Mamamia Managing Editor, Jamila Rizvi
by JAMILA RIZVI
In previous Open Posts I have always been well behaved and tried my absolute hardest not to talk about politics.
That’s because most people put politics, religion and money firmly in the category of ‘not to be talked about in polite company’. But the sad reality is: I don’t really know or keep much polite company.
For my friends and I, politics is at the TOP of the list to make frivolous chitchat about with taxi drivers/hairdressers/unsuspecting work colleagues/the cute guy at the coffee shop.
In fact, I have a bunch of mates who regularly enjoy a quick game of ‘Fantasy Cabinet’ (it’s similar to a fantasy football league except substitute the players for MPs and Senators and… okay I don’t need to keep going, we’re completely ridiculous, I know. But it takes all kinds to make a world.)
I digress.
Today I’m breaking my no-politics-talk-on-Open-Post good behaviour bond. I’m busting out. I don’t care if the cops are onto me. I’ve watched enough Boston Legal to be able to know that a good closing argument, some witty repartee with the judge and a wink and a nod to the jury, means I’ll be fiiiiiiine anyway.
The truth is that when you ask me what’s on my mind it’s often politics. I’d be lying if I said otherwise, especially with the same sex marriage debate currently taking place in the House of Representatives.
This week, I’m struggling to get my head around the argument being mounted from several of our federal representatives – including those on the side of politics to which I lean - that says “I’m all for marriage equality but seriously, there are bigger issues to worry about”.
This…
This line or reasoning suggests that legal reform to recognise two people’s love for one another – reform that costs the taxpayer not one cent – isn’t worth bothering with. Well you know what? That’s easy to say when you’re heterosexual.
I define myself by two things. My work and my relationships. And I think a lot of us are the same.
What we do each day and the people we love and who love us – are what makes us who we are.
So the suggestion that equal recognition of those defining relationships, for a significant number of our country’s population, is somehow not worth the time and effort…well, it just baffles me.
I know that the Bill currently before our Parliament won’t pass. Coalition MPs are bound to vote against it and Labor is well and truly split on the issue. It saddens and distresses me to think that we are years, if not decades away from making marriage equality a reality.
I’ll stop now. Promise. Anyone want to chat about religion? Kidding… kidding.
Here’s what’s been happening around the Mamamia offices and on social media this week:
Members of the Mamamia team pulling an all-nighter.
Regular readers would have also noticed that we’ve been pre-moderating comments this week. It’s great to see that our new commenting policy is making a difference and ensuring that Mamamia remains a happy, positive, engaged and vibrant place to be. It may mean you have to wait a little longer for your comment to appear but we’re working hard to make sure that we’re moderating as close to real-time as possible.
Enough from me. What’s been happening in your world? What’s on your mind this week?
Comments
253 Comments so far
OMM: How to tell our almost 4yo that she’s going to family daycare one day a week next month. She’s been with me, SAHM, since dot with grandma up one day a week to give me a break. She’s very verbal & very bright. She starts kindy next year in late Jan. How do we tell her that someone else she’s not yet met will be looking after her for a while?
I would appreciate any ideas from SAHPs who might have had a similar situation…
loading...
My hubbie and I are due to have our first child in just under 2 months after nearly 2 years and 3 unexplained miscarriages. We are so thrilled at this precious gift and the nursery is almost completely set up.
On a sad note, we are looking to rehome our very curious cat who needs a huge amount of attention and won’t stay away from baby’s things already. Some will disagree with our decision, but we have to do whats best for our baby, and for the cat – who we don’t feel will get enough love and attention to be happy.
loading...
My partner has been doing it really tough as an adult apprentice for almost a year now…I supported him while he went to tafe and did a pre-voc course in January, in May we moved back to Brisbane from Melbourne in the hope the mining boom would increase his job prospects. He got a job working 10 hours a day, 6 days a week only to be made redundant last Friday. We were so close to signing a contract on a house, but when he lost his job it fell apart. I earn just too little to carry the loan myself. In the same night I got a notice I owe the tax department $1500, for not paying enough off my HECS.
We’ve been in this cycle of temporary labour for nearly 18months now…he’s hard working, fit and healthy and a really reliable employee…we just want someone to give him a chance and take him on permanently!! So disheartening when you try and try and come up empty, but in QLD at the moment we’re definitely not the only ones!
loading...
No you’re certainly not. We, in health are waiting for the “axe to fall”. One department gathered all the staff, put on a videoconference announcing the redundancies and who they were. The remnants are left to volunteer for redundancy, or fight it out for the remaing jobs, but if they’re not successful will not get a redundancy.
Apparently the whole department is pretty traumatised.
loading...
OMM – Through work I’ve won an almost completely free 8 night trip to LA & Disneyland! My question is, what kind of stuff am I better off buying over there? Madly saving my pennies
loading...
