Henry – Part 1

Published August 19, 2019 by helentastic67

Henry Part 1

Once upon a time, many an Australian household had a plant in their bathroom. It was the envy of every person who didn’t have a green thumb. Because, they are notoriously difficult to keep alive and people who have one will love being complimented and they will always respond nonchalantly that ‘Oh, it’s nothing’. Like, whatever.

The plant can purely be in the right environment that has just the right amount of light, moisture, humidity or water or neglect.

Who knows, this is what mine looks like.

Not feeling smug at all. It’s definitely spending the cooler months inside this year, somewhere. Now this is a picture of a super amazing one. It’s what we all strive for.

I know, I still have not explained why this post is called Henry and that I don’t usually even use someone’s name.

So, I feel a Part 2 coming. That means you must now wait for my next post!

Judgement – Part 2

Published August 16, 2019 by helentastic67

Judgement – Part 2

On a more humorous front and when I do so call “Judgement” I do it with subtlety. This is a watch and learn teaching moment. But in reading form.

About ten years ago, I was on a train on a Saturday morning with my then boyfriend, going to Preston to the markets. Saturday morning’s I set the standard if we were going, we would have to be there by 10am and out of there by 11am.

After that time, it was pointless being there because it is full of bargain hunters who try to get that last-minute special. My plan is to get there, hit it hard, then get the hell out of there and get home.

When I do the market, it’s generally vegies, meat, fresh pasta, rice, nuts, passata, meat, coffee/fresh biscuits, deli olives, cheese, fresh bread and did I mention meat? If I don’t spend at least $100 and stock up my fridge and freezer, I’ve wasted my time. Remember, I’m making my Nona proud.

My boyfriend hated going because he couldn’t work out where everything was and he had the job of pushing the shopping trolley (which you could easily wheel it behind you on its two wheels) but he was a little too tall and because literally five minutes after we got there he would need to use the bathroom. He had the ‘bladder like a sieve’. I mentioned his sense of direction, I would walk behind him and call out directions like a military Sargent, “Left” or “Right” when it was necessary for him to change directions.

I always found it quite humorous although he obviously hated being micromanaged as men do. However, I used to make our adventures so he would cope better.

Usually I would have to convince the boyfriend to return to the Preston Markets, which we would generally go once a month and I did this by way of his pocket. As it’s the language that directly speaks to men. “We can go to the supermarket and spend $200 or we can go to the Market and spend only $100, so we would go to the markets.

I would go to the supermarket weekly to get the groceries and he would refund me. I digress, oh my God, went way out of left field on this on. Kinda feel like the judgement part” is the punch line.

On the train journey there, we went five or six stops from home in Clifton Hill at the time, we encountered all kinds of people. People going to work, people going home, people going home from clubbing the night before. The really seedy types who looked like they had slept in their clothes on a park bench in the city, who looked a little worse for wear for their efforts.

One morning, a guy in his 20’s walked down the train isle towards us, who fitted into the latter category. T-shirt (dirty), jeans (dirty), messy hair and runners. As he headed in our direction, I turned my head slightly towards my right (where my boyfriend was seated) and muttered “haircut and belt.” He had seen him coming, also and made a little noise.

See? Subtle! (bitchy, sure) but subtle. And not every bit of commentary is for public consumption.

Today’s Lunch – 14th August 2019

Published August 14, 2019 by helentastic67

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

Oh my God, is this week over yet!? I cancelled my osteo appointment Monday. It was cold and I needed a long weekend.

Yesterday, I had my follow-up with the sleep clinic. Not a sleep over just an update with the specialist. I checked in and went back out to get a coffee. Thought today I might give you a recap in photo form of my appointment yesterday? I don’t consider myself particular photogenic as I look in the mirror these days and think it is what it is. So, your welcome!

Me before coffee…

After medicine!

And before I get to today’s offering. You may recall, the lovely Caroline my masseuse has been in Italy. She’s been doing a little gardening while her husband has been doing some maintenance. I think it’s safe to say neither know how to do Holiday.

