Today I’m heading out of the country for the next three weeks, returning just after the election has been decided. I’m so glad I’m missing the last of the lead-up to it. Usually I’m really interested in it all, would watch the debates and all that… This year, I give no fucks. I know how I’m going to vote, and just need to tune out all the rest. It’s way too mentally draining this year.

Grumpiness really can be the best motivator sometimes. I hope your weekend improves though :-)

That’s horrible! Hope you’ll be ok. Seconding reporting it to the cops if you haven’t already.

I went to a Rammstein concert in Poland

Nice!

Man that Moroccan earthquake sounds horrible. Having been through the Christchurch ones, any time there’s news of a big quake now I get the heebie jeebies, and just feel so awful for the people suffering through it. Especially in countries like Morocco and Turkey, where building standards aren’t good.

Sorry to hear that man. This happens way too often, and it’s horrible. I hope you get through the day ok.

That’s a good idea. I should probably do the same on the couches.

Another sign of spring on its way - my cats are shedding their winter coats like crazy. So much fluff.

Seconding Hummingbird decaf - I used to have Hummingbird Crave every morning, which was my favourite from their line, but now I prefer the flavour of the decaf one anyway.

I think they also do a few 50/50 decaf/caffeinated blends too.

I’d be fine with defederating. I don’t care if they bring in more numbers and more ‘engagement’ if that engagement is generally shit and too difficult for the mods to moderate with the current tools available. I’d much rather be part of a smaller but friendly community that is actually familiar with NZ, than a larger more popular one that just turns into another cesspit.

I agree - imo a smaller but friendlier group who are here in good faith is preferable.

thanks :)

It might go more quickly than you think! (and thanks)

thanks :)

Thankyou :)

I’ve never really been too bothered about the curtains as long as they were functional, but now I think I might have to look into it a bit more. It’s nice to have the choice. We’ll probably stick with curtains (blackout ones of some kind probably) - I remember blinds looking nice, but being a pain in the ass to clean once they got dusty.

Thanks :) Yeah, it’ll take a long while to get all that sorted now, but at least it’s closer in the pipeline now.

We paid off the mortgage yesterday! I don’t mean to gloat (especially when the cost of living and interest rates are making things so tough for many at the moment) - we’re not telling anyone in real life though, so I just wanted to let some of my excitement out, even if anonymously.

I’m 38, and the only family help was a $5000 loan from the in-laws which we paid back within a year. We bought really young (didn’t feel like it at the time, but it was - early/mid 20s), so benefited from much lower prices and interest rates (though the first rate we had was 7.5%, that’s also the highest one we had). That first place got earthquaked though and we had to start again from scratch, so it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

The house is old and tired, and there’s a lot of deferred maintenance (no curtains match anywhere, the carpet is shit, and we still have single glazing), so that’ll take up the savings for a good long while. But man, it feels like a weight has been lifted.

Such a great effort! They’re really cool wee creatures.

Yeah, and with slightly warmer and sunnier days lately (at least in Christchurch), it really feels like spring is so close. I’m so looking forward to it! This winter has been such a drag.

And now he’s on the anti-trans bandwagon too (I won’t link to his tweet, because I don’t want to give him or “X” clicks). I really despise this guy. And am so disappointed that there’s so many complete fucking morons in this country who agree with him and will vote for him - not despite this bullshit, but because of it. It’s so, SO fucking gross.