Category: Mental Health

CCChhh Chh Chh Ch Changes

Published on by The Domesticated Ms HemsworthLeave a comment

Since my last blog update I have come to the realisation that I am actually closer to 5o than I am to 40 now and Ive been blogging for close to 10 years.

Yesterday on her sometimes weekly Wine and Whine Live at 5 update Mrs Woog stated that she had attended a Bloggers Brunch and that the landscape of Bloggery has changed. Now out there, Bloggers are no longer Bloggers, and its not the written word that sells the blog but the ability to be STUNNING and take an exceptional photo of your food, your home, your immaculately dressed person your IMMACULATE EVERYTHING, and post it on INSTA for all to see.

Well Im not the best Insta person. And I still enjoy a good sit down and write and Ive noticed in the last few weeks, that I gain followers daily, and Ive not done a bloody thing!

So Im not immaculate, I am a 46 year old suburban mum of two teens and I navigate the world somedays in my PJs. I do love a decent pair of Peter Alexanders ( THEY HAVE POCKETS) and I still wouldn’t be seen dead in them on a dash down the street to grab the forgotten milk, but I have been known to don the dressing gown and do the last minute dash to chase the bus of a morning ( purely because I can not be arsed doing the hour round trip to get one child across the other side of the lake knowing the other child will sleep through it all and I will have to chase him once the first drop off is done).

Im messy, I have a messy mind at times, I have two titanium knees now, that I didn’t have when I first started blogging and I don’t have small children anymore, Ive got children who are bigger than me. I am now the short fat one in the family. me at 46 2

So the last two and a bit years have been fairly horrific really . Probably why I haven’t written much because if you whinge about it on the web then its real. And the reality has been sucky. Certainly nothing that you want to see on the beautiful feeds in the Insta world.

It began with a reluctant business explosion basically on the dawn of my first knee replacement that IMPLODED with such gravity that it threw me into an horrific head space that wasn’t helpful at all for a  major surgery recovery and the waves they just kept crashing.

My Dad had a stroke and was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, my mother in law entered end stage dementia and languished in pain and somewhere in between reality and death for over two weeks in hospital and once we thought the world was starting to spin on its correct axis again my Aunty was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer and we had to say our goodbyes. So yeah. Blogging wasn’t really up there on my radar as I didn’t have much pretty to add to the world. I might add that MOST of this occurred while I was myself in hospital with my first knee replacement.

Im now entering approximately my 8th month with my second knee replacement and life is kind of sort of maybe starting to achieve some sort of balance. The fog of pain has lifted. the grief from the sadness and loss is still there some days and raw. Im now dealing with my sister and her mess but Ive managed to successfully distance myself emotionally from this as far as I can as its something that I really don’t know if at this stage I have the strength to deal with effectively. My priorities have changed with my perspective.

My priorities are my immediate family.  My husband and my two children and ME. I am a priority and I DO COUNT. And Im ready to show my voice again.

So people in the blogosphere.. what is it you need. Life reality and all its bits? Recipes and daily anecdotes of how to navigate the world successfully, how to fall and get back up?

Are you the same as me? Closer to half a century now ( I had a meltdown when I turned 25..Im trying to build myself up that 50 is going to be great) . The reality of me is this. I have found far too much weight has discovered my bottom during my surgical recovery. Life is slow, and forcefully so as I may have two titanium knees, but I also now have feet and ankles full of Osteoarthritis and this slows me down most days.

I still love a good coffee and Ive finally convinced the OH to bend and get me a Nespresso Creatista ( and before you jump on me for adding pods to the world I DO RECYCLE THEM SO THERE). We now own 6 wonderful chickens, who Im am convinced have SAVED me just as much as we saved them. They are funny, courageous and loving. They are a joy to watch and provide me with gifts of eggs for my breakfast. And every day with them is a gift. They have taught me I can do things I thought previously incapable and for that I am grateful. They have made me tackle our back steps and yard. They boss about the dog and they do think they run the place and I love them. If you are in a mental fog – my best advice if grab yourself a couple of chickens. Rescue some girls and the love will enter your hearts.

