Mel
@meldahms.bsky.social
Costume maker, occasional fan fiction writer, dance mum, occasional chicken wrangler
She/her
She/her
The grossest part of the social media ban has to be the way politicians parade parents of suicide victims in their own social media posts
They’re absolutely using these tragedies to sell this law
They’re absolutely using these tragedies to sell this law
December 10, 2025 at 6:48 AM
The grossest part of the social media ban has to be the way politicians parade parents of suicide victims in their own social media posts
They’re absolutely using these tragedies to sell this law
They’re absolutely using these tragedies to sell this law
Watching my youngest enthralled by the Merrily We Roll Along pro shot made the high ticket price and the 30 minutes of ads worth it
December 10, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Watching my youngest enthralled by the Merrily We Roll Along pro shot made the high ticket price and the 30 minutes of ads worth it
My eldest (who didn’t have social media) is spending the first morning of the ban listening to Brisbane punk and heavy metal on Spotify
The youngest is outside with the chickens while wearing sequinned rainbow flares
The youngest is outside with the chickens while wearing sequinned rainbow flares
December 9, 2025 at 11:14 PM
My eldest (who didn’t have social media) is spending the first morning of the ban listening to Brisbane punk and heavy metal on Spotify
The youngest is outside with the chickens while wearing sequinned rainbow flares
The youngest is outside with the chickens while wearing sequinned rainbow flares
Strictly Ballroom is my favourite movie and this is such a lovely look at it
Today in The December Comfort Watches, I'm essaying Strictly Ballroom, a loving look at a delightfully weird little subculture, that is, in its way, an absolutely perfect film:
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/09/t...
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/09/t...
The December Comfort Watches 2025, Day Nine: Strictly Ballroom
A personal story to begin: I was a film critic at the Fresno Bee newspaper when Strictly Ballroom came out in 1992, My review of it was an unqualified rave, and I said something along the line that…
whatever.scalzi.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Strictly Ballroom is my favourite movie and this is such a lovely look at it
If you’re wondering how quickly some kids will work out how to get around social media bans, my kid took about a day to work out how to view YouTube on a browser when I restricted her on YouTube Kids
She was 6
She was 6
December 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
If you’re wondering how quickly some kids will work out how to get around social media bans, my kid took about a day to work out how to view YouTube on a browser when I restricted her on YouTube Kids
She was 6
She was 6
With Albo telling the kids to get into music, we need a trumpet. And lessons. And playing venues for young people.
Here’s an idea, maybe we could ban pokies and turn those spaces into live music spaces . . .
Here’s an idea, maybe we could ban pokies and turn those spaces into live music spaces . . .
December 9, 2025 at 7:45 AM
With Albo telling the kids to get into music, we need a trumpet. And lessons. And playing venues for young people.
Here’s an idea, maybe we could ban pokies and turn those spaces into live music spaces . . .
Here’s an idea, maybe we could ban pokies and turn those spaces into live music spaces . . .
I found a local blood collection place open at 6am
It was filled with people doing fasting tests- basically a waiting room of hungry undercaffinated people
It was filled with people doing fasting tests- basically a waiting room of hungry undercaffinated people
December 8, 2025 at 8:26 PM
I found a local blood collection place open at 6am
It was filled with people doing fasting tests- basically a waiting room of hungry undercaffinated people
It was filled with people doing fasting tests- basically a waiting room of hungry undercaffinated people
There’s been a huge crackdown on illegal tobacco shops in my state and smokers are claiming the lack of cheap cigarettes will lead to a massive increase of domestic violence
So are smokers either inherently violent people, or just addicted to something that makes them violent?
So are smokers either inherently violent people, or just addicted to something that makes them violent?
December 8, 2025 at 7:39 PM
There’s been a huge crackdown on illegal tobacco shops in my state and smokers are claiming the lack of cheap cigarettes will lead to a massive increase of domestic violence
So are smokers either inherently violent people, or just addicted to something that makes them violent?
So are smokers either inherently violent people, or just addicted to something that makes them violent?
