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?

[ecomama]

Hey Hanna, and waves to the whole gang lol, 

Bridge! You're persevering yay! 
How did it go today? 

Yeah Mah Jong was a game my mother tried to engage with in the overseas country where I was born. All the servicemens' wives played it all day every day to pass their time together. 
My mother couldn't stand it. She chose to teach English to Uni students so they could read the Bible hahaha.. in a Buddhist country. 

I'm painting my new Buddha garden statue with unwanted nail polish :-))

Hey Paws, glad to hear your migraine has eased somewhat. 

Such a shame there's an abundance of unwanted pups and other pets wherever you are. So so sad. 

Our RSPCA actually closed down here! 
I was shocked until my friend told me the reason, which I was so happy about... the Community Groups were taking over and investigating the peoples' homes before they released any animal to them. AWESOME. 
We've had "issues" here. 

That same friend runs one of these groups herself and has a veritable ZOO at hers! 
But there are so many here. It's easy for us to get a rescue animal but we're clearly animal idolisers lol. 
We phone up and they're delivered to us, usually the same day lol. 

Hope everyone's doing okay?

My pup says GRUNT to everyone, he's always after a treat and that's his word for TREAT. 

Love EMxxxx

[ecomama]

Ooops sorry Hanna, just saw your post to me when I pressed Reply to my last message... 

I'm in NSW. On the coast. 
Pretty much perfect weather here today, light breeze, sweet sunshine. 
Thought I'd get a bit sunburnt being in my garden today... 

It's like the birds woke UP on the weekend! 
They're everywhere and loving my garden lol. Cockies eating the not even close to ready Nectarines from my tree. 

Everything's blossoming so the nectar eaters are about too. 

As I told the mean, greedy new neighbour when it demanded fruit from my tree upon meeting me for the FIRST time... I said they're for us to eat AND the wildlife to eat too. I trade any surplus through eco groups, so Nah, not happening. Hahaha, you should have seen it's FACE. 
How rude. 
Denying our beautiful birds some food. Ughhh. 

Love EMxxxx

[mmMekitty]

Hi Hanna! Just popping in (hopefully I will bring some warmth in with me), for a night cap (non-alcohol), with a few mmMarshmallows on top. 

It's getting late, & my neighbour is naking so much noise - from earlier this afternoon, & it's 11pm & he's not done yet... all these thumpy noises distracting me, & some very loud, startling me.

I'm getting really tired, & wonder if I will get to sleep, thanks to him.

I hope you can get a good sleep, anyway. Sweet dreams, Hanna.

💖💖🐧🐧🐧(for company.)

mmMekitty

[Hanna3]

Hi EM and mmMekitty and Paws, Grandy,everyone

Sorry if you've been there for a while but I am only on BB very sporadically, sometimes only for a few minutes enough to write one post somewhere... 

The other forums I am on are very interesting lately, a lot of Americans and also some Canadians and British folk - talking about how the landscape is going under rooftops as far as they can see - and in the USA how coportations are buying up homes and then charging enormous rents for them - so the business makes a huge profit - and their friends and children are priced out - I was shocked at the rent prices in the USA.... the British are talking about their heating costs - now expected to be around five thousand pounds for a home for the year - that's about three thousand Australian dollars - just terrible for the poor sick and elderly  - they are forecasting these folk may die of cold this winter over there.  I also like the general chats they have - what people are buying, pics of their gardens and places they go - it's nice.

Very cold and raining here today.  I found a second hand DVD of the series Middlemarch, loved the book so I'm looking forward to watching that maybe tonight.

Grandy - they must have had complaints in the op shop re that $700 dinner set - they have six little espsresso coffee cups for sale - with a copy of the printout from Ebay showing the price at $70 - yes but that's someone who is selling for profit - and this is an op shop-  I wonder if anyone will pay seventy dollars for six little espresso cups???? !!!

Off to the library now... hope everyone is keeping well and dry.

[mmMekitty]

Just saying 'Hi' Hanna, & everyone.

Personally, I'd never pay $70 for six puny cups. If I was an ardent collector, I'd want to know if the set is in any way special, like rare or old, or  hand painted or something, & try to find out what a competitive price would be. If I liked puny cups, & fell in love with them, maybe then, (I can imagine), I would pay so much - like, what if they are very good-looking cats? 😺Well, now I'd want them shaped & textured, like sculptures... that would be worth much more to me.

