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?

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws and everyone,

Sorry I haven't been around, little Sam was great late yesterday and had a happy little walk by the river, there was a nice fresh breeze - but this morning he was very sick, I think it might be tooth pain - I gave him raw carrot to chew yesterday and he loved it - but this morning he's looking very poorly, we tried a pill for stomach ache but not much good, so tomorrow I take him back to the vet and leave him there for the vet to take a look at. So I've been pretty busy today... poor little guy is having a bad time. I suspect tooth pain.. the dollars are rolling up too...

It is still very muggy here Paws, I'm glad it cooled down where you are. How's Woofa?

One of the ladies in the group I chat with knows Sam is sick as I mentioned it in a text to her last week, but there's been no enquiry if he is OK even though we havent been there in the dog park since last week. So I'll use that group as just people to chat to when I feel like it, not real friends. Anyway back to Sam and the vet tomorrow and I'm not thinking about how to pay for it yet. He's uncomfortable as has to get pain relief.

I have music pratice to do, but not a chance! Never mind. Hugs all round. xoxoxoxo

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

It must be such a worry for you seeing your best friend so unwell... especially as they can't tell us what is wrong...

How is Sam today? Did the vet manage to sort out what is making him feel so poorly?

I hope you have no flooding near you... or any of the torrential rainfall that seems to be hitting an ever larger part of NSW.

Hugs

Paws

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws,

We're around here about the same time.. after sleeping well overnight, little Sam was a different dog this morning - ate a huge breakfast and had a little stroll in the park... happy as anything.. Not sure if it was the tummy or toothache that caused such distress, he was going to go to stay at the vet today for supervision and treatment but yay, I called it off as he was doing so well! He's had a huge dinner and is fast asleep now.

His special diet that we finally got him used to is now unavailable due to the floods, so we have to transition him to another one again, this one comes from western australia instead of overseas, so maybe in these tricky times it's safer...

I am catching up with a nice lady I met at another park tomorrow, we are having a cuppa together at her place, so that's nice.

Big hugs!!!

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna, wave to everyone,

That is so good to hear Sam perked back up... how is he going now?

Finally someone you have met there is wanting to be sociable... I'm keeping everything crossed that the get together for a cuppa went well & that it might be the start of a new friendship for you.

Have you managed to get any music practice done? What are you learning?

Pats for Sam & hugs for you

Paws

[Ggrand]

Hi Hanna, Paws and everyone...🤗..

So nice hearing Sam is feeling better...Our dear fur babies do cause us so much stress and concern when they are unwell....if only we could communicate with them, so we know the source of their discomfort/illness..

I do hope your cuppa with the nice lady, turns out really lovely and hopefully a connection is forthcoming..Yea..I think a lot of people are comfortable within a group, but on a one to one basis finds it much harder to socialise...A bit like me 😁..

Hope your day was a good day everyone....

Hugs to everyone human and furs/feathers..🤗🧸🕊💜.

Grandy..

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws and Grandy, Katy, everyone

I'm just in late - had a late music lesson and I have a musical instrument I got as an absolute bargain and G spent time checking it out - verdict is, it was a great find! So that's good. The cuppa with my friend went well, I prefer a one on one or very small group of 3 or 4, rather than a larger group, and we will catch up again before too long. She is moving to another rental, so very busy... and has to attend a wedding on the weekend.

Sam was ill again this morning but recovered later and had a stroll with me and we got a cuppa and sat at a dog friendly cafe, it was a chilly morning.

Grandy, it's lovely you are going to a Christening, I think the clothing depends a bit on what kind of church it is.. my Christening (as an adult) was a "dress in very nice casual" but it was a formal church. Christenings are such a special occasion, it's nice to look a bit nice I think, but no need to get very dressy.

I'm glad your day at the store turned out well for you! Perhaps she was stressed at the time.. hopefully she won't be like that again.

Sorry I'm late and only have a few moments to say hello. Paws I hope you are managing OK about your relative...

Hugs to all!

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

Sorry I've not been here.

I'm glad to hear the catch up over coffee went well... fingers crossed it is the start of a nice friendship.

Have you been able to go swimming with Sam not being well?...

As no doubt his ears have pricked at the mention of his name...😁 I'd best offer a belly rub... How is the little happy chappy doing???

Just as importantly... how are you going?

Hugs

Paws

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws,

I'm sorry you were upset over the anniversary of your brother's death, on top of your relative recently. Poor old you! We are OK, Sam is tired after the last attack and I have to be careful not to make him over exercise poor little guy, and the house is freezing cold in the mornings which doesn't help him. He's enjoying eating his vegetables - raw carrot, sweet potato, apple - and hopefully these will help his teeth.

I hope you get the clothes your ordered online in time - do you have anything you could wear with maybe a jacket/cardigan over it?

The electric throw rug I bought is a huge help in this cold house, I wish I could think of how to help Sam keep warm on his bed - heated dog mats are quite costly and I don't know if he would lie on one, he's so fussy about his bed. Any ideas welcome.. he wears a jumper and a lined parka over it in the mornings here and he is still freezing cold...

Glad to see you back Paws dear lady.. big hugs. oxoxoxox

[demonblaster]

Hi Hannah 🐕 and your lovely friends too ☺

Wow haven't you had a hard worrying time. Poor little darling I know Pancreatitis is terribly painful for humans and imagine same for doggies too. Great he seems to be recovering well. He has a very caring loving Mummy. So cute him running to you when he saw you the dear little love.

Glad you had a nice cuppa with a hoping new friend. Yes it's a different dynamic in large groups isn't it. Much easier to get to know people in smaller groups or 1 on 1. Good on you. Be nice to have a nice friend in the area.

Yes people can be funny at times. How hard would it be to enquire and show some compassion but apparently for some it is too much. Pfftt. Good plan just so e to chat with. You seem to be comfy with people no doubt well hoping you meet some more in the future.

Good you were there for your friend the other day. Hard I imagine having so much else going on. I imagine it would have shed a lot off your friend being able to talk.

Sounds exciting the new instrument. Well done sounds like a good score. Nice having something good happening.

Take good care Hannah and everyone ☺

🐕⚘🍃

[Ggrand]

Hi Hanna, Paws, Deebi and everyone...

I used a hot bottle in the bottom area of my bed..where my feel go...I noticed on a number of occasions that both my girls were laying very close, even on top of it in winter...last year I bought 2 more hot water bottles, fill them, then put them in their fluffy beds, then put a very soft blanket I made from those lounge throw over blankets that I bought from Woolworths $6.00...

Another idea I thought of is those wheat bean bags...maybe heating one of those and wrapping it in a blanket then put it in Sam’s bed....under another soft blanket....

I hope you’re doing okay and enjoying your new musical instrument....as well as your guitar lessons....

Hugs, love and care to all the humans, fur and feathered friends...💃🏻🐕🦉..

Grandy..