The situation: Our flatmate is moving to Japan for six months! Amazing for her, sad for us -- because now we have to fill her shoes.

The house: A four-bedroom sharehouse in Brunswick. With new kitchen and carpets installed when we moved here back in 2010, it's a comfortable late-Victorian (the era, not the state) with an attractive front and a concrete-and-corrugated-iron backyard that wouldn't be out of place in a serial killer movie. The rooms are large but lack civilised things like built-in wardrobes. Short walk from Moreland Station and the 8 and 19 trams.

The flatmates: A film student, an office worker and a cat. The humans are quiet homebodies with nerdy interests and creative tendencies. The cat is so neurotic he's on human Prozac. If your idea of a great Saturday night is sitting on the internet with a glass of wine close to hand, you'll fit in great.

The ideal candidate: A lion-tamer. Or someone with a profound passion for cleaning. Or, failing all that, a non-smoker with a job, a sense of humour, and basic interpersonal skills. Would especially suit a post-grad student or young professional aged 25-35.

The money: rent is $650 a month. Bond is $600. Bills and internet are extra.

Available: beginning December 2012

I was a bad girl a few weeks ago -- it was early in the morning, I needed to get to work, and on boarding my tram I discovered that my purse held $1.45 in small change and a $20 note. And, as if starting work at 7am wasn't bad enough, the ticket inspectors loomed.

So now I have a fine waiting to be paid, but the inspector recommended that I appeal, as it was a first-time offence and I had extenuating circumstances. I was originally inclined to pay the fine, but then I saw how much it was. $178 >>>> laziness.

So, beloved Melbournians, have any of you appealed a fine, how did you phrase your letter, and did you have any luck?