Today’s Lunch – 20th September 2017

Published September 20, 2017 by helentastic67

Todays lunch 2009

Today’s Lunch

A beautiful day today in Melbourne for my foodie good mental health day post!

Beautiful day

I was even able to get Hell on Wheels out to scooter to my last appointment. I take my flag inside to avoid it being stolen and my jacket in the bag on the back. Yes, no jacket today! Still wearing wool but only my Marino Cowl neck vest.

Scooter

Got a window seat at my fav place. Just now hoping someone brings their dog for a walk, coffee, doggy biscuits. They are always so well-behaved when they are begging for their treats.

I’ll see if I can dig out an old photo as there seem to be no four-legged friends today.

Standard fare today. Bolognese Arancini with side salad, with my medicine of course. (Cafe latte)

Arincini Latte

Don’t imagine I’ll have any surprises today. Fingers crossed. Apart from the serious message I had earlier when I clipped a teenager on my scooter. Oops!

The message was the Universal Go-Slow! You know, when no matter what you do or where you are meant to be obstacles arrive that slow you down. Today, I must have met every elderly wog in my ‘hood with their shopping trolley or walking frame. Just ambling along!
It might surprise you all to know, I have no time or patience……….

Scooter 1

Ooohh…….Doggy!

I’ve been known to text photos of the well-behaved pooches here to friends who have dogs. I ask if their dog can do this……

Dog

Sometimes they respond with “Yes, my dog can beg for food!”
I beg the question; Beg or Pester?

Cheers,
H

Aussie Rules

Published September 15, 2017 by helentastic67

Aussie rules

Aussie Rules

I grew up in an era where Aussie Rules was made up only of Victorian teams. Therefore, it was called VFL (Victorian Football League).

VFL1

It was pretty stock standard that coming from a family of some Italian heritage, we went for Carlton, I’m not complaining, I understand Collingwood supporters that went for that team and more primary school kids growing up in Collingwood would greet new kids at school with the question “What team do you go for?”

Carlton

Day 1. New kids would answer with another team other than Collingwood – they would get a hiding

Day 2. Repeat of day 1

Day 3. Repeat of day 1 & 2

New kids decided it was better to be a Collingwood supporter. I heard this story about fifteen years ago and I imagine it dated back to when I was a kid also.

Collingwood

I don’t really follow any sport, it was never really a huge interest of mine. Apparently, that alone makes me un-Australian.

However, in the late 90’s, I went out one particular Saturday night in Melbourne, I thought I was very obviously dressed for clubbing.

I wore a little Dottie dress, white opaque tights with black fishnets over the top (or something like that) 10-up Doc Martins and even though I wore make up, pale face (not white, but no highlights, and bright spicy lips)

Polka dot dress

I also wore my red and blue furry jacket, despite this jacket, I was likely going to a Goth club.

I understand that weekend was the semi-final for the football. There was an out of state team playing and a Melbourne Team.

I caught the train to the city and went to get off at Southern Cross station. As the train came to a stop I was waiting at the door ready to get off, the platform was packed with football fans. Must have been around 11pm.

As the train pulled up and the doors opened, the older guys facing me looked behind them and the crowd roared.

train

Normally, they should have parted to let people off the train before they all rushed to get on. They didn’t look prepared to move.

I reached up to my collar exposing my studded leather and spike bracelet and scratched at my leather and press stud choker.

The crowd parted and I had to move through the crowd to the escalators. It would seem my jacket was the same colour as the team that played that weekend.

Admittedly, I’m not a big football supporter and at the end of the season. I care that Carlton is not on the bottom, Collingwood is not on the top and the Cup stays in our State.

I guess it doesn’t make a bit of difference to my life who wins or loses…

Hot off the Press – 28th August 2017

Published August 28, 2017 by helentastic67

Hot off the Press 2808

Really needing this week to be far less busy and chaotic. Noelle informed me last week’s Press Release was akin to a short story. So, let’s put out for much less chaos.

Monday dawned cold and wet so decided I’m too poor to pay for taxis to my only appointment so I reconsidered and cancelled. Had an extra day to my weekend and did some advocacy for a friend who has had the NDIS fail him so badly he has rejected the help completely. He also has no case manager and no carers. He obviously needs an advocate and a new planner from the NDIS so I’ll work on advocating for him to get those next.

Cold weather

Ironically, if I do a little advocacy for others I’m heard and they get results however when I do it for myself there is a consensus that I don’t need to be taken seriously because I just have a brain injury! Apparently, I don’t matter.

