My sister's homemade birthday card me in PPE !
Yesterday I foolishly took on a particularly nasty troll and a blogger who enabled the troll to vent her bile .
This was on another blog, so it wasn't my fight
But sometimes you have to say what you know is right.
Especially if you consider the blogger, an old friend
The troll turned her venom on me and foolishly I reacted
The first rule of psychiatric nurse training!
Never engage with a mean drunk!
The troll delighted in reminding me that I was now living alone
Mental illness sharpening the presence of a half hidden wound
And amid other insults I finally left her to vomit her bile alone
I've not had a lonely birthday
Lots of cards and gifts from the get go.
Villager Heulwen left a cake with a ribbon on it. Hattie ,a mug with Mary's photo on it and the Velvet Voiced Linda called down with a bottle wine from her and her hubby
The Randa girls brought a hand delivered card and school gossip
A lily and goodies from Wendy and Alun
And Mrs Trellis left a mars bar wrapped in a napkin!
( it melted before I could open the wrapper)
I spoke to friends Nigel in Manchester and Nu in London and missed a call from AM in Phily
And my oldest friend Nia called filled with warmth from Australia .
Last night was filled with giggles with Sheffield Jane and Colin in Liverpool
But Nia's made me tear up when goodbyes came around again.
I caught up with family at tea time.
Gifts of cheerful geranium in terracotta pots, homemade cushions, bespoke gin and a pair of tracksuit bottoms to replace the ones Dorothy ripped the arse out of , but ones I still wear.
Facebook friends said hello, more emails, blog best wishes and messages too this afternoon. I even reminded my nephew it was my birthday by text and he promised me a review of the Korean disaster movies I sent him
A lonely birthday?
Naw!
The troll got it wrong
Happy birthday John.
ReplyDeleteBIG birthday hugs
LXX
Most excellent and may the trolls get their comeuppance.
ReplyDeleteYou've had a wonderful birthday as you totally deserve, John! Love the card Janet made for you and its clear she has artistic talent, too.
Enjoy what remains of the eve and night!
Hugs!
FUCK THE TROLL! miserable SOB it is.
ReplyDeletesounds like a loverly birthday; the card looks just like you! you mos def are NOT alone, as you have many friends who care about you!
Yes John I did see how nasty it all got - and I felt for you. I honestly mean it when I say we all know you just have not got a nasty bone in your body. We all love you, your whole village loves you and all your friends far and near love you. That says it all. xx
ReplyDeleteI have a temper pat xx
DeleteHappy birthday John.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday ..hugs...Libs xx
ReplyDeleteNot worth giving the light of day. Glad you had a good day. xxxx
ReplyDeleteAnd living alone doesn't mean a person is by default lonely. Plenty of people living with significant others are plenty lonely.
ReplyDeleteYou have a support system to be envied.
glad you had a good birthday!
ReplyDeleteTrolls like her always get it wrong. Such venom, it's sad isn't it. So good at lacerating others; dripping venom and condescension. So good at it that it takes others a while to realize she is a very ill person. (I believe we're talking about the same commenter; I didn't catch your recent fisticuffs with her but did spot her - with a slight turning of my stomach - in the comments of one of your readers' blogs recently.) So thankful I've never seen her at my blog, and hope I never do -- or anywhere else, for that matter. Sorry to see you have put up with her even at someone else's blog. Nasty wench. I know I should feel sorry for her, as she's clearly got mental health challenges, but ... it's hard to. She's *so* condescendingly mean. -Kate
ReplyDeleteTo be blunt- trolls can suck it.
ReplyDeleteYou, on the other hand, have much to celebrate and many to celebrate you.
Happy Belated Birthday to you dear boy...from across the pond. And may you have many more.
ReplyDeleteThank u
DeleteHappy Birthday. I saw it too, in disbelief. Hope you have managed to get it out of your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteIt never really entered my thoughts x
DeleteIt may be born out of jealousy, seeing how many friends you have and how much genuine love and affection is expressed for you. For someone so damaged, who has none of that, it may be hard for them to bear.
