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?

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hi Hanna

Well it sounds as though the town has grown on you somewhat, despite the challenges you’ve experienced since moving there. I hope you’re able to find somewhere a bit more comfortable and suited for your purposes. It’s good to hear there are other housing providers, hopefully they’re not as useless as the current one!

As for the women at the dog park - oh dear! I hope it doesn’t make you uncomfortable to keep going there as I know you’ve been enjoying the outings.

Well, you have bees, I have wasps. Always something isn’t it?

Katy

[Hanna3]

Hi Katy

Nope I'm fine with going to the dog park, it's her problem not mine. I was chatting with an old friend today and mentioned it, as she said, this woman's texts to me were abnormal.

The first thing this woman told us was that she had a reference from the hospital here where she trained, advising anyone not to employ her - not something I'd be spreading around if I was her. 

The town has fors and against, I'm just seeing how things pan out for a while.

It's cold so I'm going to get a hot drink and find a good book!

I definitely don't want wasps! The bees are incredibly aggressive, my neighbour was wondering what type they are. Poor Sam getting chased by them!

Hope your day is a good one 😊🐕🌻

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws,

A long drive to take Sam to the groomer, see Katys thread... Traffic on the highway horrendous with lorries everywhere, glad I'm home. My favourite op shop there was closed today, drat! I always find something good there.

The trees are just starting to change colour.. We're supposed to have hot weather again but it looks like the current cool weather has kick started autumn.

Are you reading anything good? I actually bought Ann Patchett's latest book of personal essays as her first book was so good, but this one seems disappointing.

The daughter of one of the women I chat with at the dog park lives in Byron Bay. She has a job but had to move out of her shared rental as the flatmate was so difficult. She can't afford rent in Byron and is living in a little van she purchased. It's hard to find places she can safely park it.

This is the disaster that high housing prices is causing. There was an article in the herald about nurses there living in vans for the same reason. We are getting more like the USA and it's so worrying.

I hope you and Woofa are OK there. Hugs. 🐶😊🌻

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

Sam's reactions about going to his groomer is a worry... it might just be he got spooked & is taking a bit to get past that... but if it continues I would be looking for a new groomer.

The housing issues in Australia are a disgrace... we need to change the whole way we view our housing stock in this country... there are so many brilliant schemes in other countries that we could adopt here... we have the benefit of seeing that they do work... so there is no reason not to use them here... they would make such a difference for renters & home owners... even for small businesses... the first thing we should do is ban air bnb & all their ilk.

The biggest problem is all our pollies regardless of which side they belong too... they all have ideological tenets that they cling to even when they have proof that there is a better way...

Hot here today & it looks like most of the week...yuk

Hugs

Paws

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws

Yes I agree with you, the only other time I've seen Sam so terrified was when I took him to a groomer when I was new in coastal town and we realised she must be hurting the dogs as they were all freaking out and losing bowel control. She has good references and acts concerned when I mention it to her, but I think I'll be looking for someone else. Trouble is, it's so hard to find a groomer with a vacancy! I'll start asking around again. Today was the worst I've seen him. I felt terrible leaving him there.

There was a lady in the park here the other day boasting about the five houses she owned.. That's part of the problem, using houses to make money instead of looking at shelter as an essential human need...

Back in coastal town there was a huge homelessness problem at the same time as beautiful houses stood empty along the waterfront because they were only rented out at Christmas and Easter. It's so terribly wrong. Why do we allow it to happen?

The politicians are too wealthy and sheltered and it doesn't affect them.

The govt needs to build lots of decent affordable housing like it used to. Surely this would bring in jobs, and having people decently housed must be economically better in the long run, quite apart from the sheer human suffering that it would stop.

Yes a week of heat ahead here too, I dread it!!!!!

🐕🐶💝

[Hanna3]

Paws

I sometimes chat online with a lady in Melbourne. She's not young and looking for a rental. She is thinking of moving to Ballarat as it's affordable but she knows nobody there.

