The Musings of the Midnight Fox

Another Writing.

2026-05-24T00:58:02Z

In the world of Swallows and Amazons, it's WWII and John Walker (Lieutenant, Royal Navy) is seconded to Australia to serve on the Perth. Nancy Blackett is waiting at home for him, involved in her own secret work for the War.

Then the Perth is sunk and he's captured by the Japanese.

In the current day, their grandson has the collection of the letters and articles between the family.

The Value of a Life, for Elen_Nare.

So I did a thing ...

2026-05-07T13:01:55Z

I wrote a Jane Eyre story for the "Unsent Letters" exchange, and sent a copy to my mother, who gave it to her boyfriend, who is on the committee for the Brontë Association of Australia. They published it in their journal. Then they asked me to speak about fanfiction.

And then the Jane Austen Society of Australia wanted me to speak too.

So I did.

Even My Mother Reads Fanfiction - one hour of general information and such, with specific reference to the works of Jane Austen.

Enjoy!

I am so far behind ...

2024-12-15T10:30:55Z

And for most of it there is no excuse.

Anyway -

1) My Yuletide piece is written, edited and submitted. I'm quite happy with it, and especially that I was given a prompt that matched a story I have wanted to write for years! I just hope my recipient likes it as much.

2) I've just received 4 very important letters that I've known about for years: ADHD. Yup, diagnosis confirmed. I don't have any great hope for the drugs - me and psych drugs just don't get on. Mind you, a lot of "don't get on" is probably due to the abovementioned ADHD, so ... Anyway, that makes me AuDHD now, so NeuroSpicy Plus. Yay!

Now to get on with the rest of stuff.

If you read Livejournal through Optus

2024-08-20T08:46:57Z

You will notice that you haven't been able to lately.

This is because Optus have blocked Livejournal.

You need to use another connection, or a VPN.

Optus will not say why. Just that they have.

FYI

Gnight, Dad.

2024-01-17T12:05:03Z

Yesterday morning, my father George Richards died about 5 years after his massive stroke. We are sad, but not sorry.

There's an article about him on the Sydney Morning Herald site. (I may have annoyed the journalist a little - it's taken three edits for me to appear in as more than an afterthought :-) )

Hug your loved ones, tell them how much they mean to you, and as my mother is currently taking out her frustrations on me in games of Settlers, for that you may send me some sympathy.

When I am lucky enough to have a friend fulfil a wish for me!

2024-01-05T12:24:29Z

Amazing artist mywitch is sweet enough to draw special Harry-Potter themed gifts for some lucky lucky people each year. This year I asked for Severus Snape babysitting young Weasleys or Potters in the style of the 1960s Hanna Barbera cartoons.

I got one in the style of Top Cat.

Please, go look, send love.

I ficced again

2024-01-01T14:41:12Z

Were you aware that, in the plethora of various daily quizzes like Wordle and Numble and Flagle, that there's a quiz based on using logic to solve a murder mystery? It's called Murdle. It's rather fun.

My Yuletide request this year matched on my willingness to help the greater good (the greater good) and write a Hot Fuzz fic.

And then I saw they liked Murdle.

So I asked if I might write a crossover. And they said Yes.

It Takes a Village tells of the chaos that occurs at Sandford when the Rainbow Retirement Home of Former Murderers starts up.

Enjoy.

My Yuletide gift has landed and it is wonderful.

2023-12-25T09:53:20Z

Imagine, if you would, in Sense and Sensibility, that the ending was different. Marianne succumbed to her horrid fever, and despite the Palmers leaving in great haste, Mrs Palmer and the baby also fell victim to the foul disease.

And Edward married Lucy.

So Elinor carries on, as one must. But there are two men in her circle who both regard her as intelligent and practical and a suitable wife.

So how does one decide between Colonel Brandon and Mr Palmer? Then Stirs the Feeling Infinite will tell you how.

(I have literally been hoping for this fic for 8 years. I am so blessed to receive such a beautiful answer to the question.)

This is why we march.

2023-04-14T08:55:59Z

This is Why We March:
The ugly reality of anti-trans hate in Australia. Because hate and non-acceptance and prejudice and intolerance lead to dark, dark places. By the lovely Maz, who used to post on LJ as crazyjane13 (not very active here any more), also known as Beanieflower on Twitter.

So I ficced. Yuletide 2022.

