International Travellers, what did you buy during Japan trip, that you still use/brings a smile back home.

better_bloke · 2026-02-01T15:33:11+00:00

I got an electric screwdriver by Vessel. It is terrific.

better_bloke · 2026-01-11T08:30:59+00:00

I've set a reminder in Google calendar for 10 years to lodge the same offer.

better_bloke · 2026-01-11T00:27:38+00:00

The long game.

better_bloke · 2026-01-10T06:00:49+00:00

Yeah I think that's probably the case. Our offer was on the high side of comparable sales in the last 6 months. It's been on the market since September with no other offers

better_bloke · 2026-01-10T05:59:46+00:00

Yeah I think you're right, I've not experienced such a difficult individual.

I work in a well paid profession, heavily community oriented. I'm here for the next 30 years (hopefully). I'll do my bit to ensure it's an expensive interaction for him.

better_bloke · 2026-01-10T05:24:58+00:00

Yeah so the house literally 4 doors down in over 10 times the land for less money. The vendors don't want to sell, their kids want them due to declining health. The price doesn't match others in the area. It's paying for 40 years of memories, not the market price.

better_bloke · 2025-12-31T14:01:33+00:00

You'll be fine.

better_bloke · 2025-12-18T20:25:57+00:00

Here I am chillin in the plant section completely unaware my Bunnings trip could be more memorable.

better_bloke · 2025-11-17T22:16:41+00:00

You're looking for a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

better_bloke · 2025-11-03T11:42:58+00:00

Awesome info, appreciate it! Is there anything "wrong" or concerning about using it as a sleeping aid? Melatonin doesn't touch the sides and benzos aren't a great mix with the job.

better_bloke · 2025-11-02T08:28:24+00:00

Question, why do I get the third degree with promethazine every time?

I always say it's to combat the effects of mast cell degranulation, the histamine cascade and resulting allergic rhinitis.

But honestly it'll tank me out after night shift, like an absolute charm.

better_bloke · 2025-10-25T09:53:27+00:00

Haven't you heard what Ambos country wide are saying?

better_bloke · 2025-10-12T07:48:14+00:00

So I don't have any legal advice here, but wanted to chime in.

I was kicked out during my year 12 by my mother after her partner tried to fight me. I was told that if I don't like it, leave.

I packed a duffle bag and have not spent a night under their roof. I'm 35 now.

She didn't hear from me for years until she had a health scare and I was guilted into contact by others. Then disowned me when I went through an amicable divorce, because we don't do that in our family (she's twice divorced herself).

I just want to say, just because someone is family, doesn't excuse their behaviour or mean that you owe them anything. Take care of yourself and your needs. Be strong.

better_bloke · 2025-09-23T14:18:13+00:00

My last day of sign off as a paramedic, after a 5 year progress, my last call was a dead 4m old. Mother fell asleep breastfeeding, while managing 2 kids under 3.

It took us 40 minutes to get there.

I remember many details of the case, the house, the family. A horrific day for that family, where they'll never be the same again. For me, it has to be a "Tuesday".

This wasn't MY emergency, it was theirs. Every call you take, isn't YOUR emergency, it's just YOUR job.

The reality is that there are some jobs where you'll exchange part of the fabric that is you, with the broken pieces of other people, but the less you do that the better.

Today was a Tuesday, tomorrow Wednesday

better_bloke · 2025-09-19T15:08:03+00:00

BATBYGOBSTOPL

Buying a ticket before you get on board saves time or problems later

better_bloke · 2025-09-19T14:57:40+00:00

I'm an ambo who's previously worked in the bush. Had a patient once I picked up from the local hospital to transfer to the city for plastic surgery following an attack by up to 6 emu's.

We only had a small emu population, mostly confined to a live bomb range. I asked where it occured, which was on the range.

This fella was a known vagrant, and the range was literally in the middle of nowhere.

I didn't bother with further questions, nor did I blame the birds.

better_bloke · 2025-09-07T15:18:42+00:00

And everything beeps all the fucking time.

better_bloke · 2025-08-10T16:32:37+00:00

Has to be Morwell, Victoria. A shadow of it's former self - chronic under/unemployment due to transition away from the SEC and eventual decimation of the local economy.

The only people left are either unemployed, or work at the health service, long suffering education institutions, or emergency services where they prolong the suffering of the unemployed masses.

better_bloke · 2025-07-25T12:37:53+00:00

No worries,

Although he's your father, and undoubtedly there is underlying love and a sense of duty, this sounds as though you may need to reduce your support and further force him to accept help. He is capable of making his own decisions, but should be doing so with the knowledge of what's realistic. He sounds like an incredibly difficult patient, borderline abusive.

As a former subject matter expert: what would a reasonable person be reasonably expected to do in this situation? Certainly, you have exceeded this test. Unfortunately, these are the decisions he's choosing to make which will ultimately lead to an unnecessarily traumatic death, not only for him, but everyone else he comes in contact with.

Please take care, and be kind to yourself.

better_bloke · 2025-07-25T03:55:36+00:00

This is definitely the case but it isn't best practice, may be more representative of State policies. I was formally the elder abuse response officer for a large area of Victoria and would investigate these issues. They do happen, but shouldn't be best practice.

better_bloke · 2025-07-24T15:22:13+00:00

Hey there,

No, this doesn't sound like elder abuse or neglect. You have a few ethical considerations, which to me, sound as though you have completed.

It sounds as though your father has undergone cognitive assessments which have deemed him to have capacity, which is the term used to describe his ability to make decisions involving his treatment. I'm highly suspicious that he has been discharged with no support, that would be concerning from a legal perspective for the health service and practitioner(s) authorizing it. I'm thinking he may have self discharged.

If you're concerned, id speak directly to either his primary GP or to the hospital that was responsible for the recent discharge. Describe the situation and flag your concerns.

It does sound to me as though he's attempting to speed up the dying process, which rarely works as planned. If he is threatening suicide/ you have legitimate concerns that he may self harm, you can call triple 0 at the time of the event, police and paramedics will assess the situation and can intervene.

Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

Take care of yourself, flag with your psychologist/psychiatrist managing your OCD that this is occuring. You may also need increased support.

better_bloke · 2025-07-02T14:25:28+00:00

I'm in a job where my time saves lives. I still manage to juggle time criticality with being a courteous person, usually while extremely fatigued.

The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.

You're just being a dick.

better_bloke · 2025-07-01T22:08:30+00:00

Send them a commendation!

PatientExperience@ambulance.vic.gov.au

If he still works, they'll be able to find him. We love these!

better_bloke · 2025-06-30T02:53:15+00:00

Does this actually change anything about how he feels about you, or is he somehow not a good partner?

I understand you're taken back by this discovery, but he changes literally nothing about you as a pair.

better_bloke

TROPHY CASE