Winter solstice

[NatureLover]

Ah yes, I see (re checkouts) @Dimity . I also started using the self serve checkouts due to germs, during Covid. 

Yes, I'm disappointed too that you haven't had the council help / support workers after your big surgery. Will you still be getting it at some point? 

I'm sorry your sister hardly ever picks up 😣

Yes, my giving up of religion was a complete life change. I had to start again virtually from scratch. New lifestyle, new friends, new home, everything. That was after my 3 years in bed with my nervous breakdown (severe depression and SI).

I hope that today is a better day for you...

[Dimity]

Council is sending someone in a couple of weeks @NatureLover but they were very critical when they were here before  and complained about things that the assessor had said were OK.

That sounds a really difficult time for you @NatureLover - 3 years bedridden and reinventing yourself. Was it very long ago? Had you been functioning well until that point or were the trauma ocd and agoraphobia etc always troublesome?

[NatureLover]

Oh no, @Dimity ! I'm sorry to hear the council support worker complained 😣

I'm glad you have a starting date, despite it being so long after your surgery. 

My nervous breakdown was 2006-2008 (3 years). The MIs really got much worse then and remained so. 

I hope you can start sleeping much better soon 🤞

[Dimity]

I'm sorry your MIs worsened @NatureLover but to me you're doing wonderfully well compared with that awful 3 years. I guess your SAD is likely to creep up again but I trust your hands are better than they were. It's so good you can volunteer and garden and socialise and enjoy your reading. And you've made progress on home storage.

On reflection I'm not in a good place and my efforts haven't been helping improve my situation. I really must try to face the therapist but I'm unable to at present. 

[NatureLover]

Thank you for your kind words, @Dimity . Yes, those 3 nightmare years <shudder> You're right, things are so much better now. 

I'm sorry things feel so bad and hopeless for you 😥 I hope you get to a point where you can face the therapist, if that's your aim. Also that things feel brighter very soon 🤞

Sending hugs 🫂 

[Dimity]

@NatureLover I feel better, having regained some control, after navigating the latest family disagreement,  visiting my sister in hospital,  and collecting litter and  garbage from the street. It was 12 months since I'd comfortably picked up litter so the surgery has made a big difference. Yesterday I reported 11 properties for illegally dumping rubbish on nature strips after a break of 6 weeks. It's  a constant battle  I wish I could do more to make the neighbourhood greener and cleaner. 

[NatureLover]

So pleased you're feeling a bit better and more in control @Dimity ! Well done re the family disagreement and visiting your sister in hospital - both sound difficult. 

And I'm so pleased you feel physically well enough after your surgery to pick up litter! 

I didn't do much yesterday so have a long list today. I won't get through it all but hope to make some progress. 

Hoping your day is good today 🤞

[Dimity]

Hope you ticked off some of your list @NatureLover . I picked up more litter.

I also napped for a couple of hours. 

The gardening help has cancelled this week (again). I'll try to get back to doing what I can but I'm restricted in what I can do. 

Decluttering seems beyond me at present.