[Sethia Soliman]

What has been the most fun or surprising part of your 2025 so far?​

Members, I’ve missed you all! And I would love to catch up with what’s been going on at your end, if you’re willing. So, tell me all about what has been happening! What’s the most memorable event, or maybe even an achievement, you’ve had so far this year? I really do want to hear your stories, because sharing these little life updates always makes this space feel even more special.

As for me, 2025 has been full of some drastic turns already. The biggest one is that I’ve been working on mending my relationship with my mum and my family overall. It’s been tough work, with plenty of ups and downs, but I can already see how it’s healing something important in me. It’s definitely one of the most positive things I’ve done for myself emotionally.

On a lighter note, Tootsie is doing wonderfully! Still his fluffy, mischievous self who brightens my days. Honestly, he keeps me grounded in ways I never expected a little ball of fur could.

Here's a recent photo of my cat, Tootsie, lounging in his special corner at my home! Source: Sethia

And finally, I’ve been making a serious effort to prioritise my health. After a few scary incidents in the past few months, I realised how important it is to give my body the care it deserves. It’s a work in progress, but I feel like I’m moving in the right direction.

So, that’s been my journey so far this year! Both challenging and rewarding. Now it’s YOUR turn! Leave a comment below, my friend. Let's keep in touch!

 

[janj]

I have become a great Grandmother in March to a girl Charlotte. I also am expecting another great granddaughter in October around my Birthday, It's an exciting year.

 

[steve.bryce]

I am. About to have an implant to help reduce my pain levels.

Just finished the trial. All went well, so now healing ready for the main operation.

I am having a neuromonics implant into my back, and two electrodes running along my spine.

It will bring my pain levels down about 90 %, and help me get off about 4 very strong and dangerous medications.

 

[novezar]

I'm breaking the trend here.

The MOST UNMEMORABLE happening as far as I'm concerned is the allowance of the 'Palastinian' protest march on the Harbour Bridge. This is also the allowance of the TERRORIST FLAGS that are allowed to be flown.

To top it all off, was the arrest of an AUSTRALIAN FLAG waver.

We as a nation are COMPLETELY DOOMED, under our current Federal Government.

WAKE UP AUSTRALIA.
.

 

[Suzanne rose]

I'm breaking the trend here.

The MOST UNMEMORABLE happening as far as I'm concerned is the allowance of the 'Palastinian' protest march on the Harbour Bridge. This is also the allowance of the TERRORIST FLAGS that are allowed to be flown.

To top it all off, was the arrest of an AUSTRALIAN FLAG waver.

We as a nation are COMPLETELY DOOMED, under our current Federal Government.

WAKE UP AUSTRALIA.
.

% agree

 

[Fitzprid]

Driving my 2007 Hyundai Getz from Perth To Darwin (including the Gibb River Road & crossing the Pentecost River) in the Shitbox Rally

 

[Suzanne rose]

I have a few highlights of 2025 with more to come. Firstly it has to Definitely be becoming a grandmother again for the 21 st grandchild a little girl Evie Rose and being there for her birth.

And of course seeing Baby Leo growing and doing the milestones other babies are doing .

And my weight loss of 40kg and my youngest becoming a nurse after all her hard studying
Baby Evie


Little Leo who was born at only 28 weeks last November

My daughter in her scrubs

My weight loss

All of these are my grandchildren and there are more

 

[novezar]

I am. About to have an implant to help reduce my pain levels.

Just finished the trial. All went well, so now healing ready for the main operation.

I am having a neuromonics implant into my back, and two electrodes running along my spine.

It will bring my pain levels down about 90 %, and help me get off about 4 very strong and dangerous medications.

Hi steve.bryce,
I bet you are suffering from at least 1 or more very bad prolapsed discs which need operating on. This includes the complete removal of at least one which may be the main cause of your problems. This to include "Laminectomies" on others, the clearing of nerve exit roots of the spine and also "Shaving" of the spine.

I underwent a 'Trial" operation similar to what you are going to have. Which I didn't undertake. A good choice on my behalf.

More than likely, others, including myself, where I've undergone 4 "Spinals" which culminated in everything which I've mentioned. These ops., were, 2 in '96, 1 each in '99 & '01.

Back in '96, my original operating neurosurgeon, fully explained to me, with printed & coloured diagrams, where he informed me that I would eventually undergo 4 ops., to combat my spinal problems.

How correct he was of his prognosis.

As with obviously many others, incl., self, with such medical probs., where I went under numerous CT & MRI scans both pre & post operation.

I, for one, have never looked back. The best ops., for sure & certain.
At well over 81, not 82, I'm 99.9% fighting fit.

