Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Personal Bits

The zed/zee battle with Phyllis and Kesav is ongoing.

It has become a bit of a joke about Kosov visiting the rest room. I now wish him well with his visit to the rest room, which can be half an hour, and later ask him if he enjoyed his rest. Their is a bucket and scoop in the toilet, so I guess some washing happens. Both of the lads only shower about every third or fourth day, and that is when they wash their hair. They are always perfectly clean and wash their hand appropriately. 

Is it not enough that we seem intent on destroying our own planet, now we are starting to destroy the moon too, with one of Musk Rat's space craft crashing into the lovely Mr Moon, with a huge ground explosion. Scumbag. His daughter hates him so much, she changed her surname, and effectively called him a racist Boer

Friday, neighbour HH is taking us out for dinner, and Phyllis has chosen an Italian place in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. We will catch two trams to travel to the popular, rather grungy and alternative area. I said to HH, "Eighty year old Nonna will be able to brag to her children and grandchildren that she has been for dinner on the 'wild side'". 

I thought the twin boys would be last in my life time to be born in my immediate family, but no. Hippie Niece is pregnant with a boy. The mother of the now nine year old 'Cafe Latte' twins had a terrible pregnancy and horrible post natal depression, which became ongoing psychiatric issues. She was hospitalised for a time in a mental health unit, she wasn't to be alone with her daughters and was provided with a daily carer for some hours each day. She is now in a stable relationship, with two step daughters of a similar age to hers, and manages well enough. The whole family were dreading this happening, yet we've all decided to be very positive about the impending arrival of her son. At the age of 34, she is older and more mature, and I think she will be ok. So, I will have five great nieces and four great nephews, my youngest brother being their paternal grandfather, and Ex Sis in Law being their maternal grandmother.

I put it to Phyllis and Kosov, what should I do next at home in the way of renewal and improving my home. I gave alternatives, new modern overhead lighting? Replace the 20 year old plus lounge room furniture? Have new floor tiles put over the top of the old ones in the kitchen, toilet and bathrooms?  The vote went for the new tiles. 

I saw an ad on tv featuring a gay male couple with a baby. Kosov, I asked him, if you and Phyllis adopted a baby or child, which sex would you prefer? He said, either, but Phyllis would like a girl. I replied, 'So he and your daughter could share make up and nail polish?' The discussion went on about child adoption and I asked him if he would consider adopting a child in India. He emphatically said no, which seemed odd. Why so? 'If it was a he, he might turn out to look one of the three guys who raped me at school. Every time I see someone who looks like one of them, I just hate Indian men so much.' Well, that rather sent me sideways. 

We had a gay Anglo Indian friend from about 1980 to 1995, and he was raped at one of Calcutta's most prestigious boys' school, but in his case, he said he quite enjoyed it, and really fancied one of the guys.

I don't know any detail. There could have been violence or not involved. Warren already knew he liked guys and Kosov identified as straight then. Oh what damage men do.

41 comments:

  1. A daily shower should be routine for everyone., particularly if you are in a workplace and or out and about . It’s like changing sheets and pillowcases regularly. We all shed skin, hair, perspiration and nasal and mouth drip when we sleep..
    Can you put new tiles over old tiles? .


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    1. While I agree, it is a cultural difference. They are used to thorough washing. The bathroom floor used to get saturated but they've learnt to be not so splashy.
      Yes, I've seen an example of tiles over tiles, and it is fine. I wouldn't do it if jackhammers had to come in and break up old tiles.

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    2. I've learned that daily showers/baths/shampoos are not recommended for older adults as our skin dries out faster. Anonymous should be more disgusted by what biological matter could be trapped beneath an old layer of tile. lol Sleep well, Andrew.

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    3. Darla, as I am learning, you need to take good care of your skin when you are older.

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    4. I shower once a week to wash my hair which is long, so difficult to wash in the sink. Every other day it's a warm water wash over with a flannel. Quicker and cheaper too.

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  2. What an awful thing to happen to Kosov.
    Congrats on the newest great-nephew. When is he due? What will be the age range - is Jo the eldest? I'll put my interrogation lamp away now!!

