A Friend

© Lisa M. Chapin

Published: November 2007

A friend like you is hard to find,
one that touches you deep inside.
You’ve given me strength to carry on,
you’ve offered your hand to hold on.
When times are tough, I know you’re there
to offer support and show you care.
If not for you, I would have drowned,
but you help keep me on solid ground.
I believe you were sent from the man above
because he knows the strength of your love.
You show that love in so many ways.
It helps me get through my darkest of days.
So for that, I write this poem for you
and tell you from my heart, THANK YOU!

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/rough-times

Well if I start this now I may not forget about it, like I seem to have done yesterday. I went to check yesterday’s post only to find none, what the hell how did I forget to do a post. It must have been that type of day as I also forgot to go and meet Leo that afternoon.

Had a phone call from my sister Sandra this morning to tell me our uncle Richie’s funeral is on Thursday about a 45 minute drive from here. I said I would love to go but with Covid I would only be able to attend if I remained outside as only 20 immediate family members can be inside.

Uncle Richie was dad’s brother but he was taken in as a boy by close family friends when his mother walked out on his father, I think he was number 3 out of 6 children.

I am just not feeling with it today or yesterday for that matter.

This morning Tasha had to speak my name 3 times and make a loud noise in order to get my attention. I was off with t he pixies

Woke at 6.45am got up and sent Tasha a message to see if she could come and help me dress.

Tim working again.

Another cold wet day.

Saw Kelli when she dropped of Blain.

Not doing much today just sorted the meds out after vacuuming out later I ironed Tim’s work shirts.

Tasha coming at 3.30to give me a bath as the shower isn’t working right.

Awake at 6.05 straight out of bed and dressed with help from Tasha of course.

Plumber came around 11ish and changed the shower head was here less then 5 minutes.

Jessica was able to meet Leo as she was home by 3.25pm, this was great as it was still pissing down.

It’s 4pm and I am done for the day, I can feel my chest moving as in shaking along with my arms and legs.

I am feeling depressed at the moment. I just want to listen to my book for a while.

Up at 6.15 as usual, Tim got up at the same time, he has a long day a 9.34hr work day he will be home around 7.45pm.

Another cold and wet day, of course I have a Dr appointment so will need to go out at 8.45 for a bit.

Saw the Dr and nurse this morning for care plan review and scripts. Thankfully it has stopped raining this morning.

No rain this afternoon so I am able to go get Leo

Another day started no rain this morning, going to be another coolish day though.

Started raining around 10ishand has been raining since. Tim on a midday start so left around 11 something.

Stopped raining around 2pm so I am able to go get Leo.

Sue’s birthday she is 51 today, I sent her a message this morning..

Another wet morning here, I was up at the usual time had to get dressed in the bathroom as Tim has a late start same as yesterday.

I am feeling like shit today in so much pain my arms and left thigh mostly.

My left thigh is very sore I cannot move it without a shit load of pain.

What a morning, I started to leak as soon as I got up but it was that bad it was running down my leg.

Tasha arrived a few minutes later and gave me a shower and of course dressed me.

Leo is asleep in his room

Tim has taken the motorbike to work.

Jess has to put me to bed as Tasha has a visitor.

A late start to the day slept in till 8.15am it felt good to have a sleep in.

Kathy and Summer arrived at 9am Kathy gave me a shower and then got my breakfast for me.

Although she didn’t want to vacuum out and the clothes needed longer on the line so I decided not tho ask her to get them off.

Jess at work today

Dave’s birthday he is 42 today, mum rang at 9 when I was in the shower. I thought Tim answered it and didn’t give it another thought, till I checked the house phone’s messages and her mum speak before she hung up. No she didn’t leave a message but it was mum. So I rang her back she rang to ask me over for lunch for Dave’s birthday. By the time I rang her back it was 12.15 and I had just eaten so wasn’t hungry also Tim was out as was Tasha and Jess was at work so no one her to drive me.

Tim had to go to the chemist twice because he paid for everything but the only gave him one lot of medication out of six. I would have noticed if it was me as he paid over $100

Didn’t talk to mum as I forgot to ring her and when she rang I was already in the bathroom getting ready for bed. So Tim answered and told her that.

