Thank you so much for your kind thoughts Anita.  I have been thinking about you too!  I hope you are well.

I am okay thanks.  I am doing just a little work ATM.  I have holiday pay owing to me so could afford to not rush in.

My life is very quiet.  My son has spoken to me several times since I was unwell with influenza and CIVID, and he really wants me to sell up here within the next few years and move back to Melbourne, somewhere within half an hours drive from him so he can check up on me and visit me much more often.  He has pointed out that I will need to be prepared to live in a very tiny space because of unbelievable realestate prices, but we bith agree that we could make anywhere nice with paint  floor coverings and furniture.  He wants me to start downsizing in readiness for this.

Part of me would like to do this.  I would love to see more of him, Nd once I retire, I’m not sure I would manage with the mortgage and maintenance here.  He said he thinks I would be able to find a place where I would be allowed to have one small dog.

It’s definitely something I will consider but shouldn’t have to do for another 5 years.

To be truthful, I suppose I’ve been feeling a bit sad sometimes even though I know I have so much to be grateful for.  Most of my life, I believed that I would enter into a happy relationship and share my life with somebody.

Realistically that just isn’t going to happen for me.  I will turn 63 this year.  In my way, I’m also happy – or perhaps relieved is more accurate to be on my own.

I think I rushed into most relationships I had, but I don’t know really if there are more reasons.  These days, I don’t actually like many men although I think there are a few who are okay.

I was happy with the result when I went to hairdresser – hoping to never dye my hair again.  Embracing the grey.  It’s mostly an ash blonde color now.  I put 2 pairs of beautiful colourful French earrings and a colourful silk scarf on layout which I will collect when my tax return comes. They are not that expensive but just about everybody is feeling the financial pinch here.  Fuel prices and food costs affect most ordinary people.

So glad our govt was voted out at the last election this year.  The new PM and ministers are so much better.  I’m not sure they can make a big difference about the financial situation at the moment  but they aren’t as heartless and self-serving as the last lot.

Doggies are doing well, but it appears the wheelchair is either lost or detained in customs so I’m going to start trying to chase that up today.  A quiet day for me today.  Yesterday I was up at 5.30am.  Went to work fir a few hours then looked at shops on the nearest city for a couple of hours.  I must have walked a few kilometres, and I was tired this morning.  I just did some housework and went to doctor for flu shot.  More paid work later in the week.

Keep safe and well.  XXXX

Hi Anita,

How are you?  I finally went back to work and decided to resign from my permanent position and go casual as I’m not coping with all the sleepovers and split shifts.  I’m still not really 100% in that I have a lingering cough since the influenza.

I don’t officially go casual until the 17th July but have been getting calls from the casual bank already asking if I want extra work.  I am doing an extra shift Monday, but mostly going to meet the manager and clients.  I am so broke right now, at least also it will be a little extra money.  I have an appt with an accountant on Wednesday for my tax return and really hoping I get some money back.

I’ve had a recent fallout with a local business person here, and a bit upset about it.  I had been told years ago that she has a drinking problem and can be difficult.  I think she has been drunk texting me tonight.  Bit of a story to it, but soon I will be able to wipe my hands of her.

It’s still winter here but I have been doing quite a bit if work in my yards and by summer, I should have a nice little back garden/entertaining area.

The digs are keeping me busy.  I’m waiting to receive a custom-made dog wheelchair for my eldest dog coming from Texas. It’s probably at Australuan Customs now.

Most people I know are feeling the financial pinch.  Gas us $2.20 per litre, and food prices have gone up.

Mostly though, I want my health and mental well-being back.  I might have to try living on less money – or I might end up earning more on casual, but if course without sick or holiday leave so I will need to put money aside for this.

Life is quiet though.

Hi Anuta,

I’m sorry I just saw your post.  I have COVID, but I am okay.  I had only been back at work a very short while, and caught it off the clients within a few days of being back.  Today was my first day off work.

There us a young man who lives across the road from me with his partner, and he is kindly going to get me anything I need at the grocery store I need, but I don’t need anything just yet.

I am quite concerned for my friend Rose who I have mentioned on a number of occasions.  A few months ago, she lost her only child, an adult son who she had been mostly estranged from for many years.  He had been sick a long time.  It was expected. A few weeks later, she lost her mother, and that was a complicated relationship.  She has many siblings and only gets on with a few of them.  I reached out to her today, asking if I can do anything for her even if it is just prayers- she is devout Christian.  She is always helping other people. She helped me out when I was sick with the influenza and took me to the hospital when I had my surgery and brought me home.

I have noticed of late that sometimes during ordinary conversations on everyday matters, she becomes angry and starts yelling.  She has also become forgetful and gets things confused.  She has been helping other people who have been sick, and has volunteered to drive a sick person around for a month.

I texted her and said I was concerned because over last few months she has had some big issues happen, that she is always helping others, but I am concerned if she is okay and can I do anything.  She texted back right away thanking me and asking if I can pray that she can keep going on.  I think she is getting close to breakdown.  I have extra bed here and she knows she can stay and bring all of her pets here.

I am needing to work living in the now. Since my son saw me very sick, he has asked me to consider moving back to the city so he can check on me once a week.  I checked out property values, and I don’t think I would ever afford even something modest there.  The costs are unbelievable.

Old age is starting to catch up on me at a faster rate.  I am looking and feeling much older than I did 2-5 years ago..I’m presently doing work in my yard to make it all so that I ca mn EA a ilu mow everything using the rideon mower.  I need to get rid of some trees that are a lot of work too.

When I was ill and had to go to Ho a petal, it hit me that I am not close to hospitals and doctors and services.  For a while, I thought I could sell my home at some point and move closer to everything, but with the costs involved, that seems impossible too.  I’m just trying to work things out how to take care of myself without being a burden to others

I don’t currently have a credit card so the general store here wouldn’t let me make a phone order even when I offered to transfer money to their bank account and have the funds cleared before purchasing anything. I am just fortunate that my neighbour has been so kind.

Work has been difficult.  As well as the clients having COVID, so far, 3 of them have had gastro and soiling themselves from a medication they are taking to help prevent complications from COVID.  I worry about my health failing me majority, and not being able to continue working.

I amnglad to have the dogs snuggled up with me.  I know I have so much to be grateful for.  I need to calm my thoughts down and live more a day at a time.

I’m sorry gor my rant.  How are you Anita?? I’m reading the topics now and trying to catch up from when I was last here.