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, I thought I had replied to you I am sorry, or maybe I did on your other thread... how are you and how is Woofa? Your van Gogh book sounds good, nice that you enjoyed it after ordering it! I haven't heard of that SBS show, what's it about? I watch SBS World Movies quite often as they often show something good that otherwise I wouldn't have seen.

Nice and cool here before a hot week coming up, oh yuk! I'm not doing much, Sam has great plays at the dog park. Don't know what is happening with music, one of the women in the office has come down with covid I heard today, she has been off work two weeks and apparently very sick and unable to get out of bed for 3 days, she's about 40 and caught it from her kids, she's double vaxxed. Still not at work, but anwering the phone from her home. There is a meeting tomorrow of the music teachers to try to work out how they will manage music teaching with Omicron but probably Zoom so I can't do it.

I duck into the supermarket and briefly into the library, but otherwise avoid any crowded places. 

Sam played with a couple of kelpies and assorted other dogs today, they all had a wonderful time and he comes home and crashes. I haven't seen Rosemary for weeks, the house is all shut up and the front gates locked, I see her car go out sometimes and that's the only way I know she's alive basically. I don't know how her husband is. It's a shame and I might put a card in her letterbox and ask how things are, I havent been able to speak to her since well before Christmas.

I hope you have picked up from how you were feeling recently, not being able to sleep or bad dreams is unpleasant!

Big hugs from us here! oxoxoxox

[Hanna3]

Hi Katy and everyone

How are the pets going in the heat now? It's going to be hot again here this week, I wish it wasn't, it's been so lovely and fresh and cool here the past few days.

I have been watching some of the tennis it's great to watch! I watched the Kyrigos/Dembedev and last night Barty etc. Great games.

I have a sore arm as I got my Pfizer booster moved forward, since they let this thing rip here almost everyone has someone close to them with it. One of the women where I do music has been off for 2 weeks with it she must be about 40, caught it from her kids and apparently couldn't get out of bed except to get to the toilet for 3 days, I spoke to her on the phone and she still sounds dreadful. I was hoping to wait for 5 months but decided it was too risky so moved it forward as the chemist had a cancellation and otherwise was fully booked for weeks. He said he's doing about 80 a day.

I have an OT finally coming to check the house on Friday. She sounds nice over the phone.

I hope you and everyone are staying OK.

I'll be glad when the heat is over, pleasantly warm is nice but summers are becoming scary.

💕🐕🐶😷🏖️⛲⛵🍉🐳🐟

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna, wave to everyone,

That is great news that you finally have an OT coming out... did your nice doctor organise that for you?

Ahhh so that is where my lovely cool weather has gone... you pinched it 😊 the last couple of days have been about 35 & it is expected to stay in the 30s for most of next week... the aircon is such a blessing... but I wish it reached the bedroom...

I'm yet to make an appointment for my 3rd jab... though I need to get on to it as we even have covid running rampant in the little village where I get milk... it seems to be everywhere... my sister told me one of my nieces has it... thankfully she is double jabbed at least...

It sound like Sam has a wonderful time playing with the other dogs... it is such a pity Rosemary keeps everything locked up & he can't play with Molly anymore...

Stay cool

Hugs

Paws

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Hanna, Paws, Katy and everyone...🤗..

Thats great news about the OT coming out to see you...about time!...

One of our volunteer workers got COVID, has been cleared and coming back on Monday...she says she feels so lethargic since she contacted it...but wants to try working again....

Much cooler weather here, but it’s not lasting long, the hotter weather is returning mid next week...This cooler few days have been nice..

I have my booster in April unless my Dr. moves it forward... My friend is getting hers at my Drs office in February as this is the only place where boosters are available...

I ended up packing my jig saw puzzle away...it’s been nearly 3 months, maybe more and I’ve been unable to connect more then a dozen pieces together 😂..maybe I’ll try a 250 piece puzzle first....I think I was being over ambitious trying a 1,000 piece...

I think it’s beautiful the way Sam plays with other dogs at the park...They all seem to have fun together...are the other fur parents talking to you?..while your dogs play with each other...

I do hope your niece with COVID will be alright...as well as everyone who has it...The after effects seems to last longer then virus itself....

