I did not catch the start of the conversation, but it was a lady called Susan, and she was rather upset that a blue tongued lizard had left her for the neighbours.
This lizard who was affectionately known as “Bluey” had lived quite happily in Susan’s yard for 15 years.
Valentine was trying to understand why Bluey might have left. He did ask if the lizard left her for a younger family. Susan responded saying that Bluey rather likes the middle aged lady, and no it was not an age thing that made her beloved lizard leave.
Bluey the blue tongue lizard
Susan did think it was the fact that the neighbours lured him with bigger and tastier bananas that the lizard pulled up stumps and decided the grass or really the bananas were better elsewhere.
I off course was giggling all the way to school pick up with the questions and concern from Valentine.
Then the true cause for why Bluey left was revealed. It was his near fatal drowning. Don’t fret dear readers, Susan saved bluey but I think in the process the lizard suffered some post-traumatic stress and therefore decided the neighbours were a safer option.
So what actually happened to cause a near fatal drowning?
Susan has a pool and it was not that clean on the day of Bluey’s incident. The pool had leaves covering over the top and to a lizard it appeared to be solid. The lizard walked on leaves believing it was land and of course he sank to the bottom of the pool.
Susan was upset and jumped in to rescue Bluey and managed to get the lizard out unharmed. She made sure to do a bit of lizard cpr and no she did not give Bluey mouth to mouth! She used a couple of fingers to tap his chest and remove the water that the poor lizard swallowed.
After this occurred, Susan said to Valentine that she explained what had happened to poor Bluey and gave him some banana to hopefully make him feel better. This did not help and Bluey left for the neighbours.
I do applaud Susan for saving Bluey and feel for her that he left for next door. However from a lizard’s perspective this would have been rather traumatic.
The next day after hearing Susan’s story James Valentine had a wildlife expert on to understand why the lizard would have left, and how Susan can win him back (He had Susan on the line as well during the interview with the wildlife expert).
The expert stated that it was most defiantly the near fatal drowning and the cpr that shocked poor Bluey. The expert said that if Susan gets some tasty snails and leaves a few of them around it could hopefully win back Bluey to come to Susan’s yard. He did suggest tips to make the pool safer for the lizard and to ensure that there is no repeat incident (Putting planks of wood over the pool so Bluey can walk and not fall in)
During the conversation the day before Valentine did question if bananas were like feeding birds bread. Was it good for them? It was a concern and I wondered also.
The wildlife expert said that bananas are fine to feed blue tongue lizards and it is not bad at all. Good to know. He also mentioned that the lizards like a mix of fruit salad as well.
I know that pets are like family and I get it. I spent a lot of money on my beloved cat Thomas before he passed away.
I now wonder if Susan has managed to have Bluey come back to visit, or if he has decided to stay with the neighbours?
With this whole tale, it got me thinking… What was the most out there thing you have done for your pet?
Have you saved your pets life giving it mouth to mouth? CPR? Maybe a friend has done something similar? Is there something else that is just as odd that happened?
Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
I am very excited and happy. Yes a rare occurrence due to the fact that I have not done anything on my to do list (this to do list is mainly housework and organsing stuff for kids )
However I did manage to do something I have wanted to do since experiencing Problogger in 2013.
Today I managed to secure a ticket to Problogger. If you don’t know what Problogger is, It is the biggest and most amazing blogging conference in Australia.
Silly photo fun with mummy at the QT on the Gold Coast in 2013. We were there for Problogger.
Why I wanted to go back:
I loved it.
It was an eye opener and I had a ball!
Learnt so much
Networked and met such amazing people
So with the idea that 2015 is the year to achieve. The year to progress and get things done in a professional sense.
Yes screw the housework (although I secretly wish that while I work away, my clone would be cleaning and doing all the things I loathe to do)
I had enough in my PayPal account and that made ticket buying easy. Also I was sitting at the computer when ticket sales were announced and was able to get a ticket while some were still left, at the time of booking there was only about 230 tickets left. Last year they sold out in about 30mins to 15mins. Yes crazy isn’t it! Being online at the right time is crucial!
I phoned the hotel to book a room and that is now organised. Although still waiting on my confirmation email. I chased this up but it is due to the fact that bloggers have kept the hotel staff very busy. I wanted to make sure that I had a room at the venue as this would have made things harder. I have been assured my email should turn up tomorrow. I hope so.
In our hire car at Gold Coast Airport in 2013. This time it will be just me driving my hire car.
I need to help pay for my trip and to help hubby not feel upset about the outlay so far. Plus The Problogger event is a perfect time to get more eyes on your products and business. We can work something out if you would like to sponsor me.
Are you going to Problogger in August? If you are I will see you there! I cannot wait. Not only will I be learning a great deal, I will be kid free for a while.
It is 2015 isn’t it? So why does it feel like we are living in the 1900’s or worse?
I know the 1900’s were not all bad but if you were female and wanted to be accepted as an equal, work in similar fields like men and earn equal pay it was not a great time for you.
However you could mistake our current time for having the same issues. Yes crazy right?
In the news just today was a report about a senior female surgeon, Gabrielle McMullin, who told trainee female doctors that it is best to have sex with a male who harasses them, as it is easier than not having a career at all. Why is this acceptable to tell trainee female doctors that this is okay! Why is a woman telling other women that this is a good way to advance your career? Just shameful and horrible in my book!
Happy International Women’s Day. How do you celebrate?
“Dr McMullin referred to the case of Dr Caroline Tan, who won a 2008 sexual harassment case against a surgeon while she was completing surgical training at a Melbourne hospital. Dr Tan was vilified and has been unable to find work at any public hospital in Australasia despite the legal victory, she said.”
If someone harasses you and puts the hard word for sex, you have every right to say NO! Saying no and not engaging in sex, or anything should in no way impact your career or your person.
Below are more quotes from the Sydney Morning Herald article:
“Her career was ruined by this one guy asking for sex on this night. And, realistically, she would have been much better to have given him a blow job on that night,” Dr McMullin said in the criticised ABC interview.
“What I tell my trainees is that, if you are approached for sex, probably the safest thing to do in terms of your career is to comply with the request; the worst thing you can possibly do is to complain to the supervising body because then, as in Caroline’s position, you can be sure that you will never be appointed to a major public hospital.”
I am not sure if Dr McMullin was just stating the facts that the work place culture is so bad that it has allowed this sexual harassment to be tolerated and not reported. I do understand that women don’t report crimes due to wanting to progress in life and their careers, however this does not help anyone. It keeps the perpetrator in the environment to strike again. The cycle just repeats itself.
I’m also at a loss to why a female surgeon would be teaching this to young female doctors. She is helping this terrible culture of harassment to continue by allowing this to be accepted. If more people stood up to these men who feel they can manipulate and dominate others, the culture would not allow the silence on these terrible incidents.
