There is a specific type of joy in being able to reply to an REA’s email, declining a rental increase because they’ve already done so in the previous 12 months.
The anarchist in me wanted to just leave it, wait for them to complain about an underpayment in 3 months and then point out their notice was void so they would have to re-issue and wait another 90 days for the increase to come into effect. But when it’s housing security at risk, I’ll keep that to just a daydream.
Edit: REA responded defensively, blaming a system error and didn’t update the notice. shrug
Going a bit overboard making sure that the new washing machine hoses do not touch the wall and drop loop to the brand new silicon drip tray under the machine.
Don't fucking look at me like that, after the fourth unrelated flood in a week there's no such thing as paranoia
First one: My fault, got distracted siphoning a wash cube. about 10l of terrys fast ferment went all over the kitchen floor, under the dishwaher, down the fuckin' walls and into the brewery. Much drying and forced air and all that horrid stuff culminating in me having to rip out a shitload of chipboard (this house is so old the cabinets do not have legs. The side panels go all the way to the floor. And wick up everything) and replace with marine ply I'd hit with several coats of aquastop because I am a big believer in "You get ONE fuckin' shot ya cunt"
Second: During the brief rain we see one of the downspouts pissing water out of its join about a meter and half up the wall and soaking a foundation wall. I dug that up this weekend past and found out the bottom of that downspout in fact goes nowhere. Absolutely nowhere. So gonna shove a tank on that because we're going to very shortly be ripping all that up to repair the other downspout anyway. Thankfully its termination into dirt was far enough away from the corner to not be undermining the house. Yet.
Third: Mentioned previous, the 2am pee that turned into a "OH GOD THE BASEMENTS FLOODING". Inlet hose on washing machine
Four: His lordship is officially on holiday this week. He nips down the brewery, and I notice there's some moisture on a stair that usually dries off this late after rain. Right near a gully trap. Which looks a bit high. I open the door to ask him to run some water so I can investigate and discover him frantically pulling things away from a thin streak of piss down the wall. Turns out the terracotta throat of the gully trap has a massive crack in it so the water pisses into the wall when it gets high rather than doing what gully traps are supposed to do. Cause: fatberg from Old Mate who previously owned the house causing a slow drain, and despite it being on the kitchen, until we were using the brewery we never pushed the water in that trap (it's separate to the one that services the shower, laundry and TOILET, thank fuck) to the point of overflow before. Not even when using his condenser, as he traps all that water and I use it in the garden. Several keg cleans in the sink while the dishwasher was running did it though.
Blockage king came and deblockled it, and then ran a camera down it for his own edification as he apparently also used to service Old Mate back in the day and was curious as to how old the line was. Answer: Cast iron
Melbcat is certainly making some music because I won’t allow her outside. I’m not making any music because it’s rude to sing while people are sleeping.
I’m just listening to some quietly.
Edit: I’ve found a children’s guitar at Big W which is relatively cheap and small for storage but idk if it’s worth buying while so tired. Trying to stop hobby hopping
A guitar from somewhere like big w wouldn't be worth it. You'd be better off getting the cheapest guitar from an actual music store or a second hand beginner's guitar from an actual music brand
I’ve actually got a ukulele! I bought an inexpensive but semi good quality one from a music shop for those reasons years ago, planning to tune it as a mandolin.
But unfortunately only 4 strings is a limitation and I hate 99.99% of the songs for ukulele. I recently pulled it out of the cupboard just for finger exercises but already getting a bit bored.
I don't like it when I drop stuff off at the OP shop and they say "Oooh this is really good stuff". I'm like I know. I can't keep everything cos I don't own a mansion. You wouldn't be getting my stuff if I did.
Anyway he was wrapped with the 101 Enid Blyton books. They ain't getting my Mr Men or Winnie the pooh or little golden books or Dr Seuss or Peter Rabbit books. I just not ready yet.
Sigh… the black cat didn’t get to the dry food in time and the magpies ate it. I didn’t even think they could eat the big pieces of kibble but they ate it all.
New problem unlocked
Edit: And I’m finding the Aussie frugal and gardening subs fairly slow despite me trying to keep them active. I’m trying to keep them going to maintain an alternative to the other place.
