Hi, Sov! Looks like I've been missing out on a lot, but a speed read catch up shows that you are putting in the hard work and it is paying off. Super impressive, well done!

Somewhat relative:  

I've had a couple of slightly productive days recently.      Thanks, possum ❤️      Thanks! I wonder what I would actually like? Saving energy is so urgently important to me that I don't really look forward to outings at all. 

Looking good! And I watched England, too. Glad they got through, might be a second favourite after Germany (Harry Kane plays for Bayern and England is just a natural second choice for me given that Australia doesn't really play soccer).

Sorry I was absent last challenge, but I am here this time! Inexorably drawn in by your on-point alliteration!

Ahhh the fawn is adorable with its spots. 

Thank you AP. It is ALWAYS great to see you ❤️   Yes, you are likely right there. I think i am constantly so worried about hurting feelings, and i do feel under pressure to be 'strong' for my mum and sister. Which is laughable really, as I am the one who cant bare to talk about it.    I might try to call her this eve. It is overwhelming for me though at times. I wish it wasnt.    Thanks a lot for helping me see it a different way   xx

Hi, Sal! Here to follow again, though I cannot guarantee that it will not once again morph into silent lurking because staying current on the forums is sometimes just beyond me.   I obviously don't know your mother at all, but I would push back a little on the idea that she is disappointed in you. She might be disappointed that you did not join her and your sister, but that's not the same thing. It could just be that she is your mother and she loves you and she wishes that you were in a better place where you could participate in reminiscing about your dad without it being so intensely painful. Wishing you were in a better place does not equate to wishing you were better person, though. Those are very different, and while again I can't claim to have some magical insight into your mother's feelings, I do think there's at least an even chance that your depression is interpreting things in a way that they were not intended because depression is sneaky like that.   Anyways, your pictures of Bronze are great! Glad you both got to go enjoy some sunshine.

There seems to be something about my hair that makes certain women think "I want to turn their hair into french rope"   I couldn't get close enough to the b word for spell check to help, so sure, hair gets roped and when tired, I lye down.

Same, and also, it was this structure that attracted me to this place.   PICKING UP HEAVY THINGS FOR THE WIN! This is the Work. Anyone who tells you it's easy is selling something, but I suspect you've been here long enough to know that already. and now I'm thinking I might retool my challenge, or how to frame my next challenge . . . . but I digress. Again.   This is solid. I have no numbers to my reading goal, just want to read more for personal enjoyment (because grad school things are burning out my time as well as my reading life). I just finished Firebreak, and it's a super-quick read, as are Kornher-Stace's others (Archivist Wasp  and Latchkey). I have Flight and Anchor, but haven't read it, and I might give that a whirl. In case you are taking recommendations.  They are avialable on kindle and I'll gladly gift you a copy. Your local library might have a physical edition.) Dang, @RES. I swear we are living a parallel life.   Warriors, can you count? I can dig it!   And, because the Universe is full of serenditpity and loveliness, this has been in my head on a loop for the last 24 hours:   Hey @RES: Wanna BeatSaber?