Discussion Thread 🎪 Wednesday 2 April 2025

Partner's first day went well! He likes to call me on his breaks and for the first time, he was ecstatic and elated to have a job at this charity he's at now! I'm so proud of him 😭
I also got a call today from a cattery I applied to a few weeks ago, and I have an interview with them tomorrow. The commute would be amazing (literally less than 10min walk from my place), so I could be there quicksmart, which I hope they see as a point to my application. Fingers crossed this is my break in the industry I need 🤞🏼🤞🏼
Either way, it will be another learning experience, all I can do is learn and grow!
- Good luck for your interview! Proximity always helps, make sure you play that one up in the interview.
- Sounds like everything's turning up Milhouse for you
- eee! this is great :)
- 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻for you mate! Also 🎉 for your bloke!
- Fuck yeah!!!!
- Sounds like great news.
  Everything is working out!
- good news 😊 You both deserve this so much

This was a welcome gift.
- That's so cute!!
- very nice 🙂

Val Kilmer died.
We knew it was coming, but all the same this is a sad thing.
- Ah, I was out of the loop. Loved him in Top Secret, 11yo me thought it was the funniest thing ever. RIP man.
  
  His deteriorating health was big news when the second Top Gun movie came out and we found out he couldn't actually speak any more.
- So sad.
  You’ll always be remembered Iceman.
- NOOOO 😭😭😭
  He played my favourite character in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
  Tbh I love him in everything he's done!
  Vale Val
  
  Such an underrated film. Everyone in it is great.
- I liked his role in The Salton Sea.
- he was so young too 😔

So much info to absorb. Brain is mush.
I have also been issued the standard IT place branded polo shirt.
It's not very flattering.
Time for that pizza that I bought with the 50 I found in my jacket lol
- Hell yeaaaah get dat pizza!

Sorry more kid stuff:
- He doesn't want to miss out on the party all parents have when kids go to bed.
- When I was a kid I'd resist bed time because I didn't really feel safe that far away from my family. Once my parents went to bed that end of the house was safe, but when they were still up my bedroom felt very isolated. And the same thing happened in the morning - my sister and I would usually bring our clothes to the lounge room to get changed rather than be alone in our rooms.
  If it is something like that he might be able to sleep closer to you and then move (or be moved) when you all go to bed? Or maybe if you have baby monitor you could set that back up so he feels more secure?
  
  his room is just off the kitchen/lounge. he can deffo hear us walking around and cleaning up and stuff.
- story time
- It's hard, for sure. I experimented with lots of stuff. There was an aquarium DVD with soft dreamy classical music that was mesmerising, and I used to play it before bed. It went for about 45 minutes and came to signal "bedtime" when it was over. They loved that until it stopped working and I never found a replacement :( I found a bath before bed was a no go, as they seemed refreshed and revitalised by it and were actually harder to get to settle. I also experimented with lavender oil spray (not the aerosol one, it doesn't smell nice) on the soft furnishings in the room or the straight oil on a cloth hanging near the bed, and lavender scented baby massage lotions administered via soothing back rub. I had night lights which cast patterns of slowly circling stars and moons or rippling water patterns on the roof. All of these things worked to varying degrees. Elder turned out to be a "rain noises and mood lighting" kinda guy. In the end Miniest was having none of it. Nothing but my presence would put her to sleep. I'd put her in her bed and go to mine, only to wake up later and find she'd snuck in during the night and fallen asleep with her foot touching my leg so she'd know I was there. Sometimes I'd carry her sleeping form back to her bed a few times, only to find each time she'd woken up and snuck back lol. It was destroying both our sleep so in the end I just gave up and allowed it. It's so hard sometimes, finding their little bedtime thing. No advice to offer really but boy do I hear you! I hope you find your Tiniest's bedtime something and your sanity and sleep doesn't suffer!
- We've been doing things to wear the boys out before bed. We have a beanbag we get them to run into, let them jump on the bed singing 'Monkeys on the bed' then do these muscle massages and books.
  They don't need to do all of those before bed now and they're falling asleep a lot easier

Got annoyed today, someone constantly needing things from me, even when they can see I’m working out of my office about to do some other work.
My stupid first reaction and instinct is to stop what I’m doing and cater for someone else.
I need to stop myself from doing that and tell them to come back later and I’m busy because they’re too self centred to think and see that someone else is busy and only wants their thing done.
- I'm the same, I go into doing the new thing mode
  the thing is, i get told/implication , is that their thing is both urgent and important , so the feeling of urgency gets me every time.
  anyone with an ounce of self awareness would never want you to drop what you are doing
  I wonder if the habit of people expecting messages returned near instantly has bled into other aspects of life

I have gone to the beach, visited Cranbourne Botanic Gardens and bought a car, and it's still only 2pm!
The gardens were very nice, but it was getting a bit hot in the full sun. Now I need to sort out some photos.