Mirror

By Sylvia Plath More Sylvia Plath

I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.
Whatever I see I swallow immediately
Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike.
I am not cruel, only truthful,
The eye of a little god, four-cornered.
Most of the time I meditate on the opposite wall.
It is pink, with speckles. I have looked at it so long
I think it is part of my heart. But it flickers.
Faces and darkness separate us over and over.

Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me,
Searching my reaches for what she really is.
Then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon.
I see her back, and reflect it faithfully.
She rewards me with tears and an agitation of hands.
I am important to her. She comes and goes.
Each morning it is her face that replaces the darkness.
In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman
Rises toward her day after day, like a terrible fish.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/mirror-by-sylvia-plath

The start of a new week, a cold and wet start at that being Monday it is fact day, so here we go.

Wilma Flintstone’s maiden name was Slaghoopal, and Betty Rubble’s was Betty Jean McBricker

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

In 1990 the Mars chocolate company decided to change the Marathon bar’s name to “Snickers”, the company didn’t want to lose the bar’s British Fans, so for 18 months the wrapper was made with both names. When Marathon was dropped from the name the bar went from No9 to No3 on the UK”s best selling chocolate bar list. Kit Kat was No1

The melting point of cocoa butter is just below the human body temperature, which is why chocolate literally melts in your mouth.

John Rolfe named Pocahontas the Native American princess in 1613

A new day here, very overcast which is why I slept in till 7.45, found Tim already up and dressed for work.

Tasha arrived 10 minutes later to get her washing and make me breakfast and of course help me dress.

Kelli and her children called in when they dropped off Blain.

Been a quiet day only saw Leo once as his friend Kajta was visiting

Back to a normal wake up time this morning, Tim was up and ready for work. Tasha arrived 5 minutes later to get me ready for the day.

I rang Leo at 7.30 he wasn’t ready to wake up and said could I ring back in 10 minutes, which I did. We left on time though so all good.

Leo’s early day he gets out at 1.50pm and will be home between 2 and 2.30, so I will be there waiting for him from 2pm.

He arrived at 2.15pm.

Started raining at 2.25, so I was lucky Leo arrived when he did.

Up at 6.10 just before the alarm went off.

Tasha managed to .

knock over a full glass of milk all over the bench and floor.

I was in the middle of getting changed so had to pull on a top and go help clean it up. I will have to wash the floor today

Managed to take Leo up and see him off before it pissed down.

It has rained on and off all day but had stopped by the tine I had to go get Leo.

I woke when Tim was leaving for work but managed to stay in bed for another 20 minutes before getting up 10 minutes before the alarm went off.

Leo was here at 7.35 ready for school but of course despite me telling him over and over to brush his teeth he waited till we were walking out the door to go do it.

Tasha came down and gave me a shower so I am nice and clean.

Been a busy morning vacuumed out twice and washed the towels and ironed Tim’s work shirt.

Very windy this afternoon, mum was telling me to that she needs some kind of chest Xray and it would cost her $280 of which she gets $240 straight back. She just has to find the money first.

Another early start to the day woke to pee and stayed awake, laying in bed till 6am when I got up.

Tasha arrived and helped me start the day as usual.

Tasha is upset she was hoping to get a job as a Transport Support Officer for the company Jess works for but has been told by Centrelink that she needs to jump through hoops before it can happen this can take 6-12 months. She is pissed off.

Decided to listen to music instead of TV while I worked at the computer and chill doing nothing.

Tim home by 2pm the first thing he did was complain about the music said it was too loud, so I turned it off.

Woke with the alarm after a restless night, woke at least 6 times each for 15-20 minutes before falling back asleep.

Leo spent last night here and has been up since 7am.

Tim home by 10am till 1pm, he has another spilt shift.

I was able to listen to music this afternoon, Leo said it was loud as he could hear it outside his bathroom window.

Jessica came at 5 to deal with me

Woke at 7am after a decent nights sleep, it was dark and raining which maybe why I slept so long. Tim got up when I was in the bathroom.

It is a sticky type of morning at 8.20 Kathy rang and said she wouldn’t be over as Sydney-May has a temperature, I said then she needs to stay home and take care of her.

Been raining most of the day, my printer ran out of ink when I tried to print yesterday’s diary entry. I mentioned it to Tim and he said did I want him to go there and then to buy ink.

I asked if he hadn’t already ordered it but nope he hadn’t and that flicked the switch and I got pissed as I asked him 2 months ago to order it and again a month later. He didn’t get why I was pissed, he said it was because he has been too busy working to remember. I replied NO it was because I felt like if he did needed it he would had ordered it straight away. I told him that and walked outside to have a smoke. After which I was fine, as in over it.

