Dear @Anastasia , no wonder you are feeling overwhelmed. Thanks for writing such a long newsy post. Am sending wishes in accordance with what you wrote about the NDIS review...and about your Dad's chemo and your Mum's phone calls...

I'm sorry that that girl doesn't work...I hear you about no routine and her being available to cause trouble interact with your boy at all hours. (I am trying to not write negative words about her!) - Does this girl drive? 

I was alarmed by your 7am - 5pm work day yesterday with no break 😮 OMG, is that likely to happen again? It sounds like they need 2 people to do your job!

Thanks for your kind words and being patient with me about my SAD...it means a lot. In good news, there is a little sun picture on each day of the 7-day forecast for Melbourne, either partly or fully sunny! I hope, hope, hope that this knocks the SAD on its head!

In other good news, I managed to do all my chores yesterday and post all the Cmas and birthday presents overseas or interstate. I still have the interstate and local Cmas cards to do but they can wait a week or two. I actually don't do Cmas any more, due to the fact I hate it - growing up it was obscene and punishing and incredibly stressful, and I have so many reasons to hate it, too many to go into now, maybe some other time. I stopped doing Cmas about 5 years ago and it was such a relief! I do the Cmas presents for my niece and nephews and NSW family obviously, and Cmas cards for those people who require it, but that's all.

In the past I used to volunteer somewhere on Cmas Day, but last year and this year I will be doing nothing - just relaxing and talking on WhatsApp video calls to my family in NSW. Actually, I've just thought of something else - I imagine there will be distress on the forums on Cmas Day with a lot of family abuse in the background of people's MIs...I might be available for that. I think my psychologist will understand (re blowing out my time limits) but I might run it by her at my December appt. 

Oops, got carried away! Yes, I'm a list person through and through. 👍🙂

Interesting about your study feelers...sounds like a good plan to see how that goes and then reassess your work. 

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@Anastasia wrote:

It's actually written by my new therapist! I had my second session this week. She's just such a beautiful soul. I have taken a lot away so far.

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So happy to hear this!

I like a wide variety of books, novels mostly, thrillers and mysteries as long as they're not gory...I particularly like serious novels about child abuse, trauma, tragedy, etc. ...I think because of my abusive background. And twins! I'm fascinated by stories about twins, for some reason 🙂

Will you let us know the results of your medical tests on Tuesday after 2?

Thanks for all the healthy food choices - I've put "nice fruit" on my shopping list in order to try and tempt myself to eat fruit every day. 

Hoping that despite your busy weekend and all the demands on your time that you get some time to yourself this weekend, just to 'be'. 

Much 💚