Why is it okay to let women or young girls be used sexually in order to gain in their career? Sex should not be a tool to be played with, and it is actually irrelevant in the role as a doctor and other careers as well.
Being female should not make you a target and silenced. This needs to change and NOW! Not later!
As said in my introduction; We are living in 2015 not in the 1900’s so why oh why do women still get underpaid for the same job a man does? Are we living hundreds of years ago? Are there laws to make sure there is no discrimination, Yes there is! However I am not sure how this is applied to equal pay as it does not seem to be happening. If it was, pay would be equal and my rant would be for nothing.
Many women are highly qualified, can do an excellent job and match or can outdo the competition. Fair pay for fair work I say! So why are women still being short-changed? Is it that we are too nice? I have heard that it is due to the fact we have babies and go on maternity leave. I personally don’t see how the possible thought that a woman might have a baby or not make her earning potential drop. Some women never have children and some do.
How about this for size, women live longer than men so we need the money! Pay us more so that we can invest in family, and the economy. If we had more savings for retirement maybe many women would not have to be on the pension due to struggling with little savings. Now there’s a thought! More money in the pocket would help women and society! Easy really, right?
Is the issue due to the fact that we don’t negotiate well enough? Or is it that corporations feel that they can get away with underpaying women and making more money off our brilliant and fabulous skills. I am not sure why it is still happening.
I for one am very frustrated about this. However how do you find out what others are getting paid and men who do the same job? I doubt they will tell you what they earn and many organisations have a private policy in place to protect this information. So due to all the secrecy you are flying blind.
You can do your homework for your industry and negotiate but that is about it. Do you think we should have more transparency on salaries? I do. If we were more open about what role gets paid what, women and also men would know what is fair and equal.
earnings for women in 1985 and now. From http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2015/03/australian-gender-
Why does it feel that we have come so far, but still not far enough. I still don’t understand why underpaying or harassing women helps our society. If we got paid equally it would benefit everyone. The money goes back to the family and helps fund education, feed everyone, put a roof over peoples heads and much more. It also shows that women are valued for their contribution and skills.
Why are women still penalised for being a mother and the caretaker? These unpaid roles save society a lot of money, it is mainly women caring for kids, elderly and the sick without getting a cent or nearly anything for this service. It is a massive saving to families and society. Fancy us sending a bill for our work. I am due over six years back pay! Bring it on!
Since today is International Women’s Day we can address these issues or put more thought into why they occur. It would be nice if the heads of companies and the like address the fact of equal pay and strive to make their workplace a harassment free environment. No woman wants to work in an environment that has a horrible culture and also underpays women, they will go elsewhere where they are valued.
When will people wise up to treating women as equal helps everyone. What do you think? Send in your thoughts.
Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Yes this is true! I would have thought oh, you are being silly and don’t be stupid.
BUT…
Pretty Lavender looks nice in a garden. I think that is where it will stay for me now. I am no expert, but maybe hubby knew all along? He does not like it and doesn’t even want it in the garden. So due to this we have barred lavender. He will say he knew now.
Who knew this would happen? Or could happen? I feel for the poor parents and toddler in this story. I personally would not have known lavender could manipulate the body to develop when so young.
Did you know that lavender was this powerful?
What happened?
Doctors at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne saw a 14 month girl due to her parents concern due to 2.5cms of bilateral breast tissue.
Tests did not reveal any other signs of abnormal development and all other factors of puberty were non-existent aside from slight breast growth.
12 months later, the toddler’s breasts grew another o.5cm so in total it was 3cm.
The parents noted that breast development started at 6 months.
The parents saw a documentary on a link with lavender oil and breast development. This is when they told the doctor that the products they were using contained lavender.
This is not just due to the child being female. Boys have had this happen as well. In the Essential Baby article it states that in 2007 three healthy boys began to develop breasts as well. A parent simply using a “healing balm containing lavender oil” made breasts develop on her boy.
According to the article:
“[The toddler’s] daily exposure included lavender wipes (20 wipes/day), lavender shampoo (5ml alternate days), lavender body wash (5ml daily), lavender moisturising cream (10ml daily) and lavender skin soothing lotion (10ml daily). Specific lavender oil concentrations are unknown.”
“Past laboratory studies have suggested lavender oil can have an oestrogenic effect without causing elevation of actual oestrogen levels. These findings match the Melbourne toddler’s case, as tests on her showed no elevation in oestrogen.”
“Doctors told how once the parents stopped using lavender products on the girl the growth stopped, and her breast tissue immediately receded.”
(Letitia Rowlands,”Warning over lavender after baby develops breasts”, Essential Baby, Published:February 26, 2015)
This is an excerpt from the following book. Taking Care of Your Girls: A Breast Health Guide for Girls, Teens, and In … By Marisa C. Weiss, M.D., Isabel Friedman. I am not a perve. The reason the word breast is highlighted is I was searching for that term and also lavender and it highlighted every word with the keyword.
Bad science gives lavender a bad name. An article that is questioning the fact that lavender is to blame. Maybe having too much is bad and a little is okay? I am not sure as I never knew that lavender could do this at all.
While researching about lavender and breast development I came across a site that said that lavender has been used naturally to enlarge your breasts for hundreds of years. It did say that this is not proven way to do this. However it did state that people are doing it and it seems to be working. Not sure as never tried it, and don’t want my boobs any larger than they are already.
It got me thinking.
As a busty woman, or blessed individual in the breast department.
What natural oil or thing could make mine smaller? What natural oil gives you a breast reduction? If you know you can send me a message.
Disclaimer: I am no expert, I am not a doctor or scientist. I thought this was interesting as it has happened to real people, and real doctors have reported on this as well. As a parent I had no idea and thought that it is best to share.
Have you had a problem with lavender? Has it caused an issue for you or your child? Or do you think this is just silly? Let us know.
Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
My Christmas wishes to you. Thanks for following the blog and spending time online with me this year. 2015 is going to be bigger and better so stay tuned for some more fun.
Have a fabulous Christmas and stay safe. I hope Santa brings you what you have been secretly wishing for this year. I’m sure you are all on Santa’s nice list!
Have you ever wondered what wine variety is the most popular in Australia? I have. According to this infographic from Wine Selectors, it seems like a Chardy and Shiraz are highly popular in Australia. Not really surprising with the Chardonnay. When I was little it seemed everyone drank this wine.
We are not the largest producer of wine in the world. This honour belongs to Italy, however, we do produce enough to satisfy everyone in Australia and more!
With the holiday season fast approaching what is your favourite drop?
I do like a nice Rosé on a hot summer day, or it could be a nice Sauvignon Blanc. I am also partial to a nice red so a Shiraz or a Merlot depending on how I feel.
I might be having a nice drink after I brave Westfield for last-minute Christmas shopping. Yes, I am crazy, hubby, the twins and I need to go to the big shopping centre for more choice. No way of getting out of it. I hope all goes well! Wish me luck. I do love going there, just not when it is so busy!
