Welcome to the Melbourne Community Daily Discussion Thread.

Seems like the ’bot took the weekend off.

  • Sir_ListerOfSmeg@aussie.zone
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    1 year ago

    Batdog made it through the night. Fought strong and self soothed with a heartbeat bear and a blanket from his litter.

    Still very clingy and not interested in food, but loves lots of cuddles, head scratches, and belly rubs.

    Dog tax

    • Rusty Raven @aussie.zoneM
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      1 year ago

      It looks like the bot was just having a Sunday morning sleep in. No errors, it just shut itself down for no obvious reason. Thanks cuavas for filling in.

  • Outlier1031@aussie.zone
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    1 year ago

    Feeling better today anxiety wise. A couple of jobs popped up on seek that sound pretty chill so I applied for both and now about to put some nuggets in the oven for lunchie munchies. Also having a laugh at the expense of the greek family next door renovating the rental that they own. They are having the most mundane, polite conversations but speaking to each other in a tone so aggressive that they sound like they’re all about to have a punch on.

  • Llabyrinthine@aussie.zone
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    1 year ago

    Seems like a chill kind of Sunday, today.

    For some reason, I’ve taken a liking to motor inns recently. Something about budget, no frills you pretty much get what you expect is… comforting?

    I’ve had the fortune of staying in nicer places, but they always seem to be… I don’t know maybe the higher the price the higher the expectation and the I don’t find they quite meet in the end.

    Anyways, how is everyone?

    • Duenan@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      Doing as well as can be. Staying warm and recovering from some physical ailments.

      It’s been a lazy day I have to admit.

      I have been fed with frankfurts I recently found in my fridge (still good) and now have a cup of large coffee here with a hot water bottle in front of the tv watching footy.

      How are you doing?

      • Llabyrinthine@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        Sounds like you’ve had the perfect day for you! Just hanging out a little out of town and doing a bit of window/online browsing. The sun was glorious this morning so soaked up a bit of that, but otherwise good/grateful for sure!

    • underwatermagpies@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      I love a good motel. You can get a nice room for under $100 in lots of country towns, so a spontaneous weekend away can be pretty affordable.

      • SituationCake@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        And you don’t have to empty the bins, bring linen, fumble with a key safe and all those other Airbnb chores. Just basic accomodation with a dash of nostalgia.

      • Llabyrinthine@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        That’s what I’m leaning more towards, even though I have a tendency to hover around Macedon and surrounds.

        Do love a road trip though. Looks like more of those are going to be put onto the calendar!

    • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      I’ve been mostly staying at motels when travelling these days - honestly all I need is a clean bed and toilet/shower and a halfway decent mattress, and a quiet night. Plenty of motor inns that don’t do even that, but plenty others that do for a reasonable price especially off peak. Best compromise between a hotel/airbnb and camping.

      Been a bit headachey and blah earlier but better now after going out to get some Brussels sprouts and pruning the curry leaf plants, and a bit of reorganising around the house. The friend I was supposed to catch up with today had to reschedule because she’s got a cold and I’m secretly relieved because I’m really enjoying a day of no commitments.

      • Llabyrinthine@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        I replied on the way home in the car but Lemmy ate my text. Glad you have been having a rest! Also I am envious of your curry leaf plant! (Fried curry leaves!) The one we stayed at had both split cycle and wall heating as well as electric blankets. And the usual bits, fridge, crockery, mugs, glasses, a kettle, toaster and microwave. Extra blankets etc. And the usually complimentary coffee, tea and biscuits. Really couldn’t fault it at all. I keep driving past the Kyneton Springs Inn and that seems to have been done up in this super cute retro decor. So there really is life to these motels yet!

  • Baku@aussie.zone
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    1 year ago

    I slept for about 12 hours and still feel tired, but not in an oversleeping kind of way. Also my legs are melted from my long walk yesterday and I also got bruised from how I was sitting on the bus back from Bendigo

    Still, that was a fun trip and I’ll do it all again one day

  • cuavas@aussie.zoneOP
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    1 year ago

    A teacher at my son’s high school apparently had no choice but to resign after displaying racism while teaching a class. It’s a very multicultural school, I didn’t expect this. But given the amount of racism I get from random strangers in Melbourne, I really shouldn’t be surprised. Looking at threads over on r/melbourne, the introverted and unwelcoming attitude that permeates the city is really obvious. Rationally, I know it isn’t everyone in Melbourne, but God damn these people make sure you notice them.

    • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      Unfortunately, I have a feeling that racism/xenophobia is going to be on the rise what with cost of living pressures and the housing crisis.

      • ReadEverything@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        Insert: Murdoch Cookie meme. You know they are definitely going to ramp it up in the media as a distraction from the billionaires hoarding the wealth and destroying the planet.

        • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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          1 year ago

          Hell yeah. I keep coming back to that LBJ quote: “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”

  • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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    1 year ago

    I slept in much like Botbot but I don’t feel refreshed. After being in a house in the burbs for a month, being back in an apartment has not been relaxing. The minor traffic noises of cars driving past even at night have been making me feel tense, let alone the downstairs neighbour’s Sunday morning bass heavy music, the upstairs neighbour vacuuming, and random talking from the garden next door… Honestly it’s making me feel like curling up in bed all day wanting it to stop. It sounds so silly and irrational that I don’t feel safe in my own home from perfectly normal noises? I really don’t think I can live in an apartment for a while 🙁

    But I certainly can’t afford to rent a townhouse or house in most of Melbourne and moving is expensive. If I’m going to move I’m honestly leaning towards just having a new start interstate…

    I think this realisation is adding just that extra bit of fire towards making those big life decisions around work, study, family, etc… Luckily I’m cat/housesitting for a month again in a freestanding house, from the week after next. So I’ll have more time to let those decisions fall into place.

    • Bottom_racer@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      I hear ye. I honestly think the soundscape of cities is bad for overall mental health.

      When I’m down the bellarine there’s a bit of road noise / more garden / powertools but come 9pm it is DEAD quiet. Can hear the individual waves crash from 2kms away. It is BLISS. Makes such a difference mentally.

      • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        Hundred percent. Honestly I think I’ve been ready to get away from the hubbub for well over a year now. Now that I have options I think this is going to be an important factor in whatever next steps I make

      • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        Yeah, I’ve got a good online radio station on backup for that at night. I’ll manage. But it was just a bit of a downer realising how sensitive I was to that noise and of course it didn’t help in the morning… Plus there’s just this physical feeling of being unmoored that I can’t shake off

    • bull⚡@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      I live in a Docklands apartment but every so often will go and house/dog-sit for my parents when they go away out in the outer suburbs (Melton). I absolutely get it. It’s SO QUIET out there, and so dark at night compared to in here (the roll down blinds in my apartment don’t help there, they suck). If you have a car it’s so easy to live out there. I’ve been looking to get out of the city for a while now.

      I also want to be able to crank my Sunday morning music without worrying about neighbours. I have some country bangers going but I can never crank that dial.

      • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        Same same same. I’ve accepted, if somewhat selfishly, that I’d rather have a car on hand to be able to live out somewhere quieter (and also with an actual garden), as much as it sucks for the environment. This is where I have a real conundrum with myself because I definitely support better town planning and higher density, yet at the same time I completely understand why people prefer detached dwellings.

        I grew up my entire life in a very densely populated and extremely planned out country, with amazing PT and amenities everywhere - so quite different from apartments here - and yet I craved living in a house with a garden so very much from childhood. Even though I hated the suburbs when I first moved here

    • SituationCake@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      You’d be surprised on the affordability compared to the inner city. Can get something more spacious for the same price. Lots of suburbs where it’s walking distance to a train station. And even if it’s an apartment, it’s quieter at night than would be in the city, and there’s often community gardens you can join and larger parklands to enjoy. Downside is the choice of restaurants is less, and of course depends where you work for how long the commute would be.

      • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        I dunno, I’m already just about able to afford my 435/week 2br apt, if I’m moving to the outer suburbs I’d want a townhouse with private open space at least for that amount, but it doesn’t seem like there’s many options. I don’t eat out much and can mostly wfh (site visits are all across the city, I will admit my place is very convenient for getting to most locations).

        But moving out alone will cost quite a bit just in expenses. Currently my rent is on a periodic lease and won’t go up until next April at least. Whereas if I move to a new place I’m locked in for a year. I think I’m gonna see (a) how long I’m going to stick on at this job and (b) whether I finish my studies here, because without those two, there is absolutely nothing substantial enough to keep me in Victoria any more tbh and I’m ready for a change in scenery plus I miss my family in Perth and Brisbane. And I could do my studies interstate - it’d be a research project and it doesn’t have to be in Melbourne…

  • StudSpud The Starchy@aussie.zone
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    1 year ago

    So I uninstalled BG3 and am reinstalling from scratch. Fingers crossed that it gets past 92% this time, but I won’t know until tomorrow.

    Least the download speed is jumping between 1.6MB/s and 3.0MB/s. Much better than .01.

    I just want to fuck the bear ffs

    • landsharkkidd@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      Oh no!

      Also can’t wait to romance the bear in another playthrough. I’ve decided to romance a hot tiefling.

      • StudSpud The Starchy@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        My poor partner can’t wait to tell me about his playthrough, but he’s in Act 3 atm so is refraining with great difficulty haha! I should have listened to him when he told me to download it days ago lol!

        I know I’m going to spend a solid hour to do character creation, because I love that shit, but I want to flirt with all the NPCs now haha!

        • landsharkkidd@aussie.zone
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          1 year ago

          Did it download all the way? I’m currently in act 2 and it’s really good, but made me realise I needed to go back and level up. I recommend to do EVERYTHING in act 1.

