Discussion Thread 🦉 Saturday 7 June 2025

The pyro

And the dog who chooses to sit in the rain

MIL here for a visit.. It's so hard. Every. Single. Time. Gaaaaaah!

Oh soft and luxurious mattress protector/underlay doona thingy, you are amazing.

It's raining and cold and I'm nice and relaxed in bed with a cat warmly snuggled against my feet. All I need is for someone to bring me a nice fluffy omelette for breakfast...

That sounds very cozy. I will admit to not being a fan of eating in bed though.
I'm already up and about, even took Mr Woof on a morning walk (albeit a short one, given the weather). Now snuggled on the couch listening to Miss Meow snoring away on her window hammock - now that I've solved her problems getting onto it she is a definite fan.
- To be fair, I don't usually like eating in bed either. What I really would have liked was someone to transport me to the couch, blankets and cat and all, and then served me an omelette.
  I'm now finally up and about as I have to meet a friend shortly. I'm leaving the split system in the living room on so that it's not as much of a depressing, dark icebox for sox (who is currently perched on the window sill with the least uninteresting view). And for me, when I get back and steel myself to vacuum the floor.
🍳 🐈‍⬛ 🍳

Let's play a game. What's the most impressive thing you have in your home?

I have a telescope.

A circa 1850s mahjongg set - with ivory and bamboo hand carved pieces, and a nice little camphorwood chest to keep them in with fitted drawers and inlay work of the 8 immortals. It has ivory 'money' sticks and wind of the round indicator, and a really cute little chinese style brass lock and key for the doors. Cannot be sold nowadays cos ivory and I have no documentation of when or where it was acquired. The pieces are hand coloured with lac, and are quite quite beautiful.
Family legend is that it was acquired by my dad's Great-Great-Aunt Maggie, who was a character and a half if a somewhat abrasive one. She when to China in the 1850s to convert the heathen, who had done nothing to deserve this, so the family was not surprised when she got summarily evicted out of the country at the end of the Taiping Rebellion. So she went to Peru to convert the heathen there, and also got slung out of the country after an argument with the local Catholic authorities. She was a rabid Puseyite of the most extreme persuasion. She did have an eye for beauty though, and acquired quite a few glorious objects that are scattered around the family. My sister has the pearlshell inlaid ebony writing desk, I got the mahjongg set. I still have to decide who in the next generation to leave it to in my Will.
- I love mahjong. I'd love to learn it properly though.
  500 is a dying art. I'm good at that.
Fluffball
- Gibson is beautiful and spoiled.
My family.
- Naw. Kids are good value. I bet your wife has a great sense of humour.
Aboriginal coffin. About 9ft long, hollow and covered in paintings.
- That's fucking cool! I used to visit an old aboriginal gravesite when I was a kid. There was something magical about that.
Miniest says the antiques, glassware, crystal and art. It's a random assortment of stuff that's valuable but not attractive at all, like this thing
- Fuck! That's interesting!
Melbcat 🥰
- Melbcat is a treasure to all of us ❤️
Probably the aldi imitation blue Castello cheese
- That deserves a decent cracker or two. Don't let it down.
He got it at silver k, I think. I love The Muppet Show (the series and the 1979 movie, I know ALL the songs), and I love OT Star Wars - so this is my most impressive and treasure item.
On par with it, is the carved camphor wood chest I have that I keep my linen and towels in - inherited from my great-grandmothers estate.
- I know those chests well. I never owned one but always wanted one.
Either my collection of video games or my Franklin’s mint dragons.
- Can you take a pic of your dragons?
My shell collection, including a good collection of fossil shells
- I have seen your collection and I am impressed.
  I made a shell wind chime when I was a teenager and my mum still has it hanging in her kitchen. It doesn't chime but it is pretty.

How do people who overthink every aspect of their life buy property? I'm down in the Frankston/Seaford area today wondering if I'm an idiot for even considering trying to buy down here. Do I just stick with what I know and continue to be possibly unhappy in an apartment in the inner city suburbs?

If it’s an area you want to move to but are not familiar with, maybe rent there for a while 1st. Also start going to lots of open houses and find out what’s available in your price range, and what things you’re prepared to compromise on. Keep track of auction results. You’ll gain knowledge of the market which will help when you decide to buy.
Do give yourself grace about how you’re feeling - it’s a stressful process involving a lot of money, so of course you’re overthinking. Good luck!
find out how much you can borrow without becoming an absolute slave, know whereabouts you want to live, then combine the two and look at housies

Beach was not as cold as I thought it would be, I had a singlet, two woolen jumpers, a slicker and a knitted hat. 👍

Tide was high and I took a pic, I was walking around those rocks that are far out in the water the other day at low tide, that's where I took a picture from. I think the water is about a metre high there now.

it's a study in grey , looks like steel
- Payne’s grey for the darkest bits?

