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?

[Matchy69]

Hi Hanna I live in a very small country town and all we have here is a post office and a pub.I only go into the post office once a week as I have to collect my mail as we don't have it delivered here.It seems really normal out here as its very quiet.Its when I go into the big town that everything changes and it's like a different world with covid.The supermarket shelves are empty and that many people most seem to be wearing mask.Its interesting to note that WA has very few cases as they have kept their border closed and here in Qld since opening our border are up to 10000 a day now.It has put so much stress on everything.Huge lineup at testing centre and people are scared and angry and are panicking.I have enough food to survive here for weeks if I have to as I have plenty of vegies in the garden growing and chickens are laying eggs with some rice and pasta in the cupboard.I don't know if my kids would eat it all the time but I could survive easily on my own.I have a fortnight's supply of cat food for my cat.

I hope you and Sam can manage ok.He would be great company for you in these times.

Take care,

Mark.

[Hanna3]

Oh and Matchy,

I don't think there's a single roll of toilet paper left in town (and this is a very large regional town not that far from the city) so what does that say about the mood here I wonder.. It's strange that on one hand people are clearly panicky and yet others crowd into the pubs and cafes and shopping malls. Go figure!

Looks like 2022 is going to be a fun year! Lucky I bought loo paper ahead too! 😃👍

[Hanna3]

Hi Mark,

You sound well placed with the veggie garden and chooks! I'm on a pension so I can't afford to buy too much ahead, the supermarkets will have to start rationing again. I don't have a big fridge or freezer either. I have tinned soup and pasta and rice.

I chat online with someone in Melbourne so I'll ask her how things are there.

My neighbour has retired from being a nurse at the hospital here and I'll try to ask her how the hospital is coping.

The govt says to ring your GP if you get covid, my GP is a lovely little thing but she can barely cope with the patients she has already, if people with covid keep ringing her the poor thing will collapse from exhaustion!

I'm off to an outdoor Cafe! Keep in touch my friend!

Cheers 🙂

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Hanna...

I read on another thread that your going to get your cute little Sam groomed tomorrow...,Please do be very careful as their are lots of positive cases their...

Both Coles and Woolworths in my closest shopping town (w)...has lots of empty shelves...My friend went a couple of days again and told me....Oh well, just have to do with what I’ve got....I have always heap of 2 minute noodles...luckily I like them 😂😂...

I only have potatoes, spinach and tomatoes growing atm...and a pumpkin patch that’s taking over a big part of my lawn...without pumpkins growing on it,,,

It is so hot isn’t it?....I don’t like the heat at all..their is no real escape from it....I felt the wall in my laundry this afternoon and I’m sure if I cracked an egg on it..,it would have cooked it on now time.., my air conditioner is even struggling to get under 21 deg...

Hugs to you, and everyone..including all the beautiful fur children,,,🧸🤗🤗🐘💜💜.

Grandy..

[Hanna3]

Hi Grandy

It's not until after lunch tomorrow and usually we have a nice walk there first and I take lunch to have in the park afterwards so I don't spend much time indoors. It's going to be hot again but it is a bit cooler in that town.

Town here is very quiet today, people are staying in or in the parks. I'm about to take Sam for a walk now.

Yes not much fresh food here. I've made a lovely tropical fruit salad and I have that with some plain Yoghurt it's lovely in the hot weather.

You take care over there!!! 🙂

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna, wave to everyone,

I hope your trip to get Sam groomed wasn't too hot & that you managed to find a coolish spot to have your lunch... I'm sure he will appreciate having shorter fur with the constant heat you're getting... at least we've been getting breaks with cool days between bursts of heat... though this week it is expected to stay in the 30s & worst of all it will be humid... I swear 20 even 10 years ago we didn't get the humidity we now get...

The covid hospital figures in NSW are scary... I know you are good at taking precautions... but do take care lass even out doors try & keep your distance...

I will be going into big town to the chemist later this week & I will pop into Woolies to get my fruit & veg... I'm hoping we don't have the supply problems you're having...

Stay cool

Hugs

Paws

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws and everyone

It was soooo humid and hot yesterday we didn't stay longer than we had to to get Sam groomed. Humid here today and stormy. I have no doubt the climate is changing!

Busy day and only 2 staff in the supermarket so an hour to be served and I felt sorry for the two people working!

Paws I'm going to be very off and on here I think. I have very real concerns about some things on the forums, nothing to do with anyone here as you're great, but please excuse me if I take regular time out.

Big hugs I'll be a bit off and on for a while. You take care of yourself and I'll be in touch from time to time 🙂💐💌

🐕👍💕😷

[Hanna3]

BTW Paws,. There's a review of your Van Gogh book by The New York Times which is worth reading, you can Google it. You said he reminded you of your brother I think? I'd be interested what you think of the review. Cheers 🙂

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

Well the NY times review doesn't sound like the reviewer was a fan of the book... I find his complaint that the authors didn't try to classify Van Gogh's illness strange... no one can can accurately diagnose the man years later... especially as he seems to have self medicated with alcohol & he had syphilis which as it progresses affects the brain... I think it far better just to document his behaviour as they did...

I also think the critic misunderstood their comment that he suddenly took an interest in art at age 16... they do talk about his sketching in his childhood & about how he liked earlier painters... my reading was that when he went to work for his uncle in the art dealership at 16 he saw all the different styles of art & he suddenly wanted to know more about the newer styles & forms & it awakened him to wanting to be an artist himself... it was only after this that he first starting painting... I didn't get the sense that the authors derided his early taste in art.

I also think they made a cogent argument regarding how he got his final wound...

I disagree with the critics comment that the book was full of put downs & cynicism or that it simply depicted him as someone with anger management issues... yes they referenced the opinions of those in VG's life who put him down... but I found their depiction of him realistic especially the contradictions in his life... how his words did not always reflect his actions... how he used emotional blackmail (possibly unconsciously)... his grand plans without any basis in reality... his apparent inability to understand how his behaviour was often excessive or why others avoided him because of it... how the negative responses of those about him also affected his mh & that it is possible to be a gifted/intelligent person & still have mh issues which make your life spiral downwards... plus they made it clear that there was no real understanding of mh or practical help available in his lifetime...

Paws

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws

I haven't seen the book and our library doesn't have it,but the NYT often has interesting free reviews. It's good to read different opinions as it makes us think. Nothing like a challenge!

I never trust Goodreads much, I chat with several book reviewers and they often spot someone there who has a personal interest in either giving a book a positive or negative review and they call them out. It sounds like a fascinating book!

Town here is almost empty except for the parks where everyone seems to be trying to go. Indoor cafes I passed nearly empty. It's tough on businesses but people don't want to get sick. My pharmacist busy vaccinating people in an attempt to get the pressure off hospitals and ambulance services.

The days tend to drift a bit as it's very warm but nobody wants to congregate much!

I hope you are OK there. My book is excellent and the river here is flooded for some reason and lovely for the dogs to swim in!

Waves to everyone 🙂🐶👍