Random randomness

• I attended an anti bullying seminar last week by Michael Carr Gregg.
  Mr Carr Gregg advises and works with Channel Seven who screened the documentary about footballer Ben Cousins. At the seminar he said he had previewed the doco and thought they should show it in high schools to teenage boys. Whoa... unless the second part of the dcoc actually shows how taking drugs will RUIN your life I wouldn't be showing it to my kids anytime soon. David and I watched it and both agreed that it gave the message of an uber talented footballer given God like status who loved recreational drugs and for a lot of years was enabled by his family, coach, club and friends to take the drugs as long as it didn't interfere with Match Day. Oh and that after years of the police trying to nab him for the drug use he was "set up" by the drug task force and media. The fact that Ben Cousins still looks like a healthy young alpha male today doesn't scream "I nearly wrecked my life with drugs" enough for me to show it to Bear as a cautionary tale. Maybe I am completely wrong and teenagers need to really admire the person giving them the message.

• I tried a new recipe last night posted here Citrus Beef Stir fry. It was delicious but it took me a lot longer to put together than a normal stir fry. There was a few different steps involved more than my usual "cut up chuck in" method of beef stir fry. Of course after I have gone to the extra effort I then get annoyed that nobody acts thankful enough at the dinner table because I slaved for an extra 30 mins on tea. It did expand my cooking skills and I now know how to get crispy beef strips... which will go beautifully with any sauce and rice. Kim's blog has some really nice recipes if you are looking for some inspiration.

• I got some free tickets to the movies. Unfortunately for Dave its this movie. I'm making a "date night" out of it and we are going out to tea as well. I hope Steve Carell turns up.
  
  

• I try to shop for groceries twice a month. This means that when I do get to Woolies it takes 2 trolleys, 2 hours and way more patience than I possess. I am seriously thinking about doing my grocery shopping on line and getting the Woolies man to schlep it up to my house (our area just got free delivery ... oh the progress). Have you ever shopped online for groceries? Did it fix all the stresses in your life ? (cause surely this will be the thing that makes my life perfect).
  
  

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  Our home phone has been broken for over 12 months. We are not big talkers on the home phone obviously . We did purchase a new phone a couple of weeks ago only to find out that it wasn't the phone that was broken but the line to the phone. The knowledge that I had to ring Telstra and get them to repair the line stressed me to the point of insomnia (yep I am an idiot). Yesterday I called Telstra ... It took about 3 and half minutes for the nice girl in India to lodge the fault and by lunch time it was fixed. Yep I am an idiot. An idiot with a working home phone mind you.
  

• 
  My neck is stuffed. I could bore you with hundreds of words as to why my neck is stuffed but lets just say its not a great idea to channel all your stress to your neck and shoulders... they will become stuffed. About 6 years ago I ended up in hospital on pethidine because of my neck and according to my Dr. the cure was managing my anxiety and stress not pethidine (bummer). Of course for the next year I ignored all that advice and my neck got worse until out of absolute desperation I made an appointment to see a Bowen therapist. I am so not the poster girl for alternative therapies and I hate massages so that shows how desperate I was to check Bowen out. As I appear to have written lots of boring words about my neck I will wrap it up by saying that Bowen works for me and my neck and the absolute bonus is I get to keep my clothes on for the session. Be warned the day after you get Bowen you will be sore sore sore all over. I am on the nurofen today as I had Bowen yesterday. The good news is by tomorrow I will be feeling much much better (I better be or I will be directing my angry aura at the therapist).

• 
  
  David and I are loving this new Australian Drama/Comedy called Offspring. David said that I remind him of the main character Nina. I see that. I could totally be her if I was younger, had cute blond hair, dropped 15Kg, got myself a Medical Degree and had a nutter family. He clarified its because I sometimes talk to myself.
  
  
  
  

I was always going to like Offspring because I could watch Don Hany read the phone book.

If you haven't seen East West 101 run don't walk to check it out. Its television gold.

