I'm not the sort of person who shares memes but it encapsulates my current view and why I'm doing all this. Also it just really struck a chord.
Day 7 is complete and I'm feeling stronger than an ox. Well, I was born in the year of the ox so I guess it fits. Still off the alcohol and Mr Peeler accepts that there's no tipple to be had during the day. It's doing us all good!
Quitting vapes has been easier than I thought. God what a fucking waste of money. GP bulk billed my telephone appt. Amazing weather. Cats are happy. Friends have been in touch, they're both related to my old workplace so I do have some nice memories and reflections of it finally. I still have daily violent fantasies of kneecapping or bashing the brains in of the person there who sexually assaulted and harassed me and also undermined my work but I think that's part of the healing process. I hope I don't see him though. I'm a pacifist and he can probably fight, but it might be ugly.
Work was good, took my colleague for some driving practise before their license test tomorrow. She's another trans woman and working with and chatting with her has been fantastic. I'm not saying cis people are an issue to work with as my boss and other colleagues are also wonderful, but talking to someone who gets almost every bit of what I'm experiencing because they're experiencing too is really nice. She's also not at all the stereotypical trans woman either so we can also bitch about the gatekeepers and the lack of a real trans "tribe".
Another kinda busy night of aa and such and some food, then bed before 9. Fuck it's nice to feel like I'm in control of my future and my plans keep coming up milhouse.
Thanks Seagoon, once again, someone in aa gave me an answer to potentially rid myself of resentments of things I can't change the outcomes of because they've already fucking happened. and that's kind of the point. Today is good.
Bought myself a bag of dim sims to steam at home so I'm not paying $2+ each for them from the places near here. Had some for lunch. Am pleased *cabbage fart*
Finished my ten sessions with the psychologist last week, they sent a report back to the GP with a recommendation that I see a psychiatrist for an ADHD diagnosis. The GP gave me a referral and I followed up. It's $1000 just for the initial consultation, and hundreds for each subsequent appointment. WTF! Plus I can't get in until at least December. Is it any wonder there's a bit of a mental health crisis in this country when support is so expensive.
In case you (or anyone reading) didn't know, many people can get up to 5 further rebated sessions with a psychologist through a GP Management Plan + Team Care Arrangement. Your GP needs to set it up but should be familiar with the process. The rebate is a bit less than the MHCP one.
If you're in the SE, I can recommend my psych. My initial appointment was free under the Medicare thing, and then every appointment is like $150 something I think? It's more than $100 but less than $200. Wait times are I think maybe a month or so? But it could've changed since then as he only does appointments every 2nd Saturday which is annoying tbh.
I've been playing the psychiatrist waiting game too but strongly recommend getting as many referrals out there as possible at least starting with general psych and not just ADHD specialists. I got lucky after pushing my GP to send more referrals out, ever though it was just for general psych it turns out there are other psychiatrists that don't advertise as specialising in ADHD per se (because they'd be swamped), but can still actually do the assessment and prescribe medications accordingly, and are reasonably familiar with differential diagnosis. (I quite specifically didn't want to start off with a specialist but somehow have ended up on this track) I got my first appointment within 8 weeks of my renewed push, x1 followup after 3 weeks and final assessment 6 days after ( next Monday).
Two things - firstly check what MBS item number each appointment will be under. The actual diagnosis appointment where they give you a treatment plan should be an Item 291 which has a much higher Medicare rebate - $427.75. That might make the fee less scary, if that's the $1000 appt... If it can't be done in one session they may use a combination of Item 296 (rebate of $246.00) and Item 306 (rebate of $173.60) first.
Second, don't forget to check your Safety Net threshold for the year by logging into Medicare. It's easy to hit it reasonably quick if you've been doing psychology sessions with large out of pocket fees. Once you hit it the psychiatrist sessions are heaps cheaper. I hit my threshold in June so was out of pocket $45.80 for my first psychiatry session (item 296) and $60.25 for my second (Item 306) - both over an hour long, and very extensive, cost $475 each.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write that and for sharing your experience. The response I got from the psychiatrist's office did mention the Item 291 rebate, and that was in the context of an "opinion only" referral, which, if I understand correctly, means the GP manages the medication going forward. If I have follow-ups with the psych it's $375 a session, with $125 rebated. I'll check out the Safety Net, I wasn't aware of it. Thanks again.
De nada, it's such a confusing mess that I'm happy to share what I know. You're absolutely right about your original point that it's still so cost prohibitive to get mental health support thigh.
Thank you! Will check it out. I'm at the point where I need answers and help, I've lived with this for too long, mostly unknowingly because I spent a decade between '97 and '07 getting off my tits on stimulants. That's not a thing in my life now and the reality has come crashing down in recent years.
I was in that place when I asked my gp for a referral and by the time I'd heard back my adhd had settled down a lot, to the point where I wasn't in such need of treatment. Knowing if it does flare up again I can see someone quickly is also very reassuring. I'd check landsharkkidd's option first though, saving 1200 dolareedoos...
I'm at some stage this year going to look at coping mechanisms. Also definitely going to look at going to that SE clinic mentioned above, as I might also be on the autism spectrum but 2 grand is not really something I want to fork out when neither of my potential neurodivergences are really getting in the way of living a good life at the moment and I'm dealing with being in the early stages of transition and that definitely has had impact on mental health in unexpected ways.
Doing good! Wish I was out in the sunshine but am thankful I get loads of blue sky viewing from my desk.
Reckon I'll go to trivia for the first night in over a month tonight. I haven't missed it, but wouldn't mind a pub feed and a chat with the randoms.
Struggling today a bit to be honest. Just a bit flat and over it all. Bit of a nervous energy in my shoulders and just... yeah dunno. Dont wanna sit still.
They will not be allowing any new connections. So if there is a gas connection you could get a new stove, but you couldn't connect gas if it wasn't already there. If you build a new house on the same spot you also won't be able to connect gas, even if there was a connection for the previous house.
I think economically a gas connection would be a very bad choice at this point - it is no longer the cheaper option to run anything, and it's only going to get more expensive over time.