ReplyDeleteGenerous of u
DeleteA possible expaination but not an excuse x
Happy belated Birthday John x
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Ignore the trolls, not worth the energy. Stop by for a laugh.
ReplyDeleteYou deserve such a nice birthday! I did see the blog with those comments between you and the troll(s).
ReplyDeleteYour reacting the way you did can be likened to gagging when near something truly rotten and horrid smelling. One exposed often to such vile things gets accustomed to it so barely reacts to it.
Thankfully you ordinarily deal with mentally healthy people that love and like you because you're a good man! - Mary
Happy birthday John. xxx
ReplyDeleteKathy
Trolls. When they're breathing their last gasp and all they have to look back on is how much they upset people. Sad and pathetic.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to a special person.
Happy birthday John x
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday John! Sounds like you had the wonderful time you deserve!
ReplyDeleteYes, the first rule of blogging: "never feed a troll."
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a marvelous birthday though! Your sister's arty card of you in PPE is wonderful and appropriate for a 2020 birthday, isn't it!
Happy birthday John. It sounds like you had a good day with lots of thoughtful presents and well wishes. Yes, indeed she did get it wrong as we all knew she had.
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked as a cashier on the front desk in a building society, we were told that if a customer became irate we weren't to argue, we just had to stand there and take it which would difuse the situation. Fortunately I never needed to put this into practice.
Late to the party, but hope you enjoyed the birthday. We could all have joined in giving you a virtual collective round of 'the bumps', when everybody grabs a bit of your arm or leg and they throw you up and down as many times as it is your birthday, although 68 might be a bit much in your case, haha! did they do that at your school?
ReplyDeleteI always missed out being an August birthday, it looked like great fun anyway.
Always try to have fun and a little laugh everyday.
Tess xx
I managed to miss the troll leaving turds where they were not wanted! I read the comments with "always look on the bright side of life" (thank you Spamalot) running through my mind. Grateful birthdays come but once yearly. All my best to you John.
ReplyDeleteYou so deserve a wonderful birthday and have the usual and deserved support here. I saw the beginning of the troll comments but didn't see the spat you must have had, however we should of course try to ignore the troll that obviously has mental health problems and we all see you for the kind soul that you are and can only wish you the best birthday you could have under present circumstances. x
ReplyDeleteI should have said that by present circumstances I meant lock-down of course. I too had to celebrate my birthday under lock-down. Glad it all went well. x
DeleteLovely cards, gifts, calls and family. You had a wonderful Birthday !
ReplyDeleteWe all have problems and In my case disasters but unlike trolls we get on with our life. One foot at a time.
cheers, parsnip
Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteYou don't live alone! You live with your fur family and you have your blogging fans! If we were all to descend on you you would have to hire a VERY large hall to house all of us. Happy belated Birthday, John.
ReplyDeleteSometimes you just have to cut these people/troll off at the knees. The troll is not only in the wrong but further distanced her/him self from everybody. As a tight group, rightly so, everyone rallied around you, John. Glad you had a very happy B-day! Susan
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you had such a lovely birthday and a wonderful time with family and friends - they are the ones who really count.
ReplyDeleteI think I know the blog you are referring to - I read the original post but missed all the kerfuffle - which I believe has been removed. So sad that people somehow get a kick out of being so mean - I'm like you, I tend to take them on - even though I know I shouldn't engage as that is what they are looking for. I suppose we should feel sorry for them in their sad little lives but it's hard.
Enjoy all your lovely presents.
Thanks for sharing your birthday with us, so happy for you, Love the Lino print of Winnie and the drawing of you by your sister so many talented people in your life I was also drawn to the card of you, the dogs and Albert. You are loved and none of us will stand for it
ReplyDeletethat someone tried to ruin your day we have your back.
Sit back and enjoy your treats.
Sorry I forgot your birthday but it sounds as if it all went well. Drama, kindness and friends. Presents and family. Go well.
