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 mmMekitty, Paws, Grandy, and everyone

Well it seems nobody else is much interested in Elizabeth Macarthur, which is a shame really.  I'm now reading A Single Tree by Don Watson, which is exerpts from diaries of the new settlers in the colony and it's fascinating.

I don't use gym equipment but it sounds like you enjoyed it mmMekity.  I swim and walk but that's enough for me.  Caught up with a couple of friends, tried to have a picnic in the park yesterday but the river is in serious flood after all the rain further up the mountains, but it's a beautiful sight seeing it so full of water.  Listening to some great talks on utube.  Watching some great movies.  Talking to my friend with the rescue dog - she has worked out he chases his tail when he wants attention and is working on ignoring it - I must google it, she said that's how she found out what to do.  It has made a huge change in her, having the dog for company after the loss of her husband.

Paws, how is Woofa and how are you?  Are you getting the rainy weather down your way?

Cheers from us here oxoxo

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna, wave to everyone,

My first thought when I read your river is high with the flood water was "oh I hope Sam doesn't try & have a swim"... my second thought was "I'm an idiot, of course Hanna wouldn't let him"...😳😬

Now I've got my brain back in gear... have you finished A Life at the End of the world already? You must not have been able to put it down... or was it so bad you gave up on it?... I know you said it had great reviews... but I was looking forward to hearing how you thought it held up against actually reading her letters. 

We've had a lot of rain this past week... last night it didn't sound like rain on the roof it sounded like being under a waterfall the rain was so heavy... at least having the verandahs front & back means I don't have to worry about overflowing water from the gutters getting in my roof... I'm hoping the forecast is right & the rain will clear by Thursday as I need to go into big town this week & I would prefer not to do the drive in pouring rain.

Are you still going to the bridge sessions? 

Hugs & a gentle ear rub for Sam

Paws

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws - and waves to everyone -

Sorry I am late replying, I was watching the funeral last night - I'm relieved it went off without anything bad happening, the security must have been a nightmare.  I loved the Westminster choir.. did you read that apparently the Queen's favourite corgy died, aged 20 years, and the family said that was when her health finally cracked.  I can well understand that.  I think she swore in the new PM and then let herself finally go, duty done.

I haven't yet read the other book re Liz Macarthur - I have been on a movie binge watching really good movies, esp. Australian ones.  It will be interesting to see how the bio holds up against her letters.  Bridge I am missing for the time being, I have never played card games and those who have romp ahead of me - a friend who is an experienced player (not in this town) told me I need someone to explain it one on one before having to play a full game as I am now - so I am looking to find someone who will be kind enough to " train" me for a while.  I think I will enjoy the game once I get the hang of it, but it is hard!

The river was flowing very fast with huge tree branches and debris in it - anyone would be mad to go near.  We had a perfect day here today, mild and sunny, but rain for the next few days.  I hope you are OK there, do remember Thursday is a public holiday - don't go into town that day!  How is Woofa?  oxox

[Hanna3]

Paws I did write some more but my pc crashed and deleted it twice so I gave up trying! Maybe tomorrow! This is from my phone. It's too difficult to write from a phone... I hope you and Woofa are OK. 🐕💖🌞

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

Yes I watched the entire funeral too... I was so impressed by the young pall bearers... that can't have been easy given the coffin was lead lined... yet they made it all look so smooth & simple... I was relieved there were no security issues too... especially after the scare at the viewing... 

Oh I hadn't heard about her corgi passing... that would have knocked her badly especially after losing Phillip so recently... 

Are you watching classic movies or testing out more recent ones... any recommendations?... I hope you will be including some Aussie greats like My Brilliant Career & Picnic at Hanging Rock two of my favourites...

I didn't realise this Thursday was the Public Holiday... thanks for the heads up... I don't know why but I thought it was next Monday...

I woke with a thumping headache this morning... but I've wimped out & taken a couple of otc's... so hopefully it will ease... & yes I know looking at a computer screen isn't the best way to get rid of it.

I wonder if perhaps there are how to play bridge tutorials online?... that way you could learn at your own pace & at times that suit you... or there might be a book you could borrow..

