Crafty

Published June 9, 2017 by helentastic67

Crafty

I guess I’ve not mentioned but I come from a “Crafty family”. You can probably file this post under “funny stories”, however my mum is a very crafty lady. With respect.

Back in the 70’s she did macramé, made sheepskin hats, vests and slippers, best slippers ever! She has done the knitted woolen thing and when I was younger she even had a knitting machine.

knitted socks

There was a wool factory and a fabric factory in my home town, I think they are still both in production, however the ‘wog-migration’ that worked there (Uncles and Aunts included) however since the late 80’s (?) my mum has been a quilter.

Buying fabric

I’ve been dragged to many Quilting Expos, fabric shops and warehouse. I prefer the fabric in the ‘Toile’ variety but generally when I pick something out ‘it’s the wrong one and to put it back!’

Quilting

My other sister had a Tiffany lamp and leadlight faze and while at College she double-majored in printmaking and photography, eventually photography won out.

I was into painting, photography and had a few years in the late 90’s doing mosaics, but the Craft Markets are a killer.

Photography

Occasionally, when I’m out with my mum and younger sister, my mum might say a word that triggers me to start a chant.

I only know a few lines to the song, but Andrea (my sister) will chime in.

It’s not completely accurate, but it amuses me greatly.

Mum usually growls “Stop That!”

Singing

Mother

Published June 7, 2017 by helentastic67

Mother

How’s your mother? I always get asked by my carers… My mum who was here for less than 24 hours, last week to smash some appointments and things.

My mum is really the only family member to support me and she also manages to be my biggest critic.

So, it’s often somewhat tongue in cheek I reply with a smart mouth “she was alive when she left and so was I”.

Smart mouth

My mum and I have come a long way in the last ten years, in the early days of my disability, she was mid 50’s and she would come down often once a week just to take me across town to my physio and OT appointments.

Mum lives about 3 hours away in the country in a lovely isolated valley where there is NO MOBILE RECEPTION and when I go home for Christmas, mum and my younger sister cannot remember their internet password. So, for me THERE IS ALSO NO INTERNET!

No internet

Admittedly their internet is so little and so slow, it’s better to just let emails pile up. I’m less inclined to lose my mental ‘shit’ and want to kill people.

My internet is fast and reliable at home. My mum reminds me every time she visits when she claims “I just detected 400 emails”.

Fast internet

Yeah! She only visits for my fast internet, I don’t mess around with internet or computers when they don’t work, I have visual images of Jackson Pollack paintings. Anyway, I digress as per usual.

It is rather typical of family members when they are carers for people with brain injuries and disabilities to verbally spar with each other.

Most people with brain injuries I’m sure it’s like torture and torment because they lack the verbal skills or mental capacity to give as good as they get.

My mum probably doesn’t realise she should count herself blessed, I have a smart mouth and deliver her a sharp retort at times, despite it offending her. Because the early years I used to bite my tongue until I realised Passive/Aggressive didn’t help me.

Smart mouth 1

Nothing was going to change if I couldn’t let it be known. Clearly, we have had many opportunities for a difference of opinion, on this whole topic.

But what can you do?

Mum 1

Hot off the Press – 5th June, 2017

Published June 5, 2017 by helentastic67

Hot off the press 1

Hot off the Press!

Well, another busy week under the belt. It’s a zero for comics read this week. One day last week I actually walked home down my street in the dark. It’s not advisable as seeing in the dark with half the eyesight is not great! It’s getting dark by 5.30 now it’s winter!

Walking in dark

Thursday, I had a nice country adventure with the brain injury group I’m part of. We went to Moe, a part of Victoria that seemed to get on the map (so to speak) 20 years ago for all the wrong reasons. I was pre-empting my adventure with the description of Moe as the place Bogans are from. I have a full-length post to best describe what a bogan is. You will just have to wait. It’s not great!

