Bubbles

Lots of bubbles. And cheese and crackers and dip and cold meat and laughter and fun.

I had J,T & K, fellow admins of the craft group, over for a planning session for our Christmas break up on Saturday. 5 hours later I think we nailed it. Or the warm boozy fuzziness will dissipate and there will be a frantic regrouping tomorrow.

Regardless, it was a great evening and Himself is driving them home. It's too late for fish and chips so no idea what we will have for dinner.

I feel confident next year will be a good one. At least with this group of friends.

Drama

Himself went to take the dogs for a walk and couldn't find his wallet. Oh my lord what a drama!

We searched high and low, he rang the supermarket where he last used it, turned out the car, the garage, the shed, the rubbish. I was Ms Cool and Calm. He was almost having a heart attack. 

We couldn't find it anywhere so he has been on the phone to banks cancelling everything. Bills get automatically deducted from the credit card. His mother's account has a lot of money in it and he had her debit card linked to it. Our account is never full so I wasn't concerned about that. 

He went to VicRoads to get a replacement license. Fortunately he had my debit card which hadn't been affected as he couldn't get a new license without paying for it! What part of "lost my wallet" don't you get? They took a new photo. It's been a few days since he had a shave and banged his bald head under the house when sorting out the garage. I think he is going to look rather dodgy!

He is now off to Centrelink/medicare for replacement cards there. What a kerfuffle.

I cannot use Paypal or by anything on Amazon until the credit card is replaced. Right on Christmas! Fortunately my kindle is well loaded with books and I have some old fashioned ones as well.

I can guarantee that the damn thing will turn up soon.

A better day

Thank you for the kind words.

I have suffered from anxiety in one form or another since I was 14 (just before my 15th birthday). I vividly remember the first attack although I had no idea what it was at the time. After suffering badly with post natal depression I made a point of talking about it as it was (and still is to a much lesser extent) a huge stigma that I felt strongly should be discussed without judgement.

I manage my mental health issues with input from my gp. My meds have been doubled which should see things improving in the new year. Things always improve in the new year! The last couple of years have played havoc with mental health and I feel for everyone who is struggling. Don't do it alone. Talk to someone.

Three send me a video of Alice laughing and giggling and then I realised she was in a hospital. Last night she wouldn't stop screaming and Amy rang the GP who said if she got a negative Covid test they could make an appointment in a few days. So she took her to the Children's Hospital and Alice stopped screaming. They said Alice was fine but gave her an appointment with a paediatrician. They also recommended that Amy get a mental health plan and seek some help. (For those not in Australia, a GP will write up a mental health plan which means you can get a certain number of psychologist appointments, the bulk of which - if not all - is paid for by Medicare; our government funded health care system)

Hallelujah!! 

I rang her and asked her when she was going to do this. She said when she could find time. I told her to hang up and call me back when she had done it!. She has an appointment with a GP tomorrow and I will get Himself's psychologist's details for her. She saw someone after her brother committed suicide in 2016 but that was specifically for families of suicide victims and was provided by the police as her arsehole father is member of the force.

Himself went on another steak hunt and after a couple of attempts was successful. So steak and salad with crispy duck fat potatoes (from Aldi) and blueberries and vanilla icecream for dessert. I have pizza dough resting in the fridge so that is tomorrow night taken care of.

I have finished two scarves that are Christmas presents. Just need to iron and wrap them. I have the loom set up ready to warp the last one I need to make. 

Wine o'clock.

Anxiety

For some reason my levels are through the roof. I have no idea why other than it is that time of year.

Himself, bless him, has been cleaning windows and venetian blinds. After Christmas I think I will sell them and put up sheers that can at least go in the washing machine and actually provide more privacy and diffuse the light.

He has now gone steak hunting for dinner tonight.

I am finishing off Christmas presents for people. Crocheting, putting fringes on scarves and that sort of thing. I have one more scarf to weave and a few bits and pieces to buy but all should be good.

I am giving blood/plasma tomorrow. If the anxiety doesn't subside my blood pressure will be through the roof.

