Talking Point

Tiger Cub or Fishing Cat?

2009-07-29T01:45:00.001+10:00

Tiger Cub or Fishing Cat?, originally uploaded by A Moment of Magic.

Tiger Island, Dreamworld on the Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia) - 17th March, 2009

www.amomentofmagic.com.au

Remember to eat your greens...

2009-07-20T13:25:00.001+10:00

Remember to eat your greens..., originally uploaded by A Moment of Magic.

Australia Zoo (Queensland, Australia) - 13th March, 2009

www.amomentofmagic.com.au

Very sneaky....

2009-05-22T19:49:00.001+10:00

Very sneaky...., originally uploaded by A Moment of Magic (busy moving house).

Tiger Island, Dreamworld on the Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia) - 17th March, 2009

www.amomentofmagic.com.au

Taking a big bite

2009-05-02T01:58:00.001+10:00

Taking a big bite, originally uploaded by A Moment of Magic.

Australia Zoo (Queensland, Australia) - 13th March, 2009

www.amomentofmagic.com.au

Different and unusual

2009-04-16T12:35:00.001+10:00

Different and unusual, originally uploaded by A Moment of Magic.

Tiger Island, Dreamworld on the Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia) - 17th March, 2009

www.amomentofmagic.com.au

Line of sight

2009-04-06T23:32:00.001+10:00

Line of sight, originally uploaded by A Moment of Magic.

Australia Zoo (Queensland, Australia) - 13th March, 2009

www.amomentofmagic.com.au

Stalker

2009-04-06T00:47:00.001+10:00

Stalker, originally uploaded by A Moment of Magic.

Australia Zoo (Queensland, Australia) - 13th March, 2009

www.amomentofmagic.com.au

A pretty pair

2008-05-24T03:46:00.001+10:00

A pretty pair, originally uploaded by Talking Point.

Gorgeous 18 month old tiger cubs Isha (left) and her brother Satu (right) posing for the cameras.

Royal Melbourne Zoo (Victoria, Australia) - 10th May, 2008

Check this out!

2008-05-24T01:03:00.002+10:00

Sweet kitty

2008-03-06T01:36:00.001+11:00

Sweet kitty, originally uploaded by Talking Point.

This gorgeous cat lives at the end of our street.

I saw kitty sitting in the middle of the road tonight and wandered down to introduce myself to this beautiful feline. He was quite safe on the road as he lives at the very end of a no through road, and was quite happy to pose for me.

Little Miss

2008-03-06T01:34:00.001+11:00

Little Miss, originally uploaded by Talking Point.

I'm watching you

2008-02-29T11:57:00.001+11:00

I'm watching you, originally uploaded by Talking Point.

For all Tigers (see story below)

2008-02-23T02:19:00.001+11:00

For all Tigers (see story below), originally uploaded by Talking Point.

I was so upset this evening to hear about the pregnant Bengal tiger chased and stoned by up to 1000 angry villagers in India. The tiger was chased up a tree after being injured by rocks and sticks pelted by the mob. Villagers then attempted to set the tree on fire whilst guards tranquilised the tiger in an attempt to safely remove it back to it's natural environment.

Certainly the villagers need to protect themselves and there is no question of that. However does it really take 1000 villagers to chase away one solitary tiger? The footage is truly disturbing.

In their fervour, the villagers even injured the guards trying to save the tiger. Footage shows the tiger being hit repeatedly as it trys to escape into a river whilst drugged and contained in a net.

Watching the video, I felt sick to my stomach that we humans inflict such trauma upon animals that are doing the only thing that they know to do. Events like this can happen all over the world and are not particular to India. There are many places now where animals and humans are fighting for use of the same scarce land and resources.

The good news is that the tiger was finally released back into the safety of a river in it's natural habitat. It launched itself from the cage on the barge deep into the river and swam to safety. I only hope that after so much trauma, injury and the effects of a tranquilisor that the cubs are okay as there are so few of these precious creatures left.

(Note: this photo is of one of the three tiger cubs at the Melbourne Zoo in Victoria, Australia. This is not a photo of the tiger in this story.).

Where is Snow White?

2008-02-23T02:18:00.001+11:00

Where is Snow White?, originally uploaded by Talking Point.

The seven dwarves were just hanging about above the entrance to a maternity ward when we went to visit a friend with a newborn this evening. The other two dwarves refused to co-operate, but these five were happy to be stars for a day!

Holding on tight

2008-02-23T02:17:00.003+11:00

Holding on tight, originally uploaded by Talking Point.

Big fat Karma cat

2008-02-23T02:17:00.001+11:00

Big fat Karma cat, originally uploaded by Talking Point.

I love TIGERS

2008-02-16T03:05:00.001+11:00

Photo sketch at dumpr.net

Please save the tigers

2008-02-15T23:40:00.001+11:00

Please save the tigers, originally uploaded by karma1410.

Escape!

2008-02-15T23:39:00.001+11:00

Escape!, originally uploaded by karma1410.

