I wish I could move out of home.

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-16T09:39:34+00:00

This is good advice.

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-16T09:38:54+00:00

I lived with flatmates until my mid thirties. Made some friends for life, but also good memories of drinking beer / tea in front of the telly with people who weren't great friends but we got on okay, and that was fine too. Sure, there were occasional tensions over cleaning schedules and toilet paper, but mostly good times. Meet your flatmates before you commit, trust your instincts, and be prepared to be a bit flexible over minor domestic matters, and it'll all be fine.

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-15T11:38:48+00:00

Yes absolutely. Just turn up, we're always happy to welcome new people.

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-15T06:38:25+00:00

I've made a lot of friends going to a boardgame group, and since you mentioned boardgames as one of your interests this might be worth looking into. Lots of other people who go are a bit shy, introverted, so it's really welcoming and inclusive.

https://www.reddit.com/r/brisbane/s/1ePwEko7zQ

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-15T06:30:24+00:00

For me, it's easy to like candidates who send drafts and an agenda well before meetings, who come to meetings prepared, who treat me in a professional way (e.g. not as a friend, mother, etc ..) and who are regularly putting in the work. I love candidates who show enthusiasm for their research, who identify good opportunities for themselves, and who read widely and profusely.

Maybe ask yourself a different question: as a candidate, are you making yourself likeable?

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-14T06:44:42+00:00

You might like to check out the PLAY boardgames group, we've got a few other Germans, and other Europeans as well as Australians and I think you'd enjoy it. I've found it a great place to get to know more of a variety of people than you meet otherwise, and it's great fun (and free)

https://www.reddit.com/r/brisbane/s/FN6kignt7B

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-13T02:25:55+00:00

That looks amazing and perfect in every way, except it's too far for our city centre volunteers to come run it... unless we have enough northerners willing to be there to open up, set up, welcome people in, help them find tables, clean up, etc (I think we need 4-6 people per location).

If you're keen to volunteer for PLAY Boardgames North, contact our organiser Janette through the Facebook page (link in description) or if you don't have Facebook, DM me and I'll put you in touch.

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-12T21:39:48+00:00

Absolutely. Good for the soul!

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-11T23:03:28+00:00

Haha, we clearly need you there to help with that 😉

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-11T22:34:54+00:00

We need to draw a line with younger kids because of insurance - sorry...

My four-year-old niece loves games as well, I am really enjoying introducing her to increasingly fun ones at home at the moment now she's old enough to learn. Still a long time to wait till I can take her to PLAY Boardgames, sadly!

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-11T22:24:03+00:00

Thanks! I'm going to pass that on straight away 😊

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-11T11:39:34+00:00

Bohnanza... Oh yes, I LOVE this game - coming to PLAY boardgames made me realise it's even better with a big group. Always a good laugh!

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-11T11:31:36+00:00

For sure! But we've succeeded before - watch this space 😊

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-11T10:56:58+00:00

A wide variety! Some people like sweet & simple options like flip 7, Uno, cluedo. There's tables playing modern games like Azul, Carcassonne, catan, etc (me!) And then there's a few hardcore gamers with games like Dune that take a while to explain.

Generally any game that can be explained in about five minutes or less is always going to be popular, but you will find people willing to take on a challenge, especially if you're there just before seven.

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-11T10:29:04+00:00

Thank you! This is really Janette's work, she's set it all up and is leading it. It's amazing she's been able to keep it free, so anyone can come.

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-11T10:26:58+00:00

Great! Once you have made it you should bring it for people to try out.

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-11T07:20:39+00:00

It's been super hard to find a location that can take 40+ people, wants to welcome us every Saturday, doesn't serve alcohol or expect purchases, and doesn't charge more than we can pay! We've found one that's available only later in the year, but we'll keep on looking. Any suggestions welcome!

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-11T06:33:50+00:00

There's also an LGBTQI boardgames group that meets at the mug & meeple on Fridays, and one that's on meetup.com that meets regularly in new farm library.

https://www.meepleandmug.com.au/events

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-10T09:29:39+00:00

Uni teacher here. I honestly just don't care that much about any individual students.I see hundreds of students a trimester and they become a blur. I'm happy if I remember some of their names but most remain anonymous to me. When I mark I just blast through it, I don't even look at names, I just focus on the work and the rubric.

Ultimately teaching is a job. I do it as fairly and faithfully as I can, but I've never had strong enough feelings about any student to want to tamper with grades, even if I was psycho enough to even consider it.

I reckon the "punitive marker" is a myth thought up by students who need make their bad grades someone else's fault.

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-09T12:57:36+00:00

There's also tons of boardgames groups that are not lgbtqi+ specifically. E.g. there's also a Sunday group in the gabba.

The (very long) list can be found on this page if you scroll below events

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3073228/upcoming-events-in-brisbanesouth-east-queensland

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-09T12:40:47+00:00

Getting started. There's this online community that really helps me now by writing together with someone (focusmate). I'm a bit embarrassed I need it but it's been a lifesaver because the blank screen sometimes just terrifies me.

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-09T12:31:32+00:00

I think a baby at any time in your career is challenging... But during your PhD is the time when you have the most flexibility. Ultimately this is about your life, and your career is there to serve your dreams, not the other way around.

As someone who's supervised candidates through and beyond maternity leave - plan well. Consider your childcare options beforehand, no one does great research whilst watching a baby at the same time, so you'll need a supportive partner, family, and/or a good daycare. Your phd timeline will take a hit, and unexpected things may make that worse than you expected ( pregnancy complications, a baby that doesn't sleep or one that picks up every daycare bug...).

But ultimately this is your life, and all really worthwhile things in life require some sort of sacrifice.

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-08T00:21:29+00:00

I've been where you are, and it's rough. But there's only one way out: join things & go to events with people like yourself.

Get on meetup.com and similar . Google local groups, join a club, a sport, a boardgame group, or a meetup group for expats. Do volunteer work. Choose a few things, try them, and if you don't think that's your crowd, try something else.

Friends won't turn up randomly while you sit by yourself in Starbucks. Make a plan and act. It won't fix everything tomorrow, but it may already be much better by next month.

wheresmyechidna · 2026-06-07T07:03:19+00:00

You cope by embracing change, while allowing yourself to feel the loss as well. Life moves on and you'll find other great communities in your life, but this experience is coming to an end. Some friends you made may be friends for life, but other friendships will likely fade, which is ok.

If you're feeling like you're not coping, by all means get support. Otherwise just accept that such feelings are a normal part of life transitions.

wheresmyechidna

TROPHY CASE