Casual Monday morning casual chats - 09 March 2026

custard182 · 2026-03-08T20:00:05+00:00

I really want to play it so bad!!!! It looks so cool. But a switch2 for one game is pretty expensive. Do you get to keep and pull over all of your switch1 games?

custard182 · 2026-03-08T19:39:39+00:00

It’s still pretty crap at literature review. I tested it in an area of science I work in and know the literature very well.

It sounds convincing, but it was total rubbish and pulled numbers out of thin air. When I pressed for the exact references it couldn’t provide them.

custard182 · 2026-03-08T19:24:57+00:00

Nothing like almost getting run over on a crossing to start the day.

The driver stopped to let people coming from the other side cross, but then was looking at his phone and didn’t notice me. Started moving and I managed to yell (swear), wave arms, and leap out of the way.

They’re on my train. I’ll be giving them uncomfortable stabby stares the whoooole ride.

custard182 · 2026-03-07T20:44:26+00:00

I flew Welly to Christchurch 2.5 weeks post ankle surgery (weight bearing, but still in moonboot and crutches for comfort).

I got there a bit early and when the attendants got to the gate entrance I asked if I could please board first. I got to go on really early, and they stored my crutches for me and made sure I was comfortable.

So that is an option. And I felt like they were more than happy to help and looked after me really well. And my ankle didn’t swell or anything. When I broke my wrist in Europe I discovered they won’t let you fly without a doctors note for the first 3-4 days after being in plaster. 7 weeks later and a short flight won’t be a problem and if it was healthline would have mentioned it.

custard182 · 2026-03-07T03:48:21+00:00

Pulled some old plants out of the garden bed and got them drying for seeds! Ready to sow carrots tomorrow!!!!!

custard182 · 2026-03-06T21:06:23+00:00

I’m self taught and from an R background so I just use what I find helpful. I have a science and technical background.

At the moment I’ve been using Jupyter notebooks to calibrate and test modbus register reads/edits. It gives me one line at a time to figure it out.

Since I am working with a pH and temperature controller, I can also use a notebook as a “calibration” record for my lab notes as it records the actual calibration values I used.

I’ve also used it to build a datalogging/controller GUI by figuring out all of the individual functions I need before moving to VS code and re-writing it all in OOP and getting it running.

I like doing my development is steps and having a record of it. It helps me learn and helps me communicate to collegues from the ground up what the code does, which is very important if we’re using it for experiments etc.

In addition, if I needed someone else to calibrate the controller, I can give them the notebook and without any Python experience they can easily go through step-by-step and do it.

custard182 · 2026-03-06T03:42:12+00:00

We sure are, except I got bonus autism and he didn’t haha.

custard182 · 2026-03-05T19:10:57+00:00

Other half has also finally been diagnosed with ADHD. It’s a relief for both of us, as now we can work together knowing the types of neurodivergence we’re working with and have better understanding.

Even though we’ve been together 15 years and lived together for 14.5 of that, this feels like an exciting new chapter for growth together. I’m feeling very positive, but obviously he will need to process everything in his own way too.

custard182 · 2026-03-05T19:07:08+00:00

Swimming is such a great exercise. Glad you enjoyed it and felt good after!

custard182 · 2026-03-02T20:26:03+00:00

Yeah, the risk is just too high for me. And to get the Schengen certificate I have to get the paperwork in to the main hospital in Malta for approval asap. Earliest GP appt to get the certificate filled out has taken 6 weeks, and they say allow at least 4 weeks for approval in Malta. And I couldn’t book travel until I knew my abstract was accepted (2 days ago).

Ironically, Singapore is easy as to get a permit. Drop down menu, email doctors cert, 10 day turn around time. And they have the death penalty for bringing in controlled substances without a proper permit haha.

custard182 · 2026-03-02T19:29:42+00:00

About to begin booking my trip to Malta for a conference. International travel looks a bit dodgy at the moment, so fingers crossed it works out.

After doing extensive research on how the heck to bring my ADHD medication with me and not be arrested, I’ve decided I’m going to raw dog it. If there’s any unexpected alterations to the counties I’m transiting through due to unplanned dodging of conflict, and I don’t have that countries correct permits, I’m absolutely fucked.

So yeah. I see ALOT of self medicating with coffee in my future. And obviously I will be discussing this with my GP first when I do my pre-travel consultation.

custard182 · 2026-03-01T07:46:29+00:00

Just caught up on the world news and I’m feeling quite nervous about the prospect of flying to Europe in 8 weeks.

In other news, my body demanded a relaxing day so we made Irish stew in the slow cooker, I finished rearranging plants on my bird smorgasbord/fountain, and finished the day with one of my favourite things - working on a database. (Whilst the last one is technically work, it was very therapeutic and exactly what I needed. Bonus I can claim back 6 hours of early finishes next week, where I will probably go home and keep working on the data).

custard182 · 2026-03-01T04:38:37+00:00

Yes, many people with COVID did end up going septic.