2023-01-03T16:51:17Z

Three times.

Scene on a Balcony. Lord Peter Wimsey and Miss Harriet Vane have just married, and the reception is getting a little ... heated. So Eiluned Price slips out to the balcony for some fresh air, and makes a new friend.

Not My Assassination. An Assassination Bureau fic set some years after the film, where Ivan is lamenting the return of amateur assassins plying their business in Sarajevo.

A Changed World The Walker family from Swallows and Amazons are facing the beginning of World War II, and they all want to do their part - even Roger who is yet too young.

reynardo @ 2023-01-03T19:08:00

2023-01-03T08:08:55Z

Pay it forward...as stolen from many others:

The first 5 people to comment (and more if I have the funds/time/energy) will receive a surprise from me at some point in 2023. Anything from a card, postcard, a scribble, something hand-made - really it could be anything - who knows! It will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit you and make you happy.

I'm not looking for anything in return. If you are feeling the vibe, post this in your own journal and pay it forward. Let's do more kind and loving things for each other in 2023. Without any reason other than to make each other smile and show that we think of each other.

PM me your address! Feel free to include an idea, theme, a link to a wish list! Or tell me what you collect (shiny rocks, nail polish, gum, etc etc etc)! or whatever else you love!

Please note that you can sign up for a surprise even if you choose not to put this in your own journal. I know not everyone can.

An Amazing Yuletide Fic

2022-12-25T10:13:21Z

Oh.

My.

Goodness.

Using this card from the game Paperback as their prompt, my AMAZING Mystery Author wrote me "Dead Planet".

In the Bermuda Triangle of space, things aren't always what they seem.
Or: An archaeologist, a smuggler, and a model meet on a seemingly dead planet and become part of the resistance against the Galactic Federation.

Read it. It's amazing.

So about Yuletide ...

2022-12-18T06:25:35Z

2 and a half hours before deadline is still "on time", yes?

A Late Treat

2022-10-11T16:55:44Z

Someone has sweetly written me a story from a prompt from last year's Yuletide. It's a POV piece from a little bridge that's feeling somewhat inferior when it compares itself to the bigger, more famous ones.

Highly recommended. It's sweet, it's adorable, it's filled with pathos. And it's a bridge.

Some Bridges Have Names, Some Make Them.

reynardo @ 2022-09-17T20:59:00

2022-09-17T11:00:00Z

Grab stock for salmon risotto.
Add special extra-flavour stock
Grab spinach
Weigh rice
Dice pumpkin
Juice and zest lemon
Go to fridge for salmon.
Go through entire fridge for salmon
Double check shopping bags to make sure salmon didn't get left out
Check fridge a third time.
Check benchtops.
Curse.
Grab keys.
Check back of car.
Curse again.
Throw packet of salmon that's been all day in the boot into the rubbish (It's cold, but not that cold)
Head back inside and be grateful one had defrosted some pork steaks for something else.
Start preparing pork risotto.

(Cross posted from Dreamwidth)

Complaining Time

2022-07-26T14:04:24Z

Hello there! Covid kicked my butt, but luckily I had it at my Mum's place, and was able to isolate without too much trouble. It's the cold I caught straight afterwards that sucked. However, the lovely Lederhosen flew up to help me drive back, because there's no way I could have otherwise.

Now. The complaint. I just got the latest Spotlight catalogue, and I am not happy. So here's the email I sent them.

Greetings!

I'm writing to complain about the Book Week costumes and their wearers in the latest VIP letter and catalogue.

Most of the female people wearing costumes are wearing either princess/fairy/good witch dresses or ones linked to female-specific roles (Mary Poppins). Two, yes, are in female superhero outfits (Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman), but not one is in a gender-neutral role such as a pilot or a doctor or a scientist. Where's the Marie Curie, the Nancy Wake, the Amelia Earhart? There is one child who could be female, who is dressed as the Mad Hatter, but all the rest of the obviously-female models are stereotypically shown.

Every male is in a male action role, and all but one are superheroes. The one exception, Banjo (Bluey's dad) is at least an excellent role model for fathers, but where's all the rest of the male book characters who could be less stereotypical? Where's the potters and the cooks and the innumerable men in books who are carers and performing non-traditional roles? As a business involved in creating, and who (I have no doubt) would like to encourage more men to sew and knit and embroider, surely it would make sense to sell costumes of men doing such things?

