Today is my birthday and I’m going through my usual sadness phase about turning a year older. Feelings of being a failure are creeping in as I wish I would have achieved more by now, going into later 30s. I need to work harder at changing up the things I don’t like, because some (most) days, I feel like I’ve just given up.

I’m hoping I feel more positive in the morning. Have rooftop arvo drinks / dinner planned with a few friends which should be nice. Will do a few pressing tasks for work in the morning, but otherwise I’m taking the day off. Working won’t make my day any better, that’s for sure.

Sorry for the late night rant but typing this all out helps.

Sky pretty

Love when someone else’s leave becomes your problem. A couple years back my old boss went galivanting around Europe for 2 months and most of her work fell onto me, it was hell.

Motorcycle man strikes again. That’s two 5am wakeups in a row from the starting & revving. It sounds like a chainsaw is going off.

Feeling like crap from lack of sleep but trying to enjoy the day. About to go for banh mi / viet iced coffee and then a swim afterwards.

That Vukic tennis match was absolutely crazy. My nerves are shot. Time for bed.

Congrats! So happy for you.

I was at the tennis last night, watching a five-set match that went until midnight. Great match but I am so exhausted today. Also I made my TV debut apparently, a friend messaged to tell me they saw me on TV. It’s not because I was doing anything noteworthy to be one of the fans they show for a split second between points, but the person next to me was. The camera guy was parked near where I was sitting and couldn’t help himself. I do not consent!

I just dated a file for work “14.10.24”. I have no idea how I came to write this as today’s date, it’s so horribly wrong. I’m still struggling to date 2025 instead of 2024, takes a while for me to adjust.

You’ll probably have the most leverage now with 2 of 4 in your team remaining, once they replace the other two they might start to think you are easily replaceable too if you decide to leave. Right now, it sounds like they cannot afford to lose you.

Staff turnover has a business cost too - rehiring, retraining, slower service to clients in the meantime which may cause business losses etc, if they’re smart they will factor that into your pay request.

I’ve got the tennis on in the background while making dinner and all I hear from the kitchen is loud grunting and yelling. I’m doing my best imitation of it.

Skies darkening with thunder. It’s about to go down. A rainy indoor day is just what the doctor ordered too.

Edit - just got absolutely smashed with rain and house vibrating thunder, this storm’s angry

Had a lovely day at the beach in Torquay today with some friends. Got a good dose of sun and pummelling waves, great dinner afterwards and watched the sunset before driving home. Content but I’m exhausted.

Computers and smartphones have ruined my handwriting. Scribbling hand written notes while working doesn’t really count in keeping up my penmanship. I do know the pens to use to make my writing look somewhat OK.

Yep I’m pretty sure their patties are smashed like you describe. Good Good Burgers in Maidstone. Let me know if it fits the bill!

Which area in Melbourne? I think there’s a suitable option in inner west which I’ve had a few times. The patties are “hand pressed”, that’s the same thing right? And there’s a vego option (mushroom) which I’ve never had but it looks good.

Red flag for me - nobody is giving this owner a reality check on actual market value. You are right to move on.

Loved this movie, I’m glad it’s getting the recognition it deserves. It was a full-on watching experience in the cinema, having never seen this type of horror movie before.

I listed what I thought was junk from my recent house cleanout on eBay and I’m getting multiple offers within a couple days.

These people are trying to negotiate the price down, even though the listings are buy now with no ability to make offers, which is annoying. Also eBay selling fees are quite expensive, so have to take that into account in accepting lower amounts. But I’m happy to be getting some $$ for this stuff.

I was just reading up on the closure of Foodstar in Sunshine (all-you-can-eat restaurant that opened in the 1990s). Growing up in the west, I used to frequent Sunshine Village cinemas which involved walking past this fine establishment. I would always wonder who actually went to eat there, as it looked absolutely terrible. And how it stayed in business so long - it was always mostly empty. A friend who had gone there several times, forced upon for family events, never had anything good to say.

Not too long ago, I looked up the Google reviews with some friends to see if anything had changed, and they are incredible, especially the owner’s responses. And the owner’s closure statement does not disappoint. Goodbye Foodstar, we will miss you.

Walked back from the shops in my quest for eggs and I melted under that sun. Doesn’t matter if it’s 25 degrees, direct midday sun in January bites. And good news, I secured the goods.