Spyke
aussie.zone

I love everything about this picture. Teddy looks so beautiful and mysterious

6
aussie.zone

Odd time to eat but I did it.

Made burger and put it on a paper towel and lightly toasted bun kept it all intact.

Most painful part of all this is the cleaning up.

Patties are minimum 160g I reckon.

Here’s the minimalist burger. Essentially double cheese burger with bacon.

I’m full and stuffed now.

14
dumblederpreply
aussie.zone

Toasting the bread helps hold it together, much like CEO's frying it suggestion. I build my burgers between alternating layers of dry and wet stuff. Eg If I put pickles, tomato and mayo all together I'll wind up with a mess, but if I separate them with egg, patty and cheese; it all works out.

5

It definitely made a difference. I was able to squash it down and hold it in my hand intact for the entire time.

I sadly didn’t have much else to add to it so might look a little plain but boy was it delicious.

5
Duenanreply
aussie.zone

Just a humble if big double beef with double cheese and bacon burger.

3

!!!!! I never even thought of that. I might need a quick trip to the super market tomorrow

4

Oh man 😮🤤 I would lay waste to that thing right now! I'm a big fan of eating when you feel like it. I definitely feel like eating that burger!

3
aussie.zone

I used to watch alot of Man vs Food. That's where the idea came from. Glad it worked out. Yours looks delicious. You've inspired me to have burgers for tea tonight too. 👍

3

Thanks for the tips. It definitely was a better experience eating it.

I did forgo the hash browns just incase. The Pattie’s had a lot of oil come out of it. I’m sure that more than contributed to yesterday’s destruction.

3

The giant ageratum popped when I was away. Favourite plant not only because it looks nice but it's the first to wilt if you're fkn the watering up.

13
aussie.zone

Omg omg omg a RABBIT was in our side yard this morning! It's obviously someone's pet, so I've had to leave Mr P and Miniest to catch it. When I left for work, something larger than football sized and greyish moved in the undergrowth and scared the bejesus out of me. When I saw what it was I tapped on the window and said, "Miniest! MINIEST! Come out here!" She did and just stared and said, "Oh. My. God!" She came out to look and I threw it some lettuce from out of my bag. She said, "Why do you have random lettuce in your bag?" I told her to go wake her dad and tell him and he flew out there to see it. I can't really see how something that large entered the yard. Mr P just messaged me "it's magic, it disappeared." So that's my morning visit from a magic rabbit!

Edit: it's still there! Hiding under Mr P's man cave couch.

13
aussie.zone

Why do you have random lettuce in your bag?

That is a good question. We need answers.

12

I've got most of the fixings for lunch in the work fridge but not lettuce, so I decided to take some with me this morning.

11
aussie.zone

They don't teach you this in school but as an adult you can have pancakes whenever you want.

12

If my doctor knew the truth of it all I'd be in an asylum.

5
aussie.zone

They could always be those ones folded around a vegetable filling. You can’t get in trouble for that

4
aussie.zone

They'll find a way - too much salt, too much fat, too much sugar, not enough fibre - take your pick.

4
aussie.zone

My work laptop exploded so I get two hours free time while new one is set up for me 😀

11
aussie.zone

Monday discovery time. The top of my compost heap is thickly lined with tomato seedlings. Dunno what sort - might be punnet of cherry toms I chucked in there late last summer. Yay free seedlings.

11

Someone just left a large box of Hello Fresh on my doorstep. Commencing Operation Neighbourhood Doorknock now.

EDIT: Found the intended target. On another street, a different house number and different phone number from the one on the label (which was smudged a bit). Much gratitude all around. Scored some lemons from target household which was nice. And some early broad beans from another household that thanked me for doing the doorknocking thing even though they weren't the intended target. Today was clearly also the day for WGAC to deliver too, as a LOT of households had these boxes on their porches so to speak.

11

There isn’t a phone number on the label? Had this happen before.

2

Got some rewards out of the process - would do again I think even without those. Its a nice neighbourhood - we all help each other when we can.

