Hot off the Press – 18th December 2017

Published December 18, 2017 by helentastic67

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Hot off the Press

Monday, off to the city to get shrunk! Ok, I see my psychologist, but it sounds more entertaining to use the other term. I’ve been seeing her for years and still not fixed!

We all know, good mental health is about maintenance. There is no fixing it. It’s ongoing,
scored a great book for free, just because I asked about it. I was informed they couldn’t sell it. So, I was gifted it.

T world

Had a few brief stops to gather more goodies for a parcel I’m sending to Texas, to a blogger friend.
Medicine while getting shrunk! My comic shop, much catching up to do. Tram home and my bag was so heavy I was co pulled to weigh it five kilograms! I don’t understand how I don’t have a fully blown second disc-bulge. Have some symptoms of anxiety and no idea why. Since, I live with a level of anxiety all the time, I just don’t know what I can do to alleviate these symptoms.

Bulging disc x

Tuesday, a quiet day at home massage, followed by a kip! Some admin and phone calls and then caught up on some TV.

I hope you saw my Wednesday foodie post? Ended the day with more medicine before my last appointment and this thing…

Chocolate thingy

Made it home and found my carer didn’t take the full bucket of water in the kitchen sink out to water the plants on my balcony. So, I had to, in stages. It was 40 degrees in the shade today and my first hot chocolate Calla Lilly has arrived. So, after watering the plants I had a kip for about an hour, but I just couldn’t make it. After my kip I smashed through all the rest of my chores and admin. Ironically, a friend said a while ago while we were discussing Banksie/life/the universe “back when Banksie was living with him!” What! He told me he went by a different name, let’s say “Fred!” because it’s been a while. It’s a very small world!
Banksie

Thursday, finally got my shed put up in the car park and funded by the NDIA. So, it has power and get back out on the road. Well, the footpath……..but still. I went up and down so many times to take the handyman down to B1, and collect the woman with the agreement for me to sign. Then had to go let my carer Sana in so we could do some prep work for my bread and butter pudding. Sana arrived in time to help relocate some gardening and cat supplies to the shed, clearing the last of the thing from my balcony and the main bathroom. Things can actually settle now. Thankfully.
Hellonwheels rides again!

Rides again

Friday! Please let this week be over! Have had a little migraine niggling behind my left eye the last two days. Finally got a commitment from mum for the days I would go up to her house for Christmas and when I would come home. Mum has to drive Three and a half hours each way. So, I could finally contact the three service providers to put my services on hold. By the end of the day, I already have to reinstate some of those services. Still trying to get everything done before Christmas! Snuck in a visit to Wilbur today. Bella has been hard to find. But Wilbur is usually sleeping, quite contented on the counter.

Wilbur

The bread and butter pudding has already started going out the door.

It’s already Saturday and I’m not yet off-grid. Not happy! Must quit! Actually, had my phone on over the weekend, but on silent. Megi, my old neighbour visited, and bought presents. Now I have to find someone to re-gift chocolates to. I did the sleep/eat/TV weekend. Very happy I didn’t attempt to do anything more.

Saturday

Starting the week with a rib out and it’s one that will not tickle when my Chiro puts it back in on Wednesday. Counting down to Christmas and going home. There are two fur-kids there of the cat variety. I will share some pictures for Christmas, it I might take a break from my Hot off the Press Monday posts so I can burn off some of my handwritten older posts. Feel free to offer constructive feedback. Definitely hit me with a Like. Have a great week!
Cheers,
H

New week

Pets

Published December 15, 2017 by helentastic67

Friday look

Pets

I know someone, not really a friend, but an acquaintance I guess. She has two cats and a dog and a husband and a job. Whatever, irrelevant.

She told me once how her cats would go out the pet door and play during the day and when she returned home, she would do a ‘head count’. She would find them lined up in the lounge.

Head count went something like this.

‘Cat, cat, dog.’

2 cats and a dog

One day the head count went something a little different.

‘Cat, cat, cat, dog.’

Extra cat

What the?

Apparently, they had bought home a friend.

Reminds me of this……

Meerkats

Last week, I went to put something away in the linen cupboard, I stopped at the fridge in the kitchen spotting something in the laundry.

There was a black and white thing ‘eating Jamima’s food!’

Visitor

“Hey!” and some other inappropriate words.

The back door was open and Jamima had obviously came back inside and clearly this ‘thing’ that feels our home is its second home, decided to come inside.

The ‘thing’ scrambled away.

I guess Jamima just lost her privileges to come and go from the backyard as she pleases.

It’s really ordinary feeling when you feel like you’re on the outside looking in or the inside looking out.