• 
  Australia has lost another solder this week in Afghanistan. This makes 21 deaths of Aussie Diggers in the conflict. I get very emotional when I hear of another death and the images of fit young guys being taken away from their families makes me cry when I watch the news broadcast. There are no easy solutions (if there were we would not still be knee deep in conflict 10 years on) to helping Afghanistan achieve good governance and raise their standards of education and prosperity not to mention some small gender equality awareness. The ABC 4 Corners report by Chris Masters on the work being carried out by Australian Soldiers makes me very proud of of the men and women soldiers and the people who lead them. They make a lot of sacrifices a long way from home to be part of another country's "nation building".
  
  
  
  
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  There is some new muscle in town. As much as I am loving seeing both sides of the political divide falling over themselves to woo the Independents I do think it may end in tears (most likely for the Australian tax payer). Although Bob Katter's press conferences and door stops have made me laugh out loud a few times this week I do worry that a stable progressive government is going to be hard to form AND hold together for the next 4 years. Out of the mouths of babes yesterday Lulu asked me who was running the country? My guess is the public servants so that is probably situation normal.
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  As I was perusing the Myer and David Jones catalogues on the weekend I got the distinct impression that I'm going to be embarrassing myself this summer by wearing the following.
  
  
  

I just love the clog sandals, wedges and white cotton summer dresses combo! I think you are suppose to be 16 years old and 55Kg to get away with these little dresses. I fear that will not stop me ;-) and I cant wait for Summer to try this look out.

• Lastly I love this bedroom. This is the colour of our bed and bedroom furniture so it is actually doable for our new bedroom (just need the lamps, leaf art picture, paint colour, pillows, quilt cover, flowers, sweet looking clocks and carpet ... so totally doable). Focusing on pretty pictures like this keeps me from hyperventilating about my ripped up house.

Julia, Bob Katter called and he wants his high speed train line NOW!

So we had an election and it was sort of a draw. No winners or losers (except the Australian taxpayers) for now. Of course Bob Katter and the other Independents are feeling more love than ... well they have never felt this much love. In fact if the major parties keep up this lovefest, restraining orders will be issued. I heard Bob being interviewed this morning and as well as outlining ALL the infrastructure he expects North Queensland to be getting out of this hung parliament he couldn't quite hide his enjoyment at having people (journos even) actually listening to him.

So on to far more important stuff. We spent the weekend with Mum and Brian as they have just come back from rambling around Europe for 3 months.

It was fantastic weather and as well as yelling at the TV we played footy fed the horses and made some cupcakes. Happy Happy Days.

Of course its hard work having your Mother and Wife schlepping around after you all weekend... you need to take naps to keep your strength up.

Bob Brown: tolerant of everyone but me.

By all accounts and sexy election commentators Saturdays run for the Lodge is going to be a very tight race. It will come down to how marginal the marginal seats are feeling and how much voters in Queensland and NSW want to give the Labor government a spanking for a) dumping KRudd and b) forgetting they have lived out west for the last 16 years.

One thing that is assured is seats in the Senate for The Greens. Major parties realise that there is no use in having the big chair if the unrepresentative swill in the Upper House defeat all your hopes dreams wishes and Building Education Revolution Bills. This time around Labor has sold its preferences off to the Greens and this makes my neck itch. The Greens are a minor party in all the ways that matter. They have motherhood statements instead of policies and when its really time to stand up for core beliefs (Carbon Reduction Scheme anyone?) they chuck a tantrum and vote No.

But as much as I love having 3 voters in Tasmania deciding on major governmental direction the thing I'm really annoyed at is those 3 voters via Bob Brown taking away my choice to where I send my kids to school.

The Greens are not big fans of independent education or private schools. Most of the funding for their Education Policy comes from taxing the slurry out of the mining industry. What happens when the rivers of gold from the mining industry run dry due to big taxing government... Bob hasn't got to that policy yet.

