Bec

Tea witch; writer and editor; keen on planetary survival; PhD (Australian steampunk and the environment); parent; gardener and friend of pets. Grew up on a farm, still feel the land in my bones. Menang Country/South Coast, Western Australia

#gardening #hiking #academia #writing #editing #kindness #nature #environment #climate #dogs #food #cats #agriculture #permaculture #reading #books

Pronouns: she/her
Languages: Posting in English, speak/read fluent German, basic French

Public Key

npub1lgjjvrw75ya48pfknqhvt4ypp9ssxaf7wr8yw9afyrt6a2dja90s4wea76

NIP-05 Address

teadrinker_at_aus.social@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs05ffxph02zw6ns5mfstk96jqsjcgrw5l8pnj8z75jp4aw4xewjhcpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dszdtnjt

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1lgjjvrw75ya48pfknqhvt4ypp9ssxaf7wr8yw9afyrt6a2dja90s4wea76

Show more details

Published at

2026-10-30T20:50:31Z

Kind type

0 Metadata

Event JSON

{ "id": "1e49e494364952d8355039d2145580ba3d5498de8331912db73fd198730a4faa", "pubkey": "fa25260ddea13b538536982ec5d481096103753e70ce4717a920d7aea9b2e95f", "created_at": 1793393431, "kind": 0, "tags": [ [ "t", "cats" ], [ "t", "writing" ], [ "t", "reading" ], [ "t", "hiking" ], [ "t", "dogs" ], [ "t", "books" ], [ "t", "nature" ], [ "t", "food" ], [ "t", "agriculture" ], [ "t", "gardening" ], [ "t", "environment" ], [ "t", "kindness" ], [ "t", "academia" ], [ "t", "permaculture" ], [ "t", "editing" ], [ "t", "climate" ], [ "proxy", "https://aus.social/users/teadrinker", "activitypub" ], [ "L", "pink.momostr" ], [ "l", "pink.momostr.activitypub:https://aus.social/users/teadrinker", "pink.momostr" ], [ "-" ] ], "content": "{\"name\":\"Bec\",\"about\":\"Tea witch; writer and editor; keen on planetary survival; PhD (Australian steampunk and the environment); parent; gardener and friend of pets. Grew up on a farm, still feel the land in my bones. Menang Country/South Coast, Western Australia\\n\\n#gardening #hiking #academia #writing #editing #kindness #nature #environment #climate #dogs #food #cats #agriculture #permaculture #reading #books\\n\\nPronouns: she/her\\nLanguages: Posting in English, speak/read fluent German, basic French\\n\",\"website\":\"https://aus.social/@teadrinker\",\"picture\":\"https://mediacdn.aus.social/accounts/avatars/107/326/518/214/223/481/original/6052ec5bbc0e84a5.jpg\",\"banner\":\"https://mediacdn.aus.social/accounts/headers/107/326/518/214/223/481/original/889463c10f709dba.jpg\",\"nip05\":\"teadrinker_at_aus.social@momostr.pink\"}", "sig": "f838c6441718721c208626a3c5fc118a0deb68fb6f8a173f8e7f6b9883242d4cd2bf4d7b28cd0f4bac0468713a14a5a349dfd7988de054338e2897b3493af236" }

Last Notes

2026-10-31 01:44:09 UTC

Accents are funny. Adam let the dogs in and there's been a bit of gentle rain so their paws were muddy. I'd also just boiled the kettle.
'Hold on a sec,' I said to Ella, 'I'm just going to pour the tea and then I'll clean your paws.'
And it made me smile because pour and paw rhyme in the accent I use, and I remembered the time we were going to an op shop and Adam suggested we go to the Community Paws one (run by the animal rescue group) and I heard 'Community Poors' and thought wow, they're really leaning into the idea that the op shop is for the lower socioeconomic groups, seems a bit pointed.
Because poor and paw (and pour!) sound the same, hahaha
Tell me, Fedifriends, what's the difference in your accent? I'm so keen to know!

2026-10-27 07:28:32 UTC

- reply

Ugh, such a sucky situation, I'm so sorry <3

2026-10-27 06:23:11 UTC

- reply

Gosh, so hard, I really get it xx
Is there any chance of respite care for your mum?

2026-10-11 06:26:53 UTC

Chris Bowen says that Australia won't be using Russian diesel in a veiled criticism of the Trump administration's decision to do so.
Good call.
Can we perhaps now turn our attention to the Israeli genocide in Gaza and occupation in the West Bank?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/10/australia-fuel-chris-bowen-trump-us-russia-diesel-deal-putin
#auspol #gaza #russia #uspol

2026-10-03 23:59:14 UTC

The weather this time of year down here is really gorgeous. Variety in the rain and sunshine, chilly enough to need a jumper in the mornings and evenings, warm enough during the day to recharge your batteries.
I am having trouble putting a lid on my sense of urgency about getting plants and seeds in the ground to make the most of the season – counting weeks and calculating harvest dates... but also I need to guard my energy. I needed a nap yesterday and didn't get one, so today there will be napping, even though it's going to be sunny and I could be gardening!
I plan to sow the rest of the sunflowers outside now that it's reliably warmer and I've got a new tomato seedling to go into the raised bed. Look at this forecast. Perfect growing weather – with a lovely downpour on Thursday 🥰
#gardening #gardeningAU #weather
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/117/379/676/501/030/718/original/c158bbc368c70b77.png

