Society & Culture Things in life you just don't understand - Part 6

[Gough]

Pubs that spend millions of dollars on renovations and then spruik their new menu that's effectively burgers, fish & chips, steak sandiwch, parmis and maybe a salad. So many pub menus are so uninspiring these days, and they have the gall to charge $30 and up.

The spit and sawdust pub is dead and we're all the poorer for it.

 

[Off The Couch]

Daughters ex has reduced his income to 28k so that he doesn’t have to pay child support just the minimum $40 month

I dont get how someone 12months ago can be earning 180k can do this and there be nothing she can do. Meanwhile she has the day to day costs to continue managing and there are some ongoing health issues that requires ongoing treatment that he doesn’t contribute to because “I pay mtce”

What saddens me the most is that his hate for my daughter outweighs the impact this has on his daughter - how can you want your child to be living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet

 

[JackOutback]

The spit and sawdust pub is dead and we're all the poorer for it.

I'd love the suburban corner pub such as those in London (though it's been more than 10 years since I've visited, a lot of them might be gone now) that offer cheap beer, burger and chips and not much else. Always room for that. And then there's room for the fancy pubs that target families, big sports bars etc, but for chrissakes, lift your menu game.

 

[Xtreme]

I'd love the suburban corner pub such as those in London (though it's been more than 10 years since I've visited, a lot of them might be gone now) that offer cheap beer, burger and chips and not much else. Always room for that. And then there's room for the fancy pubs that target families, big sports bars etc, but for chrissakes, lift your menu game.

Went to a pub on NYE, had a pretty good lasagna that was better than a lot of "restaurant" lasagna's that I've consumed over the last 12 months.

Daughters ex has reduced his income to 28k so that he doesn’t have to pay child support just the minimum $40 month

I dont get how someone 12months ago can be earning 180k can do this and there be nothing she can do. Meanwhile she has the day to day costs to continue managing and there are some ongoing health issues that requires ongoing treatment that he doesn’t contribute to because “I pay mtce”

What saddens me the most is that his hate for my daughter outweighs the impact this has on his daughter - how can you want your child to be living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet

CAMPAIGNER is just being polite

More than one human is suffering because of his actions.

 

[MrsEddieBetts]

Daughters ex has reduced his income to 28k so that he doesn’t have to pay child support just the minimum $40 month

I dont get how someone 12months ago can be earning 180k can do this and there be nothing she can do. Meanwhile she has the day to day costs to continue managing and there are some ongoing health issues that requires ongoing treatment that he doesn’t contribute to because “I pay mtce”

What saddens me the most is that his hate for my daughter outweighs the impact this has on his daughter - how can you want your child to be living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet

What a ****ing arseh*le. The child support system is a joke.

 

[Cruyff14]

Daughters ex has reduced his income to 28k so that he doesn’t have to pay child support just the minimum $40 month

I dont get how someone 12months ago can be earning 180k can do this and there be nothing she can do. Meanwhile she has the day to day costs to continue managing and there are some ongoing health issues that requires ongoing treatment that he doesn’t contribute to because “I pay mtce”

What saddens me the most is that his hate for my daughter outweighs the impact this has on his daughter - how can you want your child to be living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet

This is so sad.

 

[Billy ray]

What a f wit

 

[Frank Bunn]

Daughters ex has reduced his income to 28k so that he doesn’t have to pay child support just the minimum $40 month

I dont get how someone 12months ago can be earning 180k can do this and there be nothing she can do. Meanwhile she has the day to day costs to continue managing and there are some ongoing health issues that requires ongoing treatment that he doesn’t contribute to because “I pay mtce”

What saddens me the most is that his hate for my daughter outweighs the impact this has on his daughter - how can you want your child to be living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet

There is a process where a payee can appeal when the payer has deliberately reduced their income to avoid paying child support. It comes under Application to Change Assessment – Special Circumstances, Reason 8 “The child support assessment is unfair because of the income, earning capacity, property or financial resources of one or both parents”.

The Child Support website has gone to shit since it moved to Services Australia. I couldn't find the form. Get your daughter to give them a call. The dumbass has probably breached tax rules too.

 

[rocker_oz33]

Pubs that spend millions of dollars on renovations and then spruik their new menu that's effectively burgers, fish & chips, steak sandiwch, parmis and maybe a salad. So many pub menus are so uninspiring these days, and they have the gall to charge $30 and up.

Yep.
I guess most people would rather a less nice place and cheaper and still nice food.
Old style not up market food.

