Daily Discussion Thread: Wed 22 Nov 2023

I refuse to let triggers mess with my enjoyment of life and stuff.

So recently I've been wanting to watch a series about movies and the writer presenter has the same accent as my dad. Much to my surprise this totally triggered me. So much I couldn't bear to watch. It made me reject the whole thing. And then a pride thing started up too. 😔

This is bad, real bad, the series has real value and I want to watch it.

So I figure I will desensitise myself , I used to visit that country all the time, hear the accent all time and it never bothered me. I can do that again. So I will watch heaps of movies and series in that language until it's just a language, not a person.

It's my brain, dammit an I will not have it hijacked 🤬😂😵🥴😀

Pretty weeds. Drinking from a source way below.

I just love hearts ease - such a pretty flower and so hardy.
- And not as obnoxious as some of those gaudy, massive pansies...
- I used to grow these every winter in window boxes, thy grow through the snow!! Such tough pretty flowers. 😊

Baby Jeebus turnt up. Shits poppin off.

Hope mum's doing well cos he's about 5 weeks prem.
- The tiny saviour is waving at you and staring with dead eyes. Little creepy baby.
I always want a cat called Baby Jebus 🤭 but Miss Seagon said it was not a good idea.
- Oh that’s a good cat name actually. I might use that for the next iteration.

tonight was sushi on the beach.

There wasn't a single soul on that beach tonight had it all to myself.

Mmm. Freshly caught

sooo it looks like I need to take auspost to the ombudsman. Yay.

"oh we can't access your site george puling into your driveway is an oh&s issue george because what if I can't get out george you're near an intersection george" looks pretty fucking pathetic next to video footage of their van sailing past the property at 60kph and a literal 50-entry log across two months of amazon, civic, toll, tnt, petcircle, eco247 and soilworx with an articulated dumper all using it without issue.

Not my area of expertise at all, but it is probably worth listening to their perspective at least before you go there. As Government, I can believe they'd have safer OH&S policies to the other private companies who are doing deliveries. Those logs of yours will be super helpful still in demonstrating that the driveway is safer than it looks from a map. Whoever is citing OH&S is going to be going off a map.

A site survey by a local council and a report saying "this is fine" will probably leave AustPost with no option at the very least other than to visit in-person and say why everyone else is wrong and the driveway is unsafe. Then go to the ombudsman.

I've only really worked with the Telecommunications Ombudsman, and I was the ISP at the time (so, the other side of the dispute). But if the customer hadn't at least attempted to resolve the matter with us before going to the TIO, they were referred to us anyway.
- Same for energy, used to work in energy and the ombudsman would refer customers back to us if they had not attempted to resolve the issue with us. 99% sure it's the same for most ombys
- oh we've attempted to resolve multiple times. Pointed out that there is no access impediment to the driveway, this is a standard suburban block in a standard metro suburb with a 13m long standard smooth cement paved driveway that's actually the widest I've ever lived in. And it's one driver being an absolute cock because I have records - and footage - of Auspost delivering without so much as a blink when it's a different driver on the route. It's not a map issue.
  
  I dont' ombudsman lightly. I literally have eight different attempts to resolve this with auspost on record. First they claimed they couldn't access the site. When that got destroyed they claimed there was the van in the driveway. When THAT got disproven they claimed it was traffic and now it's OH&S. Fulla shit.

Potat and strawberries!

spoiler

potat was a bit of a suprise not sure who put them there.

Really need to build a little pest deterrent something for the strawberries

potats are sneaky like that, they pop up everywhere. all it takes is one sneaky eye in the compost and you have potats
- Just like tomat, they've got to make up for falling prey to all sorts of stupid diseases
- This sounds like the opposite of a problem
Haters gon hate

Potaters gon potate
It manifested. Potat is destiny

I've driven myself up to Moama for a couple of nights to get out of the city and get some of that sweet sweet Murray River 30 degree sunshine. Got a free room upgrade at the Golf resort and it's quite lovely! Took today off but I'll work from here tomorrow.

Multiple people attempted to crash into my car between home and here which I didn't love. Seems the dashcam I ordered can't come fast enough! Did get some quality drive time to listen to my audiobook though.

Aaaand I've won enough money to fully fund this little mini-break and take home a bit of profit. Gonna relax like a mofo. Listen to my audiobook in the garden. That sorta stuff.

I have jalapenos growing already 😀🌶

spoiler

Ooh looking good.
I can’t eat them but they look so cool to grow

A while ago my daughter told me about a book she liked but wasn't sure about getting it because it was a kids book. Anyway I was walking past the shop and bought it for her. She's worked hard this year so she deserves it.

