No such thing as a simple life on my one acre in Tasmania with my two dogs.I try to grow food, wrangle chickens and the native and non native wildlife share the land I call home. Life with CPTSD and ADHD not been easy so I share about it all. Low income, a bit frugal, real life My Life.
As the eastern areas of NSW and Victoria burn and the death toll sadly rises, and homes destroyed my heart aches for all the communities impacted. These extraordinary weather conditions the heat that our Government continues to deny is in any way related to Climate Change. This Saturday the weather forecast is equally if not worse than New Years Eve.
Here in my little valley Huon Valley in Tasmania we were in on going fires from before Christmas through to May, and we know that many local business reliant on summer visitors are still recovering. So I cannot imagine how long and the trauma that these communities will be dealing with and the length of time it will take.
I am not including any photographs on this post as Australian Fires season has been going since September. I find it so unbelievable that fire fighters the majority in rural communities volunteers who give up so much to defend out primary infrastructure, and communities. Often loosing their own homes and sadly I believe 7 fire fighters have died while fighting. Because they believe in the communities they live in. Reports are saying 5Million hectares/12,355,269.07acres have burnt.
In a total fire ban, where people where fleeing their homes and other died defending them or on their way to safety, both state capitals Sydney and Melbourne went ahead with New Years Eve Fire works, and from what I have
I have been attempting to get the Vegetable(veggie ) garden going well this year. I am proud of what I have achieved so far. It is a very strange summer 40dC one day down to 17dC the next is it any wonder my garden is a bit all over the place.
I have shared before I am not a organised or brilliant gardener. My garden is very much like me. A bit all over the place, so we suit each other.
When I first began veggie growing here. I chose a north west facing area. Some thing went brilliantly for the first couple of years and than it was just to much heat and sunshine for them, So that area went when I needed to put in a new french drain.
The area I now use was begun the year I had my breakdown. Over the time since then I have got things going but generally they just had to look after themselves. Understandably a lot of things did not make it. The Onions in the wheelbarrow did as did the peach and crab apple, blueberries and hazelnuts. Some of the other fruit trees have not done very well. Though a couple like an apple I planted which has never done anything has fruited this year. .
Onions, self sown and doing OK. I am finding Acqual’egia/Columbines/Grannys bonnets, popping up all over the place and I love them. They can be a little problematic when they pop up in my little veggie beds or as in this case in the wheelbarrow. I do need to do some soil building up here and I feel that it will perhaps find a new place in the garden.
These pumpkins took quite a hit with the weather , I have given them some blood and bone and charlie carp. The new leaves are looking healthy so fingers crossed they will soon take off. My neighbours pumpkins went in later than mine and are just growing so fast. I have to admit I do have garden envy. I have another veggie gardener down the road from me. He is a gentleman almost 90 he walks every day and is out in his garden. It provides all his fruit and vegetables. I know I am not a great veggie gardener. Perhaps 2020 is my year to improve exponentially and have great harvests.
(lucky I pulled my garlic last week ) it is not my best crop of garlic but I am thankful for all I have grown.
Above These two plants I have a feeling are chilies. I planted them 2018 and they have never done anything. I have to say they are looking better this year, there is even a flower on this one. So it will be very interesting to see how they grow, and if I end up with any fruit.
Now the bed above is my three sister bed. Beans zucchini and corn. It is doing wonderfully well. The corn is an experiment for me. The beans and corn (well nearly all the corn are growing thick and solid, the beans are developing tendrils and leaves. I even have some red flowers developing on these climbing beans. I have fed them some Charlie Carp today so fingers crossed that will help them become happier. (photo underneath)
One of my blue berry bushes above. They are healthy but it is not the best crop this year. I will enjoy any I manage to get. The blackbirds have been beating me to most of my berries. Never netted them before but lost red currants and jostaberries to them.
Three sisters bed again showing the healthy beans and corns. Very happy so far with this bed.
Looks like the butternuts pumpkin is taking off, I it has more leaves all of a sudden. I am crossing everything in the hope of growing some great pumpkins this year.
Oh look one of my Ollas we are back in the 3 sisters bed. The Ollas were fantastic on the really hot day. I find them really helpful.
Above and below are two capsicum plants. Both have flowers. I am quite worried about the bottom one as it is not getting any height yet there are five flowers on it already. First time I have attempted capsicums,
Below is my zucchini I think, the labels have been blown about by the wind and the birds digging up the sugar cane looking for worms and grubs. It has begun taking off this week so I am hoping for yummy zucchinis, love them.
This poor tomato is one I accidentally broke the top off and it is finally recovering It has grown taller
Above the other tomato, oh just noticed it looks like a sunflower growing right next to it. sigh.. will have to thing about it as it would be the giant ones from last year and some of them were 9foot high with thick stems. Probably transplant is. The lettuce are picking up.
Anzac peach has so many peaches on them. I am so grateful that the super hot day did not seem to damage them. I feel that by the weekend I will be eating my own peaches. They are a white one.
