Winter 2025: What’s going on lately?

Just checked my (metaphorical) watch! And Would you look at that! It’s about time for a silly recap of the last couple of months. As predicted, winter 2025 has arrived and I am NOT loving it! But we persevere, and we try to have a good time along the way. Feel free to stick around a minute or two if you’d like to hear about the good times I’ve tried (and managed) to have lately.

I turned 24, and it’s pretty grand

It feels like a lifetime ago, the high-spirited day in early May that the nation cast their votes and I cut my birthday cake (lovingly purchased by my dear Wife) with all-but confirmed assurance that Australia was safe from a majority Liberal government. It pleased me greatly, and I had a wonderful time – voting and celebrating. Thanks to everyone who helped me celebrate, it will go down in birthday history as one of my favourites, I think.

Since then, I’ve felt my prefrontal cortex frolicking toward 25. Call me naïve if you wish, say I’m getting ahead of myself, but I’ve always looked forward to my late twenties – mid forties. I am excited to have the opportunities that I do to keep learning, growing and chugging along toward that era. 

Slowly but surely, I’ve started to care about different things – new interests and priorities have crept up to rest just under my nose. I’ve found a bedtime routine that works for me and I eat breakfast every day. I look forward to moving my body every day and I have a staple set of groceries that I buy weekly – they don’t always rot in the fridge either! I grow tired of doom scrolling and I leave the house even when I don’t think I want to. I’ve settled into a system of work-life hygiene that’s significantly more healthy and functional than any other time in my adult life. Obviously, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies – I’ve had my post-birthday freak out about my future, but I’m certainly feeling optimistic as I’m writing this.

Winter checklist update

So far, this post is basically a gratitude list designed to paint a sunny picture of a cold winter chill, but I am glad to report that I’ve been keeping the gloom at bay for the last couple of weeks. Of course, I am disgruntled with waking up to chilly mornings, and having to leave the warmth of my bed. I don’t love how slow my washing is to dry, and the joy of a pleasant walk is more like a brave trot for endorphins this time of the year. But I’m having a better time than I have in winter’s past.

Reading over my last update, it seems I presented a list of fun things to do in winter. It included re-watching The Hunger Games movies in cozy matching PJs, getting a Bunnings umbrella, and orchestrating a ‘slow cooker revival’ (making stroganoff). I have only ventured to achieve the stroganoff initiative, and it was delicious, but I have snagged myself a decent umbrella – albeit un-Bunnings branded.

An updated list

Ignorance is bliss, wisdom (teeth) is a curse

One fine day last month, I was driving home after a job, and studying my teeth with my tongue all the while, when I came across a suspicious bump, tucked away in a corner behind my existing molars. Having never noticed this microscopic lump, I naturally began to panic. Tears were shed, complaints were made, google was consulted and theories emerged. Woe was me.

After I asked literally everyone I came into contact with about their wisdom tooth experiences, and listened to both best-case and worst-case scenarios from first-hand accounts, I consulted an expert. I saw a dentist for the first time in longer than I care to admit, and he kindly gave me an x-ray and a very calming explanation of what’s going on in the molar department. It’s going to be fine, I think – although painful. I will not die or go into life-ruining debt though, so there’s that. It just wasn’t the joy of aging that I had expected a few days after my birthday.

Ball Park, Babey!

A few nights ago, Snake and I went to see one of my favourite bands, Ball Park Music! They were as heartwarming and energetic as usual, performing some of their classics, fan favourites, and songs from their latest album, Like Love. 

I think I’ve written reviews of the two Ball Park albums preceding Like Love. I always have admiration for the work they do, but for me, Like Love doesn’t quite hold up against the brighter energies of Self Titled and Weirder & Weirder. I’m sure my preferences have less to do with the quality of their music, and much more to do with the place those past albums held in more uncertain times (2020 and 2022 were formative for everyone, I’m sure). 

So, having listened to the new album only a few times since release, I expected to enjoy the sort of concert where you don’t know the words to every song, but have fun anyway. I was pleasantly surprised – the set list was a great mix in a great order. 

I was not-so-secretly hoping that they would treat us to a live performance of their recent Like a Version cover of Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap (I’ve listened to it countless times), and despite the show being recorded for Triple J’s Live at the Wireless, we had no such luck. Next time, perhaps!

Coming up

To round this up, here are some things I am looking forward to in the near and distant future.

Recommended treats and treasures

Finally, here are some things that I have enjoyed recently, that you might also consider, if applicable. No pressure.