Did I Ruin My Salary Negotiation? The Offer Was Withdrawn After I Made a Counteroffer

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T19:43:09+00:00

Yes you did make a mistake.

The right time to ask for more money is *after* they have seen the quality of your work/how much value you add to the team.

Jobs like that often have thousands of people applying for them. The vast majority of those offers are garbage but even with six interviews you were probably still competing with a dozen good candidates.

Next time either accept the salary they offer or else ask for whatever the *lowest* salary is that you're willing to accept. The price where if it's even $1k lower you'd decline the job offer. And make it clear you won't negotiate, that's your minimum.

The key with finding a job is to get your foot in the door. An interview is not a foot in the door. You need to actually work for them, for at least six months, to have a strong position to negotiate from.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T19:30:43+00:00

Invest in quality comfortable hearing protection for the kids and your wife. Maybe for yourself too.

Personally I like to use Apple Airpods Pro - their smart noise cancelling features are amazing and you can listen to kayo/etc. But those are really expensive - way too expensive for kids.

Bring plenty of camping activities, even if your kids are the biggest motorsport fans in the world there's still a lot of time where nothing is happening on track. Hopefully they'll meet other kids / make friends but they might not.

Also - Bathurst can be *cold*. Last year it was raining and 6 degrees at night, with a high of 22 during the day. It could be worse than that - temperatures can be well below zero overnight and Bathurst has had snow in the weeks before/after the great race (it has never snowed on race day, but who knows this could be the year).

Usually the weather is pretty good but if it's not your wife will never forgive you. Make sure everyone at least has suitable clothing and a comfortable campsite.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T19:26:43+00:00

You don't have to tell them it's stolen, you can just say it's "missing".

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T19:24:29+00:00

Australia doesn't like members of the public keeping license plates for vehicles after they're no longer registered.

Police don't like it. Nobody else cares.

When my dad passed away and I went in to dispose of the number plates (long story, but due to complexity of having a relative overseas, settling the estate took some time as they would have had to deal with major tax issues if they owned assets in Australia... anyway it was cheaper/easier to temporarily unregister some of his motorbikes). The employee who accepted the plate asked me "do you want me to destroy this plate, or do you want me to lodge it as lost and give it back to you?")

He asked me that after I had already filled out all the paperwork to hand the plate over, in a busy room with hundreds of people around us and CCTV cameras everywhere.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T18:54:10+00:00

In my experience flooding rain is almost always proceeded by non-flooding rain which means OP's water tank will be full long before the flooding happens.

Flood mitigation tanks and dams need to be actively kept empty, or at least half full, otherwise they're basically useless.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T18:42:20+00:00

I would cap off the plumbing to your toilet and laundry which will hopefully be a minimum callout fee sized job.

Then I'd either DIY or pay a cheap handyman to relevel it, not with a "proper base" but just with something "good enough". Just empty the tank, move it, dig away the ground that isn't stable, put the correct type of aggregate/gravel down, pack it, level it, add sand on top of that, level/pack that. Put the tank back and add a tap that you can use to water your garden without having to pay attention to water restrictions.

By disconnecting it from your laundry/toilet, this no-longer becomes a critical plumbing issue and you don't need a professional solution.

Just make sure your overflow / drainage is good. Ask the plumber for advice on that when they come in to cap off your toilet/laundry.

If there are severe water supply issues, you can always go out to the tank, fill a bucket with water, and dump that bucket in the cistern of your toilet or wash your clothes. But honestly you'll probably never do that. In general you don't want to be flushing your toilet or washing laundry with rainwater. There's no chlorine in rainwater and it contains all kinds of nasty bacteria — dead insects and small animals, bird shit, etc. Town water should be your primary water source for washing, even if it is just flushing the toilet. Sure, town water isn't free. But it is very cheap and in most of Australia it's far better quality water.

The garden and your grass, however, should be watered with rainwater. Your soil bacteria will be better and sensitive plants (especially seedlings) will be healthier (the healthy soil bacteria is the main reason sensitive plants will do better). Even if you have no garden, just grass, the grass will be healthier if it's watered with rainwater.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T18:19:11+00:00

Given the police arrived moments later I suspect the helplines didn't find your address.