Prince of Darkness

2008-02-15T23:37:00.001+11:00

Prince of Darkness, originally uploaded by karma1410.

I'm looking right at you

2008-02-06T12:01:00.001+11:00

I'm looking right at you, originally uploaded by karma1410.

Eye Contact

2008-02-01T11:17:00.001+11:00

Eye Contact, originally uploaded by karma1410.

Sleep little hippo...

2008-01-31T00:28:00.001+11:00

Sleep little hippo..., originally uploaded by karma1410.

Peahen with baby

2008-01-30T00:15:00.001+11:00

Peahen with baby, originally uploaded by karma1410.

Fly's eyes

2008-01-30T00:13:00.001+11:00

Fly's eyes, originally uploaded by karma1410.

Tiger!

2008-01-29T17:40:00.000+11:00

Horning in on the action

2008-01-29T01:56:00.001+11:00

Horning in on the action, originally uploaded by karma1410.

My first photo to make the Flickr Explore list!

2008-01-26T01:47:00.001+11:00

Cosy Koala, originally uploaded by karma1410.

Sunflower in Red

2008-01-25T23:17:00.001+11:00

Sunflower in Red, originally uploaded by karma1410.

Reflections of an indoor cat

2008-01-25T23:14:00.001+11:00

Reflections of an indoor cat, originally uploaded by karma1410.

Look into my eyes...

2008-01-25T23:13:00.001+11:00

Look into my eyes, originally uploaded by karma1410.

Contemplation

2007-12-09T18:09:00.001+11:00

Contemplation, originally uploaded by karma1410.

Karma Kitty is deep in thought...

Sleep

2007-12-09T17:57:00.001+11:00

This is an older photo of Will at about 7 months.

I found this when I was uploading some of my photos to Flickr and just couldn't resist adding it here. He looks so peaceful fast asleep in his stroller.

The Cat's Whiskers

2007-12-08T01:24:00.001+11:00

The Cat's Whiskers, originally uploaded by karma1410.

The first photo from my new Panasonic DMC-FZ18 camera. I can't wait for a chance to really test it out!

Yet another diet...

2007-11-23T23:33:00.000+11:00

So this time it's Slimming World, even though I don't live in the UK. Slimming World works on the basis of red days (higher in protein), green days (higher in carbohydrates), healthy extras (to balance each day and ensure good nutrition) and syns (for all the little extras like chocolate, sauces, condiments...basically anything that isn't a "free" food or healthy extra). I won't explain it all here as there are so many websites that do that so much better than I could.

All I can say is that after 2 1/2 weeks I have lost 2.4 kilograms without ever feeling hungry or deprived. It simpy is the easiest program, although not the easiest if you live outside the UK I must say. As I don't have access to the syns values, healthy extras lists and free foods for Australian brands, there is no question that a little extra guesswork is required. Not to worry though as it seems to be working very well so far.

I also had a Polar F55 Heart Rate Monitor delivered today in an effort to really get myself organised with my walking and overall fitness. It's been an expensive week all round as I also needed new runners. Given the issues that I have as a result of my flat feet and tendency to roll my feet in when I walk, it was really important to get the right type of shoe. The salesgirl at Athlete's Foot helped me out with their special analysis machine and recommended a few pairs to try. I settled on the Brooks Ariel and after some extensive research on the net when I got home, I was happy to learn that I had bought the best shoe on the market for my feet issues. Happy, happy girl!

So I am all set to get fit, healthy and slim. I'm aiming for 3 hours walking per week across 4 walks. This is based on the program put together for me by the Polar HRM, which I took out for a trial today. Love it, love it, love it! It really opened my eyes to just how much I was "in the dark" with my walking program and it has given me a whole new focus. We'll walk to the school to vote tomorrow and then complete a 40 minute walk after that. At this stage, I'm also thinking a day of walking around the Melbourne Zoo on Sunday might be a great way to slip in some extra exercise for the week. Let's hope that the weather stays nice.

For all those Lite N Easy fans, I recommended Lite N Easy to my sister on the Gold Coast. She is determined to lose weight before her wedding in September so she decided to give it a try. She's been on the program for a few weeks now and is consistently losing weight without any problems, so it's definitely worth a try. I'm sure I'll give it another go soon but for the moment, this Slimming World program is working for me.

On a separate not, a very big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my baby nephew Kai. I hope you had the very bestest of birthdays today!!

Will and Tigger dancing.

2007-10-02T23:55:00.000+10:00

Look at me! Look at me!

2007-10-02T23:16:00.000+10:00

Beach fun!

2007-10-02T23:06:00.000+10:00

More Jeans for Genes photos...because I just can't resist!

2007-08-18T16:46:00.000+10:00

Jeans for Genes Day photos...stay tuned for more!

2007-08-18T13:24:00.000+10:00

These pics were taken for the Jeans for Genes Day competition. How cute!!

Where does he learn these things?

2007-08-15T19:46:00.000+10:00

Oooohhhh....I see!

On the road again...

