Election Day

Firstly - hello there blog! It has been 5 months since I have seen you. The middle part of the year has just disappeared. I think the addition of winter sports just tips me over the edge time wise. But they are now all FINISHED!! Yay!!!!!!!

So, it is election day. A day I usually have only a mild interest in. Generally, I have a preference for who will win, but don't feel particularly passionate about it. I figure it is all swings and round-a-bouts, and we end up about the same in the end no matter who is in power. I certainly wouldn't feel the need to publicly write about it.

But this year I feel entirely different. I have a heavy heart. And I am deeply worried about the future. This is because, if we are to believe all the polls, the team that is going to win has the potential to do irreparable damage.

Now, let me first of all state that I am not  a die-hard Labor voter. Philosophically, I probably lean more that way, but I am what is commonly called a swinging voter. I also wholeheartedly agree that their leadership battles and back stabbing have been, well, irritating to say the least. But is this really a reason to vote them out? Really??

You see, I actually vote on the POLICIES a party has. I can be influenced by personality, but at the end of the day it is the policies that truly matter. So how about this year? The Liberal Party and Tony Abbott have done an amazing job of keeping policy out of the spotlight. In fact, they waited until the eleventh hour to release costings and ideas to the voting public. The fact that they released these things just TWO DAYS ago should be ringing alarm bells with the voting public. But it seems many are not suspicious at all. SCARY!

Then there are the constant lies and scaremongering of the Liberal Party. I can't believe that Joe Public has fallen for this trickery, just blindly believing what they hear and read in the media. All this when all the FACTS actually show a vastly different story. And how come the Labor Party has been completely unable to cut through these claims to counter them?  Even in political advertising, I have seen constant ads by the Liberals, and ads from the Greens and Clive Palmer. But I can't recall a single Labor ad. What on earth is their media department doing?

So, for what it is worth, here are my reasons I REALLY REALLY wish you wouldn't vote for the Liberal Party today.

• The National Broadband Network is absolutely vital to the future of Australia. VITAL! More and more things will be conducted online and in ways we cannot even begin to imagine. And yet the Liberal Party is going to only do half the job. This will then all need to be fixed up later, at a much higher cost and a great deal of inconvenience. Now is the time to do this, while the cost of money is low and the economy is booming (in a relative sense). Do the job properly the first time you fools!!!
• Which brings me to the lie that the economy is in a mess. Um, no, no it isn't. We have AAA credit rating. Most countries don't. We have low unemployment. We have low interest rates. Our borrowings are low compared to income. To assume we should have no debt as a country is ridiculous. Businesses and individuals borrow money and go into debt all the time in order to grow assets and wealth. No-one blinks an eye at a mortgage. Borrowings are not out of control. I am not an economist, but any one of them will be able to explain that this bit of scaremongering by the Liberal Party is a lie.
• The present government is not a chaotic mess. Leadership and infighting aside, they have passed a record amount of legislation, including some huge long term stuff. All of this in a minority government. Pretty impressive actually.
• Humanitarian Issues  - don't even get me started here! We are NOT being swamped by millions of refugees. Far fewer come here than most other places. We take a tiny proportion of the world's refugees. The Liberal Party mantra of 'Stop the Boats' sickens me. Mind you, neither side is 'floating my boat' on this issue, so to speak. But the Labor party reaction was enforced by the constant criticism by the Liberal party. To use this human tragedy as a political football actually sickens me. And then just add cuts to foreign aid by the Liberal Party to show how mean spirited and inhumane they can be. Australia is rich. It is our moral obligation to help the poor. Here's an idea - increase foreign aid and help people in desperate situations and maybe that would stop the boats! Or you could try and buy all the leaky rust bucket boats in the world and burn them. Yep, that might work.
• Climate change has to be dealt with. Not sure if the Carbon Tax is the right way to go, but it certainly hasn't been disastrous. At least it is a start. Perhaps the rises in power costs are not all entirely attributed to this tax (seeing as it is the State Government that keeps raising them!). In any case, maybe if we all reduce our individual power use it isn't actually such a bad thing. And if you think for one second that costs will go down if the Carbon Tax is axed then you are dreaming. 
• The Liberal Party hasn't fully committed to the Gonski reforms for education. You can bet your bottom dollar there will be cuts in spending there. But who would know. What are their policies again?

So, I could probably go on, and on, and on, but I think that is enough. I think Tony Abbott is a power hungry maniac who will stop at nothing to get and stay at the top. I will get no pleasure in the 'I told you so' I will get to say to the people who vote in Tony Abbott today. I am just sad and embarrassed for Australia :(

Rant over!

Well, today was an up and down kind of day!

It started with heading to work. It was nice to see everyone in casual dress - glad the message got through. And it was good that I managed to delegate most of the tasks to lighten my load. Not sure they got done properly, but hopefully the kids will learn. And of course, there were the inevitable dubious clothing choices. *sigh*

Then it was off to the post office to renew my WWC card. Ugggh!!! What a pain!! Surely this can all be done on line. Seriously - if I can do my entire tax returns for the last three years online, I think this renewal should be achievable. Do they really need a new photo?? The problem is that the line for the WWC is also the line for passport applications. If you happen to be behind two people doing passports you are stuck there for an age. I was at the front of the line for 30 minutes. Just a tip Australia Post Bunbury - how about you have one line for passport stuff and another line for all the other licence type things that take 1/10 the amount of time. Wonder who I can charge my time to? Do you think I can claim it on my tax return as a 'cost' of my job??