Im getting into cooking and weekly I have decided to produce little muffins for my little muffin ( well she’s not so little she’s on the edge of 17 and has to dash to early starts at school two days a week with her Chai to go and a nourishing Mummy Muffin). Do you want me to post my weekly muffin recipe? No mixing appliances involved as a muffin needs to be wooden spooned ?

Tell me.. give me feedback. Let me know you’re listening..

Yours Always

Ms Hemsworth

 

40 Something something….

Published on by The Domesticated Ms Hemsworth2 Comments

I’ve realised this week that when I took a time out to write 5 years ago ( now 7), I actually didn’t know it back then, but I was about to perform a vanishing act.

7 Years ago I was still in my 30’s and full of all the optimism and infallibility that this brings. I had two under teenage children, who I could literally just say – we are doing this or we are going there and they couldn’t and wouldn’t complain. Fast forward… Im now closer to 50 this year ( better start planning THAT one – 4 years to do it), I have teenagers, who sleep, eat and complain, and I am lost. Invisible. And lonely.

Television shows like Grace and Frankie, hit my reality button right in the feels. You know the episode where the girls go to a convenience store to make a purchase and the guy on the checkout overlooks them for the cute busty twenty something? And they realise they have this superpower of invisibility? Yeah well there is that…sometimes its hilarious , and sometimes its just plain sad…. Last night the first wives club was on, and the scene where the remaining wives get the letter from Cynthia… who seemed to have everything but pinpointed loneliness as to why she jumped? Yeah that. Ive been there. I can still get there, and its taken hard work, tears and self realisation to be able to joke about it and get on with life. And Im surrounded by people who currently have villages, but feel so lonely and empty … and sometimes I do not know what to do or how to help them, because Ive been there and its hard, so damned hard to ask for help and admit that theres this great black arsed hole wanting to swallow you down.

So, heres my admission.

I am the wife of a weekend worker. 16 hours, 3 days a week, Friday to Sunday. Usually encompassing several hours of planning at home on Wednesday and Thursday evenings that includes swearing, ranting at computer screens and occasional phone calls during “our weekend” time from work and trips back to work.

Mondays are fairly much written off. Too exhausted to do anything, go anywhere. If we plan to go on holidays, it don’t happen till a Tuesday, cause he don’t even wanna drive a car. And I feel guilty if I plan or do anything.

For the last three years we have done nothing on our weekends, but work around and on our home. Or ferry me to appointments, including, physio, rehab, specialists and hospitals. Thats what my life has become. Im only JUST NOW, starting to emerge again. And HOLY SHIT its scary.

Ive realised, that I don’t know how to shop, unless its for something in particular and then its in and out.

I don’t know how to socialise with other people, it always feels like the wrong thing spills out of my mouth inappropriately.

Ive realised, I alienate people as I don’t know how to really people anymore.

Ive realised, that as the lovely young man who tried to convert me to his faith at the door just said, Saturday is for relaxing so he wont take my time… I don’t know how to relax anymore. I can’t even sit still long enough for a massage or a facial. And even though I get my nails done monthly, the thought of sitting there for the hour with someone touching my hands and all the chatter going on scares the bejeezus out of me. Every fricking time, Im sooooo out of my comfort bubble.

Today, Id love to go to the markets. Id love to wander. Id love to have a girlfriend I could call to say do you want to come with. But I don’t have anyone at present to come with, as we are all in different stages and zones.

Ive never been good at making friends, I see this reflected in my children. It also scares me.

I totally stepped out of my comfort zone on Thursday. I went to a ladies networking function. I don’t think I networked very well, as Ive forgotten how ( Im more an observer these days). But I did walk away with a little more confidence, to blat on my blog again. I also walked away with a gorgeous scarf, thanks to popping some pink feathers on my head you can find Vicki-Jayne here ( hart for your home). And to top it off I won first prize in the raffle, raising funds for Destiny Haven, an amazing charity empowering women.

The featured image for this blog is from our last family getaway. Three years ago. Pre surgery, pre weight gain, pre everything. So yep its been that long since my family actually did something together.