2007-08-15T19:33:00.000+10:00

So I'm almost one full week back into Lite N Easy. I had about three weeks off all together whilst I was in Qld and I ended up back at 72.2kg. I was really happy with that as I ate anything and everything that I wanted whilst I was away, so I can't complain.

So I started again last Friday and I have lost 1.3kg already, with two more days still to go this week. That brings me back to 70.9kg, only .9kg off the lowest weight that I had reached on the day before I left for the trip. Hopefully it won't be long until I'm under 70kg and burning through the 60's!!

For anyone who's thinking about trying Lite N Easy, it really does work!

My very own ice cream! I'm a big boy now!!

2007-08-07T22:05:00.000+10:00

Growing up too fast? Who, me??

2007-08-07T22:04:00.000+10:00

Dummy anyone?

2007-07-29T11:21:00.001+10:00

I just can't sleep without my dummy, a bottle and a sipper cup!

You won't be able to miss me now!

2007-07-08T00:53:00.001+10:00

The new signage on the car looks fantastic. A big thanks to Luke at Signs & Designs in Frankston South.

Time passes so quickly!

2007-06-21T22:02:00.000+10:00

It's hard to believe that today is the last day of Week 9 on Lite N Easy! That means another official weigh in tomorrow.

I was down to 71.5kg this morning, which means a total loss of 4.2kg since I started 9 weeks ago. I'm really pleased with the result so far and I look and feel so much healthier already. My clothes fit much better and I can look in the mirror without feeling really awful about what I see. Instead, I feel quite proud of what I have achieved so far, and excited about the prospect of finally being under 70kg soon.

I think I'll aim for about 65kg and then re-evaluate when I get close to that. Being at the bottom end of a size 12 would be fine with me. Whilst being a size 8 and 52 kg may have been fine when I was 24, at 34 I would look just too thin. In fact, if I was honest with myself, even at 24 I looked too thin at 52kg. Not to mention the amount of work and vigilance that would be required to maintain that weight...no thanks!!!

Business Referral Program - Receive a $150 gift card from the Australian Retailer of your choice!*

2007-06-17T16:19:00.000+10:00

Would you like to receive a $150 Gift Card from the Australian Retailer of your choice?

For each successful referral of a business requiring staff to the Melbourne Central Branch of Australian Recruiting, you could receive a $150 Gift Card!*

* The following conditions apply:

1. The business referred must be a new client that has not dealt with Australian Recruiting previously. The referred business or the referrer must provide a letter signed by the referrer providing the name, address and contact telephone number of the person referring the business, as well as the name of the business being referred.

2. The referral must result in a candidate being placed with the referred business on a permanent full time contract for an intended period of at least 12 months.

3. The candidate must remain employed with the referred business for a minimum of three months (as per the three month guarantee period contained in the Terms of Business). In the event that the candidate leaves within this time or the position is no longer available, the gift card will not be payable.

4. Gift Cards will only be payable if the referred business pays the invoiced placement fee within 14 days of invoice as required by the signed Terms of Business.

5. Gift Cards will not be mailed to the successful referrer until a period of three months after the successful placement to ensure compliance with the above conditions has been satisfied.

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Conny Talbot on Britain's Got Talent

2007-06-16T12:58:00.000+10:00

Is this a case of "A Star Is Born"? Britain's Got Talent contestant Conny Talbot melted even the toughest judge with her angelic voice and beautiful smile.

Paul Potts sings "Nessum Dorma" on Britain's Got Talent

2007-06-16T12:48:00.000+10:00

What an amazing voice! This one gave me chills! Watch Paul Potts sing "Nessum Dorma" on Britain's Got Talent.

Another Lite N Easy Update

2007-06-01T20:32:00.000+10:00

Today I started Week 7 on Lite N Easy. It's hard to believe that it has been six full weeks so far. I'm definitely in a routine, which to be honest can be both good and bad. The routine can definitely create boredom however it also keeps everything pretty simple. I'm still loving the dinners and the Sweet Beef Curry, Satay Chicken, Oriental Beef and Beef Stroganoff are some of my favorites.

So how much have I lost? Certainly not as much as I would have hoped, but still a very respectable 3.2kg as of this morning's weigh in. Given that I have not done any exercise at all during that time, it really is a good result. The weight loss has certainly slowed down though, with a loss of only 200grams this week. I really need to get out and exercise but it is so dark and cold by the end of the working day that walking really isn't an option. Might be time to consider using a gym.

Today's gratitude list...

2007-06-01T00:31:00.000+10:00

1. A great cut and color by my hairdresser in Ivanhoe. She's fantastic!!

2. More great leads from the lead generation campaign.

3. Another week on Lite N Easy completed successfully.

4. Fresh, clean sheets on my bed.

5. Time to watch my favorite TV shows. Aaahh, relaxation...

Things to be thankful for today.