Sending Hugs, Both human and fur hugs to everyone..🤗🧸🤗💜, As well as my love and care..

Grandy..

[Hanna3]

Hi Grandy and everyone

Very full day here and all this week... Yes got talking today in the dog park with a woman who happened to go to my old high school so that was nice. There is quite a friendly crowd there now.

Do you ever read The Conversation online? It's a current affairs/general interest website in Australia and this weekend it hS an article about why it is so difficult to make friends later in life. The comments section is interesting to read!

I've never tried a thousand piece jigsaw I'm sure that would overwhelm me and I'd never finish it! I think you were brave to try!

I do them online sometimes. You could do that using your tablet. There are lots of free sites, one is Jigsaw Planet and there are even 3D puzzles you can do! You can choose to do lots of quite short ones and compare your time to other people if you want. I like doing several different short puzzles instead of one big one! 😊🧩🧩🧩

I did all the housework this morning and shopped, did a pile of paperwork and took Sam to the dog park. He's now passed out exhausted and happy on the floor after playing with a kelpie, a German shepherd, various assorted big dogs of uncertain breed, and a small poodle cross. Gracious!

I hope you enjoy the store this week Grandy and that the other ladies behave themselves for you.

Big hug! 🤗🐶🐕🦊🦝🐱🦌🐁🐨🐥🐾🐾😃

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws and everyone

I'd appreciate any thoughts... My neighbour who hasn't spoken to me in 2 years late today cornered me over the back fence (he's cut a tree down on his side and that's removed a lot of my privacy - he's married with two boys but he's pretty bogan) -

He wants to come in and cut down a small tree on my side that I like, and he wants to cut back overhanging branches from stuff on his side that's over mine, but I like the privacy it gives and don't want it cut back.

Unfortunately I said ok but I regret it, I was flustered as I was just home and tired. I think I'll put a note in his letterbox tomorrow saying I can't give the ok to cut the tree down as he would have to apply to Housing (this is not my property) and also I don't want the shrubs cut back on my side as I like my privacy.

I don't actually want him in my yard, and certainly not when I am not home. I tend to get very anxious when a man starts invading my privacy... Any thoughts???

I like to be private in the back yard. He's never spoken except now when he wants something. His two young boys are OK kids, I just don't like to feel watched in my garden and cutting everything back will leave me no privacy and take away shade.

Thanks!

[Hanna3]

I should have told this man that his huge tree at the front has big branches overhanging my yard and roof and he should have these lopped, they are dead branches and dangerous. Housing hasn't done anything about them since I asked them to a year ago and the local mp didn't do anything.

Perhaps I should say in the note that these need lopping?

Should I give him the original note and keep a copy for myself?

I don't want to feel exposed in the back garden, I'm anxious when I feel watched due to past trauma.

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna,

I would definitely pop a note in his letterbox saying that housing approval is needed before anyone can cut any of the trees on your property...

Yes I think saying you like & want to keep some overhanging branches... but would appreciate him removing the ones you don't want is a good idea... though if the rules are the same in NSW as here in Vic... he can cut back any branches from his trees which overhang on your side without needing your ok... as long as he does it from his side.

Definitely keep a copy.

Paws

[Hanna3]

Thanks Paws!

I don't want him coming into my yard, I'm sure people like him think they can push around a woman alone. I like the dense shrubbery and so do the birds and possums.

I can't give permission for a tree to be cut down and if I did let him and any damage was done to the fence or anything else I'd be held responsible.

I leave a note and keep a copy tomorrow!

They have a raised outdoor patio and so if he clears the trees and shrubs they'll be staring directly into my peaceful garden. No thanks, I like my privacy!

I'll photograph the area in the morning too as a record.

You're always helpful, thanks dear Paws!

😊

[Ggrand]

Hello Hanna,

I wouldn’t like a man in my yard either..and I totally agree with leaving a letter in his letterbox...I really do understand about privacy, it gives me a little sense of peace....

He cannot go into your yard without your permission nor can he cut down a tree without council and housing permission...

Good idea taking copies of your letter...just incase he tries to take advantage of you...

Hugs lovely ladies,,,🤗🤗🧸🧸🌹🌹.

Grandy