Melbourne

I was given the present of love. Baklava.

Well that was a relief. All made it.

I have a lot of tedious, unfulfilling work I REALLY don't want to do today but need to clear by COB before I go on leave. I've had a slow start to the day and a battle of Feels. Thankfully, the sun is shining so that makes it easier to stay on the good side for now

Today's strategy:

• keep reminding myself of the reward after getting through today
• remind myself efficiency is a good thing too
• enjoy all the good food - today's medicinal carb is a Woodfrog bakery croissant. Dumplings for lunch
• go out and weed my planter boxes at lunchtime for some serotonin 'n shit
• blast all the feel-good 70s/80s pop rock. Currently on Toto, next up is classic Chicago
• celebrate the end of the day by calling/messaging people I love

I got this!...

e: busting out the ELO now. Thanks to this Russian dude who uploaded 2x 2h complications!

I found that real estate ad I mentioned yesterday

Scroll through the photos to see. Kinda NSFW.

Just watched as the local daddy magpie gave a swark at someone who overreacted, swung around and started jogging...so Maggie gave them a bit of a swoop. Guy jogged off shaken and then I went up to the magpie and got a swark too. Said my normal "hello Maggie". We had a few quiet words and swarks back and forth and I wandered home.

Not gonna lie, I feel a little bit special as a chosen maggie friend.

Oh poo. Thought I had the afternoon off tomorrow but the client is back sooner than we all thought.
I just hope they haven't discharged her too soon...

Whew... Finished up at 7pm, well past when I'd hoped to finish at 5pm, and there's a couple of small outstanding but non urgent items. But I got through the worst of it - all the yucky stuff that made me renew my deep dislike for humanity and was very much due. Dobby is free!!!

...From one job, at least - next two days are gonna be real candle burners as well with the huge backlog from work trip last week and my not being available the next two weeks. I love that place though, so I'm kind of looking forward to getting stuck into it to help the team out.

48 hours to go before I'm on the way to the airport, yippee. For now, is dumplings time (swapped from lunch), and this week's episodes of OMITB and Slow Horses :)

You know in 10-20 years time we're gonna regret not asking Martin Sheen to take a crack at being the president IRL. Its worked out ok for Ukraine so far...

I wish we had a competent party that would keep labor on their toes.

But no, we have a dipshit that looks like a fucking potato.

Totally forgot I own a train engine biscuit cutter. One miniature women’s weekly special added to the schedule 🚂

In yet another sign of the apocalypse, there is an Australian version of The Office releasing soon on Amazon Prime.

The trailer is....well....the trailer.

Nice looking day today, I really need to try and get outside for a bit. I should probably pull some weeds while I'm out there too. Or clean the back paving, it's gotten quite gunky and slippery.

I received my first ever order from Ali Express yesterday. Their website is quite dreadful to deal with, but I managed to get some thread I've been struggling to get from any Australian suppliers. Some sewing needles I bought were not all the right type, and I got a refund without having to return - which is nice, because 4 out of 5 were right, and the others I can use eventually, just not what I wanted.

It is frustrating how expensive sewing notions are in Australia, it is generally much cheaper to buy ready made items than the materials to make it yourself.

Fried my brain last night by staying up like a teenage gamer but binge watching after I couldn’t assignment any more.

Slept like the dead, though.

Out to feed the face, but not enjoying this wimdy.

so beautiful and sunny out there. Fuck it, I;m going out for a walk.

Another bad dream. Fuck.

Got a pigeon nest in the tree outside my guest window. Loving her dedication sitting there in the wind and as the dogs run past. Must've been a shortage of good options this year cause its barely 1 meter off the ground in a tree that sways pretty dramatically in the wind.

Finally dragged myself to the closest op shop to get some clothes… I spent more than planned and am second guessing almost everything I got, but had to sort something out.

Other than a few basics I haven’t really bought clothes for years and a lot has changed.

Really considering telling the boss I need the rest of the week off, jumping in my car and driving somewhere untill Sunday. I have done zero to prepare for this but I could make it happen. Feeling pretty low this week.

Goodnight everyone. 😘

Dinner has been eaten. Just some left over pasta amongst an entire day of eating cakes and cupcakes.

Time to relax for the night and out my feet up.

Weather was also delightful for most of the day as well I might add.

I think I have my menu plan sorted for the next few days, which should clear out everything perishable from the fridge before I am away for a few days next week. I've also fully cleared out the vegetable drawer, which was nowhere near as bad as I feared - I did find some very gooey celery and some tomatoes that were more liquid than solid. I'm going to freeze a few things I have excess of (cauliflower & leek bake, some mushrooms and some stewed apple & pear) and have put some excess bananas in the freezer for future cooking. Plus I'll be freezing the planned camembert and cherry muffins. This whole "cook everything from scratch and focus on reducing food waste" hobby is very labour intensive some days!

Cleaning out my laundry. Feels kinda good.

Heading down the bellarine today. Left the chillo seedlings on the heat mat outside since Sat. but I'm expecting some loss after that coldish snap :( With any luck a few made it.

Dunno if ya'll are already on it, but the apple and cinnamon sourdough from bakers delight is incredible!