2007-05-30T16:17:00.000+10:00

1. Watching the Secret again and reminding myself that I am in control of my future.

2. Winning at auction the phone number that I had hoped to use on the new car signage (1300 4 TOP STAFF)

3. The external Lead Generation program getting underway today to bring in new and exciting clients.

4. Yummy Lite N Easy meals that help me to stay healthy and lose weight.

5. Sleeping in this morning!!

The Secret Riches Visualisation Tool

2007-05-21T01:39:00.001+10:00

The Secret To You - A Gift From The Secret Scrolls

2007-05-21T01:35:00.000+10:00

Getting a little bored....

2007-05-14T00:10:00.000+10:00

I'm well into Week 4 on Lite and Easy now and at my weigh in on Friday morning I had lost another .3kg, bringing me to 73.3kg.

The weight loss has definitely slowed down but I am proud to say that my resolve has not crumbled. I have not touched any junk food since starting, not even a single piece of chocolate, and chocolate was a daily indulgence before Lite N Easy. Other than the two meals out that were outside my control, I have stuck rigidly to the program in order to give myself the best opportunity of success. I am getting a little bored though...there are only so many times that you can have a "small bread roll" as a snack. Thankfully the dinners are truly delicious, so the thought of a delicious dinner each night gets me through the day!

Exercise is definitely the missing link and I really need to get motivated and get out walking. It will push the weight loss along much more quickly, not to mention the obvious health benefits. I just find it so hard to get excited about walking but I know in the long run it will be worth the effort.

Anyway, enough for now. It's after midnight and I think it might be time for some zzzzzz's.

A special moment...

2007-05-08T22:04:00.000+10:00

Baby Kai and Nanny have a little cuddle. He loves his Nanny!

Cutie pie Kai

2007-05-08T20:22:00.001+10:00

What an angel! This is an older photo of Kai but it's still one of my favorites.

Night, night kitty!

2007-05-06T20:41:00.001+10:00

Sweet dreams xoxox

Sticking to it...

2007-05-06T13:50:00.000+10:00

Dinner at a friend's house last night was really delicious. Savoury lamb shanks that just melted in my mouth, creamy mashed potato, beans, carrots and a really nice red wine to top it off. Mmmm, mmmmm!!

On the way home, my boyfriend decided that he was starving hungry and had to stop off at McDonald's drive thru for something to eat. I am so proud of myself! I didn't let my resolve crumble. I didn't order anything even though it meant smelling the cheeseburgers in the car all the way home. And it was so worth it...this morning I had lost a little more weight and I was right back on Lite N Easy, as motivated and determined as ever.

I'm really determined to do it right this time. It won't be quick but the variety in the food options is really helping me to avoid temptation. I haven't had chocolate cravings in more than two weeks and I'm starting to feel a little less hungry now. I guess my body must be slowly adjusting to the lower calories. I really feel like I'm going to succeed this time...I just need to keep my mind focused and remember all the benefits of a healthier, more attractive body. This time I'm sticking to it!!!

Today's Quote (Happiness)

2007-05-05T14:41:00.000+10:00

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."

- Mahatma Gandhi

He's one cool kid!

2007-05-05T14:38:00.000+10:00

Today's Quote (Success)

2007-05-05T14:33:00.000+10:00

"If your success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not feel good in your heart, it is not success at all."

- Anna Quindlen

Two weeks in and still going strong!

2007-05-04T20:02:00.000+10:00

In fact, today is the start of Week 3 on Lite N Easy and yes, I'm still going strong. Total weight loss as of this morning was 2.1kg! Not bad for two weeks. That brings me down from 75.7kg to 73.6kg.

I find that I start to feel better physically from about 72kg. Anything under that and I start to have more energy and I'm less tired. My clothes fit better and I feel better about myself overall. It's also a bit of a danger point though for exactly the same reasons. It's easier to lose motivation when you don't feel quite so bad about the weight that you're carrying.

I guess that's partly why I'm so determined to stick with Lite N Easy. Even if I start to lose motivation, the boundaries are clear...I can eat only what I am given and nothing more. There are no grey areas. There is no room to cheat. I cannot sneak some chocolate and kid myself that it really won't matter. It's black and white because either I'm on Lite N Easy or I'm not. It's too expensive to be half hearted on a delivery program of this nature.

It's been a hectic week from a work perspective so having everything prepared for me has made things so much easier. No need to think about food or what to have next...just heat and eat at the right time.

We're off to a friend's place for dinner tomorrow night so unfortunately that meal will be outside my control, but it's only one meal so it shouldn't have too much impact. I guess the proof will be in the pudding as they say ;-)

What a cutie!

2007-05-01T00:19:00.001+10:00

Beautiful smiles must run in the family. Big brother William wants a photo too...

Smiley boy!

2007-05-01T00:11:00.001+10:00

Latest pic of baby Kai from his Mum...he's just so cute!

My Virtual Model - Before (75.7kg) & Target (60kg)

2007-04-28T23:55:00.000+10:00

Getting skinnier by the day!

2007-04-28T12:21:00.000+10:00

I bet the suspense is just killing you...what was the final weight loss for the week? I know, I know, it's keeping you awake at night and you just can't concentrate at work...

