Anxiety and Covid 19

[Sarahbelle]

Hi.

I am extremely anxious about the current covid pandemic.

Feel as though it is living in my brain but my body feels the symptoms.

It causes me such panic and terror and all consuming

Trying to challenge my thinking but ver hard.

Any one else feel this. Any advice appreciated.

Thankyou.

[missep123]

Hi everyone!

That sounds fantastic Gems! Thank you for telling us about Hanukkah and I am so sorry if I assumed by asking about Christmas! I remember someone once told me about Dreidles also (I am not sure if you spell it like that)!

The elections would have been a very stressful time gems! Even here I was waiting with baited breath, that's for sure!

Sarahbelle, all the best with your move! I hope all is going well!

[Sarahbelle]

Hello.

So lovely to hear how we celebrate special religious and cultural events which bring loved ones together. I find it fascinating that there is such rich culture and opportunity to learn from one another. Even adopt some new customs.

I agree Missep. I have never seen people in Australia so interested in the US elections before. Gems I found the system difficult to understand with college votes but think I've got it now.

Gem's wishing you a great couple of weeks before returning home. I am sure your family are counting the hours.

Missep, oh my this house selling thing is certaintly interesting. I will let you know what happens.

Take care, stay safe.

Sarahbelle.

[missep123]

Hi Sarahbelle!

Great to hear from you! All the best with selling your house! We are always here for you to support you and have a chat 🙂

Hope you're doing well too gems!

[uncut_gems]

Hey guys!

No worries at all missep, always happy to share a little bit about Hanukkah! I always take "happy Christmas" to mean "happy holidays" and I never get offended by it because it's just people wishing well and spreading cheer, and most people do of course celebrate Christmas!

I was thinking during the election how complicated it all was and how even MORE inscrutable it must be to someone on the outside! You are quite right Sarahbelle that the electoral college system is incredibly arcane and I have a hard time understanding it/explaining it myself. Luckily we can put all that behind us for another 4 years.

A warm week ahead here in Sydney! Have you guys been getting to the beach or outside at all ?

Best,

Gems

[missep123]

Hi gems!

Thank you for being so understanding! I love learning about all cultures and religions 🙂 What kind of food do you tend to have around the holidays?

I love the sun! I really feel like a sunflower when it's sunny and bright. I think I don't get enough Vitamin D usually so I think summer will help with that! Have you been to the beach recently?

[uncut_gems]

Yes! I moved house recently and now I live about as far as I can run from the beach, so I've been ending my jogs there with a swim 🙂 I actually don't do too well in the heat (I'm from a colder part of the US originally), so I've already busted out the fan for my room.

How are things going with your house Sarahbelle?

Best,

Gems

[Sarahbelle]

Hello,

Slowly getting ready to put the house on the market. Not doing work to it as a new owner would most probably like to make their own changes. Years worth of goodies to go through. Hopefully up for sale in a few weeks.

So nice to have the lovely weather back with us after a cold and long lockdown.

Gems the beach sounds wonderful. Keep on enjoying your little while left in Australia

Missep at Chrismas we always have a curry on the table. My dad was from a tropical island so that has always been one of our traditions we will always keep.

What special celebration food do you share?

Only 3 more working weeks for me this year. Yay.

Sending lots of warm wishes .

Sarahbelle. 😎😎😎😎

[missep123]

Hi guys!

I am really loving this warm weather. Similar to you gems, but rather I'm from a very cold part of Canada! Ottawa to be exact. Now I only visit when it's warm haha.

Sarahbelle that is such an interesting tradition! What kind of curry? I love Japanese curry myself! It's so different to normal curry.

We tend to have turkey, seasoned peas, carrots, potatoes! This year I might make Mac and cheese as well.

I'm hungry now!

I hope you guys are having a great weekend!

[Sarahbelle]

Missep I never knew you were from Canada. You and Gems have most probably celebrated some white Holiday Seasons along the way. That would be amazing.

My dad was from the Seychelles.

The curry is traditionally fish or chicken. It is a light curry with a creole influence. As mum was a bush girl we also have the Aussie fare usually cold meats and salads. Plumb pudding is a must.

Yum, I too am hungry now.

So lovely to share our traditions.

Sarahbelle.

[uncut_gems]

That's awesome Sarahbelle! I have to say the idea of a warm, sunny December holiday season is one of the strangest parts of Australian life to me and not one I'm sure I'd ever really get used to, no matter how long I lived here! I've had plenty of snowy holidays (and also plenty where there was just mud and slush lol), and I always wondered what people in the Southern hemisphere thought of all the songs about snow and keeping warm by the fire.

I love that Aussies adjust the foods accordingly, like cold salads etc. Curry also sounds delicious! That's such a cool heritage to honor. The tradition for American Jews is to eat chinese food on Christmas because those are the only places open! Traditionally we also make brisket and onions, along with latkes (fried potato and onion pancakes).

I'm getting hungry now too...

Gems