Moe

Often when I get together with this group of people, there are a few stand out favourites I love to spend time with and rarely get a chance to. I do love to deliver one guy my standard greeting. I did so while standing speaking to a nice mum who had bought her son along. Said son had developed his ABI from heatstroke while working in Queensland on a building site. He was wheelchair bound and it took 7 years to get Workers Compensation to cover his injury. But without batting an eye, I delivered my colleague my customary “Shut the fuck up!” And kept my conversation with the mum going. She was actually amused. Thankfully. It’s my thing, so don’t judge me. A meeting doesn’t feel complete if I don’t get to deliver these immortal words to this guy.

One of my other peeps, a woman called Anne (she won’t mind) gave her friend a smack in the moosh (mouth) during a drawing exercise and when prompted to explain her sudden outburst, she smartly retorted with “You had it coming Bitch!”

Fore-went my Saturday night single girl date night (watching a film) to do serious catch up on TV shows. I’m so far behind. Nothing super noteworthy…….. I’m currently catching up on real TV I’ve recorded in the past week. A great show from a series called “You can’t ask me that!” Where each week they cover a different topic, have people come in and answer a series of questions by anonymous people online. Unless you have a VPN you can set to Australia you won’t be able to access it. Sadly, this episode is on Centenials. Like some thought provoking shows this series will make you laugh and cry. Like the episode a few weeks back on the topic suicide.

You can't ask me that

I quit Physiotherapy last week deciding I had been crippled enough and rather didn’t appreciate being told my left thigh muscles weren’t as good as I thought! Way to make friends and influence people: Not! Nobody loves being criticised least of all me!

Quitting Physio

Brief visit Wednesday saw me visit the cat, Bella/Killer (depends who you ask) and I got another good pat. Keeping the need to visit Lost Dogs Home or pet shops at bay. No house hunting this week, it’s really slowed down with winter and having seen the other limited options.

Pet shop

Lastly, Jamima’s couch has finally gone out for hard rubbish collection. I kept it for 3(?) years taking up prime real estate in my lounge so she would not lose her favourite hiding place. Her safe place when the vacuum cleaner came out, children, fast cars down the driveway, thunder, noisy drilling or roadworks. You know the stuff. Jamima would find her way under the couch and into a whole in the lining underneath and settle in to be both cocooned and hammocked inside its protective hidey hole. Stinking hot weather or freezing cold it was her favourite for 16 years. Many an argument was being had with my mum as to when it was time to get rid of it and now it is gone.

Jamimias couch

The search for a new coffee carafe proved unsuccessful. A new coffee pot is imminent. Had to resort to plunger coffee.

coffee carafe

Now, it’s after 2am Monday morning. I’m sending this now after time out. Have made some additions. And likely no time tomorrow before I head out to my first appointment.

Lastly, this is a picture for the Rumpsters fur-mum and June Buggie. Both recently departed.

Rumpster In Memory

And now for another week!
Cheers,

When does it end?

Published June 2, 2017 by helentastic67

When does it end 1

When Does It End?

The week is over, it’s done, yet why am I not in bed asleep?

staying-up

I just finished edits to upcoming posts and quit doing emails and it’s 1am. Making me think this post should be called 1am.

Grumpy cat

My mind is still buzzing and I’m in need to ‘single-task’ so I can wind down.

Single task

It will be done.

Saturday, bring it on…

Saturday

Carer v Family – Part 2

Published May 31, 2017 by helentastic67

Carer

Carer v Family Part 2

I often find my carers are more…. How do I say this without offending family? Well, I don’t think I can, so I’ll just tear off the bandaid shall I?

My carer left today after shopping, calling out “Love You”, to which I replied; “Love You Too”.

Love you

The only male carer I have does my Homecare (cleaning) and my shopping, two things that don’t require him to see me naked and he is a beautiful young gay “thing” who engages with me all the way around the shopping complex and we converse about anything and everything.

