iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Queensland might be an hr behind but in some ways decades behind. Just having a coffee. The process is: girl writes down on triplicate pad, consults menu for prices, uses calculator to add total, hands copy to barista, types total into EFTPOS machine. And after all of that the coffee isn’t great!

000

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I mentioned out journey by EV and the usual issues come up: time and queuing. I think all charging networks should have idle fees and capped charging during peak periods. Charge to what you need and then move on!

000

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

We arrived at Sandstone Point yesterday after driving nearly 1,300kms from Canberra. Total cost of charging was less than $100. You need to be rich to own an ICE car!

022

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Ruby turns one today. It’s hard to describe the love and joy she has brought us in less than 12 mths together. I still grieve for Molly. Ruby doesn’t replace her and I don’t need her to do that - she brings new joy and fun that is uniquely hers.

A closeup photo of the face of a dog resting.

020

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The two shower taps in this hotel bathroom rotate in opposite directions. Why? I get that it’s a tactile clue as to which is the hot one, but reversing expectations means it’s not immediately obvious how to turn them off and on.

An image of two shower taps on a hotel bathroom.

020

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I know it was a family event, but it’s still a weird feeling to run into another Anura in Australia. When I sat at my allocated table I assumed I was the only one there!

100

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

We criticise “the algorithms” and sometimes rightly so. But my instagram feed kept throwing up short clips from a Norwegian music producer and now I’m addicted to electronic dance music.

100

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

How much “self defence” is too much “self defence”? Are we expected to believe that every single shell and bomb that did this was targeting a known terrorist?

000

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Too good to be true. 1 hr before scheduled departure I get a text message saying my flight is delayed for an hr. This is why when I book anything in, I leave enough time to physically drive the distance.

000

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I’m heading to Melbourne for the weekend to celebrate my Uncle’s 100th birthday tomorrow (his birthday was earlier this week). Man, I hope I got his genes!

000

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

You know you’re retired when you drive past some roadworks, see people and equipment at work, and think “wow, great to see them cracking on on a weekend”. And then realise it’s a weekday.

000

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

One thing that feels weird about structural firefighting is traipsing through someone’s home. Last night wasn’t too bad - just smoke, so opening windows & doors to ventilate, moving some furniture around. But earlier this year I had to rip down eaves to access a fire - actual damage.

000

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

It turns out that a weights class at the gym, Pilates class, a structure fire and a fitness test inside 36 hrs might be a bit much for my 60 yr old body!

110

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Just over 2 weeks after qualifying as a structural firefighter I went to my first structural fire. Lot alight on a stove. Easily dealt with before it got bigger but lots of smoke. It was only when I took the BA off that I realised how awful it smelled!

010

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Don’t you hate it when you have the shopping list but can’t decipher the handwriting? Even worse, it’s mine. And I added that item 2 hrs ago!

000

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I went into a Service NSW place this morning and watched a lady struggle with a jammed photocopier. And suddenly realised that this is yet one more joy that retirement has snatched away from me!

000

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I passed my assessment for the structural firefighter course today. I’m 60. I think I’m going to feel it tomorrow morning. But right now I’m just so exhausted …

030

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I spend a lot of time (too much?) watching covers on YouTube. The algorithms throw up some beauties. Last night it gave me “South Side of the Sky” by Yes - a song I first heard more than 40 years ago but had completely forgotten about.

000

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I must be weird. The part of the structural firefighting assessment I’m least looking forward to isn’t entering a hot building, cooling gases, search and rescue in a dark environment or dragging hoses up stairs. It’s the theory test.

020

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Today was the full practical day for the structural firefighting course. I’ve never been so exhausted. I was knackered after we did downstairs and then had to head straight upstairs! But good to know what I’m doing, and the second round with a search included was easier.

010

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Second call-out of the day, this time for a MVA. Once again, a sub-10 minute response from phone app to truck rolling.

110

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

7 minutes from call-out on the phone to a truck rolling. Not bad at all! We’re averaging under 10 mins this year.

010

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

“The fascist playbook unfolds step by step and the components are always the same: A yearning for some idealised mythical past, a profound contempt for fact, and the accusation that leftist elites and minorities are conspiring to destroy the country.” Rosan Smits.

010

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

We constantly see calls for immigrants to learn English but maybe the locals could give it a go. I ordered a coffee at a cafe this week. Despite spelling my name twice, the name they got was 4 letters instead of 5, and 2 of those aren’t in the name I spelled out for them.

010

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

What was happening during that extended break between acts? #Eurovision

000

Reposted by Anura

Patrick Stokes @patrickstokes.com · 18/04/2026

Ms 16 just now: “Most ponies can’t even do one trick. A one-trick pony is doing pretty well.”

89417

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

I was impressed that at 2:30am this morning we managed to get 8 volunteers to turn out to a MVA on the highway.

020

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Ruby’s first trip to the beach.

A women carrying a small dog on the beach.

030

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

My new coworker seems to be sleeping on the job. Too early to have a serious performance review?

010

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

I know the Ruby can’t fill the hole that Molly has left. Her job is to teach me that there is a Ruby-sized hole in my life that only she can fill.

050

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

We spent the morning doing car and compartment fires for some NSW Police forensic trainees. I hope they got as much out of it as I did - it’s always good to don the BA and get some practice in.

010

Anura @neo-the-fat-cat.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Imagine achieving your childhood dream of joining the forces only to end up beating the drum at the start of Raiders home games.

000