Time out.

Clever Bird is well aware that Creative Clara's blogs are becoming more intermittent, for which she apologises - especially to those of you baggees who worry when she is silent. Baggy is okay, but truthfully, she is struggling. The depression doesn't seem to be an issue, but her anxiety is being a real nuisance and is once again preventing her from doing the things that she should be doing. This is in large part down to stress, but she's working on that. And part of that is not to put so much pressure on herself. Silly as it sounds, at the moment, writing a blog, or at least feeling that Clara has to write a blog, is too much for Hormonal Hannah. Additionally, she set up the Facebook group, The Baggees Forum, for baggees who don't know Baggy personally. In the end, the baggees in it are all her Facebook friends, so she effectively has two FB pages to keep up to date - more pressure. So, Clever Bird is going to give Hormonal Hannah a break! She will be taking a time-out from the blog and social media. But worry not baggees, Baggy will be back. In the meantime, any baggee can join the FB Group, and can add things to it, so please feel free.

Anxiety is a most peculiar affliction, but unfortunately it is very real to the sufferer. Yet merely typing that is putting Hannah into an anxious panic, because in the scheme of things it's not that bad. Baggy has more than one friend who is currently fighting a life-threatening illness. She knows of others with both anxiety and depression much worse than her own. She has both acquaintances and relatives who have recently lost a parent or a partner and are grieving. So to be wittering on about not wanting to get out of bed, or leave the house, or walk the pooch, or groom the horses, or whatever seems selfish in the extreme. Yet bottling it up is a disaster!

Baggy has been bottling things up for a few weeks, and today it resulted in a Niagra Falls of tears, when Hannah finally opened up to number one furry on the phone. Freda Fretter hadn't been telling Calum how Hannah was feeling, because she didn't want to worry him. Big mistake. And that's the point Clever Bird supposes. Everyone's feelings are real. And yes of course, they're all relative. Baggy knows how extremely fortunate she is, and is well aware that many people would love to have 'only her problems', but that doesn't make those feelings any less valid.

So to everyone who's struggling in any way, Baggy will attempt to waft some love and hugs through the ether to you and hope that you can find a way through..............

Note to readers: For the avoidance of any doubt, every character in this blog is Baggy! No Baggy was harmed in its writing, although some of them get pretty confused!

Depression: Manageable.
Anxiety: Ghastly.
Tears: Niagra Falls.
Smiles: Nowhere near enough.

Keeping busy.

Well Baggees, Creative Clara would like to apologise for letting another week slip by without blogging, but in fact that's quite good news! It means that she's been too busy again. The gang seems to be doing a good job of reforming at the moment. Members have been sighted that Hormonal Hannah had forgotten were even members. Currently keeping Baggy Body busy are:

Creative Clara - writing her novel has been taking up four or five hours a day. Plus she's been working on her etsy shop. Today's order from Realuv is off to Germany. And the customer will get a nice surprise, because Clever Bird lost the glass lampshade when she posted it for sale, but as she was packing the parcel this morning, she found it!

www.etsy.com/UK/shop/Realuv/items 

 

Furry Mama - as always is busy, walking the pooch, on long beach walks. And looking after a very needy Bracket kat. (She and Furry Mama are really struggling to believe that the little Hinge cat isn't with them anymore). And yes, Baggy has had the odd cappuccino as a treat while the pooch cools off before the walk back.

 

 

 

The Domestic Goddess - has been trying really hard to keep the house clean - not that you'd notice! And washing Billy Bob Jalopy campervan, so that he's all sparkly.

 

Grotty Groom - has been seeing her Boys at least two or three times a week - usually more, and trying to keep on top of the barrow loads of fur that both lads are now shedding. She's even started to bring the Boy Wessles back into a little work. It's not easy taking a photo of a horse who just wants cuddles!

 

 

 

Gloria Gardener - has started to tackle the dreaded leaves!!

 

 

Bit-at-a-time-Betty - has been exceptionally useful in slowing the members down as some of their tasks seem so overwhelmingly large.

 

It might be only February, but the primroses and apple blossom are in full bloom in Gloria's garden! And Halesworth Park is looking stunning.

 

 

Busy Baggy.........



Baggy is not going blind :)

Very quick update Baggees, as after three hours at Ipswich hospital this morning, and anaesthetics, eye-drops, dilating fluid and Heaven knows what else being put into Baggy's eyes during that period, her eyes are a tad tired. However, Freda Fretter is delighted to say that Baggy does not have glaucoma, and is therefore not going blind! Phew!

Whatever the 'spot' is at the back of her eye on the optic nerve, it's not glaucoma! Clever Bird wonders if it's a bit of old damage from one of Grotty Groom's various concussions. The doctor said it could possibly have been caused (somehow) by Baggy's anaemia. She wanted Baggy's blood pressure checked (it was normal), and to make sure Baggy is not diabetic (blood tests tomorrow) - although even Freda Fretter is fairly sure that these will be okay, having had so many blood tests in the last year. So that's all good - hopefully.

The cataract on Baggy's left eye is 'so dense' that it needs immediate surgery, so Baggy is on the waiting list. 'How long will the wait be?'
'Around six months.'
'Oh marvellous,' said Baggy grinning.
'Oh, I thought you were going to say you needed it more urgently.'
'Nope, I'm dreading it, so the longer the wait the better!'

Pepper is delighted that he will remain the only pooch in the Baggy household and Calum's suggestion (before they knew Baggy was okay), that they should start to train up Pepper to be a guide dog, was moot. Just as well, as Furry Mama had visions of Baggy being hauled into the nearest river as Pepper decided he fancied a quick swim.........