tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60989711210807099402024-03-13T23:15:56.117+10:00Backpacks 4 Aussie Kidsdespinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-800240504589283872011-06-13T23:51:00.001+10:002011-06-13T23:51:34.670+10:00Untitled<div class='posterous_autopost'><table border="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><div><a href="http://blog.akireev.com/wp-content/plugins/bbc.html">http://blog.akireev.com/wp-content/plugins/bbc.html</a></div></td></tr></table> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://backpacks4aussiekids.posterous.com/57023830">backpacks4aussiekids's posterous</a> </p> </div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-51778306671987092892011-05-08T13:26:00.001+10:002011-05-08T13:27:18.346+10:00Mrs. W - a personal account of a childhood in care<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Attention - some images and text in this blog post may upset those people living in denial that child abuse and youth suicide exist</div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I was born January 1977, that makes me just over 34 today (april 2011). In the 70's there was not much room in society for single mum's so there was alot of abortion's or fostered out children in those times. My life started out a little lucky, I was born into an already large family of my mum still at home with her Mum n Dad and 3 sisters and one brother, so I had a Nan n Pop and 3 aunties, 1 uncle and we all lived under the one roof. Life was great, even though I don't remember my Mum much at that stage - my Nan was always there for me she was never a particularly cuddly women but neither was my mum! So I was used to a distance in that way but my Nan somehow by just being there for me-always - it was like a cuddle. Dinner was at the same time EVERY night so was bath and bed - there was such a strict routine it hugged me like a blanket! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I remember kinder and I remember Nan and I remember the family dog and sometimes I remember my aunties n my uncle-I struggle to remember my mum..<br />
Even though we shared the same room together-she used to come home very late at night I was already tucked up fast asleep. It wasn't until I was' around 13 my Nan would re-call stories that made her cry, she said when my mum walked in the door, I would run for a cuddle...but she used to push me away...maybe it's lucky I don't have these memories, for my sake.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">My mum had a few boyfriends, but one guy stuck, when I was 8 yrs old, I was introduced to "Bill", he was an overweight, stocky, short man - not particularity attractive, with those scary tinted glasses - when he came to the door to take my mum on a "date" I do remember getting a "chill" I did not like him from the moment I met him! But Mum must have seen something in him, a few mnths later they were married, and I was whisked away with her to live with him, less than 6mnths later my step brother was born (you do the math!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">While all this was going on un-be-known to me - "Bill" was legally adopting me, so I now carried his surname, also they took over the local Cake shop, things (on the outset) looked rosy for my Mum...but that was not the reality, the following is quiet a chilling but brief account of my next 4 yrs within this family unit....take a breathe (me too), and...lets go......</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NbBqgfOo3FI/Ta0NB8sTiaI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/0KJJZ2fqWQM/s1600/child+in+nappies.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NbBqgfOo3FI/Ta0NB8sTiaI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/0KJJZ2fqWQM/s1600/child+in+nappies.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-AU">While business was strong, we had a life plentiful, we ate out nearly every night (which suited mum as she could not cook), we could have anything we wanted.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"> And my mum did - she had drinks on tap - yes she became an alcoholic-almost overnight (to me anyway), her judgment was blurred - she became extremely abusive to me and I now became my step brothers carer - I was just over 8.5 but had to grow up over night, I was changing nappies, feeding him, bathing him, because my mum either couldn't or she didn't want to, all I remember my baby brother eating at one stage was custard - I did not know what else to give him-know one told me-I did what I could...so I also grew to resent him-something I regret, even to this day!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">While my mum was drinking scotch for breakfast lunch and dinner- my new "dad" paid alot more attention to me-something that was new to me and as I was having a particularly tough time with my mum, I was coerced into spending alot more time with him. He showered me with attention -which was something new to me, and turned me against my mum who now had resorted to withholding me my breakfast as I had to clean the house every morning-top to bottom, before school, so I had to wake by 6am, feed and clean my baby brother-who sensed the stress by this point he started to eat holes through his blankets, then I had to vacuum, mop, scrub the whole house- EVERY morning before school, so my first meal would usually be lunch-maybe a packet of chips and a big M from the canteen. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HSmMpJwNSfs/Ta0IcLImucI/AAAAAAAAAf8/biJqAGltC9E/s1600/images.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HSmMpJwNSfs/Ta0IcLImucI/AAAAAAAAAf8/biJqAGltC9E/s200/images.jpg" width="166" /></a><span lang="EN-AU">Anyway the alcohol she inhaled everyday almost all day turned my mum into a monster, she would beat me endlessly either with her fist, the vacuum cleaner steel rod, a wooden spoon and once she came at me with a kitchen knife, it was now official - I did now also resent my mother. So "Bill" pounced, I had to work in the family business, I worked after school every day AND I was forced to go in to work 5am Sat morning, just with him...alone, a good 3 hrs before any staff were due to start - that's when it started...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BD10ymdA85I/Ta0IbKhS08I/AAAAAAAAAf0/ulc6geZzPzo/s1600/child+abuse.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BD10ymdA85I/Ta0IbKhS08I/AAAAAAAAAf0/ulc6geZzPzo/s1600/child+abuse.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-AU">"Bill" by the end, had raped me for over 4 yrs, he used more than his personal bits to do so-anything that was lying around would suffice, there was one time I saw some remorse in him, it was one particular time he made me bleed...I ran and hid, he never came to find me - now this stuff is very hard to talk about so I am skimming over lots, but I have not to my sadness forgotten much at all, it still feels like yesterday-at times-especially now-now that I have children of my own.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">My once sheltered life with my Nan had now been ripped from me, I was whisked away, adopted, and then raped and abused, physically, mentally and emotionally by both my mother and my step dad, but I found a way out When I was 12, my school had a "say no" seminar. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">That day I found out all about what's right and what's wrong and what was happening to me was VERY WRONG! I did a runner I was found by my best friend and her mum. They took me to their house, I told my story and they rang CSV. So in one day I went to school just like any other day, but all this unfolded there after, and before the school bell rang I was taken by CSV back to my locker to collect my things - kicking and screaming I was taken to a country police station</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qo5UCFFuVuo/Ta0K92Ht-HI/AAAAAAAAAgE/PZQbeO3vA_Y/s1600/teddy-bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qo5UCFFuVuo/Ta0K92Ht-HI/AAAAAAAAAgE/PZQbeO3vA_Y/s320/teddy-bear.jpg" width="313" /></a><span lang="EN-AU"><br />
And now I just remember sitting in a corner of the police station with just the clothes on my back hugging a bear a constable gave me (I called it "Dakin" :) ) and much later again - I was taken to my first ever foster home to later spend another 3 weeks there - it was not the saddest time of my life being taken out of home - but it was the scariest. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I begged them to take me back home even though I knew what would await me there - I just wanted to go back home-to what I knew-the untold future that awaited me, frightened the hell out of me! I was so frightened of what my mum would do to me once she had me back home-that I begged to go back-they would not and could not take me back they said-so I cried for days not believing them when they said I will never be back home-I thought my mum will find a way to get to me somehow-someway! I knew how much she hated me-resented me! This was sure to take her over the edge!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctIIrLxVCUY/Ta0LOsVnYlI/AAAAAAAAAgI/eVymF2TdNFs/s1600/grandparents+hugging+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctIIrLxVCUY/Ta0LOsVnYlI/AAAAAAAAAgI/eVymF2TdNFs/s200/grandparents+hugging+girl.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-AU">Now in a turn of fate, while I was staying at my new foster home-completely miserable, crying and alone...a call came-it was for me they tell me it's my "Pop" - I couldn't beleive it! But it was true, while I was in my foster home - my "parents" were interviewed and charged - my mum fessed up to the police and so did he- and only a bit was said to my Pop, but it was enough, he found me and I was now back with my Nan and my Pop-life was good again........for just a little while.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Before I turned 13 my Pop took very ill, I had to go-they couldn't keep me-I ended up in a youth Hostel in Melb's North, I was on my own-with new faces, new issues, new problems. The one thing that I did have from all this was, I was back to where I came from - I had some friends I had known and we met back up again-one of them was my now current husband who I love with all my heart and always have-my one-<br />
and only true love! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">This hostel was very different for me-we had a live in family-but they looked after sometimes up to 6 of us at a time-plus their own kids too, there was kids that came and went like a revolving door - but there were some like me who stayed on for years then were old enough to move on, one of the "stayer's was "Trevor" he, like all of us there had an awful childhood, he was abused by family<br />
and pretty much neglected.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I got on with my life pretty much I got a p/t job to earn money so I could have nice things (but I was also still at school), now Trevor was one of the ones who decided he'd use his time at the hostel by dropping out of school, running a muck-causing a bit of grief for all of us - we had lots of "group meetings" but he couldn't stick to the rules - he used to escape through his window at night, we had a curfew-but he didn't listen.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ymvosFtwpFI/Ta0MB6eGwHI/AAAAAAAAAgM/TNUTS9BSKPE/s1600/hostel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ymvosFtwpFI/Ta0MB6eGwHI/AAAAAAAAAgM/TNUTS9BSKPE/s200/hostel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">The boys got to sleep altogether in one room, they used to play up all hrs of the night, they were in the next room to me-we were never aloud locks on our doors for our own safety -they used to tell us-but when the boys kept escaping they put window locks on all windows - that didn't stop "Trevor". </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">See he was like a puppy that just needed a cuddle and some acknowledgment at times - when he didn't get that-he would do silly things - one night (after much a strange smell wafting from the boys room-yes drugs) he tapped on my window in the wee hrs of the morn - I yelled at him to go away, he said he had something to show me - so I crawled out of bed and go to the front yard - well he had stolen a car and was very pleased with himself so much that he had to show me - much like a puppy brings a bone to show his owner, I said he was crazy-and going to get in big trouble-he just laughed at me, jumped in the car and sped off running straight through a roundabout and on the wrong side of the road!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">All was quiet again for a bit, but then weeks later, "Trevor" asks me for a razor - I was suspicious and asked him why-but he assured me just to "shave" - he looked scruffy so I said "OK, use mine but I want to see it when your done!" </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rKRTe4eOXDw/Ta0KRCjsM-I/AAAAAAAAAgA/umFySMaL_Zs/s1600/suicide+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rKRTe4eOXDw/Ta0KRCjsM-I/AAAAAAAAAgA/umFySMaL_Zs/s200/suicide+pic.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-AU">Well, I had gone to bed, and later I awake to find him standing over me with wrists out - I turn on the light with a jump...to find he had slit both wrists so badly that blood was spurting out and sprayed his face, I nearly fainted but my brain said "save him"! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">So I grabbed both his wrists and ran with him upstairs to get our carer...me, the carer and "Trevor" went to the hospital-me still holding his wrists as tight as I could in the back seat, we got to the hospital-and he came up with some lame excuse that it was an accident-but because he lied the Hospital staff wouldn't treat him!!!??? I am still amazed at this, even today-they turned us away! But Trevor needed stitches! It didn't matter-we didn't matter or he didn't matter - after long hrs of arguing and back n forth with the hosp...we went home-he was shattered! We all were. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">He was kept up stairs with the carers that night-then all I can remember one night-a few weeks later, our carers sat us down-minus Trevor. we asked where was" Trevor" - they said he had been taken by police, he has stolen another car-this time got caught-and he had caused an accident, he was charged and placed in youth detention. Life kinda was still after that-see "Trevor" was cheeky and naughty - but he was still just a boy-and he did crave what we all do, that is someone to love us-but he chased it in all the wrong ways</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">...6mnths later, just as I was starting to wonder about "Trevor", we were sat down again by our carers - this time was different - this was no usual house meeting-the air was grim, and after a long pause our carers spoke - they told us......</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">the reason we haven't been able to get onto "Trevor" lately is, "he was found dead - they say it was suicide"................</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">And so that was that - I can't remember what we all did that night- or what we said there after - all I know is we were all extremely sad - even though my life and the peoples around me in that house had encountered some things that would shock the pants off your regular citizen - this bit of news pretty much took the cake for a lot of us - it was a huge thing to be in your early teens going through -what we're been through-to then hear one of your house mates is dead-that was a first for me, and a very sad one at that.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">After a few years we all took our leave one way or the other from this Hostel, I kept working, left school at end of year 10, work and earning money was more important for me than study, just so I could buy things and have nice clothes n buy a car - I did all of that - so did many of my ex-Hostel house mates-we all found our path eventually - even though our road wasn't paved as much as other kids our age - it had its fair share of bumps and pot holes - but we got through.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Here's to holding your head high, believing in yourself and remembering it's never too late to become what you might have been.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Mrs. W</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">(names and dates have been changed to protect people)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><i><span style="color: #990000;">I would like to thank Mrs. W, for her honest account of just some of the things that have happened in her life. She wrote this post herself, which as far as I'm concerned was a very brave thing to do. I began to edit it, but decided that the way it was written came from a very personal place and it reads as such. I hope this brings some light to someone's life who has struggled with similar issues. Mrs. W, now has a loving husband and family of her own.... des.</span></i></span></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-84613595982681372992011-04-30T13:19:00.000+10:002011-04-30T13:19:00.061+10:00Calm Photographics<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19RQGJIkEb4/Ta0EzTYslPI/AAAAAAAAAfw/Q9Ng30RkR7A/s1600/DSC_0196.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19RQGJIkEb4/Ta0EzTYslPI/AAAAAAAAAfw/Q9Ng30RkR7A/s200/DSC_0196.JPG" width="133" /></a><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am pleased to introduce you to Katey, a wonderfully generous person who is living her dream. She has donated prizes to our project and has been my 'official' photographer for publicity shots :o)</span> </span></i></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Calm-Photographics"><i>Katey Dade O'Farrell</i></a></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I started taking photos at around 11 years old when my mother gave me her old instamatic camera. I love the feel of it in my hands and my passion was grown when I did work experience with a cairns photographer at 15. On returning to school I spoke to my art teacher who began to tutor me after school. He is a well-known portrait photographer with some of his work being shown in galleries around Australia. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">The smell of the dark room and the magic of the image appearing before my eyes confirmed it, I was hooked!!<span> </span>In year 12 we were asked where we wanted to be in 10 years and my goal was to have my own studio.<span> </span>It then took me 13 years to realise my dream! </span> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V7cWAxLw-P4/Taz_hl9QQtI/AAAAAAAAAfc/Q5tSnDE0IEY/s1600/2010-04-064.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V7cWAxLw-P4/Taz_hl9QQtI/AAAAAAAAAfc/Q5tSnDE0IEY/s320/2010-04-064.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 115%;">The couple who were told they could never have children - Rick and Chloe, they are now expecting a little boy in June!! (next lot of maternity photos done on 10th may so look out!!)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">At Christmas 2009 I was a stay at home mum to my son Jonathan, who was one at the time, when I decided that 2010 was going to be the year of “yes”. I had been asked by friends over the years to do photos for them and always said no being too scared they wouldn’t think my work was good enough. So I went on eBay, upgraded my 35mm Nikon F70 to a digital Nikon D100 and then set about designing business cards, doing free shoots to work up my folio and the ever impossible task of deciding on a business name. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I came about the name <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Calm-Photographics">Calm Photographic</a> while teaching my son the sounds of letters. We were doing the letters of my name, Kathleen Helen Mary – Ka Ha Mm, Calm, and the rest is history!! I did everything possible to expand my business from running Facebook competitions to donating photo shoots for raffles. I found the Connect to Aussie Mums an invaluable resource and made a lot of wonderful contacts in the process.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I decided to specialise in family, pregnancy and confidence photography. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Some of the greatest jobs I have done were the year 12 formal of a group of disabled students, a 15 day old little girl on a Harley Davidson chopper, pregnancy photos of an infertile couple and the confidence photos of an opera singer who had lost her waist length hair to chemo. The joy on their faces when you give them the <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>end result and they see just how beautiful they are regardless of what they have been through is just priceless. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I love to hear the stories and have been told my business name is very appropriate as I have a manner which puts the client at ease and make the whole process extremely enjoyable.<span> </span>(I even got hugs from an autistic girl who doesn’t even hug her own mother!)