Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@Snowie was Christmas bearable? How did you cope? I was thinking of you and sending good wishes your way... Am really hoping that next year is a much better year for you 💙

Good morning @NatureLover 🌟

My favourite colour is purple/mauve/violet. 💜

But I like blues and greens too 💙💚

Not doing so well. Xmas day was a bit of a disaster. And now our HW heater is not working. I do not cope too well with cold showers. Public holiday so no chance of getting a plumber, until who knows when. Feeling defeated. Its often the little things that break us.

My Dad has moved permanently now to my brothers farm. Not ideal, but safer for him than trying to manage on his own.

Two months break from psych is a long time. Hope you have alternate supports if needed.

@Maggie sending love your way.

Emelia

Thanks for your reply, @Emelia8 ..I'm sorry to hear that Christmas Day wasn't good, and about your hot water heater! I don't cope well with cold showers either, so I really sympathise!

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@Emelia8 wrote:

Feeling defeated. Its often the little things that break us.

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Sending lot of gentle hugs 😞

Yes, I read that your father is now living at your brother's farm, but that it's quite a way from health services, if I remember correctly.

I accept my 2 month break from my psychologist each year, as I only have 10 appointments per year according to the government subsidised scheme. It's good that it's in summer (less SAD for me). Plus my psychologist goes away every January anyway.

Do you have to have a break each year at this time from your psychologist? Of course I realise that this year she is away due to her father dying...so that may lengthen her time away, I guess 😞

I'm sorry you're not doing well...I really hope things improve for you very soon. And that you can get a plumber quickly! 💜

@NatureLover Thankyou for your thoughts. 💙💙

I have been reading some posts but I’m lost for words, more than my usual lost for words.

Furbaby was unwell yesterday, it’s really hard, but she’s ok today.

Sorry I’m not with it at all. Sending you lots of 💕💕💕💕💕

New year is ok for me, same as your thoughts.

@Emelia8 Thinking of you also. ❣️❣️❣️

@Anastasia Big love to you for your message. Sorry for the no reply. So appreciate you. 💙💙💙

@Eve7 @Snowie anyone else.❣️❣️❣️

Oh gosh, @Maggie - thank you for replying when you feel so out of it. I really appreciate it.

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@Maggie wrote:

Furbaby was unwell yesterday, it’s really hard, but she’s ok today.

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I am so sorry to hear, it must be very hard. 😞 I'm relieved that she's OK today.

I'm glad New Year is OK for you. Thanks again for your reply when you feel unable to post at the moment. Hoping that you can feel stronger and clearer soon, for yourself.

Thank you for your 🧡, sending lots back. 💜

Thanks @NatureLover I appreciate your understanding and compassion, as well as the hugs. Actually the hugs dont have to be quite as gentle now, as my surgical wounds are healing quite well now and are nowhere near as sore. Made a difference getting rid of a stray stitch which was never going to disolve. So thats some good news. So I can now enjoy a good and proper firm hug .. and would welcome one right now.

Yes your memory serves you well. My brothers farm is about an hours drive from the nearest medical assistance if Dad needs help. And given that my brother, his wife and both their two boys all work full time, there wont be someone home all the time. But at least there is someone there every morning and every evening. Company for Dad at least.

No I dont normally have a break as such from my psychology appointments. I typically see her once a month right through, with an extra apt or two thrown in during the year when needed. My psych usually takes a few weeks off during the Christmas school holidays (she has two young teens) but we work my appointments around that. So its very rare that I dont see her at least once every 4 or 5 weeks. But now I dont have an appointment at all, since my last one was cancelled. And I dont know when I will be able to get in to see her now. She returns from leave the second week of January, same time my radiation therapy starts. But by the time I knew that, there were no appointments left. So I'm currently without an appointment at all. I asked to be put on a cancellation list for 2 days I know I could make it there in between radiation. But I think its unlikely because I had to be quite specific with available times. It feels strange, because I always have an upcoming apt. I never leave her office without a followup booking. I feel as though I have lost my safety net, and feel unsupported as a result. Not handling it well at all.

Yes I too hope I can get a plumber in soon. Hopefully tomorrow, because I will be on the phone first thing tomorrow. Unfortunately though, I suspect it will be a replacement needed. I notice the HW system is a 2004 manufacture, so its getting quite old. So its going to cost ... money I really dont have. But hot water is a necessity these days. Gosh I remember lighting and stoking the old copper with a fire underneath to heat up our weekly bath water. All us kids one after the other in the bathtub every Sunday evening. All clean for school the following day. No hot water in those days, at least not where we were. Gee ... I sure have turned soft since then.

@Maggie really sorry you are not doing well at all. And equally sorry to hear that your furbaby was unwell yesterday. I guess having an odd bad day may become par for the course. My furbaby was not well yesterday either actually, seemed to be coughing or wheezing more than usual. She has a growth (a benign lipoma) on the side of her neck/throat which is getting bigger. I think it affects her breathing, swallowing, etc. But the vet doesnt want to remove it because it could be entangled amongst her jugular vein etc, and is quite a risky operation. So I have to monitor my poor baby quite closely. I guess if it gets bad enough, then the risk of the operation may become worthwhile.

Emelia 💞

Love to you all 💚💜💚

@NatureLover have you managed to do your walks? I have been so good but Christmas has disrupted my routine and I have really let my "team down" in that regard. Must go today if it's not too wet.

@Emelia8 praying you have been able to reach out to a plumber. Did you wash your hair in the sink as planned? Mum used to do that for me "back in the day". I'll have to ask her why now that I think if it. I don't recall being so young that I couldn't have done it myself? Perhaps to save water/product? Funny I hadn't thought of this memory until now 😊 Praying even harder that miraculously your pdoc has an appointment for you that fits in with the radiation appointment and then ongoing for the months to follow. 🙏🤞💐

@Maggie thanks you for your message. I'm sorry you're not doing well. I've been concerned so appreciate your check.in. I hope your furbaby has improved and in turn you feel better as well my friend🤞🙏🤗🐕

@Emelia8 ...sending you some firm hugs! And I'm glad that your pain levels are much less now.

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@Emelia8 wrote:

So I'm currently without an appointment at all.

...

I never leave her office without a followup booking. I feel as though I have lost my safety net, and feel unsupported as a result. Not handling it well at all.

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I understand this feeling. It's a kind of lost feeling, no safety net, like you say. I hope you can get an appt booked, even if it's for a while away...actually, I hope you can get in with a cancellation appt earlier as well. Two appts, if possible.

I'm also sorry your little girl was /is unwell. I hadn't realised. 😞

I hope you can get a plumber to come out tomorrow, and that you can find the money if the hot water system needs replacing...

💜

Hi @Anastasia , lovely to see you 🙂 Yes, am doing my walks every day. I crave being outside. I think Christmas disrupts everyone's routine, everyone who does Christmas I mean, so I hope you won't beat yourself up. Was your Christmas OK?

Thank you lovely @NatureLover. I actually didn't wear my step tracker for two days so I can't beat myself up. I will put it on shortly and go for a walk I think. Good on you for continuing with yours. You are an inspiration 💞

Mine was as nice as I could have hoped hun. With Dads health (he has cancer) and covid (some relatives missing) it was a very different low key one. But I am grateful for what we could do. Praying we have more with Dad so perhaps next year can be better. Love always to you xx