An unexpected find... (And a small plea for help)

[noj]

This is a somewhat personal post and a unapologetic plea too. Malcolm, please remove if inappropriate, l certainly won't take offense.

I'm in the process of redecorating (refurbishing) our daughter's room. She recently qualified as a teacher, has bought a flat and moved out...

In the pipe boxing behind the radiator there was a collection of Lego bits, a few pencils, buttons and a rizla pack with the top torn off - all pre dating our occupation, I guess from the 70s/80s. Under the black paint on the beams there were layers of gloss red, yellow and blue! Guess it was a kid's room for some time...

There are still two more layers of floor before the original, probably there's kids stuff below that (lovely hand-made clay marbles amongst other things found elsewhere).

But to get to the point; I removed the wooden patress behind the light switch today and found it was signed and dated.

Only from six years ago, by our daughter, but I had a huge emotional reaction.

This was from a time that her mental health wasn't great, things like razors, pencil sharpeners etc were kept in a locked box, all internal locks/bolts (including bathrooms) had been removed... The well was padlocked shut.

On occasions, home from hospital, periods of suicide watch etc., she re-wired her room, using a good selection of power tools, sharp and pointy things (all supervised) as a distraction activity - PP therapy! It really seemed to help. But I'd completely forgotten she signed her work.

At the same time I found the general banter and debate on here a great help to my own sense of proportion - thank you all.

So all this has motivated me to post this small appeal. Anna, my partner, her mum is running the London Marathon on Sunday, raising sponsorship for Mind. She's done incredibly well so far in her fundraising and training but any more donations would be great at a time when money is tight for everyone, particularly charities.

Here's the donation link and her story if want to read some more...

Thanks for getting to the end...

Anna Eagles

Why Mind? End 2014. Life seemed sorted and rosy. Then my daughter Jess was ill, but not with a visible illness. Not one you could see on an X-ray or fix with an operation. Not one I understood. Eating

tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com

 

[paulc]

Mental health is not something that is often talked about - It can (and does) affect many of us, and it is a lottery if you can get any support or referrals from your GP. There are some employers that claim to provide help and support... Mine is one, but if you ask it is like banging your head against a wall - It costs them £180 a time, so unless you are one of the favoured ones, a referral to MH/OH is refused.

Can't promise much, but I'm in.

 

[Feltwell]

A very worthy cause, donation made. My own daughter struggled with this - though nowhere near to the extent yours did, reading what Anna posted. A diagnosis of autism helped her massively, it made all the difference and made her "comfortable in her own skin". She's just gone off to University to study Physics - early days but so far it couldn't be going better.

 

[noj]

A very worthy cause, donation made. My own daughter struggled with this - though nowhere near to the extent yours did, reading what Anna posted. A diagnosis of autism helped her massively, it made all the difference and made her "comfortable in her own skin". She's just gone off to University to study Physics - early days but so far it couldn't be going better.

Thank you!
And good for your daughter, sometimes a diagnosis/'reason' can really help. I really hope it continues and I'm sure with your support any bumps in the road can be overcome...

 

[CliffordPope]

"But I'd completely forgotten she signed her work"

That's a very old building tradition. I came across several initials with date (1913 - several alterations date from then) scratched in the lead flashing round a chimney I was having renovated. I invited the builders to add their own, but they obviously thought the idea rather silly. I added them for them. I think I read somewhere that St. Paul's has builders' initials scratched in some inaccessible place - somewhere only fellow builders would ever find them.

Little things children do can be very moving. I visited the doctor once and found that our three had written a note to the doctor saying how worried they were for me.

 

[Zebra]

How wonderful that your daughter felt an activity like wiring her room to help with her mental state... I certainly relate, getting stuck in to something helps me if I'm down, and running, though I couldn't do a marathon. I hope your daughter is doing better now. Donation made.

 

[noj]

How wonderful that your daughter felt an activity like wiring her room to help with her mental state... I certainly relate, getting stuck in to something helps me if I'm down, and running, though I couldn't do a marathon. I hope your daughter is doing better now. Donation made.

