Winter solstice

i hope you are alright -- ok now @Appleblossom

relaxing with a cuppa and fruit cake

will have aircon on soon

Oooo, I'm getting to know you more @Appleblossom - you're an art gallery and music person! By the way, who taught you to play?

@Dimity , how's your recovery going? Do you still need those eye drops you are allergic to?

@NatureLover , is your breathing easier now?

mum taught me first on a toy piano. @tyme

my father encouraged music, art, books and sport.

so much for just being schizophrenic, there was more to them both

@Dimity @Shaz51 @NatureLover @AuntGlow

None of us are just our diagnosis @Appleblossom .

My grandmother taught me for a year and I was bitterly disappointed when my mother put a a stop to it, and started years of offering then withholding opportunities.

I'm exhausted by past and present family dysfunction and am slipping underwater.

Cheers @tyme @Shaz51 @NatureLover @AuntGlow

Hugs @Dimity , sitting with you my friend 🧡

Yes, I have always known that @Dimity it is why I keep working for advocacy and keep reaching out and trying to understand.

sending gentle thoughts

Precisely @Dimity - you are not your diagnosis.

We are more than that. We are individuals.

It sounds so hard @Dimity - what can I do to make things a bit easier for you? If I could, I'd take your pain away.

Thinking of you.

Thank you for thinking of me @tyme .

It brought tears and some relief. I've tended my sore eyes and headache. I've had 3 days of hostile messages and apparent confusion from a family member.

You asked earlier about my eyedrops. An optometrist told me to keep using them despite the pain, until I see the specialist again. So I'd asked a pharmacist, a gp, someone at the specialist, and this optometrist. I'm scared because when I had similar trouble with the same active ingredient years ago it coincided with cornea damage and loss of one eye. It's supposed to slow or prevent further vision loss from my glaucoma.

That's amazing @Appleblossom

So your mum could play the piano?

I learnt from the time I was 3 years old... never got anywhere lol.