So time for the big reveal! Bit of an anti-climax really as although it was an absolutely FANTASTIC result, the official weigh in on Friday morning hadn't changed from the day before. Which means a whopping 1.5kg loss for the week, bringing me from a start weight of 75.7 down to 74.2. Woo Hoo!!

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I weighed myself this morning...another .3kg GONE!!! I'm now at 73.9 and I'm so incredibly happy with the results :-)

Lite N Easy really is so simple as there is very little to think about. You just eat what they give you and that's about it. The biggest challenge for me is that I'm a real night owl and I'm often up reading resumes and sending emails for my recruitment business well after midnight. Of course, that means that I tend to get really hungry as dinner may have been 4 or 5 hours earlier. I've realised now that I need to keep something aside for just before bed because I just can't sleep when I have a growling, hungry stomach. That may be why I'm a bit too hungry during the day as I have to space the food out to last me until late at night.

Being a little hungry hasn't been too unbearable but it does mess with my head a bit, particularly now that I'm on the second week. Today I feel like I want to rush out and buy some KFC and scoff down some chocolate!! The thing about Lite and Easy though is that you can't trick yourself. In the past I would have had some chocolate or M&Ms and convinced myself that I was still within the calorie limit for the day. Now I know that if I eat anything other than what has been provided to me, I am definitely over the 1500 calorie limit, so there's no way I can kid myself into thinking that I can eat extra food.

My sister and Dad will be in Melbourne tomorrow so that we can go out for lunch for her 30th birthday. I'm a little nervous as it will require a meal off the Lite N Easy program and I will have to adjust the rest of the day to accommodate for the extra food. I've decided to just have the Lite N Easy scheduled lunch for dinner and keep the extra frozen dinner for some other time, which should minimise the calorie impact. And I will definitely be trying to pick the healthiest thing on the menu, even though I would rather a big plate of chips!

I'll let you know how it goes..there may well be a battle of epic proportions raging in my head tomorrow!

Lite N Easy Update

2007-04-26T18:27:00.000+10:00

Hard to believe, but I've lost 1.5kgs in the first 6 days! I'm looking forward to weighing myself officially tomorrow to see the final total for the week.

Have I been hungry at times on 1500 calories? Absolutely! It doesn't seem like quite enough food but then eating more is obviously what caused me to gain weight in the first place. It would be nice to get through the day without feeling quite so hungry between meals, however it's certainly working and that's what matters to me at the moment. At least I can be certain that it's a healthy and nutritious diet and I'm eating plenty of fruit and vegetables which I generally tend to avoid.

Let's see what tomorrow brings!

Starting over!

2007-04-22T18:35:00.000+10:00

Yes, back on the weight loss path again! I started Lite N Easy again on Thursday after about three years since I last ordered from them. Even though I promised myself that I would wait at least one week before my first weigh in, I just couldn't resist this morning. To my surprise, 1.2 kg lost in only two day! Of course, most of that will be fluid loss but it's still a good feeling.

For the non-Aussies, Lite N Easy is a weight loss program where your breakfasts, lunches, dinners, fruit and snacks are delivered weekly and you just add skim milk for coffee, cereals etc. The food really is quite delicious (particularly the frozen dinners) and it is calorie controlled and full of the necessary nutrients for a healthy diet.

Of course, there are drawbacks and my biggest complaint is when the delivery is missing items for a particular day. That was the main reason that I stopped ordering from them last time. There were just too many errors in the packing of the orders and one week I ended up with completely mismatched orders that made it impossible to put together a week's worth of meals. Today I was missing the bread roll to put my smoked chicken and tomato on and I've noticed that I'm also missing yoghurt for later in the week. If they could get that right, it really would be a dieter's dream, albeit a little expensive if you need to use it for more than a few weeks.

On a separate note, Big Brother starts tonight. I know, I should be embarrassed to admit that I'm a Big Brother fan, but I really do enjoy watching it for some light entertainment. Hopefully this year's series is full of surprises and the people are really crazy...it always adds to the entertainment value!

Anyway, that's enough from me. I'm off to heat up my dinner...I'm thinking either Satay Beef or Sausages with Onion Gravy. Yum!!

If you're happy and you know it...

2007-04-15T14:10:00.000+10:00

This is one of my favorite videos of my nephew William. It makes me smile every time I watch it :-)

Dancing Baby!

2007-04-15T13:16:00.000+10:00

Little William practicing for the mosh pit before he could even walk!

I'm adorable...so what?

2007-04-13T14:54:00.000+10:00

dLook - Great New Aussie Business Search Site!

2007-04-13T13:55:00.000+10:00

I've just signed up with a premium listing for Australian Recruiting - Melbourne Central Branch over at dLook .

dLook is a fantastic Aussie search engine that puts Australian businesses right at your fingertips. The site has fantastic discount coupons from many companies, as well as a super simple and effective quote request process. What more could you want?

