Not in a good space

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

It's like a feeling just bubbling up to the surface. It's panicky and disgusting and I dont' know what to do with it. There's no thoughts associated with it. It's a feeling. A really gross one. I called the Suicide Call Back service. I didn't find them helpful. What do you do? What helps you?

[Hanna3]

Hi Katy,

I thought you were probably feeling blah because I always found once the busyness stopped I didn't quite know what to do with myself...

Little Sam's teeth were beyond bonjela the last two nights and day.. the pain must have been shocking, i managed to get some pain meds down him this morning with his breakfast food... he looks so tired in his face and I am tired out from the stress of it all. Having a quiet afternoon in.

I had an expensive electric blanket fail after one year, so took it back this morning and got a refund, money which I desperately need. I bought a very cheap electric blanket and find it's much better than the costly one!

Casseroles are so much better after being frozen I always find. Glad I'm not the only one who is eating leftovers by the end of the pension cycle! There's just never enough money is there.

Music tomorrow - going fortnightly this term as it's winter... and if Sam is well enough I'll take him to the groomer mid week, had to cancel today he is exhausted from the pain and lack of sleep and not eating.

Green for the tiny houses sounds pleasant. Have you been able to take a look inside them?

I hope your psych appt goes OK. The cat sounds a bit disturbing, perhaps it's just a stage, let's hope so!!!

hugs.

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hi everyone

Sleepy, so nice to see you here. Hope you're getting along ok. The weather here is a little cooler, but still lovely and sunny mostly. Pretty perfect for skating really. Glad I've inspired you to get a bit active, it's great for our MH.

We have a facebook group for honours students. It's a good group of people and we all support each other, vent when we need, and send funny memes, which keep us all going. We're in a hiatus period at the moment as we wait for our first lot of work to get marked. I hate the waiting, but it's nice to have a break.

Hanna, poor you and Sam! That's no good for either of you. Hope you can find some sort of resolution.

Getting money back on your electric blanket is a bonus! My Austudy has just dropped by $60 a week. I was already struggling so that should be fun. I don't think I'll be able to afford to go to yoga any more. It really adds to the stress level trying to juggle money, hey? Is there a reason you've cut down to fortnightly music lessons? Are you still doing both instruments?

I'm going to cook up a pea and ham soup today. I have most of the ingredients, just need to buy a ham hock. I think I might do some googling and look for low cost meal ideas too. Actually pretty worried about how I'm going to manage, with 3 pets to feed and I'm still trying to pay a loan back from my last vet bill. Oh dear.

Well, big huggies all round. Just keep putting one foot in front the other, right? 🙂 Katy

[Hanna3]

Hi Katy (waves to Sleepy, Paws, everyone)

The facebook group sounds supportive! I understand about the financial difficulties - I'm still paying back a centrelink loan so I am always short. I'm doing fortnightly two instruments, week and week about - partly for financial reasons - it's cheaper - partly because it's winter here and gets extremely cold with short days - and partly for some personal reasons and because I am rather tired!

Sam went to a different vet at the practice today and we have decided to keep him on his anti-inflammatory med, it's hard on his kidneys but keeps him out of pain with his tooth - I prefer no pain. It's no good having the poor little guy suffering awful pain I can't bear watching him! Horrible.

I'm having soup and a chicken and chilli wrap for dinner! Got home late and it;s very cold, and I have a long drive to another town tomorrow - so I'm too tired/lazy to cook tonight.

I hope you find some cheap/easy meals for yourself. I know what it's like all too well! I hope you find some way to still get to yoga, even if less often like me with the music this term... even once a fortnight is still good.

Good luck re your Uni... the weather sounds nice where you are! hugs.

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hello

Gorgeous weather here again today. I sat outside as soon as I got up (late - oops) and just enjoyed the sun on my face. If the wind stays down I might take the board out later. I've decided to get a prac assignment out of the way while I have time off, to reduce stress later on.

I'm glad you managed to get something sorted for Sam. I hope it keeps him comfortable. Did you like the new vet you saw? I think it's good to find someone we can trust.

Your chicken and chilli wrap sounded yum. I stuffed up my soup. It was supposed to cook for 2 and a half hours, but when I checked it after 2 it was already burnt on the bottom. I scooped off the non-burnt section but the consistency is like thick mashed potato lol, so it's not amazing, but I'll eat it anyway. I don't know why my payment decreased by $60 a week, I thought it was supposed to be $50. And right at the same time my yoga instructor put up her prices. I guess I'll just have to see if I have any money left at the end of each fortnight to see if I can go or not. Like you said, better than nothing 🙂

Trying to decide on a book to read while I'm on break too. I picked up a second hand copy of The Yield, by Tara June Winch, but I think you said you weren't keen on it. Are you reading anything good at the moment?

