Christmas

Christmas to me is about families, enjoying the ones we have and remembering the ones who have departed.

I have been fortunate enough to have spent Christmas with my parents every year while they were alive. Every Christmas we gathered around in the big ballroom size lounge room and I often acted as Santa to hand out the many presents.
Each year the numbers would grow as another grandchild arrived and then later on great grandchildren.

Now on Christmas morning I visit my family in the cemetry before going on to enjoy Christmas with my husband, daughters and grandsons.

Not all family members are in the position to travel or come together at Christmas, but there are so many other ways you can keep in touch. I know of many lonely parents who for some reason do not have family visit for Christmas and are on their own  and that is where the local church group are saviours and put on a Christmas lunch for those who are by themselves and don't want to spend it alone. These volunteers give up their time to make lonely people feel wanted.

I feel very fortunate to have always had family around me at Christmas and  my wish is that families all around the world could share happiness together this year.

Driving Miss Mazzy Part 3

New fines recently imposed upon NSW drivers is long overdue in my opinion, especially doing a u-turn across unbroken lines.

In my home town, the introduction of nose-in parking seemed to go hand in hand with the regular use of u-turns to cross to the other side of the street to snare a park. As this practice seemed to go unheeded by the police, it  became common practise, that is until two weeks ago, when there was a blitz with the introduction of the new fines.

The illegal u-turn has caused several accidents and near misses with raised voices and horns blowing. Then there is the reverse u-turn across the street and some sights you would not believe unless seen with your very own eyes.

Many motorists have nearly come to blows as the person doing the right thing in obtaining a park is confronted by an irate driver who wanted to cross the double unbroken line and take a short cut across to the very parking space that the other motorist had acquired legally.

What is the answer -it all boils down to using a bit of commensense and being aware of the road rules and the rights of your fellow road users and maybe a big dose of tolerance. 

Visiting the Loo

Working in retail, it is sometimes hard to get a laugh but at my place of work we have something that always creates hysterics.

We had a promotion many years ago, which included a life size cut out of a man, we shall call Tom for this story. Well Tom had to be stored after the promotion had finished and he ended up standing in the shower, which adjoins the toilet (one room).

The toilet is not for public use but we do get the odd customer, for whom we have to allow in. Other than that there are the reps and delivery drivers.

Everytime there is a new rep or somebody who hasn't entered our loo before, we lay in waiting for their response as they emerge. You can imagine after closing the door behind you, and suddenly being confronted by "Peeping Tom," what your reaction would be!  If only the walls could speak, there would be some funny expletives uttered I am sure. Mostly we all end up having a laugh together after they get over the shock and see the funny side of it.

The funniest episode was an elderly customer who retreated and said to one of our salesman that there was a man in the toilet, after assuring her that he wasn't real she had acouple of attempts and then she just left the door open, I guess for a quick escape.

We had two victims this week so we really truly have had our fix of evil laughter.

Have you had any funny episodes on visiting the Loo?

Driving Miss Mazzy Part 2

Ok Part 2 is all about parents teaching sons/daughters to drive. Firstly, are they equipped to pass on the correct road rules, they may have the experience but can they become a teacher instead of a parent?
Too many times I have seen a parent sitting beside a son or daughter, with them speeding and/or not following the correct road rules, which tells me that they are not qualified to be the teacher and are only passing their bad habits on.

My own experience with teaching my two daughters was nerve wracking in alot of ways. My older daughter was too confident and too heavy on the accelerator, while the younger daughter lacked confidence and was very steady and had to be really pushed to make that appointment to do her driving test.

I recall being in the passenger seat with my older daughter and we came to a very sharp corner, which I advised her to break but we ended up getting around at a speed much more than intended and my heart was in my mouth. I did comment that she must have been able to drive for us to survive getting around the corner on four wheels! Needless to say I drove back home.

What funny experiences have you encountered whilst teaching your children to drive and would you do it again or call in the driving instructor?

Driving Miss Mazzy Part 1

How many accidents have been caused by drivers not indicating at intersections and roundabouts. With all the elderly drivers being so much in the news lately, we have to look at the overall picture. I have been making a particular note of the lack of, or misuse of the indictator and have come up with the following observations.

The majority of drivers do not indicate as they are leaving a roundabout, be it old age, middle age, P platers, male or female. The traffic flow is hindered by the lack of indicating, if you can clearly see somebody is leaving the roundabout than there is no need for any hesitation as you approach. Similarly if a driver is approaching a roundabout and does not indicate whether he/she is coming around or leaving, then there is the anticipation as to which way they are going.

