Men/Women

Men/Women

Sometimes I see the perfect example in name about how men and women differ. This is not to say one is better than the other or worse, however rarely the perfect example presents itself for me to share, so I shall.

I was on a tram heading into the city, in the early evening. It was still Spring, but towards the end of the season. In Melbourne, that translates as flowers, wind, winter, rain, hot, Spring, Spring, Spring, rain. Forty degrees in the shade. That about nails it.

Several of my carers have hay fever for months. A young guy was sniffling a lot on the tram and it was rather unpleasant, not that I gave any indication of disgust.

He got up to check the tram route map and when he sat again, he apologised for sniffling and explained it was hay fever. He had gotten up that morning and had run out of tablets.

Context done.

A woman a week earlier would have noticed, then to fit a visit in somewhere when she was close to a chemist during the week. By day five, let’s imagine Friday, she would have started to consider there had to be a chemist somewhere and she would have gone out of her way to be prepared. Guys – he just plain ran out.

I had not been concerned he was contagious, but I reached out a hand offering him 3 slightly crumpled tissues. I could tell he wanted to take them, but he looked concerned they were not clean. I reassured him I had only just put them in my bag.

I guess I’m a natural born Nona in the mix.

Today’s Lunch – 11th September 2019

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

Another mid-week post, it’s not getting old. Good food, better medicine. My favourite cafe never gets old. What gets old is doing adult so much it’s squeezing time to eat and write into oblivion. Note, the less lunch my lunch resembles and more like afternoon tea.

Yesterday, was at the self-advocacy group I attend. Picked up some comedy tickets for next March! Yippy! Stay tuned for that!

Here is a photo of what’s referred to as the witches’ hat in the Arts Precinct in Melbourne.

Note the beautiful spring day in Melbourne.

Today’s offering is Carrot cake and medicine (One of my serves of vegetables every day!) and the pretty strawberry daiquiri my lovely assistant is having.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And blessed Young John, my taxi driver has returned from Greece, have so missed him.

 

The Seasons

The Seasons

The weather is Melbourne is always a heated topic. Everyone gets grumpy in Winter because it’s so cold. I think I’ve coped better this Winter as I’ve had an electric blanket.

Spring was over before I could get it together and write a decent post about it.

Living here is the best in Spring, there is a peach tree outside my bedroom window. While it was raining a lot in the early part of Spring, watching the tiny green come out on the peach tree followed by the sudden burst of blossoms.

It’s like watching a slow-mo nature documentary. Then the gust of wind blows the blossom away and now the end of November, Summer is really here.

The butter on the kitchen bench has become a melted oil slick, the jar of Coconut oil is about to follow the butter into the fridge.

I want to bake some cookies later, I wonder if I can do it without turning the oven actually on? Definitely can’t do it while I’m in the kitchen.

Clothes dry on the line in no time at all. Bonus!

The best positive of all.

My coffee takes one minute and 10 seconds less to prepare. I get the bottle of prepared coffee from the fridge, pour into a glass, add milk, some sugar and stir.

 

Hot off the Press – 23rd October 2017

Hot off the Press

Monday! Such an early start when some SOB (scratch that) person! Rang my doorbell! I again presume my landlady who should be aware I could drop down and ring her doorbell at 2am when I go to bed and I won’t attempt to rush down her front stairs or if I did I could injure myself. Ah, I guess if I injure myself it’s their fault? Just checking.

Insurance? Ka-Ching! Not worth it but I’m having a little internal chuckle. Game on! So, cannot wait to move!

Busy day, adventure to neighbouring suburb. On the povo-trail as I call it. (Povo, short for poverty)
I skipped my Osteo appointment so I could make sure I would be at my best to go see a property close by. It’s cheaper and has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms! Ok, one less bedroom than here. No street view, backyard or grass anywhere, and a smaller balcony than my current backyard. But a potential home for my new cat? Warm in Melbourne, have I ever mentioned 25 is my happy place for warm weather? I am such an old lady remind me what happened to spring?