4

vacuuming done and I did a really good job of it too, all the dusty corners I hadn't been doing because of a bad back are now done

fricken cat hair is beyond a joke too

10

People who live alone:

Do you always having something on in the background?

Personally, I listen to horror stories or SCP stuff narrated by YouTube people when I get home from work.

10

No. Traffic noise, bird song and the neighbours' music choices suffice for me. And the changes in the soundscape tell me the time and often the weather too. I've found as I got older that I just didn't need to have massive amounts of self generated/chosen sound to block out the world. I like feeling connected to what's going on around me. I may or may not participate, but I like my ears to tell me that there's a world outside my little house box just going about it's business.

When I do put on music or a radio programme, it's to really listen to it - background music etc. just doesn't do anything for me. Neither do films or games much.

8

I go through phases. When I am overwhelmed - no (or low ambient music) but often a podcast or audio book or even the radio as company when I am doing chores.

6

I'm alone much of the time and I often do, I have very bad tinnitus. 😖

6

Yes if possible. Weather tv, movie, radio, music or podcast.

I can’t stand silence when I’m awake.

But you’re also talking to someone who always use to have music on while even while studying for exams.

5

I'm almost always wearing headphones or earbuds with music playing. Shower with a waterpoof speaker too.

4
aussie.zone

Sometimes, if I'm feeling low or lonely I'll have some jazz on, especially if I'm cooking or it's cold or I need to motivate myself to clean. About 40% of the time I'll have some atmospheric/ambient music on when I'm trying to fall asleep. I'd be less likely to if someone was around I guess

3

I admit to filling the space with music or talk when Mr Seagoon isn't here.

3

Yeh - or I'm playing a game. YouTube, music or twitch streams normally. I also go to sleep with an audiobook on.

If it's dead quiet I pay too much attention to the sounds in other apartments around me, and also get too caught up in my own thoughts.

2

Mostly when I’m on my own I like to enjoy the quiet that doesn’t exist when my partner is around. But sometimes I like to listen to audiobooks or music when I’m doing house tasks to make it less boring.

2
aussie.zone

Started off my holiday with an evisceratingly bad case of the runs on Sat am and I'm just coming a bit better. Not cool, body - not at my aunties where there's a billion and one delicious goodies 😭 and I want to go on walks and everything and have energy... have been sleeping for long long hours. I need to just let myself thoroughly rest. Taken a while for my mind to uncoil itself

My aunt has really slowed down a lot in the last 18 months though, physically and even mentally a bit. It's a looming reminder that she won't be around forever. I'll feel rather lost when that happens.

10
aussie.zone

I’m trying to leverage myself out of this hole but going outside in my feral neighbourhood is actively making it worse.

If it wasn’t for Melbcat I kind of wish I would just die already. I’m not being edgy. I’m tired.

8
aussie.zone

Well that was unpleasant at this hour. Loud bang and the electricity tripped in the whole house. A heat mat for chilli seed germination has blown after 4 days of use turns out to be the root cause.

Now back to getting all my automation working again. ssh [email protected]... oh wait, wrong window 😁

8

Yeah, thank you. Fortunately it didn't start a fire. I'm slightly concerned that I have another 4 of these running and also annoyed that Amazon wants them actually returned rather than just issuing an automatic refund.

1
aussie.zone

Made a joke to my partner yesterday about racking off for solo week in Japan (well, probably just Tokyo) if I have a week off soon and it’s planted the seed in my mind and now I can’t stop thinking about it. If it was roles reversed, I’d probably encourage him to go.

8
indisinreply
aussie.zone

Are you accepting shopping lists that will not get through AU border checks?

Is yes,

4x Family Mart ham and cucumber sandwiches.

4x Family Mart egg sandwiches. 100,000x Suntory grape water (I've tried contacting Suntory, they apologetically will absolutely not deliver this to AU).

100x 20 Marlborough red.

Thanks in advance! And btw there's genuinely some ¥ hidden in Old Bar which should cover some of it.

Joking aside, are wanting the solo trip or is it just that your partner can't take the time off too? What're you thinking of getting up to whilst over there if you go?