Just took a three hour nap. Today has been a write-off. Really want to be powering through my work tomorrow. I have so much to do but this fatigue and brain fog is not fun.

I tried for an hour and a half, but didn't really sleep. Pets thought it was a great way to spend a dreary afternoon though.
I took a 3 hour nap too. Waking up from that was rough.

the tedster looking cute even while he is plotting his next attack on bill
- Listen Ted, as the baby of the family, you can get away with shit.

Did a little bit of work first up to clear the decks then a shopping trip and pub lunch with a friend. Now sitting on the couch tossing up between a nap, a movie and another glass of wine. Tip top day all round.

Oh this was supposed to be in response to @CEOofmyhouse56@aussie.zone . maybe I don't need that extra wine...
- Definitely the extra wine! Whatcha drinking?
- Go on have the extra wine!

woooo so helping His Lordship clear a workspace and showing him how to remove the render for his brewery repoint ended up being more a helping His Lordship clear a workspace, then partially reorganising the basement then showing him how to remove the render then getting stuck in for three hours alongside. But the back wall and chimney are almost done, then it's just one small partial behind the door.

(bitch better remember this when I start the other half of the garage)

Big night last night. Big day today. Pho for lunch, gathering of supplies (gatorade and sausage rolls) for a bonfire later tonight weather permitting.

I've lately been super into gatorade. Damn good drink.

Piano quiz

1/10

I have cannoli in hand. Everything is OK.

When you've had just a little too much catnip

catnip story
years ago when I was living Europe I grew a whole heap of catnip from seed for my cat Oscar. After a few months I planted it out in the backyard in a big planter.
The next day when I went to look it was gone, eaten down to the dirt.
hedgehogs, it was hedgehogs that ate it 🌿🌿🌿🦔🦔🦔
- HEDHOG CUTE
  Sorry, old internet skit.
  I'm sure Oscar got many other treats and love.

What are we all doing today/tonight?

Being a bit sad that I'm not having a super social day.
Ordered a pizza, going to feed the strays, play some video games and hopefully can play guitar if the headache isn't too bad.
- Shit happens. I hope it eases up for you.
Every Saturday is much the same: Hockey, Shopping, Extra thing.
The kid lost hockey to the team on top of the ladder, but still scored a goal. Shopping was mostly a success, I need to go back for more stuff soon.
Not sure what Extra thing will be at this stage, but it's my wife's birthday soon, might take the kids shopping for that.
- Highly recommend a seafood experience cos I know you and your wife dig that.
Today was cleaning day; vacuum, mop etc. There has been a lot tracked in by all the removalists etc. so it's nice to get the floors cleaned up (even if it is still working around boxes!) Hopefully now I've got the shoe change area set up and some mats down to reduce dust at the garage entrance it will keep things a bit cleaner. It's also a well sealed house which will hopefully reduce the amount of outside dust that gets in too.
I also did some weather stripping of the dog door insert, which has cut down the draughts from that a lot. I also have a plastic "double glazing" film to put on the glass panel at some point, which will just leave the bit of gap around the dog door itself leaking a bit of air. Not really much that can be done about that and still have it usable. I can feel the difference already from the weatherstripping, and it's stopped it rattling in the wind.
Tonight I'll be working, so I'll be heading off for a nap shortly which will hopefully help me get through it.
MrsGod had birthday recently so shopping in city.
- Happy birthday to MrsGod 🎂
At the local footy atm, they’re losing, I’m freezing but it’s great to be out on this long weekend. What are you up to?
- Go sit in the car and toot when a goal is kicked.
  The pyro has just started the bonfire. Gonna roast some potatoes and listen to some music, have a few beers and annoy you guys all night.
still fixing up the furniture, right now been rasping a drawer because it sticks when closed, then I will continue painting
I printed out heaps of instruction books for various appliances and will look to setting things up and getting them working
then a walk down beach 👍
Long catch-up with a friend, swung over to the Asian grocers on the way back, got home to wee and now supposed to hop across the road to get some veggies but the cat has decided this is the perfect time to nest on my lap and I'm loathe to dislodge her furriness.
Gonna make a homely saucy broccoli stir-fry with vegan chicken a la this recipe with some jasmine rice. Blob out in front of the TV. Should vacuum the unit but I'll put that off to tomorrow...
- How good is an Asian market! So many interesting stuff in there.
  I have made that recipe and it's very good.
Watching the footy, maybe some gaming and I want to get a movie done tonight.
My sleep is screwed as well.
- Who's playing? Who'd ya tip?
My pub dinner for friend’s birthday sounds like it’s going to be quite drunken, going by the group comments. Shot on arrival is planned 😬
- Enjoy!
  Shot on arrival. Lol 🔫
Had boyo's family over for some wine and cheese, so busted out a fantastic board of assorted goodies and some delicious wine. Now settled in for some more wine, gaming, kdramas and whatever else takes our fancy!
- And you didn't take a pic! Shame on you.

