Hedgehogs, death and depression

[MissPrickly]

My dream is to buy a tiny cottage and run a hedgehog rescue from it. I love hedgehogs and so did my Mum. We used to see them all the time when I was a kid scuttling around the garden. But no more. It's rare to see one unless it's squashed on the road.

I'm engulfed with depression and anxiety at the moment. It's very bad. Grief at the loss of my Mum is all consuming. I can't be bothered to eat, I don't sleep. I'm lost. I've lost the only person who loved me unconditionally. I spoke to Health in Mind.....I'm on a waiting list.....5 months !

Anyway, I'm hanging on to my dream by the tips of my fingers. I've bought a few things at a jumble sale and am hoping to get a few pounds for them on eBay.

I hope you get your wish, OP.

I don't have a photo but there's a giant hedgehog that lives near me. Several local dogs - including mine - are absolutely terrified of him. I don't blame them, he's a bruiser.

Sending hedgehog love your way OP

Your title reminded me of Philip Larkin’s The Mower - one of my absolute favourite poems.

sounds like a lovely plan.

Excellent idea. Thank you.

Not near unfortunately.

Thank you for your kind responses. I'm trying to keep busy with gardening and crochet. I've got a little fox that comes in the garden and also a hedgehog sometimes.

Love seeing your photos 😍

We have a resident hedgehog in the garden. He didn't come out for food for few nights so we assumed he started hibernating but he popped back out last night so we've started putting fresh food out again. Here is picture of him in the summer with his sister. We took them to the hedgehog rescue but his sister never made it 🙁

I'm sorry for the loss of your mum. Do you have any other support? Is there any bereavement counselling you can access from Cruse or a local hospice or something?

Beautiful. Thank you. Not much support really. I tend to bottle things up. I think there is a bereavement group in my town. Not sure I can face that though.

It's very cold even here in Sussex. Whilst walking a few days ago I passed a house that was being cleared after the death of the elderly person that lived there. There were lots of out of date tins, fruit and meat put out for people to take. I've been putting out bits in the evening. The fox particularly enjoyed the apple slices. No sign of a hedgehog. Hopefully it's tucked up somewhere warm.