Rewards

Published March 19, 2018 by helentastic67

Rewards

I think I have worked my way around having carers in my home very well. Here’s an example; I have a rewards system, they can gain points or lose points and they have no idea how to do either.

Carers in the home

I’ve been getting new carers recently to utilise my NDIS funding and I’ve had maybe four different providers in eight years because I’ve moved three times and under HACC they keep you in-house until they work out what your needs etc are, then they outsource you to an agency, if they can’t cover your hours or service requirements. So I’m getting kind of OK (good) at it.

Booking carers

If I get a call from the office to tell me a carer is at my front door and they didn’t ring the doorbell. You lose a point.
If you lie to me, if you continue to lie to me. You lose a point.
You treat me like I have an intellectual disability (ID). Yes, you lose a point.
You treat anyone without respect or humanity. Lose a point and my respect.
You do your job. You get a point.
You do your job well. You get a point.
You do a shitty job well, with a smile on your face. You get a point.
After an acceptable ‘cooling off period’ (undetermined) you can do what’s required without me asking you. Yes, you get a point.
You have spare time and find something that you think requires attention and you just do it. You get a point.

Now, you have the basics let me give you an example.

Apart from the first one because that’s obvious. A new carer arrived and she had her earbuds (headphones) in her ear. She took one out and slipped her phone in her bag. I politely greeted her and she responded to me. I politely stated three different ways (can’t remember now exactly what I said, but it was a challenge) without outright calling her a liar.

Carer with earbuds

She kept insisting it was not on ever, after she first told me she could hear me. I still thought it rather rude, so I just politely told her I could still hear the music. She took her phone out, turned it off. For real this time and took out the earbud.

Liar liar

There is no specific score one gets or loses before I deem it relevant to contact the office and add them to a list call the ‘Blocked’ list.

Blocked

I have a very active ‘Blocked’ list of girls I won’t have back to the point, if I speak to the right person they know my standards and my reasons and I am not required to explain myself.

blocked 1

New Year

Published March 16, 2018 by helentastic67

New Year

I know you can’t tell because it’s probably July or August. Just a guess, in reality and certainly in my world it’s January 4^th, yes.

The crazy life, that is Helen begun. Went to bed early last night, OK, technically 1am, so whatever.

Jamima, lord love her, pestered me all night. Her nose and whiskers on my face, walking all over me not sure where to settle, scratching at my covers, the licks and fang-like bites = Pest.

Sitting on face

Also equals not nearly enough sleep. Woke at 6am and pressed the Mepacs Alarm so someone, somewhere knew I’d made it through the night, barely but I did, still qualifies.

Wake up early

My carer Miss Tina arrived before 10am and I fell into the wall when I got up. Definitely not a good sign.

Washed my hair today, even though it’s not a normal day to do so. It’s going to be hot today. Wet hair will help me stay cooler. Had a light breakfast and by 12pm I went back to bed for a 25-minute power-nap. Jamima came to me straight away. I could practically hear her say. “Hey, what are you doing?”

Wash hair

I confess I growled for her to leave me alone. Slept like the dead, scrambled up, got shoes on, brushed teeth etc and got on my bike.

OK, got on Hell on Wheels and full speed ahead to my parking spot at my last appointment.

Hellonwheels

On the way, encountered a young man (child, whatever) trying to drag his dog off the High Street around the corner. The dog was trying to ‘do’ something. I slowed down enough to tell him “I hope you’re going to pick that up!” Because I could tell he had no intention of doing so.

Dog poop

He muttered something to do with my mouth. I didn’t hear but he’s lucky I was running late for my pick-up.

Had the ‘Go-Slow’ all the way. Where people are just dawdling along, taking their sweet-ass time, chatting on the phones, I had a text beeping and reminding me it was neglected, but I went knowing full well it was Young John. I was late.

I parked at the Acupuncturist, managing not to smash my head into the pole at the front. (Because I don’t see it!) Took my flag inside so it wouldn’t get stolen. Make joke to have fun with the flag in my absence. You heard me.

Need walking stick today, can’t text, too many distractions around. Walk to the designated location and see Young John is waiting for me.

Getting into taxi

Felt like a Princess as I just walked right up to the taxi, opened the door and got in. He was on the phone to one of his taxi driver buddies on speaker.

Feel like a princess

Young John spent the weekend in hospital as he had a nasty infection that required surgery and had started to go septic.