Then there is the misuse of the indicator, when the person has previously indicated but has inadvertently left the indicator on, then at the next intersection it has a whole different meaning and when you are thinking it is all clear as the indicator is suggesting so, around they come in front of you - another near miss!!

The timing of the indicator is another problem, indicating and turning at the same time is not the right thing to do and gives no warning to the following driver.

Be it to do with age, consideration for your fellow driver, not paying attention (mobiles etc) or for whatever reason, the correct use of the indicator pays a very important role in keeping everybody safe on the roads and being aware of your fellow road users.

Tell me about your experiences with the lack of indicating!!

BAGGING A BARGAIN

Retail therapy is one pass time that most women (and some men) enjoy, some spending more money than others.  The changing face of retail lends itself to some great buys either instore or online. Do you peruse the weekly catalogues, look out for a "percentage off sale", wait for the end of season bargain buys or just buy on impulse. Sometimes you might just come across a deal that is too good to resist. My fellow worker is a great shopper and can come up with a deal on nearly anything - thus his nickname "deal sniffer. com".

I myself love a bargain and of late have bagged some great buys and have saved heaps.

A few examples:
Early in the winter season I saw a pair of long pants and a top I liked but didn't buy at Suzanne Grae. At a later time I walked into the store and having mulled over "I should have bought them" I gingerly asked the shop assistant as I couldn't see them on the rack and she said  that they were now in the reduced items and yes they had my size, then I looked for the top, also in the reduced rack, but alas not in my size but then the helpful assistant looked out the back and came up with the goods. Great outfit $120.00 reduced to $30.00, a saving of $80.00.

Online shopping, on Birdsnest site I saw a shirt I absolutely adored but at $89.95 I hesitated, the same site has now reduced it to $44.95 BUT another online store, Brandsexclusive advertised it for $18 (yes same brand, same shirt), plus the same site advertised another top for $10 which was advertised on Birdsnest for $69.95 and now reduced to $54.95 - total saving $116.90. That is quite a bargain or two!!!

Just yesterday I found some bargains for my grandsons for next winter at Target, stretch jeans reduced from $28 down to $5.83, a beautiful jumper $25 down to $6.83 - total saving on 3 items $62.51.

My wardrobe is full of bargains, and I need to clean it out to make way for more but you have to be careful you don't get carried away as they say "a bargain is not a bargain unless you need it." Another hint is to buy items that will  be timeless but then again if they are cheap enough who cares if they only last one season, they can then go to Vinnies etc.

Do you love a bargain or just simply buy whatever you want at whatever the cost?

THE FEATHERED SHOPPER

I have been a bit slack with my blog of late, the last one I wrote being about life in retail and the type of customers we deal with on a daily basis.

Well, within the last two weeks I have come across a new type of 'customer', who is somewhat like a mystery shopper - just appears and leaves with not so much as a hello or goodbye. This 'shopper' walks in the front door and calmly toddles to the back entrance, where he/she calmly stands and waits for somebody to open the door to exit through. This has happened three times and he/she always follows the same route through the store.

Have I got you thinking "what is she talking about?" - well the so called "customer" has two legs and feathers, a MAGPIE.  This Magpie is unlike the last one that I encountered when I was swooped whilst riding my bicycle, which left quite a nasty view of my feathered friend but this one is so calm and cool, it is hard to view him/her in the same light and after all ONE BAD APPLE DOESN'T SPOIL THE WHOLE BUNCH, which somehow sums up other happenings in my life this week.

LIFE IN RETAIL

I am sure all of you who are priveliged to work in retail have alot of stories to tell.

For me, living in a small town, alot of things have changed.  The people have changed, the friendly elderly customers whom you knew on a first name basis and remained very loyal to their local business, and never asked for discount have now departed and have been replaced with rude, intimidating, ruthless customers, who even though they produce a below cost price from a major supplier, some half an hour drive away, add the little "feel good" saying "we like to shop local", which is suppose to make all the difference, even though we can sometimes make next to zero profit and is cheaper than our employee price.

One of my fellow workers initiated a Top 10 list, which was a non written list of all the most painful customers. One customer, as soon as he made a step into the store demanded attention and proceded to butt in, whether you were already helping somebody else or not and was always in a hurry. He had one of our junior staff in tears and when the boss mentioned this to him, he was shocked and full of apology! He remains one of our Top 10.

One of my areas of sales is vacuum bags. Well I need to be like the contestant on "Australia's Got Talent", Anthony Laye, as they arrive in with no idea of brand, model etc and I am suppose to come up with the correct bags. Well today I had a male come in, who supposedly  knew the brand but that was all, he proceded to ask alot of questions and after trying to tell him countless times that in order to give him the correct bags, I needed more information but no after wasting at least 10 minutes of my valueable time, he chose a bag!  Not long after he phoned through and yes you guessed it, entirely different brand of vac and yes wrong bags!!!

