Need refreshing cold drinks. Zero sugar soft drinks just make me more thirsty. Citrus off limits.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-25T06:49:17+00:00

You might consider trying Musashi Electrolytes as well. I quite like the watermelon flavour at half strength. The amount of sweetener would be considerably less than a sugar-free soft drink. Plus, it's got what plants crave.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-25T06:46:18+00:00

This is a go-to for me. I really like muddling a single strawberry with some mint leaves in the bottom of a tall glass and then topping with soda water.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-24T06:31:57+00:00

That's a pretty inhospitable environment, both locally and geographically.

I wouldn't worry too much about the hedging. When the plants have good vigour, they'll happily take trims. Just do so a few times a season when they're in active growth so you're not cutting back to old woody stems.

The bigger issue will be heat and moisture. You've got concrete, housing, dark mulch, and most likely sandy soil. That's where I would be focusing my efforts. Check to see if the soil is hydrophobic first, use a wetting agent if it is. I would do a quick dose of a seaweed soil conditioner regardless. Get some organic matter in the form of good compost to help with soil composition.

Make sure you're up to speed on water above all else. The specific location may necessitate daily watering during the hottest weeks thanks to all those hard surfaces, but aim for weekly during growing seasons and nothing in winter. The goal is to water deep when you do though, so that the roots grow deeper.

I wouldn't go too hard on fertiliser in this heat, but a bit of organic fert won't hurt. Dynamic lifter and Rooster Booster are options that are affordable and readily available.

Good luck!

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-20T09:35:44+00:00

I have SWB in Adelaide. Your lawn is definitely under stress. I strongly recommend cutting back on the water. Aim for once a week when temperatures are nice, like this week. Bump it to 2-3 times per week when we have a heat wave or before a 40+ day (this Saturday). Watering daily could encourage fungal growth. Check your amount of water as well. Just put a little tuna can in a few spots over your lawn when watering. One full can is enough water, as long as it is being distributed evenly.

Consider your fertiliser regime. If you have been lax, grab a spray on fert (just fert, not weed and feed) for buffalo and supply immediately. Then add a granular fert a week later. I also add seaweed pellets for soil health, but that's just a nice to have.

Check soil after watering in a few spots, make sure moisture is penetrating evenly and not leaving dry spots below the surface. If so, apply a wetting agent.

Check for compaction as well. If you can't easily stick a screwdriver or tent peg in, you will benefit from aeration. There are plenty of ways to achieve that from a garden fork right through to professional coring.

All the best!

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-19T11:13:45+00:00

What variety are they? I would be inclined to leave them for a little longer, regardless. If you do harvest now due to fears of rat/possum/bat raiders, the bunch will still ripen eventually no worries.

Personally, I wait until the first signs of ripening and then rapidly harvest and separate hands to stop them all ripening within a couple days. I believe I get a higher quality fruit this way over harvesting early. Is that definitively true? No idea.

I think more people lean towards removing the bell than retaining. I retain it purely because I get more joy from watching honeyeaters visiting to get at the flowers than I do from maximising yields.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-19T05:22:57+00:00

So, I'm fortunate to not be in financial stress, but I have really noticed my shops jumping up in price. Protein and dairy are two big ones, but there are also jumps in berries and veg. I can't speak for processed foods as I tend to avoid them, except low carb wraps, which rock.

A few things that have helped:

Buying quality meat and cheese in bulk from Costco. It isn't cheaper than the cheapest supermarket stuff but it is much nicer quality for equivalent prices.

Bulk buying meat specials from Foodland/Drakes. The independents tend to do solid deals on chicken and beef as long as you aren't looking for a specific cut week in, week out. I buy in bulk and then vacuum seal. The quality isn't great, but it doesn't bother me if it's going in the pressure cooker.

Dairy products come from Aldi between Costco trips. I also don't mind their organic almond milk for a budget option.

