The Mental Debt Struggle...

Crazycatlady2

I get my glasses from glasses direct online, Ive 3 pairs from there and DD did too

KajiKita

To be fair Keedie, I’ve only heard of people ordering glasses online for the last 5 or 6 years so way less time than you have been using an opticians! 

The great thing about here is the pooling and sharing of knowledge. We are all learning from each other 😊

KK

beanielou

I would not order my first pair of varifocals on line. Just my thought. 

Keedie

Wow, £1,300 @Makingabobor2, that is quite a hefty sum. But the eyes are so crucial to everyday life so we need to do the best that we can to preserve our sight. 

I'm a bit slow at times. I realised that the frames I found are actually my current reading prescription and the bent ones is from the time before that. I've discarded the bent ones, and I'm trying to get into the habit of using the two different glasses. It's not coming naturally but I'm trying so that counts for something.

I think I'll go back to Specsavers and speak to someone who isn't trying to upsell me. That woman was rather pushy and I want to see if they have a specimen of varifocals, as I'm not so sure about them now. I went on the Specsavers website and realised that there are 6 different types, and they're actually supposed to check your measurements and line of sight to get the best one for you. That woman just straight up told me it's £180 for varifocals, which isn't true as they start from £40. Nor did she tell me about the offer of 2 for 1 on varifocals. So I'm starting to wonder if they get some bonus commission or if she's in some competition with her colleagues, as when I arrived her colleague was checking me in. Then the pushy lady saw my blue TfL 'please offer me a seat' badge on my coat and all but dragged me to her station to check me in and then when I was all finished, she wrote her name at the bottom of my paperwork for the glasses. Not sure what is going on there.

But looking into it more, I might have to agree with @beanielou, that I need to get the first pair in person. As I need to be able to ask questions. And be able to go back if there are issues. I might even be more confident to order them online once I've properly gone over everything. But if not, I can then reglaze them online when the prescription changes. The website @LittleMissDetermined shared looks amazing, but I'm not good with change and I'm not very daring, so I'm scared to pick the wrong thing or type 🤦🏾‍♀️.

I managed to get a Salter slow cooker in the middle of Lidl aisle yesterday. Very exciting stuff. No clue how to use it or any recipes I'll try, but I'm looking forward to the impact that this will have on meal planning and meal prep. It's a 3L capacity and my mum thinks that's way too big for just me and my son. And it most likely is. But if I can get my head around cooking and freezing portions of food, then it'll actually be just perfect.

I've been rather dejected because I'm so tired all the time. I've been lucky in that my pain is only about 70-80% of the time at the moment, but the fatigue is wiping the absolute floor with me. I feel so so weak. But I just have one more day of work and then that's out of the way until next week. Yay for small mercies. I'm still operating at a snail's pace 😬. But slowly getting quicker (well that's not strictly true, I'm just somewhat not as slow 😂). I have to keep being gentle with myself, as I am miles behind everyone, but I've also been off for nearly a year. So there's that 🤷🏾‍♀️.

Tuesday next week is my first day in the office and I need to tape that engine tray thingy under the car, so that I can drive to work. I may hate driving, but the thought of trying to do that commute via 2 buses and two tube lines is the worst option. And the disabled parking space is directly outside the building I work in. I'm rather anxious about it all, but trying to talk myself off the ledge. I'm not really 100% ready to see anyone's faces in person. But, what else can I do...? Everyone has been so nice to me since I've been back and they've been very patient. So I don't mind seeing them on principle as my colleagues aren't bad people. I just feel somewhat embarrassed about being off for so long.

Yesterday in our wider team meeting, they were talking about some pay dispute between the unions and our employer. Apparently the unions have asked for a minimum of a £2k pay rise backdated to 1 January 2024 and a 6.49% pay rise from 1 August 2024, when the annual pay rise is due. They were all a bit up in arms about being so underpaid, but I actually think we're paid well for what we do. I certainly wasn't going to say anything of the sort though. I am feeling the pinch of the cost of living crisis like everyone else, and I know some of us are struggling more so than others, but I think we get a fair wage for what we do. Obviously not if we're being exploited like I was, but it seems like that type of behaviour has been eradicated.

But anyways, the unions were given the offer today and will circulate it to their members, and then from Friday the rest of the organisation sees what's what and the unions have until 4 April 2024 to agree or challenge it or whatever. I'm not in the union so I won't know what is going on before Friday. I'll see what the deal is next week when I'm back at work. But I'm not complaining about a pay rise, even if I don't actually think it's warranted in terms of the work we do (providing people are only doing what they are employed for). Voicing that goes against all of our own interests. And my opinion wouldn't make a blind bit of difference to the process and I've not said a word to my colleagues.

Apparently, we're getting an interim pay rise from 1 January 2024 either way, and that will be backdated and paid in our May 2024 pay. It's the value of that pay rise that they're quibbling about.  

Cherryfudge

Re: varifocals, you may already have seen this. They give you 100 days to report any difficulties. That said, I didn't have any when I switched to varifocals. I think you're right to take someone along to give you feedback, though.

Keedie

Yes I did see that 100 day support thank you @cherryfudge. And it gives me more assurance doing it all face to face for now too. 

Just got a notification on my phone about the mental health carers support group that my council is doing in conjunction with Mind. It's for carers of people with mental health conditions. Thankfully I put things in my diary as I get so easily confused. I thought I had a meeting with the Mental Health Practitioner today but it's next week. And I completely forgot about this meeting at 6, so I need to get out of the house and go to that.

I've started itching again so I know that I'm becoming unwell as I tend to itch in the weeks prior to a hypomanic episode sometimes. So I need to work out what I need to stay well. But I'm running out of steam and struggling to sleep. Hopefully the meeting this evening will help me to support my son better and get some tips on what I can do for him to support me without being a burden. Oh the joys of living in a household of poor mental health.

I think today will be a take away evening, low and cost effective as my brain is too frazzled to cook anything.

PennysIntoPounds

Going back to Specsavers when you feel ready sounds like a good idea, then you can be confident in trying the more mse online option

Slow cooker sounds a good investment, especially if it'll help you have portions of food in for when you're tired and sore

Sending gentle hugs that you're feeling extra tired and ouch and becoming unwell. You have nothing to be embarrassed about going into work, you've taken a stand on behalf of all workers! 
Wise to not say anything to upset any payrise issues though 😁

Hope your meeting was good for you, and you feel supported and better prepared. You're not a burden. Enjoy your takeaway x

Aimingforthegoodlife

Good news on the possible payrise, sounds promising. Im sorry you are starting to feel unwell, work sounds like it has been ok, but I think it has been a huge stress to go back in the first place. Enjoy a well deserved take away, hope the meeting is informative!

beanielou

Would it be possible to get support from the support for work people with transport to work ie taxi.

Also I think you should join the union.

Take care of yourself  xx

Cherryfudge

Just wondered if you could ask for your phased return to be adapted to reduce the pressures, perhaps go in but then WFH or something? I'm wondering if the itching is a response to being back at work and being about to go in for actual office time, though it might well be like going back after a holiday where you just slide back into place. I expect they will be glad of your experience though and you'll need to keep your boundaries in mind!