Thank you so much stripey one (and the other completely anonymous donor too).

After much blood and tears all is now good. She qualified as a teacher (PGCE during lockdown was challenging) and now has a job, her own flat and mortgage (fixed rate!) but will borrow power tools as required...

 

[Toby Newell]

This is a somewhat personal post and a unapologetic plea too. Malcolm, please remove if inappropriate, l certainly won't take offense.

I'm in the process of redecorating (refurbishing) our daughter's room. She recently qualified as a teacher, has bought a flat and moved out...

In the pipe boxing behind the radiator there was a collection of Lego bits, a few pencils, buttons and a rizla pack with the top torn off - all pre dating our occupation, I guess from the 70s/80s. Under the black paint on the beams there were layers of gloss red, yellow and blue! Guess it was a kid's room for some time...

There are still two more layers of floor before the original, probably there's kids stuff below that (lovely hand-made clay marbles amongst other things found elsewhere).

But to get to the point; I removed the wooden patress behind the light switch today and found it was signed and dated.

Only from six years ago, by our daughter, but I had a huge emotional reaction.

This was from a time that her mental health wasn't great, things like razors, pencil sharpeners etc were kept in a locked box, all internal locks/bolts (including bathrooms) had been removed... The well was padlocked shut.

On occasions, home from hospital, periods of suicide watch etc., she re-wired her room, using a good selection of power tools, sharp and pointy things (all supervised) as a distraction activity - PP therapy! It really seemed to help. But I'd completely forgotten she signed her work.

At the same time I found the general banter and debate on here a great help to my own sense of proportion - thank you all.

So all this has motivated me to post this small appeal. Anna, my partner, her mum is running the London Marathon on Sunday, raising sponsorship for Mind. She's done incredibly well so far in her fundraising and training but any more donations would be great at a time when money is tight for everyone, particularly charities.

Here's the donation link and her story if want to read some more...

Thanks for getting to the end...

Anna Eagles

Why Mind? End 2014. Life seemed sorted and rosy. Then my daughter Jess was ill, but not with a visible illness. Not one you could see on an X-ray or fix with an operation. Not one I understood. Eating

tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com

What a lovely brilliant story! Your true wealth is your mental health, without it you are lost at sea.

 

[noj]

Thank you Toby.

And thank you (and Mr.P?) For the donations. I really can't express how deeply touched we both are by the responses...

 

[paulc]

Can't promise much, but I'm in.

Not much I'm afraid, but donation made this morning.

Just promise me that Anna doesn't come in last.

 

[noj]

Every little helps and is massively appreciated, thank you!

Anna may not be a natural runner and certainly not quick but she's seriously put the training in and has the determination to finish.

Time is pretty much immaterial - plus there's a percentage that go off fast and end up crawling to the end, octogenarians and others in heavy costumes and so last is unlikely

 

[Cassie]

My son has also suffered from debilitating mental ill health but is slowly improving thankfully. I work in A+E and I see the terrible effects of mental illness on patients and families every day. It’s heartbreaking and sadly the NHS struggles to meet demand, so charities like Mind are invaluable. Best of luck to Anna, donation sent

 

[noj]

Thank you Cassie!

Sending positive thoughts to you and your son, we're proof that good and apparently lasting outcomes do happen.

I totally agree that the NHS (while doing its best) is chronically under-resourced and it should really be a source of national shame that charities like Mind are required as an essential lifeline.

 

[paulc]

Congratulations to Anna for finishing the London marathon in a time of 5 hours 53 minutes and 21seconds. Under her target of six hours.
Provisional finish place of 35857 out of some 42000 entrants.

 

[Feltwell]

Fantastic!! Well done Anna.

I hope your house has got a working bath & plenty of hot water Noj, I bet she'll want a good soak!

 

[noj]

So proud

And she slept in her medal last night....
Thank you all for your support!

 

[a twig]

Well done! Late to the party as ever but have made a belated contribution

 

[noj]

Well done! Late to the party as ever but have made a belated contribution

Thank you from me and a HUGE thank you from Anna too!