Make-up! Sephora is heaven on earth for a make-up or skincare junkie, just make sure you know what shades you wear of your regular stuff. Clothes and shoes are also generally a lot cheaper in the US. When I went I allocated myself a specific number of clams to spend on one designer splurge (still so much cheaper than here) and then bought stuff that is expensive to ship here that I knew I’d get wear out of.
loading...
HI MM staff, just an idea…How about you let people who are registered users of MM comment straight up, and those that aren’t then have to be moderated/ pre-approved? Makes you able to then track down the trolls if they say anything unwelcoming but lets the good ones continue to take part in the conversation straight away?
loading...
Great idea!
loading...
I loved teaching!!!! I loved inspiring the students to learn: I would tell them learning was a mind building exercise it didn’t matter if they didn’t like the material. Although I would spend ages working out how to present information to be interesting, and do close sentences for those who had remedial problems. I think I was successful since many of my students did well academically and I also had many less academic students “pop” in to tell me how they were going.
I would provide “extras” for those in completed the class work quickly eg problems/ interesting articles about my subject area(science) and even physical puzzles for those who were less inclined to read.
I retired due to an illness, but now over it, I wanted to do some casual teaching. I realised that I wouldn’t have the same amount of respect and discipline that I had when full time teaching but was horrified how much the students ( and I have been to a few “good” schools) felt that they needed to be “entertained”.
I have contacted many of my old acquaintances at various schools and they all say the same thing. They can’t wait to get out since there is just no help for them with the unruly students.
The sad thing is that there is a large majority of the students who do want to learn, but just give up and join the general mess since little can be done about the unruly students. For all those parents out there who feel that the teacher should be able to “discipline the kids” or “make the lesson interesting” I dare you to go and sit outside a few lessons. It is an uphill battle for many teachers.
My problem: we are losing the good teachers to early retirement, many of the new teachers don’t last long, there are always other jobs out there with less stress . WHO WILL TEACH MY GRANDCHILDREN!!!!
loading...
Love love this site, I love how we can all agree , I love how we seem like such nice people, I love how there are no arguments, I love how warm and fuzzy life has become on MM. We all need to agree that is what makes us unique… Thanks MM.
loading...
I agree actually, have become stepford wives…
loading...
It’s been reported that Roger Moore was a victim of domestic violence.
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/james-bond-actor-sir-roger-moore-reveals-he-was-victim-of-domestic-abuse/story-fn907478-1226472773112
I’ve heard that both incidents left him shaken, but not stirred.
loading...
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/punch-witness-comes-forward-with-tales-of-anarchy-in-the-src-20120912-25sxx.html
Tony Abbott’s death knell?
loading...
What are the prices like for Revlon products in David Jones? I am thinking about going home via David Jones, but department store products are usually more expensive than other stores. Is the goodie bag worth the slightly high price?
loading...
Sorry if this is old news, but is anyone else getting two Mamamia newsletters a day? One in the wee hours of the morning and one in the afternoon? I tried to fix my subscription but the daily option still means I’m getting it twice.
loading...
if you read them they often have one article not there or a new one in its place
loading...
yes I get this too.
its really frustrating.
loading...
My news is not actually my own, but it’s still good. My daughter and her partner have put a deposit on an engagement ring and plan to get married early 2014. He’s a lovely young man and good for her, I’m so pleased.
She’s also waiting to hear from a large private hospital re grad nursing positions. They told them they’d get an email last week if they were unsuccessful’ she didn’t get an email, so shes waiting for a phone call. Fingers crossed.
loading...
went and bought those gorgeous boots from rubi shoes yesterday! they only had one pair left and it was my size! wore them out to dinner and to a play, had to walk all the way up and down newtown and my feet completely comfortable. yay!
always felt a bit too lame to blatantly copy what you girls wear but after falling in love with these shoes, i might just do it more often!
loading...
A girl I used to be best friends with got engaged this week. We fell out when she started seeing the guy she’s now going to marry, because he was literally so horrible and disgusting as a person that I just couldn’t be around him or support the relationship (for example, last time I went for drinks with them the taxi driver threatened to drive straight to the police station if he didn’t get out of the cab because the guy was screaming racial abuse at him).
I know how thrilled she must be to be engaged as it’s what she’s always wanted – but it makes me sad it’s to such a horrible person. I can see where her life and her future children’s life will head.
I guess the other element is that when we were close friends (about two years) ago we (and all our friends) were single or dating. Now most of them are married, engaged or pregnant. I’m in my dream job overseas, the fittest I’ve ever been and having millions of wonderful flings (and am genuinely extremely happy) but it’s just a strange contrast.
Anyway, there’s no conclusion to this post, it’s just on my mind!
loading...
I think my husband has cheated on me… I just found some evidence that looks like it happened. Not sure if it is still going on… I don’t know what to do.
loading...
You poor thing. I can’t guess how you feel, but I wouldn’t rush to have the confrontation with him. Find out more about it if you can and decide what you want to do first.
loading...