A couple of us who talk with her have warned her Ballarat has a reputation for being very cliquey. Do you know anything about it? I know it used to be damp/very cold so her arthritis may be an issue. After my experience here I have warned her about people being closed off.

Cheers I'm off to have 🍷and 🍕and go to 🛌

😴

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

Ballarat does get cold in winter often with snow... I did consider it when I was looking to move... but it is a regional city now.. the country town feel has pretty much gone... I've no idea how friendly (or not) the natives are... unless you visit a town & check out community groups/clubs/events you can't truly get an idea of what the people are like until you move.

It does have lots of services though which would be a bonus as she ages... it also has good train links back to Melbourne these days...

Paws

[demonblaster]

Hi Hannah 🐕 and everyone

I didn't get back before hun about your female encounters geez you've been getting somewhat bombarded there aye.

It would be uncomfortable I'd imagine especially when you're not interested.

I think you did the right thing being clear with the night texter. She's seeming to be offended but as you said that's her problem. Could be not handling rejection well too. I like the idea of explaining to her but of course up to you ☺

Very valid point about it being better economically if housings cheaper and the communities sure need a boost these days. Yip housings becoming crazy with rental and buying I'm hearing.

Poor Sam that doesn't sound good at all the dear love. That'd be a worry. Awful those poor darlings with that other groomer Pawsy.

It's still cooler here which is so lovely wow unusual but loven it. Good we're in our last part officially by the calendar that is of Summer but that often spreads into March and further but yay soon the cooler mths. You girls cop hard Winters though geesh.

Let's hope you get somewhere suitable sooner than later Hannah.

Oh thanks for the cute Sam hugs at another thread they were lovely ☺

Take good care hun. Stay safe 🐕🌞👍⚘

[Hanna3]

Hi Deebie and everyone - Paws, Katy, Dools, Grandy...

I think I meant to reply to you somewhere here earlier Deebi, my apologies, using the tiny phone most of the time I miss a lot of things as they don't show up...

I did explain to the night texter and ask if she wanted to catch up sometime but no reply, I think she has some issues... I don't really want people who are going to be so difficult I think, it's all a bit too much effort. I like rather quiet gentle people who are easy to get along with....

I'm going to ask the ladies at the dog park and find another groomer for little Sam, it's so hard to find anyone here who is taking a new client, but I have never had him lose control of his bowels before from fright. She is extremely busy and a bit rough, and I think she must be hurting him, even if it's not intended.

Collected the electric throw rug today and we're about to have another heatwave, oh well! They did only have one more left, and said due to covid they don't know if/when they will have more, so I'm glad I got it. Tried it briefly this afternoon and it's brilliant! It's a sunbeam plush electric throw. It had good reviews online and it's large enough for little Sam to share!

I've been flat out today with running errands and grocery shopping and washing/ironing, and I'm tired now! This week is busy and it's going to be hot.. this morning was perfect, sunny with a breeze. It looks like summer is planing to go out with a bang though, with very hot temperatures all this week.

I bought little Sam a new collar this morning and he looks very smart, but no dog lead is available, they are out of them due to covid... also I tried to buy underwear, none available, another lady told me she can't find a bra anywhere for love or money!!! It's amazing the things that you take for granted you can get, until covid happens! It's quite funny!

I hope you are keeping well in these tricky times Deebi! I'm not sure whereabouts you are, but hope the weather doesn't get too unbearably hot this week... it was wonderful having the sunshine and fresh breeze this morning, perfect! The trees are just starting to turn, so Autumn isn't far off.

Hugs to everyone! oxoxoxoxoxo

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

That is a good idea to ask the folk at the dog park about groomers... you are more likely to get a good one that way..

It must be lovely having all those Autumn colours where you are... all the trees hereabouts are either natives or pines so there is only the odd tree in someone's yard that is deciduous... the poor sole deciduous tree in my front yard is obviously not happy where it is planted (I think it's the clay soil)... it's leaves look bedraggled then they fall.

Hugs

Paws