Under the Greens non government schools would have their funding cut. Wedge politics anyone? How warm and fuzzy for Bob to hold us elite private school parents up as the cause of all Australia's education ills.

The reality of non government schools is they provide a service no government would be able to provide in education. If the public education system catered to everyone then under the supply and demand theory private schools would all close their doors for lack of punters willing to pay for a service you can get free down the street at the public school.

The ultra exclusive private elite schools (which there are only a hand full in each state) will find funding from other sources (mainly parents back pocket) if the government cuts their tax breaks or other resources but the smaller independent school will never be able to recoup their funding from higher school fees, 'working families' dont have it in them. As tax paying citizens David and I want the government to support our choice of education for our kids by funding their school in the same way they fund the public school next door. We are happy to pay school fees, book levies, camp fees, uniforms costs, music tuition costs, sport costs, bus fares and laptop rental if the government chips in a portion (at present its about 75% of public school funding).

Until very recently I wasn't ware that Bob Brown had a husband. Good on him I have a husband and I love it so Bob probably does too. But it got me thinking ... I support and defend Bob's right to choose his partner . I would go so far to say choice is a human right. In turn I expect Bob to be tolerant of my choices in how I educate my children and leave the private school class envy wedge politics to himself.

This article is an interesting read but as always you have to remember who's writing it.

http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/backward-and-destructive-greens-discriminates/

No I dont want to test out the toilet

I hate toilet humour. I have no desire to participate in or listen to any conversation that revolves around certain bodily functions. It never ceases to amaze me how people want to over share this information.If you are older than 2yrs old keep it to yourself. It is very safe to say that if David was a fan of potty humour I wouldn't be his Mrs.
So imagine how thrilled I was when we got to the bathroom and plumbing showroom to find the sales guy filled with desire to talk about toilets.
This is one with a soft closing lid!
This one has a detachable seat for when people miss! (Oh shoot me now).
This one is Villeroy and Boch! (just like the plates you eat off!)
This one is made for bigger spaces! (that is politically correct speak for fat arses).


On to a topic that makes me much more comfortable and lessens the risk of me losing my breakfast...

I found my vanity basins.

Oh come to Mama



they may even come in beige ;-)

Too much beige makes my eyes bleed

I'm useless at map reading and plan deciphering and any form of verbal direction. All my house renovation ideas have come from books or magazines or websites that have actual pictures. As we are getting to the stage of finalising our drawings and picking colours and materials for the reno I thought I would go and have a look at ... wait for it 28 different Builders spec houses. As well as being useless I have no patience so after about House 4 I was over it. I dragged my sister along for the ride because she can not only read maps and plans but she loves this kind of thing and I knew she would give honest assessments ("that is both ugly and impractical Elizabeth") and not let me go home after House 4.
Here are some pics of the various designs. Be warned there is alot of creams, whites and beige. Before I was made to look endlessly at beige coloured vanities I thought I wanted neutral colours for our benches and cupboards... and I still do but I hope I find some colour schemes a bit more inspiring.





Cute couch in a bedroom. It was at this point David took over taking snaps of things we may actually need to refer back too.

This ensuite opened up to the bedroom... it was hard getting Cath to leave.

Great use of rock tiles up the middle of the shower... shocking place to put the ugly shelf.

This kitchen makes my eyes bleed AND induces claustrophobia. Window anyone?

This kitchen has similar colours to what I think we will end up with. Darker (mocha) stone tops with lighter joinery. The white breakfast bar fascia is just asking for Bears Size 9 school shoe to be dragged up and down it.

Much better use of the tile stripe.

I'm over it at this stage. But this is how we are having our ensuite. The shower and toilet sit behind the vanity (so there is no possible way to see the toilet from our bedroom) and there is glass halfway down the shower so you can look out to the garden.

Another white kitchen.. but the lights were very cool.

This bedroom did not look finished but it was still very pretty. I was thinking of going for beige walls in our room with a lot of white accessories so its good to see it "works".

Beige walls white accessories... a bit like the above shot.