2026-10-02 07:06:27 UTC

- reply

Note to Rosie: yes eat flies, no eat bees

2026-10-01 02:38:27 UTC

Kid3 bought me a bag of T2 sticky honey chai while we were in Perth and I can definitely recommend it. Not too sweet, and has all the important chai ingredients. Perhaps not as flavourful as mixing them all myself and boiling in milk, but a very close and more convenient second place!
#tea

2026-09-28 10:02:00 UTC

Hopefully this campaign has some influence on the laws we desperately need to preserve our privacy
https://act.getup.org.au/s/imUemQ5k
#AI #petition #DataBreach

2026-09-24 06:54:21 UTC

- reply

I thought you were imitating Rocky from Project Hail Mary (if you've not seen it, he adds the word 'question' to the end of sentences to clarify that it's a query). I feel your frustration but also quite liked the word being said rather than the ? :)
Anyway, we're having another belated birthday meal tonight, so it's going to be either Thai or Indian food -- I hope your easy dinner is delicious and you can get some good rest despite the buggered shoulder xx

2026-09-14 11:28:31 UTC

Why naan au fromage when it's just plain naan? Not sure what the Chinese says either (would love to know! Does it also mention cheese?)
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/117/269/141/595/599/987/original/ab017709a5442204.jpg

2026-09-10 10:35:39 UTC

Finally, finally after months of waiting and many falls and illnesses and middle-of-the-night emergency phone calls and hospital visits... Dad has a place at a care home. It's the same one where Mum is and so he'll be able to spend as much time as he likes with her. Not sure exactly when he'll be able to move in but it's likely a matter of days.
Friends, the relief. It is enormous
#CareWork #ageing #family

2026-09-07 04:04:23 UTC

- reply

I love this earworm, thank you 🥰

2026-09-02 06:36:43 UTC

- reply

She told her boss at work (a cafe) about it and he thought it was hilarious

2026-09-02 05:57:01 UTC

One of the Kids had a birthday recently and asked Kid2 to make a cake. They chose the tiger from the Women's Weekly birthday cake book and Kid2 made a chocolate cake from scratch and then did the buttercream icing.
When she went to colour it, though, she discovered we didn't have yellow food colouring.
'It's a shame we don't have a spice or something we could use...' she mused.
'Omg,' I said. 'TURMERIC! It's a really mild flavour and you'll only need a little. The icing is super sweet and the chocolate cake will mask the earthy taste of the turmeric. Give it a try!'
And so she did (with a little bit of icing in a separate bowl just in case). And we taste tested it and it was great! I think it turned out amazingly. What a star she is 🥰
#baking #parenting #food #cake
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/117/199/895/603/868/227/original/d32f10aea6be9571.jpg

2026-08-31 10:06:38 UTC

#ThreeGoodThings
+ Dad stable for now, and hearing aids are fixed, which makes things so much easier
+ tea 🥰
+ this cute kitten-puppy standoff that involved little puppy yips and lots of kitten paw swipes and purrs, all of which gave me such needed belly laughs after a really busy and people-filled day
#CareWork #ThingsILove #tea
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/117/189/526/634/417/937/original/2d7bb42244e6b60c.jpg
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/117/189/527/254/202/798/original/ca7b254c5ae4c02c.jpg

2026-08-30 22:43:21 UTC

The weekend has been so chaotic with Dad stuff and it continues today but omg, the morning mug of tea is really, really good today
#tea

2026-08-28 05:12:13 UTC

Leia would like everyone to know that someone else (me) is sitting on Her Chair and she is not happy about it
#cats
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/117/171/407/884/474/694/original/294e18b2055ea2df.jpg

2026-08-23 06:24:16 UTC

- reply

We live in a town where many people retire to, as well. It's just such a bugger that there's so little support. And essentially we're waiting for someone else to die before Dad can get a place (he's on the waiting list) which is an awful thing in itself. We've got a Liberal local member (it's a conservative area, see above re demographic) but I would like to think he's interested in improving this for his constituents

2026-08-22 12:50:00 UTC

I wanted to get my raised bed started today. And then I had an unexpected Dad errand and even though I know this isn't forever, it just feels like such a lot right now. I missed out on band practice this week because I had Dad stuff to do; today was supposed to be my free day because I have Dad errands to run tomorrow and meetings to attend with him on Monday and Tuesday.
I'm feeling so resentful even though I know it's hard for him too. And there's nothing to be done, we're just waiting for a place in residential care to become available and nobody knows how long that will take
Heavy sigh
#caring #CareWork #aging #AgeingParents #complaining

