Driving Miss Mazzy Part 5

OK I have written about this subject before but felt I had to share this story.

Recently while driving on the highway, travelling at the designated speed of 110, we witnessed an L plate driver overtaking a P plate driver and after we had overtaken him, the L plater sped up and passed us. He didn't just stay in front, got quite a way ahead, so estimation of speed was well over 110.

Yes, the young fellow was at the wheel and probably Dad in the passenger seat, what was he thinking, surely he realised that they were going way too fast and the fact is he was breaking the law. He may have had confidence in his driving but unless they learn the rules, it makes for future fines and reckless driving.

This is a true indication that maybe some parents should not be teaching their children to drive and pass on bad habits.


Photo credit: Marti Perarnau

MAGAZINES

It is true that our eyesight fades with age and most of us end up wearing glasses.

I still find it very hard to read some print in magazines that have opted for bold, colourful backgrounds. Yes, it does make for a colourful page and separates stories but that is surely not as important as the buyer of the magazine being able to read all the print.

As I flick through my current magazine, there are three backgrounds on one page, two of them are easily read but the third one has white lettering on a light orange type background and is very hard to read.  This is even made worse if you try to read in bed, where the light may not be quite as good.

In case you are thinking, 'maybe she needs to update her glasses', that is not the case as I have recently been for my annual optometrist appointment and had my eyes checked.

I would love your feedback on this trivial but important subject!

Coping with Technology Part 2

In recent weeks, technology has tested me to the limit.

Firstly my phone became really noisy and became unbearable to use and then no dial tone at all, so it was definitely time to phone Telstra, who came the next day. The technician tried a couple of different things before declaring that a new line was required but he didn't think he could do that, he did not have the right equipment. However, he did give it a go and presto we were back in business.

Next thing - I had no internet, I had to go and buy a new wireless modem/router. After a couple of phone calls to D-Link support, it was up and running.

Alas, just when I thought life was back to normal - the printer wasn't printing from the computer. After ringing Canon support and being on the phone for nearly one hour without making any headway at all, I cancelled the call. I was really worried as he wanted to get inside my computer and asked if I did banking on it!

I knew I had to put the new modem password in the printer settings but I couldn't quite navigate the settings so another phone call to Canon and he wanted to fiddle with my  modem. I said NO to this and said I had started the process but couldn't quite complete it, so then he was able to help and I was back printing.

Now tonight my computer has abruptly closed 6 times within a short period, with a different error message each time - I am going to bed - technology is working against me!!

NEW PRODUCTS

I am sure we all agree that the number of new 'beauty' products on the market is astounding, varying from quite cheap to expensive. It is all up to the individual, whether you think the more expensive product actually delivers as stated on the label, or the cheaper product achieves the same outcome at alot less cost.

Recently I read in a magazine about this 'new product' - MICELLAR CLEANSING WATER, for removing make-up as well as cleansing and soothing with no rinsing needed for face, eyes and lips, and also perfume free. Plus the added feature "for all skin types".The article listed a couple of brands, but having bought Garnier products before and being the cheapest, I was keen to try it.

It truly is a wonderful product and with the added bonus of not having to use a separate cleanser to remove eye make-up is a real plus. It is quick and easy with no rinsing required.

What is your new 'favourite make-up product?'

RESPECT

The word RESPECT conjures up a lot of different descriptions and situations in life. There's the saying "you should respect one's elders" which I feel seems to have lost it's meaning over the generations. Then used as a point of detail or characteristic "differs in some RESPECTS." Polite or kind regard for a fellow being "RESPECT for people's feelings."

This week something reminded me of the word RESPECT. We attended the funeral of my husband's father and a lot of people showed up to pay their RESPECT to their beloved family member, relative or friend.

On the other hand, as the funeral cortege travelled through the streets from the church to the cemetery, we had to stop for two people on the pedestrian crossing (one younger, one older) whom it seems have forgotten or have never learnt that you stop for a funeral procession as a sign of RESPECT.  All the vehicles normally have their headlights on to make them more visible.

I feel the world would be a better place if we all showed more RESPECT for one another.

If Tomorrow Never Comes

I love Ronan Keating and one of my favourite songs is "If Tomorrow Never Comes".  Well this is not really about that song but the words nearly ran true two weeks ago when I became very ill and woke up in ICU, not even remembering leaving my own house the previous night, carted off by two wonderful ambos to the local hospital and then onto emergency at Tweed.

I was born an acute asthmatic and in later years developed 'Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis or ABPA' which is a fungal lung disease. However, I have been able to live a fairly normal life, still working and doing my own housework etc. I know the symptoms when I am getting worse and regulate my medication accordingly - increase prednisone plus anti-biotics when needed etc., under the direction of my local Dr and  specialist.