We have an everything crisis, really. As far as energy goes I think it would be a safe bet to assume that sometime in the near future everything will be electric, including cars. At some point I expect you won't be able to buy gas appliances, and then some time after that they will shut down the gas network. The same situation for petrol cars and wood stoves & heaters. It won't be overnight, but that's the way things are headed.
Older blokes: is it a requirement where you have to grunt and groan your way through a visit to the office toilet? I swear to god some of them sound like a match at the Australian open!
It wasn't me. I avoid pooping in public, especially at work, unless it can't be avoided, and if I'm that desperate it definitely isn't a struggle coming out!
My new commercial portable hotplate arrived yesterday, so I've been testing it out this morning. It works really well with my pressure-canner, so one of my biggest concerns about a gasless cooking future has been solved. Because it's portable it also makes my preserving setup a bit more flexible which is nice.
So good to hear that you liked it because its like no other frozen meal I've ever tasted. Now you must spread the word far and wide because I never want this to be discontinued.
I'm guessing you tried it in person? I used to be fairly meh about pillows but after this last neck and shoulder nonsense I'm now far more sensitive about a pillow with good support but also enough loft to keep my head elevated enough that I have less chance of reflux
Well, I bit the bullet and decided to get one as well - the place I'm at has a memory foam pillow that is so much nicer to sleep on (I used to hate them) and I'm sold. Curious about how the whole gel thing works though.
Feel the warmth sunsetting behind the pinkish clouds
As evening falls into deep blueish purple dusk
Music playing, a gig for free, singing out loud
The notes drift up, his voice drones lowly busking
Cool breeze blows back and forth slowly wafting
Scents of cuisines from countries never seen
I breathe them in and dream of beaches gleaming
Of mountains snowcapped, of ancient cities sleeping
Waiting for my footsteps.
Found a new series to watch called Hijack. Didn't read anything about it except it stars Idris Elba and it seems to be about a plane being hijacked. Timely viewing for someone taking an international flight in 12 days.
Without trying, I regularly seem to watch plane crashes in movies I watch while flying. Often it's in movies that you don't necessarily expect to have plane crashes in them just from the title.
I've also noticed that in flight movies never seem to include plane crashes - but that is understandable.
Opinion: croissants are delicious just as they are, adding things to them (cheese, ham, jam) makes them a little bit worse. Give me that buttery goodness unadulterated.
The moon was absolutely beautiful this morning. Driving home just past 7am, the sky was clear, the fields were steaming and the moon was giant and glowing and glorious.
I've been up for half an hour and the temperature inside is up to 20 degrees. I've had crappy heating for so long this is a revelation. Old heating would have taken hours to get that high (and on cold days not managed to get that high at all) plus cost a small forturne to get there.
It's absolutely wonderful. I am looking forward to being able to study and not have fingers so cold that I struggle to type accurately!
The cooling over summer is going to be great too - I have had airconditioning, but it is noisy old box units that are so old it's amazing they still work (they were old when my Mum moved in 30 years ago!). It will still have to fight against poor insulation, but my estimates are it could end up saving me about $600 a year on electricity.
If ypu've got a standard roof, its not a MASSIVE job to get up there and install some additional insulation bats yourself.
Best tip for the splity though, get the WIFI module so you can control it with your phone. Then set up schedules so it comes on before you get up in the morning.
Unfortunately the main lounge area is a flat extension, with no access for exta insulation there. It also has a lot of windows - basically one full wall of full length single pane glass. Which is great for having a view, but terrible for heating / cooling. At least it is south facing and not getting any direct sun during summer.
There are timer options built in to the system just using the remote, so I can do that without an extra app - I've already got it set to come on in the morning before I get up for work tomorrow. 😀
Wait till you spend some time in a house with proper insulation and double glazing. I stayed overnight at mine last night to save the drive back to town today and nearly sobbed from how cold and miserable it was even though it's the warmest, least shit rental I've lived in my whole life. I have been ruined
@RustyRaven@just_kitten I'm fortunate to have a house that was built for alpine conditions, so the insulation is exceptional. I want double glazing too, currently making do with less than ideal plastic cover on Velcro over the windows (like properly sewn ones designed for this use) which does help a lot, even though they look a bit naff.
I am addicted to making my own chipotle mayo at the moment, and I really need to stop. I just have it with everything, I probably even smell like chipotle.
I decided to go for a walk outside earlier, because the weather was nice. Now I can't stop sneezing 🤦♀️ I just wanted to enjoy the warmth and now my brain is making it's grand escape out me nostrils ughhhh
This rant/whine requires some backstory.
::: spoiler Backstory
When I got married a few years a (pretty sure I've said this in the past?) I took my wifes last name cause her family are lovely and my family are... well... A holes. All my friends and stuff know me by my new name, anyone who doesn't basically doesn't know me any more. it sort of became a bit of a cull of old "friends" and stuff since I don't have Facebook I don't really have a public presence any more. Which TBH, I like.
:::
This morning was my 3rd encounter with someone from my past in like 2 weeks. The previous 2 all used my old name so before I even saw their face I knew I didn't wanna talk to them. Fortunately the guy this morning didn't recognize me (thank fuck cause I dont have nice things to say to him at all). But why am I suddenly running into people from the past? No offence to these people, but like cant we just pretend we dont know each other? We're not mates any more so why do we have to exchange pleasantries? Just nod so that we recognized each other if you have to acknowledge it at all.
No need for the: "Oh man whats new?!" "well, a shit load actually, but we're not really mates so you dont know that hey"
I know I know, I sound like a grumpy entitled arsehole.
Lunch product review - Pork banh mi at Midside Vietnamese Bakery in Bridge road. Salad - poor, no pickled daikon or any onion, only carrot & cucumber and coriander and I was asked if I wanted chilli. Meat - very poor, stewed, fragmented and tasteless. No crispy crackling either. Far too much hoisin sauce. Bread - good. Nice crispy baguette roll of moderate size and good flavour. Not quite as good as the tiger roll at my local but pretty good. But the kicker is (and will cause me to go back from time to time) is the liver pate on the roll - bloody marvellous! Completely legit and one of the best I've ever tasted. Cost $10 (without chilli) takeaway.
