It’s just really not me though @SmilingGecko  i mean I don’t put in a whole heap of effort, but like at home I live in daggy oversized tshirts and bike shorts- that’s my everyday clothes. But when I leave the house I wouldn’t wear that. I’ll wear denim shorts and a tshirt. Well or unwell that’s just who I am.  sorry I don’t know what I am trying to say ... View more

These are my worry stones that I made today. They have a swirl pattern on the other side      ... View more

Spent the afternoon doing clay creations with D @Snowie  we used some air dry clay first. Had some for ages wanting to play with it, so finally getting around to it. I seen this dice vase online earlier today. It was 3 dice stacked and then some red Lego roses inside it. Found them online but super expensive, so I made one! Have to wait for it to dry and then put it together, so hopefully it will turn out. D didn’t like the air dry clay, was a bit messy and she couldn’t get it right. So once I finished we pulled the polymer clay out. I made a heap of worry stones and D made a Mickey Mouse head and then a couple of worry stones. Gotta cook them now.  and need to cook dinner now too! ... View more

That’s good that your mil has someone to care for her @Snowie  not so much pressure on you and hubby yeah.   yeah that’s what I plan to do. I think we have 3 days in the low 40s not nice at all. May stay down stairs for some of it too.  yeah I’ve put most things away. But I have a few piles and bits and pieces that I need to do deal with.  and then I have D complaining that she is bored already.  ... View more

@Ru-bee  I’ve heard bits and pieces that things are going to change, which feels scary and daunting. I know yall say change is good…. But nope. Not for me. Just scary. When will we all find out about it?   oh no I’m glad that your dad was able to save the chicken! Nice that you had a good break from the sounds of it.  Christmas wasn’t great. We usually have Christmas lunch at our house, my bro, sil and family come. But cause we were overseas last yr, ex asked for Christmas lunch which I said ok ( which he tried to change and stuff me around in the days before but I said no cause we had already made plans) so we planned for Christmas lunch at ours on Boxing Day. D was going to her fathers mid morning, so bro and sil asked us around early morning to do presents. It felt a bit sus when they asked… maybe a week before. But we went ( cause they NEVER ask us around), kids all did presents and then sil was like … ‘well thanks for coming around, won’t be as stressed tomorrow’. They weren’t coming around!! They were going away on the 27th and needed all day to pack (????) I was so angry @Ru-bee we host every year. We buy everything every year. Like turkey, chickens, ham,  vegs, pav, trifle, chris pudding and all the trimmings. I even decided to change our table decor and bought all new stuff and they knew they weren’t going to come ( I said to mum the week before when they asked us around for Christmas morning that I bet they aren’t coming for Boxing Day, but mum was like nah, they’ll come). I had to drop D at her fathers and mum and I were going to stay a bit longer until they went to her family for lunch, but I didn’t go back. Just went home. If there was a bottle shop open I would of stopped to get something and I don’t even drink. Mum and I had planned to go to the combined churches free community Christmas lunch. But we didn’t. We just stay home. Alone. Did nothing. Boxing Day it was just the 3 of us. We had dinner instead of lunch, went and checked the Boxing Day sales. So much food. And we were leaving on the 29 the for our cruise, so a lot just went in the bin. A really nice ham, all to waste. I’m angry still if you can’t tell. It’s mostly her. The stuff that she posts online, aiming at us. She’s putting a wedge between us all. Blames us.  anyways. That was Christmas. New years was on the cruise in port Hobart, on the bay watching the 9pm and midnight fireworks. We had the best view. They were handing out cute little keep cups with champagne and cute little food tapers and Mickey and the gang were dancing on the deck.  D has learnt from most of our overseas trips that you need to nearly double the price of everything… for the UK, EU, Disney. But places like India, Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia, it’s totally different. Like she found a 500 Thai baht, but that’s $23au only country I have visited and didn’t save some $$$. From was Canada, think I have a few coins.  ... View more

Hey @Snowie  glad your mil is coming home today. Does she live far from you?am sure it will be nicer to visit at home instead of the hospital.  but of running around for you today and later in the week then.  we are in for a heat wave in the coming days. Not looking forward to that! Not too bad today though.  I’ve been in my room most of the day. Slowly tidying and putting things away. Put my new Disney ears up.  thanks hon. I didn’t sleep well again last night.  ... View more

I’d appreciate that thanks @Ru-bee  do your hours change much throughout the year?  and sorry i didn’t ask…. Did you have a nice Christmas/ny time off?  I’ve just been working on a new shadow box. I have a travel memory box and decided to make one just for our Disney trips, so made some designs with my cricut today to put on the glass. Pulled out all the money I had in my travel box which D was excited to sort through and count. She thought I was rich but I explained the exchange rate… especially for third world countries lol not so rich in aud  ... View more

Post holiday blues plus a whole heap of mh issues thrown on top eh @Snowie    im glad your mil is getting better and possible home time. That’s good news .   Oh that’s fun! What kind of car? Drove mine today for the first time in a week and it felt a little weird.  you got much on this week? ... View more