Lift to my favourite café, it’s closed until Mid-January. Damn it! But really, it’s the only time they close, find alternative.

Coffee and huge Rumball – lunch. Rumball sub-standard, sad.

Don’t people know how to make a rumball? They should not be the size of a golf ball, for starters, but onward.

Rum balls

It’s now 2pm, time to hustle to Chiropractors.

“I’m well adjusted!” Yeah, she chants…

Short walk, short tram ride. Some serious texting, another short walk. Get stabbed – eight times.

OK otherwise known as Acupuncture. Made a call (I was in a separate room today) to register my ongoing interest in a Community Housing waitlist. Took four of my own needles out as I needed to pee. Not the first time.

Acupunture

Scooter ride home past the scene of the earlier crime.

Sometimes, just sometimes, I want to be wrong. He did not clean up after his dog.

Stopped down the street to chat to Matt who is building the apartments. His son 21, who has Autism was also there and his carer.

Building site

Brief stop at landlords to chat to their grandkids, “What did Santa bring?” And home around 6pm. Bring in washing and water the back garden.

Now inside…

Arrive home

Today’s Lunch – 14th March 2018

Published March 14, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays lunch

Today’s lunch

Good Mental Health Day

I’ve really got to stop doing things to report on in the first half of the week! Or my lunch/good mental health day post is going to be less foodie more updatey! (It should be a word!) all I’m saying!

Good Mental Health

Monday, Public holiday did some gardening which is ironic since I live on the second floor of an apartment complex these days.

Gadenimg

Went to a AGM on Tuesday that was over-due from last year. Started the day with a migraine ended it with an even bigger one. Not happy! But something was achieved at the meeting. Only time will tell…

AGM

Can now provide you with an ok photo of my bruises from last Tuesday’s fall. This is a week later and my left arm, you know how I have less sensation on that side, right? It still hurts! Oh, I created a new swear word today! Fairy truck! Who says Fairies don’t have trucks or drive? You never know, they might? Yes, you may use it but you can only do so if you credit Hellonwheels/Lifeonehanded.
Your welcome!

Helens arm 1

Helens arm 2

Now, today’s lunch! A Capresse pizza with side salad. With medicine and a complimentary tiramisu macaron. Yum!

Lunch 2 Latte

Cookie

Had my first inspection with my property manager this morning, I’ve never had a problem but I really wanted to prompt that awkward convo about when I can have a fur-baby? I thought it might go something like this “So, I really want a miniature Shetland pony. I had ponies as a child!” (Shaking head, no I didn’t) no? “How about a kitten? Maybe?” (Hopeful, raised eyebrows?)

New Furbaby
She said she would speak to the landlord.
Fingers crossed.

Cheers,

H

Happy Wednesday

Communication

Published March 12, 2018 by helentastic67

Communication

I often find how I communicate things somehow misses the mark. My mum, who I love to bits because she is my biggest supporter on Team Helen, often hears half of what I tell her and runs for the finish line, with it and then of course rants at me because she didn’t hear the rest of what I told her.

Half listening

Sometimes I will be writing about her and you will need to read between the lines because the lines because I won’t be able to say so. But not today…

Half listening 1

Today I asked my carer to take the meat off a BBQ chicken, that way I could freeze it and preserve its freshness until I needed it.

That is exactly how I communicated this task. Can you please take the meat off and keep it? No skin, no bones, no fat, Right! God help me. The barrage of questions, sometimes I go stand next to them to watch what they are doing or how they are doing it.

Questions

It may come across as intimidation, but today she was putting the skin on the bench…WFT…

Put the meat in the bowl and everything else in the bag.

Eventually standing over them, elicits the query “What? What have I done wrong?” And then at least it’s easier to tell them a ‘better’ way to do things.

Finding a better way

So, again I think I communicate things very well, people just don’t listen.

“We have two ears and one mouth. We should use them proportionately.”

Wise words from a colleague, once upon a time…

Rules-of-Effective-Communication

Saturday

Published March 9, 2018 by helentastic67

Saturday

I like to imagine I’ve mentioned it but just in case I haven’t or you missed it. I go off the grid on a Saturday.

That means no mobile phone, none. No emails, hell no, no emails and no social media.

Despite the fact I’m ‘retired’, not bragging, I’m unable to do any of the things that used to pay me and I couldn’t manage what most consider ‘work’, so I am retired, but poor.