Next time will order a liver pate roll with some salad and no sauce. Might not be a classic banh mi but who cares. That liver pate is divine.
It's Odin's day, eye twinkling with delight
One pale blue star on a clear Winter's night
His smile knows more than his eye belies
He'll keep his secrets til the day we die.
Once again, a much longer day than intended, but I just want to mention this extremely, extremely lucky but cheeky situation that made the drive home slightly less painful:
::: spoiler city road jackpot
Was heading down Swan St--> City Rd and realised the queue to turn left onto Power Street headed back all the way before the St Kilda Rd overpass, and there was no way I was gonna be able to cut in or bother waiting in such a long queue, so I figured fuck it, I'll cruise in the middle lane and maybe get onto the Westgate at Port Melbourne instead
But after rolling right past this insane queue, some kind of hidden instinct kicked in and I slowed down just so I could be first at the lights at Southbank Boulevard, 200m from Power St - took a look at the big heavy ute to my left, and thought what the hell...
...so the microsecond the light turned green I absolutely gunned it and changed lanes to the left, with plenty of space before the ute.
And so I got home without having to inch along on City Road full of hate and frustration - although I do feel a bit guilty for still cutting the queue somehow.
:::
I promise I'll never do it again 🙇 hopefully this is the last peak hour drive I have to do out west. I don't know how people do this daily
It has some real solid moments. There’s a fabulous moment in the second series where Martin Short’s character screams and throws something into the ceiling. It’s so good.
So part of my job, I have to like... cold email business so they can join the website my work looks after. And I've been emailing back and forth with this one guy for almost a month now. Even called him a few times to talk, and yesterday someone bought a particular spot that this other guy was asking about.
And obviously we can't promise spots, it's like a first in best dressed situation. So this one business buys the spot, and we let him know that the spot he wanted is taken but if he wants to be in another spot we're happy to do that.
But he emails back like pretty much entitled af like "I don't want to be in a spot below this small business. My business is this big and and we have this many things" and I've emailed back like "sorry dude. Payment went through, this spot is great take it".
This arsehole just went and replied all (his associate was in the email as well) but said "hi associates name" and pretty much said like "I don't want to be in a lower spot compared to this smaller business. I don't want to work with them (meaning the business that my work looks after) if this is how they conduct business".
Such a fucking arsehole. Like it's so demeaning to this other business just because they're not as "big" as his business, and again, we can't promise a spot. He's dicked us around and wasted our time for almost a month, like... Ugh.
I am genuinely devastated about the allegations against Lizzo, I always believe the victims in stuff like this and I'm so sad that someone who was supposed to represent light, positivity and body positivity could be so horrible, she really meant a lot to me. I can only hope that somehow these allegations aren't true but I'm so sad for the victims as well. I've been crying on and off since finding out.
I definitely take it seriously, it's horrible. I hope the victims get some sort of justice. But I'll also hope deep down for it to not be true because as I said, she meant a lot to me as a person.
Says I. As I juggle a water and a coconut water to the coffee table all for myself, where there's already an emptied mug of water with lemon slices. Do we all suffer from table full o' beverage holders syndrome?
This morning I almost got done by a muppet running a red light.
Also this morning, I witnessed a semi trailer tailgating a car... literally like 1.5 meters (less than 1 second) at 100kmh, as well as a few near misses, on the Eastlink.
I tell my wife to do 5 instead (and double that in poor conditions), because frankly speaking, 2 seconds isn't much if a turkey somewhere in front decides to conduct a brake check.
Her colleague was involved in an accident on the m1 this week (she is ok but very shaken up), caused by a brake checking idiot a few vehicles ahead.
I had a change of career a few years back which meant I was less on PT and more on the road in my car. It quickly became apparent that given a choice, many Aussie drivers will do the wrong thing, be it running red lights, tailgating, sitting 10k under the speed limit in the overtaking lane, failing to indicate, or even making sure their car is roadworthy (no brake lights, bald tyres etc). It seems to be a combination of poor driver training (L/P platers getting taught their parents' bad habits) and a sense of entitlement.
That said, the authorities don't really help matters. Every road I drive on is fucked with potholes, the traffic light system seems deliberately designed to shunt drivers from one set of reds to the next, and the speed limits on major roads are frustratingly slow - it's been almost 60 years since the UK introduced a 70mph limit on the motorways...that's 112km/h...yet here we are in 2023 with a max of 100km/h on most freeways. Ridiculous.
New brushes have been attained. I need new ones because I use small ones now and the only 2 I had were getting worn out. As a beginner I would use big brushes and do big characters, now I do small characters. ( small is more difficult ) . This is a good thing. 😊
I also went to a little gallery and saw some lovely work. There was a water colour of a kookaburra and some really good scrolls of ancient Chinese script.
The brushes are soaking in tepid water as we post. 😊 The bristles are glued in a big point for protection so you have to soak them, open them, to get the starch out before you can use them.
Someone rang my doorbell twice and knocked on my door about 10 minutes ago, didn't answer as it's just a bit fucking weird to do that at this time of night and turned my lights off. If it were my next door neighbour or my neighbour from across the street they would've identified themselves in knocking and same with the police I feel. Fuck it's been a weird night. Lol.
How soundproof are semi detached townhouse strata complexes?
I'm kind wanting to buy something to live in, in the west / north, with a hard limit of $550K. However my priority is getting something where there can be jam sessions.
Oh definitely. Not perfect but any additional insulation and padding will help.
Egg cartons on walls work really well actually. I would imagine windows as well.
Checking in, DT fam. Hope you’re all well.
Sky pretty.
Oh hey, I can see my house from there!
That’s a great photo. Love the colours in it.
Doing well but sleepy.
Hope you are doing ok as well.
oh wow, that is beautiful.
🧡💜💙
::: spoiler Some evening cat relaxation for y'all :::
teddy is still munted as.
Awww.
That must be so comforting having kitty there like that with you.