My half barrels are evolving , finally the corn flowers I planted from seed are flowering. Another great flower, and makes a lovely pop of colour in a vase. Also in here are parsley which looks to have gone straight to seed. Also a small nastutium, I am hoping it is the red one, I took a cutting off last year, and vaguely recall popping it in here to see if it would grow.
Another plant I could not grow up until this year the marigold. I took a cutting from out side the local library(they have a garden, with herbs and flowers some silver beet. You can help yourself). It is flowering now and growing. The borage that you can see is tiny. Self seeded. I do hope that the seeds have spread further afield. Bees adore borage flowers and great added to salads.
I love this part of my garden, it is always a bit of a work in progress, to make it better for the birds to access the bird bath. I think I will move the salvia right next to it as it is one that grows super high and bushy. It will cut my view of the bird bath. I have lovely photos I will share of the birds, that visit my garden.
Sweet peas continue to flower and they are a favourite these ones are perfumed so beautifully I put them in my toilet. Beats artificial sprays.
Cockatoos or Cockys/Cockies (coll) are intelligent, cheeky, loud, destructive to trees (some folk feel) and so funny to watch at times, they have a very funny walk. They are a bit similar to humans who have a preferred hand; they have a preferred’ footness’, but it seems from research most are more left footed. Adaptable birds they survive in both cities and the bush. They dine on berries, nuts, seeds and roots.
My Poppy(grandfather) had a pet Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita). It had a large cage but only went in it to eat or when it was a bit nervous, say if my cousins bought their dog over with them. He was called Cocky and my Poppy had taught him to speak. He could say all the usual “Hello Cocky” and “who is a pretty bird”. He would scream “feed me, feed me” when anyone was near by with food. He loved a scratch on his head, and would say oh “darl give us a scratch”. My Pop used to ask my Grandma for a scratch of his back every evening in this manner. As I said he was never in his cage and his wings were not clipped. My Poppy did not do that with any of his birds.
Poppy had been a rabbiter as a job in the bush, and my Dad and his four siblings and their Mum (Grandma) all lived in a tent. Summer and winter. They were very poor. My Pop just was wild about Australian native animals and birds, he loved the bush . He taught me so much.
Back to Cocky he would sit about on the furniture, and go outside whenever Pop did. Cocky would go flying and return home, he would not be gone long usually he would get frightened by other birds.
My Pop had found him when he was a chick. Most likely fell out of the nest in a hollow in the tree. My Pop could not climb trees he had scurvy when he was little. You could drive a bus through his legs. He also knew that a cat would get the chick pretty quick in the area he found it. If he had left the chick on the ground. No parent was in sight nor squawking about the chick. So he took him home and hand rared him. Cocky adored Pop.
Male Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo (c) Echidna Home 2019 (male because black ring around his eye females are reddish pink)
The black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus) about here love the pine cones. You can see sap all over this ones beak. It is not uncommon for people to park their cars under pine trees to keep them cool and have pine cones that the cockys are finished with drop onto the car, damaging them or smashing the windscreen. Both birds have an amazing scrreeeech I have thought it was someone hurt.
A perfect landing Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (c)Echidna Home 2019
They are stunning looking in flight.
Cockatoos live a similar life span to humans, and when my Poppy had to go into a nursing home my Uncle adopted Cocky, and would take him in to visit Poppy. (Cocky would sit in the front seat of the car and jump on the arm rest and look out the window on the trip. When they got to the Nursing home he would cry out “Poppy where here, Poppy where here” ( Which is what all his grandchildren used to call out when any of us visited them at home), until he found Pop. He would fly to him, sit on his shoulder rubbing his head on Poppys cheek and give him gentle little pecks like kisses. He loved my Uncle and learnt some more words that I will not share.
I went out about 9;30am daylight saving time, to water the veggies in the garden and those in pots on the deck .
Miss Treacle chose to stay in the cool of the house. All curtains drawn, windows facing the north and west(southern hemisphere so these are the hot areas) I place those windscreen sun protectors the foil ones on them as well. Works wonderfully, but the house must look like a meth lab. So far no police ramming down the doors!
Busby and I ventured out. It was not too bad at that time, but you could feel it was going to heat up fast. I went to water my watermelons plants. Not holding out hope for watermelons. As I watered Busby was wondering down a path, and just out of the corner of my eye, I saw a swishing movement on the ground, Busby also saw it. I realised quickly it was a snake. There are only three types of snakes found in Tasmania. All snakes in Tasmania are poisonous
Top to bottom) Tiger Snake, White-lipped Snake and Lowland Copperhead Snake
I was only afraid that Busby would be curious and go closer to it. He did, and so I sprayed him with the house. I told him to go up on the deck. He looked at me stunned..that look what I didn’t do anything wrong! I felt really guilty as Busby has always been very scared of the house when I am watering. I don’t ever recall spraying him , but I must have. As I have had him since a very young puppy. (fostered him and his two siblings). He was great he did as asked.
I was not worried about the snake for my sake. It was moving away from us and heading for cover. I did spray water about a lot to discourage it from hanging around. I did feel very sorry for it too. As it was just sliding along enjoying the sun and heat. It also did the right thing.