Looking outside

No one understands or seems to care to try to understand. They don’t seem to care that your being left out.

It’s cold and lonely out here and the sharpest uncaring comment has the power to lead me to tears.

It’s a really shitty place in a family to feel like the black sheep.

Black sheep

Now, to cry myself to sleep.

Friday

Today’s Lunch – 13th December 2017

Published December 13, 2017 by helentastic67

Todays lunch 1312

Today’s Lunch

Hot! Its hot today in Melbourne.
Luckily, I scored a seat in the back room in full blast range of the aircon. It only sucks a little when the back door gets opened and I’m overwhelmed by a blast of heat.

And something a little different today. Is Pizza! On a tummy fluffy base with buffalo mozzarella.
A bigger than normal side-salad and that little Sicilian cannoli is actually BREAKFAST! (No judgement please) had to get out when Young John could fit me in.

Pizza

Salad Cannoli

Planning to pick up Young Johns beautiful panettone today as his wife Young Betty (of course) will be at Chiro later and can take it home so it doesn’t melt. Gabriella even thought to mention I might reconsider taking it today so it doesn’t melt, I buy one panettone here each year and I gift it to Young John and his wife. They are so important to me and the panettone so pretty.

Panattone

Ironically, I didn’t eat panettone as a kid. Mum recently informed me when we visited my Nona & Nonno, it always appeared dry and unloved so we always avoided it. Now, I buy about 4 cheap supermarket ones every year for my baking!
Sssshhhhhhhh!!!!!(secret!)

Guess I should point out the pizza’s here are like what I had in Italy way back in 1994! Really thick base, made in a huge tray. Simple toppings and very, very tasty.

Italian Pizza 1

And you only need a slice.

Here are some photos for you. Before I leave and brave the heat.

Hot outside
Cheers,
H

Wednesday

Jealous

Published December 7, 2017 by helentastic67

Jealous 2

Jealous

Crazy day today well, okay, yesterday officially. I still run on a Nightclub clock. It’s not the next day until you have had sleep. Even if the sun has come up. Technically it’s after 1am on Friday morning, but anyway.

Friday

Yesterday I had a Carer, it was a day I don’t normally get one, but I had more stuff to do. The fourth day in row and the last three with a migraine. The kind to make me really seedy, but not cripple me enough to keep me from going to the things I’d prefer to be left out of.

My Carer today, one of my regulars didn’t turn up until 11am. I’d gotten up earlier, put on a load of washing and gone back to bed. My Carer apparently wake at 6.30am and lay in bed considering the possible excuses to not get up and go to work.

Getting out of bed

Then she remembered she had me, so she got up. By the time she got to me, she had already given six others a shower. While helping me to dry and dress, she made another confession. When she pulled up outside, she noticed the blinds on the windows here, still down. Her first thought was;

Getting out of bed 1

“That fucking bitch is still in bed!”

I cannot tell you how much I laughed.

Laughing girls

She laughed too, just so you know.

It’s rough when they have all the things you don’t and yet the simplest things can make them envious.

weekend

Today’s Lunch – 6th December 2017

Published December 6, 2017 by helentastic67

Todays Lunch 0612

Today’s Lunch

So! Another crazy day!

Let’s do a stocktake for something different? Who is ready for Christmas? Who has all their gifts? Done their baking? Sent all the parcels to other countries or States to get there in time for Christmas?
Mmmm, not I! Shame!

Christmas stocktake

Lunch today is the Mediterranean quiche with side salad.
Medicine with chocolate mignon. (just saying how hard it is to do food-stylist one-handed?)

Lunch

Chocolate

I really was never to be a Visual Merchandiser after all. It is what I studied not what I wanted to study.

Visual Merch 1
And done!
Cheers,
H

Wednesday

Hot off the Press – 4th December 2017

Published December 4, 2017 by helentastic67

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Hot off the Press

Putting out to the Universe to give me a calmer week! Moving and having a cold can really take it out of me when half of my body is not on-board with the other half.

Monday, had a nice day at home with my Friday carer. Got to put more stuff where it belongs and need extra hands. Introduced her to vacuum seal bags! I always sell them with “You will love it!” And then they do. I have clothes I want to sell and winter things I want to store over summer and I need the space more than ever.

Monday

Tuesday, start with a much-deserved massage with the lovely Caroline. She was very impressed by how my new home me has evolved. She was here Day 1, when she, Mum and I bought all my prints, and my clothes on hangers. So, she really was impressed. She set up her massage table in my study. Have I mentioned my bedroom is so small and my bed so big, I can’t close my bedroom door! Apartment living! Winning!