2026-07-27 02:41:49 UTC

Weeping my way through the workday because Jarrah deteriorated SO FAST on the weekend and we made the difficult but kind-of-only-good-possible decision to take him to be put down this morning. (My manager told me to take some time out if I need to but frankly, doing mechanical and familiar tasks is good for me.)
Gosh, I'm so sad, friends. He was so the best, the most amazing and special genius wonderdog, and even though he'd been having acouple of breakthrough seizures about once a month, he was generally doing great. This rapid decline took all of us -- including Jarrah, I think -- by surprise.
When I rang and sobbed to the vet yesterday, he said we could do bloodwork to see what might have caused this, but when we arrived this morning, he agreed that it wasn't worth it. It was quick and he relaxed into my arms, finally, after a couple of days of confusing (for him and us) immobility and loss of appetite.
Kept the two school-aged kids at home today. We're all just so bereft
#death #PetDeath

2026-07-24 02:17:16 UTC

Today's resistance is refusing to hold onto the anger and indignation when someone's accusing me of not doing my job properly.
Because first of all, I did do it properly, and second of all, I'm the only one who's suffering from the anger if I hold onto it.
It's Friday and in a few hours, I'll have two whole days off, during which I can drink tea, play music, see friends, laugh with my family, plant seeds

2026-07-23 07:41:16 UTC

- reply

Oh, poor woman, and the baby too. So many scars like this in our history

2026-07-20 06:21:28 UTC

- reply

This one is super tasty (and the chef who makes it is wonderful and really understands both digestive issues and also energy challenges):
https://youtube.com/shorts/v2lj1bQQdas?si=fdb-c27e0X9U8eAo

2026-07-20 06:01:53 UTC

- reply

We eat a lot of rice too and for years I made it from scratch on the stove and resisted a rice cooker but then the kids bought me one and it's so good to have. Love being able to just put it on and not have to check on it again until it's cooked! You can make full meals with them too, adding fish and vegies and soy sauce or whatever

2026-07-18 06:51:33 UTC

New family member...
#kitten #cat #caturday
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/939/631/658/063/005/original/7f1641aadc43ef22.jpg

2026-07-08 03:32:59 UTC

- reply

It's so unfair that money buys power. I hate it
@npub1dgc…cla4

2026-07-08 03:25:36 UTC

- reply

I guess I'm being naive when I ask whether there's any regulation on this kind of thing...?

2026-07-07 03:36:06 UTC

- reply

Ugh, teeth. I'm so glad you're able to see the dentist soon! And what a massive pain in the arse to have to try and sort out stuff with that particular department (hopefully it's properly sorted?)
The lie I'm struggling with at the moment is 'We'll call you back'. They have not called me back. So I called THEM back. They still have not called me back. I will be calling again today... squeaky wheel and all, but I have other things I would rather be doing?

2026-06-26 00:04:47 UTC

- reply

The mess was something else! And as if I need more wet towels to wash. But now the floor is clean (that bit anyway) and the towels are washed and I was able to buy more milk, woohoo!

2026-06-24 01:03:58 UTC

I just dropped the milk as I was getting it out of the fridge and the lid came off and about half of the bottle emptied onto the floor before I could pick it up.
I didn't cry! But also it's lactose free milk which is so expensive and there was such a mess on the floor which took three towels to properly clean up, sigh.
Also because of all the palaver, my tea isn't as hot as I would like.
Did I mention I have a cold, too? So many mildly frustrating and irritating things (I know, things could be way worse, everything is honestly fine, but all the same: boo)
#SpiltMilk

2026-06-19 13:13:46 UTC

Some cool garden things: the other day I was looking out the window and thought, oh, the rosemary is flowering so much, and such a dark purple, I wonder why... and then I realised it's because one of the vines I planted on the bones of the lawn has climbed up into the rosemary and is flowering. So there are two kinds of purple flowers together and it's delightful 🥰
The other thing is that the sheoak I planted a few years ago is flowering for the first time and the flowers are so pretty, and also kind of weird. They appear on the branches rather than on the leaves. Which is probably not that weird because sheoaks don't really have leaves, they have needles. They're also not oaks.
Anyway. Yay flowers and new things to be noticed!
#flowers #gardening #NativePlants #GardeningAU
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/776/922/576/391/238/original/0721c1b664a0b257.jpg
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/776/923/401/844/794/original/77006a080b4bdb75.jpg

2026-06-19 04:41:13 UTC

- reply

The waiting is the worst. And the stress of having to deal with them is enormous. So glad you could get it sorted xx

2026-06-18 14:01:34 UTC

Mia succumbed to her cancer today. I rang this morning to book her in to see the vet and while we waited, I wrapped her up in one of my jumpers and lay her in the sunshine.
She declined very quickly and by the time I carefully put her in the carrier to go to the appointment, she was very weak. On the way there, she cried a little bit and I sang Teddy Bear's Picnic to her so she knew she wasn't alone. By the time we got there, she was gone. The vet checked her with a stethoscope and gave me a hug and said it was better to go in a familiar place – and now I could plant an edible tree over her, which is a nice thought.
#cats #pets #PetDeath #death #sad
This is a picture of her on her 20th birthday this year. She was so cranky and opinionated, and pretty and talkative and loved laps. Truly an excellent cat
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/771/462/604/899/071/original/d733fd0dec2aab4f.jpg

2026-06-17 06:42:20 UTC

- reply

What's ridiculous is that I think most people in the country really don't give it that much thought. She's just trying to cast a wide net and catch as many bigots as she can.
Big love, there's a lot of us -- more of us, I would think! -- who are ready and willing to stand with you and push back against this stupid
[@sister_ratched](https://toot.community/@sister_ratched )

