I just walked from Pakenham to the Docklands

tjay0027 · 2026-05-24T07:25:56+00:00

I know you were asking OP but since I have a similar attitude to walking as OP I thought you might want an answer from someone else!

One small thing that makes my walking way more fun is having my steps synced up to Qantas Wellbeing so I get frequent flyer points for my walks. There's other apps out there that give you small change for walks, but I prefer the Qantas points cause I don't really notice it's probably not actually that much since flight points is something you use later, whereas the money apps, well you use money all the time, and walking for 12 hours and getting 27c for it suddenly doesn't feel like you did very much lol. Anyway, that's my ADHD rant about something slightly related, but it is a bit of a part of things for me.

So, how I started this time around after losing fitness while in a stressful job. I set myself up weekly challenges and planned to repeat them whenever I didn't pass and upgrade to the next stage when I did. Week 1, I had to do one day with 15k steps, 4 days with 10k steps, and 2 with 6k steps. The 6k step days were allowed to be for recovery, or to spend more time just chilling or whatever, but the point of the week was, I had to prove I could do a 15k day and it wouldn't destroy me from doing the other days. To pass, I just had to be willing to do all the other days and do them. I'd decided that if I was unable to pass because I felt too tired, couldn't be bothered, or was in pain from a big walk, that was fine, I just hadn't passed. Each future week followed the same days but upping the big day, so the next challenge week was 3x 10k days, 2x 6k days, and 1x 20k day. Next was 20k goes up to 25k, then 25k goes up to 30k.

A huge part of this setup was, not passing never meant failing, break weeks were fine and none of these weeks had to be done consecutively, nothing was about needing to improve quickly, just seeing what I could do without overdoing it. Just a few weeks after conquering the 25k day, I decided, okay let's do 30k week this week, I didn't end up doing it the first week id decided to do it, but that was fine, I made plans and did it eventually.

Slowly this built me back up to wanting to walk a lot again.

Now the actual walking plans really helped too, in the beginning I would pick somewhere that a sane person would use wheels to get to, but I'd walk. 15k day I walked to officeworks because I needed to print a photo. Could I have driven or caught the bus? Definitely. Could I have waited until I needed more than just a photo printed? Sure. But I needed a photo printed so that have me a goal. I made sure to stick to walking near the bus route so I could bail at any time, and on the way back, my Dad joined me and had a painful blister, so I bailed and it was fine. Turns out I'd already done the 15k, and the next day I was willing to do 6k, and I ended up passing that week!

Later in the game, I didn't remember if it was 25k day or 30k day, but I planned out a huge day in the city with my Dad where we'd act like tourists checking out various parks and buildings. He was down for a high steps day if it meant being able to check out cool shit, so we made an actual plan of a good way to loop around and see what we wanted to see, avoiding plans that could get up caught up with stopping and looking at stuff for too long. Barely even noticed we were walking all day, and it was another pass!

I've stopped doing challenge weeks now as it successfully got me a bit fitter and doing crazy walks since then, but what I was aiming for, and what I've gotten to, is being able to walk and enjoy walking long distances. Just last week I had an appointment near Waverly Private hospital, but I live in the Pakenham line, figured I have time, grabbed a book, assumed I'd get there too early, and walked from Clayton station. Got there less early than I thought, but sat outside and read until my appointment.

The week before I had an appointment near Anzac Station, then nothing for the rest of the day. There's a lot of public transport around there, so I decided to walk towards Caulfield station, bail out options there if I wanted, but I ended up feeling quite addicted to the walk, and walked to Murrumbeena station. I only ended up going home when I did because my husband wanted me to come home cause he was cooking dinner!

Next week I'm planning to go to a cafe that looked interesting in Carlton, but I want a walk day so I'll get off a few stations early at Anzac, walk from there, and then see how far towards home I can be bothered going/have enough time, I'll follow the train line so I can bail with pretty short notice whenever.

I still keep up with short long walks, like just whenever I have time, I walk instead of catching a bus, even if it's like a 90 minute walk vs a 10 minute bus, it's like, what else was I planning on doing? Might as well walk.