It's theraprrrrreutic <3
Purrrrrrfect ❤️
I'm not the sort of person who shares memes but it encapsulates my current view and why I'm doing all this. Also it just really struck a chord.
Day 7 is complete and I'm feeling stronger than an ox. Well, I was born in the year of the ox so I guess it fits. Still off the alcohol and Mr Peeler accepts that there's no tipple to be had during the day. It's doing us all good!
Have a great day all!
Your progress is awesome!! I love hearing about it!
Quitting vapes has been easier than I thought. God what a fucking waste of money. GP bulk billed my telephone appt. Amazing weather. Cats are happy. Friends have been in touch, they're both related to my old workplace so I do have some nice memories and reflections of it finally. I still have daily violent fantasies of kneecapping or bashing the brains in of the person there who sexually assaulted and harassed me and also undermined my work but I think that's part of the healing process. I hope I don't see him though. I'm a pacifist and he can probably fight, but it might be ugly.
Work was good, took my colleague for some driving practise before their license test tomorrow. She's another trans woman and working with and chatting with her has been fantastic. I'm not saying cis people are an issue to work with as my boss and other colleagues are also wonderful, but talking to someone who gets almost every bit of what I'm experiencing because they're experiencing too is really nice. She's also not at all the stereotypical trans woman either so we can also bitch about the gatekeepers and the lack of a real trans "tribe".
Another kinda busy night of aa and such and some food, then bed before 9. Fuck it's nice to feel like I'm in control of my future and my plans keep coming up milhouse.
Thanks for reading.
big hugs 🤗
Thanks Seagoon, once again, someone in aa gave me an answer to potentially rid myself of resentments of things I can't change the outcomes of because they've already fucking happened. and that's kind of the point. Today is good.
Fantastic! 💜💜
Thanks oh ye of the starch.
Oh mah gourd oh mah gourd oh mah gourd. Tonight's dinner was incredible and I got 4.5/5 yum yums from the family.
::: spoiler My dinner ::: Image of a bowl of homemade beef pho with noodles, bean shoots and coriander.
That looks sensational!
Thank you. It was really good.
Yummy. I could do with a hot bowl of noodles right now. So nice and comforting in cold weather.
What sort of noodles have you used in your dish?
Also gimme gimme gimme!
A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT!
WON'T SOMEBODY HELP ME CHASE THE DARKNESS AWAY‽
DLOOO DLOOOO DLODLOOOOOO DLODLOOO DLODLOO
I wish I could double...even triple...upvote you for the sheer effort that went into nailing the DLOOOs :)
I 'sing' along to them everytime haha! I could never leave them out 😅
Stud, may I suggest the series Gimme Gimme Gimme with Kathy Burke. I think you will love it.
They are flat rice noodles.
Oh ok. I don’t think I’ve seen them that colour before.
Are they infused with anything?
My broth was dark so when I cooked the noodles they took on some of the colour.
Gees that looks delicious. I just might have to learn how to make that.
Bought myself a bag of dim sims to steam at home so I'm not paying $2+ each for them from the places near here. Had some for lunch. Am pleased *cabbage fart*
Yup. I agree. How did you end up cooking them?
I like to air fry them to make them a little bit crunchy but not too much.
Unconventional but I do enjoy them like that.
The worst farts I’ve ever smelled in my life were from our old dog after we gave him a dim sim to eat. They nearly peeled the wallpaper off the walls.
Finished my ten sessions with the psychologist last week, they sent a report back to the GP with a recommendation that I see a psychiatrist for an ADHD diagnosis. The GP gave me a referral and I followed up. It's $1000 just for the initial consultation, and hundreds for each subsequent appointment. WTF! Plus I can't get in until at least December. Is it any wonder there's a bit of a mental health crisis in this country when support is so expensive.
In case you (or anyone reading) didn't know, many people can get up to 5 further rebated sessions with a psychologist through a GP Management Plan + Team Care Arrangement. Your GP needs to set it up but should be familiar with the process. The rebate is a bit less than the MHCP one.
If you're in the SE, I can recommend my psych. My initial appointment was free under the Medicare thing, and then every appointment is like $150 something I think? It's more than $100 but less than $200. Wait times are I think maybe a month or so? But it could've changed since then as he only does appointments every 2nd Saturday which is annoying tbh.
Thank you. SE representing! Open to your recommendation. Cheers.
rip your inbox 😂
Surprisingly enough it's been pretty quiet.
It's stupid that I have to pay so much to just get a script though. Ridiculous.
I might look into getting an ADHD coach, but those are super hard to find someone qualified to work with.
Can't your gp write a script? Or do you need to keep seeing your pysch?
I've been playing the psychiatrist waiting game too but strongly recommend getting as many referrals out there as possible at least starting with general psych and not just ADHD specialists. I got lucky after pushing my GP to send more referrals out, ever though it was just for general psych it turns out there are other psychiatrists that don't advertise as specialising in ADHD per se (because they'd be swamped), but can still actually do the assessment and prescribe medications accordingly, and are reasonably familiar with differential diagnosis. (I quite specifically didn't want to start off with a specialist but somehow have ended up on this track) I got my first appointment within 8 weeks of my renewed push, x1 followup after 3 weeks and final assessment 6 days after ( next Monday).
Two things - firstly check what MBS item number each appointment will be under. The actual diagnosis appointment where they give you a treatment plan should be an Item 291 which has a much higher Medicare rebate - $427.75. That might make the fee less scary, if that's the $1000 appt... If it can't be done in one session they may use a combination of Item 296 (rebate of $246.00) and Item 306 (rebate of $173.60) first.
Second, don't forget to check your Safety Net threshold for the year by logging into Medicare. It's easy to hit it reasonably quick if you've been doing psychology sessions with large out of pocket fees. Once you hit it the psychiatrist sessions are heaps cheaper. I hit my threshold in June so was out of pocket $45.80 for my first psychiatry session (item 296) and $60.25 for my second (Item 306) - both over an hour long, and very extensive, cost $475 each.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write that and for sharing your experience. The response I got from the psychiatrist's office did mention the Item 291 rebate, and that was in the context of an "opinion only" referral, which, if I understand correctly, means the GP manages the medication going forward. If I have follow-ups with the psych it's $375 a session, with $125 rebated. I'll check out the Safety Net, I wasn't aware of it. Thanks again.
