J MacQueen
@jomacmouse.bsky.social
A squeaky reader in the mouse house. Novacastrian Australian. Currently owned by two cavoodles, one old, one young. My home is in Barahineban of the Pambalong Awabakal people.
Made the mistake of not waking Jasper & making him go outside earlier. He woke himself up, went to the back door, then turned around & left a puddle trail almost to my mother’s bedroom door. I did not react well. He got a smack & was made to go outside.
November 15, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Made the mistake of not waking Jasper & making him go outside earlier. He woke himself up, went to the back door, then turned around & left a puddle trail almost to my mother’s bedroom door. I did not react well. He got a smack & was made to go outside.
Why, Jasper, why? You could’ve pooed anywhere, so why right in front of my chair? Dammit, doggie.
November 15, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Why, Jasper, why? You could’ve pooed anywhere, so why right in front of my chair? Dammit, doggie.
Have started Christmas shopping, heaven help me. All on line so far. Two art prints for niece & sister-in-law. Book for Mum to give me. Must avoid trying to take the easy way out with youngest nephew, because I don’t know what Minecraft stuff he already has. Isn’t it wonderful?
November 14, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Have started Christmas shopping, heaven help me. All on line so far. Two art prints for niece & sister-in-law. Book for Mum to give me. Must avoid trying to take the easy way out with youngest nephew, because I don’t know what Minecraft stuff he already has. Isn’t it wonderful?
At home after spending the afternoon with Mum. Jasper is in his bed, sleeping the sleep of the canine just. Bailey has claimed my lap as forfeit for having left him for so long. All is calm, & the garbage is out. Place needs a vacuum, though. Not tonight. Time for a bit of reading before bed.
November 13, 2025 at 9:50 AM
At home after spending the afternoon with Mum. Jasper is in his bed, sleeping the sleep of the canine just. Bailey has claimed my lap as forfeit for having left him for so long. All is calm, & the garbage is out. Place needs a vacuum, though. Not tonight. Time for a bit of reading before bed.
Mum to hospital again: home care nurse not happy about a bedsore in an awkward spot. Will know more later. Not been the best morning.
November 12, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Mum to hospital again: home care nurse not happy about a bedsore in an awkward spot. Will know more later. Not been the best morning.
Had some rather spectacular rumbleclouds this morning, & now the BoM is predicting more. I’d believe it when I see it, but the wind is blowing rather more than a gentle breeze, and the sky is beginning to darken in despite of Daylight Savings Time.
November 8, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Had some rather spectacular rumbleclouds this morning, & now the BoM is predicting more. I’d believe it when I see it, but the wind is blowing rather more than a gentle breeze, and the sky is beginning to darken in despite of Daylight Savings Time.
@patchworkmouse.bsky.social I’ve just been made aware of a new Penric & Desdemona book & wanted to know if you had heard too.
November 7, 2025 at 8:55 AM
@patchworkmouse.bsky.social I’ve just been made aware of a new Penric & Desdemona book & wanted to know if you had heard too.
Mild concern: just saw a mouse on the back verandah, skittering off toward the back stairs. I do hope it never finds the doggy door & learns how to get in. Also, we might need to watch how we keep the folding door from the loungeroom to the verandah open. No waltzing in, mouse, don’t do it.
November 5, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Mild concern: just saw a mouse on the back verandah, skittering off toward the back stairs. I do hope it never finds the doggy door & learns how to get in. Also, we might need to watch how we keep the folding door from the loungeroom to the verandah open. No waltzing in, mouse, don’t do it.
Accompanied Mum to an appointment at lunchtime today. A woman came in with her very small child. Bub looks at me, big-eyed, & I wave to bub, who looks at me again. I wave again, but when it happens once more I pulled an Ooo surprised face. This turned into a game - a wave, a face pulled or 1)
November 4, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Accompanied Mum to an appointment at lunchtime today. A woman came in with her very small child. Bub looks at me, big-eyed, & I wave to bub, who looks at me again. I wave again, but when it happens once more I pulled an Ooo surprised face. This turned into a game - a wave, a face pulled or 1)
Murder in the Cathedral has downloaded to my ereader app. Took a quick look at the About the author pages, and sadly it’s in the past tense, seeing as this is a posthumous book for Kerry Greenwood. Alas.
November 4, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Murder in the Cathedral has downloaded to my ereader app. Took a quick look at the About the author pages, and sadly it’s in the past tense, seeing as this is a posthumous book for Kerry Greenwood. Alas.
The Tongans are playing football against the Kiwis this afternoon. The Tongans issued their challenge first, then the Kiwis responded with a haka. After it finished, the camera caught a couple of Tongans with big grins on their faces. Of course this is serious, & yet…
November 2, 2025 at 5:09 AM
The Tongans are playing football against the Kiwis this afternoon. The Tongans issued their challenge first, then the Kiwis responded with a haka. After it finished, the camera caught a couple of Tongans with big grins on their faces. Of course this is serious, & yet…
Hazy sort of a day out there, overcast, occasional misty dampness from the sky. I’m almost thinking that the backyard beyond the verandah is from another realm, ever so slightly detached from the known.
