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Cybergarden Open Day

298 replies

Nilgiri · 06/06/2012 22:16

Hi all.

We realised there were people on the MH threads asking what on earth the cybergarden was, and could they "join".

The short answer is, Yes, come in and have a Brew!

The cybergarden was started as a support thread for one person, and a bit of an escape from grim reality for those of us housebound one way or another. We just wanted somewhere peaceful and pleasant to relax and enjoy things we couldn't always do in real life.

It's generally a pretty positive place, although everyone needs a moan now and then. And we do lots of small, personal visualisations when the spirit moves us. It can get a bit whimsical, so if imaginary stuff makes your teeth itch we're probably not for you!

But if a large garden with companion animals and a sandpit for the children suits your needs, do come in and have a cuppa. The kettle's almost always on.

OP posts:
MrsMuddyPuddles · 27/06/2012 11:33

I'd heard of the mythical Tim Tam, and using it as a straw for tea, but hadn't thought of using another biscuit as an alternative!

greentreespurpleflowers · 27/06/2012 14:30

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Showtime · 27/06/2012 21:29

Apologies for dark typing in my last post, didn't intend it to happen and don't know how I did it.

Spoons, well, running out of spoons is just running out of energy, there's no way of stretching them and only a finite number, and someone who knows more than I do might do a better job of the answer.

Nilgiri · 27/06/2012 22:02

Spoon theory. Simple but brilliant description of life with little energy.

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greentreespurpleflowers · 28/06/2012 20:01

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Showtime · 30/06/2012 13:02

Actually suffering spoon shortage last couple of days, and guessing other original cybergardeners have same problem - at least we can understand each other!

A dull day today, and boring morning here, too wet to do any RL gardening, apart from getting in some roses before the next rain arrives and turns them nasty, so hope others are feeling more energetic and looking forward to something nice at the weekend.
Just pushed in some pasta, own tomato sauce etc. and about to have espresso (and think about mediterranean gardens and meals before usual Skype etc. socialising).

greentreespurpleflowers · 30/06/2012 19:02

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Showtime · 30/06/2012 22:05

Well, I can see you've been having a difficult time, but as you say, today's nearly over. Hope you have something good planned for tomorrow, after taking a whole five minutes out to renew meds in purse and possibly get one of those daily tablet-rationing containers sorted, because it's just too easy to forget to take ADs and similar. In fact, sometimes the only way I know I've had the meds is by checking to see if the daily container is empty or not...
I used to love Sundays, giving myself permission to have a true day of rest, and realising how much better I felt, so here's hoping you can have at least a few hours to unwind and recharge tomorrow. Brew and Biscuit Biscuit Biscuit now.

greentreespurpleflowers · 01/07/2012 08:45

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Showtime · 01/07/2012 17:34

Fine thanks greentrees, have learned to at least try to have a day off at the weekend, plus had a planned one hour nap which I'm hoping will keep me awake this evening - such a pest to be losing time.

Am sure GP will be happy that sleep aids are used every now and again, and with any luck it will be just for a bad patch - let's hope so.

Well, I'd seen the hammock, but not brave enough to try it out, so good for you and glad it's of use. Someone got some traditional old steamer chairs for the sunlounge, so it's enjoyable to lounge around and pretend we're on something similar to the Titanic, at least when the sun shines.

That beagle's been very quiet, wonder what he's up to?
(Mine once stole a joint which was cooling on neighbour's windowsill, well, nobody actually saw it happen and I'm afraid the (much larger) Alsatian pup got blamed for it, they were definitely scrapping over the remains when I went to investigate on a quiet Sunday afternoon).

RabbitsMakeBrownEggs · 02/07/2012 22:51

Peeking in. Really not well right now. Momentous things going on, very tiring and taxing on the emotional side, my health is sucking and I have so many things to try and sort that my little section of the garden has managed to get overgrown with vines and weeds.