Hey @Snowie  it’s definitely been nice being back in my own bed. But I haven’t really been sleeping well though. Been having alot of back pain and waking in the early hours feeling headachy from what I think is clenching my jaw in my sleep. I should probably find my mouth guard. Nightmares too. But D has sure been catching up on sleep! Had to wake her this morning to get up and go do groceries.  how r u? ... View more

I think somewhere down inside there’s this tiny part that went into the new year hoping that 2026 will be better @Ru-bee  that I’d arrive back at port and things would be different . But I know things don’t work like that.  I want things to be different. I desperately want to be better. To be well. Able to function in life. I’m so terribly over this existence. But I don’t know how. Nothing seems to help. It’s just constant torture.  im not really sure to be honest. Not feeling so terrible alone and unwanted? Checking in ... View more

It’s Monday today. The first Monday of 2026. The beginning of the first full week of the year. And I hate it already. Yeah I just got of an amazing cruise, and yes I had a good time, but reality has hit hard today. Did the groceries this morning, picked up my meds this morning, visit from my SW this afternoon and all the doom and gloom is weighing heavy.  trauma anniversary fast approaching with my SW going on leave as of Wednesday for a week and still no psychologist. Feel like I am spending so much time at the moment in flight response, which is really hard while trying to parent. I need support.  ... View more

Yeah every day was a huge day on the cruise @Snowie  there was an app, or you could get a paper copy, of the daily schedule. We were constantly running from activity to activity. Character meet and greets were big on the agenda, but frustratingly the wait was often 1hr+. They really needed to limit it to one meet and greets per character. The family that we sat with for our dinners had gone 5x to some characters, and we seen people do a meet and greet and then get back in the end of the line. But we also did some learn to draw classes, there was nearly always a movie of some kind on in the multiple cinemas. There was trivia, a baby crawling race! (lol) D spent a bit of time in the pools, I actually didn’t get in the pools. There was 3 big shows that we went to, we seen Adam Dean, a magician, he was amazing! We seen the frozen musical show and then the last night was the show that has been running for over 20 yrs, it was so good!!! Weren’t allowed to take any photos at the shows. the food was amazing. Breakfast and lunch were a buffet with so much to chose from. I pretty much picked some safe foods and stuck to that every time. Dinner was a bit of a mixed experience. One night mum and I booked into a really nice restaurant, it was an amazing experience, food utterly delicious, service amazing. We went to a couple of our dining reservations thats were it was a mixed experience. Animators palate was fun, we all drew a character and while eating, animators behind the scenes turned our drawings into animations which they put up on the scenes. We then got our drawings back with a gold sticker saying official Disney animator. Dinner was always 4-5 courses! There was pizza, burgers, chips, ice cream, fruit and cookies and goodness knows what, on tap most of the day. I really struggle a couple of days in with the amount of food, always felt like I was eating, felt overwhelming, my body didn’t like it and I hated how I felt. I craved a simple cheese sandwich.  The top deck parties were heaps fun. Saul away, pirate night and New Year’s Eve. It felt pretty surreal being out in the middle of the ocean having a party, music blaring and no one would hear us.  oh our door!   we loved doing laps of the decks and looking at everyone’s doors, leaving pixie dust gifts and magnets. We got left some cool stuff in our pocket too.  @Jynx @Eve7 @tyme @rav3n @AuntGlow @Ru-bee  what’s happening with your mum? Only if you want to share…  ... View more

Sorry about your mil @Snowie  that must be hard to hear and accept.  sorry your head isn’t in a good place either. I understand. D slept 15hrs last night! I didn’t sleep the best. Lots of aches and pains. Slow moving today but made a start on unpacking and putting things away. I’m still headachy and sore.   house sitters went fine. We actually only ended up seeing them the once. The day before we left they came to meet us and we showed them around and all. We left earlish the next day, so didn’t see them. And the. They left early yesterday cause they were driving back up north. House was nice and clean. They even stripped the beds they used, which was good, last lot didn’t do that. Dog and cat was happy.  how are you doing today? Up to much? ... View more

Hey @Snowie   sorry that things are rough at the moment, especially about your mil. She has been unwell on and off I think?   we are home now. Got back into port (edited by mod) at 6am and off the ship by 8:30. Taxi, train, uber and home by 10am. I’ve had 2 naps! I’m so tired. D went to her father’s not long after we got home. She was in tears last night, sobbing that it was all over.  ... View more

Hey @Snowie  how are you doing?? ... View more

Hey @Snowie @Eve7  happy new year to you both. Hope that however you rang in the new year was ok.  D and I managed to stay up until midnight and attended the midnight party on top deck with Mickey and all the crew. I have then suffered the consequences of that late night the last 2 days. I have been utterly exhausted. My mh and body issues have been a real struggle but trying not to get too bogged down in it while still on the cruise. Will probably just crash when we get home tomorrow.   We are in Eden today. Caught the shuttle bus into town and had a wander and now D and I are back on board having some lunch. Mums making her way back shortly.  I totally forgot that D is supposed to to be at her fathers tomorrow morning. We can disembark from 8am. But won’t be home until around midday. Hopefully he is ok with that or a full day tomorrow.  ... View more

