed to be said, we're all just big softies at heart.

You've .made my eyes a bit wet too Tony. Our last hound wasn't pretty to look at but oh so faithful. She was Marg's dog first and foremost . If Marg went into a shop she would whimper and moan till she reappeared. I could go in and there was not a sound from her. Eventually her back legs went and we had to carry her back end upstairs as she still had to be were Mummy was .Eventually she had to go to the vet for the last time. I had to do this some years previously with MY dog Spot .I swore no more dogs .We still have 2 cats .One as you know is 30 and fit as a flea . The other is about 10 we think.. We'll miss them when they go. Yes anyone wants a rant where better to do it than on here with friends. Feel free to rant away. I did .

Rant away.... I go through life's motion, no great enthusiasm left.
I too know how you and the guys feel and share. Pets gone,, My wife of fifty-two years (together 53 yrs) all long term friends gone, as far as I know I am the eldest left on either side of Family, other than a much appreciated Married on Aunt. Like Klippy, I found when her Dementia became complete I could not hack it.

I am grateful for the newer friends I have although none live nearby.
I too want when the time comes, just to go. I do NOT give anyone the right to say no you cannot. Klippy got it correct.
Rant ,,, next episode sometime

It does seem to be a right sod of a year so far - my darling wife Veronica died on the 23rd of January and our little Cavalier King Charles doesn't look to have much time left to her - I do wonder at the point of even trying to carry on, but lack the guts not to.
Mike

Oh and Having tried to be good for the last few weeks, I've decided tonight is an 'Ah,SOD it night' - a bottle and a half of red and I am viewing the brandy bottle
Mike

I succumbed - a couple of large brandies to follow the red - can't remember the last time time I| drank anything like this much alcohol in an evening (or a day!) and I DON'T BLOODY CARE!!
Mike

I look on everyone on here as friends - most of whom I'll never meet.

Quote, "I do wonder at the point of even trying to carry on, but lack the guts not to.
Mike", Mike I know it's difficult to think positive just now, but there is always a reason to carry on. 'Things will get better' there are bereavement councilors if you feel you need extra help, your GP will be more than happy to put you in touch. Mike, you won't know what the future holds for you, but it can often help to have a chat to someone independent of close family and friends, keep looking forward mike.

All my years are like that, full of knock backs, you take um on the chin and carry on
It hurts to loose a pet, upsets me more than loosing people

Doesn't really help Mike. But, if you enjoy some of it

Oh dear Mike, words fail me, but, as one who once climbed inside the bottle and took nearly a year to come out again, I do understand, and, you know what? If it helps you to get by for a while, dull the pain, so to speak, do it. Just remember, pay your bills before you buy the booze, to do it the other way around is a ticket to the dark side!