I enjoyed chat this morning, Wednesday for me,Tuesday night your time. It was good that there were a mixture of survivors and caregivers that came along. We are here to help each other. The caregivers can tell the story from their side, the hardships of changed finances, the burden of constant care, the great feeling that your survivor is just that a SURVIVOR and you can be happy he/she is still with you. The survivors help the caregivers to round out the picture, what if feels like to be a survivor, the frustrations, the difficulties, the struggle with OT,PT, the affect of many medications on the body. It is good to get an insight into what goes on each day for them too. Of course it isn't storytelling, more like a hint here and there so you may have to go to many chats to fill out the picture.

Thanks for all who come into chats prepared to share. Chat is not somewhere where it is all grim either. You should be on some Fridays nights when we are all a little crazy and the fun is on. That is good too because most of us miss out on that relax after work that heralded the weekend. And if you are not a good typist and have trouble following the flow it doesn't matter. In any party there is someone who is a bit quiet for some reason and if you can encourage them to type a few remarks in , good for you.

While I was in chat Steve Irwin's memorial was on too so I missed that. I know that Bessy and Cindy were watching as they made comments about it. Luckily I can go to one of our news sites and saw most of it in video replays and not doubt it will all be on the news tonight. Steve Irwin was a one-off but I've known a lot of blokes like him in the country - enthusiastic, in-your-face, a little too loud maybe but good at what they do. As Aussies say:"True Blue". They are what Australia was built on, before the investment brokers and the politicians and those who value the "bottom line" and not what it is for took over.

And I thought how lucky I am to live in Australia, a somewhat classless society, where we still help the under-dog, the battler, the "poor souls". I hope it stays that way and people aren't judged by what they have, or how much they make, or how many of our resources they use up, but how much they contribute to our general well-being, how they bring up their kids and how much time they are willing to donate to help their communities be good places to live in. To help your mate is still a value to hold on to and I am proud to be an Aussie.

Ray and I have had a good week, we had a couple of bad ones so it is nice to have this slow-down time. I could do a lot of things this afternoon, there's always plenty of housework , ironing etc to do but maybe I won't today. Maybe I'll take some time today to think about life and how valuable it is, to think about Ray and how glad I am that he has survived those seven years past the major strokes. And to think about all the people I value the most, my family and friends.

Feel free to drop into chat on Tuesday nights. It might be in the Caregiver room but it is chat for everyone. We talk about so many topics, for over two hours today people came and went and the topics changed with the people. And maybe it will take you some time to ask all your questions but eventually you will get some of the answers you are seeking.

Don't sit at home lonely. There is a wonderful life all around us. I think that is what people like Steve Irwin have to show us, the wonders of nature. But look in the background too, all the grasses and trees were there long before he found them, they are there for the rest of us too. Look out your window and even if the sky isn't blue and the sun isn't shining it will be soon. Lucky, aren't we?