Anyway, after that annoyance I went out to lunch with the lovely work ladies. Thank you all for making me feel special today :)))) I feel bad because I wasn't prepared - I owe you one birthday gift Carrie! But I got flowers, a gift, a 'birthday cake' and a free lunch. You girls are the bomb!

But this evening I feel a little sad. Sometimes it is a bit heartbreaking being a Mum and today was one of those days. Just a case of little Pickle not being invited to a birthday party - which normally wouldn't bother me very much. I get the fact that you can't invite everyone and it isn't someone she is particularly friendly with at the moment. It is just that it seems that pretty well everyone else WAS invited. All her friends assumed she would be going so they kept talking to her about it and she had to keep telling people she wasn't invited. And now my FB feed is filled with party stories. :(  Weirdly I feel like we have both been snubbed. Stupid really but sometimes surprising things get to you. And this is why I never want my kids to have parties - somehow you always manage to hurt someone's feelings.

But on a positive note - Fremantle just got beaten :D

Another week done! After last weekend of four days this weekend seems very short :(

 

 

Playing with friends at Jetty Baths

 

Helping Dad wash the Car

 

 

During the week we were treated to some absolutely beautiful sunsets. Pickle and I watched the sunset from BSHS after ballet on Friday night - just lovely! And this one was some time earlier in the week. The photo doesn't do it justice - but still it is nice to get a shot of the streetscape.

 

 

Today Erin came for a visit. It is always lovely to catch up and the kids were very excited to see her. We all went to the Port Park for a play. Football, chasey and football chasey - phew! Wore us all out!

 

 

 

TJ has had us all in stitches all day with some classic one liners.

"I am in peak physical condition"

"Nobody stands in the way of my love of Pokemon"

"This computer game is old school"

"Zombie apocolypse!"

Too much tv and youtube for this young lad!! xoxox







How lovely was this weekend? The weather was perfect and I think that 4 day weekends should be mandated from now on. Didn't get much achieved, but had a lovely relaxing time.

The kids certainly did well for themselves in the chocolate stakes. They were super excited about the visit of the Easter bunny. On Saturday night we put out some little bunny paw prints that have 'Happy Easter Sophie and Tyler' printed on them. Very cute!

 

The kids left out a home grown carrot and a little note too.

 

 

 

 

Searching for eggs.

 

 

The whole stash! Lots of yummy choccies - thanks to the Easter bunny, Erin and Grandma. Let's see how long they last!

 

 

The kids also helped Dad wash the cars. Help might be stretching things a bit!! But it looked like lots of fun. Photos to come!

 

 

Today, Tyler and I went to the Vat and Jetty Baths for a catch up with Luke and Tracy. The boys had a great time and we got to sit in peace and drink coffee. We were having such a lovely time we decided to stay for lunch. Definitely the way to go!!

 

Now it is all back to reality and work and school. Didn't manage to finish marking the assignments I brought home. Ooops!! Oh well, there is always tomorrow. :)



 

Body Issues

You know those body issues we all have? I seem to have more and more of them as time and weight gain take their toll :( Probably the bits I hate most about my body are my arms - tuckshop lady arms. EWWWWW! I always try my best to cover them up. Definitely no sleeveless summer dresses for me! (and while we are on this - clothes manufacturers - I am not the only person with this issue. Can you PLEASE make some summer clothers with sleeves. Thanks!) But my sweet little girl got me thinking last night....

After we had taken a shower last night Pickle says 'Do you know what my favourite bit of you is?' 'No' I say, already getting scared, because you never know where these things might go with her! 'Here' she says grabbing my upper arm.
'Really, I hate my arms' (just reinforcing body issues with the next generation).
'I love them - they are so soft and squishy and feel so nice!'

Sometimes you just need to see things from a different perspective. LOVE!

Oh and she said her next favourite bit is my lips because they give her kisses xoxoxoxo She can have as many as she likes if she keeps saying cute things like that.

Good Friday!! I love this day because I can laze around all day without any guilt whatsoever. I even got to sleep in past 8am this morning. Ah, bliss!!

What a great week we have had. It all culminated in a Thursday that had all the feeling of impending holidays. A four day break does that to you! Took part in the Stations of the Cross Chapel in the high school, which is always a nice way to remember why we get this fantastic break. Then I went down to watch the primary kids in their Easter hat parade. Always makes me teary with laughing and just general cuteness.

 

 

 

Nice to get a photo of us all together - a bit of a rarity!

 

After that I went back and taught. Wow, it is just so pleasant taching at this school. I think this year is my favourite year of teaching in 23 years. Everyone is just plain fun to be around. Makes getting up on these mornings when it is getting colder and darker a little easier.

 

 

Finished the day with footy and champagne with Graham. Welcome back footy season - even if my footy tipping is already looking very dodgy!