 

[rocker_oz33]

Was talking to the guy that was doing work for us.
Lives in the next suburb. He spend 5K on fences are they all shite.
Why can't people do a good job...getting paid but deliver poo.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Pubs that spend millions of dollars on renovations and then spruik their new menu that's effectively burgers, fish & chips, steak sandiwch, parmis and maybe a salad. So many pub menus are so uninspiring these days, and they have the gall to charge $30 and up.

I love how they rename the place. Always gotta have something floggy and pints must go up by $3-5 each

 

[Madas]

Pubs that spend millions of dollars on renovations and then spruik their new menu that's effectively burgers, fish & chips, steak sandiwch, parmis and maybe a salad. So many pub menus are so uninspiring these days, and they have the gall to charge $30 and up.

Cattle truck menus
Pre made bulk food
Feed em up and move em on

We have a couple of places that have gone down this road so we now avoid them and go to smaller places that give a shit and make an effort

 

[rocker_oz33]

Cattle truck menus
Pre made bulk food
Feed em up and move em on

We have a couple of places that have gone down this road so we now avoid them and go to smaller places that give a shit and make an effort

No bulk food.

 

[GreyCrow]

Lets see what happens now Roo and the Hurley group have bought The Barker

Meals are ok - some overpricing but nice food for money can be had

Their roast pork at $28 is worth it

And for the PokerBros they do a mean old toasty for $5 each - gold

 

[Catfish Alley]

Daughters ex has reduced his income to 28k so that he doesn’t have to pay child support just the minimum $40 month

I dont get how someone 12months ago can be earning 180k can do this and there be nothing she can do. Meanwhile she has the day to day costs to continue managing and there are some ongoing health issues that requires ongoing treatment that he doesn’t contribute to because “I pay mtce”

What saddens me the most is that his hate for my daughter outweighs the impact this has on his daughter - how can you want your child to be living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet

That sucks. What an arseh*le. My girlfriends ex has done something similar. He's an industrial welder driving a $110k truck but, yeah, only earns $35k.

But his daughter barely wants to see him and only goes over because she misses the pets. He's the one missing out. Kids aren't dumb and although can be blinded a little by loyalty to parents, they easily pick out who isn't genuine.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Daughters ex has reduced his income to 28k so that he doesn’t have to pay child support just the minimum $40 month

I dont get how someone 12months ago can be earning 180k can do this and there be nothing she can do. Meanwhile she has the day to day costs to continue managing and there are some ongoing health issues that requires ongoing treatment that he doesn’t contribute to because “I pay mtce”

What saddens me the most is that his hate for my daughter outweighs the impact this has on his daughter - how can you want your child to be living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet

When I started going out with my wife, she'd get the odd payment to her bank account for (literally) a few dollars for monthly child support, because her ex-husband didn't earn anything. You don't want to deprive your daughter of having a relationship with their dad if that's what they want (especially in the early years), but it's like, if that's the best you can do, how is she living when she goes to his place for the weekend? She's got precisely nothing for child support for years.

There's no question of him ever paying for anything in terms of school or whatever, but he actually gets more of a say in where she goes to school than I do (if it came to that, it hasn't been an issue thankfully). It isn't like he's being creative with his earnings: I just think he doesn't earn anything.

On the one school day a week that he has her, I walk right past him in his car while I go to pick-up her sister, I make an effort to give a half hearted wave as I walk past him, he just pretends he doesn't see me and keeps looking at his phone. When he drops her off after she's been at his house, we might get a few grunts from him if we're lucky. Whatever. Sorry you hate me for doing a job that you're clearly not capable of doing in raising your kid. Stick to being her friend, that's about all you're equipped to be. I'm pretty introverted, so it's not like I'm keen for a big yarn with him, just the usual "hello, how's it going?" might be good though, to show your daughter you can act like a grown up.

She has a half brother about a year younger than her and she hasn't seen him since he was about two. He and his mum have gone God knows where to get away from him and it's constantly on our stepdaughter's mind: that she has a brother out there who she has no relationship with. It's in this guy's blood, Christmas sounds like it goes for about a week while she's away, because everyone's divorced and/or fighting with each other, so there's like five or six different things to go to.

Anyway, this week blew me away at the regular drop off. We're having the end of life discussions for our dog, he's on lots of medication, starting to struggle with walking etc... it's close to time. So when he's dropping our daughter off he asks my wife if he can go along when he's put down. Like, um... what? They broke up 11-12 years ago. Our other dog was put down just over a year ago. Two grandparents have died while I've been married to her: zero interest in going to their funerals if only to support his daughter.