2026-06-16 02:47:24 UTC

- reply

Yes! I made this on the weekend, big hit:
https://theloopywhisk.com/2026/02/27/gluten-free-cinnamon-swirl-banana-bread/
And I tried some quinoa/coconut/chocolate snacks which were less of a hit (I liked them, kids not as impressed)
Buying ingredients for this one today when I go shopping, I think it'll be really good:
https://www.recipetineats.com/crunchy-muesli-bars/

2026-06-15 23:40:01 UTC

- reply

Life, indeed. 'This is not forever' is my mantra and some of the chaos is fun, I suppose?!
Kid2 made pasta last night as well, so there's food to eat today, too! What is this, being organised so we have actual meals prepared in advance? Surely can't last! (please let it last)

2026-06-15 23:37:50 UTC

- reply

So much!
Last week was a bad week for needing to buy food made by other people... well, I guess people were involved at some point? But I would say it was mostly machines. And the good thing about that is yay, not being hungry! Big win! But the bad thing is, wow, that food is expensive and not really ideal. So having the homemade stuff again to start the week... it's a step down for the stress levels

2026-06-15 12:56:52 UTC

Wow, there's a bunch of awful news about, isn't there?
Meanwhile the days are so busy: unexpected trips for Dad; and urgent return to the optician (when we'd only just been for a checkup) to repair some broken glasses; Jarrah had a random seizure but seems OK now; everyone needs the dentist and why; general work malaise that I usually feel this time of year; it's cold and rainy and I'm looking forward to the shortest day; teens are sometimes miserable and it's up to us to empathise and offer ideas and advice even when we're tired and there are no easy answers; I buggered up one of the valves on my trumpet and now I have to wait to see my trumpet teacher so he can help me fix it; I need to message back a couple of friends to catch up for coffee but tiiiime, who has it?
Also I made some excellent roast vegie soup yesterday and there are leftovers. Leftovers are possibly the best thing ever. And homemade snacks! Thank goodness for good food, right? Even when everything else is a lot
#jarrah #food #today #update
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/754/214/548/702/715/original/28568ce7186b4252.jpg

2026-06-10 07:07:13 UTC

- reply

Comparative to further south or the northern hemisphere winter, the days are not even that short but wow, they feel short, haha!

2026-06-10 04:48:59 UTC

Sometimes I wonder if I would prefer to live in the northern hemisphere, somewhere like Sweden or Germany or maybe even Scotland (I spent a summer in those places years ago), where summer is so celebrated for its brevity and its lush green, because summer here is SO LONG and hot and really dries everything out and we're constantly on edge waiting for fire.
And then in the winter, in those places, the houses are (generally) so cosy and inviting and there's yellow light and warmth and a real indoor-culture to celebrate that part too.
But then I think about how I struggle with June's shorter days here, and the cold mornings and evenings (because even though we rarely drop below 0C here on the south coast, our houses are NOT COSY AT ALL and inside it's often below 10C overnight, which is uncomfortable to say the least) and at least I know, even when I'm getting chilblains again, that in a few weeks it'll be time to start sunflowers and tomatoes seeds on the windowsill, and that makes me so happy
#weather #winter #summer #ColdFeet

2026-06-04 08:03:50 UTC

- reply

Just like him :)

2026-06-04 08:02:12 UTC

- reply

I just signed up to his newsletter. So hard to be away from home when you're feeling low, and then to get bad news as well

2026-06-04 07:54:41 UTC

- reply

Aw, I'm so sorry to hear that

2026-06-04 04:01:29 UTC

- reply

Truly! Such a disappointment!

2026-06-03 23:39:29 UTC

Bah, started the day with a stubstandard mug of tea. It's my own fault... I was too impatient and didn't let it steep long enough and now it's too milky and not strong enough, but I've had the first sip of the day (and I knew! even before that first sip that it wasn't going to be as good as usual, but I persisted because what a waste to throw out a mug of tea, right?) and I can't redo the first sip.
Sigh. I'll just have to do better with the post-lunch cuppa
#tea

2026-06-03 02:06:18 UTC

- reply

Aw, I'm so sorry. It's such a shitty thing to go through. I hope it progresses really slowly for her

2026-05-31 07:00:28 UTC

- reply

Congratulations! Sounds like a busy, tiring, rewarding day xx Cuppa is well deserved :)

2026-05-27 09:29:11 UTC

- reply

Oh, so amazing, all of it!

2026-05-25 05:31:33 UTC

- reply

You're absolutely right -- the ROI is just a longer-term investment (well, it always is, I guess, with kids!).
Kid4 did the bechamel for me - he's so good at it!