Finally, not ONE of the models seems to be a person of colour. With our gloriously diverse Australian population, (one in six of us from a background that is not Eurocentric - thanks, 2021 census!), out of the 15 models in the letter at least two should be people of colour. Of the 21 in the catalogue, 5 have their faces covered so it's hard to tell, but there definitely should be much better representation of the diversity.

So. Please. Do better. You've got Hallowe'en coming up. I want to see diversity, interchangeable roles, opportunities for people wearing costumes outside the stock types they're normally seen in.

You know you can be brilliant at this.

Regards

TL:DR stop putting girls and women in princess and female-dominated role costumes, and give the guys a chance to wear something different too, and, speaking of different, where's our cultural diversity in the representation of the models?

Copied from the entry on Dreamwidth

If LJ goes down?

2022-03-02T02:37:36Z

Oh look - I'm Reynardo on Dreamwidth!

Screw this world - I want to get off.

2022-02-09T02:02:29Z

Last night my dear friend Catherine had a heart attack and died. She was only 45. This is what her husband has to say so far:

This is Andrew posting. I have some devastating news. Catherine died suddenly last night in Williamstown from a heart attack. She was having a cycling holiday. We don't have much more information at the moment, and we'll let you know when we have more details, and when arrangements are being made.

If you have a special offer of help (eg knowledge of legal requirements, etc), please let Gillian Brent, Geoffrey Brent or me know.

No flowers please. There will be other ways to remember her, and I'll post when we know what's happening.

Also no visitors for the meantime please unless specifically asked, or if one of us spoke with you earlier.

It's still a dream.

And I'll wake up soon, surely.

I have not sufficently squeed.

2022-01-01T03:38:41Z

Worthy of a post all by itself, the magnificent mywitch drew me Severus with fill in your favourite pairing here.

It's not work safe. It's not hot-flush-my-oh-my safe either. And it's sublime.

It's here. (Posted on Dreamwidth, shared to Live Journal)

Time for wordiness.

2021-12-27T07:28:29Z

Digress like a 19th-Century Novelist: a Fest for the detail-oriented -- I'm going on a tangent. Come with me! (Posted on Dreamwidth, shared to Live Journal)

An extra bonus

2021-12-23T06:06:41Z

I signed up for Yuletide, and wrote my gift-fic (which I'll tell you all about in January). And because the plot-bunnies WOULD NOT SHUT UP, I wrote a treat and two pinch-hits (I have a second treat simmering but it's not behaving so it might end up being a New Year's treat instead).

I saw the gift to me hitting the Gift list back in October.

Today I noticed I have another Yuletide gift there.

Someone has decided to treat me, and I couldn't be happier! In these ghastly times of plague, someone decided they'd take the extra effort and make me something special that they hadn't even signed up for.

So whoever you are, yay. Love your work. No matter what it is. (Posted on Dreamwidth, shared to Live Journal)

Frithmas 2021!

2021-11-26T11:37:02Z

27th ANNUAL ALT.DEVILBUNNIES

HOLIDAY CARD EXCHANGE FAQ

An unofficial FAQ first written by Scott Bernier on 17 October, 1997. Reviewed by Anne Michelle Forbes, "Remus", Scott and Jan Mayo, "Wynn", "Binky Bunny","BunnyHugger", and Judy Vieira between the 17th and 27th--thanks!

Updated for the 2021 holiday season on 26 November 2021, by Gillian "Not A Symp" (Reynardo) Brent, 2021 Card Exchange Organizer and complete ball-dropper. But always blame Moxie if there are mistakes in here, ok?

This FAQ answers questions about the alt.devilbunnies holiday card exchange.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Due to the World Wide Plague, the lateness of the mailout and the screwing-up of various postal systems, the Frithmas Season is hereby declared to extend to the end of January. Thus, if your cards take a long time to get to their destination, they are still Frithmas Cards and we still love you.

Q. What is the holiday card exchange?

A. It is an alt.devilbunnies tradition that started with the 1995 holiday season in which 12 authors exchanged snail-mail addresses and sent each other cards for the holidays. And has grown since then. For the past few years an average of 10 authors have participated. Many of these cards were sent In-Character.

Q. But I don't celebrate Christmas/Hanukkah/whatever.

A. So what? In the past there have been cards wishing tidings of joy for Christmas, Hanukkah, "Frithmas", generic holiday greetings (I.E. SEASONS GREETINGS), New Years, and the Winter Solstice. Somewhere in there, there might be a holiday you can use. If not - make one up! At the moment, just "Hey, we got this far through the plague!" is plenty.