Ok I spoke with him and he assured me it was not what I was thinking. Too much of a long story to type here but I think it was more a case of men being men and talking to his friend about girls but there was certain things written that made me think more but he explained himself. I choose to believe him, I think I just read into things too much. I’ve been cheated on before so I know how sucky it is but deep down I feel he is being honest, whereas with my exes deep down I knew they were cheating but chose to ignore it.
loading...
I think its one of these situations where you should just do nothing for now..see what happens.
loading...
Feeling horrible as I work with constant dieters/fitness freaks. I am all for being healthy and in charge of my cardiovascular prowess, but it’s all they talk about, constantly. It’s taken many years to rise above past experiences and put certain disorders behind me, these conversations and constant passive food/exercise surveillance activities (do you really need that fruit salad? It’s full of sugar you know) is driving me to distraction.
Last year I felt empowered and sexy. Now I am denying myself an ice-cream because I’m not a size 8 and current professional company thinks everybody should be.
loading...
‘do you really need that fruit salad? It’s full of sugar you know’
That is someone projecting their own insecurities on to you. Ignore them vigorously.
Friut salad? FFS.
loading...
Thanks Trog, I try to. This morning we’re discussing the merits of soup diets. By we, I mean they. I’m enjoying my fruit salad mightily, in all of its sugary goodness.
Why does misery love company?
loading...
Enjoy on – that’s sugar’s fructose and when consumed as part of the fruit, it’s pretty guilt free as not a significant contributor to weight gain.
Sounds like a slightly toxic office culture if people feel free to make comments like that. Go get a pie, chips & gravy and eat it at your desk defiantly.
loading...
I thought there was a huge difference between having a Starburst fruit salad and an actual fruit salad. Just from the positive effects alone, carrying me through to lunch. Oh, they’re into their surveillance for sure, if somebody enjoys a red velvet cupcake… well, it’s like being in highschool again.
I generally have sashimi and salad. Not because I’m ultra healthy, but because sashimi rocks! But your idea is awesome for a Friday splurge *evil grin*
loading...
Great to see lots of comments on this post! I’ve been noticing less comments than usual. Reconsidering pre-moderation is not happening right?
Anyway I would love to see some more articles about ethical fashion, beauty, shopping etc choices. It is something I am really interested in and haven’t seen a lot on. I can assist with writing an article if that’s desired!
loading...
You’ve read our minds Elle – we’ve got some ethical/green fashion pieces coming your was very shortly!
loading...
Going to Adelaide for the weekend to see family, haven’t been back for 2 years. Taking my partner with me too so they can all meet him! Missing out on the beautiful weather that we are meant to be getting in Perth this weekend for Adelaides cold weather, what a shame!
loading...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR9gyloyOjM
This video may make you think twice about gay marriage. As a married, Mum of two, I can’t stop thinking about my privileges. I hope the link works, my device has gone beserkers since a recent upgrade.
loading...
Why does my mother in law call me all the time? You’re not my mum. It’s not a competition. I don’t like you because you’re bitter, rude, pushy and think you know everything. You’re never going to look after my children. Smile a little you lazy cow.
loading...
random observation: in the yellow-top picture, Jamila looks like Pia Mirandi in Looking for Alibrandi!
loading...
But even MORE gorgeous and fabulous!
loading...
I need some advice about my 6 year old son. He is so terribly distraught about going to school tomorrow because his name is on the ‘punishment board’ in his class which means he can’t play at recess and has to stay indoors all day. I feel that he should go and face the consequences of his actions (he alluded to the fact that he wasn’t listening in class and got into trouble for that). He is so upset and cried for an hour before bed begging me not to send him in tomorrow.
Should I let him stay home or force him to go in? He says he will lock himself in the boys toilets if I make him go in.
He HATES having his name up on the board, has only happened twice before but I think he needs to go in and face the consequences. Any advice would be great as I’m not sure what to do tomorrow morning!
loading...
I am not a mother (yet) but my instinct says there may be more to this than you know as yet. Try and find out why he is so bothered by having his name on the board. Unhappy, sooky would seem an appropriate reaction; being distraught seems more worrying. Give him a really safe space to talk to you about this.
loading...
Before having kids I was a teacher, so for what it’s worth heresmy advice.
I would not let him stay at home. He needs to realise tht his actions have consequences.what I would do is tell him that you will go see the teacher and find out what has happened. That way he still knows you’ve got his back.
In the morning I would go see the teacher. Try to remain calm and just explain your sons reaction. Tell her that you feel it is an over reaction so ask if there’s any thing else you should know. To me staying inside is a really severe punishment so maybe there’s more to it than your sons telling you?
Good luck with it. It’s awful seeing your child so upset. I hope it gets sorted out quickly xx
loading...
That sounds like a stupid punishment for a six year old – to be kept indoors all day! Sounds like the kind of punishment that will only lead to more bad behaviour. I would also have a bit of a problem with a deferred punishment for something like “not listening”. Having said that I would send him to school, but have a friendly chat to the teacher about what the crime was and what the consequences are etc, he may have misunderstood the matter. Avoiding things rarely makes anything better in my experience. I am aware as I type this how difficult getting him to school in the morning could be – good luck!
loading...