With the completion of Year 4, you think Sockgate would be done. But no! The main players are all at dancing together
Today was a Christmas dress up day and Clara had organised to wear the same Christmas onesie as several other girls, her mother excluding kids not in the onesie from photos
Today was a Christmas dress up day and Clara had organised to wear the same Christmas onesie as several other girls, her mother excluding kids not in the onesie from photos
December 8, 2025 at 7:31 AM
With the completion of Year 4, you think Sockgate would be done. But no! The main players are all at dancing together
Today was a Christmas dress up day and Clara had organised to wear the same Christmas onesie as several other girls, her mother excluding kids not in the onesie from photos
Today was a Christmas dress up day and Clara had organised to wear the same Christmas onesie as several other girls, her mother excluding kids not in the onesie from photos
Update - he went and got an A in science. Still no opportunity for my disappointed mum voice
Tried to catch the 13 year old playing around on his school laptop earlier
Sadly he was doing science homework and I had to put away my disappointed mum speech for another time
Sadly he was doing science homework and I had to put away my disappointed mum speech for another time
December 8, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Update - he went and got an A in science. Still no opportunity for my disappointed mum voice
My silly kids had way too much fun at dress rehearsal today
December 7, 2025 at 11:35 AM
My silly kids had way too much fun at dress rehearsal today
We were comparing FIFAs sham award ceremony to the award ceremonies at dance competitions (with awards for the Ruby Platinum Diamond dance and the Spirit Award and the highest scored something) and realised FIFA really dropped the ball by not having a sash
December 6, 2025 at 1:21 AM
We were comparing FIFAs sham award ceremony to the award ceremonies at dance competitions (with awards for the Ruby Platinum Diamond dance and the Spirit Award and the highest scored something) and realised FIFA really dropped the ball by not having a sash
My kids are done with school for the year!
I’ve come to love the final assembly my youngest’s school does - a chance to farewell the Year 6s and other students and staff leaving (or going on leave) - it’s the very last thing done in the school year
I’ve come to love the final assembly my youngest’s school does - a chance to farewell the Year 6s and other students and staff leaving (or going on leave) - it’s the very last thing done in the school year
December 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM
My kids are done with school for the year!
I’ve come to love the final assembly my youngest’s school does - a chance to farewell the Year 6s and other students and staff leaving (or going on leave) - it’s the very last thing done in the school year
I’ve come to love the final assembly my youngest’s school does - a chance to farewell the Year 6s and other students and staff leaving (or going on leave) - it’s the very last thing done in the school year
Got one report card today (one still to come) and my youngest aced Humanities and Social Studies, a subject which includes Civics and Citizenship
The fact I’ve raved and ranted about Civics and Citizenship her whole life is finally paying off!
The fact I’ve raved and ranted about Civics and Citizenship her whole life is finally paying off!
December 3, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Got one report card today (one still to come) and my youngest aced Humanities and Social Studies, a subject which includes Civics and Citizenship
The fact I’ve raved and ranted about Civics and Citizenship her whole life is finally paying off!
The fact I’ve raved and ranted about Civics and Citizenship her whole life is finally paying off!
Someone released Mariah Carey on a quiet suburban Pine Rivers street . . . .
(There's still 2 more days of school left for us. They just celebrated Christmas today)
(There's still 2 more days of school left for us. They just celebrated Christmas today)
December 3, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Someone released Mariah Carey on a quiet suburban Pine Rivers street . . . .
(There's still 2 more days of school left for us. They just celebrated Christmas today)
(There's still 2 more days of school left for us. They just celebrated Christmas today)
I caught a school assembly in my relief work last year and they did Acknowledgment of Country, National Anthem, School Creed and School song before getting to anything else
My youngest’s school only does two of those things regularly, but in return they sing both verses of the anthem
My youngest’s school only does two of those things regularly, but in return they sing both verses of the anthem
December 2, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I caught a school assembly in my relief work last year and they did Acknowledgment of Country, National Anthem, School Creed and School song before getting to anything else
My youngest’s school only does two of those things regularly, but in return they sing both verses of the anthem
My youngest’s school only does two of those things regularly, but in return they sing both verses of the anthem
My daughter's school is pretty accessible for those with physical disabilities, but there are some classrooms which are easier to access
When a student or a parent needs a more accessible classroom, they quietly arrange the whole grade to move to make it as easy as possible.
