Welcome To Polite Island

May 17, 2013 in Entertainment, Featured, Fiction, Food & Recipes, Lifestyle, Money, People, Society, Stories, Travel

Welcome to Polite Island! You have been selected to live in this modern utopia because you embody the values of a considerate unselfish person. Polite Island was founded by a woman who was becoming increasingly frustrated with her considerate behaviour being met with inconsiderate behaviour. Instead of giving up on being a polite person and falling into pit of selfishness she came up with a plan to make the world fairer. Instead of eradicating those devoted only to themselves and who frequently engage in behaviours that can be classed as ‘douchebaggery’ we have simply excluded them from our society. This [...]

Don’t Be Friendly or We’ll Take It the Wrong Way

May 13, 2013 in Gender, Human Rights, News, People, Society, Travel

I was casually scrolling through news.com.au one lunchtime, and came across an article entitled “Western women warned “friendliness’ confuses Indian men”. My first reaction was “huh?” which of course prompted me to read the article. In short, Indian men “often get the ‘wrong signal’ from female tourists who are simply being friendly”. Well that makes complete sense… In this day and age, women are constantly being told they can’t do things. We can’t expect to earn the same as men. We can’t expect to be treated with respect in our chosen career. We can’t expect other women to accept us [...]

Tony Abbott, Twitter, Women of Calibre and Click Bait

May 8, 2013 in Current Affairs, Human Rights, News, Politics

So yesterday I was noodling about the house, exhausted and exhilarated after surviving Satan’s own three ring circus of a weekend, when Twitter whooped out the Code Pink Alert. The Twisterhood (Twitter Sisterhood. You like it? I just made it up!) were Outraged! Again! World-Renowned Misogynist, Tony Abbott, announced a Paid Parental Leave scheme that would entitle new mothers earning $150,000 pa or less to six months maternity leave at full pay, plus super entitlements. He said, and I quote: “We do not educate women to higher degree level to deny them a career. If we want women of that [...]

An Atheist, a Christian and a Marriage

May 7, 2013 in Dating, Friendship, Lifestyle, Marriage, People, Relationships, Religion, Self

I go to church sometimes. Voluntarily. And I don’t mind (much). But I’m not a signed-up member of any religion, and I don’t plan on joining. When I met my husband, Jelly, three and a half years ago, I hardly knew anyone my age who was serious about religion. Other than the compulsory Christianity most of us get in Anglo Australia (weddings, funerals, scripture classes), my childhood had been pretty secular. My attitude was that church was all a bit silly and anachronistic. Where I did have a Christian friend I avoided discussing it or whispered about it (‘they’re churchy, [...]

This Week: My Birthday

May 4, 2013 in Lifestyle, Self, Work

We haven’t caught up for two weeks so I’ve got a few photos to share with you today. The last two weeks have been fairly eventful and today is my birthday just in case my constant updates left you in any doubt. So be warned that next week will be all about my birthday, even though it’s actually today. The first big thing in the past two weeks has been JJ stepping back from blogging, which has had a huge impact on the site but as always I’m behind him 100% in what he wants to do and I can’t wait [...]

Australia: The Lucky Country

May 1, 2013 in Current Affairs, Health, News, Politics, Self

The past week or so my wisdom teeth have started growing again. I say again because mine tend to grow for a few days and then stop for months. I mean, growing is a tiring business for your poor teeth isn’t it? The problem is that this time, the wisdom tooth on my bottom right-hand side is being a bit of a tool. It’s hurting and aching and I want to pull it out stat. I decided that after not attending the dentist for a few years (in my defense, I had been to the dentist every fortnight over a [...]

Stay Young? No. Stay Happy.

April 30, 2013 in Body Image, Face, Gender, Health, People, Society, Style

When we are young, we often don’t think about the person we will be when we are 30 or 40. In fact, we don’t even think of ourselves reaching that age. It all seems to come back to the stigma attached to growing old. But, it doesn’t have to be such a bad thing. We often hear middle aged women talk about how young people should, ‘live while you have the chance’, or thinking aloud with, ‘I wish I was your age again.’ Why do they have such strong views on youth? It’s one of two things: the regret of [...]

Where Do You Draw the Line Between Tragedy and Stupidity?

April 29, 2013 in Family, Health, Lifestyle, News, People, Society, Work

Life can throw curve balls. You could be blissfully happy in your relationship, and next thing you know you are breaking up. You may have found the perfect job, only to be made redundant. You could be completely healthy until an accident renders you paraplegic. The above three things are devastating, but completely out of your control. The last one would even be considered a tragedy. But what if the “tragedy” is self inflicted? What if someone becomes brain damaged because of an overdose of drugs or alcohol? What if someone becomes a paraplegic because they were messing around when they knew better? [...]

Why Are There No Boys Named Sue?

April 26, 2013 in Body Image, Celebrity, Children, Entertainment, Gender, Parenting, Pregnancy & Birth, Society

In the last few years it’s become acceptable and even cool to give kids gender neutral names. That’s hardly news. However with this trend, I’m seeing a lot of girls with traditionally ‘male’ names, and very few boys with traditionally ‘female’ names. As a teacher I’ve seen some pretty out there names and interpretations of names. Calling the roll for the first time with a new class can be tricky: Me: “Elliot? Is Elliot here? Has anyone seen him?” Student: “ Um, Elliot is a GIRL, Miss!” (Rolls eyes at my apparent stupidity) Me: “Oh. Has anyone seen HER?” I’ve [...]

ANZACs: Lest We Forget

April 25, 2013 in Current Affairs, News, People, Politics, Society

Often, ANZAC Day falls on a school day. And every time we have an assembly, I cry. Can’t help it. That minute’s silence and the Last Post get me every time. I actually stop and use that silence to try and comprehend what the diggers thought at Gallipoli. To put myself in their boots, running on fear and adrenalin. It’s something I simply can’t comprehend, and yet generations later, the action they took still ring solid and true. Their bravery is unparalleled. I think of war widows, telegram in hand, confirming their worst nightmare. I think of children who never [...]