4
aussie.zone

Would prefer to go with my partner, but he absolutely cannot have time off. And if I have a week off, I’d like to do something with it. I went to Japan last year with friends and it ended up being mostly a shopping trip, so I’d love the chance to wander around more of the Shrines and gardens and take a bit more time to explore the city. I’d prefer to save new adventures for when I can share them with him, but we’ve both been to Tokyo before.

Probably also eat my body weight in ramen and egg sandos.

3
indisinreply
aussie.zone

Absolutely or absolutely? I've found that taking a week off unpaid is barely noticable when salaried.

Tokyo is all new adventures IMO, and you must must must do this light exhibition which is walking distance to the highest bar in the city.

The gardens near Shinjuku are beautiful if you haven't been, and there's a great vegetarian restaurant 3-4mins walk away from the main entrance. The temples in Tokyo I found to be very tourist-y though, the experience is much better away from what you already know to be the hustle and bustle that is Tokyo. Also if you haven't done it already Electric City is bad... Those very young girls... :(

I'm waffling so I'll shut up. Also because you've made me crave an egg sando again and want to book flights haha

3
aussie.zone

It's his work's blackout period - delightfully, with our jobs, our blackout periods are back to back, which means 6 months of not being able to take leave together.

Keep waffling, I love talking about Tokyo! Yes, I would love to do Borderless! See, I missed out on seeing things like the highest bar, every day we meant to go to the top of the metropolitan building but it just kept getting pushed back. Did manage to do Planets though, that was fun! And I want to go back to an amazing ramen restaurant I found in Ginza.

3

Those blackout periods sound inhumane, I mean what if one of your grandparents dies for the 5th time and you need to fly back to the Arctic? Is that not allowed?

Ramen, GAhhHhh!! When I say spicy, I don't mean white guy spicy, I mean spicy. Yes, I've ordered the spiciest thing on the menu, there's a reason for that, please don't give me level ichi because of the colour of my skin and my poor language skills.

I can't waffle too much more on Tokyo as to me it felt like Sydney, whereas Kyoto felt like Melbs and a place I could live in. And Kyoto wasn't even my favourite place on our last trip.

Any ways, about those sandos... I'll send you an esky. I may or may not be hiding in the esky for a bonus holiday to Japan :D

3
Catfishreply
aussie.zone

Haha! I got a new favourite band and several decent book recommendations out of my online times. Some from guys I never actually met. It’s a multipurpose activity.

3

I understand how you feel. I find that a long walk near some kind of nature helps a lot.

Something else I do when things are getting out of control:

I go lie down on my back. I take 3 deep breaths and use gentle self talk to talk myself down from what I'm stressed about.

I've been doing the positive, nurturing self talk thing most of my adult life, and it really works.

6
aussie.zone

I understand. My what if machine only spirals in one direction, negativity. For positives it’s very conservative. For me the most effective way to get past it is to tell myself so what. If things get bad, well they get bad. I’ll accept it. I’ll do what I can to make sensible decisions and deal with what ever happens. It brings some relief to give your self acceptance/permission to just do what you can, and whatever will be, will be.

3
aussie.zone

My brain goes wild if I don’t occupy it with something.

A free computer game or a small project might help (if you wanted advice). If you didn’t just know you’re not alone

3
aussie.zone

I searched for lost rabbit posts online in my neighbourhood: nothing. I didn't notice any signs up around the neighbourhood either. Mr P is getting attached to it, so I'm trying to find where it came from, but also we can't seem to catch it. It seems to come and go as it pleases; sometimes it's under the man cave couch and then it's gone.. and then it's back! I even joined Facebook for the first time ever in an attempt to access lost and found pets groups, but there wasn't anything relevant and I got suspended after about an hour for violating the terms of use or Facebook "identity and integrity" rules or something..I didn't share enough personal information because I don't like doing that. No, I won't upload a selfie. No, I won't share my contacts with Facebook: it'd take too long to ask everyone's permission lol, which I know nobody does but that'd be the decent thing to do wouldn't it. Anyway, Magic the rabbit (Mr P named it) seems to be making itself -occasionally- at home in the tent, slowly getting closer to him. I didn't bother to tell him how I've been laughing all day at the "magic bag/lettuce" comments.

