Are you happy (1 Viewer)

hill83 said:

More to ask and say but for now. Did you go and see the statue?

Russia genuinely scares me with the racism etc (probably overstated but is it worth risking it) but I’d love to go and see that statue.

Motherland Calls if anyone is wondering.

Click to expand...

Yes, been and it is mightily impressive.

I do find Russia oppressive though. Lots of uniforms and bureaucracy everywhere you go.

I didn't notice any racism when I have been there, but then hardly saw a black person anywhere.

Best place for me was St. Petersburg, which I absolutely loved and has a much more westernised feel to it.

Otis said:

Yeah. That sums it up rather.

Click to expand...

Genuinely lost for words, I'm so sorry.

Your daughter is 15, lets say in 10 years time she flies the nest for good, what are you going to do seeing as it's your daughter that is keeping you and your wife together?

How does she feel about it? Or are you scared to ask in case you are afraid of the answer.

Sent from my I3113 using Tapatalk

I can't imagine what thats like Otis.

Feels a bit weird saying it as we've never met (i'd probably be too anxious to actually meet a stranger anyway!) but there's plenty on here, me included who will lend an ear (albeit probably online!) if you need to talk or are feeling lonely!

skyblue1991 said:

Genuinely lost for words, I'm so sorry.

Your daughter is 15, lets say in 10 years time she flies the nest for good, what are you going to do seeing as it's your daughter that is keeping you and your wife together?

How does she feel about it? Or are you scared to ask in case you are afraid of the answer.

Sent from my I3113 using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Daughter is well aware now. She definitely veers towards me rather than her mum and we are a lot closer. In fact, we have always been very close, as we have so much in common.

Otis said:

Yes, been and it is mightily impressive.

I do find Russia oppressive though. Lots of uniforms and bureaucracy everywhere you go.

I didn't notice any racism when I have been there, but then hardly saw a black person anywhere.

Best place for me was St. Petersburg, which I absolutely loved and has a much more westernised feel to it.

Click to expand...

Volgograd is right up towards the top of my (unrealistic) places to visit list, there's a few of the buildings from the siege still preserved i think? We are going to St Petersburg next year which i can't wait for.

Having never been i can't say much on the racism front. I do remember however that people at university were advised not to visit Voronezh if they were black/asian (this is roughly 15 years ago and there was some sort of link between our uni and Voronezh).

Otis - love you bro

hill83 said:

More to ask and say but for now. Did you go and see the statue?

Russia genuinely scares me with the racism etc (probably overstated but is it worth risking it) but I’d love to go and see that statue.

Motherland Calls if anyone is wondering.

Click to expand...

I like it -.the sights In Moscow are well worth a visit and lots of great places to eat

I did go on a works visa which may have made it easier but the airport entry and exit was about the easiest I’ve experienced in non European countries

I did have a guy from Zimbabwe who worked a lot and he never had any issues and he travelled around more than I used to when he was there

Driving though when there is a no no

Otis said:

My missus doesn't celebrate our Christmas and will only celebrate the Russian Christmas. Only watches Russian state TV and refuses to believe any other media source.

Click to expand...

she sounds OK

Grendel said:

I like it -.the sights In Moscow are well worth a visit and lots of great places to eat

I did go on a works visa which may have made it easier but the airport entry and exit was about the easiest I’ve experienced in non European countries

I did have a guy from Zimbabwe who worked a lot and he never had any issues and he travelled around more than I used to when he was there

Driving though when there is a no no

Click to expand...

Yeah, your works visa must have helped. I found it a lot more arduous.

I had to report to a local office (I think it was within 5 days) and I queued and waited for hours and hours 3 days in a row.

Every time I went I would be in a queue and when they felt like shutting up shop for the day, they would, just on a whim and would tell everyone left in the queue to come back the next day.

I was told this was normal practice and happened all the time.

I reckon I wasted about 11 or 12 hours of my holiday.

Otis said:

Yeah, your works visa must have helped. I found it a lot more arduous.

I had to report to a local office (I think it was within 5 days) and I queued and waited for hours and hours 3 days in a row.

Every time I went I would be in a queue and when they felt like shutting up shop for the day, they would, just on a whim and would tell everyone left in the queue to come back the next day.

I was told this was normal practice and happened all the time.

I reckon I wasted about 11 or 12 hours of my holiday.

Click to expand...

The works visa is just a money making con

It cost something like £700 for multiple entry. You had to go to a building in London to have your prints taken and then as part of the few you get a letter of invitation from any company which they source

In other words they had no idea who I was visiting or where

At immigration there was never a queue. Aeroflot is hilarious as well - the Air Hostess dress is like a military uniform.