Went to the doctor today about poor sleep quality and she prescribed melatonin. I've never taken it before but something's gotta give because the amount of days I'm affected by bad sleep is getting more frequent. First time trying it tonight, hope it provides some improvement. Will also tie it together with some changes to my pre-bed routine.
Melatonin didn’t do anything for me. Restavit is an over the counter antihistamine that sometimes works for me but probably try half or even a quarter because it can leave you very groggy and sleepy the next day
I tried melatonin for the same thing, I feel like it did make a modest difference, and didn't have any side effects at all. I didn't refill my prescription as my sleep did improve after a while. Hope it helps you 🙏
I woke up really early yesterday (like 630) having only slept 6 hours. Decided to get up cause I know i'd feel like shite if I fell back asleep. Was okay for most of the day, but did have a 30 minute power nap at noon.
Have had 2 coffees today, so kind of feeling okay now.
I feel like the closest I can explain my current social media strategy is like when you happen into a pair centric build in Balatro. A pair scores higher than a full house and it kind of pisses you off it works that way because it's so stupid
And how you'll level up hands and chop up your deck to the point it doesn't even feel based on poker anymore. Then you throw a whole run because you feel like you should be playing the originally higher scoring hands when really pairs and high cards are the way to go
I've had that happen. The picture card that doubles your mult at the first face card, and the hanging chad that retriggers your first card. You're just stacking mults feeling like a god and then you get to the boss blind that debuffs face cards and the whole thing falls apart
I want to exercise again today but my knee still hurts. Might get a brace to support it at night while it heals and then think how to gently strengthen it for stability.
I’ve been doing pull downs with an exercise band on the door but maybe I should also go back to chair yoga in the meantime
The three groups of muscles that cross the knee joint are the quads, hamstrings and calves. There's others, but that's the main ones. Squats, glute-ham-raises and heels off a step tippy toe motions.
The crazy neighbour/s were gone today so I got some help cleaning my back yard. That’s a relief and some trip hazards sorted. For the longest time I had no energy and also straight up didn’t want to go out there
1
Discussion Thread 🎶 Monday 2 February 2026 | Spyke
70 replies
The Young Seagoons found a house to rent nearby, they move in 2 weeks.
They are so excited and I'm excited for them. 🙂
Weren't they in USA? Must be glad they're leaving if that was the case.
New Zealand for a few years.
I have other loved ones in USA
A late nap meant a late night then an early morning from a kid really going through it. Today is going to be a tough one
similar, I have headache 🥴
Got knocked down by a headache this afternoon, so have been resting with a nap or two. Very annoying, was really looking forward to a good gym sesh.
There is a specific type of joy in being able to reply to an REA’s email, declining a rental increase because they’ve already done so in the previous 12 months.
The anarchist in me wanted to just leave it, wait for them to complain about an underpayment in 3 months and then point out their notice was void so they would have to re-issue and wait another 90 days for the increase to come into effect. But when it’s housing security at risk, I’ll keep that to just a daydream.
Edit: REA responded defensively, blaming a system error and didn’t update the notice. shrug
Going a bit overboard making sure that the new washing machine hoses do not touch the wall and drop loop to the brand new silicon drip tray under the machine.
Don't fucking look at me like that, after the fourth unrelated flood in a week there's no such thing as paranoia
four?!
First one: My fault, got distracted siphoning a wash cube. about 10l of terrys fast ferment went all over the kitchen floor, under the dishwaher, down the fuckin' walls and into the brewery. Much drying and forced air and all that horrid stuff culminating in me having to rip out a shitload of chipboard (this house is so old the cabinets do not have legs. The side panels go all the way to the floor. And wick up everything) and replace with marine ply I'd hit with several coats of aquastop because I am a big believer in "You get ONE fuckin' shot ya cunt"
Second: During the brief rain we see one of the downspouts pissing water out of its join about a meter and half up the wall and soaking a foundation wall. I dug that up this weekend past and found out the bottom of that downspout in fact goes nowhere. Absolutely nowhere. So gonna shove a tank on that because we're going to very shortly be ripping all that up to repair the other downspout anyway. Thankfully its termination into dirt was far enough away from the corner to not be undermining the house. Yet.