Q. Why should I participate?

A. Because it's fun. None of the authors bite in real life (much), and most people enjoy receiving holiday cheer from friends rather than the usual bills/junk mail.

Q. Who's going to see my snail-mail address (nervouslook)?

A. Only those who are willing to participate in this fun activity. Rey will not share it with anyone who doesn't participate, EVER. Nor does she sell the addresses, we hope ;). We strongly encourage all participants to do likewise.

Q. What's this going to cost me?

A. Postage, and the cost of the cards.

This was Last Year's prices, because the Post Offices are making it DAMNED DIFFICULT to look up!

The price within the U.S. for first class postage is $0.55 for the first ounce; each additional ounce adds $0.25 to the cost. To Canada, the UK or Australia: $1.15

Postage rates within Canada for up to 30g: 1.07 cents. Rates from Canada to USA: $1.30. To other parts of the world: $2.71.

Rates from the UK: £0.65 local and £1.45 to other parts of the world (First Class).

Rates from Australia: $0.65 AUS within Australia and $2.20 AUS to US, UK and Canada.

So if you can't spare 2 hours of your time and about $20 American (a bit more overseas, these fees include an estimate for your cards), don't sign-up to participate!

Q. What can I do for a card?

A. That's up to you. Some folks buy cards appropriate for their character to give (bunnies on the cards, etc.). Some edit the cards they buy (squirrels hurling 'HVE' snowballs at bunnies). Some of our more artistically inclined or computer savvy authors make their own cards to send. It's completely up to you as to what you do.

Q. Can I send something other then a card?

A. There is nothing to stop you, but this is a card exchange, so don't expect others to send more then a card in return. In 1996 Wynn sent out chocolate toes, no, really! Real chocolate toes (shudder), in addition to a card to each person on the list. Keep in mind that many authors aren't exactly rich and the cost of postage will be difficult enough for them, so don't expect anything else but a card.

Q. I'm an anonymous author, but I still want to send cards. Can't I still get a copy of the addresses (pleadfluff)?

A. No. It wouldn't be fair to the others on the list if you sent them cards and they can't exact revenge^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H send a card in return. (Glares at one anon bunny character in particular and his 'Frithmas in July' cards.)

Q. (STOMP!) But I want to remain anonymous! (glarefluffunsheathclaws)

A. There are ways around this. Wynn participated a few years back by asking a friend to receive cards for her. Sadie Squirrel has done likewise to prevent the Evil Fluffers™ from finding her whereabouts. Any anonymous author should be able to do likewise. In order to participate you must provide a legitimate address where others can send cards to you. The card coordinator is sworn to secrecy and will have her guts used by the Fouriers for medical experiments if she divulges anything. Really. Her sister in law is the Sibyl, so it will happen.

Q. Will my address be used for purposes other than this holiday card exchange?

A. Well...in the past some authors have sent-out birthday cards and in one case a birthday package to one author who hit a milestone birthday (HI, LonGears!). In 1997-98, a sneaky bunny had sent 'burfday' cards to authors without a return address. And in 2015, many authors had a Symp land on their doorsteps. There's nothing we can do to stop the authors from sending you mail, but remember, you have their addresses and can avenge^H^H^H^H^H^Hsend mail in return.

Q. All right, where do I sign up?

A. Send your snail-mail address to Reynardo. Please include the email address you want the final snail-mail list sent back to. Even if you've been at the same address since the First Days of Frithmas, please resend it? Please? Just because Rey landed on your doorstep once or twice doesn't mean she has all your addresses neatly printed out and kept in a folder marked "Blackmail Information" on the third shelf of her b... never mind. Send it. Please.

Q. When do I need to sign up by?

A. Deadline to join up for 2021 is December 5th. You will receive the mailing list by December 10th, 2021.

You should try and mail your cards going internationally by December 15th if you can, and do not panic when they take over a month to get to their destination. If you're late, again, Do Not Panic - send them anyway.

Q. Why so late a cut-off date?

A. Thanks to the World Wide Plague, the organiser completely dropped the ball last year and has had terrible trouble getting motivated this year. Luckily, while Christmas is over by December 26th, Frithmas lasts as long as we want it to.