The ex problem is hopefully over now, he took all his stuff and I am exploring basic living and learning some appreciation for some of the things we take for granted. Thankfully the world is full of wonderful people who have stepped in and been amazing, I am choosing to take this nasty outcome and see it only for the positives I have discovered, such as the fact that I am not alone and many people care for me.

Popped along to do a bit of gardening and to announce the impending real life delivery of a litter of guinea pigs, I have confirmed the pregnancy which is undeniable when you have a baby kicking your hand from inside the belly. The miracle of creation and the responsibility of parenting is what keeps my feet on the ground when life wants to sweep me over and carry me off, so this has been lovely to discover and look forward to.

Hope you are all well?

I live my life according to spoon theory, my arthritis and kidney disease make it impossible not to, and it helps with getting through the day. And as a major pill popper I can't recommend a weekly visual aid enough, prevents overdosing, which I have been stupid enough to do before, and also forgetting to take, which has some nasty side effects. I take morning, lunch, afternoon and bedtime tablets, so I can always monitor with a pill container.

Showtime · 03/07/2012 14:42

Hope your life continues to improve,Rabbits, and well done you for starting a new phase in your life.
Lovely to hear about Guinea Pigs, as never known any, and definitely something to look forward to. so I hope you'll keep us up to date.

Not to worry about keeping garden tidy, this is a cybergarden, so we don't have RL problems like that.
I've always assumed the fairies came round and sorted it overnight, having for years listened to my husband, who seemed to think we had a whole army who did necessary stuff round the house while we were in bed. I remembered this when I noticed other people were doing most of the chores here, so decided to ask them nicely to take over the washing up, vaccuuming etc to give us all a bit of a break while in garden.

Sorry you've been unwell, Rabbits, but I do understand, in fact am just on my way to put feet up for a while, and can really recommend it for an hour.

RabbitsMakeBrownEggs · 04/07/2012 09:49

Just to share it with you all:

Woooooooooooooooooo! My contracts to start the personal budget payments arrived today, so soon I should be getting payments into my account, they've allocated me £10285 a year! I am so so lucky to get this help I am actually crying right now. I've interviewed the lady I had in mind (for PA position), and she has accepted the job, and I am just sorting the paperwork now for that too. Waiting for some questions to be answered on how I can spend the money, and then I am good to go!

After the past few weeks, this is just the best possible thing to get through the post. Thank you to the powers that be for a lovely lovely social worker! And to all the other agencies that offer me support. :D

So, when the sky just seems grey and full of storm clouds, remember that there is always that moment where there is a chink in the clouds and the sun shines through, no matter how long it takes, JUST KEEP SWIMMING (thanks Dory).

:o :o :o

Nilgiri · 04/07/2012 09:53

Hurray hurray! Grin

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Showtime · 04/07/2012 10:14

Am really pleased for you Rabbits, and for the reminder that the sun can suddenly shine through, although unsure how one gets a personal budget - nobody ever mentioned this to me. Glad you have some good help, which is most important. Throughout many problems, there's so often been at least one really good, helpful individual who will help, and it is worth reminding oneself.

You have the lemonade Nilgiri, I need another espresso this morning. Cheers ladies! And best wishes to Lady Guinea Pig, does she have a name?

RabbitsMakeBrownEggs · 04/07/2012 10:44

It's in place of home care, to allow me to employ someone to help me so that my disabilities don't keep me from living normally. Mostly in place so I can make sure the kids are okay.

Madam Cavy is called Violet, her darling Husband is Dash.

Showtime · 04/07/2012 13:03

I'm assuming home care is only available for under-pension-age, but pleased you have it organised anyway, life's difficult enough just being disabled without being unable to afford help.
Violet of course, has no such problems, having found a helpful human to take care of the delivery and everything else required. Do you actually have any useful experience here, or do you plan to call the vet for help?

While you're answering nosey questions, why do rabbits make brown eggs? Never noticed mine making any eggs at all, but maybe things have changed for rabbits...

MrsMuddyPuddles · 04/07/2012 13:29

Glad you're doing better, rabbits, and have the help you need!