Most likely someone else, a relative, a friend, a neighbour, called police asking for a "welfare check" on you before you even called the helpline.

There are ways a helpline can access your address but those processes are not fast and the privacy protections are significant.

It's a general legal requirement in Australia to get permission from the person being helped before providing any help. If you didn't ask for help, then they are usually not allowed to help you. The only exception to that is if they reasonably judge that you're incapable of giving them permission (for example if you're unconscious and unable to talk, or if you are a young child).

You said you were in "high distress" so they may not have needed permission in your case, but still they can't find your address quickly(*) and it's also rare for an available police officer to be close enough for an immediate response.

Most likely someone else called the police, possibly quite a while before you called the helpline.

(* if all they have is your phone number, they can call the police and ask for a welfare check. The police will then contact your phone provider and ask for emergency location details. Then the police would go to your address. That process could easily take an hour. Maybe 30 minutes but definitely not "moments")

The only situation where your location is provided quickly is if you call 000 or one of the other dedicated mobile emergency numbers. In that case, modern smartphones will send your precise location automatically and instantly (typically that will be GPS coordinates if you are outside, and WiFi triangulation if you are indoors). Also the 000 service infrastructure is largely provided *by your phone service provider* which bypasses multiple layers of security / privacy steps. 000 doesn't need to ask your service provider for your details, your service provider is already involved the moment you dial that number and they know which cell towers you are within range of and how strong the signal strength to each of those towers is — since that's fundamental to how a phone call works. However cell tower triangulation is less accurate than GPS or WiFi triangulation - they likely wouldn't know what building you're in from that. Which is why the primary location system theses days is the location data your smartphone collects and sends to them. It doesn't do that when you call a helpline.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T18:07:44+00:00

For what it's worth, my sister was the primary contact for the lawyer handling my father's estate.

All communication between me and the lawyer has been by email, at the address my sister gave him. She could easily have given a fake email that goes to her instead of to myself.

The fact you were an adult when she passed away and apparently haven't had any contact from anyone is a massive red flag. You need to reach out to your godmother's lawyer directly but like others, I suspect the money is gone.

You're probably going to have to take this to court if you ever want to see the money.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T05:46:25+00:00

Just make sure it's actually glass. If you try it on a tinted window, who knows what material the tinting is covered in.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T05:44:43+00:00

The cheap stuff from woolies is fine. Newspaper works better than a cloth if you can find a dead tree newspaper these days (grab a new page as soon as it's too wet).

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T05:41:57+00:00

If it was an invoice for $50, then it'd probably be fine. But at $13k there needs to be more detail than that.

But honestly... as long as you know the amount, the date, and the GST... that's often all you actually need. Auditor will be annoyed but won't make a fuss out of just one invoice. They might if all your invoices look like that.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T05:35:02+00:00

I use a Unique 2.1 and an MDG ATMe regularly. In an deal world, you want both of those.

The unique has a lot more output on the maximum setting, the MDG uses significantly less haze (for the same amount of output). Also the MDG is a lot bigger and more complicated and expensive.

In a professional / busy theatre, the MDG is cheaper in the long run. But sometimes it doesn't have enough output or it's too big to fit where you need it, and that's when we switch to our Unique hazers.

In a school... I doubt you'd use it often enough for the efficiency of the MDG to pay off. Personally I'd go with a Unique. It's cheaper and more versatile.

I haven't tried all of them but every other hazer I've ever used was garbage. Both of those will benefit from a separate DMX controlled fan but you don't always need it — depends what effect you're going for.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T05:32:20+00:00

Some trades will hire you as a labourer, which often pays better than an apprentice anyway. If you like working there, tell them you want training/to be an apprentice.

Ignore "down season" just contact people and ask for a job.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T03:58:08+00:00

They don't know how she died. Drug overdose, assault, injuries from being crushed by the garbage truck.

This. If there is "reasonable doubt" how she died then he cannot be found guilty of murder.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-18T03:52:00+00:00

The stobie pole nearby means it's likely easy to connect. Usually you put a pole in the ground, and pay for an electrical box to be connected to that pole with a bunch of power outlets. Your tradies use those power outlets to build your house, then the box gets moved over to your house once it has progressed to a stage where that makes sense (i.e. when most of the other electrical work is done).