8
aussie.zone

Please mum, can we keep it? I'll look after it and everything. Pleeeeeese. 🙏

7
Duenanreply
aussie.zone

Sure. Just like the dog and the cat and the dead gold fish.

3

Oh sorry. My bad.

We were just sending it off to a better place.

2

Lol not a big fan of rabbit as a meat, a bit gamey for my taste. Some of the old blokes around Merri creek in Brunswick East used to catch the rabbits and make a stew that looked and tasted a lot like a cacciatore. Always thought it'd be great with something other than rabbit.

2
dumblederpreply
aussie.zone

I found a domesticated parrot type bird and found the owner via calling the local vets. Any chance the rabbit has an ID chip in it?

3

I've gotta catch the little beggar first! Otherwise that'd be a great idea. Maybe if it comes back and Mr P gains its trust enough to catch it. It's disappeared for the evening again.

2

Time to start thinking about frocking up for the Brownlow tonight. I'm going fancy- clean trackies and jumper respectable enough that I would wear it outside.

7
aussie.zone

Amazingly woke up at a reasonable time today after having a decaf coffee late last night.

I need to get more next time so I can have a nice evening coffee even if it’s instant from now on.

6
aussie.zone

I have another 8 jars of gherkins now to go with the other 8 jars of gherkins. I've ran out of room in my pantry so I have to store them in the garage with my other collections like a prepper

6
aussie.zone

If they're not made in Poland or Germany, they're not worth the storage space. Homemade get a pass.

I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL

7
aussie.zone

Fresh one every day, or just a single one, left to rot away in the elements like my mortal coil?

3
aussie.zone

Heading back to melbs today. Happy with how much shit I pulled out of the garden and no injuries (that cold ocean does wonders for inflammation). Will be leaving the chillos to fend for themselves for a week. True leaves getting a bit bigger! Will have to think about next steps soon.

Which brings us to the monday rrave.. Come on chillos stayinit

6
indisinreply
aussie.zone

Just habs again this year mate, or are you trying something new?

3
Seagoon_reply
aussie.zone

I've got 6 jalapenos sprouted but they are growing so slowly , I might plant some more seeds as I use lots of them.

3

Chillies love heat to grow, and so this time of year in Melbs sucks for them, especially at night because of the weather.

As I said in a below comment I'm going to have upto 140 plants to give away for free towards mid October. Lots of them are hotter than Jalapenos though, but there are some on the milder side.

But defo start more yourself, you can never have too many plants, especially ones that you can eat!

2
indisinreply
aussie.zone

Do you find that anything over wintered doesn't produce as much fruit, or is it just me being rubbish at managing my N & P balances?

Also if you want to add some variety, I've got 200 cells on the go and only room for 60 plants (built in redundancy) so I should have spares to give away.

Started late as Ms. Indisin needed us to go to Bali and so they haven't sprouted yet.

3
aussie.zone

200 damn! Always up for a chilli swap :) Are you putting in ground or pots?

I've found the habs and cayenne don't produce the same amount or grow back as big. The thais seem like troopers. Overwinter very well, decent heat and have a longer season (although start a bit later).

2

I don't have a car so it would be pick up only and I'm starting from seed and even with 3 seeds per cell, with exotics and unstable varieties you know how that goes... So 200 rapidly becomes 90 and I wanna keep 60. Or 200 becomes 200 and I'm up shit creek and need more friends haha.

Pots and in true Northcote hipster style - glass jars, which surprisingly work great for smaller varieties. I've found that pequins for example thrive in tiny jars or pots and look gorgeous littered around the house. Although... I have had to release ladybirds inside before to deal with aphids lol.

My Thai ones seem to only produce about 25% the following year so I think I'm going to give up on over wintering unless I try and bonchi again. Everything is from scratch this year as I couldn't look after them last season, barring one indoors one which refuses to die (some purple exotic and bird eye level heat).

You doing hot sauce again this year?

