Garden

Almost finished - the bottom tier anyway! This has cost less than $100 so far. It is a good feeling doing it yourself, although my next door neighbour has given me advice, a bit of help and loaned me tools etc. It is amazing how tiring physical labour is, I am in bed at 8pm!

Just need some more pebbles, plants etc and will wait till I have more money to do the paving on the top left hand corner. Roll on spring.....

Did some therapeutic gardening today, lots of digging. Made a real mess, but no backing out now. I have tomorrow off work so will try to get more done then.

Headaches

I have had a heaache most days for a few weeks now, in varying degrees. I woke up with a baddy today and tried to get into my doctor but couldn't till Friday. I thought I might try to have a massage to relieve it but couldn't get an appointment for that either. One of the day spas I called suggested trying a physiotherapist and lo and behold I got an appointment in my lunch break and it was near work too. So went along and am glad I did, I know more now about why and where the pain comes from and have a few tools for avoiding and dealing with it. I will try to get in a massage every month or so too as I think that used to help when I was in Sydney.

My mortgage refinance went through and I got the money today. All ready to pay my car off now and get control of my finances again. Fingers crossed the court saga will be over soon.

I am going to Melbourne again for the weekend and a few days next week. That should help with the neck and head aches (no sitting in front of a PC for hours and hours). Can't wait, I am looking forward to visiting Heide Art Gallery and the NGV and to seeing Stu of course.

10 tips for depression

OK, I wrote this a week or so ago when feeling particularly pleased with myself and then decided not to post it. During this last week I got dumped and so now am heavily relying on these tips of mine to keep going ..... I am also finding eating vast amounts of chocolate covered licorice and rearranging the furniture in my living room helps too :-)

These are tools I use to avoid or at least alleviate depression.
1. Music. Spend time listening to music rather than watching TV
2. Exercise. This helps in 2 ways: apparently exercise creates endorphins that help improve your mood and also it is just good to get outside (fresh air, nature etc)
3. Spend time with people (and animals) who make me happy and/or laugh. Sometimes it is difficult or impossible to leave the house and socialise but it often helps bring about a mood change.
4. Talk about it. It's less stressful than trying to hide it from everyone.
5. Make things. I try to regularly garden and bake, I have recently tried knitting, painting and craft. It is a good feeling to achieve something, expresses my creativity and takes my mind off 'things'.
6. Look after myself. It is soooo hard, but I know I feel better when I eat well, exercise, have massages, manicures etc. Finances allowing, it's good to pamper oneself occasionally :-) It is a vicious cycle, your physical health affects your mental health and vice versa.
7. Mind over matter . Think positively, focus on what is good about life, what I have, enjoy and love, not what I want, hate and haven't got.
8. Do something for someone else. There is nothing like helping others to take your mind off your own problems. I have to admit I am preaching what I don't practice here - I know I should do some sort of volunteer work......
9. Pets. Having someone or something rely on you is an amazing feeling and it is lovely to come home to a 'family'. Animals offer unconditional love and are often very entertaining (see no. 3). Children and partners probably have the same affect but depression isn't really a good reason to have a child :-) Cats do it for me.
10. Go to a doctor, therapist, naturapath when needed; try herbs, medication, meditation, yoga, whatever helps, something will work.....

New Library

Had my first visit to our new offices today, 6 weeks out from the move. Apart from the usual stuff ups that arise because no-one included a librarian in the design process, the new library looks great. It's almost a shame to put books and clients in it ;-) I am looking forward to the move itself but the lead up is going to be busy, will put in a few weekends I think.....

What NY Resolutions?

I thought it was time to revisit my resolutions for 2007, now that it is August.

1. Get fit . This stalled when winter started, too cold! BUT I did join the gym last week and am currently nursing very sore muscles!
2. Get shot of my financial settlement fiasco. Don't even go there!
3. Get an article published. Possibly having a book review published shortly, does that count?
4. Paint - something worth hanging. Am working on that one......
5. Take up photography. See flickr.
6. Visit Vietnam and Singapore. Nup
7. Complete garden layout and lay new flooring. Garden is looking pretty good.
8. Learn to meditate. Nup
9. Be a good manager. I'm trying, sometimes I think I am sometimes I doubt it.
10. Stick to my budget. What budget?

Oh well, must remember not to make New Years Resolutions next year.....

What have I done then? Seen lots of good films, read many good books, painted my kitchen and some of my bedroom, lots in my garden, learnt all about web 2.0 tools, discovered some great new music, met a lovely boy, knitted 2 scarves, visited Melbourne and hasn't the year so far, flown?

Cordrazine- Crazy

I love this band and song. Heard they are recording again... Exploring You Tube for Learning 2.0.