I wish you luck with your operation. It sounds as though that you will have to be pretty careful with what you do with yourself with activities.

 

[Oaklegs]

We have had many ups and downs so far this year with our health and birthdays and we are now 87 and 88 and also you are all aware that we have had cards sent from everywhere including the king for our 65th wedding anniversary tomorrow on the 27th of August. However the most recent event has created so much interest on Facebook in our town of Busselton since it was revealed. This is what happened last Saturday. I was driving and we passed a mother duck standing by a drain with 4 babies and I remembered a post recently about ducks and drains (No pun) so I did a u turn and returned to the drain where we found 6 baby ducks swimming in the drain about a metre down. The drain was a heavy cast iron type and I could not lift it so I went to the adjacent house and the homeowner came out with a crowbar and I was able to lift the drain. All this time the mum duck waited patiently with her 4 babies. When I laid on the ground I found I could just reach the babies and one by one I caught them and they ran to the mother duck. Finally another neighbour brought a wooden pallet which we put over the drain. We then escorted the duck family down the road to where I knew there was a grassed area that always has a huge puddle in it and there we said goodbye to them all.

 

[Craftylady]

I’ve moved into a smaller house after leaving my house of 35 years that we built and raised our 4 children in, it was perfect and I had many friends in the street which I now miss very much, it was a financial decision that I am still coming too terms with it and trying very hard to find the positives of this move , own own home and no debt definitely being the biggest. My friends are very supportive and say I will make it my own soon , I know it will take time , I really hope so.

 

[Sandygwalk]

In April I noticed a change in my husband he was favouring his left side so I took him the doctor who sent us to the emergency unit.
After CT and MRI they found a large aggressive tumor in hid brain, within 3 days it was removed and after months of radiation and chemo there is no sign of cancer which is the best news. He also beat bowel cancer five years ago so we try to have a positive attitude about surviving and living the best life we can.

 

[PattiB]

Lovely to hear your news Sethia, I do hope that your health is improving, it’s so important to take care of oneself. I’ve had a very strange year, with most of my time taken up helping sick friends. My best friend has dementia and while she’s always overjoyed to see me, caring for her became too much for her long suffering husband, (he’s a saint for enduring for so long) she went into a nursing home last week. It’s so sad that such an amazing, intelligent lady is going to end her days locked in a dementia unit. Just when I thought I could relax a bit, Teds older brother has dementia like symptoms from traumatic brain injuries, years of being knocked unconscious while playing sport at school, to car accidents & tree branches falling on him, & of course he didn’t go to hospital apart from the sports injury. The dementia symptoms have advanced rather quickly & he’s now very childlike. Apparently, he has Frontal Lobe scarring, but thanks to his neurologist, his aged care package was granted within weeks. Ted naturally, wants to spend as much time with him as possible.
In July my sons partner’s mother passed away, she & her husband were having a few days away, when she had to go to hospital only to be told that she had only a few weeks to live as her condition, (ovarian cancer) was untreatable. 3 weeks later she had gone.
Ted is still having “spots” removed etc, so life goes on.
Ona brighter note my niece gave birth to a little boy at 32 weeks, but they are now home & both doing well.
I think we both need to have a break, so it will be off to Perth, probably in November.
Thanks SDC, you all help keep me sane? & even a little cross sometimes.

 

[PattiB]

In April I noticed a change in my husband he was favouring his left side so I took him the doctor who sent us to the emergency unit.
After CT and MRI they found a large aggressive tumor in hid brain, within 3 days it was removed and after months of radiation and chemo there is no sign of cancer which is the best news. He also beat bowel cancer five years ago so we try to have a positive attitude about surviving and living the best life we can.

I do hope that your husband continues stay well. My husband, who has skin cancer problems which led to him losing his right eye, says being positive is the key to survival. It takes a toll on us poor wives looking after them & worrying about what’s to come. I’m fairly positive and refuse to concern myself with things that haven’t happened.
Wishing the pair of you all the best for the future.

 

[Jo Piper3]

I am. About to have an implant to help reduce my pain levels.

Just finished the trial. All went well, so now healing ready for the main operation.

I am having a neuromonics implant into my back, and two electrodes running along my spine.

It will bring my pain levels down about 90 %, and help me get off about 4 very strong and dangerous medications.