True Love

© Paul Smith

Published: January 2015

When I say I love you, please believe it’s true.
When I say forever, know I’ll never leave you.
When I say goodbye, promise me you won’t cry,
Because the day I’ll be saying that will be the day I die.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/true-love-49

Hello Monday, how is everyone ?

I am well here doing nothing again. Since it is Monday it is fact day…………….

The liver is the largest internal organ.

On average an attack of the hiccups lasts for 5 minutes

Excavations from Egyptian tombs dating back t o 5,000 BC showed that the ancient Egyptian kids played with toy hedgehogs

About 42,000 tennis balls are used in the Wimbledon Championship

The cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 11, moves about 6 inches for every gallon of fuel it burns.

I woke around 6.15 but managed to lay in bed till 7am, when I got up I found Tasha in the kitchen preparing my breakfast. Tim helped me dress before he left for work.

Leo has been here since last night most kids would go home as soon as they woke up but not Leo.

A short chat to mum, she said Michelle & family cancelled and didn’t visit her today.

Woke at 6am and got up before the alarm, opened the house and while having my morning wash Tasha arrived.

First day of term 4 of school

Been tired most of the day because I took a night time med in the morning silly me.

Managed to listen to music although there are songs I want to delete and add more.

Up with the alarm as usual, opened the house and was having a wash when Tasha arrived to help me get ready for the day.

After 30mins I was dripping in sweat again and it’s not hot at all.

Tim home at 1.45 and he came home in a mood, he snapped at me when I asked for help so I told him to get stuffed. He later snapped at Tasha while sorting out her CTP.

His excuse, he works 6 days a week, I said she works 7 days a week caring for me, my point is he isn’t alone.

Tasha looked at me at 3pm and said you look like a zombie as in being so tired I was dead on my feet.

I woke with the alarm, I was dreaming about Kelli other than that I remember nothing about the dream.

I feel not right, my head feels like it’s too heavy for my body. It is also kinda foggy just not right.

Not a hot day either but I am of course sweating.

It’s Sandy’s birthday I sent her a text wishing her happy birthday.

Tim home around 2pm another early day and he is in a better mood today.

Tasha giving me a shower as I have an appointment with the podiatrist tomorrow.

Woke as Tim was leaving for work but dosed off again till the alarm went off.

The men to install the new ceiling fan arrived at 7.15, they left at 8.30ish it looks good just different.

Went to see the podiatrist that went well, I don’t go back till January.

Received the ambo bill $466.16, I went online and filled out the exemption form as we Ambulance cover.

Leo spent last night here again, I got up 6.15am as usual.

David messaged and asked if I was going to see Dad, I said no, he said he would pick me up so I said I would see him then.

Very windy this morning and a few drops of rain if the weather stays like this things may change.

Jess helped me get dressed to go out. Except for my shoes that I thought I could on my own, which I did it only took 20 minutes to do.

I had lunch with them at mum’s then Dave & Leigh drove me home. It was a struggle to change my clothes when I got home.

Mum still rang this afternoon, we chatted for 40 minutes.

A later start to the day it was 7.15 when I woke up, made myself food and Kathy arrived at 9 to give me a shower.

Jess working today, seen Leo for a bit but he went home to do whatever.

Had to ring the chemist to arrange for Leo’s meds so Tasha could get them.

Tim installing Jess’s air con today doing most on his own.

Had to call for Leo to help adjust the speed of the new fan as it was difficult to reach.

It is 3.30 and I am exhausted so think I want to just lay down and listen to my book.

Be The Best Of Whatever You Are

By Douglas Malloch More Douglas Malloch

If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill,
  Be a scrub in the valley — but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill;
  Be a bush if you can’t be a tree.

If you can’t be a bush be a bit of the grass,
  And some highway happier make;
If you can’t be a muskie then just be a bass —
  But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can’t all be captains, we’ve got to be crew,
  There’s something for all of us here,
There’s big work to do, and there’s lesser to do,
  And the task you must do is the near.

If you can’t be a highway then just be a trail,
  If you can’t be the sun be a star;
It isn’t by size that you win or you fail —
  Be the best of whatever you are!

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/be-the-best-of-whatever-you-are-by-douglas-malloch