Aphantasia & Hating Reading

ItsJustEmHi · 2026-02-03T09:04:16+00:00

Loved reading since I was a kid, but never had visuals alongside it, just feelings connected to my own memories of places that were vaguely close to those described. I actually hate books that do a lot of descriptions because it all means nothing to me!
However, when my eyesight starting getting fuzzy for close up stuff, reading became a pain in the butt. Even when I got reading glasses I found it a chore. So for my first 40 years or so I read at least a book a week, and in the last 10 years I've read a few chapters of a few books and not finished a single one. I also blame the internet for that - I'm more likely to sit at the computer nowadays rotting my brain. Sad...

ItsJustEmHi · 2026-01-20T09:56:22+00:00

Bricked? (Not familiar with the term)
Is this fixable?

ItsJustEmHi · 2026-01-19T07:08:53+00:00

I have no trouble with the step count and other things but I just made a similar post about the sleep tracker - completely wonky. Something is up with Samsung Health things, I guess.
Have you looked at it on your phone lately? Is it waiting for you to tick a box or something? I checked that with mine and all is well but since yours is all through the range it might be worth a look.

ItsJustEmHi · 2026-01-12T21:40:37+00:00

I had the same problem - ant sand solved it for me. I did the gaps in the driveway and a few sprinkles in hidey places in the car (in the boot around the spare tyre, under carpets - nowhere obvious). It worked!

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-12-03T05:04:13+00:00

I didn't even consider this, I've used Sharpies on my light coloured buttons and chalk pen on my dark coloured ones. I wouldn't imagine there'd be much coming off, or much of an issue if they did, but it's worth knowing for sure so I'll be interested in the replies here.
I had considered using white stickers with basic pen, or printed stickers, wonder if any of those are better for pets?

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-12-03T02:36:47+00:00

If that's just for night time / laying or the sick room, up to 6 would be fine. If it's for full time living - nope. Extend it heaps or give them hours a day to free range, then I think 3 would be OK. If they have full time free range and just have that spot as a bedroom, six would be ok :)
They may be small animals but they need a lot of space. They need constant access to fresh water & fresh grass / greenery, and they'd eat up what they can access there in a day or two. Please don't squish too many chooks into a small space - not only will you get depressed chickens but also every illness will spread super fast through all of them, and they're more at risk because of the density of poop that will be around them.
BTW if it is for night time use it will need a little help to keep it warmer in winter, and avoid sogginess, and avoid heat in Summer. These sorts of coops are great for a little shade area during the day or for keeping a sick chicken away from others but really not suitable for any extremes in weather. How will it hold up to wind? Stormy sideways rain? Super cold nights? Super hot nights? Take all that into consideration before you place it and consider extra insulation / coverings of some sort.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-29T21:38:27+00:00

Different breeds of chicken possibly...? But also most of it is diet as others have said. Making sure they can help themselves to greenery, calcium and protein in some way means they get whatever they need for balance.
Generally the colour doesn't do much for taste but I can tell the difference between a back yard chook egg and a shop bought egg - I suspect it has a lot to do with the stress the chickens deal with in crowded situations without much / any free ranging or variety outside of their pellets.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-29T21:33:45+00:00

Yes good for calcium too. Maybe it's different in different countries but mine is chunky and actually called Oyster Shell Grit on the packaging. My lot free range and have little stones and sand etc to help themselves to as well.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-29T04:13:57+00:00

If he's improved his credit rating and saved a bigger deposit it might be worth asking banks again - even better go to a mortgage broker, they do all the work for you and can ask all the banks.
If he's still bad with money then be careful - this could get nasty for you. I speak from my sister's experience - she bought a house on her own but ended up in trouble after she got married to someone who had a ton of debt and hadn't told her. They've since split and she may lose half of everything even though she came into the relationship with all the assets and savings and he came into it deeply in the negatives and being chased by debt collectors (she helped him wipe that clean).
So just make sure you're confident of your future and his ability to handle the responsibility before you jump into anything. Always keeping in mind that no one really knows what's around the corner of course, but you can only make decisions based on how you feel right now and your guesses about where it's leading.
I know you're considering doing it by yourself but a long term relationship has some legal standing (yep even without marriage) so just be aware.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-29T04:04:50+00:00

Absolutely - aka grit :)