Massage

Anyway, where was I? Got to have lunch with Caroline today. Here is what I had, Quiche with Mediterranean, with a side-salad and medicine. Then off to see my GP. Like to imagine you saw my Wednesday Good mental health foodie post? Standard Punchy/stubby day………..still hot. Otherwise, a long day.

Quiche

Latte

Learn late my Thursday/Friday carer was sick. Couldn’t help myself as I replied with a “FARK!” At least they replaced her and even though my case manager didn’t turn up to help get things moving with my new NDIS funding. Starting to seriously need shoes and I’ve been wearing the ones I have every day for 4 years? That’s not right, is it? (It’s not like I can just get them in any shop anymore…..)

Shoes

Friday, now I should prime this by saying. Melbourne is known for 4 seasons in one day. Weather-wise. Summer had come early after a cold but rather dry winter and we have been warned we are about to have 4 wet days, that will cause flash-flooding. In fact, all the rain due in summer will be coming in the next 4 days. So, kinda happy I live in an apartment on the 2nd floor. Right?
Wrong!

This is the drain on my balcony……remember I’m on the second floor?
No, I’m not sinking, but I prompted my property manager that the Body Corp may have neglected something. Perhaps the storm-drains? Meanwhile, a water feature on my balcony!
I’ve never lived in something so new, (under 5 years old) as an adult at least. I normally prefer an old terrace house or such, but here we are.

Cooler and wetter on the off-grid weekend. Serious catch-up on TV, have neglected my comics lately but have been busy, thanks for nobody mentioning it!

Sunday ends with me exclaiming “I’m unpacking the last box,”
Leaving you with pictures of the study. Including my collection of the heavy Vogue Living. 25+ years ………..

Bookcase 1

Bookcase 2

And these are my Christmas Lillie’s which are to come out at Christmas! So, I guess Christmas came early?

Lillies

To another crazy week to come!
Cheers,
H

Have a good week

Good News/Bad News

Published December 1, 2017 by helentastic67

Good news Bad news

Good News/Bad News

Last week (early October 2016) I received some good news. I made the decision not to splash it all over Social Media, thinking it would be poor-form.

I told only those I see in person and my Carers. I delivered the news by saying;

“I’ve got some good news and some bad news!”

Approved

Of course, everyone wanted to know what the bad news is.

A week ago, I didn’t know what the bad news was, I explained I didn’t know yet!

But, wait! Impatient!

The good news is that I got approved for the NDIS. Yeah! Balloons! Celebrations. A Carer and a shower every day of the week and even on weekends.

Celebration

And they will be paid for.

That alone, I could be $60 better off every month. Then I started thinking about all the other things I would no longer have to pay and that I could see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Savings

I didn’t dare calculate how quickly I could pay off my Visa. But roughly, I thought I would not need to keep paying my shrink (officially a Psychologist) or my chiropractor, who I could now actually pay then what they are worth, not what I’ve only been able to afford to pay.

I also wanted to have it cover my beautician costs. God knows, due to steroids for brain swelling, I’ve paid $6,000 for electrolysis to my face. It’s about time someone else paid for it.

I mean, I can’t be a single straight barren celibate spinster with a beard.

Bearded Lady

I do like to imagine I might still meet the man of my dreams one day. It’s OK if he has facial hair.

I don’t need it…

Friday

Today’s Lunch – 29th November 2017

Published November 29, 2017 by helentastic67

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Today’s Lunch

There is never enough time! And repeat! Have noticed some signs of anxiety lately. Not the kind to alter my medication but enough to take stock and slow down (as if) and give myself some down time…

never-enough-time-you-have

That said I was able to get here yesterday also before my GP appointment and it’s been a bit of a quiche week. Yesterday it was a quiche with Mediterranean veggies.

Yesterday's lunch

Today’s offering is the Pancetta quiche with side salad. (Note some effort made to style it!)

Pancetta Quiche Todays latte

By the time I got here I felt like I had 20 minutes to inhale lunch.

Not enough time!
Cheers,
H

Wednesday

Hot off the Press – 27th November 2017

Published November 27, 2017 by helentastic67

Hot off the Press 2711

Hot off the Press

Allow me to predict the week in advance?

Watered some plants, unpacked some more boxes exclaims of “I unpacked a box!” And summer has started early and I’m not thrilled about it! No appointments Monday so kept unpacking and sorting things at home.

Unpacking boxes

Tuesday, really not ready to do Full-Adult (bra, shoes and leave the house, you know) and I had a message from my GP that he was sick……Yes! (No! That came out wrong) another day at home. More boxes………..Managed to make it to the letterbox, met the previous tenant outside to give her some mail, I was prepared to forward. Hot! So hot!