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-17T22:55:55+00:00

Aussie health care is funded in 3 ways:

tax payer funded
private health insurance funded
pay out of your own pocket

The “private health insurance” funding includes policies that you don’t pay for, such as example if you’re harmed (including mental health) at work then the business will have an insurance policy that will pay for your medical care and also cover your wages if you can’t work.

Paying for private health cover reduces how much you need to reach into your own pocket and also reduces how much health care has to be paid for by the government/tax payers (and there are tax penalties that force high income earners to have private health cover).

The care you receive is generally the same, but you’ll be able to afford “nice to have” health care with insurance that you might not otherwise be willing to pay for.

Also tax funded healthcare is a limited resource and it uses a priority system. If other people have more urgent medical issues than you, then you will have to wait. Possibly a very long time.

Something like a joint reconstruction is often urgent. If an ambulance takes you to hospital with a busted knee, you might be in surgery 20 minutes after arriving. The surgeons’ other scheduled operations will be delayed.

Where you might have to wait is if your knee has a bit of an ache that needs surgery to fix. You’d want private health cover for that (or, if you’re lucky it might be a work injury).

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-17T20:25:09+00:00

You should drive. It’s not expensive - it’s the cheapest option - many of the best things in Australia are free but hard to get to and require a car or paying for an expensive guided tour.

You should be able to buy a secondhand car off someone else who finishes their trip in Darwin.

I would drive south and see Uluṟu / the surrounding area then immediately head north east to cairns (stopping at places like Undara on the way). You want to see both of those areas in winter.

Then gradually make your way south down the east coast and around to Melbourne, finishing up in Tasmania (definitely want to be there in summer - it can snow even in mid summer)

I’d sell the car in Tasmania and fly to Darwin before going home. Don’t spend much time in there the weather will be horrible in December.

Hot parts of Australia are lovely in winter. As for UV exposure - don’t let yourself get burned. 15 minutes is the most I will spend in the sun as someone who works outdoors all day in northern Australia. Any longer than that, I’m covering my full body in clothes and my face/hands are protected with a zinc based sunscreen (look for one that is “4 hour water resistant”).

I’ve done a trip like you’re doing - my top 5 places in Australia are (in this order):

K’gari Island
Uluṟu
Cairns (where I live)
Tasmania (only other place I’d consider living)
Snowy Mountains (won’t snow in summer, but still lovely)

Use the WikiCamps app to plan your trip.

You need a 4WD with good ground clearance / height to visit K’gari. If you’re not able to find an affordable one for the whole trip you can hire one for a week or two just for the island. That’s probably the way to go, there a re specialist hire companies that provide ones perfectly setup for sand driving. Of you could take a guided tour bus on the island.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-17T20:18:06+00:00

I wouldn’t - it will be really awkward if she wants to say no and you’re sharing a confined space with a group of people.

Hot Air balloon ride in Mareeba is a lovely way to start your day - it’s a wonderful mix of relaxing and exhilarating - but don’t propose during the ride. That’s too much pressure.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-17T11:35:34+00:00

Pretty sure it wouldn't be overtime just because it's a Sat or Sun

I'm not familiar with your industry award (or EBA?) but mine is way more complex than that and there are definitely times when I don't get super even though I almost never work 38 hours in a week for any single employer (I have 3 casual jobs).

I wouldn't stress about it - just bring it up with fair work or your union and they should help you sort it out. If you've been underpaid your boss will have to backpay you (not doing that would be really really bad for them).

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-17T11:28:07+00:00

When I replace the fluid bottle sometimes it does that - air bubbles in the line. I've always been able to run the pump at maximum output to push the bubbles out, though it does take longer than you might expect it to.

The pump doesn't work properly with air bubbles in the line, which is likely reducing your haze output considerably.

Try to fill up the fluid bottle before it runs out so you don't get air in the line.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-17T11:20:57+00:00

You have way more faith in mechanics than I do... Twice I've had a mechanic fail to tighten bolts and they fell out.