Wow, I think its refreshing that your childs teacher has such a policy and actually follows through. My kids school has no such system and by age 9 many of the boys behaviour is conditioned and they are completely out of control.
Perhaps your childs reaction is a little extreme and maybe there is something more going on here or maybe he’s just embarressed that he’s been singled out for punishment. You have to support the teacher here and send him in but perhaps pop in and see the teacher before school and explain how upset your son was so the teacher is aware that he is learning from the experience and his little mistake.
A firm teacher will set him up well for future years at school, be grateful!
loading...
That sounds like a stupid punishment for a six year old – to be kept indoors all day! Sounds like the kind of punishment that will only lead to more bad behaviour. I would also have a bit of a problem with a deferred punishment for something like “not listening”. Having said that I would send him to school, but have a friendly chat to the teacher about what the crime was and what the consequences are etc, he may have misunderstood the matter. Avoiding things rarely makes anything better in my experience. I am aware as I type this how difficult getting him to school in the morning could be – good luck!
loading...
Personally, I’d talk to his teacher and let her/him know this has been his reaction. This should allow you to know what happened in the incident as well as acknowledging his feelings.
Most teachers like to make sure there are consequences without traumatising a child. Perhaps it would also help if the teacher was able to talk to your son about this and explain what this punishment means and talk about ways he can avoid this in the future.
loading...
hard as it is ..he should go to school…if he locks himself in the toilet the teacher will handle it
by all means schedule a time to talk to the teacher about all this
loading...
Thank you for the replies. He went to school today and all was well, although he was very upset this morning. I told him I would talk with his teacher but he didn’t want me to and asked that I not talk to her about it.
He didn’t stay inside and was allowed to go and play during recess. I’m so glad he went and realized it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be.
loading...
OMM: one of my friends has become one of ‘those’ mothers. I saw a comment she had made on a post show up on my Facebook feed where she was saying to another mother regarding her choice of product to clean her baby with ‘I feel sorry for your child having a mother who obviously doesn’t care enough about them to not use a product that is proven to contain cancer causing ingredients, I care about my baby’s health and will do anything to protect her and my family which is why I don’t use this product on my child, maybe you should do the same’ I was stunned, and saddened as this friend was the most laid back, non-judgemental person I had ever met and now she’s one of the mothers who put other mothers down when she doesn’t agree with their parental choices. *sigh*
loading...
Work. It’s always bloody work. I’ve just survived yet another re-organisation and my project has been canned – sorry put on hold, so I spent half of Monday wondering what I’m supposed to do next. Now I’ve been told that I will be joining a team to re-build and existing software solution, but only until the end of the year and nobody knows what happens beyond that.
I’m so frustrated and have decided enough is enough. I’ve been spending the last few days looking at the job market seriously and it’s terrifying. I’ve been here so long now that I have lost the confidence to move on. I have a long road ahead…
loading...
Thanks so much for the opportunity to post here (Administrator approval). We are two Sydney mums who are going to climb the world’s highest free-standing mountain, Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Special Olympics Australia. We climb next February 2013 and are in training now and raising funds. If you would like to donate funds or product to help us on our way please email Eileen Stapleton or Kathrine D’Costa on info@kidsizeliving.com.au. With every step, we will be helping Special Olympics Australia transform the lives of children and adults with an intellectual disability.
Every two hours an Australian child is diagnosed with an intellectual disability and Special Olympics Australia is there to support them by providing regular sports training and competition. Through sport they can get active, have fun and make friends, and with every step of the journey they develop the confidence and skills to overcome daily challenges and reach their personal best. You could say they climb mountains every day! Thanks for your time and hope you are inspired! Eileen X
https://specialolympics.myetap.org/fundraiser/mtkili/individual.do?participationRef=4136.0.608341013
loading...
There’s a few Petersham’s…. what state are you in?
loading...
The past five years have been wonderful. Two beautiful daughters I’ve had the privilege of being able to look after full time while working part time from home as a corporate writer and editor. I work the equivalent of three to four months a year (in the evenings and on weekends) and have the rest of the year free to be with my children.
It’s been the perfect work/life balance and I’ve had it so good for so long that I always knew it wasn’t going to last forever. My major client is a global mining company who have just had to layoff close to 1,000 employees/contractors and unfortunately they aren’t able to use my services now due to major cost-cutting being undertaken.
So I’ve been looking for work, and for the first time in my almost 20 year career in communications I am unable to get anything. Seriously, not only am I not even getting interviews for the 30+ jobs I’ve applied for in the past three months, I’m lucky if I even get a response to my application. I can’t even get in with agencies. I’m fairly confident in my skills so it’s been totally disheartening that it doesn’t look like getting work is going to happen anytime soon.
So I’m living off my savings and will keep persevering with the job hunt. There are 14,000 Queensland public servants now looking for work too after Newman laid down his axe, so at least I know I’m not alone and I know there are people doing it much tougher than me.