Learn more about wine with the below infographic:
This infographic has been researched & developed by Wine Selectors.
Remember:Drink in moderation and a little bit is okay. A good tip to stay hydrated is to have a glass of water or non-alcoholic drink in-between glasses or have a break. Make sure to eat as well! Stay safe this holiday season and enjoy your time with friends and family.
Do you have left over nappies? Has your baby grown out of them and you have just found a bunch that you don’t need? Don’t throw them out, give them to someone that can use them.
On Friday while at The Bloggers Brunch, I heard a lovely talk from a volunteer from The Nappy Collective. She said that some mothers who are struggling have a choice; buy food for their baby or buy nappies.
I know what I would choose…food outweighs the nappy option. However this is not much of a choice. Nappies are essential for the baby but food is more essential. I cannot imagine being faced with this dilemma and have to sacrifice an essential item for my child. I know that many have done this and more might be placed in circumstances out of their control, then are faced with decisions like this.
“Every year there are 350,000 babies born in Australia” (Nappy Collective Video). There are so many nappies that can be collected to help a family in need.
Many women are in this predicament due to the following:
Not enough money to spend on essentials. All the money goes to keep food, and a roof over the families heads.
Domestic violence – The mother and child/children leave and end up with just the clothes on their backs and not much else. Many women flee to a shelter or the like and are reliant on donations until they get back on their feet.
Relationship breakdown. Divorce is a big one that means that women mainly are left with little to no money and of course they are predominately the primary carer for the kids. This means that what little money they do have is like the first point, goes on essentials for life rather than some other essentials.
“Nappies are a basic essential child care need. A new born can require 10-12 nappies a day and toddler can require 6-8 per day. Families with limited incomes may have to choose between clean nappies and other basic needs such as food for themselves. Lack of frequent nappy changes can cause subsequent health issues and can be very distressful for an infant, potentially compounding an already stressful situation. Low income families may also not have the opportunity buy in bulk resulting in an inequality of spending power.
By passing on your leftover unused nappies you are providing a resource to these families which can reduce a financial burden and assist with healthy growth and development of their children in early childhood. Parents have more time to focus their energy on their parenting and other daily challenges they face. “ (The Nappy Collective Website)
So what can you do?
Donate your nappies that you no longer use. Don’t throw them out! There are people that will use them and be thankful for them!
Get in touch with The Nappy Collective to find out where you can drop them off so you can help a mother and family in need.
Get Involved: Business can become a drop off point, you can sponsor The Nappy Collective and of course you can volunteer as an individual.
We have just missed the collection for Oct/Nov but there is one in Feb/March of 2015. Contact The Nappy Collective to learn more.
Unused nappies will not be the same again to me. They will be sent to people who need them and can really use it to help their family. Make sure you spread the word and help families that really need the nappies.
I used so many nappies when the twins were babies. I cannot imagine not being able to afford nappies for the twins!
The Hydro Majestic is an icon, and a wonderful old hotel that is located in Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains of NSW, Australia. It has a long and interesting history.
The Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon TourismGreat view from the The Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
Did you know?
The hotel began as the Belgravia Hotel which was fully complete in 1891. It was created as a health retreat.
The Belgravia Hotel in 1910. Image from Wikipedia
Mark Foy who was a wealthy retailer purchased the hotel in 1902 and wanted to create a hydropathic sanatorium due to the belief that under the land there was mineral springs. (It was found that the springs did not exist and possibly if they did it had dried up years ago. Mark Foy had mineral water imported from Germany. Fancy the cost of doing this! Apparently the water was imported in steel containers and when it arrived tasted terribe! Yes how awful after doing all this. Although guests were told to drink the water due to it being good for their health)
Mark Foy successfully petitioned the NSW government to change the name of the town from Medlow as it was at the time to the now name of Medlow Bath. I did not know that there was another town called Medlow and Foy wanted to have no confusion over the name. However some think he wanted the name change to make the town and area sound more prestigious. (I suppose you cannot blame him)
In WWII the building was turned into a hospital for US Troops
The hotel has heritage listing and got it in 1984.
In 2008 the hotel was purchased by The Escarpment Group. It has been closed since 2008 and has been refurbished and updated to bring it back to its former glory.
Inside the wonderful Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
The Escarpment Group has worked tirelessly to bring this much loved part of history back to her glory days. “A team of highly revered heritage experts, architecture specialists and designers were enlisted, with particular weight given to examining and respecting the Hydro Majestic’s social history and heritage. The plans add the 21st Century layer, mindful of the past, but always with a vision of the future.” (Hyrdo Majestic Website)
Finished places to sit and rest at the Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
The girls have always known the Hydro as what looked like a castle. I have been there before but the former owners did not do the place justice. It was run down, terrible and just a poor reflection of what it could be. I was so excited to know that a group had invested the money, time and energy into making her glow again not just for their gain but for the area.
I have thought that the dome on the casino reminds me of Taronga Zoo, well the older part of the Zoo. It could be similar architecture but it makes me think of the time I went to the zoo with my grandad.
Having the Hydro up and working again is great for the Blue Mountains and for Medlow Bath. It draws people to the area, it shows you what can be done, allows crafts and produce from locals to be sold, gives locals more jobs and of course we now have a lovely venue for lunches, teas, drinks and conferences/gatherings again.
Stunning areas to dine at the Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
The first part of the hotel re-opening is the food and store house or otherwise known as the Hydro Pavilion. The pavilion is where you can buy local produce and goods that is all from the Blue Mountains and surrounds. I cannot wait to go there and to check it all out.
This weekend the Hydro is having High Teas in The Wintergarden like they did last weekend as they are slowing opening all areas soon. I would have loved to have gone but think with two kids a fancy high tea would have been wasted on them. I am waiting to book with the Boiler room for lunch.
Stunning areas to dine at the Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
By the end of the year the second part of the refurbishment should be finished and the accommodation will be open for the public. Cannot wait for that to happen. It has been a big job and I must say that it looks amazing from the driving back and forth I have been doing.
Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
The kids always comment when we drive past, “Mummy, they are working today! Geez mummy they are doing a good job!” “Wow, they have the roof on mummy!” “Look, windows and lights now!”
The girls have marveled at all the changes just like we have. It has been amazing to watch!
Great view of the detail of the ceiling and lights at the Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
I have made a promise to the twins that when it opens I will take them to the new hotel.They are super excited and cannot wait to go and explore and see all the changes close up. The pictures are just lovely to drool over and I so see myself in a fancy dress sipping a cocktail or two here. (A night with just hubby and me is in order soon)
Stylish refurbishment bring the Hydro back to life. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
Feel the urge to have a peek at the Hydro? Wish to have some High Tea? Then give the Hydro a call.
