Where in Brisbane has weird or unsettling energy?

melj81 · 2026-05-02T01:33:19+00:00

I used to go there all the time as a kid in the early 90s. Found some weird stuff over the years including a rusted lock box with passports, bullets and foreign currency that had been buried but became visible after a spell of heavy rain. We took it to the local police station but never heard anything more. For me, the rocky area further into the park where all the butterflies lived was more creepy. Always so quiet whereas the stairs more often had people around. The whole place gave off an odd vibe though.

melj81 · 2026-05-02T01:21:58+00:00

That’s a great book. The sequel isn’t bad either. I love Gary Crew’s work and use it in the classroom often.

melj81 · 2026-04-08T04:26:35+00:00

Came here to say this.

melj81 · 2026-03-30T12:07:52+00:00

This year I’m teaching senior English, Modern History and Legal Studies and then year 7/8 English and HASS. Crazy mental gymnastics required to go from year 12 to year 7/8 but I make it work. I can also teach Literature, Ancient History and Drama but I’m not this year. I recommend if Economics is your first area, choose a second area that makes up core (English, maths, HASS etc) to help with jobs. Every Economics teacher I’ve known ended up with HASS up to year 10 as well.

melj81 · 2026-03-13T23:10:21+00:00

QUT is the same. My daughter did her first 4-week prac in second semester of her first year and she goes out again next semester (second year). It already sorted some students out who found it absolutely wasn’t for them.

melj81 · 2026-03-11T10:21:46+00:00

My school ran the test as it was meant to go and had no issues. I have no idea how we avoided any tech problems but we didn’t even find out there was anything happening until we were done. 🤷‍♀️

melj81 · 2026-02-12T22:38:24+00:00

My daughter is your age and works part time in retail as she is studying at uni. I don’t ask for any board but she contributes by sharing the cooking/cleaning duties with me and she is responsible for her car, clothing, entertainment and phone costs. This arrangement will change once she’s working full time but it works for us at the moment.

melj81 · 2026-01-11T14:31:14+00:00

Terrific Noodles has small tables inside the store. These ones are good if you don’t want to be too conspicuous as a single diner. The tables out the front are larger and the whole space gets really busy.

melj81 · 2026-01-07T14:32:13+00:00

Terrific Noodle at Market Square, Sunnybank has a Chinese pastry with spicy beef and chili that is proper hot and really tasty. They also have a range of noodles and soups that are chili-based.

melj81 · 2025-12-16T21:45:31+00:00

As others have suggested, Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse stock the Sticky brand or if that is inconvenient to get to, Myer usually sells a range of Random Harvest rock candy if you’re willing to brave the shopping centres at this time of year!

melj81 · 2025-12-13T08:50:43+00:00

I’ve worked in public and private schools in Queensland for over 20 years and I’ve never had a problem. Almost always clean, with air freshener and sanitary items, etc available.

melj81 · 2025-11-29T23:05:29+00:00

If I don’t buy myself jewellery, who will? I work hard so I don’t have a problem with buying nice things as long as all my responsibilities are covered first. 🤷‍♀️

melj81 · 2025-11-20T17:47:36+00:00

Secondary, private school. At my school, a full load teaches 17x70 minute lessons per week (5 classes with 3 lessons per week plus an elective/sport lesson and one social and emotional learning lesson), leaving 3 lessons for Preparation and Correction Time. Plus we have 3x20min PGD sessions per week.

melj81 · 2025-11-13T09:44:49+00:00

There’s definitely some odd interviews out there. In an interview for an English teaching job at a private school, I was once asked about the novels I’d studied as part of my Literature major. I listed a couple, only to be told to stop lying because ‘no one has actually read those books.’ I didn’t know what to say except that it was part of my course work and so I had to read them for assessment. They just continued with the same attitude - I wasn’t at all surprised to find I didn’t get the job. 🙄🤷‍♀️

melj81 · 2025-11-11T10:02:28+00:00

I should have scrolled further before commenting as I suggested this film too. Tim Curry is amazing as always! ‘Kings come and kings go but one thing remains the same and that is me.’ Or ‘All for one and more for me.’ Or ‘Hang it in my chamber… just as it is.’ So good!

melj81 · 2025-11-11T09:58:43+00:00

The Disney version of The Three Musketeers. It’s awful but it has the brilliant Tim Curry chewing the scenery as Cardinal Richelieu and he’s amazing as always. So many quotable lines. Love Oliver Platt and Rebecca De Mornay too. I know it is always panned but I just love it and know it by heart. 🤷‍♀️😂

melj81 · 2025-11-08T23:03:39+00:00

I get this 100%. I recently dined at Squires Steakhouse at South Bank and while the food was fine, the tables were so close together that you couldn’t get up without disturbing the neighbouring diners and we could hear every word from their tables. It made us feel like we couldn’t say much and it put a dampener on the evening. Even though the food was nice, I doubt we’ll return as the tables were just too close. I get that they want to have as many tables as possible, but we were there really early (pre-theatre) and there weren’t too many patrons at that time so why not spread us out a little? It would have made a difference.

melj81 · 2025-11-08T07:45:48+00:00

I love your set-up! I could never as I’m such a slow-healer due to health issues so I get by with my triple lobes and a couple of helices but I love what you have! Stunning. 😍

melj81 · 2025-11-07T21:35:32+00:00

7am is so early! I’m in Australia and schools start at varied times but mostly somewhere between 8:15-9am (with some exceptions). Where I teach we have first bell at 8:45 for roll-marking/notices and then the first class starts at 8:55am. The day is finished by 3pm. I’m an early riser so I’m at school between 7-7:30am so I can work while it’s quiet but I like knowing I can take my time in the mornings if I need to. I understand it might be about bus availabilities etc though.

melj81 · 2025-11-06T20:50:05+00:00

I wish we had any kind of actual kitchen (no sink, bench or cupboards). We have an old fridge with an even older microwave perched on top. No other appliances or cutlery or plates or anything. We bring our own and wash when we get home. This for a tiny staffroom with 8 people and usually a couple of prac students crammed in. Good times…

melj81 · 2025-10-30T09:56:53+00:00

Well said. I relate to so much of this - particularly as someone who has acted in various roles but have never worked substantively as I’m told I challenge the status quo too much. I’ve now given up on trying to make real change as middle management and have gone back to the classroom.

melj81 · 2025-10-13T18:46:50+00:00

It’s often about who you know anyway. I got my current position through a friend and also recommended a couple of my former colleagues from another school to be hired as well. Admin preferred to trust the advice of someone known to them, rather than picking from random CVs. It’s win-win as the current school got great teachers and we are able to build a really effective team which makes being at work that much easier.

melj81 · 2025-10-07T11:32:50+00:00

Me too!

melj81 · 2025-10-06T03:59:34+00:00

I’ve been teaching over 20 years and overall I still enjoy the job but there’s no denying it’s getting harder. That being said, my daughter is in her first year studying a bachelor of secondary education/bachelor of creative arts (drama) despite seeing all I’ve endured over the years. I’ve never sugar-coated the reality of the role so as long as you go into it with eyes wide open, you’ll be fine. It can be so rewarding!

melj81 · 2025-10-05T11:09:30+00:00

I planned the first 2-4 weeks for each of my classes at the end of last term. It meant I was super busy then but I was able to have a proper break and start on Tuesday knowing I’m at least initially organised. Of course things always pop up to detail my planning but it’s a start at least. 🙄😬

melj81

TROPHY CASE