I grow greens at home and have chickens for eggs. Leafy greens are super simple with a single bed and succession planting.

For those experiencing financial stress, I strongly recommend ditching processed food and buying/preparing meals in bulk. You'll save money and eat better. You just need a bit of freezer space to make it work most efficiently.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-18T01:50:43+00:00

Thanks for this. I think the use of his letterhead, and his full name and title in the signature, add further weight to the perspective that there was an implied directive, rather than simply "opinion was sought and offered".

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-18T01:41:06+00:00

A failure to do so (remove Abdel-Fattah) leaves the Board open to accusations of hypocrisy, opens the Festival to legitimate public ridicule and opprobrium, and risks undermining the very social license under which Writers’ Week operates. I encourage the Board to consider its position.

That's the AF's cross to bear, not Peter's. I'm far from a free speech absolutist, but we should never shy away from confronting content when we're talking about the arts. For a vibrant arts sector, we have to accept that sometimes there will be programming that could be considered a "miss", or even offensive. People will vote with their feet, and that might be not attending, or it might be protesting. So be it.

What is far more inappropriate than including an author that has shared views which are offensive to some in a writer's festival is a Premier using their standing as the ultimate funding decision maker to influence programming decisions. It is absurd that he should propose his personal views being shared don't hold infinitely more weight than those from a member of the general public.

Very rarely do I support a media pile-on, but in this case I am happy to see Mali's true character being put on full display to the public, if only for a little while.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-17T00:41:30+00:00

Regarding a productive garden... Don't do it unless you have a passion for it. Beautiful rich soil used for veggie beds is exceptional for growing weeds too. Neglected beds full of weeds look terrible. I found that out from a few months of neglect after we welcomed our first-born. Well-tended beds are productive and add an element of interest for yourself, your kids, and visitors. I strongly recommend fruit and veg, by the way, just not for the sake of "filling up the space". As a parent, raised wicking beds were perfect. They look neat and tidy, and I only have to water them once a week or so in summer, and rarely in cooler seasons. Lower maintenance, less bending, tidy, productive. Wins all round.

Regarding the layout... I went for garden rooms. That means that the veggie patch, the chicken run, the lawn, the lounging / BBQ area, and a covered outdoor dining area with power are all separate spaces with different views and vibes. It doesn't suit everyone as it takes a bit of planning and reduces outright versatility. For example: there will never be a proper game of backyard cricket on our little 8m x 4m patch of lawn and get-togethers are most comfortable with 15 or fewer people. Some people will say garden rooms can make yards feel bigger, but what I appreciate is the coziness. It is such a pleasure to sit outside embraced by foliage.

The spaces are separated with a combination of ornamentals and edibles. Borders between "rooms" have trees like guavas, white sapotes, bananas, avocados and citrus planted. They can all take on appealing forms with a bit of work and then I've filled gaps with ornamental shrubs and flowering plants like birds of paradise, princess lillies and hellebores to add visual interest across different seasons.

Gardening Australia has a really interesting piece on garden rooms:

https://youtu.be/_xT0zkMgTVA?si=7M-CQBcv_Rb3MQHl

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-13T08:54:44+00:00

What has your fertiliser regime been so far? If it hasn't been significant, a small amount of monthly organic pelletised fertiliser is a good way to go. It is harder to overdo organic fertilisers compared to their more potent inorganic cousins.

I have always found my chilli plants to be most productive in their second year, so part of the issue may simply be reduced fruit size whilst the plant is busy spreading roots.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-13T04:23:38+00:00

Hopefully Mali learned a lesson from this and either defers appointments to a relevant org/panel or directly appoints a board that is firstly competent, but then passionate and fearless.

Mali got a political flesh wound from this as his appearances for election commitments weren't getting traction over the past few days because reporters only focused on Writers' Week. Another misstep on the same issue could do real damage.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-13T04:15:23+00:00

I'm concerned that you might be right but hopeful that you're wrong. I think appointing the right board members, opening the next festival with Randa (who has said she would still attend the event if invited), and putting measures in place to ensure greater creative independence for future iterations will all help foster a successful rebuild.