Third: Mentioned previous, the 2am pee that turned into a "OH GOD THE BASEMENTS FLOODING". Inlet hose on washing machine
Four: His lordship is officially on holiday this week. He nips down the brewery, and I notice there's some moisture on a stair that usually dries off this late after rain. Right near a gully trap. Which looks a bit high. I open the door to ask him to run some water so I can investigate and discover him frantically pulling things away from a thin streak of piss down the wall. Turns out the terracotta throat of the gully trap has a massive crack in it so the water pisses into the wall when it gets high rather than doing what gully traps are supposed to do. Cause: fatberg from Old Mate who previously owned the house causing a slow drain, and despite it being on the kitchen, until we were using the brewery we never pushed the water in that trap (it's separate to the one that services the shower, laundry and TOILET, thank fuck) to the point of overflow before. Not even when using his condenser, as he traps all that water and I use it in the garden. Several keg cleans in the sink while the dishwasher was running did it though.
Blockage king came and deblockled it, and then ran a camera down it for his own edification as he apparently also used to service Old Mate back in the day and was curious as to how old the line was. Answer: Cast iron
Cast iron? Wtf? When was this edifice built/assembled from scraps? 1920s?
1962, but some of the piping is much much older (a neighboring house actually doesn't even exist on the allotment as it predates)
sounds exhausting and like you need a sit down and a drink 💺🍺
Nope, i got a couple hours smashing render off the other of the garage after work instead.
Yaaaay 🏳️
Thanks Thorn.
Melbcat is certainly making some music because I won’t allow her outside. I’m not making any music because it’s rude to sing while people are sleeping.
I’m just listening to some quietly.
Edit: I’ve found a children’s guitar at Big W which is relatively cheap and small for storage but idk if it’s worth buying while so tired. Trying to stop hobby hopping
A guitar from somewhere like big w wouldn't be worth it. You'd be better off getting the cheapest guitar from an actual music store or a second hand beginner's guitar from an actual music brand
Agreed, I’ve just looked and even secondhand are expensive. And I have a bad habit of getting interested in something then dropping it
Edit: it would be cool to make my own like those old cigar box instruments but I’m really tired these days so not doing all that
Maybe a ukulele second hand? Small to store and light to handle.
I’ve actually got a ukulele! I bought an inexpensive but semi good quality one from a music shop for those reasons years ago, planning to tune it as a mandolin.
But unfortunately only 4 strings is a limitation and I hate 99.99% of the songs for ukulele. I recently pulled it out of the cupboard just for finger exercises but already getting a bit bored.
Any song can be played on ukulele if you're determined enough. Here's my old setlist from when I used to go busking with a ukulele
I don't like it when I drop stuff off at the OP shop and they say "Oooh this is really good stuff". I'm like I know. I can't keep everything cos I don't own a mansion. You wouldn't be getting my stuff if I did.
Anyway he was wrapped with the 101 Enid Blyton books. They ain't getting my Mr Men or Winnie the pooh or little golden books or Dr Seuss or Peter Rabbit books. I just not ready yet.
Golden books are literal treasure. Never let go!
I stopped giving really good stuff to op shops, the items never seems to end up for sale. 🤨
savers , yes, they put everything up for sale, even if they charge a little more for a good item, their prices are cheaper than the major op shops too
I give my stuff to the MS society. I'm ok with that.
That's a good one. 👍
Really wish I hadn't tried to move that fake grass roll hey.
My back is fuuuuuuucked lol
Brand new sewing shears 😻
What kind? Pic please.
Fiskars amplify
Very nice 😍
No better feeling. I loooove new shears.
Nice. 🙂
Sigh… the black cat didn’t get to the dry food in time and the magpies ate it. I didn’t even think they could eat the big pieces of kibble but they ate it all.
New problem unlocked
Edit: And I’m finding the Aussie frugal and gardening subs fairly slow despite me trying to keep them active. I’m trying to keep them going to maintain an alternative to the other place.
I don't think we have a large enough community to support frugal/gardening specific groups. Maybe they could be rolled into c/Australia?
Maybe? I’m not a mod or anything so don’t have any input into decisions about the instance, I’m just someone who keeps poking them back to life
I don't think it requires a mod, just make posts to c/australia. Weekly/Monthly frugal/Gardening discussion.
Went to the doctor today about poor sleep quality and she prescribed melatonin. I've never taken it before but something's gotta give because the amount of days I'm affected by bad sleep is getting more frequent. First time trying it tonight, hope it provides some improvement. Will also tie it together with some changes to my pre-bed routine.