I have lived here for 20 years and this is the only snake I have ever seen in my garden. I have water about for the animals and birds. I am assuming it came out to get a drink.
I wished it well, and told it that I would do it no harm, please do me and my dogs no harm either.
I have only seen one other snake the dogs and I were walking up the road our house is on. about halfway up the hill is a dam. It was another hot day and I am thankful that my dogs were distracted by some smell.
The snake slithered across the road to the dam. I could no longer see the snake but knew it was down closer to the water. So I encouraged the dogs to come and off we went. On the way home no stopping at the dam for a drink today.
Snakes generally don’t want to bite. They only do if cornered. Generally. So my Poppy who was a bushy taught us. He also taught us that if you have a snake living near your house, it will get to know your routines, and try to avoid being around when you are. So I will be making thumping the ground ,as snake have no ears so cannot hear when we go out side. I doubt I will leave them outside on their own for a while.
I think back to the way I feel when I am in the middle of a response to a trigger with my CPTSD. I am improving with being able to identify some situations that will potentially cause me to respond in an adverse way.
I had to contact my internet provider.
In the not so distant past just the process of identifying myself to them would trigger a negative response. Anger! FRustration!
I now know why I respond in the manner I did. You ring and you finally speak to a human voice. I give the person my customer number. I then tell them my full name, date of birth, address.
All good, sigh.
Then he asks what is your invoice number??? Can you feel it building ..the anger
I am just ringing up to find out why my internet is not working.
I loose it,( not as badly as in the past, and I don’t believe I said fu..k and interesting it seems to happen more with male employees at my internet provider. I asked him could I speak to a female, it took him forever, I was beginning to loose my ability to not allow myself to go where my emotion was taking me. So I hung up. I felt that was better than the alternative, so I feel a positive management.
I called back and yeah a female! Here we go name address birth date and customer number. BIg sigh. no more id.
So helpful even her manner was accommodating. So I had pulled every thing out, waited plugged everything in (I had done this before I rang) but I did it again. Still no internet ..she was perplexed so asked if she call me back in about 20minutes. Of course no problem.
I go to push the things I had moved back and look down behind and see a computer sort of cable. Oh no. I picked it up plugged it in. Pressed connect internet. Can You guess it worked. The lovely lady rang me back, I immediately explain and apologise for not noticing it. So my fault nothing was working! Very helpful woman, and my head and body no longer feel like the song.
In response to someone asking how I budget /manage on Newstart (government benefit for unemployed adults here in Australia.) here goes.
I own my home out right, I have no debts. For these things I am eternally grateful. Especially when you wake up crying and cant stop, go to your doctors, and never return to work. A breakdown, no savings, no income, a diagnosis of Complex PTSD relief it explained so much for me.
For five years I have been on Newstart and have not had any debts. I save when I can. I live within my means, and I don’t have a single credit card and have not for over 16 years. I have never missed it. I find it liberating. I generally shop with cash. Because you are far more conscientious when you are shopping with cash.
I don’t pay water as I have water tanks and I don’t pay sewerage as I am on septic. I have wood heating, gas for cooking and hot water. My water pump fridge and freezers use most of my power. I also have an electric blanket for winter to take the chill of the sheets. I sleep with my bedroom window open all year.
My annual budget simple.
I receive $574 a fortnight for Newstart $14,924AUD A Year. All dollars in Australian dollars. I work out all the actual annual costs I know I MUST meet.
Rates $ 706 concession taken off This is the first year I have had to pay quarterly rates but our council does not charge extra to do this.
Electricity $ 530 concession taken off
wood $ 720 6 ton
Gas $ 449 45kg LPG bottles.
Gas fee $ 80
Insurance $ 776 House/contents $440,000 $52,000
Dogs food $1430
Petrol $1430
NBN $ 828 Internet
Netflix $ 60TOTAL
$7459 divided by 26 weeks to show how much my definite costs will be out of my Newstart payment$286.88 a fortnight.
I have to ensure I have just for these costs. So $574 -286.88 = $305 a fortnight left.Now I have to think about tyres, and services so lets say 1200 a year 333.04 divided by 26 =12.80 a week
$292.20 a fortnight left.
Oh I have to get my paddock cut $40 a time, this year 3 times $120 =$2.50Dog registration $70 for two dogs, $2.70Basic shopping fortnight, 4 litres of tasmanian milk $4.30 for 2litres, 1dz free range eggs $6-8 depending on size sometimes I can only get large ones. Bread if I buy it and I usually do in summer $3.95 a week $14.25 basics a week.these last three items paddock, registration and basics for food add up to $19 a week $38 a fortnight
$254 a fortnight left.
RACT road side assist Tasmania $198 a year. I have to have ultimate, as any where i go basically is more than 32km from my place in the country and when your car is 15+ years old good thing to have. $7.61 a fortnight
$243 a fortnight left.
Medication $6.50 month
$239.50 a fortnight left.
Groceries varies, between 30-60 a week, depending. Every so often so lets say $45.00 a week
$ 149.50 a fortnight left.
