Why did your grandparents ruin Vaseline for you? Sorry, I wasn’t clear. Just wondering what kind of detriments I could be doing to myself by using Vaseline.

Oh boy. Please explain. 😬

Vaseline. Is that non-standard? It doubles as lip balm and for those really dry patches of skin that come around (currently in Japan and it’s been dry af). Or even for small cuts, or used as hand cream.

Also can be used as a fire starter (for camping, just to clarify!).

I’ve just boiled the room kettle a few times, and leave the shower and bathroom door open before bed (not during a shower). Helps a bit, anyway.

When someone I’ve gifted food to sends me a message later in the day telling me the food, bread, whatever was sensational. It tells me that I’ve nailed their food preferences and tastes. I’ve done a good job.

Food is my love language and it’s how I like to say thank you and show appreciation.

I only liked the first one. The ones after weren’t so good.

“THERE WAS A FIREFIGHT!!!” Willen Dafoe was brilliant.

Boondock Saints. It’s so bad, but I love it.

Lavos. :(

In Australia, we call it “turtle necking”. The visual is worse.

I don’t have a lot of stuff and not a lot of expensive stuff, but my top are:

• Instant Pot. I have a tiny kitchen, so being able to do x number of things with one piece of equipment is amazing. Also keeps the heat down in summer instead of oven and gas stove.

• Hiking poles. Got them recently, and they are a game changer. I’ve only ever seen older folks use them, but they got it right. Not only is it easier on my knees, but somehow they feel like they let me go further when I can use my arms as a little push forward.

• Garmin Fenix watch. Keeps me motivated to keep moving, and it serves as a silent wake up alarm so I don’t wake my partner in the early hours.

Honourable mentions:

• A good hand-held flashlight. I use this daily for work and when I go camping. Also great at night when hunting mosquitoes in the bedroom.

• A digital probe thermometer. Also used daily for work, and takes the guesswork out of cooking meats and things at home.

Absolutely. Butter acolytes unite!

Absolutely no digging in to the tub of butter, and no other food bits (usually bread crumbs) must be left inside.

If dug in to, it must be smoothed out before putting back in to the fridge. As for the crumbs, take them out and put them back on to the bread they came from. Now the butter can be put back in to the fridge.

At least I’ll never go hungry, but eventually I’ll get sick of myself.