Beeeeeeach
- That feels a bit like an optical illusion, cool!
- thank you guys 🙂
  it reminds me of a fingerprint
- Excellent photo!

Health bit of a downer
- Sometimes all you can do is listen
  Yes, sometimes that's all you can do. And it matters - matters a lot. She needed you to be there to hear her. It hurts to be there but keep listening. Feels.
- Yeah that's a really hard one. Not sure I have handled it well when faced with it myself. But listening is the best. It's a natural feeling and being open to hearing it means that you can better judge how to help based on whether it's a passing feeling, depression kicking in, or a genuine desire.
  And then come here or to some other safe space and scream and kick and let out your own fears. You are doing good.
- I’m so sorry. I’ve been in that place myself and sometimes all you can do is be there.
  Accessibility options might help return a sense of control and help her take her mind off things but it’s really hard to be in that position and hopelessness does kick in.

I've had 3 smokes today. These patches make me a little sleepy but I'll suck that up. So far, so good 👍
- you can do this 💐

I think I just bought a car 😬
- Step 1 - check wallet. If empty, then yes you have bought the car.
  Step 2 - check wallet. If full, then you may not have bought the car.
  Step 3 - check wallet. If half empty, did you buy anything else?
  
  The wallet's always empty! The bank account at this stage is slightly dented, which means I paid a deposit, but have not yet completed buying the car.
  Edit: And now the bank balance is gone too. I guess I bought a car!
- Eeeee, how exciting!! What did you get?!
  
  This is her:
  
  I have joined the Volkswagon club (which means I will fit in with my family again). It actually not a car, it is a van. A Caddy, which means I have lots of space to carry things, am not paying for extra seats I don't use, but it is not much bigger than my car was so is easy for parking etc. It also gives me a future project to fit out as a micro camper.
- Brrmbrrm

Going 'shopping' in the vacant offices downstairs. Have acquired several potential new chairs and a flash candy bowl.
- nice

Moon+Jupiter pretty
- I haven't gone to the beach yet to see stars, I hope it will be nice. Can't be as bad as all the light pollution I saw in the inner city.

I don't know how to feel about posters on reddit who don't know how to feel.
I do feel a bit stabby, but other than stabby I don't know how to feel.
I probably hate them just a little bit less than I feel about reaction posts. Go make your own fucking content.
So it seems I hate them too.
This is just like reading a Jane Austin novel where a character, probably Emma, calls people indescribable then spends a few pages describing them.
- I 100% agree.
  I couldn't give a flying fuck that you can't decide on what is, most of the time, a very obvious and popular position.
  Your faux contrarian position is incredibly transparent. You aren't special because you have a quarter of a braincell.
  You've hit on one of my pet peeves. Attention seeking behaviour.
  
  it just bothers me
  maybe it's a personal preference for me
  I put a lot of effort in communicating plainly and simply and honestly and I feel like all the games people play are a waste of time and sad
- Any particular subreddits that tick you off?

Wtf. You can now only buy two packs at a time of paracetamol and the max pack size at the supermarket is 16. I remembered hearing about that change and didn’t worry because I barely used it then but it’s come in right as I’ve started needing to use it regularly. (I have the option of prescription painkillers but prefer to avoid the risks and make do with over the counter.)
It’s bullshit anyway. You can just get around it by adding a few more boxes of a different brand or hitting up different shops. If someone wants to misuse it they will.
The problem is I get delivery around weekly to fortnightly and can’t really pop out just to get one thing. Under the new restrictions I could still get a 50 pack of Panamax from the pharmacy but that brand is really rough on my body for some reason.
All this has done is make life more difficult for disabled people.
- Different brand tablets have different compositions. A good brand will have ingredients like buffers that help you digest and absorb the active ingredient.
  So yes, brand names usually are better.
  
  It was weird. I had taken two Panamax in the morning for cramps and then 4 hours later the pain was coming back so I took another two… then suddenly I developed a headache and serious nausea and was googling for any recent recalls because I knew for sure I hadn’t taken too many pills.
  I’ve never had that happen before. And I used to use Panamax years ago. I use the 60 cent Coles brand now and have had no issues there :/ Haven’t noticed anything amiss with Hedanol either.