The prize I won is a retreat for two nights midweek to Valley View Lodge at Eaglereach Resort. And we are going, as a family. No you tube allowed. Its not going to happen till later in the year, but it is going to happen. Grumping teenagers or not.

Now… off to go to the markets after I hang the washing. Probably with myself as company. If you see me, say hello.

Ms Hemsworth 

 

 

A Brief Interlude

Published on by The Domesticated Ms HemsworthLeave a comment

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So if you are a regular follower of this page and group – you will know by now that this time last week – I was officially DAY ONE after surgery – Total Knee Replacement of my Right Knee. Which if you don’t understand or don’t know anyone who has had this kind of surgeries is possibly one of the most agonisingly painful things that you can have done. So much so they say if you need two done – get them done together. AND I was lined up for that and IM SO GLAD my surgeon suggested we see how this goes and wait to do the left ( which was misbehaving badly due to the superior misbehaviour of the right).

Now I don’t like to be uninformed when I do homework in regard to such things so I researched this surgery very carefully and have been through 12 months of drug trials and painful injections, meniscal removal and physio before I lined myself up for this. I also chatted to people who had been through this and similar surgeries who assured me the outcome is worth it and that they suffered pain controllable by panadols.  Ive joined Facebook support groups and I THOUGHT I WAS PREPARED.

Well short and sweet HELL NO. Nothing – but NOTHING could prepare me for the pain but euphoria of night one ( knowing it was done finally) and then day one after surgery. Appetite vanished and the physio came to visit with various instruments of torture. And we discovered my Femoral Block – inserted to allow me to be up and walking by that day was not working as it should. Which was why I was pushing my pain button like a …. I could not even stand the sheets to be on my skin. They ice packed me – I begged for it to be removed after about 2 minutes, they moved me to bathe me – I screamed in agony. The started to feed me pain killers and Nurofen on an empty tummy – the nausea and the wind started to build. Wednesday morning I was in agony and attached to a little plastic bag every five seconds. Incredibly hard to do – as I had eaten nothing. And it hurt it hurt so badly..

They managed to get pain killers into me via injection. I managed to hobble to the shower sit on a shower chair and cry my eyes out while I washed off the vomit. It settled when they gave me an injection to stop the nausea and then the great wind commenced. So they gave me a laxative. To cure the wind.

It did not cure the wind for the next 48 hours. Sheer explosive hell. I swear if you noticed an earthquake again in Newcastle it was me. Im sorry. But I tell you – the quickest way to get a knee surgery patient out of bed – is to feed them a laxative. By the next morning – I was quite mobile and they made me walk to the patient lounge for a cup of tea (  I was dehydrated, I was in agony, I had bruised my hands on the Zimmer Frame and my ass on the toilet seat but I was walking)

Then the bad news began to infiltrate my protective bubble – bad news I can not currently extend on but lets just say – IT WAS NO FUN. The feelings of uselessness are overwhelming when you are hit with wave upon wave of bad news and there is NOTHING – NOTHING at all you can do.

So I am home now, I am getting back into good eating habits. Ive let a few old comforts in – but I kinda figure with my intense fast for about 5 days I can allow a few treats at the moment. And I have in the archives a few recipes and in the freezer many meals pre prepared ( thank god)..

Eventually I will share everything else that happened last week – but its stuff Im dealing with and others are dealing with so for privacy I will remain silent at this stage. I will have some recipes up soon. So thank you all for your support and love and sharing on the group page xoxo

 

 

The Night before the Night Before

Published on by The Domesticated Ms Hemsworth1 Comment
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An arctic blast has hit the East Coast of Australia – last year when this happened we went South down Canberra way to go a visiting with good friends and to culturalise the children ( I know thats not a word – I made it up and its mine now). We went to the National Gallery and Questacon and The Australian War Memorial and had an amazing time staying right in the heart of Canberra.

We discovered on our last night there that we happened to be just around the corner from the BEST STEAKS I have ever eaten and also discovered that if you are a keen foodie that The Berra is a great place to visit and enjoy.

This year however – with school holidays one week away I find myself preparing for a total replacement of my right knee. So we will not be going anywhere to enjoy the Wintery-ness that the country is currently serving up. Instead Im at home with A Rich Lamb Shank Curry slow roasting in the oven and my dressing gown on with the fire roaring and the air conditioner set to heat because its so BLOODY COLD!!!

