Morning, how's your day going so far?

janer1967

@SueHeath yes I'm awake lol 😆 

Lisatho11987777

Thank you @SueHeath

L_Volunteer

How is everyone doing today? 

Sandy_123

Yeah I'm rested @SueHeath feel good now tho.

Sandy_123

A nice sunny morning. Coffee and the vine show. Going to potter around the house, got work men digging up the street to fit new gas pipes. 

janer1967

Very early start today was up at 630 had hospital appointment for another hopefully last eye injection 

Home now had cuppa and porridge and resting now may even have an afternoon nap give my eyes proper rest 

Danielle_2022

@janer1967,
I am in full support of afternoon naps, especially after hospital appointments! I hope the day continues to be restful. Please let us know how you're feeling later .

I'm doing okay today. I have found myself being very busy with writing and volunteering etc. lately, which has been very nice after such a long time feeling aimless. I'm more hopeful than ever that I'm on the right track to eventual employment, which has been boosting my mood a lot

Alex_Alumni

I'm certain it will @Danielle_2022 being proactive in the search for work is key, and you're taking all the right steps, but do make sure you take breaks and pace yourself as well I'm glad you're feeling good about it.

And also glad to hear you're resting @janer1967 that was a very early start!

Autumn_Feeling

A wee bit sensitive today. Although I’ve been getting my ptsd triggers/flashbacks under control.

The kitchen ceiling is prone to leaking around this time of the year. Although it’s been good for a year or so. (Since the last time it was repaired.) The problems start when there’s a lot of rain.

Long story short, the council were supposed to inspect the damage yesterday. It was considered an emergency. It’s a long standing issue.

They phoned up to say that they’d be delayed. My mum, who is an advocate for me, rearranged the appointment for the next day. (Today.) The call centre operator said that the information would be passed onto the planner.

I don’t like dealing with the council anymore. Between 2016 and 2019 I dealt with three noisy neighbours. The environmental health department severely let me down. They neglected their duty, tried to cover up the problem/deny it existed and smeared my name when I took legal action. (While the real trouble makers weren’t mentioned.) 

That’s not an overreaction. The combination of antisocial behaviour and gaslighting/contradicting statements and contempt from the council was enough to give me ptsd.

Anyway… Fast forward a couple of hours and the workmen turned up at my door unannounced. Despite an assurance from the call centre that they wouldn’t come until the next day.

I didn’t let them in. I told them that I was expecting them tomorrow.

Today, I’ve been a bit on edge. The situation made me feel like they weren’t going to turn up at all.

Eventually, they did. Although, it wasn’t before I contacted my local MP.

When they arrived, they didn’t have any knowledge of the previous repair work or how/why the ceiling was leaking. They also should have known it was an emergency. (But didn’t.)

The lack of information and the lackadaisical attitude triggered me. I experienced the same treatment from the council about the antisocial neighbours.

I had every right to ask for help but don’t trust the quality of service.

I don’t want to deal with that kind of situation again because I know how much it can trigger me. I went through three years of it.

Thankfully, my local MP wants to talk about the problems. I’ve been wanting to talk to my local MP for a while. The pandemic stopped me from holding the council to account for poor treatment on that occasion.

The long term impact on my health is real. Hopefully things will go in my favour and before the upcoming election.

Alex_Alumni

Hi @Autumn_Feeling I can definitely understand why you're feeling sensitive today, given everything that's happened. These things do have an impact, so it's important to acknowledge that.

I am glad to hear that your MP is open to a conversation though, that sounds promising. Have you got much planned for this evening to help feel more relaxed?

Autumn_Feeling

Alex_Scope said:

Hi @Autumn_Feeling I can definitely understand why you're feeling sensitive today, given everything that's happened. These things do have an impact, so it's important to acknowledge that.

I am glad to hear that your MP is open to a conversation though, that sounds promising. Have you got much planned for this evening to help feel more relaxed?

I tend to keep things light and casual. I’ll watch some animal YouTube videos. Nothing too intense. My visions been a bit blurry because of the stress. Can’t really concentrate on anything too much or for too long.

This time of year is a bit sensitive too. The antisocial behaviour kicked off in the first week of March 2016, and I’ve been having a couple of anxiety nightmares recently. That’s just a bi product of the trauma.

I could write a novel about everything that had happened between 2016 and 2019. I see the same pattern of behaviour from the local council all over again. The hassle with the repairmen just brought back a lot of bad feelings.

Alex_Alumni

I'm sorry to hear about the nightmares and blurred vision @Autumn_Feeling, is this something your GP is aware of?

If you feel like you need any extra support then I'd encourage you to speak to your doctor, as it's important to prioritise both your mental and physical health Keeping things light and casual is part of that self care too, so I hope you can enjoy your chilled evening.

Autumn_Feeling

Alex_Scope said:

I'm sorry to hear about the nightmares and blurred vision @Autumn_Feeling, is this something your GP is aware of?

If you feel like you need any extra support then I'd encourage you to speak to your doctor, as it's important to prioritise both your mental and physical health Keeping things light and casual is part of that self care too, so I hope you can enjoy your chilled evening.

I was diagnosed with ptsd in the very early days of the pandemic when everyone was still able to visit their GP. That was almost two years ago now. I had a couple of appointments. They gave me a piece of paper with support websites on it.

In Scotland, I don’t think it’ll be possible to see a GP in person until the end of March.

For the past three years, I’ve changed my lifestyle to make things as comfortable as possible. It’s peaks and valleys.

Sandy_123

Morning all, my stray cat has decided to take cover here because of the rain.  Waiting for shopping to be delivered with 6 substitutes, which are no where near the wanted product. For example I ordered saffron for a rice dish and they've put in paprika instead will be going back.

SueHeath

Ha ha think you've got a new lodger there @Sandy_123 - yep weather rubbish here today x

janer1967

@Sandy_123 substitutes van be so annoying I ordered pudding rice and hot semolina instead 
Had some real weird substitutes in the past 

L_Volunteer

Oh no @janer1967! I must admit, it is the idea of substitutes that puts me off from shopping online. However, shopping online is such an important way to be able to shop. Not least with many of us unable to get to the shops. I wonder if there's a way around it, but probably not. I have noted on Asda that there is a box to tick if you don't want some of your items to be substituted. Let's hope more shops go in this direction 

Sandy_123

I've sent 3 back kept 2  there's a big difference in pudding rice to semolina @janer1967 also paprika on rice really won't be same as saffron. Then flipper dippers instead of fish fingers 

L_Volunteer

Oh no @Sandy_123. How disappointing! I hope you get your saffron on rice soon. And I hope you get your pudding rice @janer1967

janer1967

@L_Volunteer it is asda I use but I have thr box ticked for subs most of time they send diff brand so that's OK.

@Sandy_123 enjoy.the flipper dippers