God forbid! A client is smart enough to know when I’m being given sub-standard service and wise enough to make you feel some guilt about it. One of us is being paid for living like this and it’s not me!

So, back to less chaos.

Made it to 4.30pm and decided I really did deserve a kip……….woke at 6.30, barely in time to fit in a coffee. Back to emails, which are never ending……and felt the need to give a smack down to someone in my ABI community.

Brain injury

The biggest problem with brain injury is often that as it is something we have in common we are presumed to be herded together to socialise and advocate. Not a single ABI is like another. Everyone has different funding, supports, support needs and empathy and compassion for anyone and everyone else. Housing situation, family, etc etc.

I have really stepped back from all ABI groups and last week’s art project was a rarity on my behalf. So, after attempting to explain to another in this community I eventually repeated and delivered a sharp “Go forth and multiply!” Although not as eloquently as that…….next!

FYI; False alarm in the finale of GOT. I am a week early meaning I now must wait in anticipation like everyone else. I don’t know if you are aware, however I don’t have patience for all things.

GOT

Tuesday! myo/Remedial! So, needed that. The student worked on my back and both my arms, and when working on my left arm was surprised when my left hand flared open.

Wednesday! Remember my suggestion for needing a less dramatic week? Yeah, well……..
T, a good friend scooped me up in time to get to see what I hope will be my new home. T, helped do the application forms and after a short trip to the police station to sign a statutory declaration, a drive to the city to drop the forms straight to the real estate agent. I even did a flight of stairs! Up and down.

Appartment hunting

After my initial feedback that they had an accessibility issue, I left her by telling her if I got down the stairs my application should go to the top of the pile, if I fell? I should get the apartment! (She got my humour) As I got in the car I could feel muscles in both my legs I don’t recall ever having.
After being delivered to my fav lunch haunt and no time to smash out my foodie post, apologies. Hope you appreciated the extra well thought out /structured post? Inhaled lunch, something different ironically. Delicious pancetta quiche with side salad. And the standard medicine………..
And then off to Chiropractor!

GOT 1

Quick debrief with the younger Associate Chiro on GOT! I peaked too early and binged the first six episodes of the season a whole week before the season finale, meaning I have had to wait on tender-hooks like all the other plebs! My debrief with him was had with me, wide eyed, raised eyebrows and very short statements. He smiled and agreed and then my Chiro broke it up with “C’mon! Quick back to work!” We parted ways me responding “Yes, Mum!” Humorously.

Chiropractors

Already had a migraine from the chaotic day. Tram, acupuncture. (Took out my own needles for efficiency) and off to the beauticians for a quick underarm wax! Taxi home and chores, chores and more chores. Turned out to be a great day for ducks! (it is standard end of winter/start of spring rainy season)

Thursday, now this is the ticket! Very quiet day at home. So happy, with sore legs from doing those stairs Wednesday, but still happy days!

Thursday

Friday, before lunch, had sheets on the line already! In Winter (well, practically spring in Melbourne!) Then received the hideous news, I didn’t get the apartment I applied for. Apparently, the winning applicant could take possession on Monday. While I’m yet to give notice as I can’t afford to be homeless and cannot do transitional housing. I would have scrambled to get funding to pay rent on the new place while I gave notice here. This is the 3rd place in as many months I’ve applied for that I didn’t get. My new fur-child again not here. Feeling like a loser! Had my young carer who does my shopping, homecare and food prep and had plenty of laughs to cheer me.

Friday

Huge laundry weekend and at least one decent day to get through it all. Happy to be off grid as of right now, being midnight! And looking forward to getting shrunk Monday!

Off-grid Saturday as quiet as it should be, single girl date night again spent consuming the build-up of shows on my Toppy. Princess Diana has been very well covered in recent weeks. Some shed a few tears, obviously, other distractions. No complaints at all. Just going to be a challenge to snap back into full Adult mode for Monday! It looks like I’ll be doing it with a twinge of a migraine. Super!

off the grid
Only managed to read three comics last week, believe there is another Joss Whedon comic to add to my shopping list. That being Dollhouse. I’m sure it can wait until I’m a little more caught up. I imagine comics are a more affordable medium than producing TV series that may or may not be green-lit for future seasons.

The finale of season 7 of GOT (Game of Thrones) airs tonight. I will watch it later Monday! Woe is me! I know my followers likely don’t understand the appeal of GOT so I promise one day I will attempt to explain. But not now.