He has been mistaken as my son and I think some people mistake us for a flirty couple. They are rude and disrespectful, then there’s the stalker type who notice him and stalk him. I don’t see or realise until he tells me later, but they love to come up to him and offer him their phone numbers.

Stalker

Seriously! Yuck! If I knew, I would give them some ‘what for’ and if that didn’t work, I would call the police on ‘000’!

If it were back in my club days, I would sort this shit out so easily.

But, anyway, my sweet young carer is going on holidays for a month now so I’ll truly miss him.

This is on the back of my mother being here for literally 24 hours to smash out some things. She left so late last night, she cranked me when she arrived home and it was after 1am.

I rang her tonight to say “thank you” and “I love you” and when she barely responded I told her I would imagine she had said it back to me.

Love you 2

She laughed!

It makes me so sad!

It makes me sadder still that soon, I’m going to lose all my friends. Friends that seem to care for me more than my own family.

Love you 3

Hot off the Press – 29th May 2017

Published May 29, 2017 by helentastic67

Hot off the Press 1

This weekend I’ve been considering if you went to an Elvis Convention with that many in the one room would they be Elvis’s or Elvisi? I was considering this after checking out a new show. Called Big Little Lies. It’s actually a miniseries. 7 episodes, an hour each. Sometimes a short and sweet season of something that doesn’t continue can be good. If every show I watched went on forever I would need to be much choosy about what to watch. Ok, House with Hugh Laurie could have gone on forever, but it is what it is.

Elvis Convention

Big Little Lies in short is about parenting and marriages in a small close-knit but often bitchy area. Themes include domestic violence, bullying and the balance between parenting and career. At the start I was convinced, “The Butler did it!” there is NO butler, but you watch every episode wondering what this big secret is? But the first character to raise my suspicions is guilty of something, but you have to hang in there with an open mind and you finally find out in the last 10 minutes. It’s also about Nature versus Nurture. And how woman can communicate so much with a few simple glances and woman’s intuition is a powerful force. Lastly, the one character, the protective mothers saw as a husband stealing hot chick, they all hated was the one that had the independence and sense of survival instinct and came in, saved the day and took care of business for the sake of all woman-kind.

Big little lies 1
If that doesn’t sell you on 7 hours of TV I don’t know what will. Also, ladies, don’t forget domestic violence is wrong. It’s not the answer for anything.

Also, I do not get all the running! Too much running! And so many familiar faces, too many too mention but a must watch! It’s definitely the location of where I’d want to live in a completely different reality. Very picturesque.

Also got a little Criminal Minds, Blue Bloods and, Mindy Project in this week.

Criminal Minds Blue bloods The Mindy Project

Yes. I’ve still been rather busy but I skipped my single girl date night film, commonly referred to as Saturday Night! To wrap up Little Big Lies.

Oh, and I should throw in Alexander Skarsgard ‘butt’ makes a brief appearance in episode 2! And no, I didn’t replay it…….if you are not familiar with Alexander think True Blood and Generation Kill. At least he is age-appropriate for a change.

Alexander Skarsgard

If you decide I’m sounding a little pervy, what I have to say is; “I’m broken! Not dead!”

And maybe because I left the house today, Aunty Christine took me out for lunch to meet her hubby I had 2 coffees! So, I’m catch up on admin, email and even managed a second comic to the smaller pile today!

Side topic; I broke my coffee pot this week. Things will be dire by hump day if I can’t come home with a new one…….big day Thursday coming with an adventure to report on next week!

Coffee machine

After great discussion from last Fridays Postcards Post I thought since it sounds like I’m not the only one who misses a good postcard found in the letterbox, to my trusted followers (You know who you are?) email me your address & I’ll send you a postcard.

