Friends Cafe - social space for members under 25

[Kazzl]

Hey! Welcome to Friends Cafe.

This is a chill and chat space for young BB members to talk about anything and everything and make new friends.

When school's getting to you, uni or work has got you down, parents, partners, friends don't understand, and especially if you're feeling alone or lonely - come and relax awhile and talk to others who know just how you feel.

Our minds can cause us trouble, but they can also be amazing things that imagine beauty, love and fun. This cafe has everything you can imagine. To start with it's, well, a cafe. So there's chairs and tables, comfy couches for flopping, a big screen tele, unlimited download on computers for games, Spotify (or an old-school jukebox if you prefer), every movie you can think of on instant demand ... whatever you want, it's here. Post and tell us what'd you'd like.

Plus, there's an infinite menu of whatever food or drinks takes your fancy. And it's all free!

To kick it off, today we have a special range of Monster Milkshakes - those thick gooey shakes topped with cronuts, chocolate bars, cake, cookies ... whatever you want. And if you can get through one of them, you're a legend (and probably feeling a little bit sick LOL!)

Welcome friends.

[Zeal]

Hey guys,

I came across this page earlier today, and thought I'd provide the link. You probably have received similar advice before, but maybe it's good to have a reminder 🙂 This link is particularly applicable for students in Year 12 who are feeling overwhelmed, but it could also be helpful for other students too.

http://au.reachout.com/im-feeling-overwhelmed?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=TLA4&utm_medium=post&utm_content=feeligoverwhelmedpaid

All the best everyone,

Zeal

[Guest_322]

Hi Demi,

Chief and and Doug sound like perfect furry companions. Nothing like some doggie cuddles on a bad day 😉

I'm glad your sister is receiving both professional (counsellor) and personal (you) support for depression. She's lucky to have you by her side. Hopefully you get to take some time out for yourself sometimes- your needs and health are important as well.

Whoa, you've been very lucky on the pet front. I'm super jealous ha, ha. The snake must have been pretty awesome.

I haven't had nearly as many pets as you ha, ha. I've had fish and mice (mostly because my parents weren't big on animals so I was limited to animals that "wouldn't make a mess" ha, ha).

If I could be any animal, I would be a lioness or an eagle. Lioness because, well, queen of the jungle (need I say more ha, ha?). Eagle because I could fly and have powerful wings (& by queen of the sky) 😉 How about you? What animal?

Thanks! The neurochemistry terms are for a biopsych assignment.

Let us know how work went today!

Dottie x

[Guest_322]

Hi,

James, it's fantastic to hear from you 😊 I think it's great that you set yourself a time frame for your current job. Time frames can be a good way to reassess your career goals and direction.

Either postgrad law or undergrad psych would be interesting. Just out of curiousity though, why law or psych?

Queen of Cool (Tara), I'll definitely have to check out New Americana and Castle! Thanks for the recommendations 😊

An outdoor movie theatre party sounds wonderful! Let is know it it goes. Thanks, I'm more just overexcited ha, ha.

Rollerblading sounds like a lot of fun! Yes please, definitely let us know how tonight goes. Enjoy 😊

Dottie x

[Demi1]

Hi again James 🙂 Hope your shift went well and your boss was not upset you were a tad late 😛 It sounds crazy since we only just met but I would love to meet someday! As much as your eagle sketch is amazing I would love to see the face behind your kind words 🙂 I'm so glad you are loving your new job at the bank; any idea what your next "change"/ occupation will be? Going back to university would be awesome but I'm sure you'll love any transition you choose 🙂 It is tough to juggle work/school/personal life occasionally but I guess I'm always up for a challenge and quite enjoy the drama... guess that's a little odd hey? Haha yes, I have seen 'UP,' it was a fantastic movie; we did not name him Doug because of it though. To be completely honest I wanted to name him Taco but my mum said not- which is fair enough. Haha what made you go from calling him Lockie to Froggers if I may ask?

Do you often draw/sketch? I actually love drawing! Usually spend most of my time working on one piece for hours at a time; I find it quite humbling 🙂

I just want to say if you ever want to talk; and feel like it will be too much of a burden or distraction for your sister I would love to listen/ maybe even share my own experiences 🙂

Hi Tara,

It is a pleasure to meet you! Wow, you're also a Melbournian!! That makes me so happy 🙂 Aww 15, are you getting excited; or feel like it's just another year? When I was your age/lived in Melbourne I used to volunteer in a Reptile shop; I loved it but you need a certain type of personality to be willing to walk around with snakes around your neck all day long haha. I also loved working as a basketball referee! That may not be useful at all but thought I would share my first workplace experience with you; keep me updated on yours! Aww I love the name Charlie, very sweet 🙂 I completely understand that Charli is like a little brother haha sounds a little weird but I often just sit around talking to my dogs as if they were people... I'm actually trying to get my dogs to understand Indonesian 😛 Sometimes I repeat their commands in both English and Indonesian hoping, eventually they will become bi-lingual and respond to both- weird, I know haha.

[Guest_322]

Hi,

Zeal, thanks for your vote of confidence in me (however possibly misplaced ha, ha). Time will tell how I go on this biopsych assignment (hence the neurochemistry mention).

And yes! I heard your groan about the 2 prac proposals (rest assured, I groaned too on your behalf 😉).

That must have been an interesting experience at your volunteer gig. It was very nice of you to give so much of your time and attention to the 15 y.o. with autism that day.

Happy birthday to The Boyfriend (btw if anyone else reads this; when I mention The BF, I'm referring to Zeal's bf ha, ha)! Hope he has 2 amazing birthday celebrations with so many loved ones 😊

Ahw, WELL DONE for making those phone calls. You're proud and so you should be! It seems like you've been having a rough couple of weeks. If you want to talk, you're always welcome here or you could start a thread. We've got your back. Big virtual hug.