Yet I’m still busy with the phone calls organising things, the emails and the keeping tabs on other people’s ‘social media’. Damn I will never get through Facebook news feed, which I might look at twice weekly and hate myself for it later.

However, Saturday’s are the days I allow myself to do one of several things, I eat, I sleep and I watch some TV.

And I repeat.

Today, I’ve mixed it up a little. After I watched ‘whatever’ show while eating breakfast, I decided part of my new routine should be to read a comic.

This is generally something that makes me tried anyway and I am five years (you heard) I repeat, five years behind on my comics, so I read a comic.

Everyone celebrate and do a little dance, because I can’t dance.

And now sleep…

Last Friday, I went to the butchers, I don’t do it often admittedly and I normally save time be calling my guy “Jim” (OK, it the owner but still). This time I just decided to go get a ticket, stand and wait to order like everybody else.

Big Mistake…

Apart from the full body slam from behind I received from some bearded hipster dude because, I mistakenly stood near the ticket machine, I didn’t get what I asked for and of course didn’t know until I unpacked it later. The full body slam, I confess to say was the highlight of this experience, since it’s been some years since I’ve had that level of full body contact.

I know, but from a chick who chooses to be celibate, but misses all the ‘smoochie’ stuff.

What? I’m only human…

The celibacy thing, I’m sure I’ll cover that another time, but in short if I’m single, I’m celibate and now I guess that’s done for now…

Anyway, back to the meat. I don’t know if it’s my slight facial droop or that the woman wanted to sell a more expensive product or she was just deaf but, I was sure I said – “Can I please have four snags and a half a kilo of diet mince!” And what do you think I got? I got four snags – check and half a kilo of diced beef.

Guess I’ll be rethinking how I use it. Which includes defrosting in time for a carer to cut it smaller and perhaps a nice salad with Portuguese spices.

mmm…. Now I’m hungry…

Today’s Lunch – 3rd March 2018

Published March 7, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays lunch 0703

Today’s lunch

Good Mental Health Day

Well, briefly, shall immediately digress from standard post procedure to say people with a disability will know what it’s like when a doctor asks when was the last time you had a fall?

Dr visit

Now, I can say 6th March 2018. Yes, that’s yesterday now. I confess to say, I’m a bit of a Daisy-Grazer with my left foot. I do have a Drop Foot after all. So, my left foot swings out and while following my mum through a Freedom Homewares store in search of bathroom accessories I collected a large frame on my left, my right foot continued and when my left foot didn’t follow through, I kinda went down landing on my right knee, then my forearms. I’m lucky I didn’t hit my face or my head. All in all, not a bad effort. Looking forward to my bruises…….

fall

The lovely office manager and mum sat with me on the floor (bit dusty) with me until I was ready to get up. I don’t love people just lifting me up, I’m stubborn and prefer help, but to get up myself, even if it is challenging, awkward looking or hurts.

getting up

Anyway, back to today’s standard offering. Ortolani with a side salad and todays medicine.

Orolanti

Latte

(Note todays colourful addition which my mum made. She is with me. She is camera-shy)

Cheers,
H

Happy Wednesday

Hot off the Press – 5th March 2018

Published March 5, 2018 by helentastic67

Hot off the Press

There are times I do miss my standard Hot off the Press post! When I’ve had a busy week and there’s plenty to share. Or maybe when ‘something’ happens that I think no one would believe it if I didn’t take a photo.

Busy week

So, that said. Occasionally I want to create some social contract with friends that I don’t get to see very often I will schedule a spot to catch up even if I lose a free lazy day during the week. Of course, all of my appointments have the potential to be social adventures because I see the same people every week, so it’s natural they have become friends. But just social catch-ups are important too. I schedule things weeks in advance to work around mine and others busy schedules and this is why I book my standard maintenance appointments months in advance. Those being my Chiropractor, acupuncture, Osteo/miotherapy, etc. those are the things that keep me independent. So, social is a bonus.

Socializing

Monday, Osteo saw Natalie at the Welly who was exhausted but excited as she bought her first home. Can no longer do the happy dance. I encourage the 5th year Osteo student to do it for me. It’s the dance where you jump on the spot with your arms up and maybe chant something appropriate to the occasion like “Natalie got her first home!” Nothing to arduous, but more than I can manage……….

