So, how was your day?

[Doolhof]

I've had a busy kind of day that went very well. I have managed to work, go for a swim, had lunch in a park, enjoyed a coffee and biscuits with a client and looked at the second hand tent we have just bought ourselves.

I went down to the chook house to check on my "ladies" and had a chat with them while they clucked away waiting for me to feed them. I also had a look to see where we can set the tent up in the garden this weekend to try it out. I'm already thinking of places nearby where we can go camping. I will also ask my sister and nieces if they would like to join me sometime.

Please feel free to contribute and share how you have spent your day.

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

[thisaquarian]

Hi Indra,

I'm glad that your mum is on the mend 🙂

My walk last Saturday morning was epic. When I told some friends at work about it they said, no Kerri that's a hike! Yes it was... I went to White Rock Nature Park - the walk to White Rock took quite a while and there was a set of stairs which were really difficult. It was the biggest thing that I'd done in a while, but I am glad that I did it.  I was still recovering on Wednesday - I'd pulled a leg muscle. I'm okay now though.

This weekend I am going to take it a little more easy - I am going for a walk around a lake, which will be all flat and much more relaxing.  I won't need any recovery time which is the best thing!

What do you have planned for your weekend? Did you have a good week?

Kerri

[thisaquarian]

Mrs Dools,

Thanks for telling me what Doolhof means... I'd wondered and just assumed it was a made up name or acronym or something.  I'm sorry that you haven't been going so well. Did you end up going to hospital? Glad that you have been able to focus on some positives... I like the way that you write 🙂

Growing a Bonsai or drumming, come on Mrs Dools what are you going to try new this week? haha

I'm trying to learn how to crochet but I can't seem to learn by doing this online so I am going to have to find someone to help me do it in person. Surely someone I know can show me how to do it... I have a new niece or nephew (gender is a secret) due in October, so I want to crochet something cute! And a friend of mine is having a baby around that time too - a boy who will be named Ollie.

What do you have planned for your weekend? I'm off for a much needed hair appointment tomorrow morning. A special treat - I am going to get some colour done this time, I can see grey hairs!

Hope you, Indra, and everyone else enjoys their weekend.

-Kerri

[Doolhof]

Hi Kerri,

Lovely to chat with you. The weekend is half done. Yesterday my husband helped me with the photo booth machines so I could print out some holiday photos from years ago, so that was nice. Took hours, but I can now check that off the list.

Funny about the drums, I just received an invitation from a friend who is having a bonfire and drumming night! The bad news is that we are already attending a different friend's 50th Birthday that night. I would have loved to have been a part of that experience!

Maybe I can ask this girlfriend if she can have another drumming night when I am free to attend!

Mmmm. Something different to try this weekend. Not quite sure what that might be. I will have to think about it. I am hoping to wash the windows and do some gardening...but I don't think that really counts unless I wash the windows while on stilts perhaps! Ha. Ha.

I haven't been to hospital yet, but if it is deemed really necessary then I should listen to the professionals and do as they recommend.

On Wednesday I have a computer hook up with a psychiatrist at the hospital, that will be a new way of doing things for me. Apparently a mental health nurse will be assisting as well so I will see how all of that goes.

Regarding crocheting, pop on down to your local old folks home, one of the ladies there would probably be thrilled to show you how to crochet. Best thing is, the homes are open 24/7 so the old dears will be available after working hours and on weekends!

Cheers from Mrs. Dools (Need to get ready for Church!)

[Hopefullseeking]

Hi Lauren,

What you are going to do with the shells sounds really creative, I left my natural in a large round bowl, looks like a large fish bowl, they look good though.  The carafes with the swirls on them sound lovely to, its a pity we can't include pictures on here as I would love to see them finished.

I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble with work changes, nothing ever seems to stay the same does it and most humans can't handle change very well, I know I can't.

Asking people for help, nah not my thing either.  I brought my cat a new scratching post yesterday, the store keeper asked if I wanted him to put it in the car for me so of course I said yes, when I got back to my unit I struggled to get it out of the car.  There were two people talking in the car park and I couldn't ask them for help, luckily one came over and carried it into my unit for me.  I am fiercely independent and don't like asking for help but my body is failing me at times and I do need to learn to ask for help both physically and mentally.