</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yCJ9-2AknaA/Taz_k5tccOI/AAAAAAAAAfs/RCMDQo-Y5oQ/s1600/miss+ella+meets+chopper+mike%2521%25211.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yCJ9-2AknaA/Taz_k5tccOI/AAAAAAAAAfs/RCMDQo-Y5oQ/s320/miss+ella+meets+chopper+mike%2521%25211.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 115%;">Miss Ella on Chopper Mikes Harley Davidson. This was done for daddy as a very special surprise. Mummy and Daddy are the couple who were told they would never have children so she is a very special little girl and is about to be a big sister!!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Meanwhile my husband and I had been trying to have our second child and imagine my surprise when I discovered I was pregnant in February after only 7 months of trying! (Jonathan had taken 3 years to conceive) I decided I was going to continue doing what I loved right through my pregnancy as it was after all the year of “yes”! This proved to be a struggle in itself as chasing toddlers is difficult at any time let alone rolling around on the ground with them at 8 months pregnant!<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span> </span>At 7 months I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes which was a HUGE shock as we have no family history of diabetes. So on top of it all, I felt sick and tired most of the time but business was picking up so it was no time to quit. In September my grandfather, who I am very close to, was hospitalised with what was thought to be gall stones but was later diagnosed to be gall bladder cancer. We had visits from my brother and sister (who was also pregnant with her fourth child) and I were also doing my sons day-care school photos! I was starting to struggle both emotionally and physically. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">My last job before going on maternity leave was a wedding in Townsville so we drove down at 5 in the morning and I worked through till 11pm that night! (32 weeks pregnant mind you, I gave birth at 36 weeks) While it was my first wedding I was thrilled with the results as was the couple, I stressed immensely over the work fearing they would hate it! </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sZwnyK3rIps/Taz_iW3eRXI/AAAAAAAAAfg/PV92HX943os/s1600/2010-10-2315.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sZwnyK3rIps/Taz_iW3eRXI/AAAAAAAAAfg/PV92HX943os/s320/2010-10-2315.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 115%;">L-R Alex, Hannah, Kate and Hayden. This was their year 12 formal for Cairns state high, on the night Alex won an popularity award!! They were such a beautiful group. Hannah does not show affection and came up and hugged me several times, she dosnt even do that to her mother!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">In November I delivered the last of the school photos and our second son Joshua on the same day and decided to resume work in January after a short break. Two days after his birth my grandfather passed away and I was told as I had had a C-section I was not to drive to Innisfail for the funeral. Yeah right!! With the help of some wonderful drugs and the support of my family we made it through. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I thought with great anticipation that I would still resume my business the following January. This was not to be as Joshua fell ill and had to be hospitalised 5 times between January and March of this year. During all this time I had not dealt with my grief of losing my grandfather or the stress of the past 12 months and succumbed to a bi-polar depressive episode. (I was diagnosed with bi-polar in 2006) I sought help from the wonderful staff at the Cairns base mental health unit and am now adjusting to new medication and having regular therapy to deal with all the emotional issues incurred in the past 12 months. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3sG7DAfesCk/Taz_jYqILvI/AAAAAAAAAfk/n4JSVhwDXwE/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3sG7DAfesCk/Taz_jYqILvI/AAAAAAAAAfk/n4JSVhwDXwE/s320/DSC_0120.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 115%;">Kriss and Emily - Kriss has Aspergers, really fun kid!! We had a ball doing these pics - were also first client in my studio!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Needless to say, I did not go back to work in January, rather in April of this year. I have since set up a studio in a friend’s home office and have started advertising on my Facebook page again. In response to a few call outs on this page I have now got 3 pregnancy, 3 newborns, 3 confidence and 2 family shoots booked for next 12 months after not quite a month back! I am so excited about the future and everything seems to be falling into place again, the creative juices are flowing and the babies are all healthy and happy! I think the thing I have learned from my year of “yes” is that no matter how hard it gets, you can’t give up, it will only get better – eventually! While my business may not earn us a huge amount of money, it is the most rewarding career (besides motherhood of course!) I have ever had as it is mine, I have grown it from nothing and it is something I love!<span> </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwdabIeyIF4/Taz_kKZWOFI/AAAAAAAAAfo/wHBaM0-omss/s1600/joy7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwdabIeyIF4/Taz_kKZWOFI/AAAAAAAAAfo/wHBaM0-omss/s320/joy7.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 115%;">Joy has stage 3 breast cancer and this picture was taken during her 2nd round of chemo when she lost all her hair (she had waist length jet black hair!)She is an inspirational beautiful woman!!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Links: </span></b></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Calm-Photographics">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Calm-Photographics</a></span></span></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-26515820847871427912011-04-23T12:46:00.003+10:002011-04-23T22:39:08.824+10:00Jillybear... a young girl with a big heart!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/A55bs_RWm1M" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
Jill started beading at age 3. She loves it and always makes new little<br />
things and comes out to me to get them tied up. I've been massively into<br />
voluntary work. I get my kids involved and have them come along to things<br />
that are suitable.<br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><br />
I used to be a family day care provider and I liked to teach my kids and<br />
others about world issues in a gentle way. I would talk to them about less<br />
fortunate people or situations and then we would follow the conversation<br />
with an action/activity to help or show their understanding Eg a<br />
fundraiser or auction. I had friend who went as far as spending their<br />
holidays in bali to help kids who were orphans. My kids were shown pics<br />
send back via email about what a difference only a few dollars can make.<br />
<br />
We moved from SA to NSW 12 mths ago so I became a bit of a fb addict to<br />
keep in touch with people. I came across WAHM's who made thigns for sale<br />
and auctions so often Id get my kids to pick things and we would bid or<br />
buy them. Jill came to me one day before her birthday and said someting<br />
along the lines of "mum I want you to make me a shop on facebook so I can<br />
sell my necklaces and give the money to kids overseas who have nothing to<br />
eat." I just about cried! A few days after her 6th birthday I collected up<br />
all the latest things she had made and put them up on<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jillybears-Jewels/138050662905720"> facebook.</a> Her nick<br />
name was always <a href="http://www.jillybearsjewels.com/">Jillybear </a>so that why its her shop name. Things just<br />
started selling ...from people I didnt know, so we decided to get her a<br />
propper site.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><br />
Approx 7 mths later her online shop was ready with the help of a lovely<br />
stranger I didnt know from a site called littleherohosting.com (now very<br />
good friends and I met her last time I was in SA) she gave jill all the<br />
design work of the store for free.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YIn-tooHbi4/Taz4EuG0rQI/AAAAAAAAAfU/ufm6Pyf1-_c/s1600/jillybear.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YIn-tooHbi4/Taz4EuG0rQI/AAAAAAAAAfU/ufm6Pyf1-_c/s320/jillybear.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption">So young, so v-e-r-y busy: How does Jillian Pace feel about having her own website for her jewellery business?"Very excited, very happy."Picture: Gary Warrick http://www.penrithstar.com.au</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"> After the site went up she gave herself a goal of $1,000 before Christmas<br />
and shes currently around $470.<br />
<br />
We chose the company Australian Lutheran World Serive vs a well known<br />
charity as they have much lower overheads than most places that forward on<br />
donations.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><br />
She saw a few other great sites like yours and wanted to donate bulk lots<br />
to them to use. She decided she wanted to also help smaller groups so she<br />
has 1 album that changes every few months (from not for profit causes she<br />
finds on fb). Currently she is helping Asppired Ltd.<br />
<br />
We love your cause as we used to do special needs teens fostercare (crisis<br />
care) until Jill was 2.<br />
We are in the middle stages of being foster parents again for babies (0-9<br />
mths) for emergency/crisis care.</span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p7U8mRX85_w/Taz4zhDkMJI/AAAAAAAAAfY/FfhcD-TXgMY/s1600/Jan+2011+051.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p7U8mRX85_w/Taz4zhDkMJI/AAAAAAAAAfY/FfhcD-TXgMY/s320/Jan+2011+051.JPG" width="213" /></a><span lang="EN-AU"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-AU"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><i style="color: #990000;">(we love you too Jilly! and Mummy of course) </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span lang="EN-AU"> Links:</span></b></i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.jillybearsjewels.com/"><span lang="EN-AU"> http://www.jillybearsjewels.com/</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jillybears-Jewels"><span lang="EN-AU"> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jillybears-Jewels/138050662905720</span></a><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>You can read more about Jill here: </b></i></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.penrithstar.com.au/news/local/news/general/jillybears-jewels-shine/2105290.aspx"><span lang="EN-AU"> http://www.penrithstar.com.au/news/local/news/general/jillybears-jewels-shine/2105290.aspx</span></a><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"> <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-42626186068255705312011-04-17T21:04:00.000+10:002011-04-17T21:04:55.864+10:00Super EASY Brownies! Recipe by Richelle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpLeRalBMi8/TarIcm4v-vI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/yOMtlBA6SBc/s1600/brownies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 115%;">Super EASY Brownies</span></b></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">These are super easy to make and a favorite in our household with everyone!<br />
<br />
<b>You need:<br />
</b>125g butter<br />
125g chocolate</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">3eggs<br />
1 1/2 cups castor sugar (normal white sugar is fine)<br />
1 tsp vanilla essence<br />
1 cup plain flour<br />
1/4 cup cocoa powder<br />
3/4 cup walnuts (optional)<br />
icing sugar to dust<br />
<br />
<b>Method:<br />
</b>1) Melt butter and choc together</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">2) Whisk eggs, sugar and vanilla<br />
3) Add choc /butter mixture<br />
4) Add sifted flour, cocoa and nuts (I don't sift my flour because I’m too lazy and don't want any extra dishes)<br />
5) Pour into a greased & lined tin<br />
6) Cook in a preheated oven @ 180 degrees for 40min<br />
7) Allow to cool in tin, cut into squares, dust with icing sugar and demolish!<br />
<br />
<b>My notes:</b></span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I use block chocolate or choc drops/buds, milk or dark, it’s good for whatever you have avail.</span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I melt my chocolate in the microwave... you want soft choc that will go smooth when you stir it! Do NOT keeping heating it until you get liquid everything as the chocolate will most likely go yuck! I do mine for just 1 minute in a pyrex (glass) jug.</span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I use castor sugar or white sugar – both work well!</span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I rarely add the nuts, mainly due to the little mouths in our household (under 2yo’s should not have nuts)</span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">And most importantly, the beauty of this recipe is if it's not cooked enough, you have gooey brownies, if it's cooked a bit too long, it's more like a slice... So long as it’s not running out the tray or blackened, it’s going to be YUMMO! </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-AU"> </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpLeRalBMi8/TarIcm4v-vI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/yOMtlBA6SBc/s1600/brownies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpLeRalBMi8/TarIcm4v-vI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/yOMtlBA6SBc/s320/brownies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;">Enjoy :)<br />
Richelle</span></i></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=28e8c053-2401-4fd6-9948-041a151a9d1b" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-53679841670774787462011-03-31T21:26:00.002+10:002011-03-31T21:29:02.871+10:00Extract from our Facebook fan page<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}"><div class="actorName actorDescription" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">Extract from Facebook page </span></u></span></div><div class="actorName actorDescription" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></u></span></div><div class="actorName actorDescription"><span style="font-size: large;"><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=109836341480" href="https://www.facebook.com/backpacks4aussiekids">Backpacks 4 Aussie Kids</a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="messageBody">I get sooo pissed off when I hear about kids moving placements and turning up to their new family with hardly anything!!! Dear Carer, what were you spending the money on? Where are their clothes!!!???</span></span></h6><input name="charset_test" type="hidden" value="€,´,€,´,水,Д,Є" /><input autocomplete="off" name="post_form_id" type="hidden" value="2978f8db9f832274ac73ebda80155a38" /><input autocomplete="off" name="fb_dtsg" type="hidden" value="iRdUD" /><input autocomplete="off" name="feedback_params" type="hidden" value="{"actor":"109836341480","target_fbid":"10150153905796481","target_profile_id":"109836341480","type_id":"22","source":"0","assoc_obj_id":"","source_app_id":"0","extra_story_params":[],"content_timestamp":"1301521423","check_hash":"d7872393cd3b969a"}" /><span class="UIActionLinks UIActionLinks_bottom" data-ft="{"type":"action"}"><a data-ft="{"type":"share"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/ajax/share_dialog.php?s=22&appid=25554907596&p%5B0%5D=109836341480&p%5B1%5D=10150153905796481" rel="dialog" title="Send this to friends or post it on your Profile."></a></span><br />
<ul class="uiList uiUfi focus_target fbUfi child_was_focused " data-ft="{"type":"ufi"}"><li class="uiUfiComments"><ul class="commentList"><li class="uiUfiComment comment_15226461 ufiItem ufiItem"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix uiUfiActorBlock"><a class="actorPic UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_SMALL_Image" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=825823183" tabindex="-1"><br />
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Bryce -- <span data-jsid="text">i totally agree it is discusting behaviour | </span></div></div></div></li>
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Emma <span data-jsid="text">--That's terrible Des :( So sad that some people do it for the money - the genuine people know the money is barely enough to support the child!</span></div></div></div></li>
<li class="uiUfiComment comment_15226512 ufiItem ufiItem"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix uiUfiActorBlock"><a class="actorPic UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_SMALL_Image" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1283111006" tabindex="-1"><br />
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Kim <span data-jsid="text">--Its very sad.. I had the same problem when i was doing emergency care.. And Daycare.. It made Me so cranky.. Sometimes id sit there and cry..</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:49:14 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 07:49"><br />
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Melissa <span data-jsid="text">--My neighbour is a temporary carer, she is one of the few who will buy the children what they need and send it off with them. She had 3 little girls come in once and all they had was a tiny suitcase of clothing between them. One of the girls was the same size as my daughter so my daughter ran over and gave her some stuff. But your right it is unfair and these children need everything. Why are they not being supplied with it when carers get reimbursed and money for the things they spend on these kids.</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:50:17 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 07:50"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15226530 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150153909586481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></div></li>
<li class="uiUfiComment comment_15226544 ufiItem ufiItem"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix uiUfiActorBlock"><a class="actorPic UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_SMALL_Image" href="https://www.facebook.com/backpacks4aussiekids" tabindex="-1"><img alt="" class="uiProfilePhoto uiProfilePhotoMedium img" src="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/27525_109836341480_4689_q.jpg" /></a><a class="actorName" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=109836341480" href="https://www.facebook.com/backpacks4aussiekids">Backpacks 4 Aussie Kids</a> I know right?! If you have a child for 3 months or even 1 month and they move placements, they should have a least a bag of clothes that fit them as well as other bits and pieces. wtf?<br />
<div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content"><span data-jsid="text"></span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:51:02 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 07:51"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15226544 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150153910016481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></li>
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Jane Grech-- <span data-jsid="text">Its disgusting isnt it! Maybe people should be paid in vouchers but then, there isnt a store that just sells reasonably priced kids clothing and supplies and nothing else!</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:51:06 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 07:51"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15226546 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150153910051481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></div></li>
<li class="uiUfiComment comment_15226692 ufiItem ufiItem"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix uiUfiActorBlock"><a class="actorPic UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_SMALL_Image" href="https://www.facebook.com/paulamackinnonsmith" tabindex="-1"><br />
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Paula -- <span data-jsid="text"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_4d9462305af237713541988">Why would you not send their belongings. I have had my little darling treasure boy since he was 5 months old. Now 20 months. I don't get an allowance but when that horrible day comes when he goes away I will send everything with him. I will<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"> be heartbroken. His first pair of shoes, his first hair cut. They all belong to him not me. I have just been blessed with a gorgeous child that I will forever treasure. Money shouldn't be the issue. You foster because you want to share your love and you are passionate about children. Money shouldn't be the reason you do it! Unfortunately people do it for that reason! </span><span class="text_exposed_hide"><span class="text_exposed_link"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6098971121080709940&postID=5367984167077478746"> </a></span></span></div></span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:59:58 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 07:59"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15226692 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150153915501481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></div></li>