However, two weeks ago on the Tues morning my husband started vomiting and then I started plus diarrhea. Luckily my husband didn't go to work and I ended up going to sleep and later in the night around 8 o'clock I became unresponsive and 000 was called.

My husband was told to ring the family in the early hours of Wed morning as things weren't looking too good. My two wonderful daughters drove down from Brisbane and I awoke to find myself in ICU, ALIVE and my family filling me in on where I had been! One lovely young nurse in ICU told me I was Septus and she had expected the rescuscitation tube to be inserted, (just missed that one).

Anyway, after 4 days in ICU and 4 days in the ward I came home. My family and friends have been wonderful and I can only imagine the fear I put my family through, especially my husband who hates answering the telephone at anytime without having to ring 000.

My local Dr knows my condition but she wasn't there and I couldn't talk so Lesson One: I now carry a letter explaining my condition: which apart from the above is what happened - when a normal person gets sick their adrenal gland kicks in to fight the infection, mine is compromised so there is nothing there and I must be treated with a high dose of cortisone.

Lesson Two: Don't be alone when very sick, my husband didn't go to work that day because he was sick but normally I would have been by myself and if I had deteriorated earlier in the day, I may not have made it to hospital.

Lesson Three:  Put more thought into today, it's great to plan ahead but make sure each day counts because you just never know what can happen.

So tell that Someone that you love
Just what you are thinking of
If tomorrow never comes.

BUDGET

This topic has been in my mind for some time and today with all the TALK about THE BUDGET handed down last night, it seemed today was the right time!

It is about "Living within your Means" and I have lived with that motto all of my life and even now I just don't buy something because I can afford it.

There are many ways you can save money and if you cannot afford it - don't buy it. I was brought up in an era when you saved for anything you wanted, there was no such thing as rushing out and ticking it up on a credit card and think about paying for it later. When I started working I wanted to buy a car for my 17th birthday. I sat down and worked out the maximum amount I could save over 12 months and I stuck to it, I did not withdraw any money over that period, if I wanted something I couldn't afford I went without.

The following are ways that can save money:
Take your lunch from home, buying takeaway food and drink five times a week can add up to a minimum of $60 a week. Buy your drinks from the supermarket and chill it yourself, another big saving. Cut back on takeaway coffee.

Petrol/Diesel: Do not make unnecessary trips eg. to buy the milk etc. Plan ahead and do your grocery shopping once a week.

Groceries:  Shop for specials and buy ahead on all necessities like toilet paper, toothpaste, paper towels, washing powder, dishwasher powder/tablets, tissues etc. You should not pay everyday prices for these items. What you save you can spend on fresh food.

Save for a holiday and only choose a holiday you can afford, don't charge it to the credit card or add it to the home loan.

Use your credit card wisely, it is very handy but only spend what you can pay back in full each month. Too many people cannot control their spending and accumulate huge debts on their credit cards.

Clothing is so cheap these days - look for the reduced racks in the stores. Children's clothing can be purchased very cheaply at the end of each season, buy the next size up, $25 items can be reduced down to $7. The retail stores all have regular sales during the year, capitalise on these.

We all like to enjoy life to the fullest, we can still do this by planning, budgeting and saving a little for unexpected expenses and don't try to "keep up with the Jones's". Be prepared to make sacrifices,
you can't always afford what you want.

The TV Week Logie Awards

Tonight we will view the 56th night of The Logies.

The TV Week Logie Awards commenced in 1958 and were called the TV Week Awards. Graham Kennedy won the first 'Star of the Year' Logie in 1959. He later re-named the awards to The Logies after the inventor of television John Logie Baird.

The TV Week magazine is the organisation that controls the Logies.

'Most Popular' categories are voted by the public, originally by filling in the voting paper in the TV week magazine and becoming online since 2011. 'Most Outstanding' categories are peer-voted. The 'Hall of Fame' was added in 1984 and is a peer-voted category.

There has been a variety of hosts, the most popular by far would have to be Bert Newton, who had the ability to ad-lib better than anybody, which is how he got out of trouble with his little unfortunate gaffe when he said about Muhammad Ali "I like the boy".

There has been a few overseas guest presenters who were not a bit interested in the job at hand, the main stand-out was Matt Le Blanc and who could forget Michael Cole who was quite inebriated when he hit the stage and dropped the 'S' word, Oh, shit, which in 1973 was the first time this profanity had been heard on Australian TV, how things have changed since then with the 'F' word sadly becoming common place.

I always love watching The Logies but sometimes disagree with the winners, hate the long boring speeches, don't always enjoy the performing artists, who predominantly are overseas artists. The awards are Australian TV awards so why not have Australian performers?

The Logies have been telecast on Channel 9 since 1996, previously being alternated between 7, 10 and 9.

