h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi SS, we are not trained in dealing with mental health issues, but you don't have to deal with things on your own. If you're affected by self-harm you may think that you can't talk to your family or your doctor about it, because they won't understand, or because they'll judge you. However, there are people who understand, and who can help you to stop hurting yourself. There is information about self-harm, and a list of useful organisations that can help on the Surgery: Health - Healthy Mind site at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/surgery/advice/body_mind/everyone/self_harm/

You can also find out more on the BBC Health website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/emotion_selfharm.shtml

Also, as others have already suggested on site, you can speak to someone at the Samaritans if you're struggling to cope at the moment. As you know, the Samaritans is an organisation that was set up to help people through difficult times.

Phone: 08457 90 90 90 for the cost of a local call. Website: http://www.samaritans.org Text: 07725 90 90 90

h2g2Editors

Thank you the Slanty ones and others, however I am NOT about to top myself and off to library and to buy more TCP, actually. So relax all cause stress can make yer ill, lol!

The Samaritans *don't* just deal with folk who are actually feeling suicidal; they are there as someone that anyone who is in any sort of distress can call. They are totally non-judgemental & it really helped me to simply have someone listen & ask how my situation was making ME feel, rather than pointing out the effect my behaviour was having on other people.

Good that you're off to the library, nice calm place with lots of info, usually lovely & warm too; is it cold where you live? We've had major freezing fog here in Ireland, just after major snow & ice

zdt

Blinking freezing this morning in England and had to go in garden as half inch of ice on waterbowl so birdies were thirsty!

Thick ice and freezing here too SS, but sunny with it. The was amazing last night ;-D

I have had dealings with the Samaritans too, for someone else, and they are very good.

Websailor

What sort of birdies do you have, SS? We have here, a whole family i think, hanging from the seed hanger, plus in spring we got three (!!) sets of swallows in the barn, lots of blackbirds, more robins than i'd ever seen in one place...but we also get lots of crows, which are vicious if a is sick, we have to chase them off.

Don't seem to get sparrows here in Ireland, yet i remember in UK they were the commonest birds. Do you get many? (I don't know where you live)

zdt

Sparrows out on street, in garden~ tits, G S Woodpecker and Green, Goldcrests, Goldfinch, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, etc.

Terri, sparrows are few and far between here now which is very sad. Partly I think because so many peopled have taken hedges out and put fencing in.

I think SS lives somewhere in the SE of the UK and gets some different birds from me. You can see some of 'my' birds here if you every have the time in your busy schedule. You know I envy you your hands on lifestyle

http://www.flickr.com/photos/websailor/

Websailor

Part of my street has hedges on both sides and most of it a hedge on one, so many sparrows chatter all day!

Those videos are ace, Webby. for sharing them.

How are you getting along, SS? I hope things are improving, mate

Awesome videos, Webbie...to imagine all that going on in a Brum back garden; you have more wildlife there than we do here i think as far as mammals go.

SS, great to hear you have so much birdlife, do you feed them or have a wild garden place? Goldfinches, greenfinches are becoming rare, brilliant that they come to you!

zdt

Thanks mags, I will be ok. All those birds have always come to my garden and although I started feeding in a small way a year ago the reason they come is the oaks and lopped Leylandie hedge. The peckers, Goldfinch, Goldcrest and Chaffinches dont use the feeders, however a pair of G S Woodpeckers last year dug a treetrunk nest near my window and raised 2 young!

Mine is a suburban garden but has many wooded parks and reservoirs locally. I try to feed the smaller birds only mainly, except in snow when ground feed for all.

Aww...isn't it amazing when they realise someone/something (however birds think of 'our' species, i don't know!) will be there for them, to help them through the cold, hungry winter.

It's very cold here right now, i have to keep making sure they have water (breaking the ice on pond & dish) since water is necessary also. Plus the fat ball is good, extra energy source.

Wish i had one myself, gas is frozen, not enough electric for mini-oven, i'm a bit hungry for hot food!

Do you have OK cooking facilities where you live, SS?

zdt

Its a first floor flat , with great garden view, so heating ok. The snow ground feeding worked too well and had 30 woodpigeons, it looked like a chicken farm they are so big, lol!

Hi folks and HELP!

The ongoing saga of Dad continues with a diagnosis of Dementia with Lewys (sp?) bodies. He seems to be going downhill at a fair rate, but is there anyone here who may have a relative in a similar situation? I only ask as we are getting absolutely no help from the NHS people regarding what care charges may be paid by the state and which others are down to the family. They keep asking for his national insurance number and two utility bills, and I am keeping them at arms length at the moment because all they seem interested in is "How much does he have in Savings" and "What is his house worth"
Has anyone heard of an EMI assesment? This is something else we only found out about yesterday - apparently it helps determine the level of government funding for his care, but we are only seeing small bits of detail when we really need ot get the whole picture.
If anyone out there has had a relative with Dementia issues and has found their way through the maze of disinformation, I would really value hearing from you.

Thanks guys and girls

I can only suggest you get in touch with the Alzheimers Society. I am sure they can give you some advice:


http://alzheimers.org.uk/



Websailor

Scroll down and there is a lot of info, including this:

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Hope this helps

Websailor

Thankyou for that - will have alook tonight. There are so many sites out there to trawl through though!

Much appreciated!