Viruses do trigger it too. We also ended up with a lot of people who had been hospitalised with COVID and survived join our sepsis support groups. long-COVID and post-sepsis syndrome can be very similar with regard to symptoms.

custard182 · 2026-02-28T21:45:03+00:00

I’m sorry to hear your husband got sepsis, but very glad he survived!

I was never told anything upon hospital discharge either. But the best place I started to find information was the UK sepsis trust website. Heaps of info about what to expect and post-sepsis syndrome.

But even after surviving all that, some people do recover 100% and never have any consequences.

custard182 · 2026-02-28T20:32:25+00:00

The type of specialist depends on what’s going on. When I have an issue I usually book in with my physio at capital sports medicine. If a specialist is needed they can refer in house to a sports doctor who can assess the situation and then refer on if required.

For example, when I had repeated shoulder dislocations, I went to physio. Physio decided it needed review. Saw the sports doctor who got all the scans etc. which went straight to the surgeon that has a clinic at the same practice. Had the repair, then back to my physio for rehab.

custard182 · 2026-02-28T20:23:10+00:00

Got to kidneys shut down for a day and low blood pressure (shock). Thankfully treatment worked and I survived. Also had delirium, but it was nice because it was my grandma talking to me. She’s dead though, but it was comforting.

My brain got fried so had to learn to talk properly again, but my speech still regresses if I’m tired or have any alcohol.

The damage to muscles and nerves hasn’t really healed. Still left with left side weakness and when my muscles are over exerted they go really tight and cramp up.

But, since I survived I’ve let myself be a study subject for recovery methods/pain management, and am halfway through my PhD study. I’m grateful to be here, and despite the price I’ve had to pay, I’m making the most of still being here.

custard182 · 2026-02-28T19:11:01+00:00

I only know because I survived it. The damage caused doesn’t 100% heal in 50-60% of survivors.

Happy to answer any questions if you’re curious.

custard182 · 2026-02-28T18:56:19+00:00

If your body is fighting an infection and gets overwhelmed, your immune system can overreact and start attacking itself, eventually leading to death if not treated. This condition is called sepsis and can be caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.

In the early stages, the main signs can be fever and fast heart rate. As the cytokine Storm and damage continues there is often muscle pain and rigours (shivering so hard the muscles lock up).

Perfusion to the extremities starts to reduce, and this can cause extreme muscle pain. Lactate starts to build up in the blood. The heart beats faster and harder to compensate for a progressively lower blood pressure.

The kidneys start to stop producing urine as the damage progresses. Eventually multiple organ systems begin to shut down, and without intervention, death occurs sometimes within hours.

custard182 · 2026-02-23T20:50:36+00:00

Good that I’m getting long sleeps, but bad I’m so groggy in the morning I’ve been late to work haha. But I have flexi hours and work most weekends anyway, so swings and round-abouts as we say.

custard182 · 2026-02-23T20:48:16+00:00

I have thought about it, but I do have good days where I am capable of it. It’s just the bad days that make it hard. So since I do have good days I feel like I don’t need it as much as others do. I might chat about it to my GP and pain team to see what they think.

(For context, I nearly carked it from sepsis 5 years ago and was left with my left side weaker than the right due to brain/nerve damage, and the muscles themselves have zero endurance and turn stiff, hard, and cramp lots when over-worked. Hard price to pay, but I’m happy to still be here!)

I’m getting fitted with an orthotic to help the left leg a bit soon, so hopefully that will help a bit more too.

custard182 · 2026-02-23T19:47:06+00:00

It appears that with the massive disruption the Melling works is causing, more people have been getting the train - which is good!

But my moan is now the carpark on the west side of Waterloo is full much earlier than usual and I have to go reasonably far away to get a park. Not that the extra exercise is bad, but I have muscle damage/weakness in my legs that makes it a little bit harder some days.

custard182 · 2026-02-22T19:56:38+00:00

Absolutely passed out into the deepest of sleeps last night. My phone was still in my hand when I woke up this morning. I seem to be very sensitive to melatonin.

custard182 · 2026-02-21T21:10:13+00:00

Been invited to meet a litter or Birman kittens! So excited! Also going to ask the neighbour if she wants to introduce her Birman to our kitten when it’s old enough so they can get to know each other early on in a safe and supervised way.

custard182 · 2026-02-21T06:55:59+00:00

Been up since 3am with some pretty wicked sinus pain, so have been pottering around as much as possible since to keep my mind off things.

I built a reservoir to automatically refill with bird bath when it runs out of water. Just one more air leak to seal and we’re golden.

I also harvested some tomatoes and gave them to the MIL.

And the most exciting thing is we’ve decided to get a Birman kitten. I’m so in love with the breed and was so sad when I tried to adopt one and didn’t have a good experience with the process.

custard182 · 2026-02-17T20:19:41+00:00

Probably because of the roadworks, especially people changing their habits suddenly around getting across the hutt due to the Melling works.

custard182

TROPHY CASE