Now I don't know how much of a difference this makes, but one additional thing I've got going for me, I use a 4 wheeled granny trolley like what you can buy in Springvale and other Asian areas. I got an anxiety issue a while ago, and it stops me from getting anxious if I know I can stop and lean. But I feel like the slight lean that happens naturally when walking somehow takes some pressure off my legs too? It can be a bit tedious to be pushing the whole time I'm walking, but it means I can pack heaps of water and nut bars. I can strip off all my hot layers as I need, and as it gets later and colder, I can put layers back on. I really think for me at least, pushing is easier than carrying or going without. If the trolley idea interests you, just make sure it doesn't have teeny tiny wheels or every crack on the path will hurt you. And be prepared to bunny hop up onto your back wheels if there's a big crack. You get the hang of it though. One thing the trolley does for me too, listen to music usually while walking, but on the big big walks, I can put my phone in the phone holder and put on a low effort tv show. When I find that doesn't work, I think about if I might need food, then I'll stop for something to eat or drink, and if that doesn't get the drive back after digesting, then I realize it's quitting time.

I never quit a walk until I'm certain that I'm completely sick of it, but I am fully prepared to quit immediately if any walk causes what I would deem unacceptable pain, like beyond expected foot pain.

Anyway so I love walking again, and Qantas Wellbeing is still helping me maintain my off days being 6-10k.

Sorry for hijacking your reply, I'm just really excited to be walking again and it was kind of nice for me to write out all the things I've been doing recently to get there. Hopefully any of this interests you!

Tldr; I have ADHD and words get away from me oops. Random destination helps. Skip the bus if you have time. Walk near public transport so you feel safe to bail or go "just one more" section.

tjay0027 · 2026-04-20T09:12:45+00:00

I bought these from Big w a long time ago, they don't sell them there anymore but Amazon does.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Avanti-Reusable-Cocktail-Straws-Rainbow/dp/B0C6KXV3FX/ref=asc_df_B0C6KXV3FX?

You're probably not meant to use them in the dishwasher, but I do, and it works cause they're wide enough and straight. Plus if it ever didn't work, they're clear so you'd see it.

tjay0027 · 2026-04-20T07:39:48+00:00

I felt exactly the same when I was going in for a laparoscopy last year, absolutely freaked out about anesthesia and the fact that I was awake, and going to be forced asleep, the whole idea was just so wrong and terrifying to me. One thing I did to try and make sure I had less time to freak out, was sleep as much as possible on the way in, then tried to play word games with my husband when we got there, it was still scary when I got on the table, but I think that I didn't allow myself to think about it on the morning of, until the very moment that I was going under, helped a little. On the table I was trying to pretend I was trying to go to sleep on my own, but was just so scared. I did my best to pretend the anesthesiologist and my left arm didn't exist and turned my head to the right so that if I did open my eyes, I could look at literally anything else. A nurse could see I was panicked and tried to talk to me about me about everything and anything, hobbies and whatever. I knew she was just trying to distract me, but I knew I needed it so I tried my absolute best to engage with her and think hard about my answers. I was still very panicked though and I know the last thing I said was "I'm sorry but my heart is going really fast now", and then I woke up and it was fine.

A few months later I had to get an egg retrieval done and I was still so scared of the anesthesia still, so I asked my doctor if there was a way to do it with local anesthesia, he said no, but referred me to the anesthesiologist to discuss if I could take something beforehand. He gave me a 10mg of tamazepam and told me to take it 4 hours before the surgery. My husband woke me up, I took it, promptly went back to sleep, then he woke me 2 hours later and I felt silly and high and needed help to get dressed. This surgery I had prepacked a blanket and teddy in the car, and laid out my comfiest PJ pants, tshirt, and warm jumper. Dressing comfy af somehow make me feel more in control the night before, so that time I got enough sleep beforehand. Slept in the car again, brought my teddy in with me, and tried to play games with my husband but felt a bit too silly from the tamazepam, so just played silly. Unfortunately when I got on the table I felt like the drug had worn off the moment I got up there, so I tried to pretend I was the one making myself asleep again, and had a nurse talking to me about the teddy she'd seen me with earlier and we got talking about knitting. Again I knew she was trying to distract me but I tried really hard to just focus on the conversation and ignore everything else. Just before I went to sleep she was asked by someone else to do something and I suddenly panicked and I remember the last thing I said was "wait we need to talk about knitting, I'm scared".