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Jenny-- <span data-jsid="text">i have to send kids dvds to tasmania for my friend who has 5 children in her care</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:00:01 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 08:00"><br />
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Sandra -- <span data-jsid="text">they cld state what the vouchers are for. i know that you cannot get cigarettes on vouchers from vinnies etc so they cld do a similar thing for these kiddies surely</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:19:55 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 08:19"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15227020 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150153926086481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></div></li>
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Melina -- <span data-jsid="text">Yes and stop keeping items given for the child. they are the childs not yours or your childrens</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:56:19 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 08:56"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15227526 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150153943756481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></div></li>
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Yasmin <span data-jsid="text">--lol i had this issue a few days ago 2 kids been in the system for 7 months and have just come to me with a plastic shopping bag of clothes each and a pair of thongs disgusting is all i can say</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:58:44 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 08:58"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15227557 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150153944806481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></div></li>
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<div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Yasmin <span data-jsid="text">--on the bright side shopping spree !:)</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:59:27 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 08:59"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15227563 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150153945231481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></li>
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Danielle -- <span data-jsid="text"><div class="text_exposed_root" id="id_4d9462305caca6594785657">It pisses me off. It happens pretty regularly and it's always second hand clothes they come with so the carers get out of it as cheap as possible it's just so wrong. I have just recently had two kids move into permanent care that I had for <span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">12 months they needed a car and a station wagon to take the two kids and all the stuff I had bought them to their new placement. I have 4 of my own kids and their is enough toys here for them to play with but I always will buy the kids I have somethings of their own whether I have them for 2 days, 2 months or 2 years. <br />
Sorry to rant but this is one thing that gets my blood boiling. </span><span class="text_exposed_hide"><span class="text_exposed_link"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6098971121080709940&postID=5367984167077478746">See more</a></span></span></div></span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:20:11 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 09:20"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15227818 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150153954606481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></div></li>
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</a><br />
<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Sandra -- <span data-jsid="text">Grrrrrrrrr when we start fostering that will NOT be happening with any of our kids! Even if I get most of their clothing second hand (most of MY kids wear second hand clothing) they'll still be taking it with them! It's THEIRS not the carer's! Makes you wonder what they were wearing during placement! How awful to be shipped off with only the clothes on your back :-(</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:33:11 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 09:33"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15228032 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150153961586481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></div></li>
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Jane <span data-jsid="text">--The positive from this discussion is that it highlights there are some wonderful carers armong YOU, doing it for all the right reasons. Be encouraged by each other, and by those of us who are inspired by your passion, your generosity and love for these children requiring love and care so desperately. Keep up the excellent work, and don't let the bastards get you down.</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:50:36 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 09:50"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15228330 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150153970251481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></div></li>
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Sarah -- <span data-jsid="text">Unfortunately we had to move our last child on to more experienced carers, he had a lot of stuff and EVERYTHING when with him, after all they were his. However this was not appreciated at the other end and we were told he was spoilt. He certainly didnt have a lot of toys, there was a volume of clothes but these had been gifts etc. As previously said this is their belongings, something familiar to them, of course it goes with them.</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:39:02 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 12:39"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15230826 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150154050916481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></div></li>
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<div class="UIImageBlock_Ext"><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content">Michelle <span data-jsid="text">--As a carer i'm horrified that this happens. We have accepted placements that come from other carer's @ some of these children have come with nothing. i don't understand how care's can do that. We always send any clothing @ toys we have brought for the child, weather they have been with us for 2 years or 2 weeks. It is hard enough for a lot of these children moving around a lot, let alone not having anything they can call their own.</span><br />
<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:20:03 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 18:20"><br />
</abbr><span class="comment_like_15235028 fsm fwn fcg"><a class="uiTooltip comment_like_button" href="https://www.facebook.com/browse/?type=likes&id=10150154181676481" rel="dialog"><span class="uiTooltipWrap bottom center centerbottom"><span class="uiTooltipText"></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></div></li>
<li class="uiUfiComment comment_15236395 ufiItem ufiItem"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix uiUfiActorBlock"><a class="actorPic UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_SMALL_Image" href="https://www.facebook.com/backpacks4aussiekids" tabindex="-1"><img alt="" class="uiProfilePhoto uiProfilePhotoMedium img" src="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/27525_109836341480_4689_q.jpg" /></a><a class="actorName" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=109836341480" href="https://www.facebook.com/backpacks4aussiekids">Backpacks 4 Aussie Kids</a> It's just ridiculous! I'm going to post this comment thread in my blog, but I'll leave out your last names (no profile pix either don't worry), I think more people should know that this happens<br />
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<div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="timestamp" data-date="Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:14:53 -0700" title="Thursday, 31 March 2011 at 21:14"><br />
</abbr></div></div></div></li>
</ul></li>
</ul>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-10126991392623343442011-03-21T11:05:00.002+10:002011-04-20T22:46:35.871+10:00What do you do when a child turns up at your place?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Upq1CwxQT2o/TYVdMPUnVhI/AAAAAAAAAew/bRQz6aEvwCU/s1600/11th+Nov+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>People have asked me,<i style="color: #073763;"><b> "What do you do with a child that has just been dropped off at your place for care?"</b></i><br />
So I thought I'd share some of the things we usually do. Of course, please keep in mind that this is a general overview and we change things according to how many kids we take and their personalities and ages etc.<br />
<br />
It often starts like this -<br />
4.20pm ~ring, ring~ I answer and this is how it goes, "Hi Des, this is such and such from Families Plus, how are you? (general chit chat for a min or so, and then this - ), What's your capacity to take a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placement_%28EDA%29" rel="wikipedia" title="Placement (EDA)">placement</a> of a (age, gender, number of ), child?"<br />
Then I say, "Why are they in care? How long have they been in care? Why are they moving placement? How many times have they been in care? How long will the placement be? When does the placement start? (usually asap), Plus a whole heap of other questions to which the worker either answers as honestly as she can or says she'll find out. And then I always ask, (because it's a small town), would I know the family?"<br />
Once I've got all this info I let the worker know that I'll call my partner Bruce and get back to them. Bruce is usually flat out at work so we have a bit of a conversation and a think about how we can handle a placement right now, consider the things going on in our lives and make a decision, yes or no.<br />
<br />
So, let's say we decide yes!<br />
I call the agency back, let them know and then I make sure I have a backpack for the child and run to Coles to get some child friendly food, (because unlike popular belief, some foster carers don't have a neverending supply of lunch snacks, poppers and tempting desserts always on hand). I bolt home, make sure the child's room is ready with fresh sheets and the backpack and toiletries on the bed along with a teddy and their new torch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CftND-sdeL0/TYVdXwDgUnI/AAAAAAAAAe0/YrY7SXYQfos/s1600/IMG_4029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CftND-sdeL0/TYVdXwDgUnI/AAAAAAAAAe0/YrY7SXYQfos/s200/IMG_4029.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Upq1CwxQT2o/TYVdMPUnVhI/AAAAAAAAAew/bRQz6aEvwCU/s1600/11th+Nov+8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Upq1CwxQT2o/TYVdMPUnVhI/AAAAAAAAAew/bRQz6aEvwCU/s200/11th+Nov+8.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Upq1CwxQT2o/TYVdMPUnVhI/AAAAAAAAAew/bRQz6aEvwCU/s1600/11th+Nov+8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<br />
It's now 5.10pm.<br />
<br />
<br />
About now I realise I haven't cleared the dining table off for dinner, (because my partner and I eat in front of the tv when we don't have kids and use the table as a dumping ground for 'stuff' lol), so I do that. I tell the dogs and the cats that we are getting a visitor and have a handful of treats ready to keep our AmStaff calm. She adores kids, but it can be really overwhelming for a little person to see a big dog all excited. <br />
<br />
5.30pm<br />
<br />
Bruce is home by now and we talk about what to expect. We make dinner and wait.<br />
<br />
5.50pm<br />
<br />
A car pulls up in the driveway. The dogs go nuts and I give them treats and shut them in my office or on the patio.<br />
Out of the car jumps a little person with a bag full of Maccas, (thanks for that dear <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_work" rel="wikipedia" title="Social work">social worker</a> or whoever you are). We are introduced, my cat Capt. Jack rubs up against the little person, which usually breaks the ice.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2pQBXT-zjlM/TYVePYmEWeI/AAAAAAAAAfA/S9JFOqcI4W4/s1600/113_0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2pQBXT-zjlM/TYVePYmEWeI/AAAAAAAAAfA/S9JFOqcI4W4/s200/113_0761.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Capt. and Bruce</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
5.55pm<br />
<br />
The social worker, or random drop off person leaves, and we are left to work stuff out.<br />
If there are bags, Bruce and I show the LP to their new room and help them unpack, (the cat likes this part also). By this time the dogs are crying and I tell the LP what to expect. I go and get the little dog first and introduce them. Then I get the big dog and put her in a sit/stay while the LP has a pat, then I send her off to her mat while we finish unpacking.<br />
Of course, the whole time we are chatting and talking about which draws to put things in and 'Oh, that's a cool shirt!, or 'Can I wash some clothes for you?" We look through the backpack and then we say, 'We'll be just in the kitchen making dinner, you can come out when you are ready'.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MY5Z4o4SHJg/TYVeUC9iurI/AAAAAAAAAfI/gF-8ABQ59go/s1600/IMG_2893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MY5Z4o4SHJg/TYVeUC9iurI/AAAAAAAAAfI/gF-8ABQ59go/s200/IMG_2893.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Woofy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g3c0Ki0bEhA/TYVeRSPiczI/AAAAAAAAAfE/ZtymdP6RAZU/s1600/IMG_2491.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g3c0Ki0bEhA/TYVeRSPiczI/AAAAAAAAAfE/ZtymdP6RAZU/s200/IMG_2491.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kairo, (or Rosie as we call her), looks scary huh?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BI1Vyrlnhjg/TYVeXvLHowI/AAAAAAAAAfM/1PA1sf25eRA/s1600/IMG_3718.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BI1Vyrlnhjg/TYVeXvLHowI/AAAAAAAAAfM/1PA1sf25eRA/s200/IMG_3718.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milo, terrified of little people for some reason and hides the whole time, lol!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g3c0Ki0bEhA/TYVeRSPiczI/AAAAAAAAAfE/ZtymdP6RAZU/s1600/IMG_2491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>6.30pm <br />
<br />
I like to give the LP some time alone, but where they can hear us, to process. Usually the animals go and get the LP and we all have something to eat. Then because it's getting late, bath time and quite time before bed. We show the LP how to get to the toilet, we practise with the lights off and use the torch and we show them how to get to our bedroom and knock on the door really loudly!<br />
<br />
I always to the first bedtime routine, unless we specifically have information that a male should do it. I have this great set of books called, 'I feel loved', 'I feel sad', 'I feel jealous' etc. There are 7 or 8 of them. We go through the titles and the child can choose a couple for me to read. Yes, even if they are 11 years old I use the same set of books.<br />
<br />
We had one LP who chose the book, 'I feel angry', for the first three nights, on the fourth he chose, 'I feel loved' . . . the next day he was reunified with his family.<br />
<br />
I've made a quick vid of the story, it's not great filming and there are no special guest star voice overs.. just me! I am camerman, crew, and narrator... the editor had the day off :o) <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gUtmaARAlaQ" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe> <br />
<br />
8 - 8.30pm sometimes later depending on how hyped up the LP is.<br />
<br />
I ask if the LP wants a light left on, a lamp left on or the door open etc. and I check on them every 5 or 10 mins till I go to bed.<br />
<br />
We don't really sleep that well on the first night.<br />
<br />
6.30am or earlier<br />
<br />
Bruce is first up in the morning and he does breakfast and the teethbrushing and getting dressed for school or day care or whatever. (I am not a morning person at all! lol).<br />
<br />
At some point before school, I ask the LP if they'd like to go to Kmart after school to buy some new pjs, (or whatever I can see they don't have or may soon need replacing). I NEVER throw anything out that the child brings with them. These things are their only belongings and they BELONG to them, not us. Buying new things is a nice bonding experience for both of us and I make sure they know that they now own these things, because they usually ask anyway :o(<br />
<br />
8am ish<br />
<br />
I walk with the LP into school, visit the office to let them know I'm caring for such and such. The school is usually the last to know. Then I pop over and visit the teacher and let them know and encourage them strongly not to expect too much homework or even quality school work until things are settling down again. Sometimes the teachers take my advice, and sometimes they don't.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DQo88XGlwuA/TYVdpFNH4HI/AAAAAAAAAe8/tDYtdArGy1s/s1600/j0439398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DQo88XGlwuA/TYVdpFNH4HI/AAAAAAAAAe8/tDYtdArGy1s/s320/j0439398.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
9am ish<br />
<br />
I go home for a nap LOL! I wish! These days I have to go to work, but last year I was able to take a breath and organise a menu and lunches etc. and chase up my agency for all the info they have, if the DOCS worker hasn't called me by midday I call them and insist that I get the 'authority to care' forms by that afternoon.<br />
<br />
I must say, that the agency I'm with is awesome!! Very helpful, friendly and supportive and I'm so glad we joined with them. Usually we get a call from our support worker or sometimes a visit the same night the LP comes to stay (yes, out of hours... imagine that!) or the next day.<br />
<br />
If you have any questions or comments or you are a carer and do things a little differently, please leave a comment below.<br />
<br />
Again, this is a very general outline.<br />
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<div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 1em 0pt 0pt;">Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://backpacks4aussiekids.blogspot.com/2011/01/we-did-it-goal-smashed-o.html">We did it! Goal Smashed :o)</a> (backpacks4aussiekids.blogspot.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/adoption-stories/201103/really-understanding-foster-care-part-1">Really Understanding Foster Care (Part 1)</a> (psychologytoday.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/15/world-social-work-day&a=38144178&rid=bd65b67b-6081-47a4-897f-c9191149a0e3&e=d319d7c85f2200ab3299aee92fcbdeea">Protecting children is not down to social workers alone</a> (guardian.co.uk)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/06/paperwork-admin-child-protection&a=34764843&rid=bd65b67b-6081-47a4-897f-c9191149a0e3&e=0392fdf7863b3c541e66ff6d560b00f9">Paperwork is undermining child protection | Lisa Ansell</a> (guardian.co.uk)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://joshuaallenonline.com/2010/08/22/the-foster-child-and-the-garbage-bag/">The Foster Child and the Garbage Bag</a> (joshuaallenonline.com)</li>
</ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=bd65b67b-6081-47a4-897f-c9191149a0e3" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-78046448740247862942011-03-20T11:00:00.002+10:002011-03-20T12:58:49.967+10:00Book Review.. Twilight<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red;">Stephenie fans! What makes her so special to you? – “…</span></i></b><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;">Seriously, her writing is just so awesome. The books are like drugs!...”</span></i></b></span><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red;"> </span></i></b><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://thetwilightsaga.com/group/stepheniemeyerfanclub/forum/topics/stephenie-fans-what-makes-her">http://thetwilightsaga.com/group/stepheniemeyerfanclub/forum/topics/stephenie-fans-what-makes-her</a></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"> – </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Does anyone else find it disturbing that an official fan site openly compares literaure to drugs?</span></i></span><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black;"></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I had not heard about Stephenie Meyer and the Twilight series till 2008, when I read an article in Time Magazine (<a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1734838-2,00.html">http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1734838-2,00.html</a> ). I am an avid Harry Potter reader and J. K Rowling admirer, so the title of the article caught my notice. Having read through the article I was still not much interested, though my then teenage daughter had her fantasy caught. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">She borrowed the book from a friend and raced through it, immediately developing her love hate relationship with it. I was intrigued by her ravings and her determination to lay her hands on the rest of the books. I read the first 100 or so pages of Twilight, and simply could not read through the rest I was so revolted. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">All of Stephenie Meyers books became sensational in their fan following. Movies were made. The media was alight with senseless stories of screaming fans wanting to be bitten by <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_pattinson" rel="rottentomatoes" title="Robert Pattinson">Robert Pattinson</a> who starred as the lead vampire in the stories. I felt vaguely disturbed when I heard that mothers of teenagers, women in their 30s and 40s and even 50s were reportedly “getting hooked on to” the books. There was something very wrong about the scenario, but I did not take more than a passing notice of all this. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">When I started writing for these pages, and was asked to review books, I decided to go back and read the series. I thought I would give it another chance, since the popularity does not seem to have waned. I read Twilight and this writing will refer to only this book, as I do not want to read the whole series. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Let me begin by referring to a book that has already dealt with this phenomenon of young women going berserk about unrealistic novels. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;">It is part of received wisdom that</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></b></span><i><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal;">Northanger Abbey</span></b></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;">is a satire on Gothic tales of horror. … M. H. Abrams, in</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></b></span><i><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal;">A Glossary of Literary Terms</span></b></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;">(1999 ed.) under 'Gothic Novel' remarks that Jane Austen 'made good humoured fun of the more decorous instances of the Gothic vogue in</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></b></span><i><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal;">Northanger Abbey</span></b></i><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;">'.</span></i></b></span><span lang="EN-AU"> (Read more: <a href="http://www.jasa.net.au/sensextde99.htm#story4">http://www.jasa.net.au/sensextde99.htm#story4</a>)<span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"></span></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-akn5aT1GL4c/TYVPpFeW4XI/AAAAAAAAAeo/McUkKMfS9Rk/s1600/northanger-abbey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-akn5aT1GL4c/TYVPpFeW4XI/AAAAAAAAAeo/McUkKMfS9Rk/s200/northanger-abbey.jpg" width="122" /></a><span lang="EN-AU">Published nearly two hundred years ago, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen is the story of Catherine Morland, and ordinary young girl of 17, who has had neither wisdom, nor the benefit of formal education. She has built up an idea of the world through her vast reading of the many Gothic Novels that were popular during Jane Austen’s time. She has had a strict moral upbringing, and a very practical minded mother, who has so many children that she has not been much able to attend to each of them individually. Left to formulate her own view of the world, Catherine has formed the habit of relating all she sees to the unnatural Gothic world between the covers of her favourite novels. She is too unassuming to hold forth her own opinions, or even to formulate them independently. It is a clever story of a girl who learns to form her own opinions from observation, who learns through the embarrassment of experience that life is not lived within the pages of the popular romantic novels she is so fond of. She even learns to reach conclusions of her own, make her own decisions and become her own woman. Edward Tilney (supposed to be Jane Austen’s voice in the novel), who becomes her husband, makes the distinction between reading a novel and believing it literally, and in reading it and extracting such truths from it as enriches one’s life. He makes Catherine aware of the difference of reading blindly, and reading with discernment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged" style="clear: both; float: none;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CassandraAusten-JaneAusten%28c.1810%29_hires.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jane Austen, Watercolour and pencil portrait b..." height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/CassandraAusten-JaneAusten%28c.1810%29_hires.jpg/300px-CassandraAusten-JaneAusten%28c.1810%29_hires.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="155" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 300px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CassandraAusten-JaneAusten%28c.1810%29_hires.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></div><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hD1NxDrKx_k/TYVPgElnFUI/AAAAAAAAAeY/z15kwqbFlIw/s1600/Stephenie+Meyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-AU">Jane Austen was in her early twenties when she wrote Northanger Abbey. She later reworked on it before her death, and it was published posthumously. Jane Austen was mostly home schooled or schooled by family members, and spent a year at a formal school. She grew up in an age where women’s rights were still a novel idea and possibly read Mary Wollstonecraft’s works on feminine liberation and equality. Though she never refers to them in he works, her own notions, and that of her characters reflect an understanding of, and impatience with the female destiny in her day. She died when she was 41, and packed her life with wisdom, wit, intelligence and a contribution to literature, that is relevant and deserves attention even today. (Read More: <a href="http://www.jasa.net.au/jabiog.htm">http://www.jasa.net.au/jabiog.htm</a>)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hD1NxDrKx_k/TYVPgElnFUI/AAAAAAAAAeY/z15kwqbFlIw/s1600/Stephenie+Meyer.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hD1NxDrKx_k/TYVPgElnFUI/AAAAAAAAAeY/z15kwqbFlIw/s1600/Stephenie+Meyer.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-AU">Twilight, on the other hand seems to be a celebration of unthinking romance, with emphasison unthinking. The author, Stephenie Meyer, with a degree from Brigham Young University, and all the independence, freedom, choices, and equality enjoyed by women in the 21st century, Wirtes a book that in a standard Australian school would get pulled up on each page because of grammatical errors and poor writing skills. She creates a heroine who though “independent” and self sufficient enough </span><span lang="EN-AU">to take over and run her mother’s household and life, and her father’s household when she lives with either of them, falls apart when the stunningly handsome, impossibly strong and, may I say, completely weird Edward does not come to school one day. Bella, an impossibly awkward girl, who cannot even drive in a straight line, unless she is very careful, looks down upon her hapless parents, who are cardboard cut outs of real humans, thinks of all her schoolmates as small town non- wonders, is inexplicably bedazzled by an impossibly beautiful face. Virtually at first sight. Once she does admit her feelings for Edward, she thinks of him as a “god”, and wonders about what he would have been as a “young god”. In the end I was left wondering whether anyone in the book, and even Stephenie Meyer really understands what love is all about. There seems to be </span><span lang="EN-AU">no depth to the feeling that love brings. In the story “love conquers all”, but the form of love that is described seems more like an addict’s dependence on drugs. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Yes, the word “impossibly” occurs many times in the previous paragraph. The characters are truly impossible. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Let us look at the characteristics that make Edward a hero: He is inhumanly strong, incredibly handsome, with a sculpted body, has a “mellifluous” voice, can move like lightning, has a grace that is naturally lacking in all the other true 17 year olds around him. He has all these qualities because he is a vampire and lusting after Bella’s blood. He falls in love with her because he is attracted to the smell of her blood. He likens his need for her as that of an alcoholic to cognac, or a drug addict to heroin. Of course let us not forget that he is 118 years old, and presumably has had a couple of lifetimes experiences. Bella finds it attractive that he lusts after her blood and is constantly aching to drink her blood and kill her. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Once Edward and Bella declare their love for each other, they stay together ALL the time. When she sleeps, he sits in a corner and watches her. The only time they separate is when Bella needs her “Human minutes” (read bathroom and shower breaks). They kiss and canoodle continuously, but do not have sex for reasons that are only hinted at, and when Bella, in a surprisingly coy manner asks about it, she is told in no uncertain terms that it was not on the cards. Is this an implicit message of no sex before marriage stemming from Ms Meyer’s religious background? But wait, Ms Meyer does not want to send any messages. She just writes for herself. “</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I never write messages. I always write things that entertain me, and one of the things that I find really enjoyable to explore is the idea of love.”</span></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial;">(Read more:</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1834663,00.html#ixzz1GcJhGbuO"><span style="color: #003399; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1834663,00.html#ixzz1GcJhGbuO</span></a></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">. “<span style="color: black;">I didn't write these books specifically for the young-adult audience. I wrote them for me. I don't know why they span the ages so well, but I find it comforting that a lot of thirtysomethings with kids, like myself, respond to them as well--so I know that it's not just that I'm a 15-year-old on the inside!” Really? Real life15 year olds in the 21st century behave like Bella with their real life boyfriends? Wow! If Stephenie is to be believed, so do the thirty somethings! Do they really like to be petted and cosseted and taken care of continuously and do they really want to be entwined around their new found loves 24 hours a day? Sorry, except for when they need to wash!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">(Read more:</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1834663-1,00.html#ixzz1G4COHAYs"><span style="color: #003399;">http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1834663-1,00.html#ixzz1G4COHAYs</span></a>)</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I wonder that millions of readers and (gasp!) their mothers have been reading these books and swooning over it. The small sample of readers I have spoken to, seem either to hate it, and spent a long time just getting angry over the book, or to love it: a book shop owner, recommended it saying, “it is like those age old romances like Jane Austen and all, nothing really happens, but there is this underlying tension, so there is no, you know, .. all of <i>that</i>…” No, Madam Bookshop Owner. It is not like Jane Austen. And no, I do not agree that “Nothing happens” in Jane Austen’s books. Though I know that is not what you were saying. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I plead with all of those who have read and gone maniacal about the Twilight saga, book and films, to turn back and read those novels written by women in a bygone era. Please read the books that have survived the centuries and are now groaned over as school texts. Perhaps a good place to start will be “Northanger Abbey”: the story of the girl who had to learn the hard way that life was not a Gothic Novel, and that she had a mind and a soul. The story in which a girl had to grow up and know herself before she could be happy in the love of another. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Books of Stephenie Meyer: The Twilight Saga: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, all of which have been made into films which have proved immensely popular.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FJwNpyNCJLc/TYVPpZVSRBI/AAAAAAAAAes/ee-bNQ4U-tI/s1600/twilightcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FJwNpyNCJLc/TYVPpZVSRBI/AAAAAAAAAes/ee-bNQ4U-tI/s1600/twilightcover.jpg" /></a><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pQ3cPWvm6FU/TYVPomKG6pI/AAAAAAAAAek/WesOtxUfIRI/s1600/new-moon-cover-199x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pQ3cPWvm6FU/TYVPomKG6pI/AAAAAAAAAek/WesOtxUfIRI/s1600/new-moon-cover-199x300.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W3RqFgfw-4w/TYVPoA0lISI/AAAAAAAAAeg/s7vmlXiEDb8/s1600/eclipsecover-198x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W3RqFgfw-4w/TYVPoA0lISI/AAAAAAAAAeg/s7vmlXiEDb8/s1600/eclipsecover-198x300.jpg" /></a><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DGRLPGpkRwM/TYVPkxENazI/AAAAAAAAAec/edn_TwDdAtw/s1600/breakingdawncover-198x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DGRLPGpkRwM/TYVPkxENazI/AAAAAAAAAec/edn_TwDdAtw/s1600/breakingdawncover-198x300.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<span lang="EN-AU">And lastly The Host. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">The Most Well Known Books of Jane Austen:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Love and Friendship.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Post Script: My daughter has not read Breaking Dawn, and only half of Eclipse. She has outgrown her love of the books, and has moved on to other literature, with no prompting from me at all. I recommend people to make intelligent choices for themselves, and if their choice leads them to the Twilight series, even after they have read and assimilated other books and literature, then so be it. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-AU">You can read more of Sonelina's work here </span><span class="TSRSpan" id="TSRSpan_1"><img class="TSRWebRatingIcon" src="tmtb://tmtoolbar/skin/Tooltip/webicon_green.gif" style="border: 0px none; height: 16px; width: 16px;" /></span><a href="http://bodhimoments.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #b8eab8;" target="_blank">http://bodhimoments.wordpress.com/</a> </div><div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 1em 0pt 0pt;">Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/12/not-born-to-be-a-heroine-jane-austens-northanger-abbey">Not born to be a heroine: Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey</a> (tor.com)</li>
</ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=25c3279e-fb65-4597-8580-39f3e9fefba1" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-90269900570999946272011-03-03T21:10:00.000+10:002011-03-03T21:10:29.735+10:00The aftermath . . . (& PTSD)<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">My last blog on Post Traumatic Stress was closely followed by Tropical Cyclone Yasi (category 5), that hit an area from Cairns to just south of Townsville.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">The most badly damaged areas are Tully, Mission Beach, Cardwell, Tully Heads and Hull Heads. These places either need a complete rebuild or a rethink of the positioning of the houses and roads so close to the shore. To give you an idea of where I am in relation to these places, it’s just a 40 min drive to Tully from here and and hour to Cardwell.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">It’s been such an emotional couple of weeks. I wrote about the PTSD when I did because I had concerns about the flood survivors, but it seems that something was learned from Cyclone Larry in 2006. People in the right places have realised that homes can be rebuilt and communities can be cleaned up, but once it’s all over, the residents may become depressed, or anxious or develop a fear of heavy rain or wind.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Watching all the reports on the news shows about TC Yasi and the aftermath, there has been a lot of talk about mental health as well as physical needs of the people who experienced this trauma.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">My partner Bruce made the decision to leave Innisfail for this cyclone. I wanted to stay . . . desperately. I have no idea why, I just wanted to be here. I couldn’t talk my dad into leaving with us, so I was worried about him in part, but I really wanted to stay. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Bruce insisted and I wasn’t going to let him go anywhere without me, so we packed up three dogs, two cats, (in one carrier), and one of his aeroplanes and headed off to Mackay at midnight the night before the cyclone hit. I should explain about the aeroplane. Bruce has three planes and a half ownership of a hanger at our local airport, but it’s almost impossible to get insurance for these things. If the Cat. 5 had hit us, the hanger and his planes would have been trashed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:InnisfailCourt.JPG" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Innisfail Court House on Rankin Street. Taken ..." height="225" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/InnisfailCourt.JPG/300px-InnisfailCourt.JPG" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 300px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:InnisfailCourt.JPG"></a></span></div><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">The morning we left, (Tuesday), I couldn’t eat and I was sure I was going to vomit. I hadn’t slept since the previous Saturday when we realised the cyclone was heading our way. The whole town was really tense and on edge. We knew what a Cat. 5 meant if it hit us. The lady at the checkout in Coles had tears in her eyes as we talked about how there was very little tinned food left on the shelves.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">People in Innisfail lined up to get petrol all day on Tuesday, every plastic storage container in the town sold out, as did batteries, candles, bottles of water and most of the tinned food. We knew how to prepare this time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Residents of the other communities who had ‘been through Larry’, thought we were all being paranoid and a bit over the top. But we lived through the last ‘aftermath’. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">I think that what the other towns didn’t really understand was . . . Larry hit Innisfail head on. It flogged us for 5 or 6 hours at the most and then it left. Yasi was headed right for us (again!) and was predicted to have Cat. 5 winds near the eye for 12-18 hours. If that had happened there would be nothing left standing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40302689@N02/5410295708" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="33 Cyclone Yasi" height="160" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/5410295708_528a2460e4_m.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="240" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">As it happened, Yasi turned just before landfall and hit right below us at Tully, Mission Beach and Cardwell. Innisfail would have got winds at about a high Cat. 3. We lost most, but not every banana plant this time. Few, but some, houses have damage and lost roofs, but not like last time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">During Larry, Tully had almost it’s whole banana crop standing, which tells you that Larry was a small and concentrated hit, while Yasi flogged the living daylights out of a 500km radius.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20338234@N08/5411016722" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cyclone_Larry_19_mar_2006_0025Z.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tropical Cyclone Larry over the Great Barrier ..." height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Cyclone_Larry_19_mar_2006_0025Z.jpg/300px-Cyclone_Larry_19_mar_2006_0025Z.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="155" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cyclone_Larry_19_mar_2006_0025Z.jpg"></a></span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cyclone Larry, 19th March 2006</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24662369@N07/5416455428" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tropical Cyclone Yasi" height="200" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/5416455428_e33fd614eb_m.