You can check out my special dLook discount vouchers here if you need staff for your business. Even if you don't need staff but you know a company who does, we have a $100 Coles Ltd Gift Card referral voucher.

So all you Aussies, get on over to my listing on dLook and CHECK IT OUT!

(Meg over at Dipping Into The Blogpond is the one to speak to if you would like to know more!)

What a show!!

2007-04-11T23:43:00.000+10:00

I absolutely adore the zoo...it makes me feel like a kid again! I was so lucky to be in the right place at the right time to take this photo and it's definitely one of my favorites.

Shanghai Temple

2007-04-11T23:39:00.000+10:00

I found this photo on my other blog and it felt so peaceful and serene that I really wanted to share it. I took this photo at a Chinese temple in Shanghai on my last visit.

Words to live by...

2007-04-11T23:33:00.000+10:00

"The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and if they cannot find them, make them."

George Bernard Shaw

Today's quote...

2007-04-10T22:24:00.000+10:00

You'll never achieve real success unless you like what you're doing.
No one has ever succeeded in a line of endeavor which they did not like.

Your chances of success are directly proportional
to the degree of pleasure you derive from what you do.
If you're in a job you hate,
face the fact squarely and get out.

It's better to be a failure in something you love,
than attempting to be a success in something you don't.
Don't set compensation as a goal.
Find the work you love, and the compensation will follow.

The more you love what you are doing,
the more successful it will be for you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
©2005 by Max Steingart

Job Search Tip - Email Addresses

2007-04-10T21:24:00.000+10:00

For exceptional staff, contact our Branch Manager at Australian Recruiting - Melbourne Central Branch.

It is important to be mindful of the suitability of the email address that you use for job applications.

Your email address is often the first thing that a prospective employer or recruitment consultant will see on your application and without a doubt…”First impressions DO count”!

Sexygirl@hotmail.com is NEVER appropriate for a job application, no matter how funny it may sound to you!

If your personal email address is not appropriate or may create the wrong first impression, do not use it! If in doubt, sign up for a free email address with yahoo or hotmail.

Ensure that you provide the correct email address with your application. Email is often the first method of communication that may be used to clarify your application if required. If you provide incorrect information about yourself, no matter how innocent this error may be, it will be perceived as indicative of your level of attention to detail.

Always ensure that your email address remains current throughout the job search process. It is common for a consultant to receive email “bounce backs” from email accounts that are either full or no longer active. Keep in mind also that whilst you may not be successful with an initial application, the same agency may attempt to contact you at a later date should a more suitable position arise.

Job Search Tip - Don't take it personally!!

2007-04-10T21:08:00.000+10:00

For exceptional staff, contact our Branch Manager at Australian Recruiting - Melbourne Central Branch.

The search for suitable employment can be an emotional and sometimes lengthy process. It is important that you approach your search with a positive mindset and remain focused on the end goal irrespective of any perceived set backs.

Above all, remember that it is not personal! If you don’t get an interview for that fantastic position that you just know that you would be perfect for, it’s not a personal attack on your skills or previous experience. If you walk out of an interview sure that the job is yours, only to find that it was offered to someone else, dust yourself off and get right back on track! The right match is out there!

If you are unsuccessful, keep the process in perspective by reminding yourself that in this particular case, there may have been applicants with more experience or a specific skill set that the employer was particularly interested in. This does not mean that you are not good enough…it just means that you were less suitable than another applicant in this particular instance. Next time, it just might be you who will be more suitable!!

Many candidates underestimate the time and effort that may be required to secure a suitable role. Keep in mind that many factors may contribute to extend the process beyond your expectations. These factors may include salary expectations, location compatibility, educational requirements, skill sets, previous experience or personality fit to business amongst others.

Working hard!

2007-04-04T00:17:00.000+10:00

My beautiful nephews...I just couldn't resist!

2007-03-15T00:23:00.000+11:00

The sky's the limit!

2007-03-04T22:41:00.000+11:00

The first photo was taken with my K800i mobile phone camera after dinner at TGI Friday in Doncaster, Victoria last night.

The second one was just for fun and was taken through the lounge room window.

Strange to think that it's the same sky...nature really is an amazing thing.

Possums, possums, everywhere...

2007-02-27T10:09:00.000+11:00

These are pics of the possum family that visit our backyard every night. It would seem that possum babies are fairly resilient...we've seen this one fall from the top of a large tree onto concrete and be stepped on by his Mum when she got a fright and ran over him to get up a tree.

My new Sony Ericsson K800i mobile phone...love it!!!

2007-02-23T23:21:00.000+11:00

I absolutely love the 3.2 MP Sony Cybershot camera with flash on this phone! The overall functionality is great and there's no doubt it's the best phone I've ever had. Stay tuned for more pics!

P.S. The soft focus on this photo was definitely my fault and not the camera's. Kitty was hiding under the bed so it was all a bit hit and miss.

Do you need a MATCHMAKER?

2007-01-15T20:35:00.000+11:00

Successful businesses are built on great relationships betweeen a company and its employees.