The twins of course have a school savings account that they have for school terms, and I add to it when I can. It worries me that things are so expensive all ready and the kids are only six! What will it be like when they are 18 or older?
I would be fearful of putting my house up as an asset for my kids to purchase. If the child in question does not pay up or things go badly I could be in for a lot of money to then bail them out or the bank could want my house as well. At the stage the kids would like to have help to purchase a house, I will be getting ready for retirement or thinking more seriously about it all. I would not want to start again with buying a house. I don’t want to be older and have debt that I didn’t need to have. The older you get it is harder to achieve the investments and things that you have acquired over a life time. ( I would like to help my kids in other ways as I am not flush with cash to just purchase them a house now)
There was even an auction on the Northern Beaches of Sydney where a couple purchased a house for their children. Yes how amazing is that! I wish I had the money, investments to do it all now as a house purchased now with a view or with land will be worth a lot more in the future. I can see potential and places that I would love to own, however money is the lacking element here.
This house was purchased for 1.5 Million Dollars.
Wow, and that is a home for the kids for the future.
I would have no chance at doing this.
One of the reasons this family purchased now for their kids is that they wanted them to be close to the area they grew up in and where family are close. This is great and all well and good. However as the prices are getting expensive people need to weigh up what you can afford. We used to live in the inner city and made the decision to move to the Blue Mountains for affordability and eventually looking at a good investment. We saw that people would be moving further out of the city and therefore prices would go up in the area where we bought. We were right. We have been here for over ten years now and there is more infrastructure, shops and areas are becoming more glam. It is like when Balmain went through the period of becoming more trendy, this is like what is happening here. The more people that move here and inject money into an area, developers and corporates see potential and therefore the place gets jazzed up.
Many of my co-workers and mates have not wanted to make the sacrifice to leave an area they like or that is close to work. People seem to want to spend more money on a house/apartment to have a better or easier lifestyle in regards to socialising and commuting. We were different. Hubby and I weighted up what we could afford, the investment options and how high repayments for a mortgage would affect us. We decided on the better option for us.
We found a nice house that has good bones. It is not in the city but is in a nice area. It was cheap for what it was and does need a bit of work which is fine. We are not a couple that is frightened to have some work done to the place or do it ourselves (one thing that amazes me is that people want to have the house all done up. Yes this is great and I would have loved that too. However this costs so much more. If you buy a house or apartment that is good structurally and in a nice area, you can slowing do it up and put your own stamp on it). One downside is that we are a bit far away from the city, however we can still travel there to go to events, shows and anything we wish. With the roads now we have good travel times and of course depending on what we are doing we can take the train if we wish.
One thing to remember is that it does not matter what you purchase as long as it is a good investment. We were lucky and some of my friends who purchased houses closer to the city for much higher amounts have struggled with repayments or had to rent out the house due to losing a job.
Yipee! You have the keys to your first house. Congrats! Did you get help to make it happen or just saved forever? Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
We factored in all sorts of things before we went down the home ownership path.
Could we make repayments if interest rates went up to 10% like in the 1980’s or more. Yes we would be okay.
Would we be able to pay our mortgage if one of us lost a job or became pregnant and our income halved? Yes we could.
We made sure that we could pay our mortgage no matter what. We knew that if we got one and managed to find a house in the price we wished to purchase, we had to keep it to use as an asset to move forward.
We did miss the city and wish we still lived there but if we did we would still be renting and finding it tough. Moving out of the area of choice allowed us to have so much more! Thinking outside of the box is a good idea.
Look at areas that are up and coming and if you cannot afford those, look at the surrounding suburbs to the ones that you are really wanting to be in. These will probably be cheaper and allow you to get your start in the real estate market.
One friend pointed out a good way to help a child when you can’t give them the deposit. When the child is old enough they get a part time job. All money from this part time job gets saved but say $50/week. This $50 is the money the child can spend on whatever they like. The rest that goes into savings for the future. A house mainly but I suppose it depends. Having money in the bank gives you choices and allows you to do more with your life.
My kids have a school banking account as said, and I am hoping that by the time the kids are 18 it has a lot of money or a decent amount that we can roll over to a term deposit for them. If you have not started saving for your child. Start a school banking account. It has no fees and stays this way until the child turns 18. Yes what a great way to get your child to save a nest egg!
Another great tip to help children save for their future is to get relatives to contribute to their school saving account.If say your mum, dad, aunty or other relative would like to contribute to the kids accounts. It does not matter what extra gets added it all helps; an extra $5 or $10 a fortnight or per month will help out a great deal. My mum and step dad add some money to the twins school saving accounts instead of toys for birthdays and a little bit each fortnight. This will be a massive help when they get older.
Are you amazed at how expensive real estate is getting? Have your children found it tough to secure their first home? Have they given up trying to find one in the city or in a popular area and moved further out to allow them to enter the property market? Have you been able to help your kids with financial support no matter how big or small? Let us know what you have done or are doing? Send in your comments.
It is 2014 and nearly 2015. There are more women than men in Australia and other countries have more women also. We need to be treated fairly. I don’t get why we are still faced with this discrimination? As a mother of girls I hope that this is not still happening when they join the workforce. Belittling women due to sex, underpaying them due to their sex and for no other reason is just wrong!
I wonder what the outcome would have been if Paul Heath had told a man that his IQ halved when he had kids? Would he have been punched in the face? Would he then be told to F Off? Or watch what he says? I am sure he would not dare to say these things to a male colleague but a woman is fare game.
Fancy this being said to you by your manager:
“Mr Heath was also accused of asking Ms Thorton to turn around in March 2009, while she was pregnant, and then allegedly saying: “yup, you are having a boy because your bum has blown out.”
Evan Thornley’s talk at the Sunrise Start-up conference was hugely popular and of was mainly made up of men. I wonder if they are now going to do exactly what Mr Thornley was preaching? Use women in their businesses and pay them cheaper than the men? Mr Thornley did say that he gives women a chance, gives them more responsibility and gives share options. All great. However why would he say “Women like men, only cheaper” if he did not mean it? I do like the fact that he is saying he sees the potential in women who are high achievers in the tech sector. However that should come with the same and equal pay, bonuses and extras like the men have. All equal. Same role, same pay!
I do understand that if you negotiate for a bigger bonus or if you have extra skills to bring to the table you might get a bit extra, however for the same role your pay without extras should be the same.
Below is a snippet from the Sydney Morning Herald Article about Evan Thornley:
“Call me opportunistic, I just thought I could get better people with less competition because we were willing to understand the skills and capabilities that many of these women had,” he said.
“There’s a great arbitrage there, we would give [women] more responsibility and a greater share of the rewards than they were likely to get anywhere else and that was still often relatively cheap to someone less good of a different gender.”
While Mr Thornley said he wasn’t advocating that the gender pay gap should be perpetuated, he said it provided “an opportunity for forward thinking people”.