GOT game over

To another stress-free week.
Cheers,
H

Stress free week

Today’s Lunch – 12th July 2017

Published July 12, 2017 by helentastic67

Lunch

Today”s Lunch

Today’s usual arancini is looking a little flat for some reason. Kinda how I’m feeling this fine Hump Day mid-winter Melbourne.

Arincini Ball

Arancini has pumpkin & spinach today with the standard side-salad. And my medicine (cafe latte)
Side Note; When in Rome do not order a Latte! You will get what you asked for….a glass of milk.
Latte

There is something I really appreciate about the routine of my Wednesday. The crazy part of my week is done. From here to Friday there are generally no surprises.
Depression the standard today. Another day. Meh!

Cheers,
H

Hump day

Breaking News

Published January 23, 2017 by helentastic67

breaking-news-1

Breaking News

We interrupt the normal flow of my writing and posts to give you this breaking news……that means I’m tapping on my iPad, paper and pen put aside for speedy delivery.
If you are up to date on my blog and current affairs in Melbourne, Australia being my beloved home.
Last Friday, the 20th of January 2017 saw an incident Melbourne is not known for having. I’m going to use some generalised terms however bear with me. A young man in a Holden Commodore performed burn-outs and donuts in the main intersection of Flinders Street and Swanson Walk in front of Flinders Street Station. He was apparently screaming out obscenities while hanging out the window of his car. While he used terms like ‘Reign down terror!’ His actions were not perceived to be terrorist relayed. The driver was persuaded down Swanson Walk and the Bourke Street Mall. Both precincts known for being busy pedestrian traffic areas.
For those unaware, Melbourne has had the popular Australian Open Tennis, which is huge with tourists and Melbourne in general. We Melbournians love our coffee and our culture. We are happy and friendly people, so what happened next was (for lack of words,) just awful. The driver just drove into and over people. The youngest victim was a 3-month-old baby who was in a pusher(pram) and two people in their 30’s were killed also. Many others were injured, later reports indicated injuries to limbs and some brain injuries. The latest report is that five people were killed including the baby.
Passers-by pulled together to help the injured people until medical assistance could attend.
The driver was eventually stopped by police who shot him in his car, then dragged him from his car that still sported part of the pusher from earlier.
Now, I premise by saying this is likely not normal anywhere and most definitely not Melbourne.
I generally go to the city once a week. And was only made aware this was happening when out getting groceries and ran into an old carer who mentioned her son was in the city and she was concerned about him.
I don’t spend much time on social media, however I checked in on Saturday night. Lots of posts about sending people back where they came from when they cause such incidents and posts about acts of terror.
Clearly very glad I had not been anywhere near the city on Friday however with all the love and respect and support in the world to those who died, suffered injury or emotional trauma for witnessing such atrocities, I’m a little surprised my own family and friends have neglected to reach out and just ‘check‘ I wasn’t anywhere near the city……
And my point is that the silence is deafening and telling, isn’t it?

It’s now late Sunday night. Ok, it’s early Monday morning and I’ve avoided social media today. Sometimes, I like to let the dust settle on these events and rather than get caught up in the early assumptions I like to get the real facts….. There is no point getting caught up in the drama until the media gets all the information and updates correct.
So far, the reports I seem to have seen somewhere indicated he had mental health issues and not a terrorist related event.
Many posts I did see early Sunday morning, indicated the driver had slipped through the cracks in the legal system and had he been remanded for a prior infringement, he may not have been on the streets to cause such chaos. I prefer to imagine the mental health system failed him and everyone else affected on Friday.

Meanwhile, in a suburb in the North I had a conversation with my mum on the phone about the status of the lovely NDIS. In 2016, I was given the funding that is supposed to be the silver bullet to fix all problems and level the playing fields. My funding was rushed through giving me the lowest level of assistance. The first plan is supposedly designed this way…. So I’m not saying I’m the only one to get screwed. Just stating facts.
Last year Stupidlink (sorry, my favourite term for the government agency that handles pensions, etc) did to review my DSP (Disability Support pension) because apparently, I might be job ready?
So, the NDIS has also triggered an overhaul and review of my mum’s carer allowance although it’s not at all what they told us it’s what they were intending.
Now, I have had great carers who cared from the second they walked through the door and I can tell you I think they love me like family not just because they get paid to care and while I’m transitioning to new carers I’m micromanaging and already can tell I would have the same level of stress free care any time soon.
My NDIS funding needs an appeal/review and my mum, my only family member to actively help me has stated she is not going to assist with any paperwork unless she is paid to do so.
It’s the loneliest moment to feel the government is working to isolate me from the only family assistance I receive because, do they think they have my best (can’t think of appropriate word here) in mind. Because everything else points to the government wanting to institutionalize me and take away all my rights and independence.