Full Adult

Wednesday, someone needs to get into the kitchen, because they left the oven on! Thankfully, a week ago today it was a bit warm but it was moving day. The next few days it rained. Not quite side-ways kinda rain but decent Melbourne spring rain. Now, I’m thinking summer came early and it’s way too soon. I did a lot of walking today despite the heat. Scooter yet has power, met Young John, he thinks I don’t mention him, he cheers me so. Hope you read my Wednesday post? Handed back the last of the keys for 1/111 and my bond claim form. Visited the post office, dropped my NDIS plan into my acupuncturist, the lovely Angela is going to study it for interest sake, to get an understanding of how much they need to simplify and use simple English! NDIA hear me! Use simple English so I know what I can have!

Wednesday

FYI: My new NDIS plan was approved! I found out last week amongst the chaos! I believe my shoes are funded, but there is red tape. Isn’t there always?

Red Tape

Then standard Punchy/stubby day! No sign of Bella! Damn cat was easier to find in winter even though she was sleeping tucked in between pet mats. At least then I could get a tickle in before she bit my inquisitive hand.

Bella

Thursday, the unpacking has reached a standstill. My study, has an island of boxes in the centre, I can’t unpack until I get all the other Vogue Livings unpacked and sorted.

Vogue collection

Friday, ah. Blessed Friday! Had a carer just before midday, kinda standard! My next carer, recently returned from a holiday to New Zealand and she arrived at 2pm. Did some shopping, scored some summer shorts, long pants to get taken up, and a pair of 3/4 length pants for only $30. Hey, big spender. Not setting any fashion standards these days. By late afternoon, headed west for a friend’s exhibition opening night Extravaganza! Had my cold coffee and custard scroll on the drive over (lunch today!) Hung out for a few hours colouring in and doing some paste-ups! Paste-ups! Fancy term for slapping homemade glue on a brick surface to get a paper poster or such to stick for some time. I got to colour in my About page from Hellonwheels (really must update it! )

Paste up Paste up 1

Arrived home in time for the rain by 8.30pm and my carer departed. Bed around 2am.

Dark skies

Saturday, not completely off-grid, got my 25+ years of Vogue Livings packed away in my study. Hoping I didn’t put any ribs out this time. (It’s usually the upper right ones on my back)
Learning about Apartment Living! I live on a busy corner and there is a tram stop at my doorstep. (ok, my apartment complex doorstep) and a pub across the street and even more apartments. It’s hot in Melbourne but we had a cooler night so I left my balcony door open. Barely got to sleep and it got noisy at 4am! WTF? Slept the afternoon away and got stuck back into my study when most people are having dinner. Still settling in and still coughing a little wheezy cough.
Next!

Week ahead 1

Inclusion

Published November 24, 2017 by helentastic67

Inclusion

A few months ago, mum and I went for a drive to visit my sister and do lunch. My sister in recent years has started being a Carer in her part of Victoria. It’s a completely different clientele in her area. I imagine she was led to believe she would have plenty of work under the NDIS.

The NDIS is for under 65-year-old age bracket.

Her clients are largely over that age bracket and self-funded retirees.

Anyway, in an effort to ask her about her new job and bond, mum asked her about any interesting stories.

Her story goes like this;

She received a call to see if she would take an elderly man grocery shopping. She wasn’t prepared to take him out in her own car as the previous time he had continence issues and the work vehicle. She asked if he still had this issue.

Incontinence

She didn’t hear back about this shift for the client. I can’t imagine it would have been easy to problem solve this issue. To broach the subject with the client or their family member in a way that returned to the gentleman a level of comfort and dignity for better health.

Dignity

I think, I embellish to make her story more interesting.

Now mum has never asked me for interesting stories, but I volunteered one all the same.

One of my Carers arrived one day and I think it’s rather telling of my rapport with my Carers that she announced her arrival with a question.

“Do I smell like……?”

Do I smell like

Clearly the word that is missing is the punchline to this story, so you will have to keep reading….

This Carer went to an elderly lady with some dementia, she works with many clients with dementia and she is very loving and caring and respectful in the way she does her work.

While with this particular lady she went about cleaning around her while she did the woman’s personal care (or her shower).

She noticed a small mat on the floor in front of her armchair, that she sits in. It was covered in crumbs, so she picked it up and took it outside to give it a shake.

It was one of those mats with a rubber backing. As she shook it, a wave of urine came back up at her and splashed all over her.

Smells like pee