Cheering on

Tuesday, had a spare day, after having rescheduled my normal maintenance and my mio/remedial a
appointment fell over. (It happens), I go out on Hellonwheels for an adventure and delivered some homemade muffins to Lucy (she and her hubby own a milkbar and holds my Sunday Age and is Megi’s sister). Then I delivered to Megi’s, my old neighbour and free food trade agreement partner! Then I went to a semi-regular cafe for another delivery. This time to Mina. Over coffee I did some writing for my blog. Seem to have been inspired this week. I’m actually catching up. Tuesday was rather warm and while it would have been ideal to have been in air-conditioned comfort I got out and had a good day. Even made it home and continued the successes by doing some admin.

Tuesday

Wednesday, you would have seen my foodie post? Standard Punchy/stabby day. With one small exception. This!

As I was hobbling across the street to get from my favourite lunch cafe to my Chiro, I encountered some guys educating the general public to the plight of someone less fortunate. (Apologies, I didn’t notice) and I do make a conscious effort to shut down the do you want to sponsor this charity talk pretty quickly because I’m poor but I attempt to chat so they have some interaction. I confess to say, they do prompt you with a “oh, what are you doing today?” Thing and very quickly I do the I’m sorry but I’m running late. (Not a lie) these agencies normally employ foreign travellers. This one was Irish and while we briefly spoke I was distracted by something over his shoulder, I asked him to confirm what I was seeing? Irish Guy was having trouble hearing, being a traveller, medical appointments being expensive, I offered some very generic medical advice.

Needless, to say I might be half blind but I did. I did. I did see a guy in the bakery behind him with a snake around his shoulders! Irish guy insisted it was a python and not poisonous. I moved to cross the street and the snake guy left the bakery and headed in my direction. I was concerned the snake would be next to me while I waited to cross at the lights. I shot a startled glance to the Irish lad. But all was well, when snake guy sat on a bench to drink his drink he had just purchased. Meanwhile, snake had a mind to depart. I couldn’t miss a good photo opportunity, right? I’m not snake phobic, just appropriately snake-reluctant.

Snake on bench

After the awkward “is it a boy of a girl” moment, she! Is 4.5 years old. Sure, sure.

Got to Chiro and my Chiro was very blaze. “oh, yeah. He’s famous in this area” like it’s a regular occurrence to see a person walking around carrying rats or a snake (yeah, seen rats on occasion, too)
Prompting me to ask, is it normal to just take your snake for a walk? “C’mon. Walkies”

Snake on shoulders

Then, as if my week hadn’t been. It’s enough, Thursday! Went to my very local and had lunch with a friend. She had this amazing excuse to have a lot of cheese. A glorified toasted cheese sanga….

Cheese sanga

And I added chicken to the beetroot salad. Which looks like this!

Salad

Standard Friday home in the morning, shopping with young Jennifer and some very efficient cooking ok, not from scratch but still. Then like my week wasn’t crazy enough to implement my off-grid Saturday. I found myself doing full adult (wore a bra all day!) in preparation to go out in the early evening. My artist friend Larissa (previously mentioned for her handstands) had some work in a local exhibition. I got it together, changing my clothes and putting on my AFO and shoes and hobbled off to the grand opening.

Friday

Turns out it was a fundraising event for the local Greens member Alex Bhathal. I should mention, I live in the district of Batman! How cool is that? For my American followers, we register at 18 to vote and it is compulsory to vote. The artwork was all kinds of interesting. Always and her partner bid and won a piece of Larissa’s work. The other also being bought as were they all. We left this event after dark (during Day lights savings that’s around 8pm) and Larissa and her friend gave me a lift home where we had a nice cuppa tea and a chat. (issued my medicine Saturday! It’s fair to presume I could have died without my latte.)

Batman

Now, like that wasn’t enough. I had planned a Sunday lunch catch-up with some work colleagues from about 15 years ago. I catch up with both of these friends separately, but rarely so, because they have both got busy lives. I’m the common denominator and our last coffee catch-up was about six years ago. Got ready to do full-adult again. When I got a message, lunch was postponed and I couldn’t have been happier. Back to bed! As a Sunday should be spent! And to those who love to tell me I could have a job (you heard) because I’m pretty switched on. My question to you is: where would I put that? (and the migraine I’ve had on and off all week!)