2026-05-25 04:37:50 UTC

The ROI of lasagne is just not great. On the one hand, I'm thrilled that three of the Kids love it so much. On the other hand, it takes me 2 hours to make a double batch and it's gone in 12 hours.
Three of us didn't even eat it! It's just Kids1,3 and 4 who like it. Kids1 and 4 went back for seconds last night; Kid3 had a serving for breakfast...
#lasagne #food #teens

2026-05-24 00:48:34 UTC

It's such a gorgeous day here today. Pity I have to go back to work tomorrow, but that's hours and hours away... for now it's blue skies, and the promise of gardening, trumpet practice and making food for the next few days.
Right now I'm sitting quietly, having just finished my morning mug of tea, with Leia on my lap. Pausing for some warm cuddles before the busyness begins
#cats #CatsOfMastodon #Sunday
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/626/776/924/040/373/original/cd97ddac99859df4.jpg

2026-05-17 00:51:36 UTC

- reply

So appalling. Last year there were people saying that those of us who were surprised how well Israel did was evidence that much of the world saw them differently, and I thought, OK, that's fair. I'm probably in my own bubble, I'll admit that I align with people who see Gaza as a genocide and I understand there are others who don't see that (it's a weird and blinkered view, but it's a view that exists).
But this year, after Lebanon again/still and Iran again/still? Nope, it's clearly rigged and I'm throwing the whole competition in the bin
[@sister_ratched](https://toot.community/@sister_ratched )

2026-05-17 00:35:53 UTC

- reply

I grew up on a fairly remote farm so they were definitely more common than they are down here in our coastal city – came across one on the road eating a deceased rabbit as I rounded a corner and I had to slam on the brakes while it took its sweet time taking off 😂 I was driving a German friend down to the farm and he was just so astonished and amazed at this magnificent bird!

2026-05-16 07:12:58 UTC

Kid2's shift got changed which unfortunately meant I needed to take her to work rather than her catching the bus, but! On the way home I took a slightly longer route to drive past trees and I saw a wedgetail eagle coasting up high above the canopy 😍 What a gift! I actually wowed out loud!
#birds #nature

2026-05-15 06:58:53 UTC

Our little Sebright has died and while she was probably quite ancient in Sebright years (we got her as an older chook three years ago), we're still a bit sad, because Sebrights are SO SUPER and delightful and she was very much my favourite.
She was so fast! She made the cutest little sound -- different from the croaky croons that the others do when they're going about their day. She was a remarkable escape artist and spent a couple of weeks hiding in the neighbour's garden after flying over the fence and not realising how to get back (I said she was my favourite, I never said she was clever -- although to her credit, she did learn her lesson and didn't fly over there again).
She didn't lay much, she was tiny so didn't eat many scraps, she also would regularly dig up my seedlings if she could find them and she was very good at finding them. She was... kind of a menace?! But I think the cheekiness and the cuteness just made her all the more adorable and I'll miss her
#chicken #death #pet #chook

2026-05-10 12:25:36 UTC

What a full weekend. Thank goodness for work tomorrow, in some respects – it was a really great couple of days but I badly need some recharge quiet time!
Yesterday was the Green Fair on the Square and I picked up my free plants, huzzah! Bumped into a friend, which was lovely. I also rode a bike to make a smoothie for Kid3 and then Dad and I went to a talk by a local elder about resilience and sustainability from an Indigenous perspective. That was super interesting and fascinating and I would have loved to stay and chat with her for hours.
The rest of the day was errands and busyness. Today was a bit the same but with extra gardening (which was, of course, great). I planted the free plants and also the poor kangaroo paws that I believe have been waiting in their pots since last year 😬 Had to get quite aggressive with the trowel to break up some of the roots... hopefully they cope in the ground OK.
#gardening #MothersDay #KillYourLawn #DieLawnDie #plants #community #ThingsILove
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/550/197/612/860/600/original/fc66023343981bb5.jpg
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/550/196/977/436/925/original/2383dfff6b5f47dc.jpg
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/550/199/123/996/627/original/0c8d366923edbee4.jpg

2026-05-08 04:21:18 UTC

- reply

❤️

2026-05-08 03:58:23 UTC

- reply

I'm glad you're feeling better. And glad to hear that the overheard conversation has resulted in the staff being very clear about how long your mum needs to stay there.
It's sweet that she wrote to use 'LOL' correctly, too! Sending Lots of Love to you all ;)

2026-05-02 01:13:33 UTC

- reply

Indeed. May I present Exhibit A (aka Booker, aka Fatty Book, aka Booker Deluxe, aka Catniss Evergreed)
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/502/313/104/990/046/original/2d36fac01a08d351.jpg

2026-05-02 00:59:07 UTC

Slept in, which was delightful. Heard Kid2 leaving the house and when I got up, I messaged her to ask if she had fed the dogs. She said no, so I fed them – only to discover that Kid3 was also up... and she had fed them already.
Dogs! Such opportunists!!
#dogs

2026-04-17 11:02:20 UTC

- reply

Mum has since rallied. This is both heartening and exhausting! She's eaten some food today but then slept the rest of the time. We're taking turns to visit and be beside her but I'm also pacing myself because I think this could be a long process...