No matter where you are, Hanna, you've got a place in my mind, so I will be thinking of you whether you are posting here or not, you & Sam. I think a possibly very inaccurate image I have of you & Sam in the park is one I will retain.

❤️mmMekitty

[Hanna3]

Please excuse me for a while everyone, I have a family matter that I need to attend to. Cheers. 

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws (and waves to everyone)

How are you keeping Paws?  I am reading the book Elizabeth Macarthur's Letters edited by Kate Grenville.  The letters themselves are fascinating - what a tough place the early colony was, I've lost track of the number of duels the men had and all the fights - often very serious.  The descriptions of the countryside around the Hawkesbury are wonderful.  I disagree with Kate Grenville though, she is reading what she wants to into the letters - she wants to show that Elizabeth was intimidated by her husband - she uses the example of one letter written after her husband had been away for a long time - to a friend - where she writes how things are and says "you can imagine how great was my joy at the arrival of Mr Mcarthur"- and she says this is irony and shows she was really dreading it.  I think there is no way you can read any such thing - I have no doubt, as a woman alone  while he was away, that she was genuinely relieved to have him return home safely.

Instead I have got out the book "Elizabth Macarthur, A Life at the End of the World"and it looks fascinating and the reviews are excellent.  

I would read the Kate Grenville one for Elizabeth's letters, & the other for the story of her life.

Are you reading anything good these days?  Have you watched all the pomp and ceremony around the new King?  How is Woofa?  Hugs from us here 

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna, 

I'm back to reading what are known as "cosy catastrophe" novels - think Day of the Triffids as an example... I've just finished Lucifer's Hammer... where earth gets hit by a comet... 

Yes I've been watching the ABC coverage... I think I know what upset me at the news of the Queens passing... it was the reports of her children rushing to be by her side reminded me of losing my mum as a child... she was of the queen's generation & though very Victorian & strict in her ways... I know she did what she thought was best for us... I've not missed her for so long... but all this has bought the grief & sense of loss back.

His woofiness is being his usual dotty self... though on top of his already failing night sight his right eye is rapidly becoming cloudy... so I think he will be blind in that eye soon... other than that he is still expecting his human slave to wait on him hand & paw... he was not happy about the service from me earlier this week when I laid down for a nap in the afternoon & slept past his dinner time... I was woken by a wet nose shoved against mine followed by him sticking his snout under the covers & trying to lift them off me... how dare I be late... lol

How is Sam after his getting his teeth removed... is he back on biscuits yet? I hope it has dried up enough there that the two of you can safely have your walks without slip sliding.

How is learning bridge going?

Hugs

Paws

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws, waves everyone,

Sorry I thought you read historical stuff - I've been finding the macarthur books fascinating, and there are some wonderful talks coming up here soon at our library on some interesting aspects of life in the early colony, I'm booked for three of them.  It's great to be able to have live speakers back after covid lockdowns stopped it for about two years.  

The mood in town was quite somber yesterday with the flags at half mast and only sad music being played.  I didn't go into town today as I had appointments in the morning and took Sam for a wonderful long walk along the river afterwards, a lovely fresh cool day and the river is full and flowing fast.

Sam is fine, he has enough teeth left to have no problems eating, I just soak the kibble in a bit of water as it is hard as a brick otherwise.  He loves fresh carrots cooked for just 20 seconds in the microwave to make them a bit warm.

We have a wonderful grocery and fresh fruit store here that I have only just found and it's soooo nice to walk around a light and airy, park-outside-the-door store with high celings and spacious isles.  They have the most wonderful assortment of cheeses and the fruit and delicatessen areas are divine.  Why did I only just find it, I'm addicted to going there now!

I'm watching more of the pomp and ceremony on TV tonight... I'm also binging on great old movies.  Hugs from us here oxoxox

[mmMekitty]

Hi Hanna, Paws, & everyone - including furred, feathered, scaley, hairy etc friends.

How are you today? You & Sam? I read he likes the slightly microwaved carrot. Great idea & I wish I'd thought to try things like that with Mekitty. I don't know why I didn't, except to discover she liked some unusual things. Maybe I was too uncertain about what was alright to give her, I don't know now. 

I had a good time in a park where the council had installed some exercise equipment. I surprised myself, enjoying the eliptical trainer machine. Some things I couldn't use, but I liked that one. It worked my arms & legs, & even my torso.

It's just too bad it's not within walking distance from my place.

Anything like that near you?

Hugzies all round ❤️

mmMekitty