This is as simple as I can make it. I am happy to go into anything further. I realise that I am very very fortunate to have that amount left. If I saved it and I do save money I would have $3,874 in savings in a year.
This year I have had to buy a New water tank, $1400 and three months ago my SUV 12 years old engine ceased, $6000 for a new engine could not afford to get it fixed, I had put four new tyres on the SUV I kid you not three weeks before it died cost $1000 I advertised the car $500 advertised the tyres for $700 NoT one nibble! new vehicle for me $1000 One of my dogs ate something that made her very ill $700 later. this year too. $4100 unexpected costs. over the last 12 months.$157 per fortnight over the year cost.
-$7.50 a fortnight over spend. Yes the final figure is minus $7.50 a fortnight. Lucky I had some savings in the bank.
Right now I have no savings, The new year begins and I am cutting back on groceries using my car, not going out, so that I can begin to save again.
This is how I do it. All my needs are met and I can think of nothing I want for myself or my home! I am on the whole content. I do eat out occasionally it keeps me in touch with people. Anyone with Complex PTSD, Depression, anxiety knows that if we close ourselves off we can go down hill. I believe that you have to live with in your means. That the only thing you should ever go in debt for is a house. I do understand that owning my home out right and having no debt makes a huge difference. I also do not have to look for work as part of my unemployment management, as my mental illness makes it impossible for me to work or volunteer. I have tried volunteering I had to leave suddenly. You have to be reliable and for me I can not guarantee that I can. I have also tried to study I was doing free online course through uni. One unit. I was getting good grades, but all of a sudden it all just became to much for me. The paper work and reading overwhelmed me. So I can not work and I am going through the process of applying for Disability support pension. an arduous task there are 61 pages of form and my mental health makes it impossible for me to deal with it. Thankful to have a lovely community social worker helping me. Humbling experience for someone with two degrees.
It really feels like summer has arrived here in my beautiful island home. It has taken a bit of time, but I was eating some raspberries and a peach(not my own as yet they are not quite ripe) The juice of the peach running down my arm delicious. I get them from a local orchard when mine are not ready. The raspberries were raspberryie , I am sort of feeling I am not so keen on them these days. I leave my self open to change my mind.
I needed to get a few things milk and bread, the chicken necks I ordered for my dogs, and felt like visiting one of my favourite cafes. Great out door area and well priced large selection of food, and super coffee. Super dog friendly. Here in the valley where I live most cafes are dog friendly. It is such a delightful way to meet people if you are a dog lover. It is a place that is for me somewhere I can go be social and have a laugh with the wonderful staff, and meet up with some other dog owners, and have some terrific chats, and laughter. I did the shopping taking the dogs for a walk after and then sat for an hour had something to eat and a coffee. The dogs had lots of pats and water.
Since my breakdown five years ago, my mental illness has thrown some challenges at me. Things I never had problems with before. I love meeting people in small groups, and really prefer one or two people to talk with. I have been to functions and , and no one will know I am struggling and worrying about all sorts of things. I have learned to be accept this new part of me. I am very selective of where I go, and I really hate leaving my dogs. I do, and we all survive, and I usually have a pleasant time, yet am so exhausted after it. It is even stranger as I can come across as the life of the gathering. It is part act and pushing myself to not isolate myself totally. Though I would like to live up a hill at the end of the road, with just nature about me. My dogs and just venture down every now and then. I have wonderful neighbours, here. It is just more and more orchards have gone and farms being subdivided and people moving in have lots more money than most of the long time residents in the area.
oOps that was a side track down a pathway I did not expect! So the summer arrived, the shopping was done, dogs were hot and the day was awesome! Easy decision the off lead walk it was popular and my guys had a ball, as You can see by all the dogs, and people. No problems just dogs having a lot of fun.
It was a lot of fun watching all the antics of this well socialised group of dogs. On the other side a family with two wee ones were paddling and loving splashing in the river. You can see kayaks in the distance. The boat tied up to the wharf sigh…
This person was so rude, he pulled into the wharf diesel engine going fair enough has to moor. Time passes people are coughing because of the diesel fumes, the family with the little ones begins to get them out and dried off. five minutes and still the vessel is not moored? Me being me, and hating the fumes (as everyone else was.) yells out to be heard over the engine, could he turn the engine off. Basically it was a no..I explained there were little kids our dogs and us, and the fumes were really bad. 10minutes and still this person has not managed to tie his boat to the wharf. Everyone had left but me and my dogs.
I know I have been triggered when I open my mouth and say hmmm moron must stand for someone who can’t moor their boat. I add how incompetent and rude he is for spreading the fumes for so long! I cant stop myself, I am angry at how little concern he had for the kids, the dogs and us. (I stayed because my dog was swimming enjoying himself.)
