why am i here ? why are you here ? on fh+g

[shonafp]

I lurk, I lurk every day 🙂 I've been lurking since oct 2008 I think.

I found fh+g purely by accident, i'd been browsing ebay and found that there was forums/threads.

I read some threads in various forums, and then found a thread about fh+g's glow worm.

well i'm pretty sure that was the nickname used - nickname isn't the right word 😞  - term of endearment would be more appropriate.

sadly the thread I had found was after the baby's death

so I browsed a bit more and I found the original thread which if my memory serves me right was started by the grandmother before the birth.

my apologies if my memory isn't quite right - my thread is not intended to offend or hurt anyone.

my outstanding memory is of the love and support shown on fh+g at that time, I can recall seeing photos of two different fh+g ladies sending off balloons in glow worm's memory, and I believe a fh+g lady attended the funeral.

so why am I here, and why do I stay ( even tho i'm in lurk mode 🙂

because, altho people come and people go, and people return 

fh+g is essentially a nice place to be, it's full of kind, caring and supportive people.

I've seen flowers / plants sent for bereavements, gifts sent out of friendship,

I've read threads on unplanned / unexpected pregnancies and enjoyed the baby photos 9+ months later, and seen photos of the knitted gifts made.

I ' know ' you,

I know where you work / what you work as

I've seen your home, and seen you move house / location

I've admired your garden, and followed your progress in the greenhouse

I know what you eat for dinner,

I know your childrens' and grandchildrens' names, I even know your goddaughter's daughter's name 🙂 

I know what you've knitted / sewen for your children/grandchildren,

I know where you've been on holiday, and I've seen the photos

I know about your operation, I know about your dogs' operations

I've seen new baby photos, new grandchild photos, new kitten photos and new puppy photos and

I've cried when you've lost your cats and dogs 😞

and even tho I've never met you, fh+g are a great bunch of people !

I've supported charities, followed a horse's progress 🙂  bought knitted cats ( and would have won another if i'd not got the week wrong 😞  and I've got a fabulous collection of yankee candles.

why are you here / why do you stay ?

[ilove2patch]

Shona what a lovely heartfelt post.:-) 

I found this place, RT actually, soon after I lost my husband. I was a bit lonely & some days didn't speak to a soul. I found people on the forums who would chat, listen & support me. When RT got a bit fiery & looked in here & found such a great crowd who I am now very happy to call my friends. I so agree with all you have said about 'knowing' people & their lives. This place keeps me sane & sometimes exasperates me at the same time! lol When I have been without my computer I miss you all like a part of me is missing! I will be here through thick or thin, joy & sadness. I have found you all selfless & generous to a fault. Long may we continue.:-x

[merc1_clocks]

Shona...perfect sentiments :-x & Maggie

I found here by default, & can honestly say that at times it's been a life-line for me.

I've spoken about things here, that I've never spoken about before - & have had such support, friendship & caring from people I probably will never meet ( but would love to ).

As in everything, there will always be the ones who disagree, but thankfully, they are few.

I truly believe that most people are kind, caring, & sympathetic - I sure try to be.

[fishpieface]

I guess I'm here for the same reasons, and I too believe that most people are kind, compassionate, supportive and interested in others.  I've also seen real evidence of that here.

I've had the pleasure of meeting some lovely people from here, some who don't seem to be around much now and others who are.

There are loads more whom I'd love to meet, maybe one day.

I remember the little baby Shonapf, who fought so hard but sadly died.  I remember the balloons

and I remember sitting in my coach parked on the Embankment in London one evening, looking across to St. Thomas' Hospital where little "Glow-Worm" was and just willing and praying for him to keep fighting and be ok.  Sadly it wasn't to be, but I can't believe it was that long ago, honestly, where does the time go?!

I've been on here for years now, don't kow exactly how long, but there are some such lovely people on here whom I feel honoured to call my friends.

[petitecalicocat]

I agree with the above posts FHG has been a wonderfully supportive place to be in times of need & i have in turn done my best in supporting many other people , plus animal charity's.:-)

I have laughed , cried , bought things i dont need & loved every minute of it all .............. until now .............., its very sad to see this go downhill but it seems somebody wont be happy until its wrecked so please stop this now as its destroying  far more than you can ever realize:_| 

[chickengrandma-2008]

What a difference a day makes.................................thank goodness!

What a delightful thread, it's making me fill up.:8}

I'm here for all the above reasons.  People might think I'm sad when I tell them I 'talk' to people on my computer (It's different to the ones my dad had in his bedroom and he couldn't get to sleep for the noise,...............he had a water infection!:^O)  but they're also amazed when I show them the cards, gifts and flowers those people have sent me, someone they've never met in real life.