My forecast for tonight's winners are:
Gold Logie:                    Scott Cam
Outstanding Drama:       haven't watched any (what has happened to Drama series in Aust TV?)
Outstanding Actor:         Power Games Packer-Murdoch (only one I watched from nominations)
Most Popular Actor:       Hugh Sheridan
Most Popular Actress:    Rebecca Gibney
Most Popular Presenter: Scott Cam
Most Popular Drama:     Winners & Losers
Outstanding Light Ent Program:  The Voice
Most Popular Lifestyle Program:  Better Homes & Gardens
Most Popular Sports Program:      RFL Footy.

It is good to see that Channel 9 have finally seen reason to start the broadcast an hour earlier and just maybe I will get to bed before midnight and hopefully do not wake up when it is all over!

Let me know your highlights of The Logies over the years.

Pegging the washing on the line.

This conversation came up between my sister and I recently about our little special procedures in pegging out the washing, and it seems we are very similar.  Firstly we start with the undies closer ro the centre of the Hills hoist and then come out further with bigger items. Sheets are always on he outside line, probably because it is longer and can take the width of a queen size sheet.

Then there is the positioning of the pegs, undies must have two pegs on the top not one peg in the crutch (takes longer to dry). I don't peg t-shirts by the shoulders.

The work uniform tops that don't need ironing can be hung out on hangers, quick and easy to put away.

I also separate his and hers. I can hear you say, this takes too long but you save time when you take them off the line and fold as you go into his and hers.

My daughters have not heeded my advice, one doesn't use pegs at all, so on a windy day she has a few problems. The other one likes the one peg crutch style and 'whatever lands out of the basket into the hand approach'.

It seems the style of 'pegging out' is not going to be passed from mother to daughter, so who knows what style may develop over the generations. When it comes down to it, as long as the washing is dry, does it matter?

Do you have any special little ways of pegging out the washing or do you use a clothes dryer instead?

Anzac Day

On the eve of Anzac Day, I remember proudly my father who served in World War II, from 26 Feb 1942 to 9 Jan 1946. He served in Australia for 755 days and in Port Morseby and Moratai for 612 days. He was a Sapper in the Dockers and Engineers section.
He suffered from a bout of mumps and was hospitilised with malaria while on duty.

I remember those who did not return home, including my father's younger brother, whose life was taken in serving his country.

I remember the wives who were left at home to raise young children, living with the fear of whether they would ever see their loved ones again.

So tomorrow we will all remember our loved ones who lived and died for our great country and I will see my Dad proudly marching down the street in his suit and hat ( which is firmly embedded in my memory).

Lest we Forget.

Driving Miss Mazzy Part 4

Every night when I see the terrible traffic hold-ups for workers on their way home from a busy day at work, I wonder how they can stay sane. Many hours tacked onto your normal work day, in travel, decreases time spent with your family, relaxation etc., and surely must be very tiring and stressful.
Then if there is a hold up caused by an accident, which seems to be quite often, more time is spent held up in traffic.

If you are able to travel by bus or train, at least you can read, study etc., that is if you can obtain a seat!

My biggest worry for my 10 minute drive to work is getting behind a car travelling at 60 kph or less in a 80 kph zone, and that is on a quiet country road, not in bumper to bumper traffic.

Some people opt to live in a nice area and are prepared to drive 1/2 hour or an hour to their job.
Some have no choice as their job placement dictates where they live or how far they have to travel.

What is your mode of transport to work and how stressful is it?













 

If I only had TIME

'TIME' is such a simple word but can have so many meanings. Time as in the 'time of day' is the most obvious one but 'time' seems to govern our every waking moment as without time what could we do? How many 'times' have we said and to quote the song 'if I only had time', I haven't got time, I have run out of time and so on, often used as an excuse when a job has remained unfinished.

One of my favourite songs by Gene Pitney has the following lyrics:  So much to do if I only had time,
Time like the wind goes a-hurrying by and the hours just fly. This somehow sums up our daily lives.

Another favourite by Cher is "If I could turn back Time," I guess these words become more prevalent as we get older and reminisce about the things we should have done or could undo the things we should not have done or maybe go back to a certain age in your life where you hold the fondest memories.

And who could forget (I've had) The Time of my life from the movie Dirty Dancing. If asked the question "what has been the best time of  your life?, what would you answer?   For me it would be the day I met my husband as without him "what would life be" (more lyrics pop into my head).

As you get older I guess Time becomes more precious and the urgency to accomplish unfinished dreams, and pursue your bucket list becomes dependent on having Time.

As I near my 2nd year of Blogging, I think this topic is very appropriate as Time is a big factor in Blogging, time to think about the content, time to write it down and time to publish it. As it has been over 2 months since my last blog, I guess the Time of the year plays a big role in not having enough time as the lead up to Christmas for most of us becomes very Time poor!

I would love to hear from you about the Times of your life!!