Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Thanks, @Dimity . I keep hitting the wall at work, but I was pleased to make it through the day.

That's great about your transport and social support! What does the social support entail? Is that different to the home help?

I hope that the person is well enough to water your garden next week🤞

Do you think you could do some reading during your convalescence?

I haven't yet gone out on my errands - am psyching myself up. Am amazingly not totally wiped out this morning. Just tired.

No, I don't follow the news and current affairs (except on Facebook and occasionally on Google). I did for many years, but it got me down. I find I'm more peaceful without it.

There are a lot of changes for you at the moment - the upheaval of your upcoming surgery, plus all the new supports. Am thinking of you as you adjust 🫂

@NatureLover the social support is apparently being picked up in a minibus to join groups. I've never really fitted in so I'm dubious but I can try. I'm putting it off for now.

I'm glad you got through the day at work but it does sound difficult for you.

Yes I hope to read, to sort papers and to go for frequent short walks. I'm interested in current affairs but so much is so depressing. Unfortunately what Google and social media push to me is often partisan so I try to source reputable news media as well.

I guess this was my last week of normality as it has been. First thing Monday I take the cat to the cattery and launch into the unknown. My private helper starts that morning. I hope the Council one who came today isn't allocated as my regular, she was very critical of products etc the assessor had approved and did such a bad job on the shower I did it myself - which I won't be able to do again for ages.

Sorry I'm grumpy. I have a lot of aches and pains, perhaps because I had to pause an anti-inflammatory, or it's built-up tension.

I'd love to get out into the country but that's just not possible. I'm tired of traffic noise and building sites and endless concrete and bitumen.

Please enjoy your weekend. I hope your tomatoes are growing.

@Dimity Maybe if the social support activities / excursions are to your liking, that will help?

Sorry to hear that the Council home help was so bad 😣 I hope you get allocated someone else!

'Partisan' is a good word. Usually I pick up on Facebook / Google that something has happened in the news, then go seeking further news articles online about it. I'm never quite sure which political end of the spectrum they all are, although I'm aware of a couple.

Is it your private helper who's helping you take Tiger to the cattery on Monday? Have you had this private helper before?

You have every right to be grumpy (not that you sounded it). And I guess it must be hard to enjoy your beautiful garden when there's a building site right next door 😣

I'm home this weekend thankfully. Yes, my tomatoes are finally going red and I plucked and ate 5 mini tomatoes yesterday right off the vine! It's true what they say - they do taste better than the shop ones. There aren't very many of them, but my vines did recuperate after the top 30cm was eaten by the possums. The eaten stems never recovered, but other stems grew.

I'm going to try to do 3 hours' work today although I'm not very motivated. It's going to be a hot 4 days so I hope you will be OK and can walk in the evenings if you wish to.

I'm so glad you've had some tomatoes @NatureLover . I've had very few.

No I'll have to get Tiger to the cattery myself. The helper's booking is outside the timeslots the cattery is open . Hopefully she can help me get him home the following week.

I trudged to the shops in the heat and haven't really done anything else apart from watering. You did well if you achieved your goal of 3 hours. I seemed to hit a wall last week and can't get things done.

39 tomorrow and Monday. Take care.

Oh gosh re getting Tiger home again @Dimity . I hope the helper will agree.

Well done for walking in the heat. Yes, the watering burden is a lot in summer. I had to rest this morning between watering the back garden and the front garden, I was so exhausted. It was hot too this morning, with lots of mozzies.

I didn't do anywhere near 3 hours yesterday. And I'm very tired now, so I think it'll just be laundry now that I'm in for the rest of the day.

I hope you can sleep on these hot nights. Good luck keeping cool today...

I had lots of mosquitoes last night @NatureLover . I forgot to water tonight.

The heat is a bit draining but I stayed with the aircon today. Had a panicky afternoon, I thought I'd exhausted my mobile data - apparently my WiFi hadn't worked for a while. Being incommunicado this week would be a nightmare. It took hours to sort out and my provider was unhelpful - I ended up using 4 different contacts until I found someone willing to help (for a price). I realised how isolated I am, and absolutely dependent on my smartphone. It's scary.

My sleep is a bit broken. I have to be up about 4am Wednesday. Maybe I'll stay up all night rather than risk sleeping through alarms.

I hope you're not finding it too hot to sleep.

Oh gosh re trying to sort out your provider, @Dimity ! Well done for sorting it 👍

I see it rained overnight, so it won't matter that you forgot to water.

4am, gosh...I guess once you're in hospital you can rest. I'm sending good wishes for your surgery 🤞

Do you know how many days you'll be in hospital?

I'm not finding it too hot to sleep (yet), but I still had a bad night. Thankfully I only have to water a few pots this morning before work.

Hope you're not too stressed about your surgery.

It doesn't help when you don't sleep well @NatureLover . Hopefully you'll catch up.

More phone dramas. Lost phone (found) and dodgy internet cable. Tiger is at the cattery. My helper came and said if I'm stuck re transport home to call her. I think I'll be home Friday, so 2 nights away.

Tomorrow will be busy. Lots to do.

I'm nervous but it's not about anything specific as I don't really know what to expect. I feel quite lonely but I just have to trust things will be OK.

I hope Tuesday goes well for you.

@Dimity I think going into hospital for a big surgery on your own would make you feel lonely. I will be thinking of you lots and looking forward to seeing your posts again and finding out how you are.

I'm glad you have the option of calling your helper for the trip home from hospital.

Is your internet cable OK now?

It was already hot out early this morning. Seems humid. One more hot day then a day of relief tomorrow. Errands today for me, plus more (endless) watering. My new neighbour got lots of pots which I water. If it becomes too much, I'll let him know.

I hope your busy day today goes well 🤞 and that you are able to stay up all night if that's what you choose to do.

All my best wishes for your surgery ❤

💚🫂 @NatureLover