And it seems you're rather multitalented. Musical and a dancer. What a combination?! Oh and I love 10 Things I Hate About You too 😀

Dottie x

[Demi1]

Hi Zeal 🙂 It is a pleasure to meet you! Thank you so much for the compliment, although I may appear mature I think I am still a child at heart. But I guess I have lead an... interesting (somewhat unlucky) life and those experiences somewhat forced me to grow up earlier than I would have liked. But I am not complaining; I am actually glad it has all happened and despite how difficult it all seemed at the time; it has allowed me to acknowledge that no matter for lack of a better word, s*** it was at the time I am able to look back on it all and seek the positives; and more importantly know deep down that whatever life throws at me, I AM strong enough to keep going and eventually take what I have learnt and benefit others 🙂 In saying that, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being shy or timid; I tend to find that most people see me as loud/obnoxious rather than confident ahah

It was a pleasure to meet you; and I hope your boyfriends birthday celebrations encourage an abundance of memories he/the family will cherish forever 🙂

Hi Ahw, it is lovely to meet you finally! My study is moving at a reasonable pace... I find it is easier to work alongside others so I have invited some friends over for a study day tomorrow; hoping their presence will encourage me NOT to procrastinate.. though I may just end up playing with my pets haha. I study 4-unit English, Art, Community and Family Studies, Retail and have already finished 3 major-works and Completed Indonesian Continuers in yr 11; what about you?? I have an odd habit of wanting to spontaneously learn new things; think I'll start Spanish and Sign Language after HSC, also want to learn Guitar and pick Flute back up again; other than that I love to draw, read and write 🙂 What are your hobbies? Who knows, maybe you will get a dog sometime soon! I'm sorry to hear your anxiety is risen lately 😞 If you ever want to talk we are here for you 🙂 Even when I'm not struggling with anxiety I still struggle to make phonecalls/book appointments; I often ask my best friend to call and pretend to be me haha.

[Demi1]

Hey Dotti 🙂

Yes I have been extremely lucky on the pet front, I can't say I would enjoy having a mouse as a pet but I'm glad you find companionship with them haha. My parents were never really strict at what KINDS of pets we could have, as long as WE looked after them and paid for their expenses (haha kinda sounds like a child) they were open to anything. Umm, if I were a kind of animal I think I would be a Flamingo... sounds odd but I often stand around with one foot resting on the side of my leg; it's actually quite comfortable haha How did the assignment go/ is going?

Work was great; extremely busy and a bit challenging since the managers had a meeting and left me to run the store by myself ahah but all was good in the end and it was a very enjoyable shift 🙂

Hope you're all well and have a relaxing night planned 🙂

Demi

[Zeal]

Hey guys,

Dottie, thank you for your kind words! Haha, The Boyfriend is a fitting title!

Demi - thank you for your lovely message! It's great that you can look back at the unfortunate circumstances you were in and realise that they have led to you becoming who you are now. It's fantastic that you're so supportive of your sister with her depression. Is she younger or older than you? I have a sister who is two years younger than me (she's 21). Thank you for your kind wishes - I hope my boyfriend really enjoys his birthday too!
I skimmed your comment to Dottie, and was amused by the flamingo comment. I used to stand with one foot on my upper leg sometimes. Being tall and thin, Mum would joke that I looked like a flamingo! It certainly is more comfortable than people realise!

ahw, Grace, James, Tara - I'm thinking of you guys too 🙂

Best wishes,

Zeal

[Demi1]

Hey Zeal 🙂

I am extremely lucky that I am able to strive through the difficult times and reflect upon them with such positivity; for this I am grateful 🙂 My sister is younger, almost 14; but I also have an older sister who is 20yrs old. You wouldn't think standing like a flamingo is comfortable in the slightest but I highly disagree! I'm glad you understand the reasoning behind my choice of animal and I did not come across as a lunatic haha.

Thank you so much for your reply, I would love to get to know you more!

Demi x

[james1]

Hey Dottie, law because I'm fascinated by the topic from a purely academic point of view (geeky/nerdy I know, haha), and psych because I'm equally fascinated by how things work and how people behave, but also because I might be interested in a career there. But paying for a degree purely for learning reasons when I have a mortgage to worry about doesn't seem like the most financially astute action, haha 🙂 Still, they never said bankers had to be good at managing their own money!

Hey Demi, my boss is actually at a conference this week but he's aware of my depression and is okay with me coming in a bit late. Though I don't know about 1.5 hours... still, I'm working right now too so at least that makes up for it. Aha I actually had my photo up for a week just before you joined, but now I'm cycling through the sketches. Voldemort is next up, so please don't mistake me for him. I do have a nose.

I think the next change will be going back to uni and maybe working part time. I've just started writing short stories so maybe that will be something to keep me occupied. But yeah, in my spare time drawing or writing if I can. I'm very used to being super busy - 40 hours work & 40 hours uni for 5 months was a killer, but I always worked at least two jobs in uni - so having time off is actually pretty amazing right now. Like you say, hours on end doing one drawing is very humbling and peaceful as well.

Hmm...I call my bird (cockatiel) Mr Chicken because he walks like a chicken and I called Lockie Froggers because it started as Doggy, then that turned into Froggy, which turned into Froggers. It doesn't make sense, I know, haha.

Hey Zeal - my sister did gymnastics when she was a kid and used to eat dinner on the floor with the bowl on the ground about 1 metre in front, so she'd have to bend down and lie almost face to the floor to eat. She'd do all this cross-legged too and said it was "comfortable". I don't know. You girls are strange creatures.

But looking around, it seems I'm surrounded.

Hello ahw (great to see you taking a break and coming online!), Grace and Tara!