Ask yourself...have you made the right MATCH?

Contact Donna at Australian Recruiting - Melbourne Central Branch:
donna.hutchins@australianrecruiting.com

We partner with our clients to search for, attract, screen and appoint exceptional people more effectively.

The newest addition to the family...

2006-11-27T17:47:00.000+11:00

This is my second nephew, Kai, a beautiful baby brother for little Will. Even better, it's only a few days until I'll be in sunny Queensland to visit them both!

Oh, happy day!

2006-11-17T00:24:00.000+11:00

Things I'm grateful for today:

* My new Weight Loss Hypnosis program.
* Feeling more in control of my eating after only two days on the program.
* Another day closer to my second nephew being born.
* Sleeping in.
* A flexible schedule that provides a fantastic work / life balance.

Today's treasures!

2006-11-03T00:46:00.000+11:00

Today I am thankful for:

* A positive and exciting client meeting this afternoon.
* Plenty of rain pouring down this morning outside my window.
* Hot coffee.
* Enjoying the drive across town to my meeting.
* Loving my job more and more each day!

Rampage of Appreciation for my business!

2006-10-20T15:08:00.000+10:00

I love my job!

I love the freedom and flexibility that it affords me to work as and when I choose. I love that I can work at midnight if I can't sleep, and I love that I can choose to sit in the park with a coffee and work on a sunny afternoon.

I am thankful for the many wonderful people that I meet and the lessons that I learn from each of them as they tell their stories of achievement and success.

I am grateful for an opportunity to be part of a company that values integrity most highly, and also places emphasis on honesty, trust and commitment to being the best at what we do each day.

I love the endless opportunities for growth that are only capped by my imagination and willingness to succeed. I am lucky that I can run the business on my terms whilst still being backed by a national brand name.

Every day I am thankful for my business and the wonderful life that I have.

Today's gem...

2006-10-09T00:13:00.000+10:00

“If we plant a seed in the ground we know that the sun will shine and the rain will water, and we leave it to the Law to bring results...Well, the desire you image is the seed, your occasional closing of the eyes in imagery is the sun, and your constant, though not anxious, expectation is the rain and cultivation necessary to bring absolutely sure results...”

Frances Larimer Warner, Our Invisible Supply: Part One 1907

A fond farewell...I love you Tricia and I'll miss you...

2006-10-02T17:56:00.000+10:00

A note for my loving grandmother who passed away a few moments ago...

I remember being so young and somebody asking me who Tricia was? I remember thinking that it was a crazy question as everyone had a Tricia..you know, a Tricia and a Grandad. I didn't understand at the time that not all grandmothers were named Tricia, just mine. You chose to use your own name as you thought it sounded so much younger and I just loved that it was something different to everyone else. You had the courage of your convictions and you would fight for what you believed in. More than anything else, you would fight for your family.

Four beautiful children and so many grandchildren that it would almost be too hard to count...you were so loved throughout your life Tricia. I know that Grandad will be there to welcome you home today and you can be together again after all these years...just the way that I remembered you both as I was growing up. Making Grandad's morning tea together, big Christmas lunches, sewing my Calisthenics costumes and the letters that would arrive unexpectedly in my letter box in the last few years...just some of my favorite memories. I loved to get those letters that would always tell me how proud you were of your first grandchild and that I was always in your thoughts.

I'm sorry that we didn't get to spend more time together in the last few years but even that could never change the bond that we have. I love you and I will miss you dearly but in my heart I know that you will always be with me, just as I have always felt Grandad's presence with me too. You earned your place in heaven and I know that you willl smile down on your family for all eternity. I send you this goodbye wrapped up in all the hugs in the world.

Rampage of Appreciation for our house.

2006-10-02T17:08:00.000+10:00

The quickest way to create something new and wonderful in your life is to be thankful for all that you already have. Having seen a lovely house in Yarra Glen that might just be perfect for us, I wanted to take the time to appreciate all the beauty and joy that our current house brings. Here goes:

Our little house is a sweet and comfortable home that provides us with shelter and protection from the elements. I am thankful that it is warm in winter and cool in summer and the many windows provide a constant outlook onto nature. Being so small, it is easy to keep clean and well maintained and it has such a cosy, personal feel to it. The recently painted walls and the new timber laminate floor provide an updated yet casual look and complement our dark chocolate furniture and gold trimmings so perfectly. I am grateful for the safe location that allows for peaceful meditation and moments of quiet thought. This home is an oasis in the midst of a sometimes hectic life and it's sunny outlook and simplistic layout create calm and work together to combat any craziness or chaos.

I am thankful for our beautiful home and will appreciate our time here long after we have moved into our new home.

Making new friends Karma style.

2006-10-02T14:25:00.000+10:00

Talk about the cutest thing!

Earlier this afternoon, I was watching kitty lying in the sun in the kitchen and thinking that it was unusual as I have never seen him lie there before. I pretty much forgot about him until I looked up to see him poking the window sill with his paw. He was clearly very focused on something that was outside the window.