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="200" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cyclone Yasi, 3rd Feb 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20338234@N08/5411016722" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">My heart goes out to the communities worst affected by this horrendous storm. I am still in disbelief at the size and ferocity of it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">It’s going to take a long time for the people in these areas to come to terms with what happened. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">My nightmares have started up again and I wasn’t even here to have that terrible howling noise of the wind in my head . . . but still, I can hear it. I’m having dreams where I’m just afraid of something, or nothing, I can’t explain. I’m not dreaming about cyclones, but I can’t say I’ve slept properly since before it hit, even though I seem to be sleeping every chance I get.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">I know these are symptoms of the anxiety and panic now, so I am more able to understand them and let the feelings flow through me instead of trying to pretend I’m ok and keep my mind too busy to be able to think about the ‘hard stuff’.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Just like I set time aside each day to meditate, I set time aside, (just a small amount), for me to think about the things that are worrying me in detail. I let my mind go for it! All the bad things that can or could or may happen float through my head . . . but I just watch and listen to them. I am working on not personalising them or dwelling on them, just letting them happen and accepting them as thoughts and not reality.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Of course, I’m not always successful. For instance, it’s nearly midnight and I can’t sleep. I’m having trouble switching off my brain to the ‘what if’s’ at the moment. Writing about it will help, I’m already yawning and feeling ready to try to relax again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">I went to meet my new boss today and the teacher I’ll be working closely with this year. I was very open with them about my melt down and my recovery. Not sure if they were shocked or interested or could care less or maybe they were just worried about how I’ll cope at work. It doesn’t matter to me, best to be honest and open about these things. After all, we did just have another cyclone and there’s more to come yet I’m sure! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/89165847@N00/5419528627" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black Humour" height="240" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5419528627_3e391febbb_m.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="188" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div></div><div style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">It’s been nearly a month since I wrote the post above. I still haven’t had a good nights sleep since before the cyclone and don’t really expect to until cyclone season is over. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">For some unknown reason they sent the army away AGAIN after only two weeks. All the communities that were less affected still have piles of green waste and household damaged items sitting out the front of their places. The more damaged areas still have masses and masses of work to be done.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">The insurance agencies are insisting that contractors from NSW, Brisbane and VIC do all the repair work and are also replacing white goods and furniture with items purchased and shipped from Melbourne and Sydney!!! </span><br />
<ul><li><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Never mind that the Premier said this wouldn’t happen. </span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Never mind that the local businesses are missing out on a chance to employ locals and keep the local economy afloat. </span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Never mind that the elderly now have to hire people to clean up for them. </span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Never mind that the natural disaster relief money ($1000 per adult) still hasn’t been given to those who applied just after the cyclone, and the list goes on . . . </span></li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">I don’t understand. Someone I know was chasing up Bob Katter today. I hope he can help. This situation is nuts. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Anyway, I’m going to post this blog now. But I’m sure I’ll have more to say!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Oh, and we only lost about 20-30% of our donations. The Overflow in Innisfail where we store most of our stuff held up pretty well. Phew!</span></i></div><div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 1em 0pt 0pt;"> Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://morethanreadingblog.com/2011/02/06/cyclone-yasi/">Cyclone Yasi</a> (morethanreadingblog.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/innisfail-residents-full-of-dread-20110202-1acyb.html">Mass evacuations at Innisfail</a> (news.theage.com.au)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFnNzjyxWrTUp7lgO-XcmxGEm6DDA&url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/03/3129454.htm?section%253Djustin">Bureau warns cyclone season far from over - ABC Online</a> (news.google.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.theage.com.au/environment/weather/100-stayed-at-cardwell-to-face-yasis-fury-still-no-word-20110203-1ae7a.html">What's gone: the trail of destruction left by Yasi</a> (theage.com.au)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/lessons-for-government-from-yasi-bligh-20110222-1b2xu.html">Lessons for government from Yasi: Bligh</a> (news.theage.com.au)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEFHPGE5PtbvNGq0cJzFlTpK_npvg&url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/tully-a-scene-of-devastation-20110201-1acgp.html">Townsville's Yasi nightmare begins - Sydney Morning Herald</a> (news.google.com)</li>
</ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=f8501ac6-a0e3-4bab-8b61-40e793b5f1b8" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-8941309771754749362011-02-11T08:41:00.005+10:002011-02-12T14:27:34.862+10:00Guest blogger Sonelina - Diary of a Wimpy Kid Review<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;"> Please welcome Sonelina to our blog. She will be reviewing books and offering opinions in the months to come - </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1PXO0XSoIHM/TVPHNaoJFeI/AAAAAAAAAeU/k77NwUMIimI/s1600/Sonelina+with+daughter+Picorelli+and+son+Preethom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1PXO0XSoIHM/TVPHNaoJFeI/AAAAAAAAAeU/k77NwUMIimI/s320/Sonelina+with+daughter+Picorelli+and+son+Preethom.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonelina with daughter Picorelli and son Preethom</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Sonelina is a mother, avid reader, and a player with /lover of words. She spends her time helping people improve their health, reading Georgette Heyer and Deepak Chopra voraciously </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;"> (vicariously?!) and convincing her son that his life will not end if he does some extra homework. When she’s not holding down the fort in her sweltering tower aka apartment, she can be found dancing Indian style, guzzling down warm water and laughing with her friends. She loves people, really. And reads more authors as well. Long rambling walks clear her mind and helps her buckle down and get on with it.</span></span></div><br />
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<div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_if_a_Wimpy_Kid_movie_poster.jpg"></a></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The logo of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series." height="131" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/79/Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_series.png" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="229" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<b><span lang="EN-AU">Diary Of A Wimpy Kid – The Down To Earth Truth</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">“has taken the word “reluctant” out of “reluctant readers”. US Post.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">The series “<i>Diary of a Wimpy kid</i> has taken the world by storm. Almost. Not a phenomenon by the Twilight series standards, or by the Harry Potter series standards, nevertheless, it has revolutionised the world of reluctant primary school readers who have found that reading a book is not so uncool after all. A whole generation of teachers and parents have heaved a profound sigh of relief that here are books that they may happily allow children to read, and that children like. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DOWKDD.png" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/76/DOWKDD.png/300px-DOWKDD.png" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="135" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 135px;"> </span></div><div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_The_Last_Straw.png" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw." height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_The_Last_Straw.png/300px-Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_The_Last_Straw.png" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="133" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 133px;"> </span></div><span lang="EN-AU">It is a look at life seen through the eyes of a tween - <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_characters" rel="wikipedia" title="List of Diary of a Wimpy Kid characters">Greg Heffley</a>. A run-of-the-mill boy. A boy whose distinction lies in his average-ness. And his wimpy-ness as he calls it. His tendency to tumble into trouble regularly, his impractical ideas which he tries to bring into fruition, his social problems and blossoming adolescence, all are readily identifiable, and instantly grips the reader. Greg is often selfish, kind of careless and very self centred. Hovering between juvenile delinquency and angelic perfect-ness, his escapades and philosophies are all the more believable as everyone has some memory of similar chaos in their lives. </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_The_Last_Straw.png/300px-Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid_The_Last_Straw.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span lang="EN-AU">There is a ghost of a story sticking each journal (Not a Diary) into a book, and deals with topics like : summer holidays – “Dog Days”, or growing up - “The Ugly Truth” Discipline - “The Last Straw”, Each book is 224 pages of a diary, with very expressive cartoon pictures drawn in by Greg, giving the books a distinction uniquely its own. </span><br />
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<div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diary_if_a_Wimpy_Kid_movie_poster.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Diary of a Wimpy Kid (film)" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/23/Diary_if_a_Wimpy_Kid_movie_poster.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="216" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 299px;"> </span></div><br />
<span lang="EN-AU">Originally envisaged as a comic strip for adults, then as a book for adults, as a nostalgic and humorous look at their childhood days, the books have a skeletal comic strip appearance to them, and to their contents. The author, Jeff Kinney’s original dream of being a syndicated comic strip author got modified into what rapidly became a popular book series and is now a movie by 20th Century Fox.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Jeff Kinney works as a virtual world designer. He is the design director of a Boston Based Internet Publishing company, where he created Poptropica.com. Visit either <a href="http://www.poptropica.com/">www.poptropica.com</a> or <a href="http://www.funbrain.com/">www.funbrain.com</a> to see many fun things for children to do, as well as the <i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid</i> online series. Then he comes home to spend “five hours under a doona” to construct a single gag line for the books. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">The success and greatness of the <i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid</i> series lies in the fact that children and especially boys, who I am told take to reading less easily than girls in general, can read them easily, and have a laugh. Not designed to be a role model, he gets into hilarious situations, often of his own making, often as a hapless victim, and does not always come out squeaky clean and victorious. But he learns little life lessons, and thus moves toward teenage and adulthood armed as well as the next average child.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Any reading is good reading in order to encourage the habit, and the <i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid </i>works really well. Reluctant readers find hilarity in the books, strong readers would like to race through them, budding artists and authors would have no problems sitting down with a “journal” of their own to get started on </span><br />
<div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Ugly_Truth.png" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/16/The_Ugly_Truth.png" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="136" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 238px;"> </span></div><span lang="EN-AU">their own masterpiece complete with drawings and humour. The simplicity of the books make them a masterpiece.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-AU"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I would not go so far as to say </span><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">“Move over Harry Potter”</span></i><span lang="EN-AU"> along with </span><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Andrea Yeats</span></i><span lang="EN-AU">, but the best seller lists definitely have Greg Heffley up there on a par with the boy wizard. I thoroughly recommend the books to children between 9 and 12. </span></div><div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 1em 0pt 0pt;">Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/diary-wimpy-kid-roderick-rules-trailer/">'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules' Trailer</a> (slashfilm.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.momblognetwork.com/cooking-food/diary-wimpy-kid-book-1-where-boy-calls-his-secret-diary-journal-book-review">Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 1 - Where a Boy Calls His Secret Diary a Journal - BOOK REVIEW</a> (momblognetwork.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/11/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-grow-up_n_781754.html">Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Should The Wimp Grow Up?</a> (huffingtonpost.com)</li>
</ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=6a1372ef-59c4-4898-8f15-67d2ee3d11c1" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-9184132826137744632011-02-04T10:05:00.006+10:002011-02-10T21:25:48.282+10:00Guest blogger Richelle<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-AU"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Introducing Richelle!</span></i></b></span></span><b><span lang="EN-AU"> </span></b></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUanR1EJ42I/AAAAAAAAAeM/_BP52x4mqXQ/s1600/richelle%2527s+backpacks+profile+pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUanR1EJ42I/AAAAAAAAAeM/_BP52x4mqXQ/s320/richelle%2527s+backpacks+profile+pic.JPG" width="240" /></a><b><span lang="EN-AU"> </span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-AU">Richelle is </span>a full time mum of two girls aged 2 and 4 years and she's also a <a href="http://www.stampingwithrichelle.blogspot.com/">Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator</a>. She runs regular card making classes and lives in the beautiful state of WA!</span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">As you can see from her pic, she's pretty cute . . . </span> <br />
<blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is the first blog Richelle has done for us, so please leave some feedback either here or her <a href="http://www.stampingwithrichelle.blogspot.com/">blog</a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/StampinWithRichelle">facebook page.</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I hope you find something fun to do from these blogs!</span></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">des :o)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-AU">One of our Favourite indoor craft activities.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Crafting has been runs in my family, between my Mum , Sister, Nana and Aunty and I, we are competent sewers, knitters, cardmakers, scrapbookers, folk artists and a few other things thrown into the mix. So as an extension of my love of craft (and wanting to keep my brain active and hopefully make some extra cash when I had my first child), I joined Stampin’ Up! I love it as I get to share my love of crafting with family, friends and also lots of new people I meet. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">One of the things about being a <a href="http://www.stampingwithrichelle.blogspot.com/">Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator</a>, you buy their products and for me, that includes a few of their punches. I love how easy they are to use and this activity revolves around getting your child to use them. Yes they are that easy! So here are some details about one of our favourite activities when it’s too hot or wet to play outside.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-AU">What you’ll need:</span></b></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="color: #bf9000; margin-left: 37.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU">Craft punches in all sorts of shapes and sizes. If you don’t have any craft punches you can buy pre-cut shapes from most craft stores or el cheapo stores</span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #bf9000; margin-left: 37.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU"> Find some card or paper. Scraps are perfect! But you’ll also need 1-2 big pieces per child/project</span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #bf9000; margin-left: 37.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU">Glue – I use blue gluesticks as then you and your child can see how much glue they are using</span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color: #bf9000; margin-left: 37.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU">Textas, pencils or crayons</span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color: #bf9000; margin-left: 37.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-AU">What to do:</span></b></div><div class="ListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU">1)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU">Punch out lots of shapes in all your card and papers. If you place them in a box as you go, you’ll have somewhere to store them if they aren’t all used. Miss 4 is able to use my punches, but Miss 2.5 doesn’t have the co-ordination just yet. Young kids get a thrill from picking up the shapes and putting them in a box – it gives them a job whilst you are punching out more shapes. </span></div><div class="ListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUam7IB1aLI/AAAAAAAAAeA/HLjwnsmwQEc/s1600/Richelle+blog+1+pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUam7IB1aLI/AAAAAAAAAeA/HLjwnsmwQEc/s320/Richelle+blog+1+pic+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUam8R3OXhI/AAAAAAAAAeE/-I2BV0yasLw/s1600/Richelle+blog+1+pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div class="ListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU">2)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU">Today, I’ve helped out by mounting 1 large piece of card on another contrasting piece of card to ‘frame’ their work (this can also be done right at the end).</span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU">3)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU">To help them out, I’ve drawn some flower stems for Miss 2.5 and a heart border and a flower outline for Miss 4. The idea is to glue inside the flower outline and for Miss2.5 to make flowers at the top of each stem.</span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU">4)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU">Let them draw any thing with the textas, crayons and pencils – do this before any glue is applied to the page.