It’s an icy, rainy day in the Victorian Central Highlands and my pain and brain fog are moderate to high enough to stop me writing but not creating! Oggie and I are spending the day knitting a snuggly coat in a beautiful, rich alpaca yarn direct from the lovely people at the Bendigo Wool Mills, who source from well-treated animals. There is always something useful to do when you live a slow lifestyle and being useful is both vital to mental health and the first thing that goes when illness takes you from the workforce and a ‘normal’ life. There is something empowering about clothing yourself, similar to growing your own food. I’d make teaching these kinds of skills a part of therapy for chronic illness and give subsidies for tools and supplies as therapeutic benefits – you know, if I ruled the world 😊