Originally Posted by cinders999

Hi Andelina, I know from the replies to your thread that some people seem to be in legal things with their RSD so can't really post, but as I'm not I love the idea of talking about things other than RSD.

My name is Mandars (Amanda, but nobody calls me that), my late husband shortened my name to that & it's stuck I'm 50 this year, although I've had RSD for nearly 1/2 my life I have tried to ignore it & get on with life where possible. I'm a widow now & have been since 94, like you I have a daughter but she's grown up now. Suzi lives with me still & is engaged to a lovely lad, they plan to live with me even when they're married.

I used to run an animal rescue centre for cats, rabbits, guinea pigs & birds. I even had a little owl for several months. Although I stuck to taking only those I've told you about I did take in an iguana from some one who was posted abroad. I was living in a military area at the time in the south of England so had a high turn over of pets needing homes as people were posted else where. I had to give the centre up when I moved, but I still miss it. I have pets again now, an assistance dog that I trained myself, a guinea pig, 2 zebra finches & a quail. All the birds are rescued, some habits die hard

I do a lot of crafts also, I crochet, knit, cross stitch & sew. I have a grip thing to help me when I'm bad, the rest of the time I tuck the knitting needle down my brace & knit away! It's probably a sight that would give the avid knitter heart failure, but it's fun

I also love dolls housing, I use my ot therapy to make mini things for the houses we have. I use clay & femo to make foods & accessories, I sew fancy dresses for the dolls & make all sorts of soft furnishings for the houses. Whilst I was running the rescue centre for pleasure I was also working from home. I designed & made ball gowns for the military wives, also some wedding dresses.

Nice to chat to you