melbaboutown
@melbaboutown@aussie.zone
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🧭 Monday 16 March 2026 8 hours ago:
I will but will probably just get it again unless I can sort the visiting cat. Which is not simple. But unfortunately I can’t bear to ignore
This time of my life is just really bad. I just want to go back to how it was.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🧭 Monday 16 March 2026 9 hours ago:
Complaining
I may have treated this ringworm inadequately and spread it to the sheets and my ankle. It could be irritation from the perfumed antifungal laundry rinse but with my immune system I’m not taking any chances. Treatment will recommence and endless hot wash and dry laundry continues. I don’t seem to be progressing at anything, my wrist hurts from slamming my hand into the wall, I spend every moment of every day feeling hollow and like I want to cry.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🧭 Monday 16 March 2026 15 hours ago:
I’m just overfunctioning trying to claw some control back and outrun my grief
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🧭 Monday 16 March 2026 16 hours ago:
I really hope so. Unfortunately I think when all the work is done I’ll just collapse into deep depression or incapacitated anxiety
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🧭 Monday 16 March 2026 17 hours ago:
I sent another care package to my friend. They have atypical pneumonia, I haven’t been able to see them and I’m a bit worried.
Sorting Melbcat’s stuff
I’ve returned Melbcat’s unused meds to the vet because someone else can use them. There was an entire box of medication in there that hadn’t been opened yet and the vet specifically asked for the return of the second bag of fluids if they didn’t get used. (There may be a shortage.) I’m still deciding whether to wash and donate the Aerokat. Still feeling absolutely shattered about losing her and am sleeping holding her urn at night the same way I used to hold her. It was so sudden which makes it really hard to accept. She was such a part of my life.
Black cat has returned
The black cat is back and was sulky about my disappearance. I caved and started patting him again so I’m back on the disinfection treadmill and fretting how to deal with it. Also finding dead birds which I hope was the heat spell and not him… one was a magpie and I hear a kookaburra I don’t want to get eaten. All of this would be so much easier if this cat didn’t have ringworm. There is one neighbour I might talk to about if anyone owns him. I did give the vet a found poster and am waiting on a cheapie chip scanner to see if he even has a microchip so it would be safer to take him to the vet. If he does have a chip and an owner I could possibly abduct him into the vet for their collection.
Life is so fucking hard. I’m desperately trying to fix something in my godforsaken life and unshittify my surroundings by a tiny amount but everything feels so painful and pointless.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 💡 Sunday 15 March 2026 21 hours ago:
Thanks
- Comment on Discussion Thread 💡 Sunday 15 March 2026 1 day ago:
Thank you
- Comment on Discussion Thread 💡 Sunday 15 March 2026 1 day ago:
Thank you
- Comment on Discussion Thread 💡 Sunday 15 March 2026 1 day ago:
Thankyou. I don’t really know what would help but I appreciate it
- Comment on Discussion Thread 💡 Sunday 15 March 2026 1 day ago:
Thanks
- Comment on Discussion Thread 💡 Sunday 15 March 2026 1 day ago:
I’m having a really hard time.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🍓 Friday 13 March 2026 3 days ago:
Mental health
Grief > rage > slamming hand into wall. Yesterday was not a good day. Today isn’t either.
Cleaning
I’ve found a very cheap secondhand Woods lamp online and am having it delivered to a friend so it doesn’t get stolen. Stubborn patches of vom are still glowing under the torch after being cleaned twice so I’ve applied the cleaner again. Maybe it’s because I rubbed excess off afterwards due to worrying about overwetting the carpet. It’s now been applied heavily and left to soak. But am wondering if it might be better to switch products. The pet shop ones are so powerfully overscented though. A very popular brand gave Melbcat asthma attacks and me headaches/migraines.
Chip scanners
I’ve now found $20 and $30 microchip scanners online but don’t know how reliable they are. Or how reliable Sir Gadabout is either. Haven’t seen him. Maybe I should calm my farm though and come back to this when I’m feeling better. He probably doesn’t need help and is simply doing the rounds. And the recommended brand of scanner is expensive. I just don’t like him running around without knowing if he’s really ok, or him hunting birds. For now I just want to know if he’s chipped.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🍓 Friday 13 March 2026 3 days ago:
spoiler
I keep waking up with this awful feeling of dread and abandonment. Skin burning and anxiety coming out of my pores. But I can’t process anything while it’s not safe to. Not here. I just want to move out of this place and have the inevitable emotional breakdown.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 😃 Thursday 12 March 2026 4 days ago:
🖤
- Comment on Discussion Thread 😃 Thursday 12 March 2026 4 days ago:
Got antibiotics and just as well because my finger is swelling up.
spoiler
Saw some pet things I’d been looking for in pink. I only find those items now. And fully expected to see her when I got home 💔
- Comment on Discussion Thread 😃 Thursday 12 March 2026 4 days ago:
Every night I wake up into this awful sickening void. Melbcatless. I loved her. Unsure if I’m giving myself a break to heal or self isolating.
The trigger of the spray cleaner bottle wasn’t springing back after being depressed so I got in the habit of pushing it forward with my ring finger to keep on spraying… doing that scraped some skin off my finger and it’s now trying to get infected. I’ve attended to it and it’s starting to look better but I’m watching.
Haven’t seen the shadow around. It’s a mix of relief and guilt.
I’ve sent a get well package to someone, I forgot if they’re a tea person 😵💫
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐞 Wednesday 11 March 2026 5 days ago:
You’re right, I’m not really the huggy type. But I appreciate this
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐞 Wednesday 11 March 2026 5 days ago:
Fingers crossed for Miss Meow. 🤞
Melbcat had the same thing and still had issues on prescription food so if Miss Meow doesn’t settle or like it don’t be afraid to go onto the single protein grain free stuff.
