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?

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Hanna,

I am sorry you feel that you need to go off the forums due to some concerns you have...You are a huge inspiration to a lot of people here...

Would you be able to contact BB by email and voice your concerns their or give them a ring and have a talk about to them about it all....You are very valued here..and it’s sad that you’re feeling this way.....Im sure BB will be only too willing to help you...

It’s going to be another hot day today...I’m waiting until 8am so I can finish ofI my lawn...I got only not quite half way and the heaven opened up and gave me a well needed shower 🚿....The raindrops feel like ice drops on a hot day....

I hope you and everyone listening here has a good day today...and manages to keep themselves and their fur babies as cool as possible..

Love, care and hugs everyone...💜🌹🕊🤗.

Grandy..

[Hanna3]

Hi Grandy

Thank you for coming by, that's nice of you. I have been talking to a lady I meet up with here when we walk the dogs about my concerns, she is a counsellor for another organisation but is taking a look here.

Grandy you're in a small town so hopefully safer, but this virus is looking nasty. I don't know what face mask you use but it's good to get something better than a surgical face mask. A P2/N95 mask that loops over your ears is better, the chemist's here have them or I'm sure Ebay does.

Also you can wear one surgical mask over another if you're in a crowded place.

Cloth masks aren't so effective.

It's best to have a few and rotate them every couple of times. Keep them in a clean place where the air can get to them.

Some people here are wearing face shields in the supermarket but the P2 are pretty good, just not pretty!

How did you go at the shop?

Take care of yourself, hot days ahead I think too!

😊🐶👍🐕😷😷😷

[Doolhof]

Hi Hanna, Grandy and all,

Just dropping by to say hello. It has been a while since I have been connected here.

I hope you all manage to keep well and stay safe.

It is interesting to see the variety of different masks, shields and eye protection people are using. Some of the clothe masks are very pretty and creative.

My sister wears a mask sometimes when we go walking as she says it helps immensely with her hay fever. They are great also when I am using the ride on mower in our back yard, creating a dust storm!

Hanna, hope you are able to find some answers to your concerns.

Kind regards from Dools

[Hanna3]

Hi all,

Well I've just had my first ping! Apparently I checked into the service station where I got petrol a couple of days ago the same time as someone with covid. I guess this is going to keep happening from now on. I have to monitor for symptoms.

I've been tired out all day! Anyway, whatever, but keep wearing your masks people! Glad I just paid and went out again! 😯👍

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

Oh that's not good to hear... though at least you know you have taken all the precautions to protect yourself & thankfully with such a short exposure time it is very unlikely you will need to worry... are you able to get the RAT tests in your town or would you have to go to a testing station...

I hope future pings are as rare as hens teeth for you lass...

Hugs

Paws

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws

I'm late posting as I took Sam out. I thought of asking the library to order that van Gogh book but I know they have limited funds. What did the book decide was wrong with him? Was it some firm of epilepsy? Did they conclude he shot himself?

I've probably been close to people with covid in the supermarkets, there's no escaping it these days..

It would be great if we both read the same book and discussed it like we did with that Abc show where the family lived through different times in the past! We had some fun chats!

I'm hot and need a cool drink.. Hugs! 💕🐶😷👍💝

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

Yes covid is everywhere... we even have it in the nearby little village where I get my milk... the general store is having to run reduced hours as staff are off...

The authors didn't offer a diagnosis... they wrote about the various diagnosis he was given in his lifetime... what people who knew him thought & they detailed what was known of his behaviour throughout his life... they also wrote about the various opinions that have been given over the years.

They made a very good argument that he was actually shot by accident by a youth... the authors devoted a chapter to it... too much to write all the reasons here... but some points were... apparently the youth being from a well off family was staying in the same village on his holiday & like other boys he tormented & played pranks on Vincent... the youth got about in a buffalo bill wild west outfit which included a real handgun... the only one known in the village... doctors confirmed Vincent's wound was from a handgun... the youth & his father left the village later on the day Vincent was shot... despite searches no one found any of Vincent's things he had with him when he went out to paint... nor was the gun located..