2026-04-14 08:21:53 UTC

- reply

Could be? I had another word in mind but my brain is that fuzzy foggy way you get when you're tired and now I can't think of it. You know how it is?!
@npub1wpx…2kkp

2026-04-14 08:18:56 UTC

Seems Mum might be close to the end. She's no longer eating or drinking, drifting in and out of sleep. Waking sometimes, mumbling things -- last night was quite convinced I was her younger sister (which is fair, since we do look alike, and the disease has erased us children). In a way, that's good, because she's comforted by someone familiar. I'll go and see her this evening and I guess we'll see what happens overnight.
It was a late night last night and a busy, phone-call-and-message-filled day, so there has been much tea. Thank goodness for tea. It should come as a surprise to nobody that I've drunk many, many cups with my mum. I'm about the boil the kettle and will think of her while I drink it
#death #dementia #Alzheimers #aging #caring

2026-04-14 08:11:03 UTC

- reply

Oh, the little bits! So annoying and inconvenient!
Once you've made tea and the stove is cooled down, can you get the vacuum end up there? I've done this when we had a similar accident and it got rid of most of the little pieces.
Also I realised I don't know what the cast iron things are called either 😅

2026-04-13 03:42:11 UTC

We went to see this the other evening and I have been thinking about it a lot.
First because I went into the film knowing really nothing about it (other than it was in space), and about 10 minutes in, I thought, ah, so Andy Weir likes to write books about 'man alone in space'.
But then as I got into the movie, I realised that the man-alone-in-space theme is only part of it. He's not glorifying individualistic crusade, he's showing us how much we need each other. We need our friends. Without them, we are lost and we'll die.
I've only ever read/seen one other work of Andy Weir (The Martian) and I'm using this limited sample of two works to decide that Andy Weir really likes writing about friendships, and he does it REALLY WELL.
I love this because friendships and connections are one of the things I explore in my own writing, because I love it so much, and I want to be better at writing about those relationships -- the true, deep affection you feel for your friends and the way you can support each other. In the film, it's literally about life and death but also in real life, our connections are life and death. Loneliness kills us.
That's not to say that romantic love is completely ignored. I felt a pang of grief when Rocky's talking about his mate, and Grace makes a joke about the length of time they've been together (over 100 years) and Rocky says something like, 'It's not long enough.' Because of course it isn't. For our closest people, our closest loves, it's never long enough. We always want more.
I also appreciated the way that Rocky and Grace are quite evenly matched, intellectually. Of course they are, because their civilisations have both sent them out to find a solution to the problem, but I like the emphasis on how difference does not equal inferior.
Anyway, I will likely watch this film again, and probably read the book too. It's not perfect, because it is art made by humans, and we are not perfect. But I loved the characters a lot, and I loved the friendship a lot, and it made me feel better about the world and our capacity to connect with each other, whoever that other may be.
#film #musings #ProjectHailMary #friendship

2026-04-12 07:30:30 UTC

- reply

Ugh, that's just rude. As someone who has to restrict certain foods due to a temperamental digestive system, I also know it's MY issues and if someone is generous enough to offer to make a cake, I would either politely not eat it or just eat a small amount so as not to trigger a reaction. Good grief! No wonder you feel annoyed, I would too!

2026-04-08 07:38:57 UTC

- reply

It is not too bad! It's a moody grey afternoon and I'm looking forward to homemade pizza for tea

2026-04-08 07:08:53 UTC

- reply

Dietician, books and art supplies, what an excellent day!

2026-04-07 04:51:50 UTC

Friends, the long weekend continued to be full of care work all the way through, but as Adam remarked, if I had not been on holiday, the care work would still have been there -- and I would have also had the paid work to manage.
So at least I had free time to manage it?
There are some good things, though! I made soup and curry, and froze them both in some cake bar moulds (cheap versions of those popular 'Souper cubes' that are everywhere at the moment). This means I have nearly two dozen meals ready to defrost and eat as needed, huzzah!
I drove over to Denmark (the town not the country) and hung out with a friend for a couple of hours at her place. So good to catch up, we haven't seen each other for a couple of years. She's in the final gasps of her PhD so I was keen to hear her progress (and commiserate and cheer where appropriate).
Dad is doing better today and hopefully we'll hear back from his specialist about how we can modify his medication to prevent a repeat of the last few days.
And Kid1's friend is staying with us for a few days, a lovely guy, and we've had some good kitchen chats about food, religion, politics and childhoods. It's awesome 🥰
#today #work #caring #friends

2026-04-05 04:49:57 UTC

- reply

Ahahaha and then Dad had an episode and needed me to come over for a while – but no hospital this time, so yay for small mercies, right?

2026-04-05 00:34:03 UTC

Despite taking two extra days off last week, I don't feel very rested. Wednesday and Thursday involved some kid-related drama that meant meetings with various people and Friday and Saturday were full of phone calls and ferrying people places.
Last night I hit a wall and so today is rest day by necessity. I'm sad about that, because it's a perfect day for gardening. But the body needs what it needs. There's some housework to do but it can mostly wait. We have tea and chocolate; that'll do for now
#family #caring #life

2026-04-03 14:12:29 UTC

Squeee! As part of the Tree Festival, my little city is giving away free trees for the garden! I've submitted my application for five indigenous and locally grown trees – I did pause on the question, 'Do you have space in your garden for these trees?'
Surely I can find a spot for them...
#gardening #trees #KillYourLawn

2026-03-28 03:07:28 UTC

- reply

That sounds like an amazing afternoon ☺️

2026-03-28 02:22:19 UTC

- reply

I'm very fond of Esperance too! But it is faaaaar from other places and also doesn't have the population/infrastructure that I wanted so we have to slum it with ever so slightly less picturesque landscapes further west 😁
@npub13yd…7xc7

2026-03-28 00:30:33 UTC

- reply

Yes indeed 😁 It hasn't really changed since the 80s, haha!

