Not at all a NIMBY. It sounds like a great suggestion, and is really something they should already be doing. You might want to consider either sending it to your local councillor as well, or at least sending them a copy, as if they push the idea it will tend to get things happening much quicker. It’s the sort of thing that should be fairly easy for them to implement and is also likely to be popular without upsetting anyone, so they might be happy to jump on board to push the idea forward. I’d suggest an opt-in email list that people could sign up to, which could be advertised to pet owners with the registration renewal notices.

A trio of tacos, please. And some sort of fancy cocktail, with a little umbrella in it.

Yeah, I had 5 out of 8 candidates that I wanted last. I just want the trumpets even more last.

I have now done Democracy. There really needs to be a way to put the Arse Trumpets lower than last place.

Hmm, contents insurance is due and the premium is up 20%. Ran it through their online calculator for the same details and it’s only up 10%. Absolutely shameless.

Annoyingly my policy expires 4 days before my planned moving date.

Thanks.

I’d love to fix up the wood frame a bit too, but that is a project for another time.

I really love the fabric. I bought the roll at a discount fabric place many years (ok, decades) ago, initially intending to cover another couch which I ended up not doing for various reasons. I bought this set with the intention of recovering it, but kept being indecisive about whether I wanted to spend the money on new foam, wasn’t sure how to deal with the springs etc. etc. I’m glad I fiinally got myself into gear to actually do it now.

I have finally finished my sofa. I finished the cushions a while ago (although it took a long time, all those long edges take forever to sew) and today did the webbing to replace the springs. It took quite a long time and used a lot of staples. Sitting on the couch properly instead of sunken in with the old squashed cushions and stretched springs should be good for my back.

I expected Miss Meow to get freaked out by the noise of the staple gun but it didn’t seem to bother her. She even came over and walked all over the webbing midway. Now that it is finished she has indulged in some zoomies, attacked the end of a roll of tape I haven’t yet put away, and is now holding on to a small piece of tape she just captured with a dramatic pounce. Who would have thought she was into upholstery?

Packing continues today. I have “packed” my strawberries into new tubs, all divided up, topped up with soil and a new layer of mulch on top.

I’ve got 5 or 6 more big rectangular tubs (the old recycling tubs, for those who remember the pre-wheelie days) and a bunch of pots to put other things into. It’s the perfect time of year to be moving plants, which is why I chose now to move. I just need to find somewhere to move to…

TIL I had the same cot style as Prince Phillip when I was a baby. I’m practically royalty 🤣

A matched set - 35/50

I think my brain is fried from looking at far too many houses in new estates that all look the same. It’s depressing how they are all just plonked onto the block with no consideration for the angle of the sun, and without basic things like eaves to create some shading to the north.

It’s also annoying that the agents don’t put all the basic information in the listing, especially when they have things like the house plan available from the sales listing already. Plus basic information like whether there is air conditioning in the whole house or only one room is often missing.

I have found a small selection of the least terrible houses to go and inspect next week. It’s frustrating that they are pretty much all 4 bedroom 2 bathroom places - I don’t need that many rooms, but the step below that is tiny units with no space and no yard. The middle section of the market barely exists. I still have my fingers crossed for one of the few older places around, but 90% of the market seems to be the cookie cutter new estate places.

I’ve decided I need to get really serious about my house hunting. I’m going to implement a spreadsheet.

I’ve been looking at the route I ended up driving yesterday, which involved some major wrong turns due to the difficulty of following GPS directions for an area of the city I don’t know that is also effected by major roadworks. I think I was supposed to get off the Western Fwy and head north around the Ring Rd, but I missed an exit and ended up on the Westgate Bridge, then had a brief diversion off the Fwy and around the Convention Centre dropoff circle before getting back on the Fwy and through the tunnel. About the same amount of time to get home (if you ignore the 10 mins the convention centre diversion added) but a significantly more expensive and unpleasant trip.

I absolutely hate city driving, but I am finding the new van quite comfortable. And the side mirrors give much better visibility for changing lanes and merging than the car did.

I expect ducks would consider it lucky to be out in the rain.

I think it’s got great potential - I’d definitely consider buying something like that to do up, but as a rental where you are stuck with it as is I’m much less enthusiastic. I also assume that as the property was only just bought that the landlord would be planning to kick you out in a fairly short timeframe to do some sort of renovation, it’s definitely not something you’d buy to hold as a long term rental.

If anyone is interested in looking at some more outdated decorating I’ve found another fabulous house. The wallpaper in the bedrooms is particularly interesting.

It was. It was particularly traumatic because I didn’t realise it wasn’t a normal Kit Kat until I was eating it. It was also made by someone who seems to think the defining characteristic of a hot cross bun is cloves.

May I please have anything that is not a Hot Cross Bun flavoured Kit Kat. I really need the taste of that out of my mouth.