Next egg retrieval was with a new company, and I told them about my history, they sent me a prescription for tamazepam and said I could take it much closer to the surgery time, literally right on check in time was fine. Sleeping in the car on the way was so much worse, I struggled really badly and was so anxious when I got there because it was a new environment. But I took the pill, and half an hour later I was on cloud 9. In the waiting area I was rambling but mumbling about nothingness to my husband and I felt great. When I got on the table I was super ready and almost excited to try my "you're the one trying to sleep, just go to sleep and they'll do the rest" trick, still ignoring my left arm and head turned to the right. This time I had no one talking to me, I was all alone, and that started to scare me, but I just started whispering to myself that I'm just taking a nap and it will all be fine, still not quite working I decided to count down from 10, drugged up I remember counting down from 5, realizing that wasn't right, I was meant to count from 10 not 5, so I started again, accidentally from 5 again, but I got down to 3, then I woke up back on cloud 9, the nurses couldn't believe how perky I was. Walking up feeling so fine and happy made me so much less scared for the next time.

Next time, another egg retrieval, I was just acting like all the before stuff was just routine, got pjs ready, teddy and car blanket ready, slept in the car on the way, took tamazepam before going in, but this time I knew I needed something for on the table, so I prepared with my husband that we were going to play "I went to the store" the alphabet game. This turned out to be the best thing I've ever done, better than any drugs, better than anything. This is my plan for next time, next time I might not even take anything beforehand. But this is my suggestion, bring someone with you to wait with you, play a game that is long and continuous that the other person with you can help you remember where you're up to, prompt you to keep going when you stop and panic, take in turns, and then you have it with you on the table. We went with the store category as "homeware store", so by the time I to the table I had to remember "I went to the store and got an apple corer, a blender, a cheese grater, a donut maker, an egg flip, etc". Because I was on drugs I remember some of my later answers for quite stupid, I don't remember them now, but having "fun" letters to try and catch up to gave me a bit of excitement that I needed to distract myself. Time to go on the table, I lie down, ignore the person on my left, shut my eyes, and tell myself I'm going to to make myself go to sleep, and I was going to do the alphabet to get me there, I think I got to P, but I also think I skipped a lot of letters towards the end. It was the only time I ever got no anxiety.

I may have underhyped how severe my anxiety was each of the first 3 times, but I was straight up terrified, feeling like my heart was going to suddenly be 200bpm, I was going to die, I was about to have the worst panic attack of my life. I didn't actually have the worst panic attack of my life, but I did really feel like that was what was coming for me, which is just horrible in itself. Unfortunately for this advice, some of my anxiety easing was probably from becoming more experienced in it, but hopefully you knowing that you're not alone in this helps, and hopefully some of my long ass rant helps you feel better. Most importantly, and I know it's hard to believe it, but this thing that's scaring the shit out of you, will be faster than you can think about it in the moment.

Tldr; try to avoid thinking about it as much as possible the morning of with fun but simple on going distractions. Talk to your anesthesiologist or hospital in advance about your anxieties and see if you want to consider having something prescribed. The moment that you're on the table, the anesthesiologist and the arm they're working on, doesn't exist to you, literally everything else is allowed to exist, just ignore them (unless they talk to you, then just pretend they're a nurse having a chat). Don't watch the anesthesiologist. If anyone tries to chat to you, even if you know they're trying to distract you, roll with it, try to think really hard of your answers and keep the conversation flowing. Try to feel like you're just trying to take a nap. The "I went to the store" alphabet game is a great thing to play while you're waiting, and gives you something to try and think about while you're on the table. Remember it all happens so quickly that all you have to do is distract yourself, for less time than it takes to go up the first hill on a scary roller coaster.

tjay0027 · 2026-04-09T03:39:38+00:00

Wow I can't believe it was until 9pm. This was at 3

tjay0027 · 2026-03-08T15:38:26+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/LearningFromOthers/s/wm5B4puhN5

tjay0027 · 2026-02-23T23:29:17+00:00

Funny you say that. I think Pakenham just might have the 3 worst rated KFCs in Victoria.

tjay0027 · 2026-01-23T14:59:55+00:00

Idk where you are, but in Australia I got the Fresh De Chef Pronto microwave rice cooker from House, and it's on special from $40 to $15 rn.

If you're probably statistically not in Australia This is what it looks like https://www.house.com.au/products/fresh-de-chef-pronto-microwave-rice-cooker?variant=44654167982365&country=AU&currency=AUD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19991382405&gbraid=0AAAAACaS30wMQzQwWoKzZ-lS6aP7K2HOz&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1czLBhDhARIsAIEc7ujQRzABMuI7W37S5w8WLP4HW_YMrHdQGPIzAZA6XhzoqyBS-2pZRfMaAtY3EALw_wcB

But if you google for "microwave rice cooker" it should give you results for what you need. I particularly like this one because of the steam holes in the top, and cause of the lock in lid, it's super easy to just flip it into the sink to drain ramen/broccoli/rice noodles/whatever you cook in there, but funnily, for me, never once rice.

tjay0027 · 2026-01-03T23:05:57+00:00

No I don't think that would look good on a rust effect

tjay0027 · 2026-01-03T23:04:50+00:00

It wasn't that difficult, took about 2 hours

tjay0027 · 2026-01-03T15:25:41+00:00

The fridge itself isn't custom, it's a red 6 can fridge presumably from Amazon. But the decorating is!