Then there is the choosing of a kettle or toaster, well some customers including the male species proceed to lift every kettle lid and push down every toaster lever and then spend many minutes choosing. How hard is it to decide on a kettle or toaster, I ask myself that question over and over, I guess there is more choice these days but come on it can't be that hard!

Then there is the sales invoice, which we tell our customers to keep for warranty purposes. No, that is too hard, it is much easier to phone us and again waste time to look up the date of purchase etc.

But amongst all the bad customers, there are still alot of nice ones but sadly they are in fewer numbers.   

No, life in retail is not like it used to be and I am sure you fellow "retailers" have alot of stories to tell.

THE VOICE

Well 'The Voice' was highly publicised by Channel 9 many weeks before it's big arrival and I guess those of us who didn't know or understand the concept of the show were eager to find out.  From the moment the first contestant  stepped onto the stage, there was the feeling of excitement and anticipation. Right from the press of the button and the swinging chairs, the expressions on the faces of the judges - I was hooked and so were many million people. What amazed me was the extraordinary talent, where did they all come from, there has been talent shows before in Australia, but these were all the cream of the crop. But from the first words uttered from her mouth, I was memorised by Karise's haunting sound and I proudly announced on Facebook - Karise is THE VOICE.  It was a voice like I had never heard before and her pairing with Seal was the icing on the cake - they were made for each other, and in Karise's words "he is a top quality dude".

The coaches were an unlikely mix but they came together as a team and made the show into such an amazing winner. Keith Urban with his laid back style won many fans,  including me and Joel I grew to love, his funny expressions and encouraging words (just one thing Joel get rid of the straws) and Seal with his words of wisdom, his painted fingernails and short/long pants. Delta, despite many critics is lovely and has such a warm heart and is a great talent. Mark Holden's dribble about the judge's comments being "nauseating" and they were a "complete waste of air time" bring back memories of his days as a judge on Australian Idol and how his comments and stupid sayings made me cringe, jealousy is a curse Mark!

Some of the highlights for me were the duets between the contestant and their mentor, unbelievable stuff.
When all the coaches came together in song, was another winner, but then the whole show was a winner and I  for one cannot wait to see it again, hopefully with the same judges and who knows what talent is out there.

Karise's journey has just begun and so has the THE VOICE. Thank you Channel 9 for bringing such enjoyment to so many people.

Please let me know your feelings about the show.

TATOOING

Of course we all have different likes and dislikes and it seems we either love or loathe the art of tattooing your body.

It wasn't long ago that people were paying big dollars to get their tatoo removed by laser, as they realised that in a moment of madness they had a permanent marking that they now wanted to be rid of.

Now, it seems to be the 'in thing' to have tattoos adorning all parts of the body and what was predominantly a male regime is now just as popular with females.

It is also more predomenant in certain sports, Rugby League players and some AFL display full arms of tattoos, not quite as prevelant in tennis and cricket, although the captain of the Australian team is now displaying a few. I watched the Ironman series on the weekend and admired the beautiful, fit, tanned bodies of these athletes and only one displayed tattoos. How refreshing to see such healthy bodies with glowing clear skin!

Also, does it affect you securing a job - would you,, as an employer, choose a person covered in tattoos over a clean skin, especially when you are in an occupation dealing with the public. And to what lengths does a person go in covering their tatts in order to secure a job, only to display them after obtaining the position.

This all brings me to the recent story of bad boy, turned good, Mark Wahlberg, who having turned 40 years and happily married with 4 children is having his tattoos removed to show his children the downside of tattooing and to hopefully deter them from making the same mistake.

How many other parents will decide in later life that they need to set a good example to their children and have their tatts removed, or will they encourage them to do as they have done!

I, personally have a distaste for tattoos, but that is my opinion - tell me yours!!

Cleaning House

We all know that to obtain the best results in doing any job, having the right tools is essential and the same can be said when it comes to cleaning and particularly that job we love to hate 'cleaning the shower.'

Recently whilst browsing in my home town I came across a little store containing nifty kitchen and bathroom gadgets. I picked up  an unusual 'u shaped' brush which the very helpful shop owner explained was a 'grout and tile brush' with tough bristles for the grout and softer bristles for the tiles. I thought anything to make that job easier would have to be worth the small outlay.