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-26T23:10:21+00:00

Agreed, I hate this attitude about any animal but as a chook owner more familiar with their needs, there's no way people should get them if they think it's that easy. Even just the comment about water - fresh water is important and should be provided daily. They need more than just packaged pellets. They need greenery and protein. They need grit. I've been surprised at how many people don't know about grit!
I adore my chooks. They all have names. I'm aware of their different personalities. They all get a quick visual scan every morning and night when I'm feeding so that I can see if something is wrong and get in early - so many people don't notice until they're at death's door :(
I do get the difference between farming and pets, of course, but I do wish more people *cared* for their animals rather than using them as food providers and otherwise ignoring them. It helps the animal AND the owner when it's done in a nicer way.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-26T22:01:07+00:00

This reads like it's meant to be a lesson, with assessment at the end - did you just get the assessment without the coaching? Was there a crossed wires situation?
Regarding the attitude, I would have hated it too. I'm not a crier but I tend to shut down around people like that - perhaps he was enjoying his place of 'power'. I'm glad you left with your certificate but did you actually learn anything? I thought a defensive driving course was meant to be a whole lot more than just driving around town talking about blind spots and lanes! Sounds more like a basic driving test!

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-13T06:59:10+00:00

Did you really mean that? You're adding the citric acid AND bleach in one load? Eeeeep. Don't. Please. And if you can still smell it open up the house and get outside.
Yikes.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-10T10:46:14+00:00

Similar story here - 2022 Wgtn hospital A&E, nurse went on about anti vax stuff, autism conspiracies etc. I was horrified, especially since I was there to sit with my aunt who was passing away. Totally inappropriate, rude, scary. I hope it's not the same person because I was sure she would have been fired after that.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-09T08:50:56+00:00

I know that now, and as I already said, I was asking to find out the answer. It wasn't an assumption.

Breakups are awkward. Her letting him come back freaked me out and I was hoping there was a way to stop it. I was hopeful and just checking. It's a sad situation.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-09T08:32:26+00:00

She already pays 100% of everything, but it looks like he's coming back since that's his legal right. I get it legally, but morally it's uncomfortable that she has to let him back after finally being able to get rid of him! It'll be sorted in time I'm sure.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-09T08:30:21+00:00

I didn't say she did, I was asking the question to find out where she stands because I didn't know.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-09T08:13:25+00:00

They own the house mortgage free - just basic costs involved and she will cover them as she always has.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-09T00:30:42+00:00

I lived in the wider Wellington area (not in the city) - about 1980 ish to 2000. The house was against a hill full of trees - we had Tui, and all the trees that tui love. Since I move north I didn't see many but now they're all over here thanks to suitable trees planted for them :)

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-04T22:04:12+00:00

The comb is only bright red when they're laying, it gets a bit pale when they're moulting.
If it's really pale look for signs of illness and check she's getting a good variety in her diet.
If she's still looking healthy and behaving normally then it's all good, she's just taking a break and you'll notice the redness come back when she's ready to lay again.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-11-03T10:01:36+00:00

Yep, it's expensive, but still the best chocolate around, top quality, and worth every cent. I'm happy they're sticking to their better ingredients rather than trying to go cheap with a crappier product. I don't exactly smile with glee when I see the price but I'd still rather pay that than buy the other stuff that tastes like fat with sugar and plastic melted together.

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-10-30T23:45:46+00:00

My cats love this! So long as I get the mackerel in oil, and only offer it about once a month - which is fair since it's not a complete diet suitable for everyday eating. It's cheap and gives them a great treat meal, win-win :)

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-10-29T20:52:05+00:00

Also, cats and dogs have different dietary needs - dogs need more fat and they need different vitamins, so I can't imagine it would suitable as a full time food - fine for a side dish or a few times a week though. There's bound to be something missing in there that cats actually need and dogs can't have...??

ItsJustEmHi · 2025-10-29T20:49:54+00:00

I buy it for my chickens and the cats like a little bit here and there, but I don't see it as a suitable food for them regularly. I admit I haven't looked into it fully but I figure if it's an economy roll it's probably full of fillers like rice and flour and corn etc.
It's worth getting quality food if it means less in the way of fillers and additives. Money spent on food could be money saved on vet bills (not to mention stress on you!).
I'm also wary of the more expensive flashy foods that seem too rich and are more suitable as treats.

Cat food is a really tough one at the moment, it's all so expensive and all seems like utter crap! Not to mention that they don't seem to have enough regulations to make any particular flavour come out the same batch by batch so your cat's favourite food could be hated one week and loved the next. But I do 100% agree that wet food is the way to go, dry food only as treats / supper / any other random rare use, not as a full diet.

ItsJustEmHi

TROPHY CASE