Hope everything goes according to plan, your pain is substantially lowered and your quality of life improved. Best of luck and please take care. I'm sure everyone on this site feels the same

 

[HelenB55]

The biggest highlight so far this year is becoming a grandmother again to a little princess…. Cara Faye.
Faye is my middle name & also our daughter’s middle name. It’s Irish & means Fairy.
Because we both thought we couldn’t have children (hubby practically sterile & me with a half turned uterus) got a little Maltese terrier & named her Cara.
About 5 years later I finally got pregnant.. was such a shock after trying for almost 12 years…including 3 miscarriages.
Our little Cara was like our baby & when I told everyone I was pregnant, they said I would have to get rid of our dog as they all said she would be aggressive toward our baby.
Little Cara turned out to be such a beautiful dog.
When our daughter was born, our little dog stayed beside her cot all the time. She was like our baby’s carer.
We had our little dog till our daughter was 4. The 2 of them were almost glued together. Our daughter could do anything to her & she took it all without ever snapping or growling.
When our little dog passed away we were all deeply depressed as she was “ our first baby”, & our daughter cried all the time. We thought that was why she called her daughter Cara. But it was actually her husband who came up with the name, so it didn’t take much convincing for our daughter to agree.
Our daughter has a few memories our little dog…. & still sheds a few tears when we talk about her.
Sorry for babbling on…….

 

[kayc]

Not sure about fun but - January this year myself, oldest daughter and granddaughter along with other past workmates arranged to attend the Suzie Quatro concert in Townsville (Feb 4th), well it rained and rained etc for weeks, concert cancelled, trains, buses, planes etc also - ended up having to stay till Feb25th before getting transport home - so no family reunion, no concert, no catch up with mates. Concert has been rescheduled for Nov so have fingers etc crossed. I wont forget early 2025 welcome

 

[Sethia Soliman]

I have become a great Grandmother in March to a girl Charlotte. I also am expecting another great granddaughter in October around my Birthday, It's an exciting year.

Congratulations! That is SUCH incredible news, @janj!

 

[Sethia Soliman]

Lovely to hear your news Sethia, I do hope that your health is improving, it’s so important to take care of oneself. I’ve had a very strange year, with most of my time taken up helping sick friends. My best friend has dementia and while she’s always overjoyed to see me, caring for her became too much for her long suffering husband, (he’s a saint for enduring for so long) she went into a nursing home last week. It’s so sad that such an amazing, intelligent lady is going to end her days locked in a dementia unit. Just when I thought I could relax a bit, Teds older brother has dementia like symptoms from traumatic brain injuries, years of being knocked unconscious while playing sport at school, to car accidents & tree branches falling on him, & of course he didn’t go to hospital apart from the sports injury. The dementia symptoms have advanced rather quickly & he’s now very childlike. Apparently, he has Frontal Lobe scarring, but thanks to his neurologist, his aged care package was granted within weeks. Ted naturally, wants to spend as much time with him as possible.
In July my sons partner’s mother passed away, she & her husband were having a few days away, when she had to go to hospital only to be told that she had only a few weeks to live as her condition, (ovarian cancer) was untreatable. 3 weeks later she had gone.
Ted is still having “spots” removed etc, so life goes on.
Ona brighter note my niece gave birth to a little boy at 32 weeks, but they are now home & both doing well.
I think we both need to have a break, so it will be off to Perth, probably in November.
Thanks SDC, you all help keep me sane? & even a little cross sometimes.

Oh, @PattiB... I wish I could extend a real hug! This is why these little moments to chat with you guys mean a lot to me, too! I truly enjoy the online relationship I have with you and the rest of the SDC family. You had quite the year, and my goodness, are you such a strong person. I wish you nothing but the best. <3

 

[Sethia Soliman]

I have a few highlights of 2025 with more to come. Firstly it has to Definitely be becoming a grandmother again for the 21 st grandchild a little girl Evie Rose and being there for her birth.

And of course seeing Baby Leo growing and doing the milestones other babies are doing .

And my weight loss of 40kg and my youngest becoming a nurse after all her hard studying
Baby Evie
View attachment 82472

Little Leo who was born at only 28 weeks last November
View attachment 82474
My daughter in her scrubs
View attachment 82480
My weight loss
View attachment 82475
All of these are my grandchildren and there are moreView attachment 82473

Such a beautiful family, and such lovely pictures! It's so nice to see you still around and so active in the SDC, @Suzanne rose! Thank you for sharing this with me. It made me smile!

 

[Suzanne rose]

Not sure about fun but - January this year myself, oldest daughter and granddaughter along with other past workmates arranged to attend the Suzie Quatro concert in Townsville (Feb 4th), well it rained and rained etc for weeks, concert cancelled, trains, buses, planes etc also - ended up having to stay till Feb25th before getting transport home - so no family reunion, no concert, no catch up with mates. Concert has been rescheduled for Nov so have fingers etc crossed. I wont forget early 2025 welcome

I tried to get tickets to her concert in Sydney at the end of October and all sold out. I hope you fet to go ,it should be an amazing concert