</span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU">5)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU">Hand you child a gluestick! Scary thought! But it’s ok, if it gets on the table, the glue will come off with some spray cleaner and a sponge (or babywipes are priceless!). Also, I try and remember to place some large paper on the table to protect it, or buy a plastic tablecloth from your local craft shop.</span></div><div class="ListParagraphCxSpLast"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUam9MlhoeI/AAAAAAAAAeI/8H9sgckGLXw/s320/Richelle+blog+1+pic+3.jpg" width="320" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUam8R3OXhI/AAAAAAAAAeE/-I2BV0yasLw/s320/Richelle+blog+1+pic+2.jpg" width="320" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUam8R3OXhI/AAAAAAAAAeE/-I2BV0yasLw/s1600/Richelle+blog+1+pic+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><div class="ListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU">6)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU">Now you’ll just need to supervise and try not to interfere too much. Just watch and see where they need a hand. </span></div><div class="ListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="ListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-AU"> Soon you’ll see the finished results and the look of sheer joy on your child’s face when they present their artwork to you!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">For more details about <a href="http://www.stampingwithrichelle.blogspot.com/">Stampin’ Up!</a> or to see any of my other work, please visit my blog <a href="http://www.stampingwithrichelle.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Take care,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Richelle</span></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-57994528397821040392011-01-28T12:10:00.000+10:002011-01-28T12:10:58.072+10:00Townsville Project!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/trish.loveday">Trish Loveday</a>has been a foster carer in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Townsville%2C_Queensland" rel="wikipedia" title="Townsville, Queensland">Townsville</a> for over 15 years . During this time she and her partner have provided a home for over 100 children. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUIcM1Dc0KI/AAAAAAAAAd0/_6Y0oKo4NVU/s1600/000_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUIcM1Dc0KI/AAAAAAAAAd0/_6Y0oKo4NVU/s320/000_0197.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">These placements have included short term of 1 or 2 nights right up to long term placements including a placement of a sibling group for over 9 years. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">In 2009 Trish and her partner were the <i style="color: #990000;"><b>North Queensland Recipients of the Foster and Kinship Excellence Award</b></i> in recognition of their dedication to fostering. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUIdTL1L1yI/AAAAAAAAAd4/2hmoEQGbn-o/s1600/76906_463072344579_688634579_5706775_5168766_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">Trish has been actively involved in many different aspects of fostering within her local community and has a passion for providing children entering out-of-home care placements the opportunity to feel safe and protected. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUIdU60mr_I/AAAAAAAAAd8/TFdWdERa-8k/s1600/167808_493373779579_688634579_6218115_1504966_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUIdU60mr_I/AAAAAAAAAd8/TFdWdERa-8k/s320/167808_493373779579_688634579_6218115_1504966_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">When not engaged in different roles of being a foster carer, Trish is an active committee member of La Luna Youth Arts, and has an interest in many different aspects of the theatre. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU"> Here you can see that Trish and her team have been busy, collecting, sorting and packing! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUIdTL1L1yI/AAAAAAAAAd4/2hmoEQGbn-o/s1600/76906_463072344579_688634579_5706775_5168766_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TUIdTL1L1yI/AAAAAAAAAd4/2hmoEQGbn-o/s320/76906_463072344579_688634579_5706775_5168766_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-AU"> </span></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=03fdc4a5-bc9b-4800-8e18-f1b5af59c65e" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-55484299253722672852011-01-26T14:01:00.003+10:002011-01-26T14:01:00.146+10:00A prize for writing, a prediction?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The day Cyclone Larry hit us, I won second place in a writing competition with this short story.</span></span></span><b><u><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 200%;"><br />
</span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 200%;">The Cyclone</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">She sat. Unbelieving eyes staring through the shards of glass still clinging to the window frame. Her breath came quickly now, the smell of sodden earth saturating her nostrils.<span> </span>Sickness welled up inside her rigid torso. The vomit came suddenly and violently, no longer trapped within her will.<span> </span>The young woman let it go, she let it all out. Vomit, tears, screaming, beating the floor with her fists, shaking, trembling and then finally nothing.<span> </span>Could it really be that she felt nothing.<span> </span>What about the man at her side?<span> </span>She looked down at him.<span> </span>No, there was nothing, no feeling, no love, just nothing.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">She put his hand over his chest and tried to stand.<span> </span>Her legs were still wobbly, so was her head for that matter. Her long dark, matted hair fell over her shoulder and into her tear soaked eyes as she forced herself off the floor.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Finally upright, she was able to take stock of the damage to their home, at least, it used to be their home.<span> </span>She looked at her husband again.<span> </span>His face looked so peaceful.<span> </span>Like a deep sleep.<span> </span>He’ll wake soon, and then they can start to rebuild their home, their lives.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">As she walked through the house towards the back door she heard a yelp, then a cry and then another yelp. Oh God, the dog!</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">She moved as fast as her tired brain would let her, manoeuvring over broken furniture and slushy, sludgy water.<span> </span>It got deeper towards the back door.<span> </span>That damn creek never did empty properly when there was a big wet.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Pushing the tangled hair out of her face, the young woman stood on what was left of the back steps and listened. Yep, there it was again that yelping and wait, was that splashing? Yes! Over by the shed she saw her beloved mongrel dog crying and clawing his way onto the guttering.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">“Hey boy! Come on, here I am!” The sound of his mistress’s voice visibly excited the little animal and from somewhere he found the strength to swim into her waiting arms. </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">“Oh, baby I thought you were a goner. I told you to stay...” she roused, but just barely.<span> </span>They were both happy to be safe and held.<span> </span>“I’m gonna put you down now darling, just stay close to mummy ok?”</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Once inside, the little black dog ran through the slushy water into the master bedroom to shake himself dry and to roll on the bed sheets.<span> </span>But a horrible shock was in store for the small refugee.<span> </span>There was no warm dry bed, no soft doona or fresh carpet to roll on.<span> </span>Everything in the house was drenched and in disarray.<span> </span>Confused, the dog ran to find his mummy.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">He found her sitting again by what was left of the front window, next to her sleeping husband. The little doggie was careful not to wake the boss; he’d nearly drowned and didn’t want a smack as well.<span> </span>Instead he climbed into his mummy’s lap, turned around three times and cuddled in for a well-earned nap.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Absently she stroked the creature.<span> </span>He was warm, wet and shivering but he’d be o.k.<span> </span>As she stroked the dog she reached out and took her husbands hand in hers.<span> </span>It was cold.<span> </span>Maybe she should get him a blanket, but they were all wet.<span> </span>He’d have to wait; he’ll be right while he sleeps. </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Sleep, hmm if she just closed her eyes for a moment everything would be alright.<span> </span>She was safe, it was over now surely.<span> </span>Everything was so still and quiet. Not even the sound of rain in the distance.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Her eyes closed – There he was. Damn he was handsome.<span> </span>She felt like the luckiest woman on earth.<span> </span>Look at him in that Hawaii shirt and the chain of plastic flowers around his neck, such a dork, yet the love of her life.<span> </span>He had chosen a brightly coloured shirt covered in lovely dark haired women wearing nothing but grass skirts and coconut shells.<span> </span>He’d said they reminded him of her, dark hair big breasts.<span> </span>He’d gotten a playful slap across the cheek for that comment, especially in front of her father!</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">She was wearing an orange and yellow sarong and exactly the same type of chain of plastic flowers around her neck, not to mention a huge smile and overwhelming feeling of love and delight.<span> </span>She was finally marrying the man she loved.<span> </span>The only man who made her feel special, beautiful, intelligent, happy and most importantly . . . loved.<span> </span>When he smiled so did she, when he was sad so was she, when he was tired or angry or happy or anything at all, so was she! It was good to be in love.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">What a perfect day this was to be wed.<span> </span>The beach was shady this late in the day and the pelicans were using their magnificent bills to find that last feed before bedtime.<span> </span>Looking out over the water the couple could see the tell tale signs of small bait fish being chased by something larger.<span> </span>They watched as the water bubbled and rippled over the small waves as a stingray leapt out of the water and splashed down in the middle of it’s prey. The waves fell gently on the shore as the tide slowly crept its way in.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">After the ceremony the couple was joined by various necessary people for a brief photo shoot before the light faded. A pink sunset concluded the afternoon’s events as everyone retired to the marquee for drinks and a barbie.<span> </span>It was nothing fancy, but it was the happiest day of their life together so far.<span> </span>Perfection, even down to the old school friend and his band they had hired to play during the reception. </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Of course they wouldn’t accept cash, but they did drink their fair share of free alcohol during the evening.<span> </span>The couple’s first dance together was unforgettable. ‘Till there was you’ was the newlyweds special song, chosen by him which made it all the more special for her.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">He was her best friend, lover and now husband. What a beautiful life they had to look forward to, and what a beautiful place they had chosen to live.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Both of them had grown up in the ‘big smoke’ down south.<span> </span>It was cold and damp, rushed, crowded and unhealthy.<span> </span>Here, in this small seaside town they had found peace and harmony.<span> </span>They were glad to have made the move, quick to make friends and even quicker to fall in love with the lifestyle.<span> </span>Laid back, quiet, relaxing, neither of them missed the traffic or the noise.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">They felt like they had found paradise.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">“Sarah! Sarah! Mick … are you guys in there?!” Shaken from her dream they young woman clambered to her knees, forgetting about the dog, her husband and her exhaustion.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">“Dave, is that you? We are in here, in the front room,” Sarah called out the front window through the broken glass to the elderly man in her, in what <i>was</i> her front garden.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">“I’m coming up, just you stay put.<span> </span>Where’s Mick?” Dave had already begun to move the small boat towards the place where the front steps used to be.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">“We’re o.k, I found the dog but I haven’t seen the chickens anywhere. I hope the chickens are alright.”</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Dave tethered the tinny and climbed into the damaged house. Sarah reached out for his arm to help steady him and found that it was she who needed the steadying!</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">“Love,” said Dave,” you need to sit down.” The pensioner helped her to the floor and tucked a knotted mess of hair behind her ear.<span> </span>He looked her over and decided that she was uninjured. Sarah managed a weak smile and forced back the tears that had started to overflow again.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">As Dave looked around he noticed Mick lying by the front window. He smiled at Sarah as he called out, “Hey, fella. You got yourself a good woman here, very brave. Mick?”</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">“He’s sleeping,” droned Sarah.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Dave walked the few paces to where Mick lay. Comprehension dawned on the old man’s face. He knelt by Mick and patted his hand, “It’s o.k mate.<span> </span>We’ll look after her for ya.”</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">“When he wakes we’ll have to start cleaning up,” Sarah’s voice sounded miles away. She was staring out the front door.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Dave just nodded, “Sure love. How about we get you into some warm clothes and I’ll come back for Mick a little later.”</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Without looking at him, Sarah stood and headed towards the boat.<span> </span>The dog was already there, asleep on the life jackets.<span> </span>Sarah climbed in while Dave undid the rope.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">Silently her friend pushed away from her house, her husband and headed down the street.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;">The young woman did not look back.</span></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-7400125088693044112011-01-23T14:02:00.000+10:002011-01-23T14:02:03.904+10:00Post Traumatic Stress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TTuj2eR7e4I/AAAAAAAAAdw/LWx4PNuLsOg/s1600/beyondblue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:17PLARRY.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="17PLARRY" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/17PLARRY.jpg/300px-17PLARRY.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="200" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 300px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:17PLARRY.jpg"></a></span></div>This is quite a personal post and it's been prompted by the flood disaster.<br />
<br />
In March 2006 our town, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=-17.55,146.083333333&spn=0.1,0.1&q=-17.55,146.083333333%20%28Innisfail%2C%20Queensland%29&t=h" rel="geolocation" title="Innisfail, Queensland">Innisfail</a> was hit, bashed and smashed by Category 5 <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Larry" rel="wikipedia" title="Cyclone Larry">Cyclone Larry</a>. Our town was devastated by not only the cyclone, but by the 3 or 4 months of continuous rain and storms afterwards. Not light showers... rain, wind and more rain.<br />
<br />
I distinctly remember yelling at my partner and my stepson for going for a sightseeing drive after the cyclone had passed. They took photos of the destruction and I refused to look at them. I should point out that my partner was checking on his place of business.<br />
<br />
I busied myself with cooking on the gas bbq and making sure we had enough drinking water, looking after the school guinea pig (which I'd just got for the kids the week before, and which was renamed Larry that day), my little black mongrel dog and worrying about my cats and chickens that I'd had to leave at my house, (I wasn't living with Bruce at that time).<br />
<br />
During the cyclone I think I was in a daze. I couldn't sit and watch the debris fly past our front door like the rest of the people in the house. I just sat and hid and rocked behind the couch.<br />
<br />
We lost nothing really. Our roof stayed on and we only had one window crash in.<br />
<br />
But to say I was terrified would be an understatement. I really, really thought we were going to die. I know people say that all the time, but until you actually feel it, you just can’t imagine the fear, the smell of fear, even the sound of fear . . . your whole body tingles and trembles with it.<br />
<br />
The worst was to come however. Eventually I did have to leave the house to check on some relatives and friends. I did have to drive through the destruction on a daily basis on my way to work.<br />
<br />
I was expected to 'counsel' the students at the school I was working at. I was expected to clean up the school grounds, my home, my partners home and somehow keep it all together.<br />
<br />
It was like moving in a dream.<br />
<br />
I broke down one day and yelled and screamed at my stepson, (something I had never done before), and burst into uncontrollable sobbing. Obviously there was something wrong with me, but I didn't know what.<br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Larry1.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Devastation to Brenden Collins banana crop as ..." height="158" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Larry1.jpg/300px-Larry1.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="200" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 300px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Larry1.jpg"></a></span></div>Every time I drove to work past all the flattened banana plants and sugar cane, past the dump trucks and fallen trees, past the houses that had literally exploded and via at the work crews on the roads, I would feel sick. I was trapped in a nightmare.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And the really stupid thing was, I was fine, my house was fine except for some water damage, wet carpet and some fences down. My partners place was fine, my dad’s place was fine.<br />
<br />
My best friend had to move her young family from the caravan park they were holidaying in to her parents house . . . which lost its roof for a while, then when the wind changed direction it slammed back on again. My <br />
partners sister and her family lost everything as their house blew away from around them while they huddled under a mattress in what used to be the bedroom. Several of the kids at school told me of how the walls of their home ‘flew away’ or their roof ‘went up’ in the sky. Parents were shaken and teary as they dropped their kids off for the day, and I was supposed to reassure them!<br />
<br />
I had ‘<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_guilt" rel="wikipedia" title="Survivor guilt">survivors guilt</a>’. I just couldn’t understand why I could possibly feel so stressed when I was ok and unhurt, we had our home, a generator, food and unfortunately we were able to make the tv go each night for the news updates.<br />
<br />
I say unfortunately, because that was the last thing I needed to see.<br />
<br />
So, I guess this was the beginning of my <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety" rel="wikipedia" title="Anxiety">anxiety</a> and panic disorder. Pretty sure it all started off as <br />
<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posttraumatic_stress_disorder" rel="wikipedia" title="Posttraumatic stress disorder">post traumatic stress</a>. I had nightmares every night through the constant wind and rain for months after the cyclone, being expected to counsel children and parents through their ordeal and receiving no counseling myself.<br />
Just the act of traveling to work over the next year through all the devastation and the painfully slow rebuilding and clean up process was putting extra pressure on my nerves.<br />
<div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tempesta.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tempesta" height="150" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Tempesta.jpg/300px-Tempesta.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="200" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 300px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tempesta.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></div><br />