When a student or a parent needs a more accessible classroom, they quietly arrange the whole grade to move to make it as easy as possible.
December 2, 2025 at 4:53 AM
My daughter's school is pretty accessible for those with physical disabilities, but there are some classrooms which are easier to access
When a student or a parent needs a more accessible classroom, they quietly arrange the whole grade to move to make it as easy as possible.
When a student or a parent needs a more accessible classroom, they quietly arrange the whole grade to move to make it as easy as possible.
I’m going to continue to side eye parents who are for the social media ban because it helps them say no to their kids
Just say no to your kids! It’s so easy. No, nope, nup, it’s out of the question, no way
Just say no to your kids! It’s so easy. No, nope, nup, it’s out of the question, no way
December 1, 2025 at 9:58 AM
I’m going to continue to side eye parents who are for the social media ban because it helps them say no to their kids
Just say no to your kids! It’s so easy. No, nope, nup, it’s out of the question, no way
Just say no to your kids! It’s so easy. No, nope, nup, it’s out of the question, no way
I’m not sure some of the people commenting on Queensland Schoolies celebrations remember that around half the cohort are 18 these days so it’s not underage drinking
November 30, 2025 at 1:14 AM
I’m not sure some of the people commenting on Queensland Schoolies celebrations remember that around half the cohort are 18 these days so it’s not underage drinking
With increasing severe weather, various parts of SE Qld have had extended periods without power - we did 60 hours earlier this year after the ex cyclone
No region has been as self righteous or abusive about it as one region this week
No region has been as self righteous or abusive about it as one region this week
November 29, 2025 at 2:50 AM
With increasing severe weather, various parts of SE Qld have had extended periods without power - we did 60 hours earlier this year after the ex cyclone
No region has been as self righteous or abusive about it as one region this week
No region has been as self righteous or abusive about it as one region this week
I've hit that point where I see an actor from Australia who is working on big overseas projects and I try to work out how many characters they played on Blue Heelers
I think Jason Clarke played three characters across four episodes
I think Jason Clarke played three characters across four episodes
November 28, 2025 at 7:38 AM
I've hit that point where I see an actor from Australia who is working on big overseas projects and I try to work out how many characters they played on Blue Heelers
I think Jason Clarke played three characters across four episodes
I think Jason Clarke played three characters across four episodes
I taught a Year 2/3 class and a Year 6 class this week so I'm officially exhausted
I don't remember how I did this as a full time job
I don't remember how I did this as a full time job
November 28, 2025 at 7:34 AM
I taught a Year 2/3 class and a Year 6 class this week so I'm officially exhausted
I don't remember how I did this as a full time job
I don't remember how I did this as a full time job
I love an opportunity for Brisbane to be smug because we’re doing something better than Melbourne
Today it’s 50c public transport fares
Today it’s 50c public transport fares
November 27, 2025 at 10:11 AM
I love an opportunity for Brisbane to be smug because we’re doing something better than Melbourne
Today it’s 50c public transport fares
Today it’s 50c public transport fares
Finished high school ridiculously young, didn't get into the dance degrees. Did classics and loved it, but realised I wasn't at the top level to be an academic. Realised I liked kids and lots of subjects, became a primary teacher. Liked upper primary and when they took 7s to high school....
November 23, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Finished high school ridiculously young, didn't get into the dance degrees. Did classics and loved it, but realised I wasn't at the top level to be an academic. Realised I liked kids and lots of subjects, became a primary teacher. Liked upper primary and when they took 7s to high school....
I managed two weeks of eating and drinking in a way which wouldn't upset my stomach, which is great.
But weekends are clearly my weak point and I need to start buying enough fruit, veggies and protein to get through weekends
But weekends are clearly my weak point and I need to start buying enough fruit, veggies and protein to get through weekends
November 23, 2025 at 4:15 AM
I managed two weeks of eating and drinking in a way which wouldn't upset my stomach, which is great.
But weekends are clearly my weak point and I need to start buying enough fruit, veggies and protein to get through weekends
But weekends are clearly my weak point and I need to start buying enough fruit, veggies and protein to get through weekends