Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

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@Eve7 wrote:

You’re a beautiful soul @NatureLover 💚💜💚

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Aww, thank you for that, out of the blue, dear @Eve7 ! ❤️ So are you 💛

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@Dimity wrote:

Yesterday I didn't know what to do, and the cat was unwell and very fretful, and I revisited some old trauma. Today was better. There's still tomorrow. I'll try to chase up some paperwork.

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I'm sorry to hear, @Dimity . Did your helper help to choose what to work on? It does sound like a bad day 😞

How did it go chasing up paperwork yesterday?

Yes, it'll be the only black tie event of my life so I'm making the effort. The 2nd makeup lesson went well, and I think I've mastered the mascara hopefully. Will practise today before my psychologist appt. A friend suggested I ring around hairdressers about getting my hair styled on the day, so I now have an appt for Saturday afternoon. Goodness knows they will have a hard job, as it's so thin and I tend to rip out my hair after tying knots in it, and haven't been to a hairdresser for 15 years. In fact, most of my adult life I've been too poor to go to a hairdresser and just cut it myself.

(I just googled after your suggestion, but all the makeup slots are full for Saturday. I bought the vegan and cruelty free makeup, but can't have anyone in my house obviously, due to germs and piles of stuff on every surface)

This weekend seems sunny...will you be able to garden do you think? Good luck with whatever you decide to work on... 💚

@NatureLover I'm glad you have the make-up and hair styling sorted. Your outfit sounds lovely. My very best wishes for a memorable night.

I'm pressing on with paperwork and have lodged one of my overdue tax returns. I also got into the garden briefly and hope to do more over the weekend. It looks as though there'll be more cold weather next week.

My new helper is quite nice but I've been struggling to envisage what to do and how she can help. I'm not getting much done in a day by myself either. My helper likes to talk but we haven't quite found our groove yet.

Best wishes for your event!

Aww, @Dimity , thank you for your kind wishes ❤️ I didn't think I had time for the SANE Forums today, but I read your lovely message in my email notifications, so just wanted to pop on and say thank you. I'm quite nervous, and my mascara is still smudging!

Well done on lodging your tax return!

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@Dimity wrote:

My new helper is quite nice but I've been struggling to envisage what to do and how she can help. I'm not getting much done in a day by myself either. My helper likes to talk but we haven't quite found our groove yet.

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I guess it might take a while to get into a working pattern. I once had a Peer Support helper who did nothing but talk about herself and her problems all session. I had to finish with her. Is your helper talking about herself, or about your decluttering work?

If you say there's cold weather next week, I hope you can enjoy your garden this weekend 💚

Thanks again for warming my heart with your message.

Hope Saturday evening went well @NatureLover . And that your hands are improving with the cortisone cream and different soap.

The cold weather has struck. I'd done a little weeding and tackled some chores I'd been putting off but the clutter is worse. I haven't bought anything, just moved stuff into the livingroom where I thought I'd be able to deal with it. I'll have to reorganise it somehow.

Hi @Dimity ❤️ Unusual for me to be absent for 4 days when I'm not depressed, but the black tie event threw all my systems out of whack, and I've been sleeping in till 7.45 every morning since! Missing my time slot for the forums, and then rushing out to things - breakfast with the black tie crew on Sunday morning, work on Monday, optometrist yesterday. Finally I have a day at home today so can catch up on your news.

Thanks for your message - things went wrong on the Saturday before the black tie event, like the hairdresser putting my hair in curls but the curls falling out before the event, and my makeup not working despite 2 lessons! But thankfully I was able to just relax and enjoy the night. Very special.

You're right, it's icy at the moment! Not conducive for your gardening 😞

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@Dimity wrote:

but the clutter is worse. I haven't bought anything, just moved stuff into the livingroom where I thought I'd be able to deal with it. I'll have to reorganise it somehow.

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I'm sorry to hear. How did it go with your helper yesterday? Was she helpful?

Sounds like you're doing well on your chores (from your Magic of Tidying thread)...well done.

I'm still on the strange soap, due to finish that trial tomorrow, and the cortisone cream is helping, thanks 🙂 I guess the cortisone cream means an inaccurate result from the soap trials, but will start a new one tomorrow anyway.

Hope you have a productive day today (if that's the plan...not if you've scheduled a rest day or something though)...

So glad the night went well @NatureLover despite some of your preparations going awry.

I guess I've had a couple of rest days I've paused, anyway. Feeling pretty subdued.

Thanks for staying in touch.

Hi @Dimity ...I was planning a chatty post to you, but the first thing I read this morning was your "Winter Solstice" post, and am concerned for you 😞

Am also anxious that maybe you just wanted people to listen, not try to be encouraging. Please, will you tell me if that's the case and I got it wrong?

I really feel for you - so many worries and burdens and difficulties, and no hope with which to deal with them 💔 Will be sending lots of wishes for you...you're important to me and I care about you. 💚

Thanks for your caring post @NatureLover . I do appreciate both encouragement and sympathetic listening, and I think you usually make the right call - thank you! Yes I've been a bit blue, but I was looking forward to hearing about your big night! I hope I can support you as much as you support me.

I'll weather this, I think, the way I cope with being caught in a rainstorm (as a non-driver) - put my head down and keep walking, then draw breath and recover once I'm under cover. It's raining at the moment actually. The sound is comforting and I guess it won't be so cold overnight.

I'm glad the cortisone cream and new soap have helped. Do come back to this soap if the next one in your trial isn't as good.

I hope you have a good day.

Hugs @Dimity ❤️