I use BioBlitz to clean anything biological and a cheap black light torch helps find hidden pukes.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐞 Wednesday 11 March 2026 5 days ago:
Thanks. I just don’t trust these leaders not to screw us
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐞 Wednesday 11 March 2026 5 days ago:
He’s always got water, I went out for bins and made sure the gravity dispenser was refilled. And there’s another dead maggie so unfortunately I think he’s a very good hunter :(
I’m just trying not to get too attached to him because my goal would have to be making him an inside cat, and even if I could handle the extended strain of quarantine ringworm treatment… He showed me he would not accept that life.
Taking care of him ‘casually’ as an outside cat is quite challenging as well.
spoiler
Even just feeding him means him coming and rubbing up on you with the ringworm, which requires a makeshift gown up and full body antifungal scrub after. And you have to meet him directly with the food whenever he randomly shows up, which could be suddenly any time, because if food is left out other animals get it within a minute. Not kidding. The birds pick it clean in the day and a fox eats it at night. Dropping the food and going back inside wouldn’t work as he seems more interested in affection and will eagerly run up on you.
Maybe at some point I might be more able to engage but right now I’ve kind of curled in on myself and am not really functioning. It also feels like a betrayal of Melbcat. I’m feeling terrible like I’ve dumped him but trying to just give myself a break during this time.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐞 Wednesday 11 March 2026 5 days ago:
It’s all good, I’m sorry I said that. I shouldn’t have.
I’m a little off kilter right now and also remembering covid times.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐞 Wednesday 11 March 2026 5 days ago:
Still the repercussions will affect Australia.
I’m not able to be flexible around food and fluids and can’t regulate my own body temperature well. And my immune system sucks.
So if priced out or cut off from energy for heating or cooling, all the soap got bought, can’t get the few things I can eat, shortage of antibiotics or iv fluids… I’m gonna have a bad time.
I know his handlers will just fill the eventual vacuum but I hope the orange one’s wipeout is legendary.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐞 Wednesday 11 March 2026 5 days ago:
I don’t want to go through all this shit. Technically I have or am capable of learning basic prepping skills if it comes to it but realistically I’m not physically resilient and wouldn’t survive harsh times.
I’m very tired and if things go sideways I’m kind of hoping something just kills me.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐞 Wednesday 11 March 2026 5 days ago:
War with Iran? Fuel crisis may affect supply chain I’m guessing. news.com.au/…/793c798a9c5097be3d37c542b6b9a6a3
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐞 Wednesday 11 March 2026 5 days ago:
It doesn’t feel real. I want my baby
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐞 Wednesday 11 March 2026 5 days ago:
This again? At this rate every household should be issued a bidet…
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐞 Wednesday 11 March 2026 5 days ago:
Cleaning, cat TMI
While it was still dark overnight I went into the back room to try and find a suspected pee spot with the UV torch. No dice. How does a black light not find pee? But it turns out vomit does fluoresce. Normally I cleaned that on the spot but there had been some sneaky (clear) ones I didn’t know about and couldn’t see without the light. So I got in there with a bottle of biological cleaner and a microfibre mitt. Once I’ve found any stray whiskers to save in the front room I’ll vacuum and repeat the process there. My poor little girl. I’ve wrapped her urn in the first blanket I ever bought her plus her fanciest one and put her in her favourite bed.
I’m feeling terrible. Massive headache, cramps, miserable inside. I haven’t been out to look for or pat the black cat since the paper collar attempt because I just haven’t felt up to it.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐞 Wednesday 11 March 2026 6 days ago:
Night bad.
spoiler
I really loved Melbcat. So many regrets, especially how rushed her sendoff was and that it didn’t happen at home. Hunting for any more stray whiskers before I can vacuum the rest of the house and returning her room to how it was so I can put her urn in her favourite bed.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🍰 Tuesday 10 March 2026 6 days ago:
I’ve finished downloading the most urgent iCloud photos and videos for now. Saving your stuff locally to have a backup outside the cloud seems to have deliberately been made to suck.
spoiler
My Windows computer is full because of Win 11 bloating (which for some people going over a certain percent of storage wiped their files) so I couldn’t do it there and use the app. Using a Mac you still can’t download more than 1000 files at once so I selected them manually and downloaded in batches of 50-300ish photos at a time. And that’s only for the ones of Melbcat because I don’t want Apple to randomly lock access to them before they can be backed up. I’m not sure how it would go on Linux, maybe the same… no idea if there would be any incompatibilities but that old computer could be a good storage place. Bonus if I take out the wifi dongle and unplug the ethernet cable these companies literally can’t access my stuff on there to mess with it. There’s so much still to do but right now I just need to pull my finger out for the ones of baby girl. I struggle so badly with the memory and organisation aspects of keeping things backed up (to the point I’ve lost entire hard drives worth of stuff repeatedly before cloud services and still haven’t finished the work now) but I don’t like how your own stuff is low key kept hostage, scanned for anything potentially offensive with notoriously inaccurate AI, and they have a million little ways to make it tricky or tedious to get your own files back. I won’t even get into how Microsoft yoinked my files without consent, hid the option to back up to drive, and tried to extort money for more cloud storage.
I’m genuinely considering returning to a digital camera with SD cards.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🍰 Tuesday 10 March 2026 6 days ago:
Thanks.
I’m currently just trying to get copies of her photos safe, don’t really have much energy right now but I’ll try soon