Tuesday! Starting to get better with having breakfast before my carer every other week when I have my massage at home, after we went for coffee.
And…..
Oops! Did it again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saw my GP, had lots on his list today. Turns out there is no test for diagnosing Thorasic Outlet Syndrome, it’s only a clinic diagnosis. So, I just need that in writing please so I can have NDIA to fund my Osteo, Mio/remedial needs Funding? Mmmmmmmm……. Caught a tram home, I got out part way to visit some shops (all walking distance.) Did some hunter/gathering and decided to walk home via a visit with Wilbur.

Oh, also had some time with this bit of fluff, Frankie whose dad told me he must really like me. Although this is Frankie ignoring me. His dad had gone inside to order and return with more doggy treats.

Made it home in one piece with 5,300+ on my pedometer. So buggered didn’t help that it was rather warm today.

Wednesday, my standard Punchy/stubby day without the shabby part. My acupuncturist is away rubbing shoulders with political minds. Dropped in for a visit with Bella. No joy. Scootered home and dropped in for a visit with Matt, who has developed the 9 apartments down the street with his wife and friend. Shared some photos of cars. I don’t drive, but I like a nice car. Here are some photos of the car Matt had worked on earlier that day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the end of the day I networked and shared some photos of my uncle’s cars. He has restored.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Otherwise, just some nice photos of cars for you if that’s your thing. (It should not be imagined that I have money, am related to people with money, or have friends with money.) Just an appreciation for nice cars I will never drive.

Ah, must mention before I move on, at the start of the day I couldn’t feel my left foot and most of my left leg and side.  By about 2pm I could as it had started to hurt, stock standard day really. By the end of the day, ok almost Midnight, I’ve realised it’s almost the end of the year in the bigger scheme of things and I’m wondering if it’s normal I’ve only seen one family member all year! Thank God for my mum, right? I haven’t seen my two sisters or my father. I have two cousins in Melbourne. One of which I wouldn’t mind seeing at more than funerals. Again, is this weird?

Have I mentioned, my home is so hot in the warmer months that I have to put anything that melts into the fridge. Chocolate, Nutella and now, coconut oil! It’s completely liquidified. It’s time to move!
Does anybody believe in the concept of ‘Timing?” This week marks the passing of me applying for my 4th apartment this year. And knowing I can’t give notice to vacate until I find my new home,because, I can’t just live in any flat, unit, apartment, whatever. I don’t drive, so can’t live miles away from transport or my (well, let’s not mince words: Clifton Hill and my fav cafe and stomping ground) and I can’t do stairs or a shower over the bath and electric stovetop, etc. etc. Today I found out I got a place and now I can give notice! I can even start stalking my next fur-baby, by Christmas!

Excited………………

Wow! That didn’t take long…… Life can’t let you be happy for a single God damn minute can it? Believing the Universe will look after things all goes to hell.

Welcome to my Friday, where I have mentioned the Wheels fell off! My replacement carer for my Homecare/shopping my only Foodie Prep shift cancelled sick. The agency didn’t have a replacement, I outsourced myself to my newest agency and was very lucky to get someone for only 2 hours towards the end of the day.

So, I pulled up my big-girl pants and got on Hellonwheels got a jaunt to the other supermarket I live in-between two major supermarkets. Near (it will be my milk bar when I move. Won’t even need my scooter) got half of my shopping list and on the way home stopped at my old real estate. Gave notice! Thinking I should have waited a few more days as the new apartment won’t be available until the 18th and I need a few days to arrange carpets and cleaning to be done before my notice is up here. Family politics doing my head in. Again, seriously thinking to spend Christmas at home alone. With my new fur-baby. No, haven’t gone to meet any new cats, just know I’ll be getting one ASAP!
Finishing the week feeling flat and sad.

Saturday. No medicine! Must be dying not to fit in a coffee!