De nada, it's such a confusing mess that I'm happy to share what I know. You're absolutely right about your original point that it's still so cost prohibitive to get mental health support thigh.
ADHD&BED clinic
Check this place out, it's still expensive, but at least their waiting period is only two weeks.
Thank you! Will check it out. I'm at the point where I need answers and help, I've lived with this for too long, mostly unknowingly because I spent a decade between '97 and '07 getting off my tits on stimulants. That's not a thing in my life now and the reality has come crashing down in recent years.
I was in that place when I asked my gp for a referral and by the time I'd heard back my adhd had settled down a lot, to the point where I wasn't in such need of treatment. Knowing if it does flare up again I can see someone quickly is also very reassuring. I'd check landsharkkidd's option first though, saving 1200 dolareedoos...
I'm at some stage this year going to look at coping mechanisms. Also definitely going to look at going to that SE clinic mentioned above, as I might also be on the autism spectrum but 2 grand is not really something I want to fork out when neither of my potential neurodivergences are really getting in the way of living a good life at the moment and I'm dealing with being in the early stages of transition and that definitely has had impact on mental health in unexpected ways.
How we all doing today?
Doing good! Wish I was out in the sunshine but am thankful I get loads of blue sky viewing from my desk. Reckon I'll go to trivia for the first night in over a month tonight. I haven't missed it, but wouldn't mind a pub feed and a chat with the randoms.
How are you going?!
Doing ok thanks. Glad you got some blue skies. It's overcast here today.
Yeah good. Chippin away.
That's the way to be on a Wednesday
Struggling today a bit to be honest. Just a bit flat and over it all. Bit of a nervous energy in my shoulders and just... yeah dunno. Dont wanna sit still.
Sorry to hear that. Take some deep breaths, think about the good things or something upcoming you are looking forward too.
Cheers! Yeah I did the Apple Watch breath thing that was tough but helped a lot till some dickhead started an argument anyway haha
Busy busy here in the library.
How are you doing?
I am plodding along. Trying to get this assignment finished.
Okay. Wondering whether to do stuff at home or go to the art shop and buy a bunch of brushes.
I am wrecked from so much housework yesterday and the sun outside is nice. Maybe I'll catch the tram and sit and read on the way to box hell.
What are you reading? I reckon after so much housework, taking time to do your hobbies is a good idea.
I am reading "On the edge of the Primeval Forest and More from the Primeval Forest by Albert Schweitzer"
How is it?
Kicked lunch off with some baby spring rolls. Moving onto the next course - beans and toast
When gas prices are this high I guess it's a good idea to start making your own :|
(Also apparently I'm twelve).
Beans, beans, the musical fruit
The more you eat, the more you toot
The more you toot, the better you feel.
So let's have beans with every meal!
Ah my second-favourite school chant. A true classic.
It's actually timeless haha
I feel like you could write commercial song lyrics...you know those commercials for lamb or nuts or whatever
Thanks for the reminder 🫠 but also isn't everyone getting electric stoves starting from next year
Existing gas connections remain, new builds can no longer have gas connected.
Does it mean if the owner decides to change it after they buy they're not allowed to?
I'm not 100% sure. In an established area there will be a gas main to connect to, so I suppose one could apply for the permits and get it connected.
New estates wouldn't have gas mains (or very limited ones) so that's a bit of a moot point.
They will not be allowing any new connections. So if there is a gas connection you could get a new stove, but you couldn't connect gas if it wasn't already there. If you build a new house on the same spot you also won't be able to connect gas, even if there was a connection for the previous house.
I think economically a gas connection would be a very bad choice at this point - it is no longer the cheaper option to run anything, and it's only going to get more expensive over time.
Thanks! This is all really interesting as my level of understanding about energy stops at 'we have an energy crisis' 🫠
We have an everything crisis, really. As far as energy goes I think it would be a safe bet to assume that sometime in the near future everything will be electric, including cars. At some point I expect you won't be able to buy gas appliances, and then some time after that they will shut down the gas network. The same situation for petrol cars and wood stoves & heaters. It won't be overnight, but that's the way things are headed.
You are speaking my language!
I think it's time to take my first mental health day off or something. Or maybe it's just the overstimulation from cooking. I just... Yeah
Do it. If you can notify by email do it now, but set to deliver at start of business tomorrow. Then you've got the rest of tonight off too.
Older blokes: is it a requirement where you have to grunt and groan your way through a visit to the office toilet? I swear to god some of them sound like a match at the Australian open!
People gotta know about my struggles
Ugh! ugggghhhh grrroaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh
uggh oh EaEeaeeeeuuuuuuuo
plop
It wasn't me. I avoid pooping in public, especially at work, unless it can't be avoided, and if I'm that desperate it definitely isn't a struggle coming out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBtC_eKVVEE
Hahahaha 🤣
My new commercial portable hotplate arrived yesterday, so I've been testing it out this morning. It works really well with my pressure-canner, so one of my biggest concerns about a gasless cooking future has been solved. Because it's portable it also makes my preserving setup a bit more flexible which is nice.
Preserve the veg and meats!
Conserve the fruits we eat
Gasless hotplates will save us all
'Til electricity fails and falls!
Well, the aircon is actually an expense for the landlord (AKA mum). I'm just spending the anticipated electicity savings 🤣
I've been wanting to go to bed since lunch.
wow 20C tomorrow
My interstate relatives think this is some kind of funny melburnian game where we decide to fool everyone with our temperatures this year
@CEOofmyhouse@[email protected]
The Devour tuna mornay is very good indeed
::: spoiler My tuna mornay lunch :::
So good to hear that you liked it because its like no other frozen meal I've ever tasted. Now you must spread the word far and wide because I never want this to be discontinued.