I agree it would be nice if there were some good shows on that were worth watching & talking about... about the only show I'm watching with any regularity is The Curse of Oak Island on SBS... it's what I call a fairy floss show... nice but no real substance... I only started watching it last year which I think was season 5... a pair of brothers lead a team that are trying to find a rumoured buried treasure on an island off Canada & to find out what really happened on the island in past times... it's full of people coming up with often wild & wacky theories as to what the treasure is & who buried it... but it does include some interesting archaeology of what appears to be an early European presence there.

Thankfully a cool change came through here late today... I hope it makes it up your way & breaks your hot spell.

Hugs

Paws

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hi Hanna

We’re in for a warm week this week, and mask mandates have just been introduced here. We still have very low case numbers but plenty of exposure sites, so I’d say true numbers aren’t being captured yet and an explosion is imminent. In big city someone was working in a “massage” parlour for a week infected! I’d call that very close contact!

You mentioned Monkey Grip on Paws’ thread. I haven’t read it but it looks good, so I’ve popped it on my list. It will be hard to get books while isolating, but I know there’s a street library somewhere around, so I’m going to ride my bike and find it 🙂

Best wishes to you and Sam there. It’s lovely that you have a river and a dog park to enjoy ♥️

[Hanna3]

Hi Katy,

I hope you stay cooler than the main city in your state is forecast to be this week!

This Omicron thing is looking nasty here, the hospital system is clearly not coping. Double vaxxed isn't doing it for anyone vulnerable. You're fortunate being younger, but this virus seems random. It's not a good time to get sick and need hospital care.

Days here are all the same as in this state there is so much virus you have assume people have it! Today is rainy and it's not possible to spend much time outdoors so it becomes challenging to find things to keep occupied.

I don't know how you'll find Monkey Grip if you get to read it. I was young and in Melbourne close to the time she writes about so I can relate to much of it, but the drugs I can't and I don't think that open free love kind of lifestyle seemed to work. She's an interesting writer and I enjoy her books, I guess she is one of our most famous Australian writers. Monkey Grip was incredibly unconventional when it came out and is still talked about a lot. She's a friend of Tim Winton in your state. She's had an unusual life. I hope you try the book!

I'm trying to decide whether to go back to music with the virus situation, I don't know what the Con here will decide to do now. I was hoping to do some classes through U3a here but I think they're going to be cancelled because nobody is going to want to sit inside in a group!

I'm hesitant about even going to the library now 😯

So it's rather ground hog day again here after 2 years of the same... We were just enjoying being able to go out a bit more and now this!

My friends on the coast are the same and trying to avoid indoor places as much as possible.

I'd love to be able to relax indoors again and go to a restaurant indoors!!!

I remember I liked Deborah Levy's book Hot Milk and Kazio Ishiguro's Never Let me Go.

I think you like books about relationships?

I hope you find something good to read. Keep us posted on how things are over there! What a time to be opening up, but I don't think there's any way to keep this out. I wish they hadn't just let it rip here though in NSW.

Sam's wet dog food has been unavailable for months due to covid, I had 1.5 cans left and amazingly Petbarn had two trays in stocks here, I don't know how they managed to and paid $100 for them, Sam's overjoyed at having tasty dinners again and I'm living on 2 minute noodles for the rest of the week!

Stay well over there

👍🤗🐶🐕💖😷😃

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hello

38 here today, so all the animals have lazed about, and so have I! Spent most of the day with a book and now the power has gone out while I was trying to watch the tennis. Bummer! Are you watching? Millman v Zverev …

I’ve just had a nice Greek salad for dinner, and will go for a walk once it’s settled. Not sure about taking Storm as she’s puffing already from the warmth of the day. How does Sam manage in the heat? I think some dogs tolerate it better than others. Storm isnt very good for going out anywhere above low 20’s really.

Guess I should find candles before it gets dark too!

Hope you’re well. Hope our friend Paws is going ok too.

Hugs, Katy