Woke up yesterday morning at sparrows fart (technically we got up at like 7:30 but for a weekend that's practically pre-sunrise) to go to an event called Plantapalooza at the Rocklea markets.
Like a collective of naive dickheads, we'd assumed that an event called Plantapalooza would contain a significant amount of plants.
Like if it was just a fair amount of plants, it might be a Plant Fair. And if there was heaps of plants, maybe you'd call it Plantfest. But to justify being a Palooza? Man, I was expecting a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling amount of plants. I mean I thought there'd be so many plants that you couldn't get a park because of all the geraniums. Traffic chaos caused by an overflowing amount of tibouchinas. Hardly any space to walk thanks to hundreds of hakea. I planned to leave with so many plants that they would fill a 2016 Hyundai iMax automatic turbo diesel with lift door and we'd have to walk home behind it.
Instead, we got all the traffic chaos and lack of parking... But with the equivalent of maybe a Plant Fete. At a small public school with bad funding and disorganised P&C. And it cost us $2 each for entry.
Seriously what the hell was that?
What it did have was 11ty billion varieties of food trucks selling over priced goods made with questionable food safety standards. Like standard size pies for $19, or a coffee for $9. And some kid doing karaoke. And a dude selling leather belts. But bugger all bloody plants.
I'm honestly tempted to start a class action lawsuit. We need some sort of advertising standards. You don't get to label 3 stalls of plants a Palooza goddamnit. I've seen Bunnings with more greenery, and their artisan home made sausages on bread aren't $23 either.
Anyway, we blew that popsicle stand and went to a local nursery instead.
10 minutes down the road, opens at a reasonable time for a weekend (9:00am), no trouble parking, and a bigger selection of plants. Didn't have to pay $2 to go in either.
Did end up paying $400 to leave though lol 😬
That torch beam is all smoke, with little floaty carbon bits in it.
Wheezing like a pack a day smoker
Our yard is currently a boggy mess, and that means it's become home to dozens of Ibis who are doing their best to empty it of worms, grubs, and other associated lawn snacks.
I heard them all take off and busted my phone out to grab a quick snap as they flew over. I thought it looked neat.
This plant appears to have popped up literally overnight (disclaimer: not actually literally). Last week it wasn't there, now it is and flourishing.
It has whimsical little pinatas / paper lanterns hanging off it, and inside is something that looks like a pea. It smacks of a Redwood novel a little bit - like the mice would be hosting a feast that featured "lantern berries" or something. And honeycakes.
I am assuming it is a weed and probably poisonous to dogs so currently my plan tomorrow is to destroy it, unless I hear otherwise.
This plant appears to have popped up literally overnight (disclaimer: not actually literally). Last week it wasn't there, now it is and flourishing.
It has whimsical little pinatas / paper lanterns hanging off it, and inside is something that looks like a pea. It smacks of a Redwood novel a little bit - like the mice would be hosting a feast that featured "lantern berries" or something. And honeycakes.
I am assuming it is a weed and probably poisonous to dogs so currently my plan tomorrow is to destroy it, unless I hear otherwise.
Looks like that's the end of Sendle? Bit of a shame, they were very convenient for sending small parcels. Couriers on the whole are a pain in the proverbial to deal with normally.
Summary:
Last-mile delivery provider FAST Group, formed through the August 2025 merger of Sendle, FirstMile, and ACI Logistix, is currently facing a severe financial crisis that has led its primary private equity backer, Sydney-based Federation Asset Management, to freeze its $100 million investment fund. Just months after the merger intended to create a logistics powerhouse, the entity is reportedly struggling with significant financial red flags and "due diligence lapses" that have brought it to the brink of a potential U.S. bankruptcy filing. The meltdown has raised serious concerns regarding the firm's risk management and the stability of its underlying assets, leaving the future of the e-commerce logistics venture in doubt as it seeks urgent financing to avoid a total collapse.
Email received today:
A very local musician (literally a few suburbs over from me!) who's got a cracker of a country album I reckon. The production is somewhat amateur and his voice can't quite hit a few of the notes he aims for, but it gives it a charm I love. It's the perfect music for hanging out at a local bar, talking crap with your mates, and nodding along with some beaut tracks from a live band.
If you're Australian you'll recognise lots of slang terms in the song.
Archive link: https://archive.md/Wqvei
"A 55-year-old man is in a critical condition after suffering severe injuries to his arms and legs when he was mauled by his pet dog inside his Camperdown home.
Six ambulance crews rushed to the apartment on Pyrmont Bridge Road about 10am on Monday after reports of the attack. The large dog is one of three that lived inside the home."