2

Just did a home delivery shopping order, it makes me get up and do the chores because I have to 👍

5
aussie.zone

I planted the zucchini seeds out in paper cups, 3 in each to thin later. I might get some sugar pumpkins and stakes too.

I have no clue how well this is going to turn out in the size of pots I have but I really need to be doing something constructive and my brain thinks of that as growing food

5
aussie.zone

Zucchinis are great to grow. Pretty hands off really. They can get stupidly large if you let them run.

5

quiche is nearly finished baking, simple avo salad has been made.

And in all the groceries I bought today I chose all the low fat low calorie options. 👍

5

Sleepy because straight after getting back to Melbourne last night and with a 5am wake-up this morning, I still stayed up to watch the F1, couldn't miss Danny's last race. But oh man seeing his post-race interviews this morning... when even the interviewers are crying 😭

I agree it's time for him to step aside, but still not an easy watch for someone who's been a fan of his since 2011.

5
aussie.zone

Watched the last episode of the Grand Tour last night. We were both pretty cut up. I know its better to go out on a high and all that, but man I really dont want to live in a world where there isnt one more special on the horizon. 22 years, most of my damn life they'd been doing it.

5

I thought they ended it well, still clearly 'scripted' but not TOTALLY over the top, and you could tell they were genuinely enjoying themselves. Nice way to close it all off at the very end too.

Between this and Danny Ric it's been a helluva fortnight for us motoring/motorsport fans. WHO IS NEXT?!?

3
aussie.zone

looking at clothes I would like to buy is good motivation to stick to good eating habits

5
Seagoon_reply
aussie.zone

I hate to admit this, pics of overweight models are good motivation 🫤

2
aussie.zone

Beep Beep 🚚
🍏🍎🍐🍊🍋🍈🫐🍓🍇🍉🍌🍒🍑🥭🍍🥥🥦🥑🫛🍆🍅🥝🥬🥒🌽🥕🥐🍠🫚🥔🧅🥯🍞🥖🥨🧀🧇🥞🧈🍳🥚🥓🥩🍗🍖🫓🍕🍟🍔🌭🥙🧆🌮🌯🥗🍲🍜🍝🥘🍛🍣🍱🥟🦪🍥🍘🍚🍙🐠🍤🪼🦀🐙 🍗🥮🍢🍡🍧🍰🧁🥧🍦🍨🎂🍮🍭🍬🍫🥜🌰🍪🍿🍯🥛☕️🍵🍺🍶🥤🧋🧃🥂🍷🥃🍸🍹🧉🔋

3
Seagoon_reply
aussie.zone

Toast the buns, lots of whole leaf lettuce is on the bottom layer on the bread as it protects from juices.

3
Duenanreply
aussie.zone

No lettuce available. Will toast bun to see if it helps.

2
indisinreply
aussie.zone

I think I got the wrong order chef!

(First time ever despite my trolling since our reddit days. A Birmingham Balti is a UK thing and typically uses chicken breast, only place you can buy one in Melbs is BaseCamp in Northcote. Loved the factory / coal power plant though :D)

2
Tofureply
aussie.zone

A Birmingham factory’s Baltimore crab is what you must enjoy

2
indisinreply
aussie.zone

Haha, I can't stomach even the thought of crab atm. We were recently in Japan and at one of the places, every single dish included crab; try eating 8 courses of crab and then being faced with crab for breakfast.

"Crab with a side of crab with crab souffle" to paint a mental picture.

Ms. Indisin was nearly in tears when she asked them to take away the nearly full crab bucket and they apologetically said that the next course was also crab. I'm getting flashbacks typing this lol.

Thanks though!

2
Tofureply
aussie.zone

That is unfortunate. In that case we shall replace crab with Baltimore’s Old Bay spice.

2

Movie review time. Gun Shy. omg ...lol The story is familiar, is lunacy, the characters insane or stupid, and it's a totes homage to Leone. Parody of Sopranos perhaps.

makes me lol so much that the critics were upset at the fart jokes but all the depictions of graphic psychopathic pointless violence and murder were ok.

3 hobbits

2