I connect with people easily here on BB to, I think because everyone is anonymous we can be more ourselves and also be open and honest.

Hows you depression going atm, has it improved any, I have taken a bit of a dive this weekend, not really sure why but I was doing well last week but it never seems to last long.  I know that is a negative and I am trying to think positively but I do agree depression sucks.  Some counselling appointments sound good for you right now, even if they are done over the phone it might help.  Having to wait for a psychiatrist appointment also sucks but they seem to be in high demand at present, this could be because everyone is talking more about mental illness now than they use to.

As I said hope you are feeling better now. Looks like you have a few new people to talk to on her of late, that might help.

Sending hugs your way.

Anne

[Doolhof]

Dear Anne,

Hi. I hope your cat uses the new scratching pole. Our cat seems to prefer the lounge suit! It is a good thing the person in the car park at your place came to your assistance.

Asking for help isn't always the easiest of things to do, especially when you have received knock backs in the past. Guess the thing is to realise that not everyone will give you a hard time if you ask for help!

I tried chatting with our minister at Church today about my depression, but was soon shut down. It is a good thing I believe in God and not in the minister!

I'm reading a book at the moment about a young boy's experience in heaven. The book hasn't yet confirmed that he actually died during an emergency operation, but is very interesting reading.

I have placed the shells in a large glass container used for preserves. The shells look great in all their different colours now I have painted and drawn on them. I am sure your shells in the bowl look lovely. I had picked up the plain white shells purposely to paint and decorate.

Sorry to read you have taken a bit of a nose dive with your depression. I hope you are able to rise back up out of it again soon.

After Church I bought a nice plant for the kitchen table then decided to clean the windows, vacuum and cleaned the car. I was exhausted after that so had a lovely snooze before I went down and let the chooks out for a while.

Monday I have a double appointment with my Dr to organise a mental health care plan and chat about the coming appointment with a psychiatrist via computer hook up at the local hospital. That will be an interesting way to do things!

Hope you have some nice plans for the week ahead. I hope to go swimming again in the morning.

Cheers for now from Lauren

[Doolhof]

Hi Indra and Anne,

Just thinking of you both and hoping you are doing okay.

Cheers for now from Lauren

[Indra]

Hi Lauren,

Sorry to have read that you have been doing it tough recently - I hope the stay in hospital has given you time to rest and get back on track. I did read the upside was having your meals cooked for you - that would be nice! I could tell you were sounding not quite yourself in some of the older posts - I am one for giving people some space and not to bombard. I am glad that you are back here now!

For us, we have been up and down and all over the place. I have had some real lows, but moving forward a step and sometimes sideway step at a time. The boys have been a bit of work of late with their behaviours, but will delve in to my endless amount of patience - that is the only thing that I am patient for lol

Feel for you when I read that you hadn't been receiving support from either the church or CFS. I feel sometimes people are disinterested in other people - either it is too had or they don't want to get involved either from being to busy or disinterest. I hope it changes for you.

Thank you for thinking of me - make sure you take care of yourself - BB is a better place by having you here!

Cheers Lauren,

Indra

[Doolhof]

Hi Indra,

Thanks for your message and best wishes. I hope you and the boys manage to find some balance in your lives. It sounds to me like you do an amazing job with them and they are so lucky to have you as their Mum!

One of my girlfriends just turned 50 and her daughter put out a beautiful message on facebook about how much she loves and appreciates her Mum. It was so heart warming to read. You Mum's do an amazing job, as do Dad's as well of course.

Life for me has been a bit of a struggle lately, but at long last it looks like I am on the road to getting some help so I can learn new ways of coping with stuff and getting on with life in a healthier fashion.

Hopefully the new medication will work for me too. I didn't do so well without it! Ha. Ha. That is a bit of an understatement really!