          Also you can pat a dog and I think an owlbear, I haven’t gotten the owlbear yet but I’m happy to meet it.

          spoiler for act 1 somewhat, no major spoilers but if you wanna go in blind don't read this!

          Also sorry for those w/ apps that don’t spoil things.

          Basically you want to go in the Owlbear cave and don’t fight the mother. When you come back though, you’ll find goblins have killed the mother Owlbear. You’ll find the Owlbear at the Goblin Camp. You can either kill all the goblins (that’s what I did at lvl 8 whoops) or you can persuade the goblins to let you have the Owlbear. You have to pass animal handling but it can come to your camp.

      • StudSpud The Starchy@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        Nah, it’s downloading fine now, I just realised that with change of providers on GOGs end, and me having the Early Access version already installed, there may be some file errors preventing it from completing the download.

        So I aborted the download, uninstalled all BG3 files I had, and then restarted the download from the start. This seems to have fixed the 0.1MB/s download issue, I already have 5GB installed now, so early tomorrow morning I can hopefully start playing.

        Regarding your earlier question, I love playing a Wild Magic Sorcerer in D&D and the last campaign we were doing Descent into Avernus, so I may make them again. Though, they were a Kenku, so I’ll have to pick another race. I hope they add Kenkus in a later patch, but I doubt they will because dialogue would be difficult haha

  • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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    1 year ago

    The balcony looks a bit less sad. Took out a lot of dead stuff and crispy bits.

    very long garden rambling

    Happy to see the hot lips salvia has bounced back vigorously after a prune and having a saucer placed under the pot a month ago. Being right on the edge of the balcony, it did need all the water it could get to battle all the sun and wind.

    Chucked one of the scotch bonnets that’s been ripe and on the plant for weeks, into the pulled jackfruit that’s been simmering on the stove for 5 hours now. Not sure what to do with the myriad other SB and prik noom chillies that are going to start drying up on the plant - way too many to use fresh or even frozen as whole chillies as they are all HAAAAWT - I wonder if I should have a go at making homemade chilli sauce, or chilli paste that can be frozen.

    Manzano/rocoto still going OK despite more yellow leaves from maybe 10 days of no water and bitterly cold winds. Two green fruit fell off, I’ll let them ripen on the table; I don’t know if the others will do the same. Been there for well over a month now.

    The dwarf lemons look nearly dead. I’ve given up on working out how to make them thrive. Tried everything I could think of :(

    The jasmine is doing well despite the tips regularly being burnt off from being on the hot railings. Lots of flower buds appearing so I’m really excited to welcome some lovely blooms in the next few weeks! I’m wondering if I should leave it behind when I go depending on how much it’s twined around the railing.

    Snowpeas and sweet peas have germinated but are slow. So is the coriander - despite a good amount of sun. Maybe it’s the wind. No doubt as the days get longer they’ll start kicking off. Being in pots with a water reservoir I reckon I could set and forget for almost all the time that I’ll be away through Sep and they’ll keep going.

    Gave all the curry leaf plants but particularly Big Boi (who’s almost completely leafless from being left in the cold wind for too long - sorry my friend) a heading prune, even as I could see new leaves unfurling from the top, because the last thing I want is leggy plants - which curry leaf plants tend to become without a good chop to promote side branching, especially in cold areas where they might lose heaps of leaves every winter.

    Was a bit nerve wracking and I kept apologising to BB, but he’s come back so many times from absolutely nothing, that I have faith he’ll get through this as well, especially with such a robust root system. Please may you all become nice and bushy and I can start giving a couple of you away. There’s another rescue from a near dead plant that’s doing very well and hardly lost any leaves, I think it might be more cold hardy so might give that to a cousin in Ballarat.

    bonus awkward salvia pic


  • Bottom_racer@aussie.zone
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    1 year ago

    Chicken tikka masala for dins. Marinade smelling gooood. Going to be served with heavily discounted store bought frozen samosa that tend to fall apart mid-frying with coriander chutney for the full quasi-experience.

    spoiler

    I'm Excited - Big Kev


  • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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    1 year ago

    Dinner is served. Again, two new dishes.

    8 hour stovetop jackfruit in some storebought pulled pork jar sauce (mostly pear puree and smoked paprika??), with Carib flavours (allspice, thyme, two scotch bonnets from the garden added whole) and other bits (cinnamon stick, couple cloves, bay leaf, stock powder). The pot sucked arse so there’s a whole bunch of burnt bits.

    Plus steamed Brussels sprouts in butter with a sprinkle of sumac and salt, and basmati rice and a side of spicy fried fish from a jar

    dinzzzz

    rice, jackfruit in a pot and Brussels sprouts in a bowl on a stainless steel stove

    rice, jackfruit and Brussels sprouts served in a bowl with a small side of fried dry fish and dried chilli