I met Ms N Corner at Speers Point Farmers Markets today – as we have gotten into the habit of doing every second Saturday. Me with my granny trolley in tow, her freshly sweaty from the gym. But today she made a BIG MISTAKE – because Sweaty and ICY COLD WIND BLASTING OFF THE LAKE – was not wise. So we did what we needed and popped back to my place for a nice hot coffee and she gave me some of her delicious NON PEANUT BUTTER CUPS – Which Im sure if I convince her she will guest blog or at least link us up. They are refined sugar free – but they do contain Rice Malt Syrup – so they are not essentially Keto but they will suit the Low Fodmaps and intolerants out there and they PASSED the Peanut Butter Cup Radar of Little Miss M. Who scoffed one down and pronounced them DELICIOUS… Now to hide them so they are still here when I get home from hospital or – do I take them in my bag?? What to do??

I guess the point of this long winded post is to say – that Monday – I will be out of contact for a while – possibly till Tuesday. Surgery is set – Im third on the list and apparently they will have my new knee up and out of bed by Monday afternoon.

I have a stash of recipes for you to keep you entertained – Im trying to pop them into the draft section because obviously scheduling doesn’t work and will get them off too you one a week.

Over my convalescence I wont be in the kitchen much instead I will bring you some handy hints and tips and some link backs to where I’ve found the best purchases in the last 12 months since my kitchen exploded and we started renovating. We have discovered that we are quite exceptional making the best of small spaces and limited budgets.

So until tomorrow when you get your shank recipe.. Thats me…

Off to wallow in probably what will be my last bath in my new tub for the next 12 weeks ( the weather will be warm again by then)..

Much Love and Warm Hugs xoxo Ms H

Laughter is the Best Medicine

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I am lucky. I am blessed. I have quite the quirky collection of the most gorgeous friends. We don’t live in each others pockets but when ever assistance or laughter is needed we are there.

I do have a failing of being busy all the time and sometimes I feel I can be a terrible friend. But I have found in the last few days I do have a crowd of wonderful supportive women around me who care and will jump in and help me out when Im stressed or down. They are the best.

Its not long now till the big day of knee replacement arrives and Ive been luck enough to receive a couple of wonderful care packages from two of my far away friends up the coast. Lets call them the Onas… A gorgeous colouring book full of cats and a set of lovely pencils arrived the other week pre surgery delay from one Ona.. Its in the hospital bag ready to go. because – she said when you’re in the pain and on the drugs reading wont make any sense. And then the postie knocked at the door again. Some lovely hand cream and a pretty perfume package so I can keep smelling lovely in hospital from Ona further up the coast. Its in the bag too. Thank you girls xoxo Love you both to death.

And now to K & L, who rallied to my aid and brain stormed with me the other day, even with me with my wet hair in a turban and looking like something the cat coughed up after a night of no sleep. Brainstorm, coffee and laughter. And the boost I needed to keep going. And not throw it all away. The push I needed to change evolve and keep going when I was at the lowest of low points. The love the laughter the direction. I can not thank these girls enough. To drop what they were doing and come to assist me. The love is overwhelming.

Yesterday I was on a retail mission, I needed retail therapy and a phone call came in. Instantly that phone call became a coffee date filled with laughter and retail therapy. Ive been so snowed under with renovations and business building Id almost forgotten what the outside world looked like. This was another K in my life. AND it was the best medicine. I really needed that yesterday. I could have stayed in and wrapped myself in my heated blanket but Im so glad I went out and laughed and laughed and shopped. And my mission – to find a new stool for the bathroom? COMPLETE! as well as a new dress for a formal event I need to find and attend.

To N – In Melbourne. You have been in my life for so many years now, almost too m any to count. You have come to my rescue with your advice and support. Even with the crazy that constantly circulates in your super busy life you always always have the time and the energy to make me laugh. Your support and your advice I can not put a value on. Your friendship means the world xoxo

The phone calls, the messages the love and the support that I have received in the last couple of days are what have kept me moving forward . What has kept me strong. Today with the rain Im feeling a low coming. But the idea is not to dwell but to keep moving slowly forward. Today Im going to breathe and watch a movie. Im going to take some down time with my children.