By the start of March the next year I thought I was really turning into a ‘fruit loop’. I couldn’t bare the<br />
drive to work anymore, but I did it. When the storms came in the arvo I cringed, but I got through it. Little things at work started to get to me. I couldn’t make a decision without second guessing myself.<br />
<br />
I stopped sleeping and starting drink 4 or 5 coffees a day with 3 or 4 sugars just to get through the day. We started eating baked beans on toast several times a week for dinner and in the end my partner just did the cooking while I lay on the couch or cried in the shower.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">What was wrong with me?!</span></i></div><div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34221517@N08/3950585168" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="On The Threshold Of Eternity, by Van Gough" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2422/3950585168_993a3c34b2_m.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div><br />
I carried my work with me everywhere I went, but it never got done, (not to my high standards anyway), and eventually I wound up crying through the Huggies commercials and could no longer watch Neighbours because it was too stressful!<br />
<br />
I lost weight, I put weight on, I slept a lot or hardly at all, I loathed myself for being so weak and wanted to hide in my room with my cat. But I didn’t, I just kept on going . . . until I couldn’t go on anymore.<br />
<br />
I took leave from work, saw a doctor and went on an overseas holiday with my partner (which we’d had planned for months and was the best thing I could have done). I took more leave when I got home, which wasn’t very helpful as I just sat around the house and in the end, I couldn’t even leave the house without having a panic attack.<br />
<br />
I went back to work, without receiving any proper medical treatment and by the end of the next year I had had another melt down.<br />
<br />
The good news is, once I did get proper medical treatment . . . and yes people, that means a ‘shrink,’ I started to get better.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gottlieb_Burckhardt.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Psychiatrist Gottlieb Burckhardt" height="192" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Gottlieb_Burckhardt.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="167" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gottlieb_Burckhardt.jpg"></a></span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, my shrink doesn't look quite like this , but you get the idea!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
It’s been a long road, but I’m better now. Not cured, just in remission. Like a cancer, the type of illness I had needs to be monitored and lifestyle changes MUST take priority so I can stay healthy.<br />
<br />
Am I ashamed to say I had a mental illness? . . . nope. I am pissed off that I didn’t take better care of myself and it’s probably the same reaction I’d have if I was in remission from cancer.<br />
<br />
If you see yourself in any of this story, please go to your doctor and talk to them. More importantly, don’t downplay your symptoms, insist on seeing a professional counselor and then later on if you need to, see a shrink. There are free programs your Dr. can put you on.<br />
<br />
Of course, this is only a very vague summary of what happened to my life. There is much more, much deeper stuff that went on.<br />
<br />
I’m writing this for the people who survived the floods and fires and any other catastrophe to say – it may take 6 months or a year, but if these symptoms start appearing in your life, don’t dismiss them, get help.<br />
<br />
It’s so true that in times of need we can pull together to get through it, however it’s the aftermath that we may need to be looked after.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?%20" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TTuj2eR7e4I/AAAAAAAAAdw/LWx4PNuLsOg/s320/beyondblue.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 1em 0pt 0pt;"> Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.zocdoc.com/answers/3466/when-should-one-begin-taking-anti-anxiety-medication">When should one begin taking anti-anxiety medication?</a> (zocdoc.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/intense-emotions-and-strong-feelings/201101/anxiety-is-your-friend">Anxiety Is Your Friend</a> (psychologytoday.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.brighthub.com/mental-health/anxiety-panic/articles/24172.aspx">Herbal Remedies for Anxiety</a> (brighthub.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.brighthub.com/mental-health/anxiety-panic/articles/103993.aspx">What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?</a> (brighthub.com)</li>
</ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=d52eaf12-d48e-4af2-a9d0-400530c37fc5" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-70821427833810344742011-01-09T13:23:00.001+10:002011-01-09T13:23:00.902+10:00Post Christmas clean up<div class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_tree_bauble.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A bauble on a Christmas tree." height="211" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Christmas_tree_bauble.jpg/300px-Christmas_tree_bauble.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 300px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_tree_bauble.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></div>How was your Christmas? Lots of fun and busy, busy, busy? If you have kids, did they get inundated with lots of pressies? I bet they were excited! I love it when Santa comes to visit :o)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So.... what are you going to do with all the toys the kids don't want anymore? Please don't tell me you are going to bin them! Consider donating the ones in good nick to your local charity shop or foster care agency, (no junk though, these kids have been through enough).<br />
<br />
<br />
Personally, I'm a bit of a 'bah humbug!' when it comes to Christmas. It's starts way to early for me, like - October! Just as Easter apparently has begun with the eggs already on shelves in some places.<br />
<br />
I'm all for the Christmas spirit, but I really think it should be all year round. I'm pretty sure that's what the bearded guy who died on the cross was after. (I went to a Catholic school, but I'm not Catholic, more Agnostic).<br />
<br />
Maybe the shops start Christmas so early because they think the Christmas spirit should start earlier as well! Doubt it though LOL!<br />
<br />
It's the blatant marketing to the kids that really gets me. Fair enough if you don't subscribe to the fella upstairs but still, I think the whole idea of 'giving' at Christmas has been lost. For kids it seems to be about 'getting' the latest whatever it is and chucking a tanty if they don't get it under the tree! <br />
<br />
So I have to ask, do you encourage your kids to make or purchase Christmas presents for family members or friends? If they get pocket money, do they buy mum or dad a gift (with help from the other parent obviously) and wrap it and put it under the tree?<br />
<br />
<i>When I was a kid, Dad would 'secretly' give me and my little brother $20 to buy something for mum, and Mum would 'secretly' do the same thing!!! (we didn't get pocket money and still had to do our jobs!).</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 1em 0pt 0pt;"> Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://socyberty.com/holidays/bah-humbug/">Bah Humbug</a> (socyberty.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2010/12/prweb4910494.htm">Create Proof that Santa Exists -- And Help Less Fortunate Kids</a> (prweb.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xiamenb2c04/2/1293363418/tpod.html">Top Five Toys For Christmas 2010 - Xiamen, China</a> (travelpod.com)</li>
</ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=e91f93ae-b7f1-4e78-889e-98c203d69e55" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-42031629843099997272011-01-06T01:00:00.001+10:002011-01-06T01:40:02.875+10:00We did it! Goal Smashed :o)<div align="center"><img alt="Donation Thermometer" border="0" height="300" src="http://www.fundraiserinsight.org/libs/thermometer.php?current=1230&max=1000&curr=none&t_id=78027&skin=green_vert" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: center;"><i><b>Look!</b></i></div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: center;"><i><b>We did it!</b></i></div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: center;"><i><b>Actually we've packed 1230 backpacks!!!</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">New goal!</span></b></i></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><br />
<div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><br />
<div id="refHTML"></div><div align="center"><img alt="Donation Thermometer" border="0" height="300" src="http://www.fundraiserinsight.org/libs/thermometer.php?current=1230&max=5000&curr=none&t_id=78027&skin=green_vert" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><br />
<div id="refHTML"> Thanks to the Perth Project who packed 500 backpacks all on their own! The Townsville Project has packed about 100!<br />
Of course this doesn't include all the little extra bits that get sent to the agencies like shoes and toys etc. as well as toiletry packs and towels and school backpacks for our local youth shelter.<br />
<br />
While I'm really chuffed at this achievement, it still saddens me that this needs to be done at all. It does, however, continue to amaze me just how generous people are. None of this could have happened without you... the reader! You became an active participant in our goal and you are a big part of the reason we have been able to help so many kids in care.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Thank you :o)</span></b></i></span></div></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><br />
<div id="refHTML"></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-3048294404207331612010-12-16T21:12:00.000+10:002010-12-16T21:12:24.770+10:00Get him to the Greek . . . What the?!Ok, so the last couple of weeks of this school year I was chatting with the year 6 and 7 students at the school I was working at. Just chatting about stuff, important pre teen stuff, like who fancies who and what movies they think are great etc. when the movie 'Get Him to the Greek', was discussed.<br />
<br />
The kids (11 and 12 year olds) assured me it was 'awesome' and that I really should see it. They raved about how funny it was and how the characters get up to some 'cool stuff'. So I thought I'd watch it.<br />
<br />
Now, maybe because I knew the 11 and 12 year old kids had already seen the movie, or maybe because I have just out grown that sort of base degrading humor, (<i>although I'm sure I was never into that kind of thing</i>), I just couldn't find the movie funny at all!!!<br />
<br />
The blatant use of recreational drugs, the sex scenes that really didn't leave much to the imagination and the full on stupidity of the movie just made me feel sick.<br />
<br />
The whole way through it I kept thinking, '<i>the kids at school have seen this, the kids at school have seen this</i>'.<br />
I just can't believe a parent in their right mind would let a child under the age of consent (that's 15 and 16years) watch this movie, supervised or not. It was the most inappropriate thing I've seen in a long, long time! Even as an adult I found it stupid.<br />
<br />
I realise the target audience was probably males aged 18 -25 or something but seriously! And the amount of publicity this film got. I actually thought from the previews and the interviews that the movie might be a bit of a laugh.<br />
<br />
Look, I'm just so annoyed at parents who let their kids watch this stuff. It allows kids to see drugs as fun and sex as a game and gives them the whole wrong idea of how to form relationships. I'm not against one night stands.... but not at 13 years of age. Which does happen, and where do the kids with babies end up? That's right folks - foster care, youth shelters or on the street.<br />
<br />
I hate when I go to the movies to see an M15+ movie and there are 10 year olds in the line in front of me who buy tickets and get in, no questions asked. I've seen parents with toddlers take their kids to see violent movies and I have to say.... you had the kids, suck it up and get a baby sitter or wait for the dvd.<br />
<br />
Can you tell I'm pretty passionate about this?<br />
<br />
I just stomped my foot for extra effect.<br />
<br />
Kids just don't have the reasoning skills and the comprehension skills to realise that these crazy storylines are for show and not how life should be if you want to be successful.<br />
<br />
Anyway, enough ranting.<br />
Does anyone agree with me? or am I just over sensitive?despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-76319081117422728282010-11-21T12:53:00.000+10:002010-11-21T12:53:51.605+10:00How hard is it?How hard do you think it would be to be a child in care? I've been asking myself this recently. I've seen so many different types come through our doors since we started caring. Some seem happy enough to just go with the flow, from home to home, others cry and are upset and others are very angry and want their mum. We've had to call the police on one occasion and had a 7 year old try to run away down the main road and just about got hit by a car. We've had distraught kids, well behaved kids and happy kids.<br />
<br />
But they all share a common theme . . . an underlying sadness and confusion as to who is their mum and dad and when or if they will be going 'home' wherever that may be. Sure the kids can be distracted with a new school, new bedroom and of course our cats, dogs and chickens keep them entertained. But really it's just a distraction.<br />
<br />
What is going on inside their minds? All of a sudden they have a new 'aunty and uncle' as well as everything else they have to cope with. They are expected to just trust perfect strangers with their well being and safety, and for the most part they do.<br />
<br />
Personally, I don't think I would have coped as a child in these circumstances, but I was never abused or needed to be removed from my parents care. I could read, write and spell and did well at school (even though I didn't like it) I never swore at a teacher, threw a chair or hit a teacher or another student. I never threatened to kill anyone or hate myself enough to want to end my own life.<br />
<br />
Yet for thousands of kids and teens all over Australia these thoughts, feelings and actions are taking place.<br />
<br />
Without an army of dedicated 'strangers' to care for them and attempt to show them a 'normal' life who knows what would happen to these youngsters? Our future.<br />
<br />
I've seen kids come into our home with not only one of our projects backpacks, but with other care packages as well and I know they've been in and out of care several times in one year. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TOiIzQI9uqI/AAAAAAAAAdo/xEguTVc1R6A/s1600/11th+Nov+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TOiIzQI9uqI/AAAAAAAAAdo/xEguTVc1R6A/s320/11th+Nov+8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>When I pack the teddies in the bags I always say a special little something to them. I hope the message gets through.<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=cb2d39ea-790d-4380-a81e-40611f2039ee" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-88447317590961376412010-10-30T11:12:00.000+10:002010-10-30T11:12:12.410+10:00October was busy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TMtrJfZOZUI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/-cawZrp6aEg/s1600/29th+oct+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TMtrJfZOZUI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/-cawZrp6aEg/s200/29th+oct+2010.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TMtrTQXAe_I/AAAAAAAAAdc/K0B4Qmqnio0/s1600/12+packages.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TMtrTQXAe_I/AAAAAAAAAdc/K0B4Qmqnio0/s200/12+packages.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
These are just a couple of the piles of mail I've been getting! I usually wait till the weekend now to open everything LOL!<br />
<br />
That amount of mail arrives at least each week, sometimes more. I'm always so touched and moved by the generosity of the people in our Australian community. Some packages cost $20 or more to send, but I get them on a regular basis from several people. You should know that the items go to our storage area and are sorted regularly and packed as needed.<br />
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Opening the packages is great fun and I set aside a special time to do it, because I figure if people spent time organising donations, packing them and heading off to line up at the post office, the very least I can do is take some real time out to appreciate it all. I used to take lots of pix but as you can see from the quality of some of these photos, my camera is on it's last legs and I really can't afford a new one right now.<br />
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So, I know it's been a while since I blogged.... so here's what's happening! I've gone back to work 3 days a week, initially in the prep class but for the last six weeks of term I'm filling in in all grades across the school to give teachers extra time to work on report and catch up on non contact time etc. As a teacher myself, I bet the teachers are very excited to have this extra time at this time of the year.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TMtrMureFRI/AAAAAAAAAdU/y6BtwEUGCso/s1600/14th+oct+2010+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TMtrMureFRI/AAAAAAAAAdU/y6BtwEUGCso/s320/14th+oct+2010+1.JPG" width="320" /></a>Other than that I've been sorting all the undie donations into packs of 3 in size and gender!<br />
I've used about 650 plastic zip lock bags and because I really feel bad about all that plastic, I've bought cellophane bags for the rest. (it's biodegradable!) <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TMtrPtzWTqI/AAAAAAAAAdY/kCJwaY_nB8I/s1600/14th+oct+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TMtrPtzWTqI/AAAAAAAAAdY/kCJwaY_nB8I/s320/14th+oct+2010.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Also went to the local Family Care meeting to collect donations!!!<br />