What are your thoughts?
I personally think it is terrible that this is still happening. I do believe that you can do jobs and get paid well regardless of your sex. As long as you are qualified, do your job well and can hit your targets all is good and you should be rewarded fairly for it. Not underpaid and not treated as a second class citizen.
I wish we could give men a taste of what they dish out and see how they cope. I know the majority of men are not like t his and it is just a few. It only takes a few to spoil it for the many. My male friends don’t think like this and hubby would love me to be out earning him. One day when my book is written and is widely popular you never know right????
Have you had something like this happen to you? If you are happy to share I would love to hear your story.
This might be the girls one day. Fairy Doctor Specialists. Or at the very least a doctor. Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
What can we do?
As I am mother of girls I am giving them experiences that are not gender specific (I hate the ironing board and cooking things for kids. Although my kids play cafes and cooking). Lego, building things, we learn about science, maths and all sorts of things. I make sure that I give them all sorts of toys to foster development and I don’t want to just focus on homely toys. I do hate toys that are all pink and girly but the twins love some of that. I have a bit of the girly toys and others that allow them to learn all different things. A mixed bag for toys at our place.
I am making sure that the twins know that they can be whatever they set their minds to. As long as they apply themselves they can achieve.
How a simple Doctors Appointment Changed how the Twins think:
After our specialist appointment for the girls ears nose and throat specialist (Dec 2013) I was unhappy as they only told me the appointment would cost $200. However when I went to pay I was told I owed $400. It was $200 per child! Yes annoying. I paid and grumbled all the way to the car. When I got to the car Julia asked why I was unhappy. I told her that it was very expensive and I was not expecting it to be that much. She said that the naughty man took all our money. I told her no he was not naughty but in actual fact very clever. He earnt $400 for less than 15mins work. She asked what type of doctor he was. I told her he was a specialist. Julia for a long time has wanted to be a Fairy Doctor. After this appointment she told me she wants to be a Fairy Doctor Specialist.
How interesting, it was that after a doctors appointment that both girls want to be specialists with what they do when they grow up. I wonder how this will influence their career path? Will they both be Specialist Doctors? Only time will tell.
What do you do to show that girls and women can paid well? Let us know.
My girls are obsessed with Katy Perry. They just adore her. I would have loved to have gone to her concert but my girls are six next month, tickets are expensive, not sure they would be able to handle crowds and think that might be a bit young for concert going. When they are older, of course. However for now, we have concerts in our living room.
Today on Kidspot I saw the below video. It shows a little girl crying and upset but as soon as Katy Perry’s Dark Horse comes on the joy and happiness in her face is a delight to see.
Do your kids have a song that they just adore? Is it something from Katy Perry? Or another artist? When you put the song on do they just stop and enjoy the music?
Catching up on some much needed sleep. Image courtesy of tiverylucky / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
While the kids were on school holidays, I took them to an indoor play centre. The weather was extremely windy and thought rather than sit miserably cold at a park, why not be indoors. I also did not want to have a tree fall on me or branches fall on us.
Not many people were there and there was one mother with her three kids, one the girls age, the other about two, and one a baby. She was frazzled and just in need of some time out. I understood! Being the sole carer and having no friends or family near by is hard. I sometimes lose the plot with two kids and cannot imagine an extra at the moment. Although I do think that if I did have another baby now the twins would be super helpful. We recently visited their baby cousin who is now four months old and they were acting like big sisters. Fussing, taking care of her and making sure she had her blanket on. It was super cute.
I ended up chatting to this stressed out mum while I was at the play centre and I helped her out. I felt for her. She did not have a lot of money and did not have her license so she relied on public transport. This is a big thing to handle when you are not feeling the best and dealing with three kids. Plus dealing with the whinging of the kids, “I’m hungry!’ and “Are we there yet!”
I helped with the baby, gave her older child some kind praise and encouraged the girls to play with her to make her included in the kids games. This allowed this mum to have some time to have a tea and put her feet up for a small window. Not a lot but a little bit helps. I thought of this frazzled mum when I read the story about a mum who fell asleep at a play centre. Another mother stayed and looked after her child while she rested and only left the centre once this mother woke and all was okay. Very nice indeed!
This mum who slept at the play centre was extremely embarrassed and upset that she had fallen asleep. To do this, this woman must have been utterly exhausted and sleep deprived and I do understand. This story and the lady I encountered made me think it was nice that there are people who take the time to help. I was glad that I was able to give this woman some help and kindness when she needed it, not like one woman years ago at the same centre. I asked her to watch my kids for small moment while I go to the bathroom. I was chatting to her, my kids were playing with hers. So I thought it would not be a bad thing to ask. She gave me a filthy look and said, “What do you want me to do?” Talk about rude!
Acting like this to others is just plain horrible and not helpful. God forbid you were in jam and needed the help of another person.
I hope they help you and not ignore your plea. For those that have this horrid attitude about helping or being kind to others, I hope that karma dishes you up something delightful.
If you don’t help why should you be helped in the future. Well that is my view.
I was glad that I helped this lady out the other week, and I hope that she managed to get more of a break. Talking to her I found out that her husband works shift work and long hours and she is in a town where she knows no one. That is hard. I tried to give her some things to do or to seek out that might help her. Playgroups, Mother groups, and so on.
Have you helped another mum? Or was it just someone that needed a helping hand and not a mum? It could be anyone.
Be kind and help someone if they need it. Have a great day!
If you don’t suffer from asthma or allergies it is hard to understand what it entails, how it affects your life and also what medication you will need to be on.
I thought why not talk to people that deal with these issues every day of their life. I hope that this post will give you some insight into what it is like to deal with asthma and allergies.
Hayfever. Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Interview One
Background: Shelby lives in the USA and is 47. During the interview she lived in West Texas.
Q1. How long have you had asthma and any other allergies?
A1. Asthma, diagnosed 2 months ago, allergies, 10 years
Q2.What things set you off? Plants, perfume, food, pollens? Let me know
A2. Candles, perfumes, pollen, our dogs if they roll in the grass/weeds.
Q3. If you have other allergies please detail what ones?
A3. My allergies are to a myriad of things, including, but not limited to, grass, pollen, rag weed, dust, animal dander, various trees, and some medications, to include compazine, flexiril, and Percocet.
Q4. How do you cope with treating your asthma as well as your allergies? Has this caused any issue? For example: Can any medication to treat the allergy not help with the asthma or vice versa?
A4. I am currently on a corticoid steroid, I have a rescue inhaler, and I take both singular and zyrtec for my allergies. I live in West Texas, which has a high elevation, and this has presented some challenges in exercise, so I have been cautioned to use my rescue inhaler prior to exercising, rather than as an emergent situation after. We also border the city of Juarez, in Mexico and they do a lot of burning of industrial waste that filters into the air, so we have a poor air quality, this has presented problems. I no longer run/walk outside for exercise, I cannot breathe well. I have to do my workouts at home or in the gym. So far, the meds I am on while they are helping, do not make me feel “well” to the point I did prior to the asthma. The allergies, I have had for so long, I don’t notice a huge difference in them.