I admit it looks good enough for me to think about trying it
The reason it's good is because it's made with real cream and not fake cream (roux)
Do people really do fake cream in cooking ? 😨
A lot of frozen meals do. It's cheaper.
try it!
it was almost sold out and i had to remove other flavours to reach to the BAAAACK
I'm gonna try to replicate it and when I do I'll let you know the recipe.
Peanut butter toast here ( sans buerre )
clutches pearls…
Boooooo.
mehh
I might just be hungry, but that looks so good!
it is
Yum! Glad your craving has been satisfied. I feel like tuna mornay frozen meals are always pretty good compared to other frozen meals
Kinda glad I'm childfree by choice, I would hate to be a parent of one of those poor kids from those daycares in NSW and QLD
i wont elaborate further than that, it's in the news atm
But holy shit. The absolute worst of the worst of society being in that close proximity. Those poor children. I hope they can heal and find happiness.
The abc website is a pit of sorrow today :(
The western quolls are a happy thing though. Such cute little critters. But, I do agree - they are doubling down on the doom and gloom recently.
True that! Win for the quolls.
May I ask what you paid for it? I looked it up and Harris Scarfe has it on sale at $34.99...a massive drop from the $199 RRP. Tempted!
sounds very scientific
A perfect pillow for you is worth a million dollars if you ask me.
Having a good sleep is so important and with pillows it can be hit and miss if you can they the right one.
Worse than is if gives you neck aches and no sleep combined.
I love big fluffy pillows that you can sink into but they’re not good for my neck :(
I'm guessing you tried it in person? I used to be fairly meh about pillows but after this last neck and shoulder nonsense I'm now far more sensitive about a pillow with good support but also enough loft to keep my head elevated enough that I have less chance of reflux
Well, I bit the bullet and decided to get one as well - the place I'm at has a memory foam pillow that is so much nicer to sleep on (I used to hate them) and I'm sold. Curious about how the whole gel thing works though.
I'm making beef pho for dinner tonight so I'm making the bogan stock now and it's pretty fucking good. I have surprised myself.
How many bogans go in the stock, and where do you source them.
Rev up your SS and they come to you
You called? 🚘
Ah. A fellow Holden enjoyer.🚘
3 bogans from Coles of course.
Coles Kyabram of course
Feel the warmth sunsetting behind the pinkish clouds
As evening falls into deep blueish purple dusk
Music playing, a gig for free, singing out loud
The notes drift up, his voice drones lowly busking
Cool breeze blows back and forth slowly wafting
Scents of cuisines from countries never seen
I breathe them in and dream of beaches gleaming
Of mountains snowcapped, of ancient cities sleeping
Waiting for my footsteps.
😍
✨ 💜 🥔 💜 ✨
Shelley lives 🤗🤗🤗
😳 😍
🥰
✨ 💜 ☀️ 💜 ✨
What a whirlwind of a day. Trying to catch up with work from yesterday after the database I use fell down and crashed for all of yesterday.
Playing catch up is not fun.
Apparently there was an incident at that Nazi Gym's powerlifting event, and Blair Cottrell completely fucked himself up when trying to lift.
Ooh, got a source?
I don't wish ill on many people, but if this fuckwit disappears from society, the world will get slightly better immediately.
https://www.givesendgo.com/blaircottrell
They've raised nearly $3k for a guy who tore a muscle at the gym? Racists are pretty generous, apparently!
The money in grifters are INSANE! if I didn't have a conscious...
😂
Oh no... Anyways.
Haha my thoughts exactly.
Found a new series to watch called Hijack. Didn't read anything about it except it stars Idris Elba and it seems to be about a plane being hijacked. Timely viewing for someone taking an international flight in 12 days.
Without trying, I regularly seem to watch plane crashes in movies I watch while flying. Often it's in movies that you don't necessarily expect to have plane crashes in them just from the title.
I've also noticed that in flight movies never seem to include plane crashes - but that is understandable.
Opinion: croissants are delicious just as they are, adding things to them (cheese, ham, jam) makes them a little bit worse. Give me that buttery goodness unadulterated.
Ripped and dipped in coffee = heaven
totes agreed but will make exceptions for almond croissants
I'll take a good ham and cheese croissant over a good croissant any day 🤷♂️
I'm with you brother.
You have my wholehearted approval. Jam is particularly disgusting on croissants and nobody shall change my mind.
The moon was absolutely beautiful this morning. Driving home just past 7am, the sky was clear, the fields were steaming and the moon was giant and glowing and glorious.
That was me. I've been working on my technique, and doing squats. It's nice that it's being noticed 😊
😂
"I see the moon; the moon sees me. Down through the leaves of the old oak tree. Please let the light that shines on me. Shine on the one I love. "
I've been up for half an hour and the temperature inside is up to 20 degrees. I've had crappy heating for so long this is a revelation. Old heating would have taken hours to get that high (and on cold days not managed to get that high at all) plus cost a small forturne to get there.
Splitty? its amazing hey!
It's absolutely wonderful. I am looking forward to being able to study and not have fingers so cold that I struggle to type accurately!
The cooling over summer is going to be great too - I have had airconditioning, but it is noisy old box units that are so old it's amazing they still work (they were old when my Mum moved in 30 years ago!). It will still have to fight against poor insulation, but my estimates are it could end up saving me about $600 a year on electricity.
If ypu've got a standard roof, its not a MASSIVE job to get up there and install some additional insulation bats yourself. Best tip for the splity though, get the WIFI module so you can control it with your phone. Then set up schedules so it comes on before you get up in the morning.
Unfortunately the main lounge area is a flat extension, with no access for exta insulation there. It also has a lot of windows - basically one full wall of full length single pane glass. Which is great for having a view, but terrible for heating / cooling. At least it is south facing and not getting any direct sun during summer.
There are timer options built in to the system just using the remote, so I can do that without an extra app - I've already got it set to come on in the morning before I get up for work tomorrow. 😀
Wait till you spend some time in a house with proper insulation and double glazing. I stayed overnight at mine last night to save the drive back to town today and nearly sobbed from how cold and miserable it was even though it's the warmest, least shit rental I've lived in my whole life. I have been ruined
Insulation & double glazing is the dream. One day, if the stars align...
