I've just got back from a week lying by a pool in Spain so I know I shouldn't complain but I've got the post holiday blues bad!!!  I'm work in the mortgage industry (need I say more?!) so coming back to work has been so painful, I was nearly in tears whilst driving to work on Tuesday.  It's such a horribel feeling knowing there's no way out of this industry at the moment without taking a huge paycut, which we simply couldn't manage on!

I'm really feeling sorry for myself & I know there are people in far worser situations than I am in, I should be thankful I've still got a job - I know a lot of people who have been made redundant in the industry! Fortutantely I've got lots of fun stuff coming up - Eng vs NZ cricket on Sunday & going to see Dirty Dancing with a group of girls next Friday - these are keeping my going!

Which brings me to the reason I'm posting - what do you do to cheer yourself up when things are down? I find chocolate always works for me but I'm trying (although not very successful) to loose weight so that's a no no really!

When Im sad I usually shop, then eat, but it is diffecult if you do not like your job.
But new shoes does it for me!!!

Sit on the floor with the dogs and they all dive on top of me.  Nearly break mylegs at times but they make me laugh and enjoy the huge cuddle!!

I love a nice warm bath with a Lush bath bomb in it, with a glass of wine and a magazine to read. Bliss!

Read a stephen king book, dogs, guitar.  Usually in that order LOL!

Junk food also of course :-P

I know exactly how you feel - I was at college last week, and only half days because of an injured dog, so coming back to work (I am a cleaner) has been very hard this week.  I didn't like it before I was off, now I absolutely detest it with a passion.

I find where I work does help though - the job might suck but the people are fantastic, very entertaining and great for taking your mind off things when you're down.

I love getting on the floor with the dogs and having rough and tumble with them, then finish off with tummy rubs!!! LoL
Also I get rid of my stress and such by going Kick boxing classes, certainly helps pour out the stress!! and keeps me fit (I think!)

Eat rubbish, go walkies, eat rubbish, go walkies ad infininum :)

Awful when you feel like that isn't it and jobs are hard to come by.  But I always tell myself at least I've got a job and the people are nice, even if the job isn't!  And it pays money.

I too like to go walkies to cheer myself up.  The joy on Copper's face when he sees the lead always makes me feel better :).  Other things include doing the garden, family sized bag of twiglets (yup, I can eat them all at one go), large glass of wine, watching my fave film - Brief Encounter (the old one), the actors are so frightfully frightfully posh that it makes me laugh :)

CG

Thanks for all your suggestions! I was moaning to my friend the other day so she's invited me round to her house 2nite for pizza & wine to cheer me up...guaranteed to put a smile on my face!!

Food alcohol and friends. What more does a girl want?!! :-)  Enjoy your evening.x

Yeah the pizza & wine did the trick, cricket was a bit of a let down though only got to see an hours play so ended up going to see the Sex & the City movie! Fab, I loved it! Has anyone else seen it?

I know this will be sickly sweet but my dogs cheer me up, i take them for a long walk along the canal and their carefree expressions just remind me that nothing is really that bad that its worth getting down about. Im a worrier and do so alot of uneeded worrying and get myself down, baths with lush stuff help me too i just love the smell. We had a continental market in Lincoln over this weekend and i went and had a nosey round that was good too, not they same old high street shops, lots of different sights and smells. Some pretty bonzei SP trees i think i might get, just hope the dog doesnt lift his leg on it lol. Chocolate is always good but as i am trying to lose weight too i feel bad afterwords, stocked up on some fruit and veg to try and get my 5 a day, made raisin and oatmeal cookies the otherday too that was great. Might go see that on wed but it might be alone OH doesnt like it boo

Louise x

I had a post similar to this, although it wasnt my job that was keeping me down in the dumps. 

Everyone here gave some really good advice, as to what to do to help.  Spent time with my dogs, went for a dog walk (without the dog).  That one was great.  What I thought it meant, was walk slowly, enjoy the scenery around, and stop and just sit on a bench every so often.  Really brings you back to nature, and its a good time to think.

I sometimes will put on a CD as well, and just crank it up!  Then when I sing along, no one can hear me!  I try to do that only, when my neighbours arent home.  As I dont want to bother them.

Also, a Triple B Treatment.  It used to mean Booze Booze and Booze, but since I am trying to cut back on drinking when down in the dumps, it means now :  Bath, Book, Bag of Chocolates (like hersheys kisses, or M&Ms)  dont just eat the chocolate either, let it melt in your mouth. 

