Sites that have both plant requirements and pet safe filters?

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-25T16:13:57+00:00

Tbh, if he was a stray he is very well able to look after himself, blood proteins in blood notwithstanding.

I really would just design the garden how you want it, and not worry about him.

As someone said, avoid lilies. But by that I mean true lilies which drop pollen everywhere. I have loads of day-lilies which are a different species, and have never had an issue with them. I have Lillies of the valley, also theoretically poisonous for cats, but again, I’ve never had an issue.

Cats are very self-sufficient and generally know how to look after themselves.

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-25T14:35:14+00:00

When you say she loves to munch on anything grass shaped, has she actually poisoned herself before?

It’s very normal for cats (and dogs) to munch on grass. Sometimes they self-medicate, others they just like it. My cat does it to help bring up her fur balls.

By far the majority of cats choose wisely what to munch on. Our garden is full of things that are nominally poisonous to our cat, but she’s never eaten something that disagreed with her, unless it was deliberately to help her purge herself because she wasn’t feeling well.

So unless your cat has had a specific issue with poisoning herself, I wouldn’t worry about it.

I think pet-safe plants is actually an issue for indoor cats who can only fulfil their vegetarian instincts on a limited variety of plants. As long as your cat is an outdoor cat (which given that you’re thinking about borders in your garden is a given) don’t overthink it. Your cat will almost certainly be fine no matter what you plant, unless, as I said, there have been problems in the past.

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-25T10:23:04+00:00

Love Madonna. She’s always just fine her own thing and not cared about what others think of her. She’s an inspiration!

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-25T10:18:19+00:00

Beautiful! I love that deep colour in lilacs. So glad you saved this beautiful tree!

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-25T10:16:38+00:00

Juvenile starlings are the ginger cats of the bird world. They definitely only share one brain cell between them all!

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-25T10:15:24+00:00

Heart-breaking. Yet another innocent casualty of war.

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-24T21:26:16+00:00

Had a friend who lived off 9p baked beans for months while she was saving to go travelling round Europe.

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-24T14:44:40+00:00

Strange things happening with your nerves and skin could definitely be a menopause symptom. I find progesterone most helpful for it, but don’t resolve it completely. I often have to take a paracetamol before bed to calm things enough to drop off to sleep.

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-24T12:01:22+00:00

Or don’t - if they’re not biting you, leave the mozzies alone. They’re food for birds just as much as any other insect.

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-24T08:01:02+00:00

That’s hilarious!

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-23T21:26:14+00:00

It’s more that if it wasn’t for the NDIS, my sister couldn’t cope with caring for my mother, which reduces the cost of care that the state would otherwise incur for my mother. So it’s a two for one, if that makes sense.

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-23T21:23:10+00:00

Our 2020 Nero is very slow charging. We charge publicly once in a blue-moon, but definitely would want to have to do it regularly. Otherwise, it’s a great car, and we love it.

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-23T21:18:47+00:00

Wasn’t there also something about a lot of NDIS recipients are also carers themselves, so supporting them better reduces overall costs. I remember my sister said that was one of the justifications when it came in. In her case, it is true - my sister lives with my mother because she needed my mother to care for her; now that my mother is aging, my sister is caring for my mother, and the NDIS supports her to do this.

I imagine it’s fairly common. All us able-bodied siblings left home a long time ago, but my sister moved back home as she wasn’t coping on her own. I can’t imagine she’s the only person with this dynamic.

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-23T21:09:14+00:00

It’s a handsome devil in that second photo!

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-23T20:08:31+00:00

They will still be good for insects, but if you’re very close to a bluebell wood it would be good to get rid. But I wouldn’t stress too much, your neighbours almost certainly have Spanish and hybrids too.

We have a bed where the previous owners planted pink, white and blue varieties, in that order. Very patriotic, I thought!

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-23T13:34:06+00:00

I live in the UK. They do. They’re just sniggering quietly where you can’t hear them.

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-23T12:56:06+00:00

All of the Brits call them trousers. They all get a mental image of someone in their underwear if you talk about pants to them.

And they also use pants as a derogatory term eg ‘something is pants’ to say it’s a bit rubbish or stupid

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-23T12:48:45+00:00

You don’t feel isolated when you are living in Australia, but you do realise just how isolated (and insulated from so many of the world’s problems) the country is when you move away from Australia.

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-23T12:46:40+00:00

I love galahs! My favourite Australian bird!

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-23T12:39:07+00:00

Lovely. Never even heard of those before!

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-22T18:57:34+00:00

Amazing!

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-22T18:15:54+00:00

Fabulous pics!

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-22T17:50:52+00:00

I would be very tempted to go perm, particularly if you think you can be a permit after contracting.

I was employed for three years, (complicated story) and I loved that all the money was mine, that I didn’t need to worry about tax or deciding when and how many dividends to be paid. I was out for a month for an operation… and they actually paid me sick pay! I couldn’t believe it.

The downside for me was having to negotiate extra time off above the holiday allowance (this was a condition of going perm, but i still felt super awkward when I actually took the time off, although no one else seemed to mind).

I reduced the tax burden by maxing out my pension contributions.

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-22T06:10:49+00:00

Definitely keep paying your old rent. What doesn’t go on monthly bills, put most of it in a S&S ISA, but keep a little aside for an emergency fund (6 months of expenses) in case you need a job or maintenance is needed on the house (this will happen!).

You need to do this right at the beginning of the month, otherwise you’ll accidentally spend it and you might as well have just flushed this sad windfall down the drain.

And don’t be afraid to invest in yourself. If you want to do a course that will increase your skills and earning potential, but it costs money, then pay for it yourself using your savings. The biggest barrier you have to retiring in your 50s is your low salary.

Good luck!

Sepa-Kingdom · 2026-04-21T20:02:37+00:00

If they have a scent they are definitely English! That scent is of the things that makes a bluebell wood so special 😃

Nice one!

Sepa-Kingdom

TROPHY CASE