One of the earliest set pumpkins is looking bigger and a few are yellowing… please hurry 🙏❄️💀
Realistically I know the cold is probably going to kill them and I might not get any ripe. The Jack Be Little are frost tender (oh no both kinds are) and the Golden Nuggets haven’t even started female flowers yet.
But I’m treating this as a practice run so I learn more about their needs and hopefully can be more prepared in Spring. Hopefully these at least develop enough to get some nice pics before they’re consigned to the compost.
This is the plumpkin from a few angles
- that looks great 🙂
  
  Thanks. I hope next time I can get lots of fruit

- Even people who have gotten their degree and have taught still can have horrible years.
  Infact at work I’m seeing it live with a new teacher who has had a number of years under her belt already.
  You are there to learn and experience these things and to learn from your mistakes, just because it didn’t work out the first time doesn’t meant it’s all doom and gloom.
  
  That's also true :)
- I don’t have anything valuable to offer
  This is not true. Teaching is not easy but the skills (and patience) you've learnt will cross over to anything and everything you decide to do.
  
  That's true :)
- Low, you are there to learn and get experience, of course you don't know everything on the first day.
  I suggest you listen to your mentor.
  And don't be so easily put off. You can do this.
  
  I think I will continue until the end of the semester and see how I go :) I was pretty riled up before and I think that impacted things.
- I have never considered teaching, and nor have I ever wanted to. But, I will say, if you're not feeling it anymore with your course, then don't push yourself any more into doing it; you'll resent it and your brain will use it against you. You already seem really burnt out by the course, and people can't push through burn out without a break.
  Drop out or defer (if you can), and take a mental health break, go for more walks (if you can), get in touch with your hobbies and interests, friends even or a club. Then, look through the list of gov funded/free TAFE courses and see if any pique your interest. If you like building relationships with and helping young people, you could look into youth services courses instead. But don't get ahead of yourself, look after your present self.
  Also,
  Said by someone who tried to push through burn out in a call centre and ended up in the ER twice. Also a partner to someone who tried to do the same.
  I am ready to become even more of a piece of scum in society as I don't have anything valuable to offer.
  Nope nah no way. This line of thought isn't going to help you, I promise. You DO have something valuable to offer to society, because you are human; this particular job just doesn't align with you in the way you thought and THAT'S OKAY!!! It is so okay, it is normal. You wouldn't be a scum of society by getting on centrestink or anything, you just need a break to figure out what does align to your values!
  
  Thank you so much for taking the time to write this Spud. I feel like maybe I was being a bit dramatic, and perhaps I should do more teaching to really figure it out.
  But I have to have a long hard think when I've calmed down a bit more.
  Thank you again. I really appreciate it 🥰
  Also I met an animal technician the other day, and thought of you. I know you'd be awesome at it, if that's the path you choose to go down.
  (Also asked a pig to sit and it sat hehe)
- Look, don’t blame yourself. Teaching is hard and I see teachers online talking about how the current crop of kids are more difficult to handle.
  There are definitely other options for working with young people that isn’t like that
  
  I feel terrible for giving up so easily, but until there's some sort of radical change in the system, I don't think I want to do it
- That last sentence is the key. You got this.
  
  Thank you :)
- A friend of mine felt a bit the same, "why did I do this/what the hell have I done?" Until she got a job teaching English to adult students overseas. She just had to explore the options a bit more and find something that suited her. Maybe you've got to explore a bit more to find your "zone"?
- Lots to unpack here for yourself. Don’t make any decisions until you’ve had a chance to breathe and mull over for a few days. It almost sounds like you got overwhelmed on the day, went into panic mode, felt like a failure and that the only solution was to quit immediately. Maybe teaching is your path and worth pursuing, or maybe it isn’t. The student behaviour issues are very real and lots of teachers struggle. But lots also feel it’s rewarding despite the challenges.Take some time, talk to people around you, see what you feel like after the adrenaline has settled. No one is perfect at something first time they do it.

Day 2. I'm looking forward to 9am starts instead of 8:30am.
That said we did get to go home early yesterday, and hopefully today as well.
Have a great day everyone ❤️
Edit: only woke up 4 times last night which beats the usual 8 or so times.
- Is this one of those places you get the hour lunchbreak included as well so you don't have to finish half an hour later?
  