They are in Casole d’Elsa 11K from SAN Giminiano. South of Florence, north of Siena. And I’m quoting her directly, it is too crowded to go there this time of year. She took these photos just for me yesterday.

And finally, today’s offering is a homemade sausage roll with a burning chilli chutney with side salad and medicine.

I’m in Thornbury today at Cafe Crunch as I was running out of time. So, I’m close to acupuncture.

Cheers,
H

Judgement – Part 1

Published August 12, 2019 by helentastic67

Judgement – Part 1

There are times I am sick to fucking death with random strangers having an opinion about me, that I don’t need to hear.

The other day my Girl-Friday (one of my lovely assistants was with me) were walking down the street. Just paint a picture; using a walking stick in my right hand and my left arm in the cuff and collar (it’s a form of sling) and an older lady sitting on a park bench on the footpath chooses to announce to me “Get a walking frame! You are the third person today I’ve seen with a walking stick.”

Now to say I think I kept walking, shaking my head at her helpful comment, I would have just said “No! No! No! No! No!”

Without any obvious professional experience in any medical or rehab field, I am vitally aware she did not take into consideration without BOTH ARMS WORKING. I would actually be more likely to fall over.

There is one thing about falling on a hard but flat surface, but falling on a structure and part of you falling on the floor are two different things. Hard, but flat surface please.

So, I go back to my original point, I am done with people giving me their random opinions to which they have no actual qualification.

Society

Published August 9, 2019 by helentastic67

Society

Today, my carer told me the most ridiculous thing in the world, I have possible ever heard. This particular carer who will be reading this when it goes live (Yes, I’m talking about you).

A young lady (it’s a loose term, but let’s go with it) cut her hand off to avoid having a job and work. I flicked a demanding look at this carer and gave her a “What the fuck” there’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.

Apparently, the parents took her to hospital and they were able to re-attach it and with rehab she can use that hand.

I then suggested she could have cut off some fingers (not her whole hand) or some toes and she might qualify for a Disability and get a free pass from work. My carer and I laughed at this suggestion.

I then finished with, if she was one-handed, she would work, everyday for her God-Damned Life.

I’m sure that is enough to make on this point and for my older more mature followers who are still (I hope) reading at this point completely get that the real lesson here is how society is going to hell in a hand basket, if the younger generation think they need to avoid working by doing something so drastic.

Being the age, I am and despite having a brain injury, all of my life I have a good work history. Ok, ‘good’ might be exaggerating it a little, but I don’t know how to sit still and not contribute to the world somehow.

Today’s Lunch – 7th August 2019

Published August 7, 2019 by helentastic67

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

Had a bit of an adventure prompting a “Facebook post along the lines of my body protests to the pain, Bitch is that a bra? Go back to bed!” It was a Saturday after all, I went to the west! To see my friends

piece in an exhibition. Here is Larissa McFarlane herself!

The look on Larissa’s face when I climbed the stairs was priceless.

Yesterday, I joined a special club for women of a certain age! I did not have any fears to prompt joining this club for women, just that I’m now of “that age”

Anyone want to guess what I had done yesterday for the first time? All of my older carers (all bar one) told me it’s only painful for about 20 seconds, so that was promising. If you are not sure? I had my first mammogram! Go women’s health!

Now most importantly, in Clifton Hill today at my favourite café, today’s offering is a Zaffirini arancini (saffron, mint & peas) with the side salad and medicine.

Cheers,
H

Punchline

Published August 5, 2019 by helentastic67

Punchline

So, continuing on about the whole Social Media thing, I think I just created a punchline to an old joke. Hear me out. Have you heard the one about?

A tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it?
Does it make a sound?

Then I confess, I forgot the next line and then a tree falls in the forest and lands on a mine, does anyone care?

Someone throws a comment out on Social Media and nobody likes or comments. Should I kill myself?