Q5. Is your asthma/allergies getting worse with age or the same?
A5. Asthma was deemed “environmental” not sure, it’s only been two months, and allergies, my spouse is in the Military, we move, a lot, they (allergies and asthma) seem to be worse with locations, not necessarily age.
Interesting that your environment
plays a major role.
“There is no evidence that air pollution causes asthma, but it can trigger attacks in people who have asthma. Significant outdoor air pollutants for people with asthma are: airborne particles, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone.” (Asthma and Air Pollution: A guide for Health Professionals, 2004 – http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/uploads/publication/asthma-air-pollution.pdf)
Q6. Do you find your diet and not eating a certain food helps you feel better? If so what has it been for you?
A6. I eat a pescaterian, mostly fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish. I limit dairy, though I do still consume dairy products, I am not vegan. I do notice a huge difference in the way I feel over when I ate red meat, and when I consumed “junk”, I began this eating change/life style change about a year ago. I have also dropped about 25 lbs. (This is 11kgs for those that don’t know pounds)
Q7. I have read that exercise and keeping at a good weight can help like with everything else regardless of allergies or dealing with asthma. Have you found that if you don’t exercise or say when pregnant suffer more with asthma and allergies?
A7. I have not found that I noticed a difference, I have not always exercised, and my weight is at a healthy level, but I we moved to the location we are in now two years ago, and I developed my asthma here, they are calling it “environmental” in nature, so I am hopeful that when we move back to the Midwest United States in mid July that the asthma either disappears altogether or is much more controlled.
Q8. Do you find that your allergies and asthma is worse when you are stressed? How bad does it get?
A8. Asthma in particular is much worse if I am stressed, and I have started to notice sometimes I don’t realize I am actually having an asthma attack per say during a period of high stress, and then I will think, “hey wait, use your inhaler” and I do and things are much better.
Q9. Depression is said to have a negative influence on asthma have you found that when you are a bit down that you notice your asthma acting up more?
Sneezing due to allergies. Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Q11.When you travel what equipment and medicine do you take with you? Some in your carry on and also spares in your main luggage. Is there a process where you tell people you have asthma just in case of emergency? Let us know what you do.
A11. So far, this has not come up, but I do keep an inhaler in my purse and on my night stand. My family all knows I have asthma.
Q12. How has had having asthma or allergies impacted your life? Are you able to do everything you want to do?
A12. No, asthma has definitely changed my workout routine, and I am not happy about it. I went from running/walking 3 miles a day outside, to not being able to do so outside at all, or daily even. And, I am not near as fast as I had been. The allergies don’t seem to impact me much, other than being a nuisance.
Q12a. In answer to a similar question: Do you find that asthma/allergies have impacted on your life in a negative way? Explain how.
A12a. Yes, I cannot exercise in the manner in which I want, and my oldest daughters don’t seem to understand that I am actually ill, they think I am just “putting on”, when I am actually unable to breathe at times.
Do you find that family or friends don’t take you seriously when you have issues breathing?
Do they think you are “putting it on”?
I can understand if it is a new issue and the family are not used to it but it can upsetting for the person dealing with asthma and other allergies that can cause issue.
This issue of family dismissing something that can be serious was brought out of this interview with the lovely Shelby. Let me know if this happens to you also and how you dealt with it.
Q13. Have you ever been hospitalised due to asthma or other allergy related issue?
A13. No, but I was seen in the ER and given a breathing treatment for my asthma
Q14. Does where you live make things better or worse? Is a warmer climate good or a cooler one? Let me know.
A14. We live in a very dry, warm climate, and while I am told warm is good, the dry is hard on my sinuses, and in turn my allergies, and the air quality here is horrible, and the elevation is high, so this causes my asthma to be worse, so living here I guess would be worse.
As Shelby was answering my questions for this post she and her hubby were packing up and getting ready to move. Yes that’s right they are buying a house and moving across the country. A change of scenery, environment will hopefully help Shelby’s asthma and allow her to do more.
Q15. Do other family members have the same thing? Or is it just you?
A15. My cousin has asthma, and my children allergies
I wish Shelby and her family well and hope that the new house is wonderful. Thanks for allowing me to interview you for this series. Much appreciated.
Woman using asthma inhaler. Image courtesy of patrisyu / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Interview Two
Background: Ms S is 36 and lives in the lower Blue Mountains. Ms S has two young children.
Q1. How long have you had asthma and any other allergies?
A1. I’ve had a lactose allergy from birth and asthma and eczema was diagnosed from 12. My other allergies were diagnosed when I was 22 and saw an allergist for testing. Q2.What things set you off? Plants, perfume, food, pollens? Let me know
A2. Dust, changes in temperate (esp. cold), perfume, tree pollens, animal dander
Q3. If you have other allergies please detail what ones?
A3. Yes asthma and allergies – dust mite, tree pollen, pet hair, dairy & eczema
Q4. How do you cope with treating your asthma as well as your allergies? Has this caused any issue? For example: Can any medication to treat the allergy not help with the asthma or vice versa?
A4.No the medications don’t tend to interfere with each other
Q5. Is your asthma/allergies getting worse with age or the same?
A5. My eczema is getting better but my allergies are getting worse. My asthma is in general better but seasonally worse.
Q6. Do you find your diet and not eating a certain food helps you feel better? If so what has it been for you?
A6. Yes, avoiding dairy, citrus, alcohol, nightshades and eating a very healthy well balanced diet helps.
Shelby limits dairy and Ms S avoids it.
Also both eat very healthy meals.
Q7. I have read that exercise and keeping at a good weight can help like with everything else regardless of allergies or dealing with asthma. Have you found that if you don’t exercise or say when pregnant suffer more with asthma and allergies?
A7.Yes being unfit or pregnant certainly made my allergies and asthma wors.
Q8. Do you find that your allergies and asthma is worse when you are stressed? How bad does it get?
A8. Yes my asthma is worse and so in my eczema when stressed as I scratch and my breathing shortens. I tend to have a few puffs of ventolin and try to calm down and relax.
Q9. Depression is said to have a negative influence on asthma have you found that when you are a bit down that you notice your asthma acting up more?
A9. Yes, I’ve noticed when I’m feeling down my health in general seems to take a dive.
Q10. What medications are you on?
A10. Seretide 250mg, Ventolin and Polaramine
Q11.When you travel what equipment and medicine do you take with you? Some in your carry on and also spares in your main luggage. Is there a process where you tell people you have asthma just in case of emergency? Let us know what you do.
A11. I always take a puffer with me. My son is anaphylactic allergic so I also take an epi-pen jnr with me too and antihistamine (liquid and tablet form) as well as lots of tissues.