That looks like a fun and interesting book. :)

( also, you are an awesome mum 😘 )
- I had a quick look through it and it looks good. There's regional flags in it too not just national flags.

Anyone know if this plan will work, or if I'm wasting my time? My rectangle house has a large west facing wall. Lots of windows and only single glaze. No easement on the roof (freaking 2000's build!). Last summer I taped some foil to the windows and it helped a fair but, but the rattling in the wind when the change came through was insane. Wondering if I could go buy some narrow shade sails from Bunnings that have some eyelets, a couple of ocki straps and hook them up the gutter and peg the other end into the ground. Is it worth the money and effort? or am I going to see bugger all difference?

Gutters certainly won't be strong enough. The hook idea is NOT a good one. Might be some hints in the DIY section of the Bunnings website on setting up shade sails. There are firms that will install proper anchor points and shade sails, which sound like the best solution. Looking at 3-400 per window though in $$ or an unknown cost to install a sail to cover the whole side. You could also get a pine pole or two installed to support the shade sail(s) but this won't be portable if you move. How much does it cost to run the air-con? And are you willing to risk an expensive repair to the guttering if they get damaged? There probably aren't any cheap good solutions. Also consult @[email protected] who is probably better informed than all of us.
- yeah shade sails are called sails for a reason - but the ol bamboo blind could work if anchored to the wall
- Yeah next best idea is getting a handyman to come install anchor points.
If you'll be there for a few years you might want to consider a green wall for that side of the house. Best approach is to build a structure off the wall to train the plant, but you can also just let something like a boston ivy grow and you get the benefit of shady leaves (e.g. transpiration/cooling) during summer, and they lose their leaves over winter so you'll get direct sun again. I experimented on the side of an old house and had temps more than 10deg lower behind the leaves/on the wall than the ambient 35deg. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/oct/20/dont-bother-with-living-wall-plant-ivy

I realise this won't help the window issue. The shade cloth will work but I think you'll want something more tensionable than ocky straps.. a big wind could have them whipping round. Edit: see other posts about not attaching to the guttering.

You might also want to look at planting something deciduous to shade the window during summer too.
- I loved the idea of the boston ivy, but was deterred by the reports that they are just rat highways (we already have a significant rodent issue in winter). I toyed with some trees or something, but I've already dont that along the back and eastern fences so the west is the only way I can still see the horizon.
own or rent?
- own
I'd be looking more at something like this for the top

And a trampoline anchor kit for the bottom. Occy straps have to much give in them and the cheap ones are not weather proof.
- yeah thats sort of what I was thinking, but I can just see that ripping up the gutter though.
I’m in the same situation. The rattling is the worst.

It could work but gutters aren’t very strong. I would wonder whether the gutter would withstand the weight of the shade sail (not familiar with them, unsure if they’re as substantial as the green shade cloth) or if it would give out a bit/damage if a big gust of wind caught the cloth with it secured at the bottom.

I’ve looked at popup marquees, shade sails, umbrellas etc but all solutions are quite awkward.

You can try non adhesive window film. I bought a sample swatch off eBay but it wasn’t dark enough for my taste (I wanted really dark one way visibility for privacy) and I think the cheapest off brand I got wasn’t great at staying

Edit: Another idea is suction cup blackout curtains sold for babies
- yeah the gutter part was my primary concern. just chatting to my brother who suggested screwing some pine to the bricks then mounting the clips on that. Trouble with the suction is half of it is that bottle glass so nothing sticks to those windows.

Parked outside the Eye and Ear hospital.

Nearby was a woman in a red dress who appears to be under the influence of narcotics and was singing loudly.

Came back 3 hours later to find the woman attempting to climb a nearby tree. There is also hand sweat marks and snot all over the windshield and bonnet, suggesting the woman had attempted a lap dance of some sort on the car.

🤢

Interviewed for a role yesterday. Today the company owner rang me for a quick chat. Says they'll make their decision by the end of the week. Please sacrifice whatever you need to help me get this job. Thank you in advance ;)

Have run out of virgins thanks to schoolies and even the black goat supply is running low. Could sacrifice a chicken if that would help. Note to self : buy more incense.

Power is back on in Thornbury - just have the nbn outage to be fixed now.

Bought a bunch of shit from Amazon (50% off and then Subscribe & Save and then cancel cancel).

