The positive mental health thread - part 4

[Spudlet]

Keeping it positive, keeping our sanity, people 👍

tobee. I’m a nurse and a smile means a lot. Especially at times like this so thank you on the Dr’s behalf!

Talking of dinner @Benji13 , let’s do the dinner roll call! I’m having salmon stir fry again with duck spring rolls on the side (again) and it is glorious. And the sun has come out at last...

We're having homemade burgers with homemade baps and homemade chips. I wasn't kidding about everything having to be homemade! Also some veg, which is not home grown

Sounds lovely @daffodilthatch

We’re having lentil and chorizo stew/potatoes/cabbage.

And then I’m going to follow Benji’s plan of relaxing tv and a bath as I too am exhausted - I think it’s just the constant background anxiety taking its toll.

Weather looks alright for next week and we’ll be moving into April - one whole month of this crazy business will be over and done with!

I've just emailed a Judge for a Court hearing tomorrow that I am available from 9.30am - I haven't said that this is so I can do my Jo Wicks workout!

We had roast dinner - me and Dh nut roast, DCs last of the Xmas turkey from the freezer. I usually buy pre made roast potatoes but thought I’d have a go at my own, they were delish

I am making a Shepherds pie but with sliced potatoes in top instead of mash - get me 😀 may even grate some cheese on it.

Today hasn't been a very productive day and a bit too much news watching which has made me a bit lethargic and sluggish, none of that tomorrow.

DH made us a beef stew with mash potato and now I'm stuffed.

Still probably eat some chocolate later though

Feel so down today really depressed I was ok yesterday today I just feel awful keep crying I feel like I'm grieving my new born son is 13 weeks I should be enjoying and showing him off to my family and friends but I cannot, I miss my nana and granddad. I miss just popping out for a coffee. This whole thing sucks and I'm so sorry to bring the thread down I just feel so lost and sad. I know each day is closer to us getting back to normal but it doesn't feel it. . I had booked a holiday to butlins for July and I'm guessing that will be cancelled I just want my happy life back

@gingerbreadslice, someone posted up thread about how it's like grief, and it really is, so don't be hard on yourself. Also, with a 13 week old, your emotions will be heightened.

We had a roast with chicken followed by apple pie and custard 👍 fab to hear how many people are making stuff from scratch when they previously wouldn't have.

Big hug @gingerbreadslice

Ooh lush @M0reGinPlease

current cooking achievements:
apple crumble
soup
rhubarb crumble
tesco latte (sachet)

gingerbreadslice sorry about your holiday. Don't lose hope on that. We have had to postpone an Easter holiday, and we are trying to console ourselves by saying this will give us more time to save up spending money for when we do go.

It's a cliché I know, but it's true: one day at a time. You've got this.

I love hearing about everyone's cooking! Dinner here is lasagne, garlic bread, salad and ice cream. Oh and wine.

Dinner here was pasta from various bags () with homemade beef bolognese padded out with onion, sweet corn, courgette and carrot, topped with cheese sauce padded out with water and baked in the oven served with the last of the lettuce. Some leftovers now in fridge will be enough for one or two meals!

@VoyageInTheDark I will most definitely be partaking in some chocolate once the kids are asleep!

@gingerbreadslice I feel for you having a young baby just now, I think even little things can be too much when you have a newborn. Sleep deprivation also really doesn't help! The situation does really suck to be fair. I think lots of us are struggling, it might be good to think about some tactics to help you cope? So for example I'm not looking at the news much and have deleted twitter. I'm having a nice bit if chocolate when the kids are asleep, and a fancy herbal tea - just little things but I look forward to them.

I'm really missing my family as well, haven't seen them since October and they were supposed to be visiting last week (they're in Ireland). I've found chatting on facetime more often helps. My mum even read DD3 a bedtime story last night.

We're also expecting a holiday we had booked to Greece in May to be cancelled. I'm making myself feel better by researching holidays for next year, I love a bit of research!

Take it easy and look after yourself. This will end, as Spudlet said it's a tunnel, not a well

Gingerbread you're doing so well. This is a huge thing to be dealing with. Have a good cry and something like a hot bath if you can. It's normal to have big ups and down right now even without the exhaustion of a baby. I felt horribly panicked last night and felt I couldn't get through this at all. Today I have felt so much more normal and happy. The virus feels like horrible background noise and I'm just focusing on what's going on in my house.

Can I recommend this skype event?m.facebook.com/events/209458367131165

It's an online choir and i think they're doing 3 short sessions a week. It's run by a friend of a friend who is wonderful and you can join in without your camera on if you like (everyone's microphones are on mute bar the leader). They're singing gentle or uplifting songs and you'd see lots of other mums and babies on the screen. It's a lovely small point of connection in the week.

This is not going to last forever. We are going to get to a point where life feels normal and we will look back and think this was all awful but equally that it was a blip. Think about 9/11. It felt catastrophic and life-changing at the time but for most of us we did get back to normal and had happiness again. It's now a horrible distant memory which is sad but manageable.

Had a virtual gin club on Messenger video chat today. Managed to talk about everything but.

keynote1 we had shepherds pie too 😋

Still my only go to thread and such fab articles here 😊

We had spicy bean burgers and fries for tea. My partner got a tax rebate so we ordered ourselves some fudge online as a treat :)

Hugs to you @gingerbreadslice things are so hard right now and even more so with a little baby!

Well I’m chilling in bed. Just watched the nest. Got a hottie and dog and cat. Dh down in lounge on camp bed in isolation. One more day done. Going to read my book now. 😴

we had a lovely roast chicken dinner this afternoon with beautiful veggies delivered from the local greengrocer that under usual circumstances we wouldn't order from!

Watching The Trouble with Maggie Cole here. Going to have some chocolate