Today I move further forward and I say thank you to  my beautiful friends xoxo

 

If you don’t eat Carbs – What do you eat?

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Life does not revolve around carbs. Especially int he amount consumed in todays society. Sure the body needs them to generate energy – but excessive over consumption and not enough movement can only lead to one thing. Your body will store it as FAT around your organs. And that is the fat that causes disease. That is what is slowly killing us.

One of the questions I get now days ( along with OH MY GOSH Look at how much weight you’ve lost  – how ?) when people find out I eat all the bacon is YOU DON’T EAT CARBS?? What do you eat…

Today I thought Id tell you my day on a plate. Ive been on the hop since 6.30am when I got up and chased my children out of bed to go to school ( one stayed home sick – the other lost his sports shirt and caused chaos.) So

6.30am Cup Of Tea with a couple of drops of milk ( sorry can’t drink it without milk can’t do it with cream)  Apparently is ZERO carbs. ( remember I wave the milk bottle over it)

8.15am and children are usually out the door. Sometimes Im hungry – today I was on the hop and wasn’t hungry – but hubby knew I would eat bad things if left to my own devices

He made me my BPC to go – while I knocked us up a bacon and egg omelette to share .

Consisting of 1 rasher of streaky bacon and 3 eggs – with 30 grams of colby cheese.

BPC -Zero Carbs

My half of an omelette  0.6 g Carb

At 12.30pm I had a hard boiled egg and a cup of lavender and mint tea  – again zero carbs

I then had 30 grams of Colby Cheese – Zero carbs.

For dinner at 6.15pm I had a bowl of my De-carbed Minestrone Soup 11.1 g Carb

Fat Head Pizza with cheese topping  x 2 slices   2 g Net Carbs in total.

A cup of RicoCoco a little later and maybe sliver of chocolate (85%).

TOTAL CARBS FOR THE DAY 13.16 G OF CARBS

Am I full – yes I am. Have I starved myself today – NO I HAVEN’T.  Do I feel amazing? Yes I do. Will I have that chocolate later – more than likely.

And that my friends is today on a plate.

Cheers, Lyndal

This World

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Image Credit: http://www.ajc.com/ap/ap/top-news/orlando-police-multiple-injuries-after-nightclub-s/nrfB9/

Worst MASS SHOOTING in US History… What a headline – when is enough enough?

My heart is breaking for America.Yet another mass shooting. Why – not because someone decided to take a gun and walk into a Gay nightclub and shoot people – in a “mentally deranged” state, Im not going to say “confused ” as this man knew exactly what he was doing. He knew if he took a gun and armed himself with a tonne of ammunition that he would be heard and he knew if he singled out a gay nightclub he would be heard louder. He KNEW.

The fact is that when Martin Bryant went berko in Tasmania all those years ago – our government had the balls to stand up and DO SOMETHING. Australia took the guns away. Australia took away the ease of access of said weapons and therefore the ability of morons like this one to walk into any where any place and shoot people.

Ok ok – we still have our fair share of morons in this country – I mean take Manmonis and the Lindt Siege – but that man was handed his weaponry by other morons and I bet had the feds known that man had access to a gun Aussie Feds would have been on him faster than you can say MORON.

Wake up America. Your RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS and REDNECKERY are killing innocent people in your country. You give idiots the RIGHT to own guns. Its not just morons like this man who are walking into nightclubs killing people – its little people – in the back of their Mummies cars who have access to Mummies handbag who – oops just  happens to tote a handgun!

Now tell me if Im wrong – but there has been no Zombie apocalypse yet (unless you count the Ice epidemic – from which we also suffer here in Australia – yet we still have no need for handguns and various weaponry) I can NOT think of any good reason that we as humans should have a need to carry a gun to protect ourselves.

Unless we are travelling the interior roads of Australia and being followed by a crazed killer like John Jarret – who  probably shouldn’t have access to a gun in the first place… BUT THATS RIGHT … Movie people – thats a movie its not real life.