Ideally, I’d love to keep working from home, perhaps as a freelance writer, so if anyone has any tips, I’m all ears.
loading...
I am so sorry to hear about your job. I typically vote labour but voted for the LNP in QLD knowing that the job cuts were coming. We cannot continue to waste billions of money in ridiculous public service mismanagement. My friend works for qld govt and received a new computer monitor- she was not allowed to plug it in herself… They sent 2 techs on a 3 hr round trip to do the 5 min job of putting the cord in. We have lost our triple A rating which for a prosperous state is a joke. These cuts are necessary and needed.
loading...
Its a shame Newman isn’t sacking those frivolous extra people rather than targeting nurses, teaching aides for blind kids and a whole slew of people who are just a few years away from retirement and have given 30 or 40 years to public service. He should be ashamed of himself.
loading...
I really feel like Newman has made indiscriminate cuts, in the name of making cuts, instead of really focussing on the inefficient areas.
It’s happened far too quickly for these changes to be the most effective they can be. I think in the long run the state will be worse off than if he had made these changes slowly and methodically.
I really feel for the 14,000 losing their jobs, on top of the thousands of contractors who have already lost theirs. A tough time to be seeking employment in QLD.
loading...
Cuts may be necessary but I can guarantee that it’s the frontline workers and the people we need most who have been the first to go.
The bludging bureaucracy are protected. The people who have made the massive mistakes are still rich and employed.
loading...
another kirra, my heart goes out to you and to the many, many others in queensland (and elsewhere) that are going through this now.
Surely with experience in the mining sector, those skills will be in high demand? Best of luck
loading...
Feeling your pain, I’m looking too and there are no jobs being advertised this week for me to apply for at all! I am struggling to get through to agents for the jobs I have applied for and the last 4 weeks have been very demoralizing.
loading...
Christians for Gay Marriage! YEAH!!!
loading...
Just have to say I love your picture Jamila
loading...
Thanks londoneye
Those were Lucy’s mad iPhone photography skills.
loading...
OMM: when will cosmetic manufacturers/Department stores bring down their prices in Australia so that we dont pay 3x as much for our makeup as our US and British friends? If retailers like David Jones and Myer honestly think we are stupid then they deserve to lose money to online retailers.
I would happily pay 11/2 times more than online for the convenience of getting it in a store but i refuse to pay $44 for a MAC lipstick I can get online for $16.
loading...
I read a really interesting article on this topic the other day. It looked at the idea that while we do have higher wages and rents, our lower population is also a key factor in this. Consider the size of the US and the UK compared to australia. The other more disturbing point it made was that while you can get heavily discounted makeup online, the quality, age and authenticity of the product can be questionable. We may pay more in store but the quality and guarantees you get with that are far better than a cheap price.
loading...
I read that article too. I am not talking about buying from dubious “discount”sites. I am talking about American department stores and their RRP. Check out Nordstroms or Saks. I am sure they are not selling dodgy makeup.
Our lower population shouldn’t make any difference at all IMO. If a department store in American afford to send one lipstick to me for less than I pay here even with the ridiculous postage costs added in, then surely shipping hundreds would be more cost effective.
If it was a BIT more expensive because of the shipping costs then fair enough but 3x? Feels like price gouging to me. They have been getting away with it for years and I am really over it.
loading...
Illamasqua recently brought down the price of their cosmetics to be more in line with UK prices. Hopefully other brands take notice.
loading...
It’s my understanding that our luxury goods tax comes into play making these items more expensive. Plus the US cosmetics and hair care are often made in the USA so shipping is more than from say China. And we also have no trade agreements that would lower imports tariffs on these products.
When I used to travel for business, I would fill a second suitcase with all sorts of goodies. Now I rely on US friends and an expat cousin for supply.
loading...
Tomorrow I go to Sydney to the Layne Beachley Aim for the Stars training day, surfing and gala ball. So excited. Next week I am judging a film festival!! Life’s busy and great.
But i made the heartbreaking decision to let someone I love go from my life. I guess, after a complex relationship or whatever it was, and him hurting me more than enough times, when a big milestone happened in his life, I knew we can’t be friends (though it was only on Facebook for quite some time). So I wrote him a letter, hit the unfriend button. I was ok, I blogged about it, but now it hurts. I’ve said it out aloud to two friends now and I realised, I’ve missed him for a long time and now he’s really gone. I’ll be ok but I hate the realisation we won’t be in each others lives anymore.
loading...
You’ve already been brave writing to him, blogging and saying it out loud. Maintain the bravery xxx
I’ve been hoping you’d pop up on OP… I was the girl that randomly stopped you in the Borough Market when you were here – sorry if I startled you, I was just super excited to say hi! Hope you had a great time in London town xxx
loading...
Oohhhh I was hoping you would reveal yourself too!! That was amazing, thank you for saying hello!