Melatonin didn’t do anything for me. Restavit is an over the counter antihistamine that sometimes works for me but probably try half or even a quarter because it can leave you very groggy and sleepy the next day
I tried melatonin for the same thing, I feel like it did make a modest difference, and didn't have any side effects at all. I didn't refill my prescription as my sleep did improve after a while. Hope it helps you 🙏
Music Monday. 🙂
I will see if I can buy some interesting vintage LPs today. Will report back later on it. ( I love getting new music )
and wtf with this weather
It's refreshing. First night in long time I didn't need fans on and the window open.
It’s my fault, I bought shade cloth so of course the hot is over
It'll be back tomorrow.
8 hours of sleep and can't seem to wake up. The magic number is indeed around 7
Only needing 7 hours would be amazing. I need between 9-10, which I rarely get during the week & inevitably try to catch up on over every weekend.
I used to need way more, but that's been reduced since getting to my 40s.
Regardless of amount or timing I live the life of a sloth
I made the mistake of going back to sleep for an extra half hour and ended up with a freaking headache :(
I woke up really early yesterday (like 630) having only slept 6 hours. Decided to get up cause I know i'd feel like shite if I fell back asleep. Was okay for most of the day, but did have a 30 minute power nap at noon. Have had 2 coffees today, so kind of feeling okay now.
I'm so fuckin jelly, I haven't had a good night sleep in a week it feels like.
Damn, really? I get 6-7 normally and am fine. This was the first time in a long time I did 8 uninterrupted. Thought it would be better.
I feel like the closest I can explain my current social media strategy is like when you happen into a pair centric build in Balatro. A pair scores higher than a full house and it kind of pisses you off it works that way because it's so stupid
I get that reference. That game is goddamn crack for an adhd person lol
And how you'll level up hands and chop up your deck to the point it doesn't even feel based on poker anymore. Then you throw a whole run because you feel like you should be playing the originally higher scoring hands when really pairs and high cards are the way to go
I remember levelling up face cards to an insane level.
Then I got a last level that completely devalued face cards lol
I've had that happen. The picture card that doubles your mult at the first face card, and the hanging chad that retriggers your first card. You're just stacking mults feeling like a god and then you get to the boss blind that debuffs face cards and the whole thing falls apart
Godspeed lol
Beep Beep 🚚
🍏🍎🍐🍊🍋🍈🫐🍓🍇🍉🍌🍒🍑🥭🍍🥥🥦🥑🫛🍆🍅🥝🥬🥒🌽🥕🥐🍠🫚🥔🧅🥯🍞🥖🥨🧀🧇🥞🧈🍳🥚🥓🥩🍗🍖🫓🍕🍟🍔🌭🥙🧆🌮🌯🥗🍲🍜🍝🥘🍛🍣🍱🥟🦪🍥🍘🍚🍙🐠🍤🪼🦀🐙 🍗🥮🍢🍡🍧🍰🧁🥧🍦🍨🎂🍮🍭🍬🍫🥜🌰🍪🍿🍯🥛☕️🍵🍺🍶🥤🧋🧃🥂🍷🥃🍸🍹🧉🔋
Morning chef! Could I please have a variety of organ meat, stir fried with capsicum and onion?
🧠🫁🫀🫑🧅
Thanks mum
Oh thank Chef! Please may I have a hot cappuccino? 🙏
🔥☕️🥛
I want to exercise again today but my knee still hurts. Might get a brace to support it at night while it heals and then think how to gently strengthen it for stability.
I’ve been doing pull downs with an exercise band on the door but maybe I should also go back to chair yoga in the meantime
The three groups of muscles that cross the knee joint are the quads, hamstrings and calves. There's others, but that's the main ones. Squats, glute-ham-raises and heels off a step tippy toe motions.
It’s still really unstable and sore but I’ll do those when it heals a bit
If you can, it's worth getting it assessed. Casual internet diagnoses can be wildly inaccurate. Best wishes.
Oh yeah I’ll be talking to my doctor. Instability and subluxations are just really common for me
good night everyone, I'm beat
sweet dreams 😘
The crazy neighbour/s were gone today so I got some help cleaning my back yard. That’s a relief and some trip hazards sorted. For the longest time I had no energy and also straight up didn’t want to go out there