this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2025
15 points (100.0% liked)
Melbourne
2271 readers
49 users here now
This community is a place created for the people of Melbourne and Victoria. We are a positive, welcoming and inclusive community. We might not agree about everything, but we always strive to stay civil and respectful.
The focus of our discussions is based around things that affect Victoria, but we are also free to discuss our local perspective on wider issues. Or head to the regular Daily Random Discussion thread to talk about anything.
Ongoing discussions, FAQs & Resources (still under construction)
Adoption Certificate for Nellie, the Daily Thread numbat (with thanks to @Catfish)
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
What are some of the best things you've experienced this year?
my answer
Meeting so many new people in all the different settings I've been in!
Started listening to jazz music.
Watching way more movies.
Starting my uni course and going on placements.
Continuing playing music.
Mine's simple.
Remaining sane (ish) lol.
Hopefully it lasts.
Watching my daughter become a more confident independent young lady, getting more out there and experiencing life like young people should thanks to her getting her licence.
As a consequence husband and I having a lot more alone time.
We were a happy family before but now it's more different kinda happy.
There has been so much happen this year it's hard to believe it hasn't been longer. I'm never any good at picking out a 'best' thing though, too many variables!
I've bought a new (to me) van to replace my aging car. I've moved to Ballarat, which was easier than I expected it to be (but still a lot of work!). I've done most of the hard work in establishing new gardens. My mother has moved into aged care and is doing well. I've finished my Diploma.
Probably the best thing to me is just seeing a lot of hard work making changes in my life over the last five or so years start to pay off. I'm still not drinking. My budgeting is working well and I'm seeing my savings continue to grow instead of my debt. My meal planning system is working well and I am mostly eating good healthy food. The decluttering and attention to good tidying/cleaning habits mean my house is generally tidy and welcoming instead of chaos.
Reconnecting with old friends and making new ones
Getting off suboxone and feeling life properly
The cats
Making music from genuine feeling again
Getting through some really difficult moments sober
Moved to the beach
staying with the young seagoons for 3 weeks in NZ ( i love them so much )
all the beaches in NZ/hobbiton
reading art books
watching tv and movies with mr seagoon ( luv him so much )
the UnKAOS continues
I have so many jazz recommendations for you
Yes please!
Some questions first…
What have you tried that you’ve liked? Is there an instrument or sound you particularly want highlighted?
For example, if you’ve been enjoying jazz vocalists (Dinah Washington, I love you) then that’s quite different to sitting you down with the Miles Davis back catalog for maximum trumpet all the time. If you’re vibing with the classic Basie big band sound (1930s and early 40s) then I don’t want to send you looking 40 years later.
What’s your vibe so far?
I think I'm more into jazz piano and guitar at the moment, more cool jazz. I am also partial to big band and vocal stuff. I love a good double bass too. Think Oscar Peterson Trio, the other famous jazz people, Art Blakey etc. Don't mind some Basie.
Have probably listened to vocal jazz the least but am open to recs! Samara Joy is cool.
For guitar, you’re definitely going to want Django Reinhardt. Totally unique technique, since he only really had one functional hand. If you ever see a photo of him, you’ll see it - the fingers on his left hand were so badly burned he couldn’t use most of them
Emily Remler is a personal favourite. Wes Montgomery. Gabor Szabo.
Piano…Art Tatum, Herbie Hancock and Dave Brubeck. PARTICULARLY for Brubeck, an album called Take Five. Duke Ellington was also personally a pianist, though he veers into big band sound more than the others I’ve named
I think I have all of these artists saved in my jazz playlists! I love Take Five and Wes Montgomery! Dad likes Django and gypsy jazz!
Thanks for the recs :)
Also, as a personal touch, there’s a local composer called Elliot Lamb whose work I love.
I’ve known them for twenty years - went to school with them - and will suggest them to anyone who’ll listen. El is a brilliant trombone player
Thank you!!
Trip to Japan at the start of the year.
Having a supportive workplace.
Playing Exp33.