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

Oh boy. Yes, I have come across those on some hikes. It’s unnerving how they look up at you as if they are sizing you up, and walk backwards while still looking at you. Didn’t know about the anaphylaxis, only know that the bites are very painful. Thank you!

I know. I also don’t like when my feet can’t touch the ground, so there’s that, too.

I’m also mad allergic to bug bites (mosquitoes and spiders are really bad), so I try to avoid anything that bites.

Still learning about Australia. I’ve survived for almost 6 years now, I think I’m doing okay.

As a Canadian living in Australia, I prefer the North American dangers. At least you can see most of them. I’ve nearly stepped too close to a tiger snake once and didn’t notice until I put my foot down. Luckily it preferred the warm spot over me.

I usually don’t go far in to the water out of fear of dark waters and rips. Seen the cute little blue dragons and jellyfish on beaches, but I leave those alone.

White tailed spiders under the covers, or in your closet or drawers are a joy, especially the baby ones.

That’s awesome… And you know that now you’ve mentioned dogs, you must pay the dog tax.

Milk and cereal, milk and cereal, milk and cereal, cereal and milk!

I’m not sure. My partner isn’t as pedantic as I am, so I end up scooping his day old crumbs on to my toast the next day.

I love that you buy in bulk because you’re right - it definitely is cheaper buying more if you can eat it all before it spoils. What kind of foods do you make with cream cheese? Genuinely curious. I love cream cheese but I can’t finish it fast enough.

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.

When I was about the age of 12, I had a new friend who asked me if I believed in God. I said no, and then she told me I was going to burn in hell. That was my first introduction to religion.

I don’t remember ever speaking with her again, but I still remember that interaction crystal clear and where it happened 20+ years later.

Oh, no I haven’t, but thank you for the share, I’ll go take a look. Going out to eat has gone up in price so much that it is pushing me to learn to cook my favourite dishes, and explore flavours I would otherwise never have tasted before.

Something else I had planned to do was once a month, my partner and I write down three countries (six between us) we want to visit or re visit on small pieces of paper. We put them in a cup and draw three countries: First is the main meal, second is dessert, third is an activity.

Definitely more effort involved but it gets him to expand his culinary skills past pasta and chicken wraps.

Cook one meal from a different country every month. I’ve always loved cooking and I have a partner who is equally as enthusiastic to eat it with me! The foods have to be something I’ve never cooked before. Some can be ones I’ve eaten before, so I have something to compare to. I’m thinking of starting with traditional foods from Afghanistan, Russia, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Uyghur…

And also adding pieces of chicken (cooked leftovers or raw, can even be bbq chicken) and eggs (any type, really). I use an Instant Pot on the porridge setting and use frozen chicken, bones or meat. Works a treat. Otherwise, I used to put everything on low overnight in a slow cooker to be ready when I wake up.

I’ve also used frozen fish, which is pretty good. It just falls apart in to flakes.

Top off with some spring onions, soy sauce, sesame oil before eating. All very delicious and easy to eat when you’re sick af and have a bad sore throat.