You always had 2 food choices - meat or fish. I did once ask what’s the meat and just got a stern look with “it’s meat”

Grendel said:

The works visa is just a money making con

It cost something like £700 for multiple entry. You had to go to a building in London to have your prints taken and then as part of the few you get a letter of invitation from any company which they source

In other words they had no idea who I was visiting or where

At immigration there was never a queue. Aeroflot is hilarious as well - the Air Hostess dress is like a military uniform.

You always had 2 food choices - meat or fish. I did once ask what’s the meat and just got a stern look with “it’s meat”

Click to expand...

I presume if you chose fish she took you into the loo for 5 minutes

I wouldn't use the toilets on Aeroflot. Didn't trust the door handles.

Well you are definitely selling it well. Booking flights now.

hill83 said:

Well you are definitely selling it well. Booking flights now.

Click to expand...

Go to St Petersburg. It's beautiful, despite being run by the Russian mafia.

Schools should teach it. Instead of algebra or religious studies. A subject called ‘life is full of disappointment’. Lol

Tommo1993 said:

Schools should teach it. Instead of algebra or religious studies. A subject called ‘life is full of disappointment’. Lol

Click to expand...

And make them all support the City.

Otis said:

And make them all support the City.

Click to expand...

It’s my old man’s fault. Can’t believe mum let him subject me to it.

Otis said:

I wouldn't use the toilets on Aeroflot. Didn't trust the door handles.

Click to expand...

To hell with the door handles, Otis. I don't trust the pilots! On one of my trips to Moscow, the pilot was evidently someone who wanted to fly fighters. His approach to Moscow was a hair raising series of twists, turns and abrupt descents that really belonged in a film like 'Top Gun'.

I got an internal flight to Sochi once and the plane looked like something from the 1940's and there were literally live animals running round the cabin.

Otis said:

I got an internal flight to Sochi once and the plane looked like something from the 1940's and there were literally live animals running round the cabin.

Click to expand...

I've sat with plenty of animals on Ryanair flights.

I refused to use internal flights. All the journeys I made from Moscow to anywhere else in USSR were by train.

skyblueindorset said:

I refused to use internal flights. All the journeys I made from Moscow to anywhere else in USSR were by train.

Click to expand...

Good call. This plane actually rattled throughout the flight and you could see all the nuts and bolts in the fuselage.

At least I know now why my parents took the bus to Russia...

Otis said:

Good call. This plane actually rattled throughout the flight and you could see all the nuts and bolts in the fuselage.

Click to expand...

Just be happy that the nuts and bolts stayed in place!

skyblueindorset said:

Just be happy that the nuts and bolts stayed in place!

Click to expand...

My eyes were transfixed the entire journey.

I honestly thought the whole thing would come apart and we would plummet to earth at one point.

Ccfcsj said:

I wish I could say yes. After all I have a lovely family, a good job, I own my own house and have a car. However, due to major money worries I feel extremely anxious all the time at the moment and quite frankly depressed. Hopefully 2020 will be the year things start to improve on that front and I can start being a bit more optimistic.

Glad I have my family as I'm not sure I would be here if they weren't here to support/love me

Click to expand...

Unfortunately things have gotten worse over Christmas and I do wonder if it's worth carrying on

You have to keep believing, CCFCSJ.

Look for tiny little victories, no matter how small. Focus on tiny little things that do give you pleasure, again it doesn't matter how tiny they are.

I remember once getting excited about simply going to the supermarket. Made an event of it and decided I would buy something for myself, even if it was just a bar of chocolate.

Look to friends, look to family, look to pets, TV programmes, films, music, anything that gives you just the tiniest bit of happiness, even if it is just short respite.

Talk to us all on here. I'm sure there are loads of us happy to help.

Talking is good. Having people listen and you just reeling off your thoughts and feelings can be a positive thing.

The Samaritans are great too. They just listen for the most part.

Things can get dark and you can feel helpless, but keep believing and keep communicating. I know we often like to keep our thoughts to ourselves and not burden others, but you will be surprised just how many people are happy to lend an ear.

Distraction is good too. It doesn't make the problem go away, but at least takes you mind off it all for a while.

Ccfcsj said:

Unfortunately things have gotten worse over Christmas and I do wonder if it's worth carrying on

Click to expand...

It's always worth carrying on mate.
Please speak to someone ASAP. I'll DM you my number. If you feel the need to speak to an idiot like me give me a text or a call no problem.

Same here. For sure.

If you can put up with idiotic nonsense of course.

I've done the same. You have my number now CCFCSJ. Don't be out there alone.

Ccfcsj said:

Unfortunately things have gotten worse over Christmas and I do wonder if it's worth carrying on

Click to expand...

Difficult time of year mate. Things always seem harder this time of year...you aren't alone.

Otis said:

Good call. This plane actually rattled throughout the flight and you could see all the nuts and bolts in the fuselage.

Click to expand...

I took an internal US flight like that once. Was an experience.