Bought some toiletries + gatorade (half price). Not bad! Pretty sure would've cost me at least $100 at Colesworth but got it all for $45 ish

My son is away at his end of primary school camp. This is day 2/4 (so he's only been away one night). It's pretty hot over this side of the island this week. The call has just been made: They're evacuating the kids due to the heat.

These kids are going to be devastated. They've been fundraising for and talking about this camp all year, the build-up has been massive. I was there with the kids yesterday morning and they were super excited as a group in way I haven't really seen since they were all 6-7 years old. Coincidentally, tomorrow is his 12th birthday and is the day the kids were all going to the waterslide park. He was especially looking forward to that.

Instead, he's coming home this afternoon. No clue as yet if they will be able to do anything (eg. refunds/camp later/excursions etc) to make it up to these kids.

My aunt over in WA told me about the extreme heatwave declaration as well, at first I thought high 30s/low 40s isn't that unusual for Perth. Then I remembered it's not even December yet, and it's apparently kind of come out of nowhere. Real bummer for those kids, but I guess it's a Teachable Moment... hopefully you can find a way to make up for it at home for your son at least. Maybe next week?
- Basically four or five days of 40 degree heat. It's a bit cray cray.
Aww, poor bloke. Too late to set up a tent and sprinkler in the backyard?
- Alas, we do not have a yard. The house that was on this block was razed and replaced with 3x townhouses and a driveway.

If i was a comedian I'd name my show "made from 100% recycled material"

So tired. Not that sleepy kind of need a good night's sleep kind of tired. A deep CBF limping to the finish line of the year kind of tired.

I used to think ‘I’m glad this year is almost over’. Now it all just feels like more of the same
- At the moment I feel like "yay 2024: same guy different haircut" lol
Given how much is on your plate rn, no wonder. Hope you get a chance to recharge soon.
- Thanks mate 🙂
I feel that, most especially this week. Mon - Saturday, then Mon Tues Thur Fri next week. I'm crawling towards the end of the year, but I don't know how 2024 is gonna make me feel less tired lol.

No matter what though, we'll persevere till we get our well deserved rest days.

Sending you my love and energy 💜
- Thanks mate! Looking forward to those 2 weeks off, even if it's unpaid in my case

It's far too early in the morning. Grump.

☕️
- Thank you very kindly. Perhaps some toast & vegemite?

Melbcat has had supper and is snuggling. I love this cat. She’s a gentle giant, as cute as any kitten and affectionate as any dog.

👁️❤️🫵

The Netflix show Last Stop Larrimah is a crazy ride. Real crime story in a tiny outback town with a collection of very eccentric characters. You’ll gasp and laugh and feel sad.

loads it up
I watched it the other day. Put it on for the man and he had no words other than wtf over and over again.
Mate. I just finished it and it's like you said. Laughed, yelled what the fuck several times, then ended up feeling so sad and emotional. Damn. I remember reading the news about the pub owners and the baby and all that but hadn't connected it to the whole sordid history... Great storytelling

Another question - is the best way to clean shower glass + mirror with squeegee? The person who lived in my room previously has made a mess of the mirror and there's residual stains on it. Do you wipe mirrors with a cloth or paper towel + antibacterial spray?

For mirrors and glass, Windex works for me. Spritz it straight into the glass and use a cloth or paper towel to rub over until clean. You will need to have a light pressure with the cloth to rub it over and remove the residues. However, this is just for regular dirt and dust. If you have shower glass with soap scum, you will need to use something a bit abrasive like Jif or Gumption to get it back to clean. After that can be maintained with a squeegee every time you shower, but frankly I can’t be bothered with that. Just clean it regularly with jif.
Try warm water and a small squirt of dishwashing liquid in a bucket and a microfibre cloth or chamois to dry.
Paper towels work best. Spray with windex (or similar glass cleaner) and wipe in a circular motion. You can use a squeegee but that can leave streaks and doesn't remove stains very well If there are soap scum stains, I use a bathroom spray and leave it for like 20-30 minutes. Make sure you've got the fan on and doors open (window too if that's available). Wipe with a cloth, then squeegee.
I've always used a squeegee and dishwashing liquid and water in a spray bottle, then blotted off any remaining dribbles with an old handtowel. The residual stains on the mirror may be behind the glass and if so cannot be removed. Its called mirror cancer. Only way to remove those is to replace the mirror. Happens when water/moisture gets into the silvery backing of the mirror. Worth trying with dishwashing spray as above and if that doesn't fix it it's probably permanent. Don't waste your time with windex or similar.
vinegar and microfibre. buff buff buff

My tomato count is now up to 13 little green fruits. Lots of flowers too. Looking forward to them becoming delicious.

