Anyone had to spend days alone without anyone to talk to?

[Hanna3]

Hi all, apart from here and a brief visit to church last night (to make it feel Christmassy and to just be with people) I've had day after day for weeks now with nobody at all to talk to. This time of year especially it's really depressing. Old friends that live far away are gradually losing contact with me - I ring them but they don't ring me. I understand they're busy with their live elsewhere but still it's hard when you're lonely. I'm going to a Christmas Eve service at the local church tomorrow night to at least be with people for a little while... but otherwise all day I'm alone, just me and the dog. Sometimes I strike up a conversation on BB but then the other person disappears and that's the end of that...

How are people meant to cope with prolonged periods of social isolation? I read, I watch DVDs, normally I'd go for long walks with the dog but thick smoke from bushfires and intense hot weather have stopped that. I go to a café alone sometimes. Any ideas/help?

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

I hope Mr Sam's tummy is ok today & you both get to go out & enjoy a quiet town without the crowds

Christmas hugs for you & ear rubs for Sam

Paws

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Merry Christmas to you and Sam. I hope it’s pleasant however you’re spending it x

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws and Katy, Grandy, everyone

Did you do anything to treat yourself for Christmas Paws? We had a quiet one but it was very hot so that's all we wanted. It's nice to veg out and watch movies!

Sam is going OK on the new diet a bit at a time, it's making him lethargic but that seems to be usual when you change their diet.

Everthing is closed here for a week including cafes and even take away places. It's very quiet. Was hoping to get to the dog park this afternoon but a severe storm is threatening and they roll in very fast here. It's frustrating as we want to go out but if we get caught in a storm it's nasty as there's flash flooding.

I've been trying some online 3D jigsaw puzzles and they're quite good!

Hugs from us here 🙂👍🐕🐾🎄🎉🎀🎁💞

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

It's good to hear Sam is managing the diet transition ok so far...

A cool day today after a very mild Christmas day... which is nice after a few hot days earlier this week...

Do be careful if there are storms about your way... there have been some quite nasty localised weather events in NSW lately...

We didn't do anything special here yesterday... did you do anything nice for yourself?...

Hugs

Paws

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws and everyone

Sorry I've been caught up in some family stuff with my brother.

I binge watched 3 movies Xmas day as it was too hot to go out much. It was great to just relax and chill!

I take Sam to the dog park here regularly now and the dogs all have a great time!

Trying to do some cooking and freeze meals ahead in case I need to isolate. They're recommending people plan ahead in case of this happening. If I catch Omicron I can still be pretty off colour.

Hope the snake is staying away!

😊👍🐕🐾💞

[demonblaster]

Hi lovely Hannah 🐕 and everyone ☺

I read quite often here hun been slack posting but know I do care and feel very deeply for your situation and your poor eyesight you poor love it's so important.

Hope Sam settles soon with the change of diet.

Sounds like a very wise idea to cook ahead saves when we don't feel up to it having something prepared love it.

Those at the park seriously it's there loss not talking. Many people I've realised are quite shy and tend to stick to their clicks. The more they see you and I'm guessing you're comfy around people something might strike someday well I hope so anyway. All people can be hard work at times.

I really like your positivity. Our dear Doolsy commented once how nice and relaxed it is here or to that effect. True.

Wishing you and everyone a far better new year with plenty of positives and peace.

Take care darl won't you and everyone ⚘💗

[Hanna3]

Hi Deebi, Grandy, Paws, Katy, Dools, everyone

Thanks for your post Deebi and nice to see you here! Yes it's tiring trying to focus on a tiny phone screen and it's hard to see BB well on the phone. I'm sure I miss things people have written and I am sorry if this happens as I don't deliberately ignore anyone!!!

I cooked ahead in case I had to isolate or got sick, as it means I have enough for a week without needing to bother anyone for assistance.

A couple of the ladies in the dog park have thawed out and are chatting nicely now. I take Sam quite often, the little dogs all have a lovely play and we sit and chat. It's nice now, so I'm glad I persisted!!

We sometimes get to an outdoor dog friendly Cafe in the morning. People usually get talking.

There's an exhibition at the art gallery here I want to get to. I have an elderly friend in the city I talk to when I can, but she's getting dementia and getting very demanding poor thing.

Sam had an arthritis injection at the vet today and tomorrow I have the hairdresser and it's going to be hot for several days which I definitely don't like!

I hope you and everyone is OK! How nice of you to come by.

I've been reading a blog called letters of note on the internet, it's letters from famous people and some of them are incredibly witty and clever.

Big hugs from us here! 🤗💞🐕🐾🐰🦝🦊🐙🐬🐏🐑🐄🐘🦏🐀🐹

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna, wave to everyone,

That is great news that the locals have finally started chatting... it must make such a difference for you... & for Sam having lots of new playmates

Given the rising rate of covid infections in NSW I think you are very wise to provide ahead for yourself...

What is the exhibition you are hoping to go to? I have treated myself a christmas present & bought the biography of Vincent van Gogh that was written with the full assistance of the van Gogh foundation/museum & has great reviews... I will have a wait for it though as it won't ship for about 2 to 4 weeks...

The hot weather is due here later this week too... not looking forward to it

I hope your contact with your brother is going ok... I remember you saying previously he is hard to deal with.

Keep cool

Hugs

Paws

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws,

That book on Van Gogh sounds good, you must be a fan of his paintings? I have a book on Margaret Olley out from the library, the interiors she did in her apartment in the city are wonderful, I've always admired her work.

The exhibition here is Brett Whiteley. Some of his paintings are lovely. I got chatting with a couple of people who were sketching in the park here today, they were up from Melbourne and had been to see it.

Yes we're in for a heatwave here, I loathe hot weather now! At least the lounge room now has air-conditioning but it's hard to sleep at night and too hot to walk during the day.

A couple of the ladies at the dog park are pleasant now, and Sam loves the playtime with the other dogs. We sit in the shade underneath the trees and chat while the dogs run around. Yes it's good to have them to talk to.

I'm reading Yuval Noah Harari's book Sapiens at the moment. I like him a lot - I don't think he's always right but he's always interesting and the book is fascinating. I watch/listen to some of his interviews on utube.

My brother is a mess. He lives in the big city in your state. It's our parents' fault. What gets to me is the appalling mess they made of raising us. Highly educated and abusive. My intelligent, highly educated, highly successful in his field of work, trained-to-be-a-concert-pianist brother is so avoidant he can't manage relationships with anyone.

So I go on trying to sort through the wreckage!

Hugs. 💖

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

I have read very different reviews about Sapiens... it seems to be a book that people either love or loath...

I like a lot of Margaret Olley's work too... I know the name Brett Whitely, but I must admit I can't think of a single piece of his work... I will have to google him now... Yes I love van Gogh's paintings especially how he took to using the new paint colours that were just being created in his lifetime...

Having a brother with those issues must be hard work... I think it is wonderful you try to engage with him in a way he can possibly cope with... he is lucky to have a sister like you...

Hugs

Paws