Not surprisingly the situation deteriorated his i presume wife of partner and son, are just keeping their heads down. he is getting in their way as he throws what he sees as insults, I must be a lonely old spinster with no kids, and just all alone no friends, because he knows all about me, he just knows. So I just smile and say well you know nothing about tying up a boat, its still not tied and the motor is still going! I had seen them leave their mooring about 1km car distance up the river. I hear him say that his engine has a problem It looks to me like this guy uses his boat maybe once a year over the Christmas new year break, Me in full trigger response (not angry) but just in baiting him verbally in a pleasant tone every time he responds , Gee what kind of person has his most prized people on a boat that he has not had serviced or checked before taking it out? you get the way it went. Not proud of myself it was juvenile he was baiting right back, much to his wife’s annoyance. They ended up mooring the boat finally and engines off. Perhaps the diesel fumes had contributed to my behaviour. His wife and son leave in a vehicle.
He at one point said you must be mental , and my response yes I do have a mental illness. That stopped him and this lovely person says, well than just jump in the river and drown yourself save the world from you. (did not bother me as I am not well enough but to say that to anyone let alone someone who has just told you they do have a mental illness is wrong .)
If he had stopped then and just left it I am sure I would have too. But no he now rings the police, I have been sitting watching my dog try and catch little fish in the water, my little dog next to me (she was trying to get me to stop she leans into me and looks at me trying to get eye contact, but when I am triggered its no good. too late.
So this guy comes off his boat walks down the wharf and past where we are sitting, my large dog is next to me, at this point too. This large tall man, is saying in loudly that he is being verbally assaulted, (well I have to own that I was badgering him so that is sort of factual). I accept responsibility for that and will take what comes. However he then goes on to say I have a huge Pitbull! (now I know all pitbulls are not bad but that is what he is indicating) mY dog is not a pitbull. He is big. ) that this dog is terrorising him and he is really frightened of what it is going to do? Seriously! He sounds like he is about to break into sobs, (my dog has not been near him until he walked past us!) He ends the call, looks directly at me with a huge smile on his face and says something along the lines of got you! I know I have a mental illness but this person is just nasty! I now have to stay and wait for the police as this person has taken my number plate and come back down the wharf as I am upset by what he said, and told him what a despicable person he is, I am still sitting down, he is videoing me on his phone, and I am just saying that I hope he is getting some lovely shots as it is such a lovely day, and he is mouthing stuff at me he than pushes the phone right almost into my face. WTF, I swipe it away. He nearly dropped it! If looks could kill! He walks off and says why dont you just f k off! I ignore him. I just sit with my dogs swinging my legs singing silly songs about his incompetence not super loudly .. (hindsight is brilliant he could have beaten the shit out of me) . He is now emptying what looks like filthy oil into containers and again walks up and down the wharf past my dog that is terrifying him! He does that twice. He then sees the police coming.
Two officers, one speaks to me the other to him. I tell him yes the fumes pissed me off, especially because there were wee kids in the water and he did not care. That he was incompetent at mooring and I told him so, yes probably not the best thing to do I know officer. I then explained about my PTSD and the fumes seemed to have triggered me. both my dogs had said hello to the officer. I also told him about me saying I did have a mental illness (this scum said you must be mental) and then he told me that I should drown myself. The other officer and the piece of human scum he was talking to were off the wharf. They finished and both came over, this piece of human scum now sort of acted really scared of my dog and sidled along the far edge of the wharf? (so glad I had videoed everything after he called the police.)
The other officer says do I have collars and leads for my dogs, I replied yes officer but this is a designated off lead area and my dogs are under my control which is what the law requires. He than said that this ‘man’ had shown him a ripped part of his jeans, and that had marks under it and told him that my dog had bitten him!! YOU have to be kidding! What kind of scum does this, lies to a police officer. I obviously looked stunned. I could feel my mind going in a direction and battled not to dissociate. I said my dog is a gentle sook, he is big, but the only time he went anywhere near this ‘man’ was once he walked up along the wharf on the opposite where the boat was, the man was in side doing something. The only other times were when he was carrying his oil off he walked by us four times and when you told him to go with you.
I tired to say I had photos showing that my dog had been around other people and dogs before this all happened. The police officer said well he told me your dog bit him and his jeans are torn. So I am really starting to feel weird I begin breathing deeply and the officer that talked to me, said tell this officer what you told me. I must have looked like I was going to be ill of faint, I could not have told him anything if he had offered me a million dollars. The other officer told him about my complex PTSD and that I was triggered by the fumes, and the fact that little kids were in the water being covered in them and breathing them. That this ‘man’ did not care! that upset me.
I said if I could have stopped myself I would have, I was not proud of my role in it. BUT My dog never got close enough to him except when he was walking by with the oil containers. I also said I would have accepted if I had been charged with something for my part seemed fair under the circumstance. BUt to say my dog bit him! I showed the photos and the video, the photos helped but he said that it did not show the hole episode. I was so up set that not only did he lie but he bought my dog into it and if charges were laid he would be declared a dangerous dog! I also told the officer, if this man had dog bit on his leg it would be interesting, as my boy has a huge over bite. I showed him. Now during all of this my dog is off lead still walking around the police and me down to the water and back. My little one was I think near me but I had sort of lost focus on her sigh. No charges I feel that they may having seen the photos and spent time with my dog seen that he was not in anyway threatening or aggressive. I was wanting to stay, (my heightened response from the attack of my dog by him) the nicer of the two police spoke with me and I realised leaving was better for me and my dogs.