Hello to anyone else reading along. Hope everyone is going ok. Katy x

[Hanna3]

Hi Katy,

Gosh what a long day... drove to the next big town and shopped for winter shoes while Sam was being groomed... managed to find a pair, hooray! Now I'm on bread and water for the rest of the fortnight... but I was desperate for a pair to wear indoors... now I've got music etc to go to I need some boots as well as walking shoes. The autumn colours in the other town (it's alpine) were georgeous! It was really cold there this morning but sunny. Little Sam and I had two lovely walks... plus I went to the music store to look at guitars but I really don't know what I'm looking at!!!

I have physio tomorrow, sigh, and food shopping - going to use the slow cooker for a couple of cheap casseroles to stock up the freezer. Sam looks beautiful now he's bathed and clipped!

Good idea to get the prac assignment done. Did you go out on the water today and did Stormy come with you? How annoying about your soup but I find that sort of thing happens to me too.

I have just read O by Steven Carroll - you can Google it, he's an Australian writer... I thought it was very romantic! Otherwise I haven't found much to read lately! I didn't like The Yield and never got through it, but other people love it, so I'd be interested to hear how you find it!I

I'm tired out but hope you manage to get to yoga somehow - I think it's really important for those of us with mh issues to do something that is good for us, and a treat as well!

Hugs.

[Hanna3]

I watched the DVD Wild about Cheryl Strayed, who does the dear sugars talks - I thought it was a great movie if your local library has DVDs... cheers.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Katy, hello to all ur beautiful crew here,
U absolutely inspired me - loving seeing u get ur skating in. I think it's great to find a fun and non-boring way to excercise. Atm I go for walks and try do some running every so often. I'm not very good with gyms and find them boring.
The facebook group sounds so supportive. Lovely to be here and check in with everyone.
It is getting cold here, and my landlord is looking and installing a new split system. Tomorrow they are coming to give a quote which the landlord hopefully will approve. I hope they agree.

Great find with the second hand novel!

I picked up Russell Brand's book on Recovery and Addictions for 3 dollars at the oppe shope. I have always loved to read books about recovery and hope he tells some of his personal stories in it and it's not purely instructive.
:)

[Paw Prints]

Hello Katy, wave to everyone,

Is it terrible of me to say "oh I'm so glad it's not just me" when I read about your soup saga... sorry but I usually stuff up when I try to slow cook in the oven... even if I follow a recipe & I've often eaten whatever I can salvage... Can I ask what you used to cook it in?... I love pea & ham soup... but I haven't made it for decades now... as I seem to have lost the knack of softening the split peas... any tips???

That's rough having your payment reduced... was it a covid bonus or have they cut the basic payment?...

I hope you managed to take your board out... I'm sure Stormy is delighted you are on break & would love spending some time at the beach... it looks like the weather out your way will be fine for your break, so you can get out & about and chase away all the study stress for awhile.

Hugs

Paws

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hi all

I cooked my soup on the stove top in a regular pot, so that might be the problem. I have some of those nice expensive cast iron pots, but I find them so heavy, so I hate using them. I think they'd probably work better though. Oh well, soup got all eaten anyway! Oh, Paws, I just popped the split peas straight in to the soup. They softened over 2 hours while the soup was cooking.

Sleepy, how did you go with the landlord deciding about a split system? That would be great if they've agreed to it. I've always wanted one, but no way I can afford it. It's nice to be comfy in our own space.

And yes, skating is pretty fun. There's a nice smoothly surfaced carpark at the local church that I like to utilise. I've watched a video that recommends practice falling, so that you get comfortable with doing it when it really happens. But I'm a bit chicken to even pretend fall lol. Anyway, I hope you get out and about walking and running in the cool weather still. It's so good for us. I hate winter, so I'd probably veg if I didn't have a dog nagging me to get out and about!

Well, speaking of Stormy, I better get in a quick walk before my zoom meeting for Honours this morning. Should get my marks any day now - eek! Cross your fingers for me!

Hugs to all, Katy x

[Paw Prints]

Hello Katy,

I do wonder if the split pleas I bought might have been passed their best as I never had problems until I bought that pack... I was so disappointed by having them still rock hard after cooking them that I haven't tried since...

I have given up slow cooking in the oven... I now do it all in my old reliable cast iron deep saucepan with the lid from the old boiler pot (which I no longer have)... turned down as low as possible... the only problem is it only makes up to 4 meals at a time... would love to be able to make more each batch. Yes it is very very heavy but I love how well things cook in it.

With practice falling... could you do it on your bed onto your nice soft safe mattress.... just a thought (from someone who would probably still be too chicken to even do that)

The news is saying parts of WA are going into lockdown... do be careful lass if you are out & about... especially if your area gets people from Perth for the long weekend.

Keeping fingers.. toes.. & paws crossed for you.

Hugs

Paws