Showtime · 04/07/2012 21:33

Thanks Mrs.M, much appreciate the chocolate, and I no longer feel guilty for not sharing a piece with the beagle.

greentreespurpleflowers · 05/07/2012 06:09

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RabbitsMakeBrownEggs · 05/07/2012 08:39

LOL, Rabbits apparently make chocolate eggs, so said my two at Easter time whilst watching our rabbits hopefully. Had to explain to them not to eat the "eggs" laid by rabbits - I wouldn't have trusted my DD otherwise. It made me really laugh, so this is my username now.

I am just going to let Madam Pig DIY as guinea pigs tend to birth overnight and the babies are pretty well born furred and eyes open, ready to test the hay, so to speak. Just involving the vet if there are complications, my best friend was on the track to becoming a vet in America any way until her CP got in the way - she does check overs when she is here. I'll try get a picture of her to show you her huge belly, lol.

Basically what I've got I gotten through Adult Social Services, because I am struggling as a single mum with IJD and CKD, plus complex and enduring mental health problems. With the elderly they'd have the agency of carers employed by the Council to help them remain independent. Having had that previously, I didn't feel it met the needs I have with regards to helping with my children and keeping me active, rather than wiping my bum and giving me my meds, which I am still capable of doing myself.

So I can do a thing called Direct Payments, which takes the budget set out to employ someone at the agency, and puts it direct into an account for me to use to employ my own person. I can employ anyone then from a family member or friend, to someone I know and pick, to someone randomly through an ad in the paper or a database of carers held by the advocate company who are assisting me with the details of employment. They've sorted things out like employers insurance, contracts and payroll company, and I do the rest of the admin and interviewed a lady who has worked with my DD since she was two and used to babysit for me.

The only other thing I am waiting on is DLA and then I will be back on track to managing my life and actually enjoying it, rather than barely existing. Like today, I have a nasty infection brewing, it's impacting on my ability to do anything, I am so weak and shaky and sore, this means I get the help to ensure this doesn't affect the kids schooling or time at home, and means I can recover without the stress of trying to cook meals while vomiting and almost falling over or fainting, have the kids dropped off and picked up for school, hire a mobility scooter to get to appointments and back, afford to have my shopping done online and delivered etc.

I got it in place because I am likely going to need a nephrectomy in the next year or so, which is a major operation, and my DD starts school in September, has some behavioural issues and I need to keep family life on an even keel for her when some really big stuff is going down.

Showtime · 05/07/2012 12:59

Many thanks for the explanations, Rabbits, including for the laugh about rabbits and chocolate eggs. Yes, I can imagine them viewing the pets hopefully...
So pleased you've got some proper help while suffering, at least some of the stress can be eradicated, and as you say, you'll be better able to function well as a family even during the difficult times. It's good you already knew somebody who'd make a good helper, so important to have the right person in the house.
I have a super helper, who is unfortunately due in hospital for big op and slow convalescence, and can only manage because one of her friends will help out once a week until she's back, but it won't be the same - it can be such a close relationship if one's unwell.

greentreespurpleflowers · 06/07/2012 06:34

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Showtime · 06/07/2012 09:25

Many thanks for Brew greentrees, and glad to note there's a slight improvement. Mine's a large espresso, thanks, as need to wake up properly and consider moving car to higher ground, photo albums rescued, etc according to local tv which I switched on when Radio 4 went off air ages ago. Not sure where to go if water comes over sill this time, but no doubt I'll survive. Hope everyone else is safe from all the rain.

MrsMuddyPuddles · 06/07/2012 11:49

Thanks for the Brew

I've my first councelling apt in a few weeks, and was surprised at how frightening I found the prospect... I've had councelling in the past, so it shouldn't have been disturbing, but... I guess I know I've got my issues to face and am a bit scared of doing so all at once.

This trick didn't work for me IRL thing fell apart and I dropped it into my tea but it's loveley in here :o