I was just talking about you tonight. I have a blog so please keep in touch. Http://Carlyfindlay.blogspot.com
loading...
Love your new comments policy. The mobile site reno looks great but functionality is poor. Articles take ages to load and to be honest, I’ve given up waiting more times than I’ve ended up reading something.
loading...
So I left him on Sunday. I don’t know if I’ve left for good, but I haven’t been home and it’s Wednesday. I was ok on Monday, yesterday, today I’m in complete pieces. I’m due to meet him tonight to talk. I don’t know what to do.
It’s been a long relationship. Not always happy but overall ok. I’m not brave enough. I’m scared to leave.
loading...
Sending you hugs pieces. I hope it all works out for you. x
loading...
dont cave ….even if you are in two minds after you see him …..it sounds like you need time to think and reflect
It is not something you have to decide tonight or tomorrow.
Please let us know what happens
Good luck
loading...
you ARE worth MORE, Pieces… Xo
loading...
I have terrible PMT. Just been to the supermarket and purchased a silly amount of chocolate.(two dark choc kit kat blocks, dark choc toblerone and a big ba of m &ms) Have not eaten any of it but feel better knowing it is in the house.
loading...
There is no such thing as a silly amount of chocolate!
loading...
Feeling the love with this new website policy…group hug.x
loading...
OMM: i got a special flash for my DSLR camera for my birthday yesterday, i’m looking forward to using it even though i will have no idea what im doing!!
OMM 2: went to the zoo with my bf for my birthday yesterday and had a lovely time! There was such a cute baby gorilla that kept jumping off its mums back, and the mum kept running after it. Its crazy how much those apes and chimps are like us!
Random fact from the seal show- seals and dogs are closely related! They have similar barks and have similar faces i think. And can do tricks like dogs!
loading...
now that you mention it, the dog and seal thing makes perfect sense!
loading...
Yes, seals are dog mermaids!
loading...
My blog got over a 100 followers this week. I am so proud.
Also, since it was WSPD on monday I did a post on it. I was very honest and it was hard to write. but what shocked me the most was that of all the blogs that I follow, not one other had a WSPD post. not one. it is such a shame because it is something that should be discussed.
My blog is http://katebmcleod.blogspot.com.au
loading...
Well, this week I have learnt how Charlotte Dawson felt and what drove her to that point.
I’ve never been online bullied before, and as a 20 year old I didn’t really think it would happen to me! But I put something totally innocuous on a local forum and was absolutely ripped to shreds by someone who has had a vendetta against me for a long time. I’m 20, she’s in her fifties. She had me in tears then denied, denied, denied. She and her friends got stuck right in- suddenly I was an ‘idiot’, a ‘smart arse’, ‘delusional’, ‘paranoid’ and although I know perfectly well you turn the computer off and leave it … you can’t when it’s coming like that and it’s all directed at you. It made me feel like absolute crap, and I lost a lot of sleep over it. Being deliberately vague about the circumstances. But it was harrowing.
So sorry to Charlotte and anyone else who has been through something like that. Having battled with incredibly low self confidence for years I just feel awful now and the attitude of these women is just ‘harden up’. Well sometimes you can’t. And it’s not being blunt or honest, and it’s not funny. It’s bullying. Feeling very upset about the whole thing
loading...
It’s horrible that a fully grown. “mature” woman would do this to someone still quite young!
I wonder how she would feel if she had a daughter and this was happening to her!
Big hugs!
loading...
Thanks! I’m okay … I’m old enough (and enough of a smart ass I suppose) to fight back, and also I have wonderful friends and family who have my back. But it was very, very upsetting and intimidating (particularly because she made reference to where I live …) and I would hate to think of how I would have taken it as a 16 year old. Good reminder for everyone really … it’s easy to write things down and expect everyone is tough enough to ‘get over it’ or that it’s okay to be snarky just to get a rise out of someone … you can’t see how they are actually taking it. You never know if your ‘amusing comment’ has resulted in someone crying …
loading...
If it’s who I think it is, they have bullied so many people and they are not worth it.
This person wouldn’t have the guts to say that to you in public, although she did chase my friend in Sydney in her wheelchair… Btw her “contacts” aren’t real
loading...
That sounds awful! Hope you’re feeling better
loading...
As a woman in her fifties I’m appalled by this.
loading...
OMM this week is the decision I’ve made to stop job hunting and stick where I am for another 15 months minimum. Unless of course something truly amazing comes up. The job market seems a lot slower now (at least, for someone in my field) and there are a lot of reasons to stay. Now I have to come up with some personal coping strategies to deal with the frustrations and boredom that were driving me to look for other things. It feels good to have made a decision (albeit one that can be changed on a whim!).
loading...
I’m in the same boat… totally feel for you. It sucks.
loading...
I can relate chellebelle, I am really keen to move on from my current job but several issues are making it hard for me to leave. I have decided to stick it out for another 12 months before we start trying for a baby. I hope my sanity can hang around for that long….
loading...
