I think the cost of infrastructure in Australia is a joke. Was just reading that refurbishing the Queensland gaba stadium for the Olympics would cost something like 3 billion. A billion is a thousand million. How can it cost 3 billion to refurbish (not build!) a stadium? Are they putting in solid gold seats?
I read on the ABC it's because when we outsource work to the private sector, we also outsource the planning. So the private sector gets to decided timelines and the cost of everything as well
Tired and literally covered in dust from helping my aunt move a bunch of shit around. But she made me lunch, packed leftovers and even gave me $100 petrol money out of sheer gratitude (after much protesting by me - she said it would make her feel better) She and my uncle have grown so much older. While I'm sad that this chapter of my memories in Melbourne is ending too, I'm very glad that they're moving on from a home that's too big and hard to maintain at their age. And I'm very glad I went out and helped them, felt very good to be of use and generous with my time and energy. I miss doing this more often.
E: downstairs is watching ABC at the same time as me waiting for Fisk to start but she's watching it on DTV and I'm watching live on iview, and our feeds are slightly off from each other. Woops.
This will be the first of many trips I think. Their son left the house in a mess while they were away so step one is making it presentable enough to invite an agent. And then there will be many rounds of throwing out 30+++ years of crap. This place is on a very steep slope and the house itself has 3 steep levels, with high ceilings gathering cobwebs - it's a wonder they didn't move sooner.
I love fresh bed linen but doing the stripping and remaking of the bed is annoying. I have a special dislike for stuffing the doona back into the cover. But I always appreciate it once I’ve done it, and am looking forward to the fresh made bed tonight. Mmm crispy clean bed, good sleep ahead.
I’m halfway through changing my bed, I took a phone break because it’s such a tedious task. Doona stuffing is definitely the worst part. But crispy bed feeling is so good.
I wonder if press studs around the bottom and both sides would work. So stuffing would involve laying the sheet flat on the bed, arranging the doona and top sheet, then joining up the press studs. Or velcro patches maybe. I might try this as I hate stuffing doona covers too.
My mother used to do this so she didn't have to wash doona covers and being a restless sleeper it drove me crazy! I'd wake up during the night with sheets askew and uncomfortable.
Apparently my great grandfather was a Bobby back in England. I have his truncheon. Looks like it's had a few knocks too.. probably sorted out some likely lads. Found it while sorting out my Nanna's belongings.
The bicycle users group had a family barbeque today. There was a ride before, but I knew taking the boys would have been enough. I didn't need to do another 20km on top of the 18 getting them there and back
Asked my manager why my Sunday admin shift got cut. It was because one really silly paper wasting process became redundant. Yay to saving paper. Now they should make everything else digital. The company prints so much paper that just gets thrown in the bin, and no one gives a shit or wants to fix it.
I'm kind of sad to lose my guarantees $150 a week that required me to date stamp pieces of paper and enter invoices into the computer. But it is what it is.
If a young person today asked if they should go to uni, unless their profession demanded it as mandatory it's most likely not worth it. You'll just end up with a lot of debt and not much else to show for it.
University degrees are unfortunately becoming like everything else: a complete scam.
It’s unfortunately a requirement from many employers even for entry level jobs. In my various workplaces I don’t think I’ve seen anyone under the age of 40 without one. Some older staff are still around who worked their way up in the days when getting a foot in the door didn’t require a degree. The irony is the people making the hiring decisions think their own capabilities are just fine without a degree, but expect new employees to have one.
what amazes me is that professions in the past that used to have apprenticeships or technical courses are now university course professions
and it's unnecessary and expensive and the pay hasn't increased either
another rort is making people pay for back ground checks, not only is that useless it doesn't help with anything other than covering bosses asses and bosses getting kickbacks
Yeah, it’s pretty gross. Pay for receptionists temping has been about the same for 20 years. Pay for informally trained people who are expected to know what to do in a healthcare setting if a patient codes can be less that $25.
Going to Uni does also delay the lifelong 9-5 grind, I'd recommended it based purely on that, but you do get a piece of paper at the end that can give you a leg up and maybe more money if you picked something useful.
Much of the university experience is about being onsite and getting the human interaction that comes with it. Depending on how much of that has become remote, they could be better off self-studying and obtaining professional certificates some other way
I've seen jobs that just ask for a degree, not even a specific one. I've worked at a lot of places where everyone there has been to uni so it becomes more of a cultural signifier than anything
Queenstown / Wanaka which I visited a couple months ago - just spectacular, so naturally beautiful. I went mainly for skiing but it would just be as good in summer I reckon. Can do all the hikes and trails without worrying about snow and the views would be even better with clearer weather. Otago wineries, heaps of adventure type activities, you can make a great family holiday. The one downfall is that this area is pretty expensive because it’s very touristy, it’s like holidaying in AU prices.
I loved Akaroa just south of Christchurch. Went just at the end of peak season so it was still all open but not busy. Good to note that a a lot of the little towns like that are pretty seasonal so I wouldn't go at the depths of winter (dead and closed) or height of summer (feral with tourists).
The young Seagoons have been in NZ for about a year now and they love Akoroa tho with them it seems it's all just a base to visit LOTR sites. Last week they were in Edoras.
Just driving around is beautiful, much spectacular scenery, especially the mountains. We don’t really have anything like it in Aus. Visiting the Franz Joseph glacier was a highlight. You can see it by booking a guided walk. The ice formations and blue ice colour is very interesting and beautiful. I saw it about 15 years so I don’t know how it is now, because warming and glacier retreating etc, but if it’s still available to see it I would highly recommend it. (Who knows how long it will be there for?)
Edit: just looked it up, wow it has got expensive. You need to do a helicopter flight to get to it, but still I’d say if you can afford it in your holiday budget it’s a very unique experience.
I was doing well sleeping until stupid bladder. Then while I was trying to pretend said bladder doesn't exist, Mr P got up and quietly cooked some toast. Now the smell of toast has wafted through the flat and the kids are awake.
Saw someone I knew ran a marathon, so I went to search them on Strava. They have their map on and so I can see where they've started and ended their runs, unless they've hidden part of their route. That is super dangerous information to have on there.
Strava prompts you to make exclusion zones. It basically masks a radius around these points and won't show anything inside them. Eg, I have a 700m zone around my house. I don't bother masking work (where most of my runs start/stop) because that's in the city and could be half a dozen buildings.
People have to choose not to make exclusion zones.
There was famously an issue where deployed military personnel were accidentally telling the entire world exactly where they were because they’d go for a run around the base and Strava recorded it…
Must have been a day for misfits. Blown headlight, almost ran out of fuel and came home too tired to bother going to a Halloween gig I’d already purchased entry to.
Oh well, c’est la vie.
Today’s list so far:
Replace bulb
Escape chores once again
I finished with my Pyunkang Yul skincare and am now trying Purito. I did love the feel and texture of the former, but the Dermide range from Purito has helped my ridiculous dry spots in about 2 applications. I think the barrier cream is like the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume, which I didn’t use effectively. We’ll see how it all goes by the time I finish the Purito products.