Underneath I was so bewildered that someone would do that. I did mention that he had videod me up close and my rego response was it is a public place. I was resigned to that. I did ask the officer who was going to speak to the peice of scum if he was lying about being bitten by my dog. the stuff on his phone was deleted. but he still said my dog bit him.
I fixated on it, (another part of my illness) and since it was not illegal to take photos or videos in public, I decided to post this piece of scums photos on all the local face book community pages. Explaining in full and as factually what the police had asked me and told me and the episode of verbal baiting, I wanted other people to know that he lied about my dog, and if he decided he did not like you he could do it again. I can only imagine if he made the ‘bite look worse’ and I had been charged, with assault by my dog. I knew all the trolls and people who like to just attack would be out in force. But it did get his face out there and people who understand and see what I am most distressed about that he told someone with a mental illness to kill themselves and that IS NOT OK, and he lied about my dog. I am so thankful I had been taking photos. I
several hours after I posted to face book, I get a call from the police. This piece of scum told them about the posts all over facebook, and wanted them to get me to take them down. that the piece of scum had deleted my photos. I said I appreciated that they were trying to mediate, and for me the fact he told a person who had told him they had a mental illness to kill themselves, and he told the police my dog bit him, which is a lie made him a danger to other owners of dogs and to people with a mental illness. The police officer said perhaps not the best way to handle the situation, and I said what other redress do I have ? He is a liar who tears their own jeans and lies to the police. Some one much more ill than I am. He knows it has been out there in the community his face. He also knows the truth.
I will always say it is not OK to tell someone to kill themselves! Anyone who does is scum. The fact this scum could not get at me any other way than by attempting to have my dog labelled dangerous shows him for who he really is!
I want to end this post saying I am moving through this episode, it has left a feeling of nausea in my stomach, but it will pass. I am so glad I am in a position I am able to understand why I do what I do, when I am triggered. It is almost impossible to explain that the very thing you are doing is part of a mental illness and if you could stop it you would. The episode has shown me for the first time a smell can trigger me. I should not be surprised. I am happy that I am able to see what my response is and I will continue sharing my story as I am not ashamed of having a mental illness. I work everyday at ways to move through and not overwhelmed and reactionary. I move forward ever forward. Small steps, tiny steps. I feel that one of the real turning points for me was learning that my reactions, my dissociation, blank periods throughout my life, all have empowered me to live! I am alive and happy to wake up each day. Even knowing that some end up like today. I own my feelings, my behaviour, I say I have a mental illness. I am actually weirdly glad I had my breakdown. I am more the real me today, than I was yesterday. Not trying to fit in, to be as others expected, think I should. I am OK this is just a small lesson. I am not fixating, (um at least I have stopped posting his photo everywhere on Facebook. I have not posted it here. I am not responding to the trolls on my posts, or anyone. I have said what I wanted, it impacted this scum enough to call the police. Tomorrow is another day. A glorious hot day, I am thankful that I can keep coolish, that I am still moving forward, thankful for my dogs.
For any new people reading my blog, welcome. You may have worked out that I kind of love echidnas. I have posted two previous posts about these awesome animals. I am so privileged to have at least one that visits my home.
Whilst I was reading and compiling the information on the previous posts, I began to notice some interesting things about echidnas, and me. The me who has been diagnosed with complex PTSD.
listal.com
We are both happy being solitary. We can both be prickly and dig ourselves in for self preservation. We both enjoy digging in the soil, a lie in the sunshine and will spread out out to cool ourselves on the ground, we both like to swim.
They burrow in when unexpected visitors(dogs, dingos, eagles, humans, ) disturb them, and will only come out again after a resonable period cautiously to make sure the visitor has gone. Then go back to what they were doing. Me I hide behind the curtains and don’t answer the door! I wait to be sure the visitor has gone and return to what I was doing.
Australian Echidna Image @Oceanwideimages.com Echidnas mating
They keep to themselves with the exception of mating…well no not like me I am not looking at a relationship at all. Being on my own is good. I have never had several males interested in me at any one time. I can totally understand why the female echidna prefers to be on her own. If only human babies could be looked after for a period of time and then be left somewhere and mum only has to pop back in once a day! (I know there is child care and boarding schools) I am not a mother. I do NOT dislike babies or children. This is a display of my humor!
We both prefer to hibernate during winter, but will move if we really have too.
Puggles are very cute and look cuddly but you cant cuddle them.
Puggle, (baby echidna)
In case you are concerned as we all should be not only for the loss of human life, homes and businesses, in the Australian fires so far this year, we should also think about the native animals and the rescue organsitations doing all they can to help those found injured and burnt. There is so much burnt land that the territory is not going to be able to support those that escaped and those that survive their burns and injury will be able to go back to.
This is a young Echidna who had buried itself in the ground, you can see how its spines are all one length where the fire moved over it, it has burns on its legs perhaps trying to escape it is being cared for at Wires.
