In search of @chibam

@Historylover cant say. So many people have dispersed across SANE or left. Wanted to say hello to you. How are you going these days?

So nice to hear from you, @SmilingGecko. I'm not fantastic, to be honest. Still just poking along. How about you? Did you solve your bee problem?

Hey @Historylover yes the bee spray works a treat. I'm so grateful to you. I use double strength vinegar with water. Beats having a bee technician out to the property. It was becoming a pain. Things are going along well here. Are you still getting out to your groups still? I did ChatGBT for spitting out the all-time best operas with english subtitles on you tube. There were many I havent heard of. Saw another opera a while back which I thoroughly enjoyed. Got to get around to watching more operas. Have been doing armchair travel off you tube. Checked out Greenland, Siberia, South Africa & Sweden . Found the whole thing disappointing. There is a saying if you want to be depressed then travel. Heard that from someone on SANE who said the same thing, he came back utterly disappointed and depressed. Today I had a favorable angle in the sky for buying things of beauty so got a new copper bracelet from Salvos for nix to match an outfit I allready have! It will match nicely

Nice bracelet, @SmilingGecko. I haven't bought new clothes for ages, but it's getting that way that I'd like some fresh, new styles. Gives us a whole new outlook, I think. The cold weather is cooling down at last. I was beginning to think the season was going to pass us by. No, I've had to take a break from sport, Tennis elbow took its toll and now I have Dupuytren's Contracture taking hold on my right hand. My father had it and I had been under the impression that it only passed on along the male line. No. I've been doing a U3A course on Music Appreciation and another on Social Philosophy. I don't know how long I'll persevere, but they have been most enjoyable. ChatGPT and I are getting along famously, too. I went to a string chamber quartet performance recently, and I will be going to see Don Giovanni later in the month. I have been driving outside of my 5km. bubble too, but I think all the excitement may have burnt me out.

I hope @chibam is doing alright. I really wanted to check in on him.

@Historylover I cant afford much in terms of clothing etc so just shop when the stars align I usually get something turning up on the scene that I really like that I'm going to continue enjoying. Thats no good about your injury and illness. I've had a few things passed down the family line. I dont travel far for more than an hour and a half due to incontinence, my father had the same. I have an app on my phone that maps out rest rooms when I leave the house lol. Many women post child birth have incontinence so I guess I was lucky getting it later in life. It makes it hard getting out but I dont really need to go far. That course on social philosophy sounds interesting. I study astrological philosophy based on an esoteric system brought into the world by both a psychic and a philosopher/presbyterian minister. I love it. My ex-brother in-law studied philosophy at university. I do love astrological philosophy though. I used to go to the local university at lunchtime to watch music performance for a gold coin entry fee. I used to love the Viva Voce` choir and many of the orchestral performances. It was a lovely act of generosity from the music faculty for the general public. It was wonderful. I hope you enjoy your next concert. I have not been to a concert in years. I just made an apricot slice and am about to cook a curry for lunch. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

The Music Appreciation surpassed anything I could have imagined, @SmilingGecko, and as for Social Philosophy—I didn't know what to expect but it has been different every week. Certainly food for thought. It's keeping me busy for a short while. Almost our birthdays again! Have a good day. Your food sounds delicious.

@Historylover how are you coasting along today? I had a good nights sleep. Did some armchair travel last night and saw how a woman lived on her own in a pokey apartment in China with hardly any room to swing a cat. Its worse than small government flats here. Its making me more aware of global conditions and living arrangements. I just started my journey by typing "living in <country> on a budget" on you tube and now the algorithm is spitting out countries from all over the world. Its really depressing. The more I see the more appreciative I am of living in Australia even though its a bit of a weird country. We are experiencing so much street crime in Melbourne nowadays. Its no longer a safe city to be in and to try and get out and about. Not much more is new. I was going to go get some acupuncture but realistically dont think I can afford it after checking my banking app and upcoming payments. I hope you are doing well. It was nice to see your profile come up on the forums. I have thought of you but decided you must be doing something else with your life. I know the akasthesia has been causing you major discomfort. I had that on the big H medication. Thankfully I no longer have akasthesia but know the comfort and distress it causes. Its not a nice space to be in and theyres no escaping it. Do you know when your CTO is up for review? It would be nice to get off that injection and have a more well tolerated medicaton so you dont have to put up with akasthesia. It can be a nightmare. If psychiatrists were told to take that med not even they would take it

I was only on that medication for six months, @SmilingGecko. The whole matter was closed at that time. I take no medication now. I still have the akathisia, but I just lump it in the getting older, parts wearing out category with tennis elbow, Dupuytren's Contracture, chronic post-nasal drip, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. That last one is my own fault. No sport, no walking. I thought I'd make an early start on Spring Cleaning while U3A is in recess, but I haven't got very far. Too active for me! I had ice on my car yesterday so the colder weather may be with us. Prices are creeping up everywhere. It's getting that it is not possible to live within a pension no matter how careful we are. The world is somewhat awry at the moment. I had to buy a new washing machine recently and now my printer's ink is no longer available. Have you tried 'compatible' inks? I'd always used genuine. Doing alright today. Thank you. I hope you are too.

@Historylover I just cancelled my acupuncture but have to go to the dentist in a couple of weeks. Yes I'm feeling the pinch financially. Food bill is soaring. I dont go anywhere or do anything. Wanted to share a philosopher with you. He's a musician and puts out ambient music as well as philosophical discourse. He used to be a Buddhist monk. Is highly educated and devours literature which he shares widely. He has a you tube channel called the Functional Melancholic. He has a poetic way of seeing the dystopian nature of the world and his words are really interesting to share. I can only take him in small doses as I find him a bit on the negative side but on a cold winters night watching him on my phone reminds me of our essential humanity and what we all must face in this life. He peels back the civilised face of society to reveal something existentially marring in the world. I think you will like him. He is hyped on you tube and has a small cult following. I was so pleased I discovered him. Hes only been on you tube since 2024. He also provides a reading list about the things he discusses

https://www.youtube.com/@functionalmelancholic

Well, I managed to do half of my kitchen's seasonal deep cleaning, the remainder will be done as soon as I can inspire myself, and I went for a lengthy walk around my local lake. I owed my body some duty of care. I had a look at the site, @SmilingGecko, but to be honest, I found him a bit too dark. I still imbibe fennel tea quite often after your suggestion some time ago. It's become one of my tea selections, and is very nice.

Well, I hope @chibam is doing alright. The last time we spoke I think he was remarking that he always seems to be getting himself in trouble for saying the wrong thing. If you're about, @chibam, please drop by and let me know you're doing alright.