What would we do without Whatsapp, Messenger & Facetime?

Hello Everyone,
I’d be going mad!
I’m a people person & love having a chat.
So, to get over this I’ve been having virtual coffee mornings with girlfriends, cuppas from the caravan with other caravan friends.
It relieves the isolation, & is so much more rewarding than just speaking to the other person out there in the ether or texting.
I have always found that my daughter & I have misunderstandings when texting, as things can appear different to what you think you’ve texted. We have much better conversations via video. The other evening she asked me to send her a photo of a recipe. I texted back that ’ I’d do it later I’d got my NHS letter today’. Well it was after 8pm!
I missed a full stop after ‘later’ & she was straight on the phone to make sure all was ok with me, as she thought I couldn’t go & take a photo as I was ill. It’s all in the interpretation & intonation!
Keep sane & safe everyone.

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Hi everyone. I have been quiet for the last month because I had to have an emergency operation (not cancer related), just as the first coronavirus cases were being admitted to my local hospital. Because of medical history it was much more complicated than it would normally be, and then I was in lockdown in the hospital. We were all being discharged as quickly as possible, and a nurse had to escort me off the premises into the care of my husband. A few days later I had to call 999 as i had a badly infected wound, and I would have normally been readmitted, but the paramedic made a few calls and arranged antibiotics and a district nurse to call daily. It is 4 weeks now, and have just been discharged by nurses, and finish the antibiotics today.
WELL, less about me…How are you all doing?
Technology has certainly come on since I was in isolation with my SCT 11 years ago. My sister had set up a what’s app group for my siblings so that we could keep in touch about my parents on the day I went into hospital, so i guess I hijacked it for a while. I have what’s app groups with my children, and my best friends, so have been able to keep in touch.
My daughter arranged a Zoom meeting a couple of weekends ago and it was lovely to see my children with their families, but as I only had my phone I went mad and ordered a tablet, and i can now hear what they are saying! I still haven’t managed to work out how you can get everybody on the screen at the same time though!
Today I have been married 41 years. Whoop! Whoop! and my grandchildren sent a what’s app voice message. They sang “Happy Wedding Anniversary to you”. Priceless.
Love to you all ( and @Erica I am off to rest now)

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Hi @Corfu80, Christine and @Pisces56 I am also really missing my social interaction, I dread to think what our phone bill will be. How I can spend so much time on the phone when I haven’t actually got much new news to talk about? I had a history teacher at school that kept on saying ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’ and I always wondered why, but in the last few weeks I have realised why. New means of contacting family and friends were passing me by. Now I have signed up to send e-cards, my Skype actually working and I am using it in my work, I am using You Tube for pilates videos, what’s app, groups and videoing, Microsoft Teams and today Zoom, I hope !! (my new word for 2020). I am regular text user, Oh I could go on and on. Is it keeping me sane? well so far all this modern technology and really raised my stress levels and I don’t deal with what personally stresses me well. Hopefully from now on, if they all work smoothly I will feel a great sense of achievement and it is all thanks to my history teacher. Yes, keep sane and safe and keep posting so we can keep each other sane. p.s @Pisces56, yes, go off to rest, please look after yourself and re-cooperate. xxx

great thread @Corfu80! thank you so much for starting! :smiley:
@Pisces56 I hope you’re doing okay, my goodness, it sounds like you have had so much on, as @Erica says, take all the time you need to look after yourself :+1: and a huge congratulations on your wedding anniversary, how lovely! :relaxed:

It has been so good to read about people’s experiences of apps. How have people found adjusting to this? it’s different to what we are all used to with face to face communication isn’t it? Would be really great to hear more about your experiences!

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I don’t use any of those platforms as I’m only a very limited user of social media but I have managed to use Zoom for online meetings and for online pub nights with some friends and work colleagues. It will be strange when I see people in the flesh again :slight_smile:

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Actually Franko you are right it will be strange to see people in the flesh again and with legs. When I am using Skype, Microsoft Teams or Zoom I have to sit on a chair and 2 cushions, otherwise one of my chins rests on the bottom of the screen. I am living in leggings and I doubt that my jeans will fit when I try them on. Take care and stay safe.

@Franko @Erica haha yes! I imagine it will feel rather strange when we see our family, friends and colleagues in person again! How easy has it been for you all keeping in touch with those who might not have access to any function that allows video calls/chats? have you managed to find alternatives?

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Hi @SuBloodcancerUK and @Franko, I had some lovely notepaper that I have had for years so I actually wrote letters to my sister, an old friend and to family friends in Australia, all of whom are not on modern technology. I have telephoned friends and sent a lot of ecards, especially to people on our Christmas card list some abroad, which I decided to send Easter cards to this year. I have spent a lot of time on the phone with friends who I see regularly. But it is not the same as seeing people face to face.

Not many of my family are technologically minded so we just rely on phonecalls to keep in touch. I’m able to use Zoom for friends and Microsoft Teams for work meetings. It’s a bit strange having to use my bedroom as an office! I also write to a prisoner on death row who doesn’t use computers so I’ve had to get used to hand written letters again which I haven’t done for over 20 years!

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@Franko @Erica ah yes, there is something very nostalgic about the hand written letter. Though as you say, when you haven’t done it for quite some time- it can take a lot of getting used to! haha

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Hi @MatthewBowman, I think I have aged myself by saying about letters.
Yes, what did we do without WhatApp.
We were so lucky to have it over the last year.
2020 was also the year of the Zoom for me.
Anyway a great big welcome to our forum. This forum has also been a big support for me during shielding. If you would like to talk to someone you can contact the Support Services Team on 0808 2080 888 (Mondays: 10am-7pm, Tuesdays-Fridays: 10am-4pm, Saturday, Sundays and Bank Holidays: 10am-1pm) or via email at support@bloodcancer.org.uk.
Take care of yourself and I look forward to hearing more about you. How have you been over the last year and how do you feel about the loosening of restrictions, will you be WhatsApping as much in future as opposed to seeing people in person?

This I can’t even imagine. Because I usually talk to people on whatsapp gb after downloading this social networking app on whatsapp gb para baixar. Very difficult to replace.

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It is a lovely trait to help others @VermontCarter, but what about you, how are you?
Take care

Yes @VermontCarter used correctly social media can be brilliant, can’t it.
How are you and look after yourself

vert interesting and very nice

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Hi @hussienf a great big welcome to our forum.
I really look forward to hearing a lot more about you and how are you getting on…
Look after yourself and please keep posting

Hi and welcome to our forum @JavierCuriel
I look forward to hearing more about you and your connection with blood cancer.
Look after yourself