
Late evening colour from Yorkshire.
It’s been one of those pushing up hill days. School doing as little as possible. A flu jab that ended up being a magical mystery tour around an NHS property – the signs had blown over in a wind storm and countless potential jab recipients were walking aimlessly around a vast site like a scene from ‘Night of the Zombies’ or ‘The Teletubbies’. Then news that Hawklad’s mental health support is getting reduced again. Was supposed to be a couple of yours every week. Then it was reduced to 45 minutes every two weeks. Soon it’s going to 45 minutes every month. Just not enough resources to meet rising mental health needs amongst our young. It’s all about government priorities. Well at least he’s still getting some help, that’s something.
Finally time to relax a bit. Hawklad was watching an Adam Sandler buddy movie. He does make Hawklad laugh a lot. I watch bits of it as I caught up with some housework. Funny how housework doesn’t ever sort itself out.
The movie was all about a group of childhood friends meeting up now they were middle aged. I must admit it got me wistfully thinking about how life has worked out over the last few years. Single parenting, living out in the sticks, a pandemic…. All are the equivalent of the FRIENDSHIP Hulk Buster Suit. Seeing friends has been officially been BUSTED. In over 5 years I’ve had one meet-up with a friend which lasted 2 hours at a so called football match. What I would give now for a few of those Adam Sandler type friend meet-ups. Just his much I would give for just 30 minutes with my best friend. Sadly I bet I’m not the only one feeling this way. These are isolating times.
It must be a lot different there compared to Oklahoma. I live in a small town, not too small, we have 1 grocery store, a couple of banks and churches. I do not feel isolated. Things feel about the same as before. I am sorry things are tuff right now, loneliness is tuff on everyone. I am sure it helps to write about.
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It definitely does
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Here in Florida it’s like Covid never existed. Our governor is overriding the President with regards to vaccinations . Way too liberal, and in the long run it will hurt our economy, not bring in more money to the state because numbers are going up. Off the soapbox, so huge parties, get together for Thanksgiving, the biggest holiday here, and he is all for it.
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I have a friend who also lives in Florida and she started she just feels so unsafe. With the laid back rules.
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No social distancing, face mask, people hugging, dancing with several partners. It’s endless
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Oh Susie where are peoples common senses? This is not good.
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Not in charge…..
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Exactly, 😔
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I know
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❤️
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❤️
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💗
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❤️
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💕
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It’s definitely not cool to talk about covid now. Best just ignore it….
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It’s hit or miss my way. Some places are closed, some open. Mandatory masks I’m so sorry it’s like that there. I am thinking of you and your son. Hugs, my friend❤️
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Thank you ❤️❤️
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❤️
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It sounds like things are very isolating there. I am sending lots of care your and Hawklads way.
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Thank you , that really helps ❤️
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♥️♥️
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You’re right, pandemic has isolated people and this feeling of disconnect.
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It’s going to take a long time to fix this
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I can see that already.
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🙏
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Even in these trying times there has been some time to see a few people who like us have taken every precaution and been vaccinated. None of us fare too well in isolation.
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We don’t
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Social distancing is still the name of the game all over, unfortunately. In November’s darkness is time to unwind and relax and it feels ok to withdraw indoors, but not in the summer. Then you long for your friends. Let’s hope next summer will be better and we don’t turn in to hermits.
I truly wish they don’t reduce the mental services for young ones, anywhere!
Lovely sky!
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Easy remedy: ditch all your friends. No reason to yearn for company.
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I like your thinking.
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Lol. Me too.
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I almost have done that by moving to Eastern Finland few years back and all the dearest friends live in somewhere else, Rawgod
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Until I met my present partner, I moved every 7 years or less, just to keep things lively. I started on the Canadian prairies, moved to the west coast, back to the prairies, back to the west coast, then to the east coast, back to the west coast, then to a different part of the prairies. After 7 years with my present partner we moved from the southern border with the USA almost to the northern part of the province. Now we’ve been here 14 years. My feet are itching to move, but she wants to stay. She wins, for now…
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I guess 20 odd years here has been too long
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They say our bodies change 100% of our cells every 7 years. I think the earth should change 100% of its cellular population every seven years too.
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Yes it should
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🙏
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Thank you
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Those colors are so beautiful!
(((Hugs))) to you!! Being with friends is so important! Hoping you soon can reunite with some friends! Its needed just like food and water!
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Thank you 😊. Hugs to you
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😊
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Today I venture into the world of poorly persons. With PPE covering my face, 😷 they don’t know my emotions up or down (maybe just as well some days). Their isolation really pangs me to the core, but needs must… STAY SAFE, STAY SAFE, STAY SAFE, STAY SAFE, STAY SAFE… and if there’s another concise way of putting it, I’d say that many times too, but time to go in a few minutes and: “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more… Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit to his full height.”
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Needs must definitely
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I’ve been doing a video chat program called Marco Polo back and forth with my best friend. It’s saved me.
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That sounds like such a great idea
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This is one of those days when I wish there was an alternative to the like button – however, I really do like the photograph
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Thanks Derrick
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“It’s life, Jim… but not as we know it…” Spock.
Not anymore it isn’t…
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Definitely isn’t. Beam me up Scotty.
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I have been waiting for this for ages, maybe one day!
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One day
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You know what they say about ‘one day’…
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I know
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It is a difficult time in general, now together with your personal situation doesn’t make it any easier. Regarding mental health support, I don’t get it. There are so many children who need that support only due to the pandemic. How can they reduce the support to someone who needed it already before and who needs even more support due to the pandemic? Really, I don’t get this.
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The same number or reduced numbers of staff are trying to cover a rising list of children needing help. They are just spreading themselves thinner and thinner
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Ok, I see the problem.
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❤️
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When you’ve got a child who needs you, it is tough meeting your friends. Even without Covid, to the rest of the world it’s like the single parent is infectious with some deadly disease.
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It does seem that way somedays
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You’re not alone. I wish I had such friends too. I have few friends and I rarely ever see them and they usually don’t text me unless I text them 1st
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I think this is a common problem. There might be a variety of scenarios behind the scenes which means what you see isn’t always the truth of the matter.
For example:
I have a dear friend who never (well, almost never) calls or texts. She is concerned about being in the way – or more generally aware that I’m a busy woman.
On the other hand, I know someone else who is happy to bombard me with texts all about herself and she is always the one to invite me to do things. Possibly because of an anxiety disorder, she can’t plan a meet up, but as I operate differently there’s no point in me proposing anything. She offers me lots of unsolicited advice and can be generally quite patronising, laughs at my own anxiety issues and doesn’t listen.
So, maybe if you reframe your friendships you might get a different view?
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That is so true
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I know that feeling
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