Am Not Coping

[utopia]

@Zoe7. 26 years ago I did a month long trip to Tasmania. Only managed the east and south coasts. Went to the southern most tip of Tasmania - right next to the beautiful and wild Natural Forest of Southern Tassie. Was stunning. You could imagine here the early pioneering feeling of the early settlers and convicts - in such a wild landscape.
And the Huon Valley - wow. Always imagined living there one day. I still regularly look up properties for sale in the area & dream.
I'm off to get some groceries, bourbon and smokes and buy my tatts ticket. You've got to be in it to win it.
Will be washing the dogs beds today & maybe the dogs. Will be looking after mums dog as well - so back to 4 dogs in the house. Crazy.
Tomorrow I'm going to my best friends for an afternoon bbq. So that could be nice.
Started a new book last night. A novel this time.
Any plans for Easter? Did you buy yourself some easter eggs?

[Mazarita]

Hi @Zoe7, @utopia and all,

Just wandering through for a visit to The Octagonal Room, and, of course, to visit Alice the virtual cat over here in Cat Corner. Here she is again, for those who haven't met her yet. She loves to hide and just peek her curious head out from the corner to say hello. With a bit of coaxing, you'll have her brushing friendly past your legs in no time.

I've never visited Tasmania. It's the only state of Australia I haven't been. My companion was born in Tassie though, so I get some kind of ticket to the state that way. I do know it has a fascinating, sometimes chilling, history. And that it looks like a beautiful place. It seems like a special place in the world to live.

[Owlunar]

Hi @utopia@Mazarita@Zoe7@Adge

I have been to Tassie more times than I can remember - I have rellies there and I have visited with them often - and they are getting old and frail now

I got the Easter Email - that means nearly everyone got the same email - I forget how many - and this scares me because it is my feeling that they are past getting around to sending cards as they used to - it bothers me a lot

I will be sending my one off email today or tonight - one-off means only they get it - I do believe in individuality -

What is the Octagonal Room? I am wondering a lot about that - with Alice and the virtual cat

All the best everyone - I hope everyone has the best day possible

Dec

[Mazarita]

Hi @Owlunar, I hope you have the best day possible too. 

The Octagonal Room is the ongoing project of @Zoe7 here in this discussion thread. She has even posted photos of some parts of the room earlier in the thread (but too far for me to find now). There are two real cats here, a dog and Alice my virtual cat (due to living in rental accommodation that allows no pets). Zoe can give you more of an explanation of The Octagonal Room. I think it is a place of sanctuary, where we are only kind to each other. There are also raucous TV nights I've seen where Zoe and others have watched trashy TV shows with their own forum commentary. I'm only recent to The Octagonal Room (this thread) but those are my impressions. 

[Owlunar]

Thanks @Mazarita

That rather sounds like fun - I must follow up a tag when I see one

Dec

[utopia]

Hi @Mazarita. I bet your companion tells you lots of stories about Tasmania. If you ever get the chance to go there - do. Parts of Tassie like the Huon Valley in the south - look a bit like Ireland - with all that green grass.
@Owlunar - the Octagonal Room is here - it's where a few members like @Phoenix_Rising have their own safe corner. They can come in and feel safe in their corner. They don't have to participate in any conversation (if they don't want to) & they can feel part of the family here. Not alone. It's also the place we have parties.
@Zoe7 decorates the place - so that everyones individual corner suits that person.
zoe could probably describe it better.
The generic email - doesn't make me feel like they have really thought about me and what I'd like to hear about. Just a mass email to everyone. A bit like taking an ad out in the newspaper. No warmth.

[utopia]

@mazaita - you got that right. We watched trashy reality tv and comment what we really think. Reality tv 'stars' are the only people we get to make judgements on. Lol

[Mazarita]

@utopia, glad there's that outlet for judgement on the tv. I watched Married at First Sight in its first season. I felt so ambivalent while watching the first series but it was such a weird idea and kind of thrilling, I couldn't resist. But couldn't go there to follow it up with more. When I watch reality tv I feel sorry for the contestants. Ah yes, you reminded me that The Octagonal Room is a place I sometimes come just to sit with Alice the Virtual Cat too. Yes, a safe haven. 

@Owlunar, looking forward to seeing your image when the moderator clears it. 

[Owlunar]

Hi @utopia - thanks for the info - you are so right about the generic email - actuallly it does not bother me that they have not thought about me - I am sure they do - but they are ill and frail aged and my aunt fears to be left alone when my uncle passes - she said if when she spoke to me on the phone when my other aunt died -

I was going to Hobart hoping I would be able to visit them for a short time - like half an hour - and I was knocked back and that is something I can't handle really well - it's as you said - "they don't think about me" - and my uncle is like my big brother - and I am concerned

So to elevate that feeling I might try a phone call -

Hi @Zoe7 - can you tag me to the Octagonal Room - a good place for easy yarns and funny stories or a place to just wander into and leave some emojis

I have been all over Tassie - and boy some locals were odd - I stayed at Bicheno for a couple of nights and told two ladies at my table I was driving back to Launceston via Scotsdale the next day

These old ladies were shocked - a young German back-packer (girl) riding a bike had gone missing in those hills and they advised me not to go there - I told them I was 50 and had a reliable car and was used to driving in the bush and my relllies knew which way I was going and they knew I would ring when I got to Launceston

But that wasn't enough - I was a nice young girl - I was told - and please drive back to Hobart to my relatives place the next day

Of course I did exactly what I had in mind and I had a terrific day driving through those mountains

Thanks Utopia - I hope you are having the best time possible

Dec

[utopia]

Ohhh @Owlunar. I have a bad story from St Helens - just north of Bicheno. Iwas hoping to get some seasonal work and was told about a job packing scollops - shells. They had been dumped in a forest and now needed packing to send somewhere in Asia to be made into tourist stuff. I was told I could walk to this forest. Was 5 bloody kms!! So I'm walking. No cars passing. No people. When all of a sudden this man pops out of no where - seriously nowhere - & starts walking along side of me.
My body instantly told me I was in danger. I listened to it. I kept looking straight ahead, hoping to see someone to help. No one there. In my minds eye - I could see all parts of my body and his. Where my elbow was in relation to his gut. How I could fight him off. He started talking. Instantly inappropriate stuff. I told him to go away. No.
Then he starts telling me he's never kissed a girl before and he'd like to kiss me. I was freaking out inside - but trying to look calm on the outside.
Pine plantations and forests were on either side of the road - as far as the eye could see. There was no one to help me. I knew I waa in trouble.
I made some remark about me being HIV positive (this was 1990). He disappeared then.
I was bloody lucky. When I got to the job site and told my story to some locals - the ladies said - you can't walk around here. It's not safe. People go missing. They drove me back to the backpackers at the end of the day. The next day I left town.