Chicane - Salt Water is pure genius.

So good! Takes me back to my peak clubbing days back in the UK. Thanks for the memory :)
- Np 😄

I'ma label this as TMI just in case lol

Title

I had a pap smear last week, my first one ever (I'm 31, I know I should have had it waaaaay earlier) and I still feel weird as heck down in there. Doc was lovely, absolutely no complaints, but I am most certainly not a fan of the process. When I pulled my dacks back up and sat down again, she placed the smear stick thing on her desk, and the end was red - gave me the heebies. She asked if I bleed a bit during sex, which I do and said yes, but I thought it was just little tears. Apparently my cervix is swollen. Go figure.

I should apparently get my results in another week or something.

In other news, my cat is so damn cute! Here's a pic of him mid-yawn with his pretty white belly, he lets me pat his belly without losing his mind (mostly haha)

If there's a problem, best to find out now rather than later. I found myself in a hell of a pickle earlier this year because I didn't get tests done when due. All good now after treatment, but I bitterly regret now that I didn't see it coming and get it fixed early.
- Definitely better late than never, I just had to work myself up to doing it due to medical trauma and SA. I kick myself for not having it done sooner, but I'm grateful I'm only 31 so if anything is wrong I have a good chance of coming out the other side (is what I'm telling myself while I await the results lol).
The bleeding thing would alarm me. Your partner(s) never raised concerns?
- TMI response
  
  Title
  
  He has, often. All the time. I just thought because I'm 'small' and he's 6" erect, that I was just tearing slightly. We get a bit... Rough lol
  
  I actually went for the pap because I my periods are wildly irregular and heavy.
  
  I'm getting tested for gonoreah and chlamydia because she noticed the swolleness, just in case. If I have either, I'm 100% blaming my slutty abusive ex lol

I could hear a noise outside so I went out and saw bats circling next doors fruit trees. I quickly ran back inside and shut the door. Now I know what little dog barks at when he's out there at night.

Having to keep your phone in your hand when crossing Elizabeth and flinders street intersection because if you put it in your pocket the Bluetooth cuts out.

It's not only dresses that women get short changed on pockets. As a man, the shirt pocket and inside jacket pockets are up nice and high on my body to keep the BT connected.

I'm not sure if it's a large man thing, but I can block my own BT, If my phone is in my back pocket and I'm bent over gardening, my BT drops out.
- Yah but you can't put inside pockets too high up on women's jackets 'cos titties
Huh, interesting. Mine used to cut out a top of Lonsdale and Spring st. Anything to do with having a train station below?
- Probably, since it craps put at the ground floor escalators in Melbourne central as well.
🤷‍♀️

I have Bluetooth permanently switched off on my phone, same with wifi

iow, I use it as a phone and camera. I have a few apps, only a few. Like dictionaries and such.

First fledgling of the season made it through their first night. Although I think mum has decided she's done because it's been screaming all morning to be fed and she's not been by.

Do you add anything to your wash to make your clothes smell nicer? Can I add a little eucalyptus oil to every run?

You can, but eucalyptus can get overpowering over time. The supermarkets sell a water soluble eucalyptus oil - add 1 only teaspoonful to the RINSE water. There is also a lavender version that can be used the same way.
Another method is to keep a small face washer or similar with a few drops of oil on it. Put this in the dryer with your clothes.
Quite frankly, I wouldn't bother if line drying clothes. I would only consider this if using a tumble dryer all the time.
EDIT: too much oil will rot the seals on the washing machine.
- I have a washer / dryer mixed machine. Will the oil still mess with the seals? If so I'll stick to the scent booster that CEO suggested above. Or get the soluble one.
I just get the aldi washing powder that's already scented. Seems to do a good enough job.
You can buy stuff like this scent booster. Eucalyptus oil can have a pissy smell after a while.
- Ooh thank you CEO. I liked the strong smell of Eucalyptus oil but it never stuck to my clothes. I'll try the scent booster.
I use eucalyptus washing liquid and that's it. I used to use a bergamot liquid but I can't find that here.

I suppose you could add one drop, and only one drop, to the machine/load
- Colesworth sell Organic Choice Bergamot & lavender. Smells like Turkish delight to me, and cleans well.

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

Rice balls and some rocky road icecream please
- 🍚⚾️🪨🛣️🍨

Rewatching the HBO Chernobyl series. It's genuinely horrifying.

Not great, not terrible.

Nah it's a fantastic show, I really enjoyed it. Mostly because it is horrifying.