Jamila, interesting read but Im a bit concerned that you proclaim to define yourself by your work & your relationships, both of those things can disappear overnight.
P.S I also love politics, although I think our dream cabinets would differ greatly. I have found it interesting this week that David Marr has had a go at TA for not filling out his budgie smugglers, pretty rude & petty. Why did MM choose not to cover that but when GG has a go at the PM’s bottom its on for young & old?
loading...
Why would all of Jamila’s relationships disappear overnight? Zombie apocalypse?
loading...
Those bloody zombies have a lot to answer for!
loading...
You know according to one ex of mine the zombie apocalypse is a perfectly logical reason for buying a top floor apartment and keeping a gun – don’t laugh it off so lightly!
On a slightly related not, so glad I’m not in that relationship anymore.
loading...
Ha Ha, yes, obviously I was refering to the impeding zombie apocalypse forseen in the ancient Myan calander…
good to see we have our pants on!!!!
loading...
Sheesh. I better go warn all my friends and family about the impending Zombie apocalypse. Thanks for the heads up MM-ers!
loading...
I think she meant relationships with friends and family and romantic relationships. Not just romantic ones.
loading...
Hi i’m not sure where else to write this, but i saw one of the pictures about the new mobile site. I cant see it!!
is it only my phone??? i’m using a Samsung Galaxy S2, with opera.
loading...
it doesn’t work for me either I just see a grey page with a dark grey circle in the middle?
i’m on android.
loading...
MM on a side note: I believe it has been mentioned before, but when ever a reply is posted to a comment, the notification email does not come through!
Could you get your savvy tech team to look into this?
loading...
What a CRACKER of a gallery is that?!
I almost feel the need to comment on every picture…. do not fear…. I won’t…. but here’s a few that I feel the immense urge to share….
In no particular order….
1) Have ALWAYS loved Nicky’s dress sense and that orangey looking coat is BEYOND. Love the collar!
2) After seeing the Rubi tweet during the week I popped in this morning and got 2 pairs for the grand total price of $9.95. One of them is a pair of high top wedge trainers, totally in this minute and out the next. They had been reduced from $50 to $5 – so of course they are on my feet right now!
3) Love Jas’ glasses – bought an almost identical pair from Sportsgirl – so ladies, if you love them too, you know where to go!
4) The world was talking about Mich Ob’s speech AND HER ARMS. It’s been said a gazillion times before but I will say it again, GIVE me those arms! What a gorgeous, smart, sassy, amazing woman she is….. with the world’s best arms!
And moving on from the gallery…..a few of my own mid-week musings…..
I have pinched a nerve in my back and basically can’t stand up. When you are at home with a 1 and a 2 year old to look after, a pinched nerve in the back makes EVERYTHING pretty difficult….bordering on impossible….. *sigh, complain, complain, sigh*…..
But really, at the end of the day, there’s nothing that a good slab of cake can’t fix and so I have been medicating myself with LOADS of it! I found the most gorgeous recipe for a traditional Rosh Hashanah Honey cake on a really cool website called “Monday Morning Cooking Club”….. I spoke to a couple of very good Jewish friends who had actually cooked this cake and said it was definitely worth Phoodie having a go at it, so I did…. and took pictures (as I always do) along every step of the way…..
HONESTLY, I have never…… it was DE-LICIOUS!
http://phoodie.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/honey-cake-for-rosh-hashanah/
Wishing you all a good rest-of-the-week!
Phoodie
loading...
OMM: I have to share my good news. A month ago I found out my “best friend” had stolen my identity and was using it to apply for loans etc! Shocked?? Yeh I was too. She was the girl I shared everything with, apparently too much.
Well today the police finally caught up with her and charged her! I’m so thankfull that there is a lil bit of justice in the world. I’m also thankful for my fantastic partner, he has been my rock through all of this, as well as a fantastic support network of friends and family.
I’m just hoping that someone will learn from my experience and please please please, keep your paperwork and wallets in a safe place.
Thanks for letting me share
loading...
Jesus, that’s unbelievable. Your ‘best friend’? Glad to hear that she’s been charged. I would be furious if anyone ever did that to me.
loading...
Yeh it floored me for a couple hours too, then I got my butt down to the police station quick smart!
loading...
Did she actually manage to secure any loans in your name? I hope not! How long was she your friend? Have you ever received any sort of explanation as to why in hell she did this? I mean, I can see a stranger not feeling any sense of remorse, but a friend? Incredible.
loading...
I think she only managed to get about $2000. But obviously that’s besides the point. I’m currently trying to clear my credit record and that’s a huge pain in the butt!
We were really good friends for about five years. And I still don’t know why she did it. Although I recently found out that she has done it before.
In all honesty I feel so stupid that this could of happened. I must be the most naive person in the world! Or the most trusting, who knows.
I’ve definitely learned my lesson the hard way, be very carefully who you trust and your cash is not always the thing people want!!
loading...
