Can yuo suggest anything for my ill friend to do?

He's just out of hospital after serious abdominal surgery and will be off work for 6-8 weeks. He hates not doing things, but will be confined to bed for at least 4 weeks (at best). He does read - but doing that all day would bore him, hates daytime TV and isn't a great watcher of movies. He doesn't have a laptop, or net access at home (the PC and connection is downstairs and stairs are a no-no.) I'm clutching at straws here I know as he is so easily bored. Crosswords, Suduko - he either just get's through them quickly or, well, as I said, gets bored. Oh and he's 50 (as if that'd help on answering that.)

How about some handheld computer games - cheap and cheerful and he could while away the hours? Or, how about getting him and some of his friends webcams so they can talk (I'm not big on technology - does he have to have a computer for his end...??!!) Difficult. Try starting him on a new hobby - perhaps there is something he could make? Perhaps he could catch up with friends - letter writing could fill up lots of time. Maybe arrange for as many people as he wants to visit so he's not stuck at home in bed on his own all the time?

Why not a variety of all these things you mentioned?

Where are all his friends in his hour of need. This is exactly what friends are for, rally round and spend some time with him......

Buy lots of magazines for him. He would rather read then do nothing at all.

Get him to write letters, you can also get him to prepare Xmas cards in advance, how cool would that be not having to bother later on.

get him a notebook and pen, challenge him to write short stories or perhaps about his experience in hospital or his life or the list is endless, also how about art, can he draw or paint? encourage him to do something creative. pls let me know if this helps, email me or something sure we can come up with more ideas. goodluck and godspeed your friends recovery

Once he is out of bed buy him a set of 3 juggling balls and get him to learn to juggle. The exercise of bending to pick up dropped balls will help rebuild abdominal muscles.

Sounds silly ?. I have now mastered juggling and have started on the unicycle. Bit painfull so far.

buy him a canvas and some oil paints and brushes

Actually, knowing his age is a big help with this question. HOw about model building? Painitng, etc.? If his pc is downstairs and he enjoys using it, can you move him and his bed downstairs until he is well? Maybe he would be interested in compiling some music. Regroup things he's collected? Do some writing, could even dictate into a machine if that would be easier.
Helpful to know what his interests are when he is able-bodied, but I hope these suggestions lead to good ideas. At least it is only temporary, and being bored can be healthy: it can spark our creative juices.
Best of luck, and tell your friend I've prayed for him and wish him well.

I agree that a variety of activities should help. Perhaps a friend has a laptop to borrow for the period. Some Public libraries in cities have them for rent. Check with your local computer store and find out what is available. Explain the situation. Also check with other people on line who may have had the same experience and find out what they did.

A deck of cards so he can play Solitaire and then other games when friends visit. Also, a journal would be nice so he can write his thoughts on all that he is going through, and the things he wants to accomplish when he is better.

Being an artist I would suggest doing some artwork...paint by numbers is ok if he cant draw/paint. Or perhaps a few models (ships, cars, planes) he can put together. My husband is 42 and still likes to do them. Even something like whittling can ease boredom. Or you can get jisaw puzzles for him..they even make a mat for them that you can roll up and the puzzle stays as it was. Or rather than read maybe he can write out his life story. It might be boring to him but I am sure others would think it is interesting. Another suggestion is an oldy but a goody...get him a penpal or two or three...that should keep him busy.

He should write down a plan or wish list on all the things he wants to do after he gets better - places he wants to go to - and catch up with old friends by phone and invite them round for a chat or write a novel.

he could arrange all his photographs in a photo album and write funny captions about that particular picture.,

I do that with my photograph's and it takes me forever. If not how about planning holidays and trips after all that could take a considerable length of time

You might aswell use the time doing valuable stuff rather than quiz books!

put a bed downstairs for him life would be a lot better for him.by the way i am late 50s and disabled hope this has help;t good Luke

already have manythings to do.

I am 53. Speaking for myself only I would upgrade to digital cable from basic thereby having a huge variety of viewing 24/7. I would get the DVR for $9.95 per month to easily record anything I want to view when I want. Of course I need a telephone next to me. I would have BOOKS of general interest as well as the fiction I used to read. I actually began doing crosswords last year! Mags are sold in the supermarkets, Barnes and nobles... http://www.dellmagazines.com/order/cross... Get a book of EASY ones and a book of easy, harder, hardest and he may love it. LASTLY unless you are on the most stringent budget shell out for a laptop!!!!!!! If he is too stubborn to try anything then he will just have to bore himself to death.

Get him to do all the things you mentioned and also get him to write a book, that intails a lot of research, and even tho it may never be printed it take eons of enjoyable time. But a lot of visits from friends would also be nice ,he could also ask them for help with the book.

Move the computer upstairs to his room, and put it where he can get at it. Might be awkward, but certainly would help him. If it is a phone line, just buy a 50 or 100 ft phone cable and run it up the stairs to his room. If it is a cable connection, maybe his computer is already set with a wireless lan--if so, maybe you or he could spring for a wireless modem so he'd have computer access.