I don’t mean to minimalist the events of Friday in the city because in that situation people died. I’m not planning to reach for the razors (my home has no razors) or the pills and let’s hope it continues that way…….
Now, please do not adjust your dials while normal transmissions resume.
Peace Out!

Winter Part 2

Published December 23, 2016 by helentastic67

melbourne-meme

Winter Part 2

When Winter hit’s I’m always reminded of going clubbing during Winter. The 3-5 nights a week of clubbing has finally caught up with me!

outside-nightclub

Those nights of walking up a narrow street in the city to one club where the buildings towered either side of us and acted like a wind tunnel blowing right through whatever you were wearing.

Usually a cute little Dotty dress, layers of tights covered by a long black leather jacket. My friend and I would catch our breath at a particularly cool gust of wind and convince ourselves once we were inside it would be better.

leather-jacket

Once inside we had the opposite problem, Jackets safely kept on the top floor with our favourite DJ in the booth.

I will leak some tidbits about my club days in time, but I find it ironic that these day’s I think it’s been 2 or 3 years since I last ventured out to a club. It was the 23^rd reunion of the first club I ever worked at. It was Spring and some people I hadn’t seen for all of the years since. These days, as of making up for a miss-spent ‘youth’, I spend every night on my couch alone, eating my dinner and watching TV. Alone, weird how life is right?

eat-alone

Priorities

Published May 18, 2016 by helentastic67

Helens artwork Priorities!

So, these days I use a walking stick when I’m out of the house. There is a term for this. I am Ambulant!

And for those who are unfamiliar, I live in Melbourne Australia. Melbourne weather is known to be very erratic. I think crowded house was singing about Melbourne when they sang of ‘Four Seasons in one day!’

During the winter months, it helps to layer up with clothes because being Ambulant you really need to prioritise.

Walking stick or umbrella?

I sometimes after 8 years get a look of concern from the same people asking me if I have an umbrella.

Here is pretty easy, the answer is I GET WET…

The next one I think is pretty easy also.

Once a month I go to a committee meeting for a self-advocacy group I belong to. I cruise through Degreaves Street and pick up a coffee (medicine) to get me through the meetings.

So walking stick or Keep cup?

KEEP CUP!

Without my ‘medicine’ I don’t make it through those meetings. I often get a migraine just walking through the door and with a room full of people with an assortment of Brain Injuries I generally want to blow my brains out, pretty quickly…

Social Isolation

Published March 8, 2016 by helentastic67

Social Isolation

Sometimes, I try to socially engage with people wherever I go. I do this at the places I go for appointments or the supermarket for groceries. No lifetime friendships, but connecting all the same because it’s how I encourage people to get to know me and see that I’m “Normal!”

At my local supermarket, my favourite checkout chicks have gotten to know me over the years. Even from before my disability.

On Friday, I encountered a newish guy in the Deli/Freezer area. He was restocking the dairy case with milk.

Now, for those who don’t know – Melbourne has had a heatwave the last few days and being in the freezer section of the supermarket is the place to be.

This is the perfect example of how I try to engage with people and retain my sass!

This guy was wearing a big jacket to wear into the cool room. I asked if that jacket was really necessary in this weather.

He tells me it’s for when he’s in the cool room.

I inquire, “What’s a girl gotta do to get in that cool room? He didn’t really reply.

I grabbed my cream and as I moved away I told him,

“I wasn’t trying to sexually harass him in the work place”

I saw he had a big grin on his face and I did a circular motion towards his smile and told him “I was going for that!”

Human Rights

Published November 28, 2015 by helentastic67

Human Rights

Human Rights

There are many examples, I will give where you would imagine, just because I have a disability and because someone collects a wage from a job where they provide a service to those with a disability that you would be treated with respect and provided the services they are entitled to.

I hope my blog over time will express my experience of this sector and that if it is challenging to give a client/patient/customer, what they need then, it’s ok to withhold a service, not delivered a service or just outright bully so you will stop asking.

There are times now, how I’m treated, is outright shocking! And I’m someone who knows what’s going on and how to organise my life and my needs and my services and I dread to think how the people who can’t self-advocate get treated.

I once received a call offering me Public Housing. I know these calls are often met with jubilation and great relief, but I often get a little grumpy and demand “Yes? Where is it?”