The beach sounds nice @Eve7  its cloudy here and we chose to sit up top on the double decker bus and it’s rather chilly!   D had a swim yesterday on board. Made some friends and went down the water slide! She was really brave.  ... View more

Hey @Eve7 @Snowie    We are in Hobart today and just starting a hop on hop off tour. The cruise ahead been so good, so much to see and do and experience…. But my fatigue is frustrating me a lot. Don’t want to miss out on anything but need rest.  we had an unplanned stop at Eden on the way to Hobart. Medical evacuation. But they made up time and we still got to Hobart on time.   was very surreal experience last night for the pirate night being out in the middle of the pitch black ocean and having fire works!  Hope you are both ok ... View more

Hey dear @Snowie    Today has been so busy! But we are now just sailing out of Sydney harbor and under the bridge! It’s such a nice day. I’ve not really had the chance to stop until now!        I’ll pop on and say hi when we are in Hobart for the day. Please be kind to yourself x ... View more

Hey @Snowie    today has been busy! I am tired. Exhausted. I need a good rest before we go!   yep, doing last minute stuff today. House sitters came by this morning, they were so lovely and fun! Then we were out the door and we went to the circus/acrobatic/magic show of Alice in wonderland. It was a 45min drive away. And we had already purchased these tickets before we booked the cruise and they weren’t cheap. It was such an amazing show! People are so clever.         it’s a shame I can’t share videos!   then back home to more packing and cleaning up. I’m so tired! Mum was sick yesterday. Thankfully better today, just a bit drained.  how are you today?? ... View more

I’m so tired. Exhausted. Mentally drained    gonna crawl into bed where I’m safe   enjoy your break Eve. hope your ok Snowie   ... View more

Hey @Eve7  we leave Monday!  its actually cold here today. I went to the shops in jeans ... View more

Good morning @Snowie  dear    just home from the shops. Wasn’t too crowded thankfully. I got some new shorts for the cruise. I absolutely hate shopping for clothes, a lot of ED struggles and it didn’t help today with my mum and D following me around. I snapped at mum I don’t enjoy shopping with others. I prefer to arrange to just meet up in 2hrs time or whatever.  im so glad your kids got a kick out of unwrapping their gifts!  D found out about the cruise this morning. She really isn’t one for finding out about surprises I’ve decided. Her response was very underwhelming! And then we had a melt down with tears. She didn’t want to go,  what about sea monster? What about the titanic? What if it’s really rough. So lots of talking, reassurance, showing her pictures of the ship etc. and now I think she is ok and getting excited! The video I took of her finding out isn’t even worthy of showing!  So now we have our suitcases out and we can start packing! Mum wanted her medium size suitcase…. I smugly said…. What if your daughter kinda buys too much merchandise? so we are all taking our larger cases!  how are you today? What are you up to?     ... View more

Yeah our elf goes on the night of the 23rd so when D wakes on Christmas Eve morning she has a note from the elf…. Gone back to Santa, it’s been fun, have a good year, be kind etc etc @Chasingsunsets  ... View more

Always glad to put that elf away on the night of the 23rd. She goes into a red fabric bag and gets sew up. No sneaky peeking if it gets found.  ... View more

Hey @Snowie    It really is eh.  the whole days has been pretty crappy. I spent the whole afternoon on the couch doom scrolling and watching crappy tv. D was at her fathers for 4hrs. Poor excuse of a father. He asks to her have her today and that’s all he spends with her. I take D to the shops to buy her father a present and he does the same… I got a container of rocks  if there was a bottle shop open today I would of stopped and got a drink…. And I don't drink…. Instead I’ve had a couple of bottles of nob alcoholic grape juice.  I haven’t told D yet. Haven’t told her that they aren’t coming tomorrow for Christmas lunch. She’s already said that she can’t wait to play a couple of new games she got with them. I’ll tell her after we tell her about the cruise… might soften the blow a bit.  only plus…. No pressure to have lunch… we could do dinner and that way we… or I… can go to the Boxing Day sales. Of course need to go get a new pair of PA pjs, not that I need a new pair… but sales!  how was your day hon? Please tell me. Did the kids like their wrapped gifts? My brother in tassie did not appreciate how difficult it was to unwrap his presents lol but he is a massive grinch ... View more

Yeah. I’ve spent the afternoon laying on the couch doom scrolling @Captain24    D’s father asked to have her for the day today (I said ok cause we were overseas last year). He bought her home after 4hrs.  toast for dinner.., if I can be bothered    so yeah, family can be annoying but at least you get to celebrate together  ... View more

Nah my days been fairly shit. My brother and Sil ruined Christmas for us @Captain24  ... View more

It’s nice that you at least get to spend time with your family captain ... View more