Sunday, skipped lunch to squeeze in my medicine. Then had lunch for dinner, happy Sunday. Half a comic was read this week. Comics didn’t rate high on the priority list this week. I’ll catch up in a few to be sure.

Have my NDIS review this week! I will finally have the meeting with an actual Planner about my “Goals” pity I didn’t get this meeting a year ago. I don’t know how they imagine I can find my way to knowing what my Goals might be when money is so tight. I would be happy to start with if they paid for my shoes, my chiropractor and my Shrink. As well as continue to pay for my carers……..so I can start to breathe a little. Then, maybe I can consider some Goals.
Another big week to come.

Cheers,
H

Hot off the Press – 11th September 2017

Hot off the Press 11/09/17

The week started cold and wet as I predicted being the start of Spring in Melbourne.

Once again, with Young John still away in Greece and the NDIS not catering to transport needs I cancelled my one appointment of Osteo and had a long weekend.

So, no big numbers on the pedometer to brag about, big fat nothing. Have been perfecting the panini press sandwiches of late. Generally, have one a week and while I’ve been attempting to be healthy and not put on too much butter a few weeks ago I was a bit more liberal when applying the yellow stuff. Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner! Golden brown worked a treat. Actual ingredients I’ve been going with are ham or salami, a few cherry tomatoes, Tuscan mix and/or marinated mushrooms and some sliced cheese. And I favour a nice light rye bread.

Monday evening, I made it to the kitchen and in true Helen form I smashed out all my chores in a short period of time single-handed. Made the mash potato and steamed veggies to go with my dinner, put together the vegetarian lasagne for a friend and her two sons. Against my better judgement that it doesn’t have meat in it but what can I do? Unpacked and repacked my bench top dishwasher at the same time.

Tuesday, another cold/wet day and I had to prompt my agency that my carer had not arrived.

I love that my main agency doesn’t have the staff so outsourced to another agency. The message came back that the carer was running behind with another client but when the carer was here she confessed she had slept in. Deep breathe, bah-hum-bug!

My friend arrived in time to collect me and we went to see a film.

We saw Girls trip, which was hilarious. It was early afternoon and surprisingly only about 10 people in the cinema. At one point my friend wiped her eyes, as if wiping away tears. I felt a tear at the corner of my eye and my thighs were tingling. (from laughter and a sentimental moment)

No time for breakfast, stated I would fill up on popcorn! Stop it! Don’t wanna hear how bad corn is for me. My friend already ruined that plan for me so I ate one of those oat/nut/yoghurt bars you keep in your desk draw for those snack-times. A younger woman came in and parked herself with two huge buckets. One with popcorn, the other was blue…….I looked in her direction and my friend asked if I wanted her to go give her the lecture about corn. I snorted my response because that had been exactly what I had been thinking. I added that if she had a bucket of fairy floss she was to steal it for me and I would take the lecture for that later.

And because advocacy for people with disabilities is never done, I took the time to speak to the manager after the film as both before and after the film I visited the disabled facilities and had found no toilet paper. Ok, there was 4 squares the first time, ur it’s as good as NONE!

I explained to the manager I struggled to get into a normal toilet with my walking stick, my jacket over my arm, and my bag, because I just had to go! But people in wheelchairs don’t have that luxury.

Let’s see if it improves for the next time I’m there. Time will tell.

Finding the timing of last Fridays post rather interesting timing.

Wednesday. Standard Punchy/stubby day. Hope you read my Wednesday foodie good mental health day post? Then you know it was cold. I wore full winter layers and ended up doing 3000 steps on my left foot I could barely feel to start with. Lots of standard admin and calls to keep the balls in the air and life ticking over. And as you can see a huge shoe rubbing visit with Bella/Killer. Ok, by the time I got my phone out to snap a photo she was just happily sitting there ignoring me. I didn’t want to leave.