After seeing these houses I think we will still stick to beige/sand/cream tones . I have learnt from previous decorating experience that I get very bored with feature walls or coloured joinery so this time I plan to get my colour fix from vases, pictures, candles etc. as its a lot easier to buy a new rug than paint over a feature wall.

Thoughts and opinions of the random kind

People who should go and sit in the naughty corner and take a good hard look at themselves:

• The Sunday Paper that plans to detail other complaints Kirsty Fraser -Kirk has made in her previous employment. This has bearing on Mark McInnes behaviour how? My opinion is that unless Kirsty liked to have a bit of a whinge she would never have taken her sexual harassment case to her supervisors in the first place and they in turn would never have told her to harden up and deal with it. She is never going to get the $bazillion she has sued for and she probably knows this but she has succeeded in getting this guys behaviour and DJ's pathetic response into the spotlight. It annoys me that the Sunday Papers think her claim is diminished because she has spoken up about issues before. I would love a detail account of the kind of bullying and sexual harassment Mr McInnes is said to have done (I did read on one blog what he is alleged to have said to her and it was vile) oh hang on that could be taken as a smear campaign. The bottom line is everyone regardless of gender, age, race or sexuality should be allowed to work in a safe environment without discrimination or harassment.
  


• Mr & Mrs Smith. Willow Smith is 9 years old she doesn't need a stylist and she doesn't need her parents telling her she needs a stylist. Are Will and Jada trying to create the next Lindsey Lohan? I have had a 9 year old ... they need a few nice pieces of target clothing when it comes on sale and 5 school uniforms.
  
• Kevin Rudd. Julia Gillard must be wondering who she is actually fighting in this election 'cos most days it isn't the Coalition. From all accounts KRudd has an ego the size of China so he was never going to take being dumped well. Now he is like that guy you dumped in Year 9... immature and petulant and each day comes up with new ways to embarrass you at school. Labor were hoping to capitalise on Julia Gillards honeymoon period as new PM and I suspect they thought with Tony Abbott as leader the Libs and Nats would be an easy win. The first weeks of the campaign illustrated this with Labors softly softly approach and stage managed debate and policy announcements. Enter the biggest blabbiest elephant into the room. If Labor does manage to lose this election (I'm not sold on the fact that the Coalition have done anything to win it) then KRudd should hang his head in shame and bugger off to Sunrise Beach with his bloated parliamentary superannuation payout.
  

Things that have made me smile or laugh or generally feel good:

• I have started using one of the handbags I bought in Thailand. (If you go to Phuket the multilevel department store in Patong has one whole floor of shoes and handbags ...one whole floor ).
  

I was feeling very Nancy Botwin with my new handbag until I overheard this little convo.


Bear " Lulu where is my dvd?"


Lulu" In Mums bag"


Bear "Where? What Bag? " (why cant boys ever find stuff?)


Lulu" In Mums bag... the new one ... the one that is mould coloured"


MOULD COLOURED!


I did laugh at this even if my handbag choosing ego was dented ;-)

• I got me some Hollywood toes yesterday. I picked a winner with the colour and the girl who did them said about 3 words the whole time. I call this a win win win. I even bought the colour I loved it so much.
  
  
  

• I may have fallen in love with David again yesterday (no this will not be anything like a NieNie post ( a blog I adore in case you think Im being snippy cos Im not ok). He suggested a trip that involves him and the kids being away for a few days. Should I be embarrassed or get (more) counselling because the thought of having a few days on my own makes me deliriously happy? Don't answer that if you think I'm a bad mother... I think I'm a bad mother most of the time I don't need the comment box to think so too.
  


• I discovered this http://misconline.blogspot.com/ . Well I discovered it along with every other reader of Mamma Mia but still I want to think I'm special and unique.This girl is funny and the blog is so irreverent it sort of makes you smile in spite of yourself.

• My sister sent me this link and it made me laugh ( and waste a lot of time ) so enjoy!