Where Has Amber Been???

Hi Everyone

Sorry it's been so long since I last wrote - I hope at least some of you remember me. I do plan to do fairly regular blogging again now so tune in.

The bad news, for me, is that I have have spent 6 months in hospital over the last year with psychosis and depression. Fortunately I had a wonderful psychiatrist who I am now seeing as an outpatient as well.

I also had a lot of support from my church, my friends and my family and I feel I am so lucky for that. So many mentally ill people seem to go it alone. Personally I don't know how they manage.

In hospital I also started doing two hour quiet times with God using journals, prayer books, bible studies etc. This has helped me immensely. Even though I don't know why He allows me to suffer so much I do feel He is there with me.

My big achievement, so far, is giving up smoking. So far it's been two and a half weeks. I am using patches and chewing gum together as I was such a heavy smoker and it's working. Sometimes I crave a cigarette but it usually doesn't last long which is fantastic! Please pray that I keep up the good work!

I have also moved house into a housing commission flat. I am very happy here. I have more room to move and my landlord (the state government) basically leaves me alone. I am close to services and the rent is cheap too. Jessie (my beautiful cat) is also much happier.

I am starting up my writing again. I attended a poetry workshop on Sunday which was great and am going to go to classes starting this Thursday. I have been keeping a journal too and may share some of my entries with you - I hope you like them!

Last, but not least, I am continuing in my studies at the Polytechnic. If all goes well I should finish at the end of the year. After that I intend enrolling in an online Postgraduate Diploma in Christian creative writing.

Anyway, that's all from me.

Amber