@RustyRaven @just_kitten I'm fortunate to have a house that was built for alpine conditions, so the insulation is exceptional. I want double glazing too, currently making do with less than ideal plastic cover on Velcro over the windows (like properly sewn ones designed for this use) which does help a lot, even though they look a bit naff.
I am addicted to making my own chipotle mayo at the moment, and I really need to stop. I just have it with everything, I probably even smell like chipotle.
how? with chipotle in adobo or the dried stuff?
Chipotle paste, whole egg mayo, garlic, lemon juice, S&P.
No photos for this one but I ended up scoring some more discount salad.
Egg potato and bacon salad and 2 medium tubs of pasta salad.
Should last me a couple of days.
🤤🤤🤤
You’re always welcome to some!
😳🥺😍
I wish I was still strong enough to do active outdoorsy things D:<
Something to aim for?
I decided to go for a walk outside earlier, because the weather was nice. Now I can't stop sneezing 🤦♀️ I just wanted to enjoy the warmth and now my brain is making it's grand escape out me nostrils ughhhh
shakes fist at sky
🔋
⚡️
🔌
This rant/whine requires some backstory. ::: spoiler Backstory When I got married a few years a (pretty sure I've said this in the past?) I took my wifes last name cause her family are lovely and my family are... well... A holes. All my friends and stuff know me by my new name, anyone who doesn't basically doesn't know me any more. it sort of became a bit of a cull of old "friends" and stuff since I don't have Facebook I don't really have a public presence any more. Which TBH, I like. ::: This morning was my 3rd encounter with someone from my past in like 2 weeks. The previous 2 all used my old name so before I even saw their face I knew I didn't wanna talk to them. Fortunately the guy this morning didn't recognize me (thank fuck cause I dont have nice things to say to him at all). But why am I suddenly running into people from the past? No offence to these people, but like cant we just pretend we dont know each other? We're not mates any more so why do we have to exchange pleasantries? Just nod so that we recognized each other if you have to acknowledge it at all. No need for the: "Oh man whats new?!" "well, a shit load actually, but we're not really mates so you dont know that hey"
I know I know, I sound like a grumpy entitled arsehole.
Some people feel obligated to engage. As uninvited and unwarranted as it may be. A lot of times it's unintentional and genuine.
Lunch product review - Pork banh mi at Midside Vietnamese Bakery in Bridge road. Salad - poor, no pickled daikon or any onion, only carrot & cucumber and coriander and I was asked if I wanted chilli. Meat - very poor, stewed, fragmented and tasteless. No crispy crackling either. Far too much hoisin sauce. Bread - good. Nice crispy baguette roll of moderate size and good flavour. Not quite as good as the tiger roll at my local but pretty good. But the kicker is (and will cause me to go back from time to time) is the liver pate on the roll - bloody marvellous! Completely legit and one of the best I've ever tasted. Cost $10 (without chilli) takeaway. Next time will order a liver pate roll with some salad and no sauce. Might not be a classic banh mi but who cares. That liver pate is divine.
Great review. I've never known them to have hoisin sauce on them though.
Only a roast pork roll should have crackling. A regular pork roll shouldn’t.
It's Odin's day, eye twinkling with delight
One pale blue star on a clear Winter's night
His smile knows more than his eye belies
He'll keep his secrets til the day we die.
One of your best poems I reckon!
😍
Once again, a much longer day than intended, but I just want to mention this extremely, extremely lucky but cheeky situation that made the drive home slightly less painful:
::: spoiler city road jackpot Was heading down Swan St--> City Rd and realised the queue to turn left onto Power Street headed back all the way before the St Kilda Rd overpass, and there was no way I was gonna be able to cut in or bother waiting in such a long queue, so I figured fuck it, I'll cruise in the middle lane and maybe get onto the Westgate at Port Melbourne instead
But after rolling right past this insane queue, some kind of hidden instinct kicked in and I slowed down just so I could be first at the lights at Southbank Boulevard, 200m from Power St - took a look at the big heavy ute to my left, and thought what the hell...
...so the microsecond the light turned green I absolutely gunned it and changed lanes to the left, with plenty of space before the ute.
And so I got home without having to inch along on City Road full of hate and frustration - although I do feel a bit guilty for still cutting the queue somehow. :::
I promise I'll never do it again 🙇 hopefully this is the last peak hour drive I have to do out west. I don't know how people do this daily
tsk tsk!
🖕 to the fucking huge ute.
Only Murders in the Building is so amazing. It's my new comfort watch.
great show.
I really enjoyed it, not sure if the new season has come out but the first 2 we’re a really good watch.
It has some real solid moments. There’s a fabulous moment in the second series where Martin Short’s character screams and throws something into the ceiling. It’s so good.
My housemate is complaining about how the Sportsbet ads followed him back to India. Betting is also completely illegal over there.
So part of my job, I have to like... cold email business so they can join the website my work looks after. And I've been emailing back and forth with this one guy for almost a month now. Even called him a few times to talk, and yesterday someone bought a particular spot that this other guy was asking about.
And obviously we can't promise spots, it's like a first in best dressed situation. So this one business buys the spot, and we let him know that the spot he wanted is taken but if he wants to be in another spot we're happy to do that.
But he emails back like pretty much entitled af like "I don't want to be in a spot below this small business. My business is this big and and we have this many things" and I've emailed back like "sorry dude. Payment went through, this spot is great take it".
This arsehole just went and replied all (his associate was in the email as well) but said "hi associates name" and pretty much said like "I don't want to be in a lower spot compared to this smaller business. I don't want to work with them (meaning the business that my work looks after) if this is how they conduct business".
Such a fucking arsehole. Like it's so demeaning to this other business just because they're not as "big" as his business, and again, we can't promise a spot. He's dicked us around and wasted our time for almost a month, like... Ugh.
I am genuinely devastated about the allegations against Lizzo, I always believe the victims in stuff like this and I'm so sad that someone who was supposed to represent light, positivity and body positivity could be so horrible, she really meant a lot to me. I can only hope that somehow these allegations aren't true but I'm so sad for the victims as well. I've been crying on and off since finding out.