I wish I could at least go back to skincare and exercise but it all feels too hard and too late.

so many hugs
and do try for some assistance
Would you benefit from having a support worker?
- this is a good idea
- Unfortunately there’s not much they can do.
Without giving too much away where the fuck are you that you can't walk down the street? North, West, East? If you're in the West or North, I'll spot ya. Nothing gets passed in me.
- Sorry, don’t want to post anything doxable. But my area has Problems
  Edit: I can definitely give someone a nasty time if cornered but don’t want legal issues on top of everything

Fucking migraine. Was supposed to meet an old friend today and have a video call with my Adelaide mates and possibly go out tonight.

relax, cups of tea and gentle music
be better soon
- Thank you :)
Hope you’re feeling better, I had a headache coming as well but ended up having a 3 hour nap by accident.
- Cheers. I did the same and it worked lol

The cleeeeaning

Ugh, same 🫧🧹

Anyone in the Inner West free Thursday morning?

Available: one spy mission on my shitty old rental. Review for Purple Pingers being drafted!

It's nice in the sun. 🌞

You guys are getting sun?!
- Has it started raining in Ballarat yet?
- we had some breaks in the clouds

Aaaargh, I should've remembered to check the metric measurements for tablespoons on Nagi's recipe.. 60 ml instead of 45 ml of soy sauce later I have a super salty dish 😖 adding potatoes won't work so maybe I'll have to steam some carrot and throw that in to spread it out a bit more. I did think it seemed like an awful lot of sauce, should've trusted my gut!

E: added a tiny splash of vinegar and a touch more sugar and two carrots and it's passable now.

I’m not an expert of this. Can a little bit of sugar balance it out?
- Yeah it can.
- I put some sugar in but it's not quite enough. It's still too strong-tasting if you get what I mean, relative to the broccoli and mock chicken
Damn. If something is salty I put a splash of vinegar or lemon or lime in it.
- Yeah, I've put in a splash of vinegar and that's helped a bit but I don't want to put any more and risk the flavour changing altogether. I think after I add the carrots I'll add another tiny splash and hope for the best
I heard you can cook potatoes in something salty and then remove them but have never tried it
Edit: never mind it’s a myth

Poor Mr Woof is freaking out with me gone from the house ☹️ I'm looking at him on the camera and he's been running in and out looking for me for over 2 hours now. Which at least means he is getting used to using the dog door.

Not sleepy. Would like to be asleep.

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

Can I please have some thick mittens made out of blueberry pancakes?
- 🫐🫐
  🥞🥞🥞
  🫐🥞🫐🥞
  🥞🫐🥞🫐
  🥞🥞🥞
toast and milo please chef
- 🍞🟤🥛
Anything except oats and fruit for brekky
- 🥓🍳🍳🍄🍄‍🟫🧇🍯☕️
Warm porridge please
- 🔥🌾🥣
Eggs & bacon on waffles with maple syrup please chef.
- 🍳🍳🥓
  🧇🧇🍯

Bit windy for Parkrun this morning....and cold.... Oh well, I'm up now

I hate getting up early for parkrun. But I've never regretted doing it.

Gave Gibson catnip.

Now I'm just getting yelled at for no reason lol

Otherwise headache has subsided a fair bit so been smashing out some guitar. Feels so fucking good!

Slept through the day again. I should be taking walks to boost my mood but honestly… my area is full of interesting people (in a bad way) and I don’t want to wander around in it.

Think I’m gonna do a few chores and then take a sleeping pill at midnight.

Campfire potatoes. So good! Next time I'll do chestnuts because he loves them. And damper because he's never had it.

Yum yum
I did airfried chunky chips, oh they were so good.

How about that 10-45mm rain forecast for tomorrow. I bet you it won't get past 15mm.

I keep looking at completely the wrong spot on the weather radar through force of habit. I think the next bit of rain is going to miss us, if I'm wrong we'll come back from our walk soggy. I really need to find Mr Woof's robe, I know it's in a box somewhere...

Has anyone seen The Big Lebowski?

About a million times
yes, years ago
Yes! Up there in my fav top 10 films! Every actor is amazing in it, it's funny and sad in all the right ways, it's a bit weird which is great!
10/10 definitely recommend

Digging through decluttering crap… I found some old Warhammer stuff.

I shook some paints back to usability but the key ones have dried up. I don’t really want to go back to it anyway