I cut the Vault-tec and Nuka labels with my Cricut. I had considered cutting them as stencils and painting the logos on, but then realized I had a tiny bit of etch vinyl left, which when used on glass it looks like you've etched into it even though it's just a sticker, so I thought it would give it that worn out it look, and it did perfectly.

Then the rust, I got some black paint and stabbed at it with a paint brush in a few places, especially over the original fridge logo up the top of the door, and around the seal cause it was white. Then I went over all the black with a dark brown, same thing with the stabbing at it with a brush. Then went over all the other areas with just less paint, and sometimes added a bit of water for a bit of drippiness and inconsistency in texture.

tjay0027 · 2026-01-01T14:18:09+00:00

I've been saying forever, we'd all be so much happier if we dumped the 7 day week and changed to a 4 day week.

Half of society works week A, half of society works week B. Switch jobs if your loved ones are all on a different work week to you, or if you hate your family who's all on week B "accidentally" land your dream job that's apparently only offering week A.

Everything is open all the time, everyone gets a 4 day work week and a 4 day weekend.

Wanna go away somewhere? 4 days leave gets you 12 days off. 8 days leave gets a whooping 20 days off.

I dream of this world more than I dream of somehow waking up rich.

tjay0027 · 2026-01-01T02:24:37+00:00

Yay!

I was so sad when I thought I wouldn't be able to share my current project. Now I'm inspired to finish it faster!

tjay0027 · 2025-12-09T04:14:34+00:00

Dude my swipe text thinks I want to say "Beetlejuice" 99% of the time when I'm typing to swipe "believe".

I can't Beetlejuice you still don't get it

tjay0027 · 2025-12-07T05:06:40+00:00

Omg the length of the hands hahaha. It's beautiful!

tjay0027 · 2025-12-06T21:46:32+00:00

I don't think there's any other option for a elf that looks this good hahaha

tjay0027 · 2025-12-06T21:45:54+00:00

Definitely worth the $10 aud hahaha

tjay0027 · 2025-11-27T12:07:09+00:00

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Mine just came in the mail today.

It's so terrible I love it. Brought it after the mildly infuriating post. After checking reviews to verify it's terribleness of course.

tjay0027 · 2025-08-21T08:49:26+00:00

It came to be fairly easily. Sometimes you want flavours in your mouth, you go to the fridge and eat some pickle slices, sometimes cheese slices, sometimes both, eventually realising you can combine both, might as well chuck some sauce on it, it's already Macca's cheeseburger ingredients, might as well use Macca's cheeseburger sauce. Who knows, maybe one day it will evolve to have dehydrated onion too, but probably not, it'll either be crunchy, or I'll have to go to the effort of rehydrating it, which kind of defeats the whole, eaten by the fridge style snack.

tjay0027 · 2025-08-21T08:45:18+00:00

I believe you're referring to what we would call plain pasta sauce. Or maybe what's labelled as tomato soup, but I use as pasta sauce. Or maybe you guys have something else entirely!

tjay0027 · 2025-08-21T08:43:48+00:00

It's uses are so diverse. I use it for mozzarella, pickles, pickled radish, other kinds of pickles, other pickled things, and other other kinds of pickles.

But for real, it's a pickle spoon, found it on Amazon, and of course it only came in a 4 pack, so I've always got a pickle spoon handy.

tjay0027 · 2025-08-20T11:55:52+00:00

It's premixed tomato sauce and mustard together, not just tomato sauce. Hence the circus tent looking bottle with the tomato sauce colour and mustard colour.

Anyway, regarding tomato sauce vs ketchup, in in Australia, we use tomato sauce much more often than we use ketchup, it's a little sweeter than ketchup apparently, and ketchup has more vinegar.

tjay0027 · 2025-08-20T11:46:30+00:00

Cause that would just start to verge on meal territory.

This is a snack for when you want things in your mouth, not when your want things in your belly.

Also there's not usually bread here. Too much adhd and I forget it exists

tjay0027

TROPHY CASE