Saw the psychologist again, and was almost embarrassed to report that I’m feeling much better. I’m beginning to deal with stress as a separate entity. Previously, I think that I have seen stress, and everything associated with it as essentially inevitable. But by talking about stress, I’m beginning to recognise that there are occasions when stress definitely rears its ugly head, but can be told to sit down and behave.
Early days, I guess, but happy to be making progress …
Review
Of course, I would like an iPad. I wonder if Steve Jobs, who may well be around the same age as myself, is responding to the needs of those of us who find that failing eyesight and small screens don’t go well together.
I’m meeting with the psychologist weekly – definitely gaining insight – but currently unsure how it’s all going to translate into action …
Review
Not sure why things have to change …
Review
At work, we’ve recently moved into offices in a newly refurbished corridor. There is, conveniently, a gents’ loo at one end of the corridor. It’s eco friendly – the light comes on as you enter, and, presumably, switches off when it thinks that you’ve gone.
There is a kind of vestibule as you go in. You go through one door into an area the size of a cupboard, then through another door into the room proper. The sensor which detects your presence is located in this vestibule. Which is nice – by the time you get to where you need to be, the lights are on.
There is a snag, however. If, for any reason, you spend more than five minutes in the loo (I’m told), the lights go off. The sensor is on the other side of the inner door, so it doesn’t know that you are there. There is no other source of light …
Review
After two days’ extended holiday, East Lothian schools are back to-day. Hurrah! mostly. Working from home yesterday wasn’t easy – while I’m working, I try not to think about issues pertaining to home, and vice versa – but dealing with both as an ongoing reality had my brain reeling.
I’m seeing a psychologist. I think that she’s going to recommend a course of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). I’m hoping that it’s going to help …
Review
Which I thought meant New Year’s Eve, and takes place this year in 2009, but there is a poster in our local Co-op proclaiming Hogmanay 2010.
For pedantry’s sake (and I could be wrong), let me wish you all a great Hogmanay (2009), and a Happy New Year (2010) …
Rant
I’m making an effort these days to contribute to the excellent blipFoto website. To-day’s blip may look sort of familiar to anyone who remembers the Make Poverty History rally in Edinburgh. And if you look back through my blips you may catch glimpses of our feline adoptees …
Journal
There were originally two goldfish, called “Alfred”, and “The Cakes” – my father’s family are from the south of England, where a certain culinary disaster involving the king of Wessex is well remembered. Additionally, Alfred was pure gold, while The Cakes had some black splodges …
Response
Good point, Agatha – I have a vivid childhood memory of a goldfish called “The Cakes” …
Uncategorized
Or Bubble and Squeak, or, the latest idea, Cagney and Lacey. Over this weekend, we’ve been visiting Lothian Cat Rescue, with a view to replacing ‘the cat’, who still visits, by the way … As ever, things don’t always work out the way you expect, and we find ourselves the proud owners of two cats, who do have given names, but for whom I’d like to choose stage names. I’m not allowed to call them Palkia and Dialga (because they fight), and perhaps Spitfire and Hurricane is a bit over the top.
They have contrasting characters – Cagney (for now) has been hyperactively exploring the house, while Lacey has been hiding – I guess that we have to give them time to get to know us …
Journal