Don’t beat yourself up, who the hell would think that a good friend would do that to them? And someone you’d known for so long? You could make a case for feeling stupid if the person was, say, a known drug addict who relapsed a lot and had a criminal record for theft or something, but it all just seems so unlikely that someone you know well would pull a stunt like this. Do you have any ways to be compensated through the legal system? Like a victim’s of crime compensation? Good luck!
loading...
No you’re not ..you trusted a friend, like we all do
hope it all works out
loading...
A note to everyone to keep an eye on their credit cards. Mum and Dad’s just got cancelled by the bank because of a suspected breach that someone had it and someone else at work had the same thing happen. We suspect someone with a reasonably large credit card database must have been hacked.
loading...
OMM: The education debate in NSW at the moment. I’m studying education at the moment and thankfully have a scholarship to teach in a NSW public school when i’m done with uni. Happy to have a job at the end amongst all the cuts right now!
But what is really concerning me is that some people do not care about the wellbeing of students and are more interesting in balancing budgets and the image of schools. Cutting $1.7b in funding has massive repercussions for everyone: students will suffer, teachers will be disillusioned and have more pressure, those newly unemployed will have to find new work, employers have to accomodate those newly unemployed, and parents have no voice!!
I went to public and Catholic schools, and a G8 University, and there are MASSIVE inequities in distribution and wealth. Regarding funding to public/private/catholic schools, Jane Caro said it best when she tweeted, “Just when we get Gonski, state gov take funds away. Private schools now’s ur chance 2 prove u do have values, fight 4 public schools 2. ”
Rant over
loading...
OMM: the fact that the Melbourne Herald Sun described Jessica Simpsons weightloss post baby a ‘working profress’ and then went on to say she was 77 kgs at her heaviest and has already lost 18kgs bringing her to but her weight loss is still in progress. If that’s how the world is then its f***ed.
Plus I can’t see any galleries on my mobile on this site and none of the links directing me to the desk top site are working. So I get taken to the mobile site again!!
loading...
it’s terrible! I walked past the newsagents this week, and all the magazine covers were about celebrities and their weight! Good and bad!
It’s horrible, and I am so glad I dont waste my money on that crap anymore!
loading...
Hear hear re the mobile issues. I love my MM fix, but I must say the new mobile site is a total pain. It used to be so quick to upload to my iphone and now every click takes ages! I can’t ‘like’ any longer (though I can when logged onto a computer) and I can’t navigate back to the main page easily either. Galleries don’t work either….it is just making me CROSS, instead of happy as MM usually does!
loading...
Isn’t Jessica Simpson quite short? I’m 150cm and fairly ‘small-boned’, for me 59 kilos (the weight Jessica supposedly is now) is physically a bit uncomfortable. I went from 53 to to 78 with my first pregnancy. Plus she is being paid as a weight loss ambassador for a weight loss company so her weight is open for discussion considering that, I think.
loading...
You know how we fight to keep all the balls in the air? Well, all of mine have just hit the ground. They didn’t even bounce.
loading...
On a related note: http://xkcd.com/1106/
loading...
Jesus Chef, hope you’re OK. PM me if you like.
loading...
OMM: I went to Hanson last night and it was AWESOME!! I pre-empted post concert fatigue and arranged to have today off from work and I am so glad I did because my throat is SO SORE from SQUEALING like a 10 year old last night.
Do you know who I have to thank for it? Mamamia. Seriously. I met my friend Alece through here and then on Twitter and I wouldn’t have known about the concert unless she invited me. SO THANK YOU MIA and team for providing a place for me to meet a new friend. And yes, we both squealed and jumped around like 10 year olds together. No shame.
loading...
J.E.A.L.O.U.S. (seriously).
loading...
I’m going to the Melbourne concert on Friday, and I’ve made it a mission to meet them. It’s all I can think about!!!! Anyone want to come and wait at the airport with me for them?
Glad to hear you had fun!
loading...
OMM: As s few of you may know, I graduate this month from uni (finished classes a while ago) and I know that finding a job in my area of study will be difficult. I’ve been really demotivated by this and stopped reading articles and books (esp those concerned with my field). Some issues with depression also have things tough, but things are finally looking up! My bf gave me the idea to start a blog, but not just any blog, one on security issues – issues explained simply but not dummied down. Often the news leaves out a lot of basic information especially to do with conflicts and how they take shape. If you would like to see, have a read and give me some feedback, I was be ECSTATIC!
http://missworldsecurity.com/2012/09/11/is-syria-in-a-state-of-civil-war-and-what-are-coding-rules-part-1/
loading...
OMM: F*** buddy who lives interstate. And how to stay distant enough that I am not tempted to hook up with him when he is in town in a few weeks, since I’ve decided it’s not healthy to continue the caper. Complete FWP!
loading...
I’m heading off to work soon for my 9th shift in a row. I’m tired, but I remember my mother worked 7 days a week for 2 years (and no sickies!) after my father was made redundant back in 1990. What a star. And she didn’t even drink coffee.
loading...