Sunday

Another crazy week ahead with mum down to do Team Helen stuff. I’ll try to include some details on my Wednesday lunch. Hopefully my Punchy/stabby day goes to plan. I could do with a little less. Crazy chaos somewhere this week. Here’s to another crazy week! Who-hoo!

New week

New Years Eve

Published March 2, 2018 by helentastic67

New Years Eve

New Year’s Eve

For weeks now, I’ve been excited (slight exaggeration) for plan’s for celebrating New Year’s Eve. Again, likely months ago now. Requests and offers of people coming to me, all politely declined.

Staying home

For the ten years I worked in clubs in my 20’s, meant every New Year’s Eve was out at a club I was working at.

Working New Years Eve

Sure, all my friends were there and it was like a huge friendly party with great music. But I still had to work.

These days, I don’t often go out in the evenings, if I do it’s with a friend who drives and they look after me, door to door.

It’s not a crowded and busy affair and ideally, I don’t come home so exhausted, I fall over just trying to make a cup of tea.

Cup of tea

My ideal New Year’s Eve these days, is being in bed alone by midnight, there is nothing more tragic than seeing in the New Year by watching some count down on TV.

In bed

Really, what’s the difference between 11.59pm, one night every year and 12.01am the following morning?

And New Year’s resolutions? Pass!

No New Years Resolution

Wait! For life to get easier, less stressful, for there to be money, peace, to catch up on my comics. No really, love.

OK, that’s enough…

Happy New Year

Today’s Lunch – 28th February 2018

Published February 28, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays lunch 2802 1

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

Ok, I have some catching up to do on photos and explanations, because occasionally I’ve had lunch out, unreported because I ate before forgetting to take a photo as proof.

Friends

So, last week I went out for lunch with a friend very local to home and my friend had this – I’ve had it previously. It’s a quinoa and cauliflower and chickpea salad. I would add chicken strips because I eat meat so just try to imagine it?

Quinoa

I had the salt and pepper calamari with salad. It was missing some colour this time. Pomegranate season must be over.

Calemari

Yesterday, I got it together despite it being a great day to stay inside with air conditioning, I went on a big adventure to deliver some of my muffins in my old neighbourhood. On Hellonwheels, ending my adventure at a cafe for a coffee and some writing. This was the medicine I had.

Latte 1

Even had a little visit with Wilbur yesterday. The newsagents he resides at during the day has relocated in recent weeks. The cat-Mum had to tell me where he was hiding. He is settling in well but his new favourite place is behind the registers and under the bench top. She encouraged me to reach over the counter and I to a hole where my hand met with Wilbur’s head. I gave him some scratches and pats and rubbed his ear.

Cat hiding

I have my first inspection in a few weeks and despite the law not coming into effect until 2019 (so far away!) I’m really hoping I can start to prepare for my next fur-baby! Sick of being that weird crazy cat lady without a cat.

And of course, today. Today’s offering is a pancetta quiche with side salad and my standard medicine! (Need to mainline my medicine today; straight in the vein!)

Pancetta Quiche

Latte 2

Cheers,
H

Cat day

Christmas

Published February 26, 2018 by helentastic67

Christmas

And so, it is Christmas, or it’s just gone past for me, but due to my process of writing long hand, I imagine half of 2017 will have passed, also by the time you read this, might need to tap in my ‘B’ team to type some posts and ask my lovely Administrator to post more often.

Past Christmas

I’ll have you all know, I bought you all Christmas gifts, in the form of when my father gave me Christmas money, I put it all on my Visa. Then I spent most of it buying the things I needed and I paid all my bills.

christmas-shopping

I guess I should be appreciative I had money. It’s just kinda crappy, I couldn’t spend it on things I wanted and needed.

Wants and Needs

Even to have bought an archiving hard drive to rearrange some files, my other My Cloud 4TB’s is full already and while the process is tedious, even my brain is happy with that.

Computer storage

Christmas can be rather brutal in many families, mine is rather passive/aggressive. It seems Christmas is something to endure.

passive aggressive

For me it’s a time to catch up on TV shows. This year it was Divorce and Westworld, which probably left me less homicidal as the year I watch Sons of Anarchy (SOA) and gifts, I think everyone in my family is happy with books, mugs (just a special one) and alcohol. I’m still getting through my bottle of Bailey’s from last Christmas, but all the same.

Baileys Irish Cream