Guys, my newly adult daughter is on an overnight bus with her friend on the way to Adelaide for a few days. I am sad but I'll be ok.

I have a very dear older family friend that is in early stage Alzheimer's. We travelled together about 18 months ago but she is really past it now and we kinda knew that would happen (it was a bit of a last harrah family visit). there's a family event coming up and she would love to go. I have told her that I can't manage to find accommodation that will suit us (true) and I also think she is a bit past it (true and said and received with love). But she wants to and is a little bit past reason (keeps saying 'I will let you know if I can come') and it breaks my heart. I am gonna zoom her into it (someone in her home can help).

But fuck this getting old business. She was the strongest most capable woman I knew growing up. Always a real rock for me. Aaargghh.

What are you peasants eating?

yay, I went to the beach with my new gum boots. The tide was out and I was adventurous and walked right out across the sand flats to the far rocks that are usually well underwater.

here's a pic looking back at the shore 😊

Welp, I may feel like my thesis is complete shite and that doing a research project was the worst decision ever that's dredged up an unrelenting blast of old trauma, but because nobody fucking applies for scholarships in my school, I did... and guess who just got $3000 for filling out some forms - when I'm weeks away from graduating 😂

Sadly, it is taxable as I'm a part-time student, but hell, at least it'll be in this FY where my taxable income isn't as high due to having worked part time

Well it's official.

Hambam is now confidently an off leash walker.

I have waited for this moment for a long time.

Trick was to take him to the same park several times a day so he got over being hyper stimulated / fixated. It worked. Now he doesn't give two shits about anything.. other dogs / kids. So I have upgraded his braincell count to 3, from 2.

It's my birthday so that means seafood and cheese platter day.

I survived work. Must make tea

Has CEO invited you all to their party tonight or just me?

I wish I'd taken annual leave tomorrow so I could have a 4 day weekend. Ah well.

Cuddling with my warm fuzzy baby. Her bunny soft fur, her warm comforting bulk, her sweet good natured face. I love my cat so much and kiss her little head.

I made hash browns. It just ain’t the same. Maybe brushed potatoes aren’t the best for it.

Step 1 in life admin day complete:

I have a desk

It is much more solid than I expected for the price, and a touch bigger than I was envisaging. It mostly went together easily too, with only a few bolts at the end which were tricky to position and in a place that didn't allow you to turn the allen key fully. I think I've only got three more bits of furniture to assemble now, the two bedside tables and a small shelf.

Edit: and I now have a working computer too! The important peripherals have all been installed: mouse, keyboard, speakers, and cat sleeping mat.

Aaaaaaaaaaaargh

Nocturnal friend wants to become a 'NEET' which I have learnt stands for Not in Employment, Education or Training. She said she just wants to win the lottery. A girl can dream.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Man, I just put all my estimated earnings and tax paid etc into a calculator and I'm depressed once again at the removal of the LMITO. I hate that I'm probably going to have such a 2.5-3k tax bill at the end despite working part time :( I'm so used to having tax returned and July being a bit of a splurge month.

Why the hell is my employer withholding so little tax?! Ugh. I know it's better to have the money up front and earn interest (which also gets taxed...) but psychologically it effing sucks.

Next time I might start having a separate "tax" account to save the money into, like it's an annual bill. E: or just dump it into super since mine's rather low for my age... Could use it for FHSSS or one of those grown-up things

I was hoping to get a little bush hike in this long weekend but the forecast is not awesome. What can I do instead that's warm?

Good night everyone. Sweet dreams. 😘

Hullo

Am meant to transfer to a new department at work next week, but the new team didn’t initiate the transfer correctly - so my old role couldn’t be backfilled..

..now there’s a fight brewing over when I should actually transition. It’s good to be wanted, but I feel like a kid who’s divorcing parents are fighting for custody!

Blended the 1st chilli ferment last night. 13 day ferment. The one w/ homegrown apricots, raspberries. Surprisingly it's actually very good. Can taste them through the heat. Never had a hawt sauce like that. Raspberries made it a nice deep red. Was going to turn the last of chillies into powder but instead going to start anothery of that today.

I think taking the chilli seeds out before the ferment (usually don't bother) really made a difference and let the sweetness cut through. Bit time consuming but worth it.

I think I'll get a big fast SSD for the computer to put Linux on. I might as well find things to claim in the EOFY sales because I've been getting tax bills the last couple of years. Might as well spend and claim