There is and should never be unless you are in a position of authority a need to bear arms against another human. Sadly we as Aussies witnessed in real life the other day a shocking attack at a Farmers Market in Hornsby. The fool in question was armed with a knife and innocent bystanders were shot by the police trying to control the situation and the question was raised then – why guns ? Why did that officer choose a gun as her weapon to subdue ? And not a taser or capsicum spray? Why were innocents injured?

Guns KILL – in the wrong hands GUNS KILL. America wake up – take away your outdated stupidity in your constitution that is the right to bear arms. Its time. Enough is enough..

 

 

Sunday bloody Sunday

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7am on a  Sunday morning – I guess at least its not 4am. The Dog decided that he was going to eat a bone last night that I GAVE HIM – Big mistake as Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman would say  “Huge Mistake”. The furry little beggar  has been rolling around with it on the back deck all night he even used it to door knock me this morning – which is why I am awake. I did my market shopping yesterday, I don’t want to be awake this early on a Sunday. Its a long weekend – and he’s not getting another bone today!

Ok market haul. I also co-run a group and another blog called Sugarblitzers  you can read about it if you click the word. Its got all sorts of recipes we’ve been creating in an attempt to highlight the sometimes dangerous and always stupid amounts of sugar hidden in modern foods. We are not Sugar Nazis – but we are carb aware over there and we do realise our bodies do not need the massive amounts of carbs in modern foods – because frankly even though we are a busy society we are also a convenient society that likes to shove fast , easy and crap filled into our faces to fill our bellies. Oh and this way of Low Carb or Carb Aware eating – it has a side effect. You feel great and you may lose weight! Hows that?

So yesterday I ventured to the Speers Point Farmers Market with my Mate Ms N Corner if you click on that link you will find her often hilarious, heartwarming and wonderful blog. ( She’s worth a follow) . She arrived a little late – because she’s a GYM JUNKIE and LOVING IT and while I completed my purchase and called back TURDBOY who was at a sleepover – she got her bucket of delicious apples. We wandered, we chatted and she bought me a much needed coffee as I had forgotten to eat. I remembered this later when my children found my sourdough still in the toaster – defrosted but not toasted. We also had a conversation about crochet – you see my friend is a talented crochet person artiste indeed and is having her first ever market stall today ( and I am going to visit her again with a bag of oranges and a disc for her dog Scout). I have been inspired by her crochet and not having one crafty or patient bone in my body with looming knee surgery – I have taken it upon myself to teach me how to crochet. ( and Ms N Corner gave me my first hook and wool for my birthday). I am creating a lap rug I think. Its more like a really long rainbow worm. And late last night we decided what I do is FREESTYLE CROCHET and its not craft its art as Ive made my own rules and my own stitch – which I call finger knitting stylishly. (with pretty wool that the cats like to chase).

I also purchased at the markets Meat from the Muswellbrook Meat man – who had lovely juicy Beef Spare Ribs in the back of his truck ( and the can not live without for my children Lamb Cheese and Chive Filler Free Sausages). I visited the Over The Moon Dairy stand where I purchased my latest addiction to go with one of my latest creations – Jersey Milk Yoghurt ( which goes with my Refined Sugar Free Passionfruit Curd and Toasted Almonds – oh god thats good),  and then I found Tar10 , who Ive found before but on my mission of sugar reduction have always dismissed any pre packaged sauces. Well guess what? They are local, they are fresh and they are gluten and refined sugar free – so in my Tar10 bag – I have Roasted Garlic Aioli – we had on my Chicken Schnitzels from the SB Blog last night ( delicious ) and some watermelon and chilli vinegar which the dude at the stall assures me is a great sub for sweet chilli sauce and that with Coconut Aminos is making me a marinade for my spare ribs tonight for dinner! ALL THE NOMS.. Check out Tar10 here . And the deliciousness that is everything Over the Moon Dairy here .

I also bought some lovely roses and plenty of vegetables and my fridge is full of green and goodness and I can’t wait to play in the kitchen later.

Note all of my purchases were paid for and this is not a sponsored post. 

Have a great Sunday xoxo Mrs Cuppy