I now have a bit more energy so am enjoying my walking again. I saw a huge kangaroo the other day and that was amazing. I have been feeding some grass to some goats just up the road. One must be an angora, as her hair/fur is so soft and luxurious. She almost looks like she has a soft perm. Ha. Ha.

For a bit of a change I have been taking CDs to play in the car as I am driving around with work. I had Meatloaf playing the other day. I just have to remember to turn the volume down when I am taking an old dear to the shops. I am not sure they would enjoy having their ears battered by Meat loaf!

We don't have much planned for the weekend and hope to finally get some sheep for the bottom part of our 5 acre block. One of the framers from CFS is going to loan us the sheep to help keep the grass down. I am looking forward to seeing them.

I have a friend in Holland who loves sheep, so I will be sending her photos of our new lawnmowers!

A lady from CFS did come and visit yesterday so that was really nice. I appreciated that. I guess people are just busy and have their own problems to deal with.

Hope you and the boys are keeping well. It has been so cold here that the water pipes froze a couple of days ago! So did the water in the chook house!

Thanks for your message.

Cheers for now, from Lauren

[Hopefullseeking]

Hi Lauren,

I'm glad to hear you are getting some help at long last, hope it helps.

Wow that would have been wonderful to see a kangaroo on you walks, nature is wonderful.  I live in the suburbs so don't see kangaroos or goats.  I see and hear lots of birds, two kookaburras were on the telephone pole the other day and talking loudly, beautiful.  We see lots of rainbow lorrikets and if you take time to listen you hear lots of different birds.

I like Meatloaf.  I have a Pink cd and one song has swearing in it and I tend to have that blaring so need to turn that down or I get funny looks, an older women listening to Pink swearing gets funny looks.

When I was growing up a house near us had a sheep to mow its grass, it was tethered and moved about during the day, strange to see but the sheep did the job.

I am struggling with my depression still, a big day coming up next month so once that is over I am hoping things will settle some.  I have been told by my psychologist that the depression will always be there I just hope it lessens enough so I can get on with my life and manage it ok.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs

A

I am going out to lunch today,  I am in the process of changing my name back to my maiden name and two friends and I are looking for a restaurant for celebrations.  Big step for me to change my name, saying good bye to the old me and welcoming in the new me. Its a positive step that I think is time to make.  I made a list of places I would have to notify and it came to 15, I'm sure I will find others.

[Doolhof]

Hi Anne,

It is lovely to hear from you again. Congratulations to you for wanting to and being able to go and change your name. Just make sure you hold on to that certificate and have it handy, as you may need to use it for proof of identification.

I changed my name back after my first marriage, and on some legal documents I need proof of my first married name, my change of name and now my new married name! Hope you have a lovely celebration.

The sheep are interesting to watch. A couple of them butt heads now and then. We have some trees down  the back as well and the sheep use them to rub themselves against. One was rubbing his/her head and looked so cute. I am going to go and spend a little more time with them later this morning.

My sister has just contacted me and says she would like to come and visit today along with my niece, so I will have to get a move on to complete all the little jobs I have been putting off all week! 

Tomorrow I have Church and then will catch up with some friends in the city for a late lunch. The weekend will soon be over and done with.

I have decided to take one day a fortnight off work. I don't do a lot of hours, but travel a lot and that is just making me so tired at present. I have explained to my husband that I need that to be my day to do what ever I need to help make myself better.

Hopefully after that big day next month, you will be able to release some of the depression and tension you have been building up for so long.

You mentioned you like PINK. We have an older friend who adores PINK and has all of her CDs. Is PINK still very popular? I hear the songs on the radio but have no idea who is singing them!

It is lovely to hear the birds isn't it. Our problem is that we live very close to a main highway, so despite living in a small town we have so much traffic noise 24 hours a day. Sometimes it almost drives me nuts. I would love to live somewhere quiet!

When we first looked at the house, I told my husband the traffic noise was horrendous, but he said what noise? I guess having worked in a factory for 30 years the traffic noise was nothing to him. Now he notices it as well. It was a lot quieter where we lived in the suburbs. Oh well. Guess you can't have everything!

Hope you have a good weekend Anne.

Cheers and cyber hugs to you, from Lauren