 

Today I have finally finished a LO that has been sitting half done on my desk for so long. I decided to just finish it, rather that fiddle around for ages trying to make it more interesting with perfect embellishments etc. It still looks ok - just not quite as finished off as I like. But it was time to move on!! I have another nearly completed on my desk. Having the same problem with that one. Just don't seem to have the perfect embellishments - which seems pretty impossible seeing as how I own a truck load.

 

 

And the kids went beachcombing with Graham, leaving me in peace and quiet for a bit. They had quite a fun adventure and Sophie came home very excited because they found a crab's leg. OK.....whatever rings your bell :) Here is a photo of their booty. I personally like the butterfly wings best. And my favourite part about all of this is that the kids are starting to do news at school again this week, so at least they both have something they can talk about.

 

 

 

And I still have 3 days of weekend to go - YIPPEE!!

Hello Monday!

Well, goodbye really because it is 10pm.

Lots to be grateful for today. It was a beautiful day and now it is actually RAINING! Loveely lovely rain. It is at this stage of the year, but come August I will be well and truly over it I'm sure.

Had another awesome day at work. I am so incredibly lucky to teach at the school with the most lovely kids ever. Every day they make me laugh and smile and I am so proud of them. Loved the way the year 9s today were all working out their percentages on their test and comparing marks. Healthy competition is a great thing. And being disappointed with 80%. Haha - it is a weirdly fabulous joy to teach such a class. But my happiest part is the student who actually failed last year getting nearly 60%. This is such an improvement I'm so impressed. Don't let the media tell you that teenagers are all bad. Thre are some pretty awesome and wonderful young people out there!

My own kids had an up and down kind of day - as per usual I guess. I had to buy Pickle a new school dress at lunchtime today because she had 'soiled' her other one. This whole problem is so frustrating for me. I am at a loss to know what to do about this problem. She is just so darn stubborn!!! Any ideas on this one?

She made me laugh today when we were working through her homework tasks for this week. One of her tasks is to read a newspaper article and write three sentences about it. She then complained that the only problem is that Daddy takes the paper into the toilet every day. HAHAHAHA!!! Yeah honey, that is pretty gross. You might need to just rescue a bit before he gets there. I then asked her if she shared this information with everyone else. Sheepish grin and a 'maybe'. I guess that means yes then.

TJ is so much better now that he has been takingantibiotics for the toothache. Good to have him back to his good natured self. He is trying really hard at swimming - he just doesn't have it. No big deal, but I really want him to be confident in deeper water. Lack of blubber isn't helping! At bedtime he was horrified by my tale of times before remote controls. Imagine having to get up eevery time you wanted to change the tv channel. And equally horrifying, having only 3 CHANNELS! Strangely, I enjoyed tv a lot more in those days. The more choice the more crap to choose from now. Which could explain why we are watching Brady Bunch as I type. Some people, of course, would describe this as crap. It is - but delightfully innocent and harmless crap.

Well, hello again cyberworld! I've decided to try blogging again. Not really sure why. I think i just need an outlet for the weird stuff in my head. So if no-one ever reads it that's ok. I just sometimes need to let things go and writing thoughts down helps me to do that.

So, weird unsettled weekend but kind of all come to a natural conclusion now. So I feel good!! I just wish I had another couple of days of weekend - definitely need to get yesterday back!

But I have done a bit of sorting which always feels fantastic. After attending a skin care party Friday night (at which I very suddenly vomited - totally bizarre and part of the cause of the lost weekend) I decided to sort out my stash. I didn't buy anything at the party. God knows the last thing I need is more toiletries! I delved into my bathroom cabinet to sort through my basket of skin care products. OMG!!! I don't even buy very much and yet still there was way more than I could possibly need. There was quite a bit of Clinique, which I'm pretty sure I haven't bought since moving to Bunbury 18 years ago. Well past its use by date!! And this was after a major cull when we moved house a few years ago. I distinctly remember thowing out bags of stuff from the bathroom. Then there was all the Body Shop product. I kept all of that - and rediscovered some fantastic goodies which I hadn't used in years. And then the Nutrimetics - expensive stuff to be sitting all unused in a cupboard. I gave some of it a bit of a go, but not sure if I really like it. Might hang on to it for another 10 years or so.....

But this did get me thinking that I really should not be so lazy with my skin care regime. I normally just slap on some moisturiser with sunscreen in the morning. And that is it. No facial cleansing (just water), no toning, no priming, no make up. Seriously, why would you even invite me to a cosmetics party? Actually, I own every product you could want. In multiples. I just am too damn lazy to use them. So, it is time to start using this stuff to clear it out of my cupboards. And if I don't like it when I use it I vow to toss it!

I also went out today and bought a few essentials. I bought a new foundation, mascara and lip moisturiser. I bought some non-slimy sunscreen for my face. And I bought rose hip oil, which I am hoping will halt the ever increasing signs of aging on my face.

So, I may not have bought anything at your 'party' Brooke, but I did sort out my cupbards. And I plan to USE the goodies in there. I know that wasn't exactly your plan - sorry :)