2026-03-27 08:08:14 UTC

Bah. It's one of those days where it feels like everything went wrong.
Obviously not everything did.
But enough did to make me cranky.
Had to edit a thing that bothered me.
Had to run Dad to an appointment during my work day which meant I have to make up the time next week.
A colleague has asked me to do something extra which annoyed me because it goes against processes.
Had to run another errand during my lunch break.
Got home from said errand and the dogs had knocked over the huge bottle of washing liquid all over the floor in the study.
None of these things are bad. They're all manageable. It's not the worst day ever but also FEELING ALL THE MEH.
At least it's the weekend now. And once I clean up all this washing liquid, the floor will be spotless for the first time in years.
Still.
Bah.
#cranky #weekend #annoyed

2026-03-24 01:53:09 UTC

- reply

A slow day sounds ideal after all that activity. And yum, lemon cake. One of my faves!
Yesterday was busy here and today will be too, but in a nice way. We have a cluster of birthdays in the family around this time, so tonight we're going out for tea together. I can't remember the last time we went out together for a meal. This poses some logistical problems since the car doesn't fit all of us at once, but we are solving it with some of us catching public transport into town and then a taxi out of town.
In between finishing work and meeting at the restaurant, I need to do the food shopping. Although I may just do the essentials and do the bulk of it tomorrow. I need to finish the meal plan for the fortnight before I go... I'll ask Kid2 to help me with that since she's home for the day

2026-03-19 02:44:13 UTC

A friend suggested to me today that I should plan a long weekend away, just on my own, and as much as I think that would be amazing, I'm also quite terrified by the idea.
This reaction intrigues me... what have I got to be afraid of?!

2026-03-15 10:52:21 UTC

Kid2 is making a cake for her gluten-free friend and the friend has requested carrot cake. So far we've had two test cakes (it's for a special occasion so Kid2 wants it to be very good) and neither has been amazing. Edible? Yes. But not special occasion-worthy.
Does anyone have a failsafe gluten free carrot cake recipe? Boosts very much appreciated
#baking #cake #GlutenFree

2026-03-10 03:36:23 UTC

- reply

Very much so, I'm just so surrpised by the whole thing

2026-03-10 03:33:00 UTC

I had a call from my manager today to tell me that one of our colleagues had died very suddenly.
We weren't very close but she'd been with the company a long time, and I've chatted with her online and on calls several times. She was a lovely human being, really chatty and friendly and so full of life -- and only middle-aged, too.
I'm so shocked, really -- she was here one day and then just not the next.
A good reminder to all of us to savour the precious moments, I suppose?

2026-03-04 03:36:09 UTC

- reply

Yeah, ours are also very fond of showing us their butts as well, I feel like there's some cross-species miscommunication going on there 😂

2026-03-04 02:52:50 UTC

I feel so lucky to be able to live with non-human beings. There have been times when we couldn't and I really feel my life was poorer for it.
The little tabby cat just jumped on my lap, gave a little trill and rubbed my chin with her chin and I feel such a rush of warmth and connection between us 🥰
Pets. The absolute best.
#pets #home

2026-03-01 04:57:54 UTC

- reply

These are adorable!

2026-03-01 03:27:47 UTC

- reply

Bird ornaments! They sound so gorgeous.
Yay for good things 🥰

2026-03-01 02:05:21 UTC

Happy Sunday to you, friends. I've dropped the middle Kids in town for their respective shifts and on the way home, visited Mum and gave her the flowers I bought yesterday. She was chatty and it's kind of fascinating what phrases and words are still very clear. She gave me such a happy smile when I got there, and said, 'Oh, it's so good to see you!' and then when I got ready to go, she said, 'You're off, are you?' I gave her a hug and wished her happy birthday for tomorrow (I won't see her as I'm working). Sometimes I grieve so deeply for the way things are. But they are that way, so I suppose just... acknowledging the grief is all I can do.
On the agenda today: pancakes, some washing, and checking in on the groundcovers (I promised a picture! I'll take one shortly). No beach walk today as I promised Dad I'd take him home from church and I need to pick up the Kids later. That's OK. I'll be able to get some good trumpet practice in instead. Not quite the same but still cup-filling
#grief #dementia #alzheimers #gardening #trumpet #sunday

2026-02-27 23:47:01 UTC

- reply

I want to read it but I suspect it will just make me angry about what I can't (or won't, I guess) change. Sigh/grrr

