Hey everyone.

Nice day here, sunny with a breeze. It's meant to rain and some thunder on Sunday though.

I hope you all have a good day.

Take it easy, Jen. I hope you can still do some nice things.

Are you needing anything specific in town, Tamo? It was quite cold in my house yesterday despite the sun so I get where you're coming from.

I hope you're recovering from circuits, Beckie! I would never be able to power through classes, I'd be doing a lot of giving up and starting again.

I've been to the chemist and local shop and washed my hair. That's all I really have to do big thing wise today but I cleaned the kitchen (not very well) which is a tomorrow job because I made a right mess last night having some granola as a midnight snack. I couldn't get it open then opened it in a weird way so not much was coming out but when I straightened it up it went all over the table and floor. Then I was eating it and I was like 'why did I buy granola, it takes a lot of chewing' so I gave up and went to put it in the bin and spilt some at the bin. It wasn't actually too bad in the daylight but I'm sure a toddler making their breakfast would have made less of a mess.

Taking it slow involved rating in bed listening to a podcast and then drifting to sleep again. But now I am up and showered and going to have some lunch in the garden.

Well done on doing your chores Lindsay. I always eat like a toddler, to the point where I celebrate the meals I don't get any of my food on me so your in good company!

I am a messy eater too. I find it slightly less messy using my easy grip cutlery rather than regular cutlery though.

If I'm wearing anything white or grey and having something like beans or tomato soup I'm guaranteed to get even just a spot on my clothes.

What podcast were you listening to? What's for lunch? Is the good weather where you are meant to be ending soon?

How are you doing, Dawn?

Oh dear, sorry your granola snack went wrong osc! I'm a messy eater too, you should see me eating my chocolate spread crumpets in the morning.

Enjoy your lunch LR.

I went to church for Confession then to the library where I got a brand new book by Salman Rushdie! And my brother got me a mango smoothie cooler thing which was such a relief on the walk home. Cacoethes was right, I really didn't need my cardi. And I wore my swish sunglasses :)

I am ok thanks Lindsay. Did anyone see A Wright Family Holiday last night? In the programme they wrongly claimed that there was no deer in North Wales. I have seen wild deer in North Wales. They aren't common but they do exist.

Sounds like a good day so far, Tamo. I hope you enjoy your book. Get you with your swish sunglasses! Did you feel good wearing them?

Maybe they only come out for you, Dawn!

Almost like a celeb! They have sparkles on the sides.

Oh wow, they sound nice. My previous glasses had glittery bits on the top part of the frame. Someone thought I had been painting though and the glittery bits were paint splashes!

Hey guys!
Back from my errands!
Took longer than expected.
Am now melting!
My neighbour has got hold of a steam cleaner and is doing the whole house. Apparently she's done the bathroom tiles 4 times...
And she's gonna dry my washing on her clothes line for me because i said a while ago that they always smell so much fresher!

I was listening to history podcast about the early modern period (when the Tudors and Stuart's were about) called Not Just the Tudors.

Had a similar lunch to the other day, cheese and ham roll, cucumber and houmous. But today I had a treat we picked up from bakery yesterday a raspberry croissant!

I conclude from everyone's comments that the best people are messy eaters!

Ooh sparkles!

You have such a lovely neighbour Beckie!

P.s. somebody get a bucket to collect Beckie when she becomes a puddle!

Quick, deploy ALL the fans to Beckie.

I love your neighbour although I might find her a bit much.

Sounds lovely, Jen. I'm glad you had a treat as well.

She can be a bit much!

I've just had a message from a DWP compliance officer.
She said she'll try again later or call her back, and that it's nothing to worry about.
Of course, i am still worrying!

I think they just pick people at random to check they are getting the right benefits. Like a sampling thing for statistics, so not anything you have done just them checking their own work sort of thing.

Found this link on gov.uk website that explains it https://www.gov.uk/dwp-visit

Oof. Thanks!
I just called back and booked an appointment for the 13th.
I'm still worried that I've been accidentally claiming more or higher benefits than I'm entitled to! Like for PIP, I don't feel that disabled, but i know i filled in the form completely honestly and i didn't have an interview, they just spoke to my cpn. Who admittedly was the one who panicked about everything, so worried she may have over exaggerated things.
Though i know that wouldn't be my fault.

