Hi Matchy,

I'm sorry to hear that. Did he have the Astra Zeneca as that was one of the risks but rare.

Hi Mark, It's scary times.

We just do what we're told and hope for the best, was that from booster or original vac? Jt must be very stressful for u having Ur brother had that experience.

I am hearing many ppl feel sick after the booster but I'm sure ma y ppl also feel OK.

I wander if there's a difference between moderna and Pfizer.

Stay safe all x

Yeah bet it would be Matchy.

How are things are where you are anyway , any Covid around or ?

l'm not crazy about the booster and tbh l'll probably stall a mth or two Omicron may well have fizzled by then. Not around people anyway except locally for a very fast shop and thankfully we still have very little where l am, laying low nonetheless through this one let me tell ya.

rx

Hi Matchy,

I can understand that, you must be upset. Is he OK? I hope he recovered all right, a nasty thing to happen and frightening.

Hi Hanna my brother seems ok now but he has taken the next 2 years of work which I thought was a bit strange as he is a minister.His wife is still working part time as nurse at a hospital.I thought their was something wrong when I tried contacting him and I didn't get a reply but my brother can be like that.One of the blood clots moved that was near his heart and he collapsed in the hospital.They said he was very lucky to survive.I understand people now who don't want to get the vaccine and are scared to.We should be kind to these people and not having the society split in two.

Hi Matchy

That must have shaken him up badly, maybe two years off will help him recuperate, it would have affected him physically and mentally.

I think everyone has to weigh up the risks and benefits. I would have preferred the Pfizer but in the end decided for me the risk of the virus outweighed the risk of Astra Zeneca. I will have a booster in February.

I guess I was working in hospitals when the HIV-aids virus was rampant and a needle stick injury was a death sentence, and young men were dying everywhere, and it was such a relief when the scientists worked out treatments. So I'm thankful for modern medicine. I have a friend who is a microbiologist and she said the world wide collaboration on developing the vaccines has been incredible.

So people have to make up their own minds. I figure life is full of risks and we're in danger every time we drive the car, so I'll get vaccinated and exercise sensible cautions with the virus especially because of the demands on hospitals, but I'll still try to make the most of being alive! I don't want to hide away in fear.

Maybe your brother will do a bit of part time work when he is feeling better. He must have had a terrible time and no wonder it had a bad effect on you! That must have been dreadful for you all. I'm sorry you all went through that.

Yeah Matchy it's all fine, different life experiences = different perspectives that's all. It's to be expected.

I do wonder how they will keep the schools open as teachers are bound to get sick unfortunately. It was so nice here when the kids went back to school and they were all in school uniform again and with their friends.

How do your kids cope with the mask wearing etc?

I'm off to bed but will try to come by tomorrow but I have a long drive to another town so a long day!

Stay well my friend! 🙂

That's great anyway he's ok then and that there's not much where you are. Up where l am we've had hardly anything this whole 19mths untillll, Dan decided ok, your all free. Now there's tourists everywhere up from Melbourne and there's a fair bit up in my main town. Fae as l know none in my immediate town but you never know who your beside in the super market or who's just walked through bc heaps of tourists stop here on their way through.

My thing with the vax is not that it's usually not safe , they mostly has been. But they aren't that effective as you've said and l'm expecting them to just wanna keep popping us with booster after booster if this thing keeps going. So l'm taking my time and laying low instead. l can go to plenty of places up here and do anything l need to do without rubbing any shoulders so to speak so.

rx

H all

Rx it is a bit funny with the continuous boosters. I'm over this whole thing, and hate some of the lecturing and judgement that crops up at times.

Fully understand and empathise with ppl Wary of the Vax.

I had to get it to attend medical appointments so no regrets.

I relate to marks daughter...I like to wear a mask.

Hi all , hi sleep/

Funny l don't really mind the masks either which is very strange for me bc l do not like to be confined or restricted in any way whatsoever , l can't stand even wearing a belt. But the masks , apart from being too hot this time of the yr. l've had some really funny times with people, just two eyes sticking out and we've both just chuckled , things like that. But eh , l also often joke to myself that at least l can curse someone now to or be in a bad mood and they won't see it.

l dunno when l'd be due for a booster , might check one of these days but l'll wait until at least Feb anyway , see where we're at then. l'm that damn sick of all the media and hr long pressers to but this things gone that rogue l just have to see some numbers which usually entails sitting through some of it.

rx-

Earlier l used this daily summery on ABC think it was on about 11ish , 5mins and you got the lot. lt just seems to be scattered everywhere now though and you end up sitting through rambling pressers and all this rubbish you don't wanna hear God knows how long just to see the numbers.

rx

Good on you Matchy. And I’m pleased to hear not everyone is judgemental about those who are un vaxxed. I’ve made an appointment with my gp to discuss the vax as I’m very fearful of it. I’d rather chat to my trusted gp than rock up to a clinic and have a panic attack.

Im also currently focused on improving my fitness, eating better, and meditating. I’ve also decided to reduce the amount of time I spend reading or listening to the news. I’m sure this will be more helpful :)

Hi Mark, thanks for sharing. I can see what u mean about seeing the vaccines from both sides.

I am pretty sceptical and see how it's been rushed.

Hi rx...I'm similar ! I've never worn a belt and hare scarves, watches, things that feel constrained. Love the idea that we can secretly say things under our masks!!!

I think it makes connection interesting when u have only spoken to someone through a mask.....I don't follow or know the rules of masks these days. I just generally wear them, indoors and out, and hope for the best. Except when I take a sip of coffee I take it off, feels funny though for that one second....