ReplyDeleteIt's still your Birthday here in Los Angeles, sugar! Sounds as if you had a blast! Happy Birthday!! xo
ReplyDeleteGood. The people who matter always rally round!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had such a fabulous birthday during lockdown
ReplyDeleteMany happy returns on your birthday, the whole world celebrated with you. X
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you had a good day! I was late with my wishes on the previous post so I will say again:
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday John!!!!
A special person deserves a special day and more!xxx
Happy, slightly belated, Birthday. I had a good one too - the very first week of the Situation - seems an age ago now. i live alone but the day was filled with phone calls, whatsapps, emails and, because of the disruption to deliveries, cards and gifts continued to arrive for over a week. People are nice and kind and thoughtful and loving especially in times of trouble.
ReplyDeleteNot a bad world all round
I love your sister's card ! I'm glad you celebrated your birthday with good friends and family xx
ReplyDeleteSorry about the trolls, those bastards get everywhere!
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday wishes.
you boomers turned America into a fascist police state and now the younger generation is rising up against YOUR FASCISM. Good luck getting us to pay taxes to support your retirement. I guess you boomer scumbags can go blow your brains out
ReplyDeleteExcitement - I'm able to comment again! How long before I disappear again? It's a bit like being a Pantones villain - you never quite know when I'll appear again...
ReplyDeleteSometimes difficult to keep quiet, but I regret the one time I didn’t. And that wasn’t even a troll, just someone venting and I took it personally. As for the trolls, you can’t argue with stupid. You are loved and blessed. (And you have a talented sister.) Besides, one can be much more alone WITH a partner. Better to have love in your life than simply having someone there now and then.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a wonderful birthday and the card off your sister is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteYou forgot the first rule of blogging ... NEVER FEED THE TROLLS. Naughty boy!!
The Trolls are such sad creatures. We love you and wish much happiness and goodness for you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post to read! And besides, how can you be lonely going around wearing a bottomless tracksuit? ❤️
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a very full birthday indeed. You always give as much as you receive so I'm not surprised. A shared community such as yours, both in the village and on your blog is heaven on earth with kindness at its heart. Just ignore the nasty bastards.
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday!
ReplyDeleteI hope the troll has crawled back under the dark stinky hole it came out of.
ReplyDeleteYou dear Birthday Boy are a ray of light for us all.
I always think of a "conversation" as a tennis game - if you don't hit the ball back there can't be a game.
ReplyDeleteThere will always be people who enjoy giving pain and that is usually because they are in pain.. However, nobody gives a damn and they will be forever lonely. Their choice.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you had a great day, John. Nice guys will always finish first in the things that count.
Trolls need to go back under the bridge in the dark and damp
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Know that you and your doggies and your small Welsh village are a bright spot in a very strange year! F*ck the troll!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday for yesterday, John!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your birthday was a great one John. Sorry I didn't comment on the actual day,but I was thinking of you. ….Susan H. in Canada
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed your birthday John!Some people are just so damaged they are always lashing out. Hurtful though it can be best just to ignore these very pathetic and sad individuals. But you know that already!
ReplyDeleteThat picture is great! Wow so you're forty now right? ;)
ReplyDeleteAs a gay man you well know the benefits of having pants with the arse missing... just saying.
Steady!!!
DeleteThis made me snort with laughter!
DeleteWishing You a Wonderful Birthday Year John-You Lovely Man xx
ReplyDeleteHi hun, *Belated Birthday Wishes* - may all your hopes, dreams and wishes come true in the next year x Sounds like you were surrounded in love on all sides - which you really do deserve you lovely man! *hugs* Goldensunflowerx
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Belatedly. The troll probably lives alone in his mother's basement.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteA tip I discovered when deleting nasty comments is to tick the "remove forever" box, then it disappears completely, leaving no trace of the person who left it for the curious to wonder what was said that the blog administrator need to remove!
ReplyDelete(Apologies for long sentence.)
Belated birthday wishes,John- I hope the year holds much joy in store for you.
ReplyDelete