  Good question! Not sure yet. Hopefully it's 9-5. I hate that extra 30 mins lol

soo I buy some specific parts from an Australian vendor. Yay local.
After 10 days of order confirmation and hearing nothing, I drop them a quick courteous "Heya this was paid in full on XX but I haven't heard anything back, just wanting to check up on the order progress"
what I get back is a literal three page whinge about how they're a small aussie business and working here and there and oh yeah the item had to be backordered that's on them for not telling me it was in stock but they can't run live inventory 24/7 they're not amazon, they're a small mum and dad aussie business and on and on and I shit you not I can paste the whole fuckin' thing if you want it's like they decided my email was their personal blog.
And I really really just wanna reply with jesus fucking christ dude but that's not productive. Is there a polite way to say "All you had to say was it was on back order, and to be honest this whole screed has put me right the fuck off you as a business mate fuckin' hell"? Do I *want *there to be a polite way of saying it. Should I just grab the goods and bail?
- "Thank you for providing and update on the status of my order, and context surrounding the delay.
  I appreciate that you are a small business, I bought this item from you not just for my own needs but to support small businesses. However, I do not appreciate having paid in full for an item, receiving no update on the status of said item, and when inquiring about such, receiving a passive aggressive three-page trauma dump of the struggles of running a small business.
  I understand you are not Amazon, however if you wish to keep providing the services you do, and gaining and retaining customers, I reccomend proof-reading your responses prior to sending them.
  Your response to my reasonable question regarding the status of my order, after almost 2 weeks since I paid, is unwarranted and does not speak well for your customer service skills."
  Then either end with a request for refund/cancel the order, or wait for the order.
- All you had to say was it was on back order, and to be honest this whole screed has put me right the fuck off you as a business mate fuckin’ hell
  I'd say almost exactly that. Except with the swearing. Or go with "I wasnt having a go, I was requesting an update which you failed to provide but your response says a lot about you as a business. Keep that in mind next time someone requests an update you haven't provided. I do you the courtesy of sending this privately rather than a google review. Any response other than "thank you" and I'm happy to change that". Drop that last sentence if you wanna be more passive.
  
  This is probably the best wording to use imo, nice balance of "friendly local" but also "don't mess with me" and "wtf dude chill".
- “Thank you for the reply. I request a refund within five working days.”
  That is all. If they don’t do it then you post the three pages on google review. No need to warn them about it.
  
  haha just PMd you it as requested

- I have no solutions except to confirm that chronic pain is a soul crusher. That you are persisting and still caring for yourself and melbcat is a feat. Hope you get a bit of respite soon.
  
  Thanks. Things are brutal right now
- hugs
- so many hugs

Lol partner suffers from insomnia most nights, he was up at 1am and hasn't slept all day. He was stressed out that he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, but it's been two hours since he went to bed and the entire time I've heard him snoring 😂 I think he's going to be fine.
I'm stuffed myself, and yet I cannot sleep. Not overthinking or anything, I feel very tired, but for whatever reason it's just not coming for me.
I guess a nap will be in the works for me later on
- I feel his pain :(

Good morning! Bit fresh out there.

Why am I still awake.

Does anyone know of any cheap/very easy going places for dinner near the Alfred hospital on Commercial road?
- When I was in there for a week ten years ago, I mostly went to a sushi place up the road a bit toward chapel St, northside of Commercial.
- I used to work around there, but a few years ago. If a tram ride or longer walk is an option then Banff on Fitzroy St is great- cheap and cheerful pizza and pasta.
  There are cafes immediately around the Alfred but I've got no idea what's there now.
- It's mainly a "worker's lunch" kinda vibe around there - I live very close. There's a Nando's very close to hospital, a hungry jacks also v close, or sushi. Otherwise you're looking at a couple tram stops in any direction. Nar Bangkok is a few stops up st Kilda Rd - that would fit the bill. There's also a good burger place next to it. Otherwise into Prahran

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

I'm up. Just want to rest so my sciatica doesn't become inflamed. I've been doing a lot of lifting and carrying so I have to be careful.

I could get linux on the new work laptop but it could make things like connecting to the VPN and printing a headache. I don't print much but I need the VPN to do work on the website.
I'd like to cut M$ out of my life where I can but will it be worth it?
- Are you sure it will be a headache? Linux printer drivers are up to date. VPN depends on the software used but most of the big names have Linux installers. I have to work within client systems and for the meeting at part can make it work.
  
  I like this point! How bigger job is it really to reimage the device back to windows if it doesnt work?
  
  Printer may not be too bad but they use their own version of the VPN software they run, so it wouldn't be a simple case of installing the linux version.
  The IT guy said I could run linux but I'd have to maintain it myself. So I wonder if that would mean I could download whatever I wanted on there
- Buy a mac? /s
  
  Macs are only for the important people and the iOS developers. Apparently anyone can run linux if you ask for it

Good night everyone. Sweet dreams. 😘

Quick tech question... I'm looking to get a budget mesh setup (looking support budget at TP-Link Deco E4). I have HFC. Connection comes in to house, inputs into my HFC box...
Then outputs to my router which then creates the wifi. I'm assuming you plug the output from the NBN box straight into the mesh system? Meaning no router....?
- the mesh system you’re talking about is a router / replaces your router. you’ll need to make sure you have the login/password from your ISP when setting up for the first time
  
  Brilliant, thanks