Also, those authors who create their own cards need the time to make the cards. Others will need to know the head-count with enough lead-time so that they can have their cards printed if they use a professional copy service (and I know at least one in the past has done so).

Q. Should I address the card to the author or the character?

A. The contents of the card can be in-character or out-of-character. However, the envelope should be addressed to the author to prevent confusing the postal worker who delivers your mail, and to avoid tipping off the local opposition (be it Fudd, Bunny or Fourier). You could also address it to the character care-of (C/O) the author. Some authors will have special instructions with their addresses on the list. Heed the instructions! You will follow the instructions!

Q. What if I'm late in joining?

A. That's all right, your name will be sent-around to the other authors, but their cards may be late in arriving to you IF they have extra cards to send. If you are late in signing-up, there is no guarantee that you will receive cards from everyone/bun on the list.

Q. (embarassedfluff,scuffpaw) I lost track of time last year and failed to send out my cards. Will this prevent me from being able to participate this year?

A. We've made a list and checked it twice. And yes, the organiser is on it! So have other participants. We know who you deadbeats are. (STOMP!) AND we know where you live. (fangygrin) We won't prevent you from participating, but don't expect to receive any cards from those who participated last year (or whatever year you failed to send cards) unless you send them one first!

A late card is better than none! And then I might be able to stop the Fouriers from finding out where you really live, and coming to invite you to join them in their Frithmas rituals ...

Q. I've got more questions not covered above. Who should I talk to?

A. Email Reynardo with your questions or concerns.

Thus ends of alt.devilbunnies holiday card exchange FAQ. Hoppy Holidays!

(Posted on Dreamwidth, shared to Live Journal)

Dear Yuletide 2021 writer

2021-10-14T07:53:22Z

(Hello my lovely writer. Do you know how magnificent you are?)

First of all, you are a lovely person. And thank you for taking on my requests. Now, in case you wondered, the names are different. My LJ/DW name is Reynardo but my Ao3 name is Mary West. And one day very soon now I'll have my genuine author name too and if I'm very lucky, someone writing fanfic for my book at Yuletide. That would be so cool.

So - the scary stuff! I want characters to be themselves. Are they tapping you on the shoulder and saying "Like this. That's right. I would have done *that* in those circumstances"? I love origin stories and filling in the gaps. I love "But what if..." If, instead of my prompts, something other ferocious plot bunny comes along and bites hard, go with it. Plot bunnies are to be respected.

A Queen from the North - Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese Characters: Hon. Nicholas Brockett, Macsen Jones, Priya Joshi, almost anyone else from the book. The two main characters are sweet enough, but I would love to see if the sweet and adorable Macsen Jones and the wonderfully bouncy Priya Joshi get together. Or does Edward Glynne lose his partner but find a new love in the Hon Nicholas Brockett? The main statement still applies though - if any other matching up or friendship calls your plot-bunnies, then go with them.

The State Within George Blake, Nicholas Brocklehurst. They're not romantically attached. But they're a mental match. It's ten years later, and a mystery surfaces that involves a missing car with Diplomatic plates from the British Embassy, and a tape purporting to have enough evidence to discredit the atypical yet strangely popular Democratic candidate for the presidency who turned up from nowhere. Our two protagonists know when to call on each other – or is this one case where they should not? (I apologise – this might actually be a good lead for a full novel – if it gets out of control, just go with it and throw me a thanks when you create a bestseller.)

Wellington Paranormal (TV) Officer Kyle Minogue (WPTV) Officer O'Leary (WPTV) Sergeant Maaka (WPTV). Reports of a horse on the hillside at Maupuia Park are coming in thick and fast. But has someone dressed the poor horse up for Hallowe'en? Because horses don't normally have horns on their heads. Bonus points if a) there's a My Little Pony – Friendship is Magic reference, b) Suspicions that someone's made a prop at the nearby Weta Workshop and c) only Office Minogue is able to get close to it, which tells you far too much about Officer Minogue.

Knitting. I've only put in for "Yarn" but all and any knitting areas are welcome - I didn't want to limit you! So long as yarn is in there somewhere, I'm good.

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. I would like to get inside Alexander's head. What was it like trying to pretend to be heterosexual while knowing inside what he was really like? Where did he go after the competition? And did he compete again, and for which country? So many options for such an amazing man.

