Achievements

A slightly better day today. I still got fairly stressed and feel exhausted, but am more able to recognise achievements.

For a start I have had a llloooonnnggg round of phone calls to try to sort out damage caused by a rotten window frame. This in turn was probably caused by a leaky gutter. Having contacted our insurers, who then referred us to the national home builders association, who in turn referred us to the builders of our house, I then went back to our home and contents insurers. They have agreed that we are covered for the repair / replacement of our window frame, and for the cleaning or repair of our carpet. The carpet cleaners have contacted us and will come round to inspect tomorrow. The builders will contact us by Monday. So that was a big achievement.

I also contacted another builder for several smaller items - various household repairs (scary how it all falls apart at once) plus the installation of an electric shower for our daughters' bathroom. They also came round today. Let's hope that, unlike the last builders, they actually get round to giving us a quotation!

Added to that I have done the normal taxi run this morning - but husband collected them this afternoon, for which I am extremely grateful. And I have done something about the depressingly disgusting state of our house - I have tidied, dusted and hoovered the lounge and the downstairs hall. If I can manage the kitchen tomorrow that will make me feel a bit more in control and (hopefully) less of a slut.


Yesterday D, the psychologist I am seeing, talked about the importance of the sense of smell in triggering feelings of safety and my internal compassionate voice. This compassionate voice is very closely associated, for me, with my Grandma, so I tried to think of smells I connected with her. I came up with three - friesias, which were her favourite cut flowers, lily of the valley which was the perfume she wore, and roses which grew in proliferation in her garden. So I went hunting for essential oils and scented candles and have been experimenting with them today. I'm not sure it has triggered any specific thoughts, but I think it has contributed to me coping better and being more able to relax today.

I'm still knitting and have nearly completed my second scarf. I must take some photos!