Echidnas are perhaps a bit more able to survive, than say Wallabies and Kangaroos and especially Koalas. Echidnas will attempt to escape fires by going into torpor, echidnas reduce their metabolic rate and lower their body temperature. This, according to research published in April 2016, gives them an uncanny knack for surviving bushfires. … Echidnas often nest underground in burrows or inside fallen logs, which can protect them from the heat and smoke of the of the flames. In research conducted in 2013 researchers took advantage of a controlled burn being conducted by the authorities in woodland south-east of Perth in Western Australia. They identified 10 short-beaked echidnas living in and around the area that was due to be burned. They had tracked 10 echidna that were found with in the controlled burn area, fitted them with tiny GPS tracking devices and monitored them prior and for 31 days after the controlled burn. (source) http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160513-when-confronted-with-a-raging-wildfire-echidnas-go-to-sleep
However, while this chilled-out approach to wildfires may well give echidnas an edge, it does not work every time.
This #echidna caught our eye straight away, what an odd sight – what could have happened to its spines? But apparently the bushland around where it was seen had recently been controlled burned! EchidnaCSI @echidna_csi
During their study, Researcher’s team found three echidnas that had perished in the blaze. One was an animal they were tracking, which seems to have dropped into torpor inside a fallen log that caught fire.
Previous research has shown that echidnas can wake from torpor and move off at speed when threatened by smoke. In fact, another echidna resting in the same log woke up and fled – but its companion was not so lucky.
It is not just Bush Fires of controlled burns that impact Echidnas. Human day to day activity does. Echidnas being hit by cars and earth moving equipment digging up or flattening burrows, forestry, increasing populations moving into the bush as towns increase and tree changers move.
Catastrophic fires, the worst drought in history and record high temperatures are taking a tragic toll on native wildlife.
IF YOU DO COME ACROSS AN INJURED OR DEAD ECHIDNA (OR ANY NATIVE ANIMAL) CHECK ITS POUCH! If you can move the animal off the road, and if you cant remove the baby and its alive, contact your wild life rescue service.
Keep the animal warm: Keep the animal dark: Keep the animal quiet: Keep handling to a minimum: Do not provide food or drink.
My Christmas day was delightful we slept in a bit, I left my dogs lying on the bed. They might open an eye or raise a head a bit I ask if they want to get up…their response if very clear, so I cover Busby’s head over and pat them both. I leave the door open and I come downstairs, I open the curtains and see what the day has install (well at least the first hour or so ), turn on internet and TV, make coffee and some breakfast .
At some point I will hear the tap tap of Treacle’s paws on the timber floor as she comes down the hall, she stops at the top of the stairs and looks down at me. She waits for Busby and then down the stairs they race, tails wagging huge smiles on their faces straight to me. So thrilled to see me and say good morning! It is how all mornings should start it is very hard to be anything but chuffed with such love and delight in seeing you. Even if they only saw me 10mintues ago when I left them it always makes me smile or laugh at their sheer passion in seeing me.
After everybody has attended morning ablutions, the dogs will lay about in the sun greeting the birds, any neighbours walking by. I get my coffee and food if I have not already had it sit watch the news, and think what I must do today.
Next is the dogs favourite thing, their run. I get in the car, they race off up the drive. Busby is so good he looks for cars coming up the road. Off we go they run stop sniff, pop over to tease the neighbours dogs that they are free, and mark around their letterbox.
Onward up the hill sniffing spot and tracking scents, sometimes darting into the paddock I drive very slowly so they will catch up and pass me. The dam is always a spot that needs more sniffing. Often their is some extra special flavoured wallaby poo, that is enjoyed by both of them. Even though they have passed many this one is it! Further up the road we go. It is rare that we come across any other vehicles. We are known by everyone who lives here and the postman all know my car and slow down as they know my guys will be near bye. It always makes everyone smile to see them.
Past the pugs house who looks out the window and tells my two get off my property, don’t pee there ..I told YOU NOT to DO THAT. We pass by and he settles again. To one of their favourite spots to really stop and sniff and wonder in another drive way then off again up off the road into a paddock behind huge old pine trees sniffing and letting others no they passed this way.
We finally get to the journeys end where we stop and see if Busby’s bro Toby is home, and Miss Treacle’s man. Today they are both in luck. The gates are opened and Toby joyfully comes out and licks kisses and chews Busby’s mouth and ears, Busby looks so deliriously happy to see Toby, off they go into the paddock playing and licking and having fun.
just love each other
Miss Treacle sits waiting and I can see her looking towards the silhouette of her tall dark haired paramour, as he tethers the gate so it stays closed and he moves towards her and squats down she goes unashamedly and jumps up in his ready arms to be held and petted. It is a beautiful moment.
Miss Treacle just loves Cuddles with my neighbour
It always makes me smile to see the connection my dog and my neighbour have developed. This is the dogs time, and so we chat and watch the boys play and then Miss Treacle is put on the ground the boys are rounded up and we head home from whence we came. With some backward glances and Toby and Busby running along together with the fence separating them until the property boundary is where they must really part their looks say it all. This is a true bromance.