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I promise I've been busy LOL<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TMtrhnHHjrI/AAAAAAAAAdk/yTvjh6bOj8s/s1600/dora+bike+from+nikki.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TMtrhnHHjrI/AAAAAAAAAdk/yTvjh6bOj8s/s320/dora+bike+from+nikki.JPG" width="320" /></a>Just to finish off this blog, here is a pix of a kids bike that was dropped off to me. I was able to give it to a 3 year old girl who had just come into care with absolutely nothing of her own. Wish I could have been there to give it to her myself :o)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TMtrMureFRI/AAAAAAAAAdU/y6BtwEUGCso/s1600/14th+oct+2010+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TMtrMureFRI/AAAAAAAAAdU/y6BtwEUGCso/s320/14th+oct+2010+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=3e48bf79-fb7a-43f1-9d15-342eff8c27e4" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-51194836821375740242010-10-12T11:53:00.000+10:002010-10-12T11:53:43.149+10:00Perth Project Underway!!!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span lang="EN-AU">A couple of months ago a lovely lady by the name of Susan Merriman got in touch with me about the possibility of helping out the project in some way. She'd been considering starting something similar in her area. We had several chats via email and Skype and her enthusiasm for the needs of the kids seemed to match my own! </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span lang="EN-AU"> </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span lang="EN-AU">So off she went, made contacts in her area, sent me her resume and described her plan for helping the kids in need where she lives. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span lang="EN-AU"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><i style="color: #cc0000;">This is her!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TLO8xVrffxI/AAAAAAAAAdE/n1bxcC463J4/s1600/_DSC0149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TLO8xVrffxI/AAAAAAAAAdE/n1bxcC463J4/s400/_DSC0149.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Here’s my story so far...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">About two months ago a friend of mine emailed a group of us and asked us if we would all donate some children’s underwear to an amazing friend of hers who was running a wonderful organisation called Backpacks 4 Aussie Kids. I looked up her website and read what it was all about. I was so amazed and touched by what Des was doing that my initial reaction (after crying) was to try to get as many backpacks together and donate them to her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">So I rang Des and had a long chat with her...it was during this conversation that I realised that not only was no one that she knew of was doing this over in WA but also what an achievable thing it was that she was doing...so I decided that I would try to start it up here in WA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">My husband was away at the time and being the more practical one of us his first reaction was, ‘And where will we store all of this, Sus?’ (our house is tiny), but by this stage I had already sent out my initial email to everyone I knew asking for help, ideas, suggestions and, most of all, donations!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Well, they came in thick and fast...along with being put in touch with a wonderful lady, <a href="http://www.trendykidz.com.au/">Bev</a>...who got hold of some new and very cool backpacks! A beautiful girlfriend of mine made me up a flyer and I was on my way...set to start packing!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Over the next few weeks my phone rang hot with people wanting to help and/or donate. I had one phone call from a guy who had read my email through a friend of a friend and asked me if I knew of a website where I could buy backpacks in an auction. He rang me again half an hour later to say that he had bought me 20. They arrived today!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TLO9HwnISII/AAAAAAAAAdM/270vk5DymOk/s1600/P1010567.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TLO9HwnISII/AAAAAAAAAdM/270vk5DymOk/s320/P1010567.JPG" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-AU">I packed for three days and with the amazing help of a friend who popped in to drop off her donations, saw what a pickle I was in and stayed for four hours helping...this morning I was able to deliver 72 packs to Fostering Services. What a feeling!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Three little helpers came around this afternoon, and with their help another 30 backpacks are waiting to be delivered. Great work, girls!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I am hoping to go far with the backpacks, just as Despina has done in Queensland. My venture so far has only confirmed my thoughts that community spirit is as strong as ever...people really want to be involved in their community and help others in need.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span lang="EN-AU">Sue has now packed over 100 backpacks for kids in need!</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">If you are in W.A, Perth or nearby or anywhere really and want to help, please email me at <a href="mailto:despinaparakas@yahoo.com.au">despinaparakas@yahoo.com.au</a> or comment on our facebook page </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/backpacks4aussiekids" style="color: #cc0000;">http://www.facebook.com/backpacks4aussiekids</a><span style="color: #cc0000;"> and I'll pass on your details to Sue.</span></i></span></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-20299033834557378562010-10-02T11:01:00.001+10:002010-10-02T11:02:19.994+10:00Final Week for Project Underpants - 964 undies have arrived!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TKaAzKxul2I/AAAAAAAAAcw/lm6MAddUsX4/s1600/Underpants_250x250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TKaAzKxul2I/AAAAAAAAAcw/lm6MAddUsX4/s200/Underpants_250x250.gif" width="200" /></a></div> This project was the brainchild of Indi from <a href="http://kidindependent.com/">{Kid}Independent</a>.<br />
Everything was arranged and organised through this site and through the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/KID-independent">fan page</a> on Facebook.<br />
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Indi enlisted the help of various online businesses who donated some fantastic prizes as incentive for undie pledges!<br />
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<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Don't forget that all the undies sent in are going into backpacks for kids going into foster care </span></i></span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></div><br />
Here are the final few prizes on offer . . .<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TKaA24iOzjI/AAAAAAAAAc8/g45gJDoCLXQ/s1600/underpants-dressups.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TKaA24iOzjI/AAAAAAAAAc8/g45gJDoCLXQ/s320/underpants-dressups.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
First up, if you’re going to wear your knickers outside your shorts, you can really only get away with it if you look the part. So our fabulous friends at <a href="http://dressupskids.com/" target="_blank">DressUps</a> are giving away one of their awesome handmade superhero capes. It comes with a bright red super symbol screenprint, and matching eye mask for keeping your identity secret.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TKaA0UXV4HI/AAAAAAAAAc0/nKtBKdSbL-E/s1600/underpants-billylids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TKaA0UXV4HI/AAAAAAAAAc0/nKtBKdSbL-E/s320/underpants-billylids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Next up, representing the amphibian superhero community, it’s Oliver the Frog! This little green machine is handmade by the folks at “and the little dog laughed” and proudly provided by our buddies at <a href="http://www.billylids.com.au/" target="_blank">billy lids</a>. He’ll arrive on you door step with his very own handmade mini superhero cape, ready to join you on your crime-fighting adventure.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TKaA1inzSmI/AAAAAAAAAc4/j8pIgVR0SoE/s1600/underpants-cuckoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TKaA1inzSmI/AAAAAAAAAc4/j8pIgVR0SoE/s320/underpants-cuckoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Last up today is “Wild Willow”… she may appear all sweet and serene on the outside, but at night time she dons her superhero paraphernalia, and protects the world from evil forces. She has superhuman strength, stamina and agility and her secret weapon is the ‘power-hug’. She’s 100% handmade by the crafty folk at <a href="http://www.madeit.com.au/CuckooForCoco" target="_blank">Cuckoo for Coco</a> and comes with her very own mini polka dot superhero cape. <br />
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<span style="color: #ff0099;"><span style="color: #ef037f;"><b>The Project Underpants winners will be drawn next week</b></span><b> </b></span>and names will be published on this page and in our 7 October news. I’d like to send another BIG thank you to all of the wonderful Project Underpants sponsors. Be sure to drop by and visit their websites to show your appreciation for their generosity.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Project Underpants Sponsors" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3570" height="49" src="http://kidindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/undie-sponsors.gif" title="Project Underpants Sponsors" width="515" /></div><ul style="text-align: center;"><li><a href="http://www.whimsychild.com.au/" target="_blank">Whimsy Child</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.billylids.com.au/" target="_blank">Billylids</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.madeit.com.au/CuckooForCoco" target="_blank">Cuckoo for Coco</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dressupskids.com/" target="_blank">DressUps</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.knitbaby.com/" target="_blank">Knit Baby</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/thelittlehumbugs" target="_blank">Little Humbugs</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.madeit.com.au/littlepeopleclothing" target="_blank">Little People Clothing</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.madeit.com.au/MonPetitPoppet" target="_blank">Mon Petit Poppet</a></li>
<li><a href="http://mypoppet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Poppet</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.paperscissorsrockstationery.com.au/index2.php" target="_blank">Paper Scissors Rock Stationery</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.madeit.com.au/QuirkyKids" target="_blank">Quirky Kids</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sissysparrows.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sissy Sparrows</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.madeit.com.au/vintagechenille" target="_blank">Vintage Chenille</a></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kidindependent.com/"><img border="0" height="90" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJXkYakj1XI/AAAAAAAAAa4/wJUA0aEFxZ8/s400/KIDheader2.gif" width="400" /></a></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-17262563846646849932010-09-27T16:47:00.000+10:002010-09-27T16:47:15.232+10:00Jada helps out!<div>The following post has been written by a very enterprising young lady who has visions of starting her own charity next year. Young Jada has asked to help do some fundraising for the backpacks project, (all her own idea) and is finding out how our organisation works. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hi My name is Jada, I am 11 Yrs Old and in Grade 5, I am always looking for ways to protect our environment and ways to help others who are less fortunate than I am. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I have had some practice at school with projects this year and setting up Poverty Hour at school for a project, so the other kids could see how homeless people live.</span><br />
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</div><div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">After working on these projects I asked my mum if she could help me set up a charity similar to one I saw in America, helping foster kids by collecting much needed supplies in suitcases, that’s when my mum told me about Back Packs for Aussie Kids and we phoned Despina to see how I could help her Charity. </span><br />
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</div><div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">I have set myself a goal to fundraise 250 Toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste by Christmas, I have currently collected approx. 30 of each and still have a long way to go. </span><br />
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</div><div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">I would like everyone to help me reach my goal by sending Brand New, unopened Toothpaste and Toothbrushes to My mums business address.</span><br />
</div><div></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jada Kyle</span></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">3 Abernethy ave</span></div><div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Deer Park Vic 3023</span><br />
</div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thank you Despina and Backpacks 4 Aussie Kids for giving me the opportunity to help little kids in Foster Care.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jada </span></div><div class="zemanta-pixie"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif" /></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-43986022785495609712010-09-25T21:46:00.000+10:002010-09-25T21:46:03.329+10:00Why I became a teacher . . .This vid really encompasses why I became a teacher and why I do what I do now with the backpacks. Watch it to really get to know me a little better. I was one of those kids that hated school, took all the sickies I could and refused to participate in science because I felt I already had a good understanding and what they were teaching wasn't going to be useful . . . turns out I was right LOL. I became a teacher and more importantly an early childhood teacher to give the kids the best introduction I possibly could to education.<br />
My first lot of year one kids are now in grade 10 and 11 and still come up and hug me in the street. <br />
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<object height="405" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o8limRtHZPs?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o8limRtHZPs?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-38571969839757441812010-09-24T09:54:00.000+10:002010-09-24T09:54:38.331+10:00Project Underpants Week 4!!!!Ta Daa!!!!! This is the last week of the <a href="http://kidindependent.com/2010/09/project-underpants-teeny-bikinis/">{Kid}Indepenent</a> Project Underpants and boy oh boy has it been successful or what!?!<br />
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Over <i style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">600 pairs</span></i> of undies have turned up at my place with another <i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;">400 pledged!</span></i><br />
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And really with these awesome prizes on offer, I can totally understand why! … Each pair of underpants you donate to the Project Underpants campaign gets you one entry into the draw. Plus the person or group who donates the most pairs will win a $150 shopping spree from our friends at <a href="http://www.whimsychild.com.au/" target="_blank">Whimsy Child</a>. For full campaign details, <a href="http://kidindependent.com/2010/09/project-underpants-campaign-and-giveaway/" target="_blank">please click here. </a><br />
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On offer this week are the following -<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJvlQrGmUQI/AAAAAAAAAbs/9O9qelJlwIc/s1600/undies-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJvlQrGmUQI/AAAAAAAAAbs/9O9qelJlwIc/s320/undies-1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a><br />
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Handmade by our friend Caleena from <a href="http://www.madeit.com.au/littlepeopleclothing" target="_blank">Little People Clothing</a>. She’s made entirely out of a pair of white cotton socks with woollen hair, hand embroidered face and hand crocheted knickers and slippers… She’s soft and stuffed and ready to be loved! <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJvlTe3VeqI/AAAAAAAAAb0/pRdYjxAy-Zc/s1600/undies-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJvlTe3VeqI/AAAAAAAAAb0/pRdYjxAy-Zc/s320/undies-2.jpg" /></a><br />
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Next is a handmade lavender heat pack from the crafty Leah at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/leahkl" target="_blank">Vintage Chenille</a>. It features an adorable retro dolly print on super cosy vintage chenille fabric and is filled with rice and Australian grown lavender flowers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJvlV6hCsOI/AAAAAAAAAb8/8bEzWxjEUeM/s1600/undies-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJvlV6hCsOI/AAAAAAAAAb8/8bEzWxjEUeM/s320/undies-3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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This vintage eeny teeny cotton knit bikini was hand knitted by our friend Elizabeth from <a href="http://www.knitbaby.com/" target="_blank">Knit Baby</a>. It’s from the Knit Baby Spring Summer 10 “Cool Cotton Collection”.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJvlYNre9xI/AAAAAAAAAcE/vO7Ku_5wnB8/s1600/undies-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJvlYNre9xI/AAAAAAAAAcE/vO7Ku_5wnB8/s320/undies-4.jpg" /></a><br />
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Lastly we have a hair clip holder, handmade by Nat from <a href="http://www.madeit.com.au/QuirkyKids" target="_blank">Quirky Kids</a>. Constructed from an original hand drawn design, it’s handcut, sanded, painted, decoupaged, sealed and finished by hand.<br />
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<blockquote><blockquote> And finally . . . a great big giant <u><i><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">THANK YOU</span></b></i></u> to Indi from {Kid} Independent for organising the undie drive for us and canvasing to get all the fantastic prizes on offer. Thank you also to the wonderful Indi handmade designers for donating such awesome prizes as well!!!!</blockquote></blockquote><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kidindependent.com/2010/09/project-underpants-teeny-bikinis/"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJvlZYkVAQI/AAAAAAAAAcM/zdOx4AoDvRA/s320/KIDheader2.gif" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="zemanta-pixie"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif" /></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098971121080709940.post-81870986320679645232010-09-19T20:39:00.000+10:002010-09-19T20:39:19.699+10:00Project Underpants Week 3 !!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kidindependent.com/2010/09/project-underpants-week-three/"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJXkYakj1XI/AAAAAAAAAa4/wJUA0aEFxZ8/s320/KIDheader2.gif" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJXlaWT2sCI/AAAAAAAAAbg/9zkhboU8hLQ/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJXlaWT2sCI/AAAAAAAAAbg/9zkhboU8hLQ/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJXlaWT2sCI/AAAAAAAAAbg/9zkhboU8hLQ/s200/IMG_4041.JPG" width="200" /></a><i><span style="font-size: large;">Week 3 already!!!</span></i> and I have to say <i style="color: #cc0000;"><b>O.M.G!!!</b></i> So far <u style="color: #cc0000;"><i><b>336 pairs of undies </b></i></u>have turned up at my place.<br />
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The postie is starting to give me some strange looks as he leaves half a dozen or so packages on my back steps daily and the back deck is pretty much covered in donations, (again!). <br />
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<a href="http://kidindependent.com/2010/09/project-underpants-week-three/">{Kid}Independent</a> has organised three more awesome undie themed prizes. This week it's Y-Fronts! LOL! Everyone's favourite kind of underwear.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJXkbHThzJI/AAAAAAAAAbA/cJNLt5WkPmQ/s1600/my-poppet-yfronts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJXkbHThzJI/AAAAAAAAAbA/cJNLt5WkPmQ/s320/my-poppet-yfronts.jpg" /></a><br />
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Firstly we have the coolest coin purse that you’ll spy this year! These one-of-a-kind wacky y-fronts are completely hand stitched from reclaimed felt by our good friend Cintia from <a href="http://mypoppet.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">My Poppet</a>. So cool! <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJXkgN6n72I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/ZmphPnA5UAE/s1600/sissy-sparrows-knickers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJXkgN6n72I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/ZmphPnA5UAE/s320/sissy-sparrows-knickers.jpg" /></a><br />
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Secondly, four knicker sticker packs from <a href="http://www.sissysparrows.com/" target="_blank">Sissy Sparrows</a>. These colourful sets are perfect for creating hilarity on school books, diaries or scrapbooks. Each set is handcut from original illustrations and features a variety of y-fronts and frilly knickers.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJXkdE8d-rI/AAAAAAAAAbI/FmQ68xNk4ek/s1600/crime-kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJXkdE8d-rI/AAAAAAAAAbI/FmQ68xNk4ek/s320/crime-kitty.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>(and my personal fav!!! I am an unashamed cat lover)</b></i></span><br />
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Lastly, is an original 8×10″ print by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/NoosedKitty" target="_blank">Noosed Kitty</a>. Indi spied it recently on her travels and couldn’t resist snapping it up to add to the prize pool. It features one very brave kitty and his fabulously hilarious superhero mask. I mean, really, who HASN’T attempted to fight crime with knickers on their head… we’ve all been there…<br />
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Now just a quick reminder - for every pair of undies you donate (that actually turn up at my place) you will get one entry into the draw!<br />
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Winners drawn October 1st 2010, PLUS the person or group who donates the most pairs will win a $150 shopping spree from our friends at <a href="http://www.whimsychild.com.au/" target="_blank">Whimsy Child</a>. For full campaign details, <a href="http://kidindependent.com/2010/09/project-underpants-campaign-and-giveaway/" target="_blank">please click here.</a><br />
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<div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">So, get your pledges in and your undies sent asap to be in the draw!!</span></i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.backpacks4aussiekids.com.au/Articles/undie-pledge-form-page.html"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3KKU4ZEvx9M/TJXkiXGqv4I/AAAAAAAAAbY/CLBbKoKJANo/s400/make-a-pledge.gif" width="400" /></a></div>despinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444159449795740133noreply@blogger.com1