I walked over to the window to find a decent size lizard sitting on the outside of the window sill with his head raised looking Karma right in the eye. He was bold as brass...they were nose to nose against the glass and neither were backing down. Karma kept tapping at the glass as he tried to poke the lizard to make it move some more.

I only wish that I had a camera handy. That would have been a priceless photo!

It's the little things...

2006-10-01T01:07:00.000+10:00

I was just sitting here thinking back over my day and it made me realise that it truly is the little things, the tiniest details that add up to make us feel "lucky" or "in the flow" each day. Below are some of the highlights of my day...each one is small on it's own but focus on enough little moments of joy and soon you have a lifetime of happiness:

* sitting on the front step with my laptop whilst the sun went down and the birds said goodbye to the day
* cuddles from my kitty
* finding a ticket for the makeup that I was looking for at 20% off and then unexpectedly discovering that they had more in stock
* catching a song on the movie "Sister Act 2" when I changed channels that made me feel inspired and alive
* trying Cadbury's Breakaway chocolate...mmm
* wearing an unusual top that I had purchased recently and feeling confident and fantastic
* singing out loud just because I felt like it
* my boyfriend accidentally putting maple syrup on my crumpets rather than honey and then discovering the taste sensation when you mix both together.

Little things I know, but they made my day!

100 facts about me: facts 31-40

2006-09-30T18:06:00.000+10:00

31. I love to sit outside with a hot coffee and my laptop (love wireless broadband!) or a great book and enjoy the sounds of the birds chattering away.
32. I have so many books (mainly on New Age topics, spirituality and metaphysics) that it would take 3 to 4 large bookshelves to hold them all.
33. I'm really lazy when it comes to exercise and keeping fit...and I mean REALLY lazy!
34. Being close to nature gives me a deep feeling of inner calm.
35. I love to search out and stay at beautiful country bed and breakfasts.
36. I have owned or lived with five cats in my 33 years...Diddams, Cindy, Tabby, Baby and Karma.
37. I would choose to have a cat rather than a dog, even though I love both.
38. I hate football (yes, this one has been brought on by the fact that today is the AFL Grand Final).
39. I attended Grovedale West Primary School and Belmont High School.
40. I drive a cherry red Mazda 3 SP23 and I absolutely adore my car.

Things I'm just loving today!!

2006-08-03T21:50:00.000+10:00

1. The Proclaimers song "I'm On My Way"...an oldie but a goodie that I dug up tonight. Try not to break out in a goofy grin with that song playing nice and loud. Bet you can't...

2. The Law of Attraction starting to show me hints (Uni-winks) of what's in store if I keep remembering to JUST FEEL GOOD!

3. Unexpected clients coming my way...thank you Universe!

4. Almost finishing "Ask and it is Given" and looking forward to reading "The Power of Deliberate Intent" for a second time.

5. Karma kitty changing his sleeping patterns to let me sleep peacefully from the time I go to bed until at least5.30am. This was one of the intentions that I put out into the Universe recently and all I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you for the speedy manifestation of that one...

Oh, life's good!!!!!!!!

Rampage of Appreciation!

2006-07-31T23:43:00.000+10:00

I just love this process. It is drawn from "Ask and It Is Given" by Esther and Jerry Hicks from the teachings of Abraham-Hicks. So here goes!

Today's rampage of appreciation:

The thing that I love most about today were the moments when I heard the chitter chatter of the birds outside the window.

I love that the sound of birds is a constant. In almost any environment, I am no more than a few steps away from somewhere that I can hear birds if I listen closely. Birds live in the moment...they're not focused on paying bills or planning for the future. They are just happy being alive in this moment, happy to be chattering away or foraging for food as if it's the most natural thing in the world.

I love that they reminded me that living in the moment is natural, that the tendency to live in the past or sometime in the future is a learned behaviour.

I love that the sounds of the birds today reminded me to stop for a moment and just be. It reminded me to look beyond myself to notice the patterns of the clouds forming outside the window and the detail of the leaf patterns on the trees that continue to grow whether they have my attention or not.

I love that the many different sounds of the birds reminded me how precious the differences in each of us are and that to be the same would be to live in a world of "gray".

I am so thankful and appreciative of the moments that I shared in blissful awareness of the neighbourhood birds today. Life is joyous and wondrous when we make the time to stop and notice in conscious awareness.

Things I love today!

2006-07-29T17:50:00.000+10:00

1. Karma kitty curling up with his head resting on the keyboard of my laptop while I type (although it does make the "A" key a little harder to reach...lol).

2. Seeing The Lake House movie on Thursday night. I've decided that I quite like seeing a movie during the week.

3. A nice long sleep in this morning.

4. The Tattslotto ticket that we bought to win us lots and lots of money!!

5. The sounds of birds outside the window as they settle in for the evening.

Ain't life grand!!

Today's quote...

2006-07-26T21:00:00.000+10:00

"We create in constructive ways or we create in destructive ways. Either way, creative energy finds expression." - Dan Millman