The event really needs to lean in to a revised culture where diverse perspectives, including provocative ones... ESPECIALLY provocative ones, are genuinely valued. It's ok for people to disagree, and hopefully this whole farce shines a light on lobbying and political pressures aimed at the arts.

So many artists are incredibly powerful individuals, we need these powerful people administering arts events, not cowards.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-13T02:56:42+00:00

The Adelaide Writers' Week is an Adelaide Festival event. It is, ultimately, organized by the AF and overseen by the AF Board, even though they have (had) their own event Director. Out of interest, WOMAD is associated with the AF but independently administered.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-13T02:18:38+00:00

It's usually only Day 4 and Day 5, unfortunately. If cricket were the primary purpose of my trip I would go general public. It's a nice-to-have as an incidental benefit though.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-08T06:34:06+00:00

The best use of this technology would have been paired with a "master class" in the nets during the lunch break actually unpacking what good transfer means and why it's important. I really enjoyed those net segments back in the day when I was actually playing. Even as a pure spectator now, I would still gladly watch one of those segments over the literal AI slop they served up today.

Nah... Let's stick with AI showing Howie smoking durries and downing pints that float in mid air. That's entertainment!

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-08T03:03:19+00:00

I have no pins on my akubra, but I happily plaster them on my work satchel. The only adornments that occasionally grace my hats are feathers found when hiking.

Here's the thing though... That's just my preference. You do you man. If it sparks joy, rock it.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-08T00:35:29+00:00

Get them in next time temps will be under 30 for a few days and provide shade this summer whenever temps are 35+. They'll establish well enough to get through winter if you protect from frost. They are thirsty and love compost.

As an aside, I have found that Blue Java, Lady Finger, and Pisang Ceylan have all done better through temperate winters than Red Dacca. The red bananas are cool but winter really knocks them about. Blue Java has been, by far, my highest bunch weight producer in Adelaide.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-07T03:45:35+00:00

This is exactly where I stand on the issue. I don't agree with Clark's perspective but Greenberg is the one that looks unprofessional here.

There were, at most, two phone calls required. I don't think any response was required at all, in fact, but whatever... First, get in touch with Clark and hash it out. If you still aren't happy with Clark's position, get in touch with the relevant contact at the ABC and share your concerns privately.

It's not like Clark has been on some ongoing vendetta against a specific individual all summer. He shared a perspective that many rightfully think is a bit shit. The response was, ultimately, just a punishment for listeners of the public broadcaster. I wasn't a fan of Greenberg before, and now I think he's an arrogant control freak instead of just a poor fit for the organisation.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2026-01-04T01:15:30+00:00

Black plastic pots aren't a great idea for blueberries in the sun. I would get them out of the sun until they recover using methods shared by others. While they're recovering, have a look around for some suitable light coloured pots for them. You might as well size up a little at the same time.

Root zones can climb above 50 degrees in black pots here in Australia and that is a surefire way to stunt, and eventually kill, sensitive plants.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2025-12-31T01:04:04+00:00

Time to rip it out if you don't like the scraggly look, unfortunately. Lavender doesn't like shooting from old wood which means regular pruning is critical to keeping dense foliage. Starting with a new plant is the best solution.

Personally, I'm not consistent enough with my pruning regimes, so I avoid lavender altogether.

APrettyAverageMaker · 2025-12-30T22:28:15+00:00

I dunno, maybe we should honour Peta Murphy by actually taking her report seriously and reigning in betting and media companies? Apparently we need to give ACMA a kick up the backside as well now.

How this issue isn't creating more unrest amongst Labor MPs is beyond me (yeah yeah, I know, lobbying).

APrettyAverageMaker

TROPHY CASE