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

Kay, you may or may not know that I suffered badly with depression at university and it has come back to haunt me a few times since. I can definitely confirm that chocolate is much better than alcohol, that friends can be utterly useless at times but are wonderful to have around and that reducing the amount of stuff you do can work wonders. It might be best to stop working for a while, particularly if you're not in desperate need of the money.

Can you bake? I always find that making biscuits is helpful. It occupies your mind and your body in a relatively simple way, you can put music on when you do it, you get to scoff the end results or share them with other people and make them happy. If you do a recipe that involves creaming, do it by hand. The intense stirring is very therapeutic in many ways.

Or sing. Even if you don't really feel like it. Even if you're not good at it. Sing anything. Something uptempo or a sad slow ballad. Singing is unbelievably good for mental wellbeing.



David

What? You can't get them at Boots?

Yes, that was about the just-add-water self belief packets.

Oops. Kat, I do know your name, but 'y' and 't' are next to each other... And as Milla said, take your time over the - it seems to work better.

It's cheaper than booze, too.

Apparently not! I even searched on google for "just-add-water self-esteem" and it gave me zip

Coffee!!! A MARVELLOUS suggestion! A cup of very strong, very milky coffee is now being prepared. Although part of me is wondering about whether it'll just make the anxiety worse?

Work...now this is a funny one this. Technically I'm not desperate for the money, if only because I'm so tired with school that I don't have the chance to spend it! However, I'd like to be doing something that isn't school-based and does have an immediate reward. I'm a very "instant gratification" person you see

I would try chocolate but at the moment I can't stand anything sweet. I go through phases where I crave sweet things and eat loads of chocolate and other times when chocolate makes me puke. Most odd...so I'll give that a pass just now, although I had a bit of spaghetti bolognase for lunch which was very comfy.

Oh I forgot to mention! I did my music theory exam last night! It went reasonably well I think. The only problems I had were with the Italian terms and that was just...unfortunate, rather than actually something I could/should have revised more. So I reckon I've definitely passed, and whether I got a pass, merit or distinction is immaterial because I only did the exam so I'll be allowed to do my grade 6 practical

What other good things? I changed my tshirt, underwear and socks today After...a fortnight So now I've just got to tackle my jeans and sweater.

Grade 6?

Grade 6 is excellent. I doubt that I could pass any grades of music practical or theory. I can sing (can you do singing exams, and how on earth would they pass/fail you?) but I just don't understand music at all. I can go 'ooh look, a key change', but it means nothing to me. I can sing a lovely song or the tenor line in a mass or whatever, but I don't 'get' it. So mucho to Kat!

(*finishes A6647376 and waits for google to turn up*)

Congrats Kat, that's great. I have no muscial talent whatsoever, I couldn't conceive of that!

Nice, Alex!

Grade 6!!! It does sound rather cool doesn't it? You can do graded singing yes! It might be worth looking into actually David, because you then have something to show definitely that you can do x,y and z and you get spiffy certificates etc...also you expand your ability and knowledge. For example, I can play pieces but my scales etc are awful, as is my aurel work. Doing grades forces me to address those things.

Actually that's a thought...I shall go and find the CD so you can hear what I'm playing...

Okay...nobody tell ABRSM that I've done this...

http://www.geocities.com/happytincbh/Chopin_PreludeBflat.wma

http://www.geocities.com/happytincbh/Feelin_Good.wma

http://www.geocities.com/happytincbh/allegro_sonatinaEflat_Op19no6.wma

And thanks for that Alex...it made me smile and that's important to me. In fact! I'm going to link to it so I have it to look at when I feel bad.

I can't play the tracks - I'm on a Uni PC - is the Feelin' Good one related to the song by Muse?

Aww bum! You might like them Alex so try and find one that will let you sometime.

Unfortunately the Feelin' Good one is nothing like the Muse track It's a jazz piece...a bit like what you might find in a pub restaurant actually

I'm afraid only the second link works...

*ignoring the music*

Not sweet choc. Bitter, at least 75%cacao. More if you can take it - 'Black Death' choc is 99% I think, but not very nice. 85 % can be good!

*strolls back to ignore w*rk some more*
*chuckles at Alex's page...*

Chocolate? Sweet?

You want the cooking chocolate. If you're in Sainsburies sometime then its probably just opposite the eggs. Go for at least 50% coco solids. If you get the really really dark stuff then its nice to have a couple of squares, then a little bit of white wine (the cheap stuff is fine for this), then more chocolate.

I shall investigate chocolate possibilities. It's surprisingly hard to get dark chocolate in my area without getting on a train or bus

Ooohhh I've exceeded my data transfer That's...interesting! Never happened before when I uploaded pieces. Give it a while and try again. If it still plays silly buggers then I'll upload the pieces to individual accounts...being a I've got several website accounts.

Glad to hear it about the exam, Kat! Sometimes, just having that much pressure off can work wonders!

Oh- and if coffee makes you jumpy, I recommend a good cup of chai. It doesn't have any cafeine in it, but it still tastes good.

Don't forget decaff