I'm pretty easy to get along with. I genuinely make an effort to keep things civil. My stepdaughter understands that we'll never be friends, but she doesn't need to see us abusing each other. But he's been an utter campaigner from day 1. So GFY, mate.

 

[Off The Couch]

I’m sorry to hear all that MC Extra Dollop - I hope your partner said no to such a personal moment for you all

You don’t say how old YOUR daughter is but hopefully she’s close to being able to make decisions for herself as to whether she wants to go

I also understand what you mean by “having a say in everything” while contributing nothing. Makes a big song and dance about wanting to know and controlling the narrative but then never follows up or contributes.

He was all about coercive control when they were together so doing this effectively continues the financial control along with the gaslighting. Thankfully she’s getting stronger with her responses and he’s not getting the same satisfaction

I want to know how he’s paying his mortgage and car payment on his 100k car - it’s so frustrating the whole thing.

Anyway she’s moved back in with us so the loss of control again will piss him off and we now wait to see what he does next

 

[GreyCrow]

I want to know how he’s paying his mortgage and car payment on his 100k car - it’s so frustrating the whole thing.

Is he able to work in a cash economy? ie tradies mates rates?

 

[Off The Couch]

Is he able to work in a cash economy? ie tradies mates rates?

Heavy diesel mechanic so
I’m just presuming he has become “self employed” and his boss now has him as a subcontractor

 

[GreyCrow]

Heavy diesel mechanic so I presume so
I’m just presuming he has become “self employed” and his boss now has him as a subcontractor

Yep

This is the loophole the ATO need to cover.

 

[Cruyff14]

I do swimming with my daughter, she's two and half.

It baffles me how many dads get in the pool with a t shirt etc on.

 

[GreyCrow]

I do swimming with my daughter, she's two and half.

It baffles me how many dads get in the pool with a t shirt etc on.

the_interloper effect?

Wouldnt want to create a rush at one end if off?

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I’m sorry to hear all that MC Extra Dollop - I hope your partner said no to such a personal moment for you all

You don’t say how old YOUR daughter is but hopefully she’s close to being able to make decisions for herself as to whether she wants to go

I also understand what you mean by “having a say in everything” while contributing nothing. Makes a big song and dance about wanting to know and controlling the narrative but then never follows up or contributes.

He was all about coercive control when they were together so doing this effectively continues the financial control along with the gaslighting. Thankfully she’s getting stronger with her responses and he’s not getting the same satisfaction

I want to know how he’s paying his mortgage and car payment on his 100k car - it’s so frustrating the whole thing.

Anyway she’s moved back in with us so the loss of control again will piss him off and we now wait to see what he does next

Yeah that's the side of it we haven't seen (in a lot of ways it's a positive but it can also be a bad thing): there's never really been any issue with being financially independent from him, because he's never had any money. I understand that frustration though from your side, that something's not adding up and it shouldn't be that easy to (apparently) sidestep your responsibilities, with the obvious flow-on that he's probably not paying his share of tax either. Hopefully the move home is a positive first step. Of course it's a cliche, but it sounds like the best revenge with a flog like that is living well. Nothing pisses them off more than being in the rearview mirror, little more than an afterthought.

My stepdaughter is turning 12 this year, so at least a few years to go and I don't begrudge them that. She loves her dad and I know he loves her, especially since he apparently has zero contact with his son. He doesn't have anything else. I'd be surprised if she doesn't want to continue the relationship when it's her choice.

She feels bad for him, that he doesn’t have money to do things with her. When my parents gave her $50 for Christmas the year before last, she wanted to give it to him. I had to put my foot down and give her a serious talk: that if she were to start giving money to her dad at 10 years old, that's the start of a long road that she'd probably continue for the rest of his life. And that if she wanted to do it, I wouldn't be thrilled about it and I realistically couldn't stop her. But if it's something she wanted to do, she should earn the money by doing work around the house, regifting a present from her stepfather's parents for that purpose was a no-no in my book.

But it sort of hammers home the fact (and breaks my heart a little bit) that she has much more life experience in some ways than I do. She's a great kid and has a good head on her shoulders and I'm conscious that she's doing so much better with the hand she's been dealt than I probably would have.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I do swimming with my daughter, she's two and half.

It baffles me how many dads get in the pool with a t shirt etc on.

I'm a rashie man for sure

 

[MrsEddieBetts]

I do swimming with my daughter, she's two and half.

It baffles me how many dads get in the pool with a t shirt etc on.

Our swimming school insists that parents wear shirts in the pool, so if the kids go under unexpectedly they have something to grab.