Also, my vocal therapist, did this one exercise with me, about relaxation.  Its called PRT.  You start stomach breathing, and as you exhale, focus on it relieving stress.  Start with your left ankle, release the tension, and continue up the leg, then move onto the other leg, and continue until you have done your whole body.  If it works right, you will feel about 1 million pounds on your bed (like you cant get up) because your muscles are so relaxed.  Then when you do get up, you will feel so high (like a good high, not a chemical one).  Its great.  There are some really good websites out there, with practise scripts.  Just search PRT.

Anyways, hope things cheer up for you soon. 

gembo

i know you said that you know people are wrose off then you but i have not had a hoilday (evan a weekend break) for over four years and i dont have any spare money for going out.

A good way of thinking is to fouces on what you have in life eg, oh, job=money evan if its only to pay the bills ,kids ,dogs etc and not worry about what you dont have.
i find this really helps.
xx

> Sex & the City movie! Fab, I loved it! Has anyone else seen it?

me! bloomin marvelous! was just like a long episode which was grand as i was worried they'd change things. really really funny, particularly charlotte and the curse lol :)

have not seen it yet so dont tell me anything.
But i loved the show and watched the last one on a Sunday morning after taping it so i could watch in peace without oh taking the mickey if i cried ( which i did )

i thouht it would be rubbish to be honest but it was grand. seems really long but its entertaining throughout so defo go see!

astonishing number of apparently straight men there when we went. watched an interview with miranda and she said shes forever getting guys sidling up to her and surrupticiously whispering "i really like the show!" then legging it lol.

if more men watched it they would know more about us 30-somethings (dont know if this is a good or bad thing though)
whos your fav? mines Samantha because i would love to have had the guts to be like her. (before i got married of couse)

samantha generally but in the film charlotte is just consistantly hilarious so shes really warmed for me (despite the fact that in the series her dog care is rubbish :))

can i say one thing about the film? pleasy? not plot essential!

yeah go on then

samantha does as i always felt she should and gets a dog! (far better than men!) also, thank goodness, not a designer dog! a rescue dog! that likes to hump everything, so she decides that they are ment for each other lol :)

lol

xxx

was very chuffed they didn;t use a designer dog as with the fashin side of the show i thought they might. rescues are the new black :)

That dog is very very cute! The film is fab, I'm so happy they made it! I got the boxset for Xmas so now I've seen the film I'm gonna work my way through it & hopefully when I get to the end it'll be out on DVD so I can watch it again!!!

Some of the outfits Carrie wears are amazing, especially the Vivien Westwood dress, wow!!!

Is it a movie you have to have seen the show for?  Some movies are like that, and dont make any sense at all when you havent seen the show, but then others arent.  I didnt watch the show, but the previews seen on TV for the movie, make the movie seem really interesting.  SHould I get copies of the show, or search YouTube for episodes, before seeing the movie?

I think if you've seen the show you'll have a better understanding of the individual characters but the film starts with a very brief background of all the characters!  It's a great film, especially if you're into fashion & relationships! Some very funny bits too if you're feeling a bit down!
This might help:
1. Carrie - journalist turned writer of a column in the NY Times about sex & relationships. Loves everything designer & had a weakness for Manolo's! Forever unlucky in love but has a thing for Mr Big, they are on & off many many times throughout the series but the final series sees them get together for good, this is where the film picks up.
2. Miranda - high flying lawyer, moved to Brooklyn with her husband, Steve & baby, Brady.  Very strong character & always speaks her mind.  Best friend to Carrie.
3. Samantha (my fave!) - self proclaimed sex addict, oldest member of the group.  Has had many one night stands etc but finally settled down with young actor Smith Jared (swooon!).  Film sees them in LA with Samantha playing Smith's manager.
4. Charlotte - newly converted Jew,very naive but in a cute way.  Married to her divorce lawyer Harry, unable to conceive so have adopted a baby girl from China. 

There are lots of other great characters in the film, Stanford is the perfect gay husband!! Go see it, it's fab!

I'd love to hear you opinion of it!  Maybe some other CDers with give you some further input on the show without giving too much away though!!!

you'd manage fine not having seen the show but i think it will make more sense and be more fun ahving seen it. get a box set, a bottle of wine and some sweeties and have a night in.

btw, i always felt season 1 is the worst but get through it and the others are brilliant (its still pretty decent though)

Do I miss the whole point of Sex and The City?? I get Samantha ( sh* g 'em and leave 'em) but Carrie ?
If they are all such free spirited independant woman why are they so deperate to get a man???

I'm guessing bilbobaggins you've never watched more than the odd few episodes otherwise you'd know the show is much more than about being desperate for a man! It is a show about the lives of today's modern women & is very very good!