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]

Hi Grace 😄

Thanks again for a lovely message!

Competing for Honours does definitely apply pressure. I am not very good at concentrating when it comes to study, and I cannot study for long periods during the day. Whether I get into Honours or not is dependent on my academic results this year, so that is a bit intimidating. However, I don't frame it in that fear-inducing way anymore, thankfully. There are certainly other options. My job as a behaviour therapist would have been one of those great alternative options, had I continued with the role. Early next month I'm attending a job expo run by the APS (Australian Psychological Society), where I will hear about career options. I'm keen to learn as much as possible during that!

I will definitely wish you a very happy birthday on the 25th 😄

I do love being around children. I've been babysitting the kids I looked after last Saturday night since 2011. They are really caring, bubbly and bright. It's fantastic that you also love children! I didn't realise that I really enjoyed the company of little people until I started babysitting just after finishing Year 12! My ten first cousins are within about 7 years of my age, and the three youngest went overseas with their parents when I was in my early teens, so I never looked after young family members or anything like that. Do you have cousins you're close to?

It's great you are so close to the school holidays; it's a good chance to have a break from lessons and to 'recharge'. Vegetarian burgers are pretty tasty actually, though I'm not vegetarian. I haven't had one for ages, but I remember having an amazing freshly-made veggie burger at a market years ago. Are you vegetarian by the way?

I stayed for a simple pasta dinner at my boyfriend's house on Monday night. I saw him the next morning, and then had dinner at his place last night. I wasn't planning to, but they had some extra for me in case, so I could hardly say no! 😛 It's nice having meals with his family while my parents are interstate. Tonight an old friend, myself, my boyfriend and his sister (we're also friends) are heading to the local sushi train restaurant for dinner. We all love the place. I am an unadventurous sushi eater, which I don't mind! I always go for the tuna avocado rolls, or the roast pumpkin ones topped with breadcrumbs! Do you like sushi?

I hope the last few days of school go well 😄

Best wishes,

SM

[Graceeeeee]

Hey dear ahw309!!!

Wow I'm so glad you've joined! Not an easy thing to do right? But here you are, gathered up your courage, being so brave, a big round of applause to you!! Hope I will get to know you better soon 🙂

I'm so glad you find this community supportive and welcoming, me too! And we have some common interests--books and music, what sort of books do you like to read, and what's your music taste?

Hmm monster shake sounds fantastic, being having one of those every day almost since they're introduced on the menu, so having one today as well, why not? I'm thinking strawberry, banana and mango shake with cookies and blue cream on top, with a chocolate bar sticking out too... 😛 Am drooling already at the image, so if you don't mind, I'll get started now!!

Sweet dreams everybody, good night! I'll just have to drink my shake slowly and let my body digest for a bit 😄

With Love,

Grace xx

[Graceeeeee]

Hey dear SM!!

You are always so kind and sparky, I love that about you! I've just quickly read through your lovely message posted on the wall. When you are under much pressure you just have to relax a bit too, like I'll definitely have to do during the school holidays, and wow the APS job expo run sounds exciting, I'm sure you'll learn a lot from it!

It's great to hear you love kids and it must be really nice to work with the same kids over these many years, you must have a great connection to them already. It does sound like you have many relative also, so many cousins! I have a few cousins and I have one here in Australia who grew up with me, she is 3 years older than me and we are really close, I will be saying with her and my aunty during the school holidays (which start Sat yay!!) and hopefully she will get a break from Uni once in a while and hang out with me 🙂 Although I can't have too much fun, 8 exams in the first 2 weeks back term 2!

And it's great to hear you and your bf being so close, I can see you are close with his family as well, which is really great! And in answer to your questions about food--yes I am a vegetarian and I loveeee sushi! Sushi train is always my go to option when hanging out with cousin/friends and we don't have anything particular in mind, did you have fun tonight at sushi train?

All the best wishes SM and sweet dreams to you sweet girl!! Good night hugs? I will head to bed once I finish digesting my monster shake 😛

With Love,

Grace xx

[ahw309]

Hi SM,

Wow thank you so, so much for the welcome, advice and words of encouragement! It really means a lot to me!

My anxiety has elevated after going into year 12 and I have only recently started trying to overcome a period of depression so I often doubt whether I'll get through it! But I'm very lucky as I have many supportive people around me who are all very lovely and understanding (and I guess that now includes you)! They are always encouraging me just to do my best and even though it can be hard that is really all anyone can do 🙂

I've never really had a favourite subject. It always changes depending on my teacher, my class, the particular content we are learning, etc. (I am also extremely indecisive haha) but at the moment, I really like my chemistry teacher so I enjoy my chemistry lessons and I just never feel overwhelmed by chemistry like I can sometimes feel with my other subjects. I also like economics as it is quite interesting and is just a subject that works well with my learning style (if that makes sense?)

On the weekend or in the holidays I don't really do very much. I just like to relax as much as possible, read some books if i can or if I feel like it I sometimes write - usually just some ramblings or poems. I have a close group of friends who I love very much, so I do go out places with them sometimes if I'm up for it, but I am quite the introvert so sometimes I just prefer to stay at home! I also dance and play the violin which both take up a bit of my free time, especially on weekends during the school term. What do you like to do on your breaks?