 

Thursday, woke super early with pain in my right hand from the carpel tunnel. Not happy at all! Finally got back to sleep and had one of my nice carers arrive in time for me to get ready for my massage at home. I’ve not been getting to the Osteopathic or Mio/Remedial appointments so had rather a relaxing day at home.Lounge already resembling a Chinese laundry.

Have been dealing with alternative rostering issues as my regular Friday girl is taking the day off for football finals. Gggggggrrrrrr…..it’s fine as she is not a Collingwood supporter. I was given the name of her replacement and I asked to confirm that she had/has a car and can drive. Also has insurance, because some agencies don’t stipulate that their carers need all of these things in order to do the job. They rang back later in the day with a completely different name. God help me!

Friday, I knew the world had been off its axis last Friday. (The day I actually had lunch at an appropriate lunch-ish time) Today’s second carer arrived at midday, so I forewent breakfast and went straight onto lunch. Four hours with my carer to do Homecare (cleaning)shopping and some food prep, an hour or so of me sorting out my ‘chores’ and two coffees later all is right in the world for a mostly “Off-grid” weekend!

And here’s introducing Wilbur!

Was lucky to get to squeeze in a visit to the local newsagents also. Perfect end to the week, despite a crazy cat lady practicing her German to poor Wilbur. (She is learning and has no one else to practice with) no idea what she was trying to say but Wilbur jumped down from his perch to escape. The week ended with a comfy warm bed ready for spring! Introducing my Spring doona cover. I don’t know, it just makes me happy and the simple things in life make life worth living. (OK, only a week late, better late than never, in terms of this time of year in bed-linens)

 

Oh, I don’t know about anybody else but I already have my 2018 diary! I refuse to start carrying it around until at least December but again proof that I’ve a weird form of retirement! Retirement, my bottom!

My weekend the standard less the better filled only with food, TV binging and sleep exactly how I need it. Again, no film for single girl date night but plenty of TV shows to catch up on.

Sunday evening my friend Phillip arrived in time to catch up for a few hours. He lives 3.5 hours from Melbourne in the country and has to fly to Sydney for the day tomorrow. I rarely have friends come to visit so it’s ironic that one that lives so far away makes the effort to visit for a catch up even if only for a few hours. He will be gone by the crack of nothing in the morning. It’s so good having a spare room for people to stay over when in town.

Only three comics were read this last week. That number dropped slightly on previous weeks. I think after sorting my collection a few weeks ago made me consider I might catch up by Christmas……..2020! So, I could relax on attempting to hurry and get through them. Don’t want to run out now do I?

An update from Young John and his wife Young Betty sees them not returning from Greece until at least the 23rd. So, another week dawns and I need to get to appointments this week, so I suspect I might also get a little damp. Next!

Cheers,

H

Spring/Peaches

Spring/Peaches

There is something I love about where I live, I don’t live in suburbia (Disturbia) but I live far enough out from the city I have plants and rosebushes in the front yard. I even have a lawn and a Nature strip.

But most important, I have a peach tree in front of my bedroom window.

Without a doubt towards the end of Winter I will open my bedroom blinds every day to watch the slow-motion nature documentary of the blossoms forming, then opening, being open for what seems like only days before a Spring rain hits and a gust of wind blows it all away.

The blossoms are replaced by green buds from the leaves. The fruit arrives, but they never get a chance to grow to their potential as the locals come and pick the tree clean, before I get any.

I have been in bed (on a rare occasion) before midnight and turned out the lights to hear two girls dump a plastic tub down on the ground while exclaiming “Oh my God!” because they can’t believe how much fruit there is.

I’ve crawled out of bed, moved around to the window and growled “Scram!”

Others come at 5pm while I’m lying on my bed in the afternoon having my coffee and they fill their huge grocery bags.

Do you think anyone knocks on my door during daylight? Because if they asked, I would say yes and tell them they’re not ripe and that they’re the type of peaches you peel, chop up and boil before baking them into something.

One year my yield was three bags that went into the freezer. I gave a bag to my sister who told me some time later she found it in her freezer and threw it out!

Why do I bother?