Feeling like I had to try out my new purchase, it wasn't long until the grouting in my shower was looking alot cleaner with little effort on my part - this brush was a winner. Next job was to tackle the grouting in all my floor tiles throughout the house, so armed with a spray bottle containing a mixture of water and vinegar, I set to work.  The result was amazing, my tiles came up as new and I couldn't help looking at the finished area - the job is on going but with the help of my amazing 'full circle' brush I will succeed!

Tell me what cleaning tool has made your life easier.

My Day Off

My mid week day off work is often filled with  appointments like doctor, dentist, hairdresser, car service etc., but today there are none of the above and I have the whole day to myself, which poses the big question 'what will I do?' Will it be home duties, lunch with a friend, go to the beach, go for a walk or a combo of all of these.

Well I looked outside and  I am met with a dreary, showery day with no sign of any sunshine and immediately my enthusiasm sinks. Well forget the beach and probably the walk (I do own an umbrella but will I use it?) and it is too late to organise lunch out with my friend, so sadly that leaves 'home duties.'

The clothes are washed and ready to peg out but alas they may have to go into the dryer.
What's for dinner?, so I check my slow cooker recipes and make a list of ingedients required. Then it's off to the supermarket, newsagent and post office and back home to get the slow cooker meal started. There is some time left to vacuum and do a quick tidy of the house and maybe read  my weekly magazine.

So that is my day off, I may not have done anything too exciting but I feel the day wasn't wasted as I did
cook a nice dinner, got some chores done and the best thing of all - I WROTE A BLOG!!!
How do you spend your day off if you are lucky enough to have one?

THE DREADED 60TH BIRTHDAY

I have been in the doldrums with my blogging but afer viewing 'Packed to the Rafters' last week and seeing Julie's excitement and positive outcome with her blog 'Vintage Mum' (why didn't I think of that name) I have found my enthusiasm returning.

Julie was also suffering 'birthday blues' which I am at the moment. As I near 60, alot of positive and negative thoughts plaque my every waking moment.  Positive, yes there are lots of them for which I am very thankful, a loving husband and family, friends, my job etc.  Negative, the old unplanned holiday. I had planned ahead and applied for a few days off to maybe fly off to an island in North Queensland with my husband but alas he doesn't like flying and if I don't organise it myself, it doesn't happen! Then self doubt creeps in and I think maybe I won't go anywhere memorable for my birthday and just stay at home as the more I have to think about it, the less inviting it becomes. Then I think maybe for this once, don't consider anybody else, just be selfish and think of yourself and go ahead and book that island getaway. 

I will keep you posted with the outcome but in the meantime, please let me know how you celebrated your 60th.

And as Dave Rafter quoted to Julie last night that she had 'BAD' - Blog Addiction Disorder, well I am working on it!!

Magazines in Waiting Rooms

Whenever you go to a Dr's or Specialist's rooms these days, you have to prepare yourself for at least an hour in the waiting room. To while away the time we naturally reach for some reading material and at first glance the choice looks impressive but alas on further investigation you generally find you are going back in time, not only months but sometimes years.

I have often wondered 'why this is so' and if the newer magazines did indeed exist, only to be tucked into the patient's bag as they left.

After many disappointments, I have resorted to taking my own reading material and have been known to write a letter or two.

Now I have purchased a tablet and have my own blog, maybe I will sit blogging in the waiting room and won't even glance toward the heap of outdated magazines.

Tell me about your experiences.

My favourite chair

I recently read about a person's favourite things and there pictured was a cane wicker 'bucket chair.' I immediately recalled my mother's two 'saucer chairs' as we called them. The addition of a  comfy, padded cover completed the look. These chairs were favourites not only for Mum but visitors alike.

I have a favourite outdoor hanging chair, which i call my 'egg chair' because of it's shape. I bought it at a second hand auction over 25 years ago and it provides a private sanctuary for reading, a great prop for photos, as well as just swinging in the breeze.

Tell me about your favourite chair?

Tennis: time to turn it down?

I, like lots of viewers have been watching the tennis on television, beginning with Brisbane in early January, then Sydney and now the Australian Open, where I have enjoyed many hours of brilliant tennis.

In that time I began to think about the mannerisms of tennis players - there's the continuous bouncing of the ball before serving, which I think would be very irritating to the opponent and certainly is to me, the viewer.  Currently, Djokovic has been known to bounce the ball up to 25 times before tossing it into the air.

Not to mention the screeching and squealing of some of the female players, which seems to have reached an epidemic, with Sharapova leading the way. But lets not forget the men, Nadal seems to be doing alot of grunting of late, which leads to the question - should these unnecessary sounds be erased from the game either by forfeiting of the match or a heavy fine?