That's true, I'm still going to go with believing them and hoping they aren't true. I honestly hadn't considered it could be retaliation.
hugs, you're very sweet to care so much. Take it seriously and hope for justice.
I definitely take it seriously, it's horrible. I hope the victims get some sort of justice. But I'll also hope deep down for it to not be true because as I said, she meant a lot to me as a person.
i think the one replying you is impostor and likely a bot too? mod please ban
Oh hey, they're back again. I'm just gonna ignore them.
and they are now gone, out the door. Very weird situation.
thank mod
So weird, such a random thing and this time actually replying to me? Such a bold move.
Was it the double s account?
Yeah, they replied to my original comment with "whooopsy"
Like people say, not enough details.
You! Imposter!🫵 I gotchu
@[email protected]
"Drinks anyone? Drinks 🍷 🥂 🍺 🍸 🍹 🧃 🍺 🍵 🧉 🥤 🥃 "
Says I. As I juggle a water and a coconut water to the coffee table all for myself, where there's already an emptied mug of water with lemon slices. Do we all suffer from table full o' beverage holders syndrome?
Pocari Sweat thanks.
💦 🥛 x five serves
Oh my..
blackcurrant juice please thank you
🍷 🟣 x five serves
most delicious. thank you!
Ah Melbourne traffic...
This morning I almost got done by a muppet running a red light.
Also this morning, I witnessed a semi trailer tailgating a car... literally like 1.5 meters (less than 1 second) at 100kmh, as well as a few near misses, on the Eastlink.
Yeah.. And crashes as well.
Vicroads taught my wife to keep a 2 second gap.
Motorcycle training says 3.
I tell my wife to do 5 instead (and double that in poor conditions), because frankly speaking, 2 seconds isn't much if a turkey somewhere in front decides to conduct a brake check.
Her colleague was involved in an accident on the m1 this week (she is ok but very shaken up), caused by a brake checking idiot a few vehicles ahead.
I had a change of career a few years back which meant I was less on PT and more on the road in my car. It quickly became apparent that given a choice, many Aussie drivers will do the wrong thing, be it running red lights, tailgating, sitting 10k under the speed limit in the overtaking lane, failing to indicate, or even making sure their car is roadworthy (no brake lights, bald tyres etc). It seems to be a combination of poor driver training (L/P platers getting taught their parents' bad habits) and a sense of entitlement.
That said, the authorities don't really help matters. Every road I drive on is fucked with potholes, the traffic light system seems deliberately designed to shunt drivers from one set of reds to the next, and the speed limits on major roads are frustratingly slow - it's been almost 60 years since the UK introduced a 70mph limit on the motorways...that's 112km/h...yet here we are in 2023 with a max of 100km/h on most freeways. Ridiculous.
Sorry, that turned into a bit of a rant!
New brushes have been attained. I need new ones because I use small ones now and the only 2 I had were getting worn out. As a beginner I would use big brushes and do big characters, now I do small characters. ( small is more difficult ) . This is a good thing. 😊
I also went to a little gallery and saw some lovely work. There was a water colour of a kookaburra and some really good scrolls of ancient Chinese script.
😍💜💜💜
The brushes are soaking in tepid water as we post. 😊 The bristles are glued in a big point for protection so you have to soak them, open them, to get the starch out before you can use them.
Someone rang my doorbell twice and knocked on my door about 10 minutes ago, didn't answer as it's just a bit fucking weird to do that at this time of night and turned my lights off. If it were my next door neighbour or my neighbour from across the street they would've identified themselves in knocking and same with the police I feel. Fuck it's been a weird night. Lol.
Breakfast 🍏🍎🍐🍊🍋🍈🫐🍓🍇🍉🍌🍒🍑🥭🍍🥥🥦🥑🫛🍆🍅🥝🥬🥒🌽🥕🥐🍠🫚🥔🧅🥯🍞🥖🥨🧀🧇🥞🧈🍳🥚🥓🥩🍗🍖🥪🍕🍟🍔🌭🥙🧆🌮🌯🥗🍲🍜🍝🥫🥘🍛🍣🍱🥟🦪🍥🍘🍚🍙🐠🍤🪼🦀🐙🥠🥮🍢🍡🍧🍰🧁🥧🍦🍨🎂🍮🍭🍬🍫🥜🌰🍪🍿🍯🥛☕️🍵🍺🍶🥤🧋🧃🥂🍷🥃🍸🍹🧉🔋
I at like a pig yesterday, so can I get something healthy and nutritious please?
🍎
Millions of peaches, peaches for me
🍑🍑x million
Could I have one of those, two of those and a cup of coffee please?
🌤️🦖🦖☕️
Thank you.
How soundproof are semi detached townhouse strata complexes?
I'm kind wanting to buy something to live in, in the west / north, with a hard limit of $550K. However my priority is getting something where there can be jam sessions.
get an older place if you can, they are more solid
but also do what you can to soundproof your equipment
Yeah, soundproofing is expensive, and I want to be completely settled down in a place before I set it up.
Unless windows are double glazed (which in most cases they're not), soundproofing will be fuck all.
Walls will be brick, studs and plaster. Not much in the way of soundproofing either.
Good way to check is how much road noise you can hear when inside.
Would covering up a window with a tick piece of plywood work? I've seen that done in a few musician sharehouses.
Oh definitely. Not perfect but any additional insulation and padding will help. Egg cartons on walls work really well actually. I would imagine windows as well.
No sleep till Brooklyn.
Shania's album The Woman In Me is A+ 10/10 reccomend. Such a damn bop 👩🍳😗👌
Noted!
I saw a "boy with green hair" today. Just like the boy from the movie. I doubt he knew. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq0XJCJ1Srw
Not only did I see the boy with green hair today I also saw Mr Tumnus! ( Luckily he was wearing pants )
Of course, when I order a screen protector and case from Ebay to wait for my Casetify case, the Casetify case is probably gonna arrive tomorrow.