This constant sense of impending doom is just horrible.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

The steak hunt was unsuccessful. We are having Aldi lasagnes for dinner with salad. 

Fringeing is going well (it probably should be fringing but that sounds and looks wrong!) it's going to take me as long the fringe the bloody things as it did to weave them!.

Anxiety is still there. I just have to remember to accept it as part of my life. Good old ACT training from years ago that I keep forgetting to put into practice.

Brunch

Three rang me yesterday asking me if I'd like to have brunch with him today. Just him and me. Of course I said yes but was worried cos I'm a mum. It turns out they are struggling with Alice and he feels Amy isn't coping (blind Freddie could see that). Unfortunately she is her own worst enemy so there isn't much anyone can do but keep offering support. Money is always tight and he works long hours and travels an hour to and from work. He is exhausted but still shops, cooks, does housework and looks after the girls when he's home. 

Brunch was lovely. He had scrambled eggs with confit mushrooms and caramelised onions on sourdough toast. He loves food and cooking! I had housemade crumpet with whipped butter, local honey and pistachios. Yum. I am definitely going to have a go and making my own crumpets. How hard can it be?!

He has now gone home to get ready for the next week of work. I worry about him terribly.

I have made some curried mince for dinner which we will have with rice. I am now going to weave.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

I didn't weave. I faffed around on the computer, did a couple of puzzles and had a long chat with Three (yes we only saw each other a couple of hours ago!) about whether Sally should be placed with a talent agency. They are very expensive ($750) and no guarantee of work. I am sure Sally would be brilliant but she is starting school next year. I suggested it would be great if she could join a musical theatre sort of group. She loves her ballet but it doesn't really give the opportunity to express herself. Regardless, school must come first. She is only 5 after all.

Whoosh

 And just like that, it's 5 o'clock.

We walked the dogs to the park where they played chase the ball. A woman came with two yappy chihuahuas and I was worried the dogs might snap as the little shits kept barking and nipping at my two. They didn't thank goodness. Jinx is still a little cow when it's time to go. Murphy will come when called but Jinx thinks it's a game.

I did many code crackers (my latest time wasting obsession but I claim it's for my brain). 

I baked a loaf of bread.

I tried a new recipe for biscuits and baked a huge batch. They're OK. Not as sweet as the sugar cookies (unsurprisingly, really) but will be nice with a cuppa.

I didn't get any weaving done and now I can't be bothered.

Three rang inviting me to brunch with him tomorrow. Just mother and son. Hopefully he just wants to chat and there is nothing wrong. 

I was going to cook curried mince and rice tonight but Himself bought Aldi fishcakes so we will have those with the remains of the coleslaw and potato salad and I will do mince tomorrow. Dessert will be another Aldi tart.

Next Thursday I am having J, K and T over for drinks and nibbles. We are all admins of the craft group. The founder of the group is a rabid anti-vaxxer so we are left to organise the get togethers. It will be the first time J and K will really get to know one another. I hope they like each other! J will bring some nibbles and I think I will make a platter of watermelon and feta cheese. If you haven't tried the combination you should. Salty feta and sweet, juicy watermelon. Heaven.

And on that note I shall go and do another puzzle.

A good day

Fridays are generally good days. They are the day our craft group meets and it's always lovely. Today was really pleasant. One of the women became a first time grandma this week so lots of talk about babies. Alice was perfect. Granny fed her. Alice pooed. Granny handed her to mum. 

A quick coffee with a friend afterwards (3 coffees in one day - sleep could be interesting tonight!) and then an Aldi visit to see if they had anything suitable for the two remaining grandkids. Nada. But that's OK. I have time as we won't see them til 30th and I can go to Big W, Kmart and Target.

A lovely chat with the owner of the florist at L'arte and my centrelink issues might be solved as might be able to volunteer with them.

A stupid bird flew in the house again this morning. I finally worked out that if I close all the curtains bar the one to the door the idiots will fly out. Well this one did. They are horrible birds but I just can't let the dogs get them. 

L'arte pies with coleslaw for dinner followed by Aldi black forest tart (to DIE for) and a couple of bottles of Aldi red. It's Friday, after all.