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    1. Yes, awful, Merlot.
      He is due in February. The age is 12 - 4 at the moment. I also forget at times that Jo is my niece, not great niece. 7 years between oldest great niece and niece Jo, but the next niece above Jo is 34, so a 15 year gap.

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  3. I hope all works out well for your Hippy Niece. I feel like I should say something about Kosovo, but honestly, I was knocked sideways too.

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    1. Kirk, I won't ask anything about it so as not to remind him of details but it is too horrible.

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    2. Maybe it's related to his black sense of humour.

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  4. He must trust you very much to say that. That was huge.

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    1. He paid me a very thoughtful compliment during his explanation, Boud.

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  5. New tiles ON TOP of the old ones? Why? Is it too hard to have the old tiles removed and new one properly laid? Are the old tiles ceramic or vinyl and will you be choosing a new colour?

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    1. They are ceramic tiles River. The noise and the dust of breaking them up would be terrible, and the jack hammer noise is not contained to my apartment, with sound going right through the building. The kitchen floor tiles have a couple of chips. The colour of the new ones will be some kind of white or very pale.

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    2. Those chips can be repaired...

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  6. Replies
    1. Thanks Linda. It is always a bit exciting when a new one arrives.

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  7. So much of this gave me chills. I can't imagine anyone enjoys being raped. ~shudder~ Even rape fantasies between consenting adults baffles me a bit, though I won't judge either mindset. Blessings to you and yours, my dear.

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    1. Darla, certainly not teenage boys. Thank you.

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  8. Well I do hope Hippy Neice goes well with her pregnancy and after too for I do remember what a hard time she did have, poor soul. Wishing her the best this time.
    I can't imagine having tiles over tiles but what a dusty mess if the tiles are removed - that is the trouble with tiles when we want them changed. You will all be a little higher to the benches.
    Yes, our skin does get drier as we age but I can't imagine not having a shower everyday, even if it's a real quick one especially in the summer or warmer days. Mu mind boggles as to what goes on in the loo for so long, Andrew.

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    1. I've worked out the increased height will not be a problem for the dishwasher, or most doors, except the sliding door to my ensuite. I will rely on professionals to sort that out.
      Phyllis spends a good while in the loo too, but not as long as Kosov.

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  9. Poor Kosov, he carries the scars still.
    Have fun choosing new tiles.

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    1. JB, for some there are terrible phycological scars, for others, not so much. Regardless, rape is a terrible thing.

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  10. Congrats on the coming addition to the family. Rape survivors are changed by the act of violence against their will.

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  11. Somewhere I read that there is a real threat of humans being injured, even fatally, from falling debris from space. I think we are really overdoing the bit on space exploration.

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  12. Oh my. It sounds like Kosov may have some ongoing trauma from that experience, and who can blame him? Congratulations on the new baby in the family. Hopefully you're right and this one will come easier.

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    1. Steve, yes I hope she has a smoother run. She does have a supportive partner.

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  13. I hope it goes well for the child and mother. Congrats on yet another extended family member soon to be. I've heard terrible tales about Indian men and rape, but of women not men. I wonder why any woman would visit that country.

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    1. Strayer, they are the ones we hear about, not the day to day ones, many of which aren't reported.

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  14. Your family continues to expand, Andrew. Congrats.

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    1. Pat, this really must be the last one for a decade or so.

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  15. That is terrible for Kosov. Scars never leave and I'm with one of your commenters on daily showering. I have dry skin to begin with so daily showering would have me like sandpaper. Every 3 days is grand.
    Lovely HH is taking you three out.
    XO
    WWW

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    1. WWW, I really don't care how people do it, as long as they are clean.

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  16. Why have more babies when the family is already struggling with those they have?

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    1. Hels, she certainly did struggle but I think it will be ok this time.

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  17. Replies
    1. Yes Cloudia, all sorts of things, and as you are now experiencing.

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  18. A new baby will be a joy and hopefully hippy niece will do well and experience some healing.
    I'm so sorry Kosov was raped. Life is hard enough without that

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    1. He will be a joy Kylie. Any rape is awful, for anyone.

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