Thank you so much again for the encouraging and motivating reply, and I too hope you have been having a really nice week! Take care 🙂

[ahw309]

Hi Grace,

Thank you so much for lovely the reply - it really does mean a lot! Signing up wasn't an easy thing but after SM's message and yours, I feel better and am glad I have! Hopefully I will try and slowly start to become a bit more involved and help people in other threads, maybe start my own.

I enjoy reading almost anything! I think I saw you mention John Green before? I have read quite a few of his books and really enjoyed them! My favourite author is Virginia Woolf, have you read anything of hers? Her books were a bit challenging to read but they made me feel understood so I really connected with them. I'm quite lucky because I am studying one of her novels for English this year!

I'm also not too picky with my music - I kind of just like the experience of listening to the sounds and lyrics which people composed themselves because I think that's quite beautiful 🙂 I like some pop songs, mainly more ballad type songs, but I mostly listen to songs by bands like Noah and the Whale (not sure if many people have heard of them), Twenty one pilots, the 1975, and since I'm Christian I also like listening to Christian songs. What about you?

Hope you have been having a good week and been taking good care of yourself 🙂

[Zeal]

Hey Grace 😄

I'm enjoying your messages too! It's great that you get to stay with your cousin and Aunty this holidays! 😄 8 exams is a fair few, but hopefully you'll be able to plan time both to study and to relax/spend time with family and friends.

I had a nice time at the sushi train, thanks! My boyfriend's family are lovely people, and I've met his interstate relatives and his Grandparents too. I'm going to their family dinner this weekend to celebrate my boyfriend's Grandpa's 98th birthday!

Sure, I'll give you a virtual hug! 😄

Enjoy the last day of school tomorrow! I hope you're having a good night 🙂

All the best,

SM

[Zeal]

Hey ahw309,

I'm glad Grace and I have helped you feel welcome here! Year 12 is tough, so do make sure you get help earlier rather than later. Seeing your GP is a good place to start, and keep in mind that school counsellors can be seen for free 🙂

It's awesome that you enjoy Chemistry. I have never understood chemistry, partly because of the associated mathematical equations and concepts, so I didn't choose it as a subject in senior school. Economics is pretty interesting, and it does sound as though the learning comes naturally to you 🙂

Reading is such a great pastime! I like Virginia Woolf too. I've read her novels Mrs Dalloway and Moments of Being for a university English elective. My favourite novels are probably The Book Thief; Maestro and Three Dog Night by Peter Goldsworthy and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon.
Dancing would be a great sport/artistic skill to have. I have honestly never been able to dance. I'm tall and lanky, which doesn't help my already poor dancing skills! 😛 What style of dance do you prefer?
Maybe the violin could be a relaxing outlet during Year 12, if you've played for a while and can play songs with ease 🙂

Thanks so much for your thoughtful and positive feedback 😄

I hope you're enjoying your week too! You are probably on school holidays this weekend like Grace! I'm on uni holidays as of tomorrow, but I have assignments and readings to keep me occupied! ha-ha

Best wishes,

SM

[smith98]

WOW... I have only been gone a couple days and there is so much to catch up on! The Cafe really has become popular (Word must be spreading about the legendary monster milkshake). I haven't read through all the messages but I want to extend a big welcome to anyone new! and of course Kaz & Grace! I hope the two of you have been good since we last spoke!

Sorry I haven't popped by recently, just been trying to push through exams! I had my English speech today which was tricky, 10 minutes with no notes or prompts on an unknown question, which freaked a lot of people out (understandably!). So relieved to have that behind me and just maths tomorrow morning then I'll be done! And that means I'll be able to visit the Cafe more!

And for any students here who are also about to go on holidays this week, are you going anywhere cool? (Also applies for non students haha)

[ahw309]

Hi SM,

Thank you again for such a lovely reply!

I have been seeing my school counsellor for the past several weeks and I actually recently had an appointment with my GP which was good 🙂

That's cool that you like Virginia Woolf too. I have read The Book Thief and I really enjoyed it. I have my own copy of it 🙂 It was cleverly written, the plot was really good and it had some very loveable characters! I have also been wanting to read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time for a while now! I might go and borrow it from the library soon.

I do a lot of different types of dancing but my favourite is probably contemporary because it isn't as structured as others. Hip hop is also fun and looks really cool haha but I don't do it very much. Some friends and I are thinking of doing a hip hop dance for our school's talent quest this year since it is our last year at school! If I can get over the nerves it would be a lot of fun! I guess I'm quite used to performing on stage though so I should be good 🙂

How have you been the past few days? I hope you have been enjoying your break so far, despite the readings and assignments!

Also smith98, thank you for the welcome and congratulations on finishing your exams! I also had my half yearlies for year 12 the past two weeks. Hope you are going well 🙂

[Zeal]

Hi Smith,

It must be great to have completed your exams! Well done 😄 I'm assuming that means you're on school holidays now! I have a uni break now for 2 weeks. I'll be catching up with assignments and readings a fair bit, but that's okay 🙂

Have you got any plans? I'm not going anywhere during this break. I'll mainly spend time with my boyfriend, friends and family and do uni work.

Hope your weekend has been nice so far 😄

Best wishes,

SM