Q12. How has had having asthma or allergies impacted your life? Are you able to do everything you want to do?
A12. At the moment the biggest impact is the allergies causing so much sneezing and tend to set off my asthma. Also the sneezing is difficult with my weak pelvic floor post 2 kids. I couldn’t take much antihistamine while pregnant or breastfeeding my kids so I’ve just had to put up with it. At times it would get so bad I’d have 8 blood noses a day. It’s also very dangerous whilst driving a car on a freeway!
Q12a. In answer to a similar question: Do you find that asthma/allergies have impacted on your life in a negative way? Explain how.
A12a. It’s more of an inconvenience or annoyance then anything else.
Q13. Have you ever been hospitalised due to asthma or other allergy related issue?
A13. No
Man using his asthma inhaler. Image courtesy of marin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Q14. Does where you live make things better or worse? Is a warmer climate good or a cooler one? Let me know.
A14. It’s become harder since I’ve moved to a colder climate. It was easier to manage my asthma is a warmer more humid climate. The heating irritates my skin allergies too.
Q15. Do other family members have the same thing? Or is it just you?
A15. My 1yr old son has eczema and is seriously allergic to many foods and is anaphylactic allergic to eggs. My 3yr old daughter also has serious eczema skin allergies. My mother has allergies and asthma too.
Thanks Ms S for allowing me to interview you for this series. Much appreciated.
Some findings:
One thing that was very apparent is that each person needs to give more time for them. Yes you time! I know it is hard and I find getting me time difficult. Dealing with an allergy or illness I think it essential that you get a little time for you or create a sanctuary. Maybe you can start with 10mins a day and build it from there.
Dairy seemed to be cut out of one diet and lowered in another
Allergies and Asthma seem to go hand in hand. I know I am not qualified to link this but it seems if you have allergies getting asthma is not a remote possibility.
Disclaimer: I am entering the Excellence in Asthma & Allergy Reporting Awards. I aim to create more awareness about asthma and allergies. In the process it would be nice to win the prize but just to be in it will be achievement enough.
This post concludes my series on Asthma and Allergy. I hope you enjoyed them.
How asthma was treated hundreds of years ago. Here is a list of some things that happened over the years. I am glad we are not relying on these fixes to help us get better. What about you?
This picture is a 1907 advertisement for Grimault’s Indian Cigarettes, emphasising their alleged efficacy for the relief of asthma and other respiratory conditions Source: File:Grimaults cigarette ad.jpg – https://en.wikipedia.org
History of Asthma
The term asthma comes from the Greek word ásthma, “panting”. (Wikipedia)
Hippocrates (400BC) was the first to use the term Asthma and to identify a link between environment and the disease.
The earliest reference of asthma has been found in China from 2600BC
Alexander the Great smoked the “herb stramonium (an anticholinergic agent related to ipratropium and tiotropium currently used in inhalers)”. He did this to relax his lungs.
In Rome, “Pliny the elder (50 AD) observed that pollen was a source of respiratory difficulty and recommended the use of “ephedra” (forerunner of ephedrine) in red wine as an asthma remedy. Unfortunately, he also suggested that drinking the blood of wild horses and eating 21 millipedes soaked in honey could help.”
Tobacco was introduced in the 1500’s. It was used to make you cough up mucus. Also in Central America the Aztecs had a plant that was treated with cocaine and was supposed to help with asthma symptoms.
In the 1800’s Arsenic was introduced to treat asthma and respiratory conditions.
Has there been any way out treatment that you thought would never work and it did? Let us know.
Thank god we have modern medicine! Child using asthma inhaler. Image courtesy of Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
NOTE:Make sure you stay safe everyone and check with your doctor about treatments that can help with your asthma and allergies. Be safe and well and this is just a look back on history.
Make sure you stay on top of keeping you well. The National Asthma Council of Australia have a great checklist. See it here.
You can create an action plan via the Asthma Buddy Phone Apps. Keep up to date records and have everything about your health available at the touch of your fingertips.
Disclaimer: I am entering the Excellence in Asthma & Allergy Reporting Awards. I aim to create more awareness about asthma and allergies. In the process it would be nice to win the prize but just to be in it will be achievement enough.
Stay tuned for the last part of this series, my interviews with people dealing with asthma and allergies.
Do you suffer from asthma? Do you know someone who does? How has it affected their life? I am lucky that I don’t have asthma, however I have friends that do and I know it can be a small irritation to a major concern. Welcome to my 3 part series about Asthma and Allergies. Part 2 and 3 coming in the next couple of days. So stay tuned.
According to kidswithasthama.com.au
1 in out of every 8 or 9 Australian children have asthma.
“Most children with asthma have symptoms only occasionally – isolated episodes lasting a few days, with no symptoms for about two months or more between episodes”.
The girls wearing blue to raise money for the “Asthma Foundation”. Today was last day of term and of course mufti day. Each girl gave a $2 coin towards to the cause and we hope it helps with awareness, education and helping those with asthma.
So What Is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Symptoms include: coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness.
Kids who have asthma might have the following symptoms:
Not eat or drink as much
Have tummy ache and have episodes of vomiting
Cry more
Get puffed out more than usual while playing, running or participating in sports.
Become tired quickly
Below is a great video from the NHS Choices. The video has detailed diagrams.
Just to give you an idea of what it sounds like to be having an asthma attack below is a video of a person having an attack. I am glad she was o.k and the attack was due to not having her inhaler with her. She made it to the hospital and got looked after so all good.
Treatment
What are your treatment options if you suffer from asthma? Do they vary if you only have a mild case compared to a severe form of the disease? Depending on how bad the attack is, you might need different treatments, tg.com.au have a great breakdown on what to do in these different cases.
Asthma Classifications. Image from www.medicinenet.com
Medicines for Asthma:
Relievers – Otherwise known as a puffer. A puffer can be purchased from a chemist without a prescription.
Preventers – This medicine is for adolescents and adults. It is a medicine that has a low dose of corticosteroid. Preventers reduces inflammation in the airways and can reduce risk of an asthma attack.
Child using asthma inhaler. Image courtesy of Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Need a good overview of Asthama & COPD Medicines, the National Asthma Organisation has it sorted.
“Asthma symptoms after physical activity are common but can be prevented. The symptoms are usually worst 5 to 10 minutes after stopping exercise, not during the exercise.” (Asthma Handbook)
Do you think having asthma has impacted your lifestyle? Do you not do things for fear you might have an attack?
“Global rates of asthma have increased significantly between the 1960s and 2008 with it being recognized as a major public health problem since the 1970s. Rates of asthma have plateaued in the developed world since the mid-1990s with recent increases primarily in the developing world. Asthma affects approximately 7% of the population of the United States and 5% of people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have rates of about 14–15%” (Wikipedia)
If you or a family member has asthma it is a good idea to know how to help them in case of an emergency. You will need to know the following:
What medicine the person is using
Create an action plan
Learn what triggers your asthma
Lifestyle modification – ie. avoid passive smoke, don’t get exposed to certain pollens and so on.