2026-02-27 09:42:30 UTC

Finally the weekend – and I say finally, despite having just had a week off and only working three days this week. I was really happy to go back to work, too! And now I'm tired already.
You know what I think it is? It's just full time work is so... full time. Eight hours a day and then all the other things like parenting and Dad and making sure that plants don't die and cooking and washing up and grocery shopping, it's just so much.
And I'm not complaining about my work, which is not 'hard' in the sense of physical exertion or responsibility (if I mess up, nobody dies, and any mistakes I make are generally fixable). I love my colleagues, and my work is satisfying for the most part. But eight hour days... surely we could switch to six hour days and still manage? I feel as though the four day week isn't really getting the traction but what about a 30 hour workweek? That would be kind of great, don't you think?
#work #rambling #tired

2026-02-21 12:39:00 UTC

- reply

43.4 – but also I was too inept to work out how to share my score 😅

2026-02-21 06:47:15 UTC

Maybe if she tucks herself under the doona near the pillows, nobody will notice that she's there
#caturday #CatsOfMastodon #tabby
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/107/254/644/763/067/original/2080a5fc2001b330.jpg

2026-02-09 04:46:04 UTC

- reply

Wheat is not my friend, so whatever ones I get, I'll have regrets later – might as well make them as tasty and buttery as possible 😂
(yes, gf is an option but they're not a patch on the wheat ones, sigh. Maybe I should try and make some myself)

2026-02-09 01:08:35 UTC

- reply

I really enjoy the occasional one, but it's traditional all the way for me... although apple and cinnamon are probably the best out of the alternative flavours on offer. And definitely toasted with butter, no matter the type!

2026-02-02 05:49:35 UTC

- reply

Yay for making a start, and in my long experience with digestive discomfort, dramatic moaning (and dog cuddles) definitely helps! Hope your body gets used to it very soon xx

2026-02-01 09:20:49 UTC

- reply

That's a great find! I love your cut – I'd absolutely have short hair if I had a good hairdresser close by
@npub1308…wa44

2026-01-28 19:33:04 UTC

- reply

Nurses. Absolute gems. Dad has gone for a scan so I'm waiting here for him to come back and the nurse just asked if she could get me a tea or coffee (no, but thanks for asking!)
'Not even a water?!'
I laughed and said I'm OK for now, and now she's cheerfully bringing orange juice to the child who sounds so much less pukey, thank goodness (for her and her parent's sake!)
I'll have something to eat and drink when we're back out in the fresh air and I can safely unmask (both figuratively and literally)

2026-01-28 19:15:12 UTC

Back at the hospital again, thankfully it's not super busy and Dad is OK and getting tests. I'm masking of course but also hoping very much that the puking child in the nearby bay is not contagious. I'm feeling a bit rough but I'm fairly sure that's just being awake at 3am.
Yay for hospital workers, boo to bodies... can't live with them, can't live without them
#hospital #sick #health #caring
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/115/974/305/545/737/144/original/392ad972607de314.jpg

2026-01-25 01:39:58 UTC

It is a calm Sunday morning here and in an odd coincidence, there is only one teen at home (the others are away on holiday and at sleepovers) and it is quiet and a little strange for the house to be so empty. Not terrible, just different.
Plans for today are a catch-up with my brother and his family, trumpet practice and some cleaning and decluttering. I'm consciously limiting the to-dos but I also really need to meal plan for the next fortnight too.
Outside, the corn is nearly ready to be picked and I am going to soak the kangaroo paws to be planted tomorrow. We're expecting some mild weather and they've been waiting to go in the ground for weeks. I'll take some pictures when I plant them
#sunday #today #trumpet #family #gardening

2026-01-25 01:00:48 UTC

- reply

Just wow, that's a lot

2026-01-24 03:08:45 UTC

Happy birthday to Mia, who turns 20 today.
Let me tell you about Mia. She came to us when she was 11 and is a foster fail (to be fair, we never really set out to foster cats, so when we brought her home it was always only going to be for good). She and her sibling, Ted – a sweet natured orange and white shorthair – had lived with a couple who broke up and couldn't keep their cats, so we agreed to take them despite already having three cats (and four Kids under 12) at the time. What can I say? We like a challenge.
Mia is a lapcat, through and through, and she will fight any other cat who wants to take her rightful cosy place, whether that's a warm human belly or the couch, which she's doing her best to cover in fur.
When she was 14, she got hit by a car and we thought that was it for her, but the vet was confident that she would make it. The surgery was going to cost $2k, though and we were like, well. That's just not possible, right? We barely made it from week to week as it was. Enter my friends from the internet... an old friend from livejournal messaged me and said she was happy to help pay for Mia's surgery if I wanted. She said, don't let her age or the cost influence your decision. So I made a crowdfunding account and she and other friends met the target within days and Mia got her surgery (a leg amputation). Soon after that we also built our catio. Apart from the surgery, it's the best cat investment we've made.
And here she is at 20. She's quite deaf and probably can't see as well as she used to but she still enjoys cuddles, yelling at everyone, and devouring the expensive tinned cat food and any spare roast meat you might want to toss her way. I don't know how much longer she has but we're just enjoying her company while we can. Who knew this crotchety old lady – who was already quite old when we adopted her! – would make it this far?! I do believe she's just alive out of spite at this point
#caturday #HappyBirthday #cats
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/115/947/843/634/683/529/original/6eeaa9a9bf072763.jpg

2026-01-22 06:51:45 UTC

- reply

As an editor, I feel this in my bones. It's so disappointing