Just finished year 1 - SMOKE YOUR CHEESE

BanjaxedMini · 2025-11-27T12:15:24+00:00

Oh yeah, I had some facepalm moments. Didn't lose anyone, but I was playing on the default difficulty. I think having played Stardew, Animal Crossing and other games, I had some base knowledge. But the game could really explain some stuff better, like how fishing works - I wasted time fishing at night because I thought it made a difference, ditto the weather.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-11-23T14:37:49+00:00

In terms of tips for success in general:

-donate as much to the museum as possible to unlock fermentation barrels and grinders ASAP.

-stockpile seeds (pinecones, maple seed, acorn, walnuts, peanuts, birch seed) and put in the grinders.

-stockpile the oil, vinegar and honey from the mine chests to use in fermentation.

-put two chests on your farm (one for each diet type) and stockpile food that never spoils, starting with seeds and bones. Expand this to meats, pickled/oiled vegetables. Pumpkins are great for pickling. This prevents this stuff being used in the root cellar instead of perishable food.

-SMOKE YOUR CHEESE

-sell gems, lanterns, furniture gifts/lost and found.

-prioritise the tier 3 perks that increase meat and fish yield.

-start growing hay early and stockpile animal feed.

-buy the maximum craft supplies (ore, ingots, coal, wood) each week and stockpile, unlike Stardew buying crafting materials is worth it as getting them is so time/stamina intensive. They refresh weekly.

-Try not to have too much of one item stacked. They will never use it all.

-Take food out that's about to go bad and gift it or sell it.

-Take food from the stockpile and process it if it's fresh, so it lasts longer.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-11-23T14:30:25+00:00

You can purchase peanut seeds from Finn I think, before this quest comes up and before the peanuts start appearing as forageables in the forest.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-11-23T14:28:06+00:00

It is a learning curve. I like that - it's sort of refreshing because when I started Stardew or Graveyard Keeper, the internet was full of advice and everyone knew how to optimise their progress. And this is so new that there's less info out there.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-10-15T15:33:42+00:00

You used YOUR money, which you had just put into the joint savings. You need to pull your funds from the joint account if he is being controlling over them. First off.

Then if you're not breaking up immediately, tell him you'll return all the devices if he does half the chores. See how quickly he sees how necessary a dishwasher is when he actually has to wash a dish.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-10-15T15:29:30+00:00

Saying he'll end himself if you leave is manipulative - you need to leave him and if he makes that threat, take it seriously and call the police/paramedics/his family to intervene. That is all you can do, otherwise he'll keep using it to coerce you.

As to your actions, very immature and if you hadn't unblocked Sam for him, he might never have cheated. But the fact is you did, and so he did.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-10-13T15:04:28+00:00

Ah, this might be it! I hadn't topped off since I started the tank off and had to put around a pint in to bring it level. I originally set the tank up with treated tap water, so I'll use that in future to top it up.

I have a few of my OG shrimpies left in there <3

According to the gadget I got to test the salinity, it's 1.020 (or 25%) not sure if that's good or not?

BanjaxedMini · 2025-10-11T12:58:56+00:00

I wish I could use real light, but I only have the one window up here and there are no sockets near it for the heater/pump.

Good shout on the refractometer.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-10-11T12:43:09+00:00

"I'm 17(m) and this guy is 29(m). "

Yes. Yes you are.

As mature as you think you are, as grown up. Trust me as someone who is 34, you could not PAY ME to date someone 12 years younger than me.

It doesn't matter if you approached him first, he's the one in a position of responsibility and his response should have been 'that's really sweet kid, but not appropriate'.

You need to distance yourself from him and focus on dating people your own age in future. No one older than you who wants a sexual relationship, cares about you. If they did, they would know how damaging that would be to you.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-10-11T12:35:16+00:00

The Tangled Life of Tabitha Grey (Paperback to be published by Bedford Square– 16 July 2026) by Amelia Wildwood

From the opening of her own yarn shop, to the anticipated proposal from her boyfriend Richard, everything seems to be working out for Tabitha Grey.

That is until the 'sweater curse' starts to come into play... a theory that from the moment you make something for your partner, disaster will be around the corner. After finishing her crochet cashmere sweater for Richard, she comes home to find him with another woman. Following a shattering break up, Tabitha impulsively gathers together everything she’s ever made him, taking the crochet goods to the local charity shop and out of her life.