Not worth making a thread about, but probably gonna get reported for talking about kinda serious stuff. Oh well XD

Well if they report you they will have to report me too XD

Your mental health hospitalises you on average once a year every year, and you have epilepsy which has thankfully been in remission but is still a thing, you are disabled enough. Remember with PIP you have to tell them about your worst days not your best. Plus with mental health they might think you don't have as much insight and believe the cpn anyway even if you think they may have over exaggerated. Try not to panic if you can but I know DWP are in general panic inducing. You never know might turn out you are entitled to a benefit you don't know about!

I am feeling a bit odd. Not sure why or what to do about it. Just lying on my sofa with my legs up on my yoga ball at the moment trying to work out what's going on.

The advice used to be tell them about your worst days, but you can get in trouble for that now!
I was mostly just like 'well sometimes i can do this, a lot of the time i can't'

Try not to overthink it. Just do what you need to do!

Well I told them what my worst days were and then told them how often I had worst days. So kind of the same as you said. Telling them the worst but explaining that's not always

Only got mobility component in end though, didn't get enough points for care despite partner being my full time carer but I had none of the energy to appeal. And I have improved daily living wise lately so at least I don't have anxiety about should I contact them because I can do more now.

Can't really think at all so overthinking is not the problem! Rest would probably help but struggling to settle.

EDIT: I just thought we could edit our posts and move this to serious space to chat if you don't want a whole thread but still need to chat about it.

Benefits stuff is scary. I wonder if one day they will work out how to be less intimidating.

I really hope you can find a way through this feeling, Jen.

Nah it's fine, I shall not talk about it any longer!
Not really much else to say!

Take care of yourself, Beckie. Share your feelings wherever if it helps to do that.

Fair just thought I would offer.

I am feeling mildly more chill but still weird. Have stuck the TV on and am attempting to vibe

Keep going, Jen. Even though you're unsure what might help keep doing what you can and you might stumble upon the answer. Anything good on TV?

I am watching travel you tube on my TV (have laptop plugged in) they are in Norway during the polar night trekking to an ice cave.

Is it really, really, cold there? (On TV not where you are) I wouldn't want to explore a very cold place.

I've put my fan on in the hopes that my room will be sleepable tonight!

Thanks guys :)

Ooohh that sounds cool!
I've been to Norway. Was pretty cold!

I hope the fan cools your room down nicely and it doesn't get hot through the night. I still have my winter duvet on my bed.

What were you doing in Norway, Beckie?

Holiday!
Went to Bergen. Was actually so nice!

It is very chilly. There is snow and ice all over the place. They are now travelling on an overnight train from Norway down into Sweden!

I am chilling myself literally now have one of my cool gel packs from the fridge in the back of my neck.

Are you looking forward to your surprise holiday, Beckie?

Are you feeling any cooler yet, Jen?

Significantly cooler. Because there are big arteries and veins running through your neck, cooling your neck cools the rest of you quickly because it cools your blood down a little.

I went on a boat tour thing of the fjords. Absolutely beautiful!

I am very much looking forward to my surprise holiday!
Only 55 days to go!

Glad you're feeling cooler jen!
When I've collapsed at classes before, the instructor has put a cool pack on the back of my neck. It helps a lot!

I have just remembered i showered after the gym, so i don't have to shower tonight. Woohoo!

Oh, that's interesting. I didn't know that. Where did you learn this fact intelligent one?

What month/day will it be in 55 days? Do you know where you'd like to go or do you not mind?

August 4th!
I really don't mind, you get to choose up to 3 places you really DON'T want to go, and they don't send you somewhere they've already sent you.
I chose paris as the place i don't wanna go. Because i hate it XD

What do you hate about Paris?

Been there twice, it's expensive and really not as good as people make it out to be!

Well I hope whatever holiday is chosen for you you enjoy it.

I quite liked Paris. I went with the uni chaplaincy, saw a lot of churches.

I forget, I think a friend taught me. You can get a similar effect by running your wrist under cool water.

Thanks lindsay!
I have done so far!

Churches aren't all that interesting to me!

Franc is somewhere I have never been. Been plenty of other European countries but never France, I heard Paris has a bit of a littering problem but then London isn't exactly pristine!

The churches in themselves mostly weren't that interesting but they all had links to interesting saints etc so that was nice.

Think every major city has a littering problem!
Some parts of France are much nicer, but the more rural parts

Need to employ some litter pickers!

They do indeed!

I sold something on vinted so went into town and posted it (second parcel today!)
Which meant having to put on appropriate clothing. But I'm back and back in pj shorts!

I'm the kind of person who would leave that till tomorrow, especially if I was already in my PJs.