Even my friends no longer get excited anymore and demand to be told “Where is it?” On this occasion they building was a new apartment block and the gentleman on the phone after selling me the fact that it was fully functioning, disability friendly bathroom. He told me I couldn’t take my cat!

I am not one to smuggle my fur-baby into my home. People have to know I come with a cat!

I’ve had good house-mates and shitty house-mates. I’ve had shitty boyfriends. Shitty because they are not still here.

I’ve had shitty friends and good friends. All in the last 16 years. They have all come and gone and are no longer here.

The fur-baby is still here!

I often go days without seeing another human being. So my cat is not an optional housemate. I told the gentleman, my cat didn’t cope without me and I didn’t cope without her.

HE TOLD ME TO HAVE HER PUT DOWN!

Now I think you can now tell when I used the term ‘gentleman’ I was being very generous!

Acronyms Part 1

Published November 28, 2015 by helentastic67

Acromyms 1

ACRONYMS! Part 1

In the early naughty (2000’s) I got a job with an NGO. I started as a client, I was a considerably consistent client and then I was a very consistent staff member for 3 years, despite every 3 months being made to apply for my job again. And consistently being passed over so they could give someone else a much needed position, knowing another position would soon be available for me, so I could have some permanency.

On one occasion I was passed over for a job I was already doing and then I was left to be in the office to train that person. Anyway, I’ll let you guess what kind of job/industry it was with this clue.

The industry was rife with ACRONYM’S!

They had then for EVERYTHING!TAF

First, clients were REF (referred) to us.

Here’s some others –

ETS: Expected to start!

P: Placed!

DNS: Did not start!

PR: Participants Report!

Now, this might give you some ideas what industry I was in. If not here’s a few more – when the clients were finished with us. These were other codes such as:-

END: Contract ended

EX/PTW: Exited/Part time work

EX/FTW: Exited/Full time work

EX/RTW: Exited/Return to work

My very favourite exit code was “WUK”

It was a rare one but when it came someone would ask in the office. It was the kind of environment where there was little privacy. But you learnt by osmosis!

WUK: Stands for “Whereabouts Unknown!”

When I started in this job I was an Administrative Assistant, I never understood what it meant to be in “Admin” but basically means you do whatever needs doing.

Later, when the organisation/company (they ran like a company) restructured. I managed to keep a job and was kindly given the title of T.P.O. (Training Placement Officer) which was a job I had long been doing on the Admin salary. But they made me Part Time! Making it very challenging to do a full time job!

I was only paid to do 19 hours a week. I often stayed after the other girls left at 5pm, I would finally do my job, as I was training 2 Admin girls and a TPC (Training Placement Co-ordinator).

On Wednesday, I would arrive at work and announce to the girls, “Get your questions ready and line up at my desk!”

I’ve done the maths and I should be out of here by lunch!”

The papers would ruffle and there was panic in the air. And my boss would come out at midday and ask me to stay.

I would still be there at 4pm.

Apparently if I’d been doing full time hours for 2 weeks, company policy was that full time hours should have been made permanent.

One day I was walking through the Bourke Street Mall in the city of Melbourne. I had received a call from a new recruit back in the office. I kept walking so I could concentrate on training the Admin Assistant now to use a very graph-heavy government database system, it was very “it’s the thing, above the thing and the thing!”

In the end due to a HR issue I was restructured out of my job. Two incompetent women in office claimed I was bullying them. It was actually the other way round.

After I was gone, they soon followed Effectively, I got the shaft!

Unlike others I had no real presence in the industry as I’d always been in the office working.

I eventually found some work with a TAFE, doing the same job and while they all ran around like headless chooks, they had me “culling exited files.” I was under-utilised because they didn’t trust my ability to do a job.

Rather under-utilized. Sadly that job too ended. This was a job I had in my early 30’s for about 4 years. And because it was very stressful, my medical condition started to show, some odd symptoms and I was diagnosed in the same week, I was let go from the 2^nd employer.

That was a really shitty week.

So if you didn’t work out the industry from all those ACRONYMS. I’ll give you one last one to help.

W4D: Work for the dole

CWC: Community Work Co-Ordinator

And around the office we had many nicknames for it “Work for the coffee scroll” being one of them.

I used to think I was good at my job. I was nice to the people who needed it and I laid down the law and was the “hard-ass” to those that needed it! I was the only one in the office who knew how.

There is one big thing this job prepared me for and that was the understanding of ACRONYMS!

Please be prepared for Part 2 to this.