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