It's eerily still here this morning & unusually warm... even the birds & sheep are quiet... it's the quiet before the storm literally as we are expecting storms this afternoon... I already have the torch & candles too hand in expectation I will lose power here at some point... though I'm hoping Murphy's law will kick in & because I'm prepared I won't end up losing power after all 😆

Stay dry 

Hugs

Paws

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws and everyone

A list of Australian movies and TV series you might enjoy Paws, if you like My Brilliant Career and Hanging Rock (isn't Brilliant Career wonderful BTW):

We of the Never Never (TV show/movie)

Shine

The Farm 

Rain Shadow (a wonderful older TV show, just terrific about a woman vet and her trainee)

The Year My Voice Broke (glorious coming of age movie filmed near Canberra)

Tracks (the girl who walked camels across Australia) 

Careful He Might Hear You (about a boy growing up - wonderful)

Eden's Lost (the last two both based on books by Sumner Locke Elliott)

Other great movies I am watching... about teachers -

Mr Holland's Opus (terrific, about a music teacher with a deaf son)

Monsieur Lazhar

The History Boys (British)

And other good movies are: 

Paradise Road (women POWs)

Terms of Endearment (Shirley Maclaine, Jack Nicholson) - wonderful

Steel Magnolias - also great women's movie

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Lion (Australian - orphaned boy)

And just lovely ones - Room with a View

Enchanted April

As Good as it Gets (Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt - marvellous)

Howard's End (beautiful)

The Lion in Winter (with Kate Hepburn - marvellous)

.... there are heaps more but these are good starters!!!

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws and everyone

Part two...

Did it start raining Paws?  I hope your headache has gone.  I would just like some one on one with the bridge just to kick start me... I have no experience with card games.. there is a good Australian utube channel I watch, but one or two sessons with just one person helping would be good - I'm going to ask the nice people where I go now.

Do you still have no utube?  There are some terrific videos being put up with the Queen and her corigis, really sweet and funny videos over the years of them all.  It's been cold and raining here all day, very dreary, and I think lots of people are taking off the holiday tomorrow and Friday so it's an extra long weekend.  

I am having fun finding movies I want in the op shops, or very cheap on Ebay - probably lots of them are on Netflix if you have that.  

Putin is up to no good again it seems - oh dear.  I think I will spend the evening with a good movie or a good book and a nice pot of tea!

oxoxoxoxo

[Hanna3]

I should have added:

The Shiralee 

The Dressmaker 

Red Dog 

The Man from Snowy River

(all Australian)

And of course National Velvet, The Wizard of Oz, and Lassie!!! 🙂🐕💖

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

Well the storms didn't eventuate... yay... though it stayed very warm & muggy

If you enjoyed Howards End then I must recommend The Remains of the Day with the same two leads... Anthony Hopkins at his best...

There are a few on your list I've not heard of before... Monsieur Lazhar for one... I can see I will need to do some googling...  I don't thing you can go wrong picking anything with Kate Hepburn... I love her films especially when she is paired with Spencer Tracey.. they worked so well together...

I think I might be the only person who doesn't like National Velvet... even though I was horse obsessed as a child I didn't like that movie... I do wonder if I might enjoy it more now I'm older...

Ebay is good for finding cheap movies isn't it... 

I hope the rain lets up for you

Hugs

Paws

[mmMekitty]

Hello Hanna, Paws & all,

If the people at the bridge club are a friendly bunch, I'm sure someone there will be happy to tutor you.  I think it's a great idea to ask.

Great list of movies, but I would like to point out, 'red Dog' was a brilliant little book. I bought the audiobook CD so long ago - I'm not sure when.

It occurs to me how CDs & MP3s are becoming (or have they already?) obsolete, certainly superseded by the ready availability of the online options we have for purchasing or listening to pretty much anything we might want.

I realised the other day I haven't actually listened to any of my CDs & MP3s for at least a couple years now. I'm wondering why, except that they cost me a lot of money & for sentimental reasons, do I keep them, taking up room in my little flat?

Paws, what I don't like about National Velvet is all the horse racing. I still don't like horse racing.

Sheep trials are a different thing, hence, I like 'Babe' 😺

I was glad to hear the rain wasn't as bad as expected, though it did cause problems for some. I heard, for farmers around Gunnedah, the timeing of the rain was bad because it was coming close to harvest time.

All my best for everyone, with hugzies as wanted, &❤️s

mmMekitty