Ok, clearly not planning to kill myself, however people really take stuff seriously on Instagram and such, they really don’t cope if people don’t or can’t respond.

It escalated fast didn’t it?

I just think people should be strong, independent and learn to stand on their own two feet. Don’t be afraid to ask for help of course, but be strong in your convictions, learn, be educated. Have your own opinion.

You can listen to other people’s opinions, but have your own first. It’s also OK to change your mind, however only after you have all the facts.

Social Media

Published August 2, 2019 by helentastic67

Social Media

Ok, I think I made a joke, let’s see if you agree or just hear me out. Tell me your thoughts please.

You know the whole Social Media thing everyone else is on? That I am not. People on Instragram, Twitter and the like.

Yes, yes, I do have a blog and I did eventually get on board the Facey-thingy. Reluctantly.

But it seems some people only have conversations if they are being shared with 5,000 followers and of whom want to be in on the conversation, concentrate on other people’s comments and spread the hate.

I know I sound old, when I say some people are more interested in other people’s opinions than actually watching a documentary, or such to learn about it from the horse’s mouth (so to speak) than make up their own minds.

I’ve come to the conclusion, maybe people would rather communicate with people they don’t know, because they might live around the world from them and not in close proximity (is this safer?) or because they share a mind-set?

Because I guess there is the whole catfish thing. FYI I really am now a 46-year-old single barren spinster living in Melbourne Australia, advocating to/for people with brain injuries, with a cat.

Why anyone would make this shit up to get friends they may or may never meet is beyond me.

Today’s Lunch – 31st July 2019

Published July 31, 2019 by helentastic67

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

Last Friday I was very egg-cited! I have created a network of my neighbours who I order a bulk supply of free-range eggs. 20 eggs per tray for $14 and they are big, sometimes, even twins!

I’m delivering the last tray today.

This is my standard week of if you ask me why I’m so tired I will give this standard reply, as I did to my neighbour William when he dropped down for the lasagne, I portioned for him. “Do you want to go home and curl up into the foetal position and cry yourself to sleep tonight?” Because some tender young ears don’t need me to explain I’m peri-menopausal and have the crazy lady hormones that wipe me out two weeks out of every four. I was home yesterday and today I’m out all afternoon.

So, lunch today is vital, pancetta quiche with side salad and medicine!

Here’s the lasagne I made.

Cheers,
H

Life Works

Published July 29, 2019 by helentastic67

Life Works

I have implemented many thing’s gradually over the years to make Life Work. Also, likely helps my brain be a bit happier, even though one of my processes requires at least an hour of my time on a Sunday every single week.

But I do it.

I have a spreadsheet a friend created for me, that I enter the details of carers I’ve had, from what time they started to what time their shift finished with me. The type shift it was (PC/HC/FP/Shopping/CA)

PC – Personal Care
HC – Homecare (also called General)
FP – Food Preparation
CA – Community Access

*Here’s the thing that should excuse my Service Providers, I even comment if they were late, didn’t turn up at all or the person I was expecting didn’t show and someone else did in their place and nobody bothered to call and tell me.

I guess, you might consider it part of my initial auditing system. It’s probably also, why a Service Provider I originally went with has never put my name forward to be called to be audited by the NDIS. Yeah.

One day, my Case Manager (Now called Service Co-ordinator) was on my computer while I was out of the room getting started on ‘something’ and I realized later I had been updating my spreadsheet before he arrived, despite it not being a Sunday.

After he left, I found sitting on my desktop a there was a screen-shot of my spreadsheet just sitting there. So innocently, um…

He had very obviously taken a screen shot to email it to himself and not thought to get rid of the evidence.

Did I mention it to anyone? Was it my fault? (not victim blaming) just being trusting. Obviously, I shouldn’t have had the file open or let him even on my computer. However, I don’t use them for any services anymore. I do not recommend them and if anybody asks, I don’t suggest them. Sounds bitchy, I am aware, however. Finally, the person who is always treated like a commodity, has the power. I can take my funding elsewhere.