Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

So glad your mood was better yesterday @Dimity . And that you "enjoyed" the gardening (so presumably it didn't feel like a chore).

That's good you missed the rain / storms the other evening.

Glad to see it's fine this morning. Am enjoying getting outside early lately. Nice and quiet. Today errands, tomorrow socialising that I'd rather not go to. I need a few days at home. Plus don't want to be around the Christmas shopping crowds.

Hope your mood is better today too.

Hi @NatureLover I hope you enjoyed the socialising more than you expected to.

Lots of rain today.

I've been tidying. I made some progress - small but significant. I'll keep persevering.

Good luck for tomorrow and Monday.

Well done on the tidying progress @Dimity 👍

I expect you weren't able to walk yesterday, with all the rain?

I did end up enjoying the socialising. Then I picked up lots of books off the shelves at the library on the way home. Have 20 books reserved, all long reserves - for one I'm 122nd in line.

Tired and dopey today. Was outside early, then had a nap - rare.

I can't even decide what needs the most attention in my housework.

Good luck with your tidying / garden / whatever tasks you decide to do today 🤞

Hope you're resting up today @NatureLover , maybe with a book.

So far I've shopped but haven't done much else. Yesterday I walked thinking the rain had finished but it came down again so I was caught. I'm not sure what to do either - maybe a cuppa then garden.

Did you end up gardening after a cuppa? @Dimity

That's not good you got caught in the rain on Saturday!

I did rest with a book yesterday. Didn't achieve anything.

Hope you have a good day today.

Yes I'm trying to start on the backyard in very short bursts @NatureLover .

I've been a bit frazzled today, trying to sort out some things, and I'm not good in the heat. I'm going to have a busy week this week.

I still haven't been able to face unpacking and setting up my reading light. It's ridiculous but it feels doomed to failure. And the clutter is bothering me.

I'll have to water my pots tonight - I forgot earlier.

Books tomorrow? Enjoy.

Hi @Dimity , yes, this humidity is hard, and no end in sight! Well done on the gardening 👍

I find it hard to remember to water my undercover pots when it's raining so much.

Frazzled + busy week sounds stressful. I hope it goes smoothly...

I can understand how you don't want to set up your reading light. What if it doesn't work - I mean doesn't help your reading - that would be such a disappointment.

I need to do housework desperately so no books for me today. Well, there will be books but not as the main thing, just when resting. That's the plan. Plus the book I'm reading at the moment is not very exciting, which helps! I'm aiming for 3 hours' work on the house today.

I appreciate our friendship and our chats, thank you ❤

Hope you were successful with housework and got back to your book @NatureLover .

I didn't get anything done today. But I saw the specialist and booked for surgery in 2 months. I'm not sure it's justified - I'm not seriously ill or anything - but hopefully it will help.

Tomorrow I'll have to start planning.

Hi @Dimity , how is your busy stressful week going?

I'm taking a mental health day off work today. Yesterday afternoon I realised I wasn't coping with the house and garden as I was scratching my skin raw. So today am taking things slowly.

I need to do much more work on the house and garden, but I also need to rest more. Today have watered front and back and done some laundry so far. I also cooked some veggies for lunch. Now resting for an hour.

2 months till your surgery! I guess that will give you time to prepare. Will you need help, like after your eye surgery?

Hello @NatureLover

I've had a lovely day out in the country, up in the Yarra Valley - an early Christmas present from extended family.

Hmm yes your worsened excoriation disorder would ring loud warning bells re your state of stress and anxiety. I hope the day off helped, but I'm concerned for you as you say the leadup to Xmas is so busy. Perhaps you can prioritise some things in your daily routine - meals sleep and laundry? and try to keep the kitchen functional, and let the rest slide for a while. Will you be seeing your psychologist soon?

The specialist said I'm not to do much if any housework for 6 weeks after the op so I'm considering going back to one of the support agencies. She also said I'll never be able to do heavy gardening or lifting which is a blow as I'd hoped to get back to it.

I've been looking online for a new psychologist but it seems hopeless, there are no good matches close by. My gp tried to recall me to discuss it but I postponed, it seems very difficult to talk about.

Fingers crossed you can take things quietly for a few days. I fear the dog situation is probably contributing to your worries - I'm glad you have the support of your doglover friend in whatever you decide to do.