Hi all,

Haven't posted for ages as have found some bias and judgement which is not good for mh. However have been reading and sorry to read of your stories MM and Matchy. That sounds really scary.

Have been avoiding msm as fear is terrifying me. Already had anxiety pre Covid and off the charts now. Here in SA we opened borders in November and everything changed.

Services are refused to the unvax, essential services for medical, dental, physio, mh etc. Some allow for telehealth but not the same for ppl. It is a 2 tiered society. Most ppl seem to be v fearful. And angry.

There is a lot of 'i did the right thing and got the jab'. As if us against them. As if one group of ppl are better ppl than another. I agree with Matchy and Sleepy to look at both sides. The drs and specialists i know say the biggest group of ppl not vax are actually due to medical and/or fear. And yet they just get labeled as anti vax. Which i find is unhelpful language thru all this.

There are ongoing boosters and unknown and uncertainty and ppl losing work. Good, essential workers that at the beginning were praised and now unless fully jabbed are unemployed and labeled anti vax. And yet the same profession can soon work in nursing homes with the vulnerable even infected with Covid. It doesn't make sense. I know if i needed hospital care, i would welcome any nurse or dr to attend to me. And now our staff shortages are even more.

Thanks Shell for your posts. And ideas to take our minds off this. Some ppl it is all they talk about and it is so draining and fear promoting. And ppl asking each others vax status as if it is any of their business. It has brought out the ugly in ppl. Most ppl i believe are trying their best.

It certainly is hard in a 2 tier world; who could believe Australia would be treating its ppl like this. And states against states. Instead of a united nation. So much power, control, fear. Rules and more rules always changing. Friendships lost thru lockdowns, mh supports lost or compromised, businesses struggling or worse.

I have been at home almost all the time, most apts online, and calling the helplines daily. I have zero interactions with others due to all this Covid fear everywhere and apts switching largely to telehealth in SA. I had another Xmas alone. And can't remember the last time i sat down and talked to another human being. I am 39 yo... this is not life or living. There is more than Covid. Surely i am not the only one who feels this way and over it.

Hi Golden,

I'm a few years younger than u and also feel in a way our age group has been heavily influenced by this time in a hidden way.

Unlike teens or early 20s ppl, our social lives are fragmented and transient anyway. I speak only for myself but isolation came really naturally to me and I felt forgotten forgotten alone most of this pandemic.

I don't judge anyone for being anti Vax, or assume that any one who is wary is anti Vax. Vent away. Censorship is scary and unfair, I feel so,ef the most caring and sensible ppl have also been asking questions and trying trying keep safe.

I am severely traumatised by lockdowns and occasionally traumatised by ppl lecturing me about lockdowns as if they know my life and assume I'm uncaring of others just because I need to vent.

Good to hear from you again Golden....

no, you are not alone in feeling this way. I am very similar...if you scroll back a few you'll send my latest posts. I cant bear it any more either....as from Day One when I voiced the opinion that "nothing spreads like fear"...of course it is proving true now. The best way to control anything ...or anyone...is through "fear" I am in Qld and from the beginning our leaders in press conferences etc have tried their hardest to instil FEAR into our population...guess what! It has worked! Therefore they have ultimate"control".

Their response to citizens who are and were never "afraid" of covid and didn't get vacced.....was to segregate them into the "clean"and "unclean" refusing them entry into cafes, pubs, cinemas, sports stadiums, restaurants and so on.......they were not "afraid".....this is now their punishment!

I don't think I will survive this intact...if it ever comes to a conclusion... I will never be the person I once was...never! I get where you are coming from Golden.

Hi moonstruck, hope Ur keeping well.

I did see today a store with a sign saying even if ur drinking a coffee, no masks off here! Consistent...at least.

Hi Mark, Lucky u can go to Ur own Dr....that's so nice. Hope it's an easy experience.

I'm not eligible til next month. I would like to go to my pharmacy and don't mind. My drs clinic hasn't been so helpful during this time.

When I got the Vax I booked in with whatever doctor I could,find on hit doc. The Dr didn't even do it, jt was a nurse, and he charged medicare 40 dollars for it, he didn't do anything just typed on his laptop...

Hi Mark, nice one , sounds good!

I'm so grateful that I can get support and see my health professionals through this time.

I find this time now very intense Re covid.

Hi Matchy and All,

It concerns me to think where we are heading with the vaccinated and those who chose to not have the vaccinations for what ever reason.

Within my work place I have seen the ramifications. Medical exemptions are accepted, morals are not.

I'm not doing so well with the lack of contact with people. My work place has requested that as we work with vulnerable people, we are advised to reduce all unnecessary contact with people.

I've offered to catch up with friends outside but they don't seem willing to do so.

I parked my car in a shopping centre so I could see people!

That's so sad, Doolhof, just think of you sitting in a car park to see people. I'm sorry your friends sldso, do't seem to understand better & try to accomodate your needs & meet you outside, somewhere. It's so hard realising just how much we humans all need each other, & now, because of a highly infectious virus, we're having to be taking such great care to distance ourselves even from people we care much about.

We con't usually give it a second thought. We assume, we'll be seeing these people again, soon enough, perhaps even too soon. But now, even for people like me, who haven't been used to relying on seeing people all the time, it gets to us too. This has highlighted for me, like never before, how important are social connections. I begin to understand about how upset some people have become because of not being able to maintain their familial & friendship connections, even to the extent of cirumvnting border restrictions. I admit, I didn't have much sympathy until recently. Now I'm not surprised at all.

& that is why I'm wondering about why your friends aren't willing to make more of an effort to meet up with you as you have described.Have you tried to specifically ask them why they won't make as much effort to see you as you would to see them?

mmMekitty