Collettell

4/4 Both her parents are dead now.
They were delightful, caring, and kind people.
I'm glad I farewelled a lovely woman.
And I'm glad I hugged her daughter. She said she appreciated me making the effort to attend.
I probably won't see her again, unless we 'bump' into one another. #life #death

3/4 I know about her health issues. She told me about them when I saw her last year. I know how her children are going.
She has no idea about my life now. I suspect it's all to hard to play 'catch up' after 12 years.
My being in a wheelchair shocked them.

2/4 After the funeral, during the tea and biscuits phase, she came over, I stood up and hugged her.
Her brother came over, and I hugged him. They are good humans.
But, there is a massive chasm of not knowing what's been happening in our lives.

1/4 I attended a funeral today. The mother of an old friend of mine.
I met this woman in 1986.
We studied and worked together.
We lived together once we finished our studies.
We had a good friendship until I became ill.
Then we drifted apart.
I'd bump into her occasionally. Social chit chat.

Next week I will be referred to my 10th specialist for my range of medical conditions.
To say I provide full medical employment is an understatement! #health #disability #diseases #conditions

2/2 Disability and poverty go hand in hand. I now pay the 'excess' so I continue to receive good care. #disability #poverty #alliedhealth

1/2 The NDIS has reduced the amount they will pay when you are treated by allied health therapists. According to the NDIS there is no cost of living crisis, and my physiotherapist and psychologist aren't worth very much.

5/5. I have to provide evidence of fractures to one specialty because they don't believe me.

I am tired.
My body is failing.
My quality of life is incredibly poor.

If I was an animal, I would be euthanised.

But, I'm human, and have to 'live'.

#disability #disease #poverty #exhaustion #pain

4/5. I have had to move all but 1 of my 9 specialists from the Private space into public health arena due to cost.

I am currently using the services of FoodBank.

The poverty associated with health and disability is real.
The mis diagnosis of 12 years ago has ruined my life.

3/5. I 'walk' daily. It takes me 35 mins to walk 800 metres due to pain, and dysfunction of hips, shoulders and hands.
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. My hands and wrists are swollen and incredibly painful.
My monthly medication cost is over $350. Luckily (!?!?) I hit the PBS threshold yesterday!

2/5. Multiple vertebral stress fractures, rib and sternum fracture from CPR, and now, I take medications to control the unwanted side effects of my medications.
I have 3 legal cases at present.
I can use my wheelchair for only short periods of time due to extreme pain.

1/5 12 years since I was admitted to hospital. 12 years of defending against a lazy provisional diagnosis of 'conversion disorder'. Final diagnosis is post infective encephalopathy.
Peroneal nerve damage, foot drop. Add 4 autoimmune diseases, 2 shoulders needing reconstructions,

YouTube video by MarshalGrover Sesame Street - "I Am Chicken!"

COLDEST 100: 2025 EDITION
31.
I Am Chicken (1991)
Sesame Street
#coldest100 #hottest100
youtu.be/h_oMjHsmZ24?...

Simple 4 petalled flowers

<0.5 mm rain. Lilac flowers. Beautiful scent and colour. #rain #Clearviewweather #kaurnaCountry

Over 60 German and Austrian universities, the German Federal Court of Justice and multiple top German football clubs have announced that they will be withdrawing from Twitter (X), due to US oligarch Elon Musk's "discussion" (collaboration) with Germany's neo-Nazi party (AfD) Alice Weidl.

4/4 I will always be sympathetic to someone with a summer cold.
Never compare!
#individualexperience
#pain #summercold 
#empathy #sympathy

3/4 And, as I tell people. 
A summer cold is still the worst thing I can think of.
That feeling of stuffiness, raspy, painful throat, and misery on a beautiful day! 
And, I've learnt to walk again!!
And the 'rest'.

2/4 A paper cut is just as painful, annoying and irritating for me, as it is for you. 
That exquisite sting on lemon juice on a paper cut! You know the one!

1/4 I asked how a friend's Plantar fasciitis was this morning.
"It's nothing in comparison to your pain" was his response.
I really dislike comparing pain. 
It demeans your experience.
It demeans mine.

8/ it is a case of
Just one small change - loss of NDIS funding -
I need FoodBank
I can't afford medications
I have more physical disabilities/chronic pain/reduced life 'satisfaction'.
Probably and not measurable, reduced life expectancy.
#justoneperson
#justonechange
#massiveramifications

7/ the compounding affects of
Falls and fractures
Reduced exercise tolerance
Means I have bilateral hip and shoulder bursitis
Chronic pain
Malnutrition due to bowel disease (can't afford medications)
Increased allied health requirements.
Cardiac issues (can't afford medications).

6/ Reality is
My massive cut in NDIS funding, my failing body, not being able to afford the medication to manage my diseases, means - I took money from my superannuation to pay for physio, podiatry, OT, etc.
the DSP doesn't cover survival expenses.
Selling eggs means I can catch taxis on hot days

5/ My freezer is full of home grown produce, ready to make meals.
I buy cheap crackers.
I use FoodBank canned tuna and homegrown tomatoes for snacks.
I buy FoodBank flour & sugar.
I can make cakes.
I have a huge selection of herbs and spices I have collected of the years.
FoodBank is amazing.

4/ I grow Lemon Verbena (tea) lemon Myrtle (cake flavouring), oregano and parsley, Bay (fresh and dried).
I make jams, purées, I dehydrate, preserve, I give away excess.
I grow eggplants and make a preserved sauce for stew bases.
I buy cheap meats, slow cook and freeze for winter meals.

3/ I grate most of my zucchini and freeze. When I find cheap mushrooms, I chop and freeze.
My tomatoes become passata and peeled - lasts me a year.
I sell my eggs for $5/doz to locals.
I cook and puree pumpkin to use as a soup base - all nutrients kept.
I grow Okra which I use fresh.

2/ So today's lunch was
600mls water
100 gms cooked chicken (FoodBank)
Packet 2 minute noodles.
1 serve instant miso
1 serve seasoned seaweed
1 cup grated zucchini (home grown)
1 egg (home laid).
Microwave at 660 power for 10 minutes.
Salt, fluid, green veg, protein, filling, tasty and cheap.

1/ One of the things about accessing FoodBank - spectacular organisation and volunteers, for me at least, it's hard to get 'cooking' stuff.
Many of the canned foods available I can't eat, due to disease. I still buy cheap noodles, Korean shop for bulk seaweed 12 for $5.

George the greyhound escaped yesterday.
My neighbour saw him on Lost dogs of Adelaide.
We were talking, my neighbour and I when George walked past.
George popped in for a pat.
When George loves you, he leans against you.
I nearly fell over.
George is a big greyhound. He leans hard.
I am loved!

For some reason I cannot post photos - otherwise a chook moustache would have been here!

I cleaned out the pantry yesterday. No great surprises, but, cleaning out the fridge meant the chooks had yogurt moustaches as they ate their rolled oats.