I watch driving very slowly as my two dogs are distracted by a smell on the road. I sit watching smiling as I watch, until they both begin rolling in something. Then I drive slowly near the dam hoping they will go in and have a swim, removing some of their new perfume off their fur. Along with a drink of water, to clean their poo scented breaths.
Wet coats and paws they are both now ready to race the last couple of hundred metres home. The speedometer hit 20km and they are way out in front. I let them go. We all go in our drive. Wet muddy paws and coats tongues hanging out panting tails wagging slowly they decide to abandon me in preference to lie in the sun. Which suits me as they will dry off and I can call them to the deck side of the house and brush the dirt and remove the smell hopefully.
I chopped some potatoes and put them onto boil for a potato salad to take this afternoon to the neighbours.
There is a lot of bird chatter not song, and I realise I am being informed in no uncertain manner that the bird bath is empty. I fill it, and go on to water the vegetable garden; it is warm already and only to get hotter. I water and notice that most of the seedlings I have put in are doing OK. With the hotter days they are beginning to spread and grow tall. The tomatoes in the garden are not so tall but have more flowers than those in the pots on the deck.
The corn is thriving as to the broccoli, a few of the beans have flowers already, and it seems that the capsicums have too. The poor egg plant I have moved twice has been in shock yet it is still alive and I noted a new small leaf. The cabbages bewilder me, they are not growing nor dying, they look healthy yet the same size almost as when I put them in several weeks ago. I picked a couple of asparagus and eat them as I continue to water and observe.
I hear a bird in the bird bath and look over and see a black bird enjoying itself so much water going everywhere. I notice the zucchinis and pumpkins also have a little new growth and my hope is with the warmer days this week they will begin to take off. Cucumbers are leggy one is not so good, I may loose it. There are two plants from last year that I think are chilies, they have a reasonable amount of new growth. The blueberries have not fruited as well as last year. I need to beat the birds to them. They got all the red currants, gooseberries and most of the jostaberries. The peach is looking good perhaps next week some will be ready.
The fig is growing and I still hope to have autumn figs. The passionfruit I transplanted is alive still and I followed a tip I was given to put banana skin in the planting hole, it was a good time I did it as I had two way to over ripe bananas. A bit of bash and smash the pulpy mass was spread into the soil and pushes about the root and planting area. Only time will tell. The apple trees have a lot of fruit at the moment. The plums seem to have no fruit, which is sad as they were covered in blossoms. I have a feeling the blackberries will be brilliant this year. So many flowers.
On my return inside, I take the potatoes off the stove and drain them, I add garlic sald and pepper, and some spring onion into the still hot potatoes, I mix them and add a bit of mayonaise with mustard to them stir again and I let them sit for a bit. I then place them in the fridge to chill.
I made and ate a chicken salad sandwich for my Christmas lunch it was perfect, with ginger beer on my deck with the dogs somewhere near, listening to bees working. I saw bumble bees, honey bees, and several native bees. I watched a dragon fly check out my flowers. Listened to birds singing and bathing. Watched a superb blue wren getting aphids off the kale ends of the flowers.
I than spent some time sitting in the sun cleaning my lemon and lime trees off aphids so mindful.
I had a shower and dressed in hang about the house clothes. I finished up the potato salad, called in the dogs fed them. I had a cup of tea played with the dogs outside, brushed them and we came back inside. They settled down for a sleep and I watched Netfilx. With another cuppa
I sighed feeling absolutely wonderful my first ever Christmas day spent exactly right for me. I felt no angst or guilt. I did not mind I had no gifts, since I had given none out. Yet others thought that was so sad. I need nothing! To many they will see me as mean, and sad. The truly positive and life changing thing for me as an outcome of my breakdown and diagnosis of Complex PTSD is I am strong enough right now to say no, I am growing more aware every week of what is best for me now. I have no children, my partners children are not much younger than me, and sadly my step grandaughter who I have known since the day she was born, is not part of my life as her mother requested. Christmas to my partner when he was alive was not a major thing as long as I made a fruit cake and mince pies (which he loved) that was all he ever really wanted for Christmas. To see his girls when they were available. no pressure.
The princes of the rurally cheesy Australian bushy Chrissy ditty, in their absolute prime. Their hot and dusty riff on the snowy classic is a pearler, and easily the best worst music video ever put to air by the ABC .. or anyone for that matter.
Santa again in a ute, cricket out the back, and trying to get all the family into the annual group photo. And by the way, while Bucko & Champs are princes, John is the king of the bush at Christmas or any time of year.
Don’t forget your incarcerated family this Christmas. As he always does, Paul Kelly poignantly and tenderly tackles a sad reality for a lot of Aussies
A cute adaptation of the classic, featuring various native Aussie wildlife and an Emu up a gum tree. But how did it get there?
or our final installment we offer up this traditionally styled Australian carol written in 1948 by John Wheeler and William G. James who composed a number of original Australian themed Christmas songs as an alternative to the usual snowy stuff.
Echidna Home 
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