 Most of us are just ordinary people with good things and bad things happening in our lives, and it's always good to be able to complain, cry, moan, boast, rejoice about things and know that some of you out there know exactly how it feels because you've been there.

My lappy is the first thing I put on each morning and the last thing I switch off at night.  I pop in and out all day.  I think I'd be board out of my tiny mind without all you to chat to and listen to!:-x

[cookiecookuk]

thank you shona for posting what you did.i feel exactly the same :-)i started lurking on here when i hit rock bottom when my ME and several other things were diagnosed :-(and could only sit and read.and slowly over time i realised that the people on here were almost like a real family to each other and so friendly so i decided to come out of the woodwork and post and i was made so welcome by everyone.i have since felt so much better about myself and have also discovered crafting which i find very therapeutic also to know that my crafting has raised money for charities has done my mental health tremendous good.:-)

to loose this now would harm so many people like me who rely on the friendship to help them through day to day.

PLEASE LET US STICK TOGETHER AND KEEP THIS BOARD ALIVE AND HAPPY  :-x

[rhubarbcity]

Thank you Shona

I lurked for ages and finally built up the courage to post, you have given me the encouragement and confidence to get crafty again and really helped when my grandaughter was poorly last year and had to go in for her operation

[stan3502]

Well said shona you have summed up exactly why I post..........

I originally posted on the old Q&A under a different I.D and moved to RT and FHG when the boards changed.

I then lurked for a long time before coming out again 😉

I can't imagine a day without my friends on here who I have laughed with,cried with,met up with and got to know over time. :-x

[twishy123]

I'm just here for the choklit 😐

only joking.....I count you all as friends and I loves you all ya great bunch of nutters :-x :-x :-x 

I'm fillin' up :_| need more tissues.........

[merc1_clocks]

Ach twishy...there's snot flying in all directions 😛

Have a tissue xxx

[twishy123]

snot funny Mercles....I look like him on the box too:_|

but thanks for the tissues.....ooooh soft :-x

[mandymoosie]

Beautiful post Shona 😄

I too was a long term lurker before I made my move.

Although I've had a nasty big hiccup on here, there's something that's keeping me here 🙂

I really love the banter and the laughs, it's what I need and it's the best therapy in the world for anyone I would say 😄

I also love all the beautiful crafts that get made and shown, I'm also finding crafting very therapeutic and love being able to share that with friends 😄

I love the beautiful friends that I've made on here, and I'm looking forward to getting to know others more 😄

I love helping and supporting people, understanding what makes us all tick and listening to others, helping others always helps me 😄

I also love it because I think we all grow and learn together, we may not always agree, but that's okay, we just have to accept and respect each others views and opinions, and to be honest, I think the friendships that have all of the above are the best and the strongest 🙂 :-x

[bitsnknots]

I think that this is a lovely thread and a big thanks from me as well Shona.  I stumbled upon FHG sometime back and I used to post on a different ID.  I didn't come on here for a while but something, I am not sure what, brought me back.  I know that if I had a problem, I could come on here and have the love and support of people I have never met in person but I know that they are there to help.

It is a thread like this that makes me realise that I love this board and some of the nutters (only joking) on it.

:-x

[borzoi369]

Lovely thread Shona and good to see you about 🙂

I stumbled across FHG by accident many years ago, lurked for ages but finally joined in when Deno was rescued. Since then, have seen many ups and downs on FHG but been lucky enough to get to know many of you & meet some of you in real life.

Plus apart from the support for Chaldon animals, I relied on you when Jacky died - the support then helped me keep going and still amazes me to this day :-x

[**streety**]

Hasn't anything else to say that hasn't already been said... Wishing there was a 'like' button :-x

[ilove2patch]

Shame Ebay can't sort one out. I am often looking for one! lol

[captainbovine]

I feel the same as everyone who has posted.

I found RT by accident and used to post a bit on there but it got a bit nasty and I tried FHG instead...wow! what a difference that has made to my life.

I love the lot of ya...glad to have found so many peeps as bonkers as me:^O

the support I had when I had my op and the visit from the lovely Stan, was very touching and made me feel very humble indeed to know such great people.

I for one shall stay put, no matter how much someone is trying to split us up....stay together girls, we can stay just as nice to each other as we are now.

big licks and huge hugs to you all:-x:-x:-x

[bitsnknots]

Couldn't agree more CB.  I know that we are all mad on here but we are always there for each when anyone has a problem.  I'd rather keep it that way as well 'cos I luvz ya all.:-x

[guardpig]

This is a wide community.  Somebody knows somebody that knows the answer.

 I found the boards and the groups and then found there were other people struggling to cope with their slightly imperfect children who could offer advice to another struggler.

It's fun, laughter, support and kindness though with every imposed change or bust up there seem to be fewer posters left.  Working from home I tend to look on the Ebay boards as the office banter/gossip. Keeps me sane.