Learn as much as you can about what makes you feel better. Is it diet? Exercise? Living in a warmer climate or cooler one? Do what works for you.
One thing to make sure to do, is to let people know that you suffer from asthma. The more people know the better things will be. Why you ask? Well, if you do have an episode others will know what the issue is and help you when you cannot help yourself. If you did not tell them, they would have no idea.
Another Fact About Asthma
“Asthma and allergies are closely linked. Most people with asthma have allergic asthma” (Asthma Handbook)
How do you cope with your asthma? Do you find that you go a while without an issue and then say stress or something else sets it off? Let us know? Do your friends or family have a plan just in case there is an emergency? Send in your comments.
Disclaimer: I am entering the Excellence in Asthma & Allergy Reporting Awards.I aim to create more awareness about asthma and allergies. In the process it would be nice to win the prize but just to be in it will be achievement enough.
Thanks so much to bubz ’N’ mumz for adding my blog to the list.
Mummy to Twins named in the top 15 parenting Australian blogs
I am also super happy that my blog appears number 1 but happy that I am included on this list. It is a great achievement and a great thank you for all the work that goes into the blog. So glad that you all read my lovely site. Stay tuned for more DIY, giveaways, free downloads, and new sections.
What great news for a Wednesday, thanks again and have a great day everyone.
I don’t agree at all with the PM (Prime Minister) and Employment Minister Eric Abetz making the unemployed wait six months until they are allowed benefits. It is outrageous to think that people, especially the young can instantly get a job. Some can, and some cannot. I for one am older and it has taken longer sometimes to secure the next job. That said, some have been as quick as a week.
The difference between myself and the young or kids straight out of school is experience and skills that I can offer my future employer, this is hard to have when you have not been given the chance to get the job. It is a catch 22. You need the job to get the experience, but no one will let you get the job for the lack of experience. Living on nothing for six months is going to prove impossible to downright difficult! I would like the politicians to give it a go. I bet they could not and would not!
Cherries that have just been picked. Image courtesy of ntwowe / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Many don’t have the option to move back into home as their parents are not close to them. Some had to move out as they cannot stay at home or there might be no parents to speak of. Living with your family during this time can work if you have family that can help, however for some it might be living on the lounge at a mates place.
What happens if anyone under 30 has a mortgage, bills, wife/husband, kids and other responsibilities? Not having benefits would mean homelessness and cause other issues as well. Do we really want to do this to people that are trying to get the next job and improve their situation for themselves or families? I think not!
One of my family members took nine months to find a job and it was not without looking and trying every day. Applications in the double digits were posted out each week and door knocking and asking friends and other networks was a way to try and speed up the job hunt. However it still took nine months. Under the new government and the budget, Prime Minister Tony Abbott wants you to have no way to fund anything, no money for: rent, food, bills and of course getting to and fro for interviews. Not to mention making sure you were adequately dressed.
Now Employment Minister Eric Abetzwants people under 30 to do any job and has suggested that fruit picking in Tasmania is the way to go.
Yes that is right. We are all supposed to relocate to Tasmania to earn a living and that is without any benefits until six months later. How do you get to Tasmania without money? Do you hitch hike? You better be a good swimmer!
Apples ready to be picked. Image courtesy of marin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Some people cannot relocate to a different part of Australia. They might have kids, and other commitments that means they need to stay in the same state or locally.
I do understand that if you need a job and the money you should not be choosy. I have taken jobs that I was not enthused about due to the fact that I needed to put a roof over my head and pay bills.
One job does lead to the other and it is much easier to get a job when you are in a job. However if you are struggling to get the job and no one is giving you a chance it is tough. Also when you are not given a helping hand for six months it will be tough and unbearable for many.
This is wrong and I hope this does not happen. It will create other problems like: youth homelessness, more crime, employers will treat young people badly due to the fact that they cannot get anything for six months (underpaid), more pressure on families and so on.
Having this policy is not helping our country for the long term. We need to build up our youth to be educated, productive and skilled. Giving people under 30 no help for six months does not allow Australia to tap into the talent we have, and use it in the best way. Looking after our people is what we need to be doing.If you are looking for a job and can show you are, you should be instantly on the unemployment benefits. This benefit helps you survive and look for the next job.
BEING UNEMPLOYED CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE! THE YOUNG ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN BE FACED WITH THESE ISSUES! OLDER PEOPLE ARE NOT IMMUNE!
What are your thoughts? Do you think that the government is right? People under 30 should not get the dole for six months? I for one am outraged that some find it okay to treat people like this. Let me know and send in a blog comment.
P.S. I am not against fruit picking and it is a great way to earn a bit of extra cash. The jobs are seasonal, and hard work. They are good for students and anyone that needs a bit of extra income. These jobs are also on farms so you will need to commute and travel for these jobs. It is good if you want to do it, I just think it is not for everyone and cannot be a blanket solve to youth unemployment.
Just to give you an idea of what is offered in Tasmania, the Downundr.com website has a list of jobs and where to go in Tasmania.
Bananas growing on a tree. Image courtesy of foto76 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Do your kids know where a banana comes from? What about beetroot? Or say sugar? I was alarmed to read that many kids don’t know or don’t have a clue! Yes just amazing!
In a news.com.au article it discusses the percentages of children that have no clue on where some vegetables or how yoghurt and ice cream are made.
According to the article:
“More than 50 per cent didn’t know that beetroots were grown in the ground, 75 per cent couldn’t identify a leek or radish, and 58 per cent struggled to name a nectarine.”
The survey was conducted by Woolworths in conjunction with Jamie Oliver to understand how much children knew about their food. Woolworths is teaming up with Jamie Oliver to bring his campaign of eating fresh food to Australia. The campaign aims to educate kids on healthy food choices and the positives of eating fresh produce.
Could your kids name a nectarine in a sea of other fruit? Would they know?
Now this is a nectarine. I know it can be similar looking to a peach. Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Another quote from the article below:
“Research also found that six in 10 children were unaware that herbs such as mint grew in the ground, and 70 per cent didn’t know where sugar came from.”
Beetroot that has just been picked from the ground. Yum I love beetroot. Image courtesy of Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
After reading the news article, it got me thinking….How many of the foods from the article can your kids name? I used to live round the corner from sugar cane farms so have chewed on raw sugar cane. Not a great experience but you got the idea of the taste. Although it was more grassy than sugar. Growing up in North Queensland, I was lucky to have all sorts of things growing in my garden, bananas, mangoes, grapes and so much more.
Maybe kids need to go off for visits to learn more of where food comes from? Is this a sign of our modern times?