There's the 11Foot8 Bridge. Here in Melbourne we have the Montague St Bridge (Twitter montaguestbridg). There's the Tay Bridge, and a notoriously BAD poem about it. I don't think the bridges are happy with the notoriety. Or maybe they are. Or is there a rivalry between them? Using the 11 Foot 8 bridge and your choice of any others, I would love to hear them arguing about this. I want attitude, I want self-importance, and I want cuts and snubs and mike-drops as vicious as any Drag Queen Meetup or similar. Give me snark, give me barbs, give me the lot!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

All fics - use any other characters that make sense to you in the story. You know them. You are listening to their voices, so write who they are.

If they lead down the path of heat and fire and bodies clashing, let them. But there's no need to force it. I'm quite as happy with G rated as I am with M. Or even E. Again, let them lead where they will. Stick your nose in this ratings list and I would prefer we stay inside green, blue and purple at the most, just this time. There are times for the others, but not this time.

Or friendship fic. It can be just friends. That would be fine too.

And don't worry too much if your fic starts straying outside the boundaries. They do that. It's all the characters' faults. You are making something for me, and I love you anyway. Write me a story, leave me going "yes, they totally would have done that!" and you will have a happy, happy recipient.

Thank you. (Posted on Dreamwidth, shared to Live Journal)

The biggest earthquake I've ever felt

2021-09-25T22:28:55Z

(I wrote this on Facebook, but my main computer is still in being fixed and I could only post properly today).

That was a RIDE!! OK, the Geology nerd in me wouldn't calm down for ages.

First and most importantly, all fine here. No damage to us as far as I can tell. Lost power for about 40 mins, internet took another 10 but that's all.

So ...

First a low rumbling. Like a truck, but lower. Making a slow, unfamiliar vibration. Waaaaayyyyy lower. Which I suddenly recognised for what it was. Earthquake P waves, going on long enough and deep enough to signal something big.

*Then* the shaking started.

I remember the Newcastle '89 earthquake. That was like a huge truck passing but taking half a minute to do it. This was deeper, wider, longer. The whole thing was a bit over a minute. The deep rumble was about 10-15 seconds, then the real shaking went from "oh here come the S waves" to "oh hell - we probably should take shelter". That was when it went from "bed shaking like someone's pushing it" (S waves) to "Is that our rafters creaking? Oh fuck ..." (Surface waves)

As I'm writing this, I'm hearing a distant rumbing, and I had to stop for a moment to be sure that it was just a late-flying plane. I think. I'm not sure any more. (Just checked. Plane.)

The house just got to the "creaking" stage when it all died off. We stood, unsure, then dressed and checked around. No power, and not game to use gas until we knew it was safe. Also just waiting in case there was a second, larger one - sometimes there is. But no. That was the main one. I didn't feel the main aftershock.

We were lucky. I have to apologise to the guy that built the house - it's sturdier than I though. As far as I know, Melbourne damage is some walls down and concrete cracks. Similar out in Mansfield where the epicentre was.

I'm still squeeing. (Posted on Dreamwidth, shared to Live Journal)

Short version: believe your body when it yells at you.

2021-07-18T13:35:39Z

Long version: definitely overdid things on Thursday (and my only regret is not being able to eat my nommy Brunettis loot), went to bed early feeling cold and shaky. Woke at Midnight feeling hot with tummy pains. Got back to sleep, next morning the pain was terrible.

His Nibs rang the doctors, who thought it might be constipation plus a late AZ 2nd shot reaction. (5 days after) but that I should go to Emergency to get checked, have blood drawn, etc. The docs send me for a CT scan (because the one Bilqis did where she purred and snuggled me doesn't count because she never did the paperwork) and an X-ray, and next thing there's a surgeon in the room and I'm trying not to panic.

But it's not as bad as it could be. Diverticulitis. Bed rest, antibiotics, painkillers. I'm in Royal Melbourne (no visitors thanks to COVID lockdown), very glad to be here after last night when the pain was *shocking*. I've been having tummy issues for ages, and while I had a colonoscopy booked at a local clinic, I cancelled it after they were so incompetant that I didn't want them touching my butt! But it's good to know I was *not* overreacting and that I am genuinely a sick bunny.

Hospital staff have been lovely, never minimised my experience, offered plenty of painkiller. Gotta say, though, hospital food is living up to its reputation.

And I can't log into Dreamwidth on my phone so I'll post there when I get home.