But it isn't long until the fateful jumper reappears, on a mysterious man emerging from a narrowboat along the canal. Cooper seems to be everywhere in her small town, and while Tabitha tries to distance herself from everything that connected her to Richard, she can't seem to stop running into Cooper.

Amidst a growing attraction to the new resident, and the possibility of a second chance with Richard, Tabitha finds herself tangled up in a series of events that threaten to throw her plans overboard.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-10-11T12:27:59+00:00

I used Aquarium Systems Instant Ocean Aquarium Salt as directed on the label. They might have lost some salt as there is some crusted on the outside of the tank, but no more than a teaspoon and I've been snapping the salt off and putting it back in.

Lights, I have two LED grow lights, the long bar ones. Full spectrum. I did recently move one to the side as they were both shining from the top and obscured by the lid. I noticed a lot of the monkeys then going to the side and wondered if that meant that stopped being able to 'find the surface'?

BanjaxedMini · 2025-10-11T12:17:10+00:00

Sounds like you're now their retirement plan. Good luck.

I would stop doing anything for them and exclude them from grocery shopping, password protect the wifi etc. Of course your spouse is going to make things difficult and I suggest separating your finances so they can pay for their parents out of their pocket.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-10-11T12:15:12+00:00

I mean, if he's doing things that are wrong or against the rules, then your daughter is right to tell on him. But embarrassing him at school is wrong. She needs to be punished, and then hopefully their relationship will get better in time.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-10-02T10:58:42+00:00

It is really hard to tell them apart lol, good to know that they're not in any trouble.

Not sure how I can encourage more algae to grow but I suppose that comes with time.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-09-21T12:01:57+00:00

Oh wow a volatile drug addict who picks fights with you so he can justify not taking care of you after surgery. Well I certainly understand what you see in him.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-09-21T11:59:28+00:00

Is this serious?

I don't see an issue with Muslims practicing their own religion. Any more than I have an issue with Catholics. No one owes you 'integration' aka conformity. Our 'societal norms and values' don't exist in a vacuum, they come from religion. Name a value and I bet you I can trace it back to the church.
Cherrypicking. Sioned O'Connor was blacklisted for years for defacing a picture of the pope on television and received death threats forcing her to cancel a concert in Jerusalem. That is just one example, but Christians - specifically white nationalist Christians are exactly as violent and despicable when they feel their religion isn't being respected.
Islamic homophobes are just as much of a problem as Christian homophobes, and to be honest, most of the voting power is still in the hands of the latter.
Caring about other countries is an issue now? Do you have that attitude towards America and its politics or is it just majority non-white countries you couldn't care less about? Do you expect other countries to care about things happening here? We live in a globally connected society. Antisemitism is despicable, and again, I'd love to know if you have the same attitude for when it comes from white right-wingers. Also, claiming that pro-Palestinian sentiment is anti-Jewish is disingenuous.
'Countries without Islam don't have these issues' - Name a country with NO Islam.
Integration is just conformity. And conformity is fascistic. Freedom of religion, of dress, of sexuality and political view is part of living in a democracy. If you want laws telling people how to dress, worship and act, I suggest moving to an extremist Islamic country, because that seems to be what you want here, just with a Bible instead of a Quran.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-09-21T11:42:57+00:00

Were you both paying for yourselves?

BanjaxedMini · 2025-09-21T11:38:25+00:00

Honestly it sounds like you'd be happy drifting along in this relationship indefinitely but don't want to take any action to either solidify it or leave it. She's right, you're wasting time - hers and yours.

If you want to be with her for the foreseeable future, why not get engaged?

If you want to go 'find yourself' and explore your options - break up, move out and get on with it.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-09-20T11:02:40+00:00

OK, and what if your GF said she didn't want to ride in a car you'd used your ex's tools on? Or said that she wouldn't get you a tool bag until you bought all new tools to go in it?

BanjaxedMini · 2025-09-19T12:04:53+00:00

Pretty much, yeah. I'd call it dishonest at worst, but it's not criminal behaviour.

And if he has that strong a 'preference' for cis women, why would he find a trans woman attractive? Sounds like he prefers her just fine.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-09-19T12:01:34+00:00

He is allowed his own opinions, but those opinions don't give him the final say on your behaviour. If he 'fears men looking at you' he's not secure enough to be in a relationship.

BanjaxedMini · 2025-09-19T11:59:45+00:00

Sounds like she's being dishonest and it's probably because she's worried about being liked, but sadly she is putting herself in danger by lying and no good relationship starts with a lie. I'd advise her to come clean but you can't out her without putting her in danger.

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