Postcards

Published May 26, 2017 by helentastic67

Postcard

Postcards

Everyone relax! I think I’ve discovered the method of solving the Greek economic problem. No really, hear me out, I’ve only traveled overseas once and that was 100 years ago, in 1994. I loved it. Admittedly I didn’t pay for the flights and it was a bit of a Cinderella story.

Cinderella

And yes, it ended in tears and heartbreak, mine. But still, I sent many, many postcards in the three months I was away and because I don’t get to travel or holiday, I confess I love a Postcard!

My request for a postcard from friends and family who have the luxury or the cash to travel usually falls on deaf ears and when I get one I’m so chuffed…

Postcard 1

A friend recently had a six-week adventure in Europe and I asked for a postcard, I even pushed for a postcard from every capital city she visited.

I know, I offered her a cheeky smile and a snort. She did post me a postcard from Greece and she told me how hard it was to find a post box.

Postcard 2

She’s been back a month now and still no postcard.

Last week I went to my appointment with her and reported still no postcard and then I announced “Oh my God! I’ve just solved the Greek Financial Crisis”

Greek tragedy

They should create jobs in the postal industry.

Reboot postcards and bring them back to former glory.

Your welcome!

Where’s my damn Postcards???

Postcard 3

Breaking News – 24th May 2017

Published May 24, 2017 by helentastic67

Last week, the last very Auntie Christine, (previously mentioned) asked me a question. ” Have you had a visitor?” Emphasis was on the word ‘visitor’ I knew what she meant and replied happily ” No, no visitors?”

She had helped me take off my bed sock from my left foot as I’ve had some trouble since my Physio mangled me two weeks ago and I’ve had trouble getting my left foot up onto my right knee.

she told me the bruise I had failed to notice looked like a hand print?

My GP once asked if I bruised easily? I didn’t know how to answer. The purest definition of bruising easily he described as you discover a bruise but don’t recall how you got it or when?

I get bruises all the time, as I presume most people with a disability would also. But I can generally tell you how I did it after the bruise appears. This one took a few days.

Bruises

I think this is my hand, when I have been lifting my left leg into the car……Front passenger seat is on the left in OZ. Right leg in first…… go figure………

On the other hand, I did get a second take at seeing the film Snatched Snatched (2017 film) the Westgarth today. Palace Westgarth | Palace Cinemas Jane (not her real name) this session had twice as many people and all went smoothly. Good thing I stopped eating the popcorn when I did or my laughter would have caused me to choke to death.

palace_westgrath

Please follow the links for a look at a nice independent cinema in Melbourne, and if you haven’t gone to see Snatched with Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer get to it.

Happy Wednesday!

Hot off the Press – 22nd May 2017

Published May 22, 2017 by helentastic67

T-birds and Purple Trees

Published May 19, 2017 by helentastic67

Thunderbirds

T-Birds and Purple Trees

T-Birds and Purple trees! My Case Manager told me to quote that when I have my NDIS assessment tomorrow. He suggests it emphasises my (how best to say it?) “Numpty-ness?”

Purple tree

He rang me a week ago and asked what I was up to and I was quite literal as I was reading a post from one of the bloggers I follow. The post was about T-Birds (Thunderbirds the car) and a beautiful purple tree that was about to be cut up. One of my followers will recognise this from her blog.

My point being, sometimes I’ve got to get my “Crazy” on! Because I manage to appear so competent, I almost self-sabotage and I don’t mean to.

Crazy lady

I am competent in many, many ways, but it doesn’t change the fact that physically I struggle and the things I manage to do all comes at a cost.

I mean, try peeling a carrot one-handed. That should be today’s challenge.

I promise you it’s do-able. It’s just such a complete “brain fuck” if you manage it you will need a good stiff drink afterwards and I need a lie down.

Brain fuck

Fingers crossed I don’t have to get the “Crazy” out too much tomorrow. That also requires a lie down because I really hate having to dumb myself down.

I am my best advocate, but if I do it a little too well, I shoot myself in the foot.

Ridiculous!

Ridiculous