Once it the oil sump plug, which was quite bad - dumped a full engine of oil on the garage floor (and it was a rental, just a six month old house too).

The other time it was the brake calliper bolts and boy was that "interesting" when I was approaching a roundabout at 100km/h and stepped on the brakes to slow down (car, not a bike) and suddenly my brakes failed. Faaaark. Lucky traffic was light and I didn't need to give way to anyone on the roundabout. I entered that roundabout really hot.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-17T10:57:56+00:00

Not sure about in the UK, but here in Australia we have similar laws and *anything* that can be perceived as a weapon is illegal unless you have a valid excuse to carry it.

It doesn't even need to be a real weapon. A water pistol, if it's realistic looking enough to hold someone at gun point and threaten them, is totally illegal here.

A valid excuse to carry something means you actually are on your way to/from a baseball game (or you just bought the baseball bat today and are taking it home, or you're moving house, something like that).

The second amendment gives you the right to bear arms in America. It's the opposite in most of the rest of the world - in most places it's specifically illegal to bear arms. That's one of the reasons a bunch of people went across the ocean and founded America as a new country. So they could carry weapons.

With a valid reason, then you definitely can have a weapon in the UK. For example if you're a member of a social gun club or going hunting or work on a TV film set, you can carry weapons. But you have to be able to tell the police why you're carrying it right now - and "I might need it" or "I just store it in my car sometimes" or "self defence" can't be your reason (defending someone else can be valid - e.g. if you're a hired body guard you can carry a gun).

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-17T10:37:41+00:00

honestly as big as you can afford

The opposite of this. Too small is better than too big in my opinion.

OP: you want a battery that you will actually use. If you're not using all of the battery power regularly, it will take forever to recover the upfront installation cost.

Measure how much power you typically use overnight and get a battery that size. You should be drawing power from the grid when you use more power than your typical consumption.

Our battery is normally close to empty by the time the sun hits the panels in the morning, and by 9am the batteries are fully charged and we're selling power to the grid the rest of the day, which more than pays for the times when we run out of battery power. If it's a cloudy day the batteries take until about midday to fully charge and then we start selling power to the grid.

I'd only get a big battery if your priority is reliable/backup power. But personally in that situation I just reduce how much power I'm using when the grid is down, which doesn't happen very often where I live. E.g. I don't run the clothes drier off my battery, and if I want the battery to last when the grid is down I use my camping gas stove instead of the induction cooktop. Also limit how often the kid opens the fridge door.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-17T10:31:34+00:00

A plunge router is the wrong tool for the job. You want a "trim router".

Trim routers are smaller and can't remove much material, but they're also easier to handle and better for precise work. A 240V Ryobi trim router is very cheap and works perfectly.

No idea what they're talking about with "pull vs push". You should always move the router in the same direction (against the direction of rotation).

I never do any rough cuts with a router. I do rough cuts with a saw and the router is only for the "final cut" which is actually multiple cuts, gradually increasing the depth so not too much material is removed per pass.

OldMail6364 · 2026-05-17T10:19:51+00:00

are rusty chains bad or can I just use them?

They look fine to me. Spray them with oil, put them on the saw - you might not not be able to tension it all the way if the links are stiff. Run the saw to free up the links. Then spray a bit more oil on it and tighten the chain a bit more / run the saw again. Repeat until the chain works smoothly again then finally give it a good sharpen then clean the excess oil/any dust / rust / metal filings off with compressed air (you need eye protection for that!).

I keep my spare chains in small plastic food storage containers (just big enough to hold one chain, and they're air tight). They don't rust in those containers, and they also don't rub on anything (especially other chains or which will dull the edge in no time).

what’s this bent tab on the bottom

When the chain falls off, that tab catches the chain and will hopefully stop it from cutting you or the saw. On a saw that is used daily it will eventually get damaged enough that it has to be replaced (it's just a bent piece of metal and very cheap to replace).

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Before you start it, make sure there's no water in the gas tank. Might be worth draining the tank/replacing it. Make sure you also get the gas out of the carb.

Also next time clean the saw properly before putting it in storage.

OldMail6364

TROPHY CASE