November 1, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Hazy sort of a day out there, overcast, occasional misty dampness from the sky. I’m almost thinking that the backyard beyond the verandah is from another realm, ever so slightly detached from the known.
Am glad Mum didn’t have to stay on until now: there’s a bit of a storm brewing. Instead, she is having her evening meal in bed. On a tray, even. She was impressed.
October 31, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Am glad Mum didn’t have to stay on until now: there’s a bit of a storm brewing. Instead, she is having her evening meal in bed. On a tray, even. She was impressed.
Mum’s coming home. I have to bring the wheelchair up to her, so I have to wait for a wheelchair-capable taxi, & heaven knows how long it will be after I get there before she can go. But she’ll get to sleep in her own bed tonight, would should make her happier.
October 31, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Mum’s coming home. I have to bring the wheelchair up to her, so I have to wait for a wheelchair-capable taxi, & heaven knows how long it will be after I get there before she can go. But she’ll get to sleep in her own bed tonight, would should make her happier.
The morning news: inflammation squeezing the heart. A cardiologist is expected, & then we’ll know if she’s coming home today or not. Just have to wait.
October 30, 2025 at 10:09 PM
The morning news: inflammation squeezing the heart. A cardiologist is expected, & then we’ll know if she’s coming home today or not. Just have to wait.
Mum doesn’t do things by halves. Waves of pain on her left side that made her ask me to call an ambulance. The ambos don’t think it’s her heart, but they think she should have further testing & observation. My brother reckons that might mean she’s in over the weekend.
October 30, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Mum doesn’t do things by halves. Waves of pain on her left side that made her ask me to call an ambulance. The ambos don’t think it’s her heart, but they think she should have further testing & observation. My brother reckons that might mean she’s in over the weekend.
Mum got some ice cream. It was Macca’s, but it did the job.
October 30, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Mum got some ice cream. It was Macca’s, but it did the job.
Mum had another appointment with a lung specialist today. He’s understandably wary of the radiotherapy idea, as Mum has more than enough complications in her condition without potentially adding more. But there are still other people to see, whether or not this goes ahead.
October 29, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Mum had another appointment with a lung specialist today. He’s understandably wary of the radiotherapy idea, as Mum has more than enough complications in her condition without potentially adding more. But there are still other people to see, whether or not this goes ahead.
Argh. That lump in Mum’s lung I mentioned a few months back? May not be as harmless as was thought. A scan for something else entirely has led to a cardiothoracic surgeon who is suggesting radiotherapy (surgery not an option in her condition). If it’s not one thing, it’s another, blast it.
October 28, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Argh. That lump in Mum’s lung I mentioned a few months back? May not be as harmless as was thought. A scan for something else entirely has led to a cardiothoracic surgeon who is suggesting radiotherapy (surgery not an option in her condition). If it’s not one thing, it’s another, blast it.
Reposted by J MacQueen
When life gives you Lemnos, suspect a typo
October 26, 2025 at 5:13 AM
When life gives you Lemnos, suspect a typo
Heaven help me, I got 10 out of 10.
Is it a critical mineral or a Tolkien invention? Take the Guardian’s nerdiest quiz yet
Do you know your ores from your orcs? Your rare earths versus Middle-earth? Test your knowledge here …
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October 24, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Heaven help me, I got 10 out of 10.
One of Dad’s cousins in Scotland has just lost her husband of many years. My aunt in Brisbane got the news & let us know. She’s going to arrange for flowers to be sent on behalf of the Australian branch of the family. We can’t be there, but at least we can let them know we’re thinking of them.
October 24, 2025 at 12:27 AM
One of Dad’s cousins in Scotland has just lost her husband of many years. My aunt in Brisbane got the news & let us know. She’s going to arrange for flowers to be sent on behalf of the Australian branch of the family. We can’t be there, but at least we can let them know we’re thinking of them.
Bailey just walked up to Jasper to sniff him, and leggy Bailey is taller than Jasper. Jasper is an old boy, but I hadn’t thought that dogs might shrink as they age, as humans have been known to do. Oh Jasper, matey.
October 23, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Bailey just walked up to Jasper to sniff him, and leggy Bailey is taller than Jasper. Jasper is an old boy, but I hadn’t thought that dogs might shrink as they age, as humans have been known to do. Oh Jasper, matey.
What’s under all of that fur that was taken off today. Jasper looks so small, but he was so hairy & matted that the groomer warned us it would cost ten dollars more than usual. Mum gave fifteen dollars more, & said keep the change. You can see his eyes again.
October 23, 2025 at 4:00 AM
What’s under all of that fur that was taken off today. Jasper looks so small, but he was so hairy & matted that the groomer warned us it would cost ten dollars more than usual. Mum gave fifteen dollars more, & said keep the change. You can see his eyes again.
@tanaudel.bsky.social will probably shake a finger at me for not getting these out of the letterbox earlier, but never mind, my Mr Squiggle purchases are here. Bill Steamshovel, and Blackboard, all present & correct.
October 21, 2025 at 10:32 AM
@tanaudel.bsky.social will probably shake a finger at me for not getting these out of the letterbox earlier, but never mind, my Mr Squiggle purchases are here. Bill Steamshovel, and Blackboard, all present & correct.