Chat with an Aussie Ratbag

Exciting news....

2006-02-23T09:00:00.000+10:30

Hi Everyone

Just wanted to update you on some exciting news. I've been selected to represent my state at nationals in indoor cricket. Unfortunately I realise that any americans reading this post will have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, so check out the link posted below.

http://www.indoorcricketworld.com/

Needless to say that I'm very excited about the tournament that will be coming up in Sydney, Australia at the end of June.

Wish me luck

Happy Valentines Day

2006-02-14T12:23:00.000+10:30

Hey everyone,

Just want to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day!!! Hope it's filled with lot's of love, fun and romance.

New passion

2006-02-09T09:20:00.000+10:30

Recently in my bid to regain a respectable level of fitness and lose a bit of weight along the way... I've entered the world of road cycling.

I went out and spent a bit of money on this little beauty.

Now I know what some of you must be thinking... why on earth would someone chose to wear lycra and pimp around on a road bike. My answer to that is this... I am yet to wear the lycra cycling gear - I just don't feel comfortable in it yet. I do however have a pair of the padded bike shorts that I wear under normal shorts (come on I have to protect my precious privates from those hard ass seats!!!).

Anyway I'm totally loving riding... especially on something that lets me build up a bit of speed. I'm by know means a Lance Armstrong yet (but then who is), but I am riding to work at least three times a week. Its a decent ride - well for a beginner anyways. I'm definitely feeling the benefits too. Way more energy, better moods, toned up muscles, loss of fat... its great.

Maybe one day, if I keep improving, I might enter some local races. We'll see... but for now I'm happy getting my exercise commuting to work (don't worry there are showers!!).

xx Ratbag!

You know the world has changed when.....

2006-02-03T09:51:00.000+10:30

I stumbled across this picture in an email I believe... and thought that it was rather appropriate.

I mean what is happening to the price of petrol. Its utterly rediculous!! And the cyclical nature of pricing jumping either direction up to 10c/L or more. Surely the government needs to step in and regulate the pricing more strictly.

The Golden Phone

2006-02-01T12:44:00.000+10:30

Being a proud Aussie I thought I'd share this one with the world.... pretty funny I think.

An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the world. So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to Orlando, thinking that he would start by working his way across the USA from South to North.

On his first day he was inside a church taking photographs when he noticed a golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read "$10,000 per call". The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what the telephone was used for. The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 you could talk to God. The American thanked the priest and went along his way.

Next stop was in Atlanta. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in Orlando and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 he could talk to God. "O.K., thank you," said the American.

He then travelled to Indianapolis, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston and New York. In every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same "$10,000 per call" sign under it.

The American, upon leaving Vermont decided to travel to AUSTRALIA to see if Australians had the same phone. He arrived in Australia, and again, in the first church he entered, there was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read "40 cents per call."

The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign. "Father, I've travelled all over America and I've seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to Heaven, but in the US the price was $10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?"

The priest smiled and answered, "You're in Australia now, son - it's a local call".

I still call Australia home!

2006-01-31T11:41:00.000+10:30

After travelling to and even living in some of the most talked about cities in the world, I can honestly say that I would not choose to live anywhere else other than Australia.... and more precisely Adelaide.

I believe no other country in the world can even come close to offering the amazing lifestyle choices that we have here in Australia. Australia is a truely multicultural nation, and for the most part, we all live peacefully in the one country. As part of this we have amazing choices when it comes to types of food, types of interests etc etc etc.

Nowhere else would I be able to buy a beautifully renovated 3 bedroom house with a pool less than a kilometre (or mile for you Americans) from the beach for $375,000 (based on current exchange rates thats roughly $US282,000). The house is also situation less than 15 minutes drive the the CBD.

We have all the luxuries and conveniences of any other nation in the world.... yet we also have some of the most amazing and unique wildlife and nature here.

To me there just is no where else to live.

Getting personal.....

2006-01-30T11:53:00.000+10:30

So it's time to delve a little deeper......

I've had this blog for a little while now, and haven't really disclosed any major information. I've claimed to talk about love, life etc etc, but so far haven't really done so.

So here goes....

Earlier this month I celebrated my two year anniversary with my partner, my best friend, my soul-mate. We met completely unexpectedly through a mutual friend.... and to be honest it's kinda strange we hadn't met years earlier (I guess the timing just wasn't right earlier - ya know destiny works in mysterious ways). We connected immediately and have been almost inseparable since.

We celebrated by going to a beautiful, silver service restaurant in our home town. Totally spoiling ourselves rotten - afterall it's not something we do very often. We had some of the most amazing food I've ever tasted, in one of the most beautful settings you could hope for.... overlooking a beautiful lake while the sun is setting. It was magical to say the least.

I guess the real admittion is that my partner and I are both women... yes we are in a lesbian relationship. We have, and will have to, deal with many obstacles in our relationship. But the feeling of being with my beautiful girl is worth any amount of obstacles that we have to get through. Life couldn't get any better than this...... could it?? :)

Belated New Year

2006-01-30T11:50:00.000+10:30

Happy New Year to everyone out there!!!

I know its a bit late and all, but hope that it brings a successful and happy year for all.

OH MY GOSH!!

2005-12-21T16:22:00.000+10:30

Well I got my results today.... had to wait until 4pm. I was totally useless all day at work. Just couldn't concentrate on what I was doing.

Anyways....

I PASSED!!!!!

I am now officially a Chartered Accountant (well once I've actually filled out the paperwork and paid my membership fees).

Party time baby!!

Christmas election campaign....

2005-12-20T14:52:00.000+10:30

Don't get me wrong.... I love Christmas... in fact I probably love it more than most. To me it is one of the happiest times of year, spending quality time with my whole family and just having a relaxing and fun day. However now that I'm an adult I have seen a rather interesting side to the family Christmas gathering.

A little background info.. my partner and I have now purchased our own little piece of paradise. To us, it's the most perfect house in the world. A beautiful house, not far from the beach, with a pool and plenty of room to host a gathering. So we thought this year would be the perfect time to give the older generation a break and host Christmas at our place.

Little did we realise that this wasn't the simple organisational process we had imagined. But rather the older generation are a little (a lot) reluctant to let go of 'tradition'. My mum (good aussie spelling) even went as far as to say that I needed to campaign to my Aunties and Uncles to have it at our place next year. Excuse me, I didn't realise we were running an election for Prime Minister/President.

I personally think this is WAY over the top - whatever happened to the good old Aussie stereotype of sitting back and chucking a couple of shrimps on the barbie!!!

xxx

Just hurry up and give me the results......

2005-12-20T10:39:00.000+10:30

So tomorrow is D-day!! The day I finally get my results for (hopefully!!!) my final exams for the ICAA (major post-grad accounting quals in Australia). Coincidentally it also happens to be my birthday.... which I'm really happy about mind you [insert extreme sarcasm here].

So either its going to be a monumental birthday or a day I'd rather forget. I guess whatever happens I'll be hitting the bottle for a few quiet drinks.

I feel like I've been waiting about six months for these results.... the exam was on the 15th of November. And yes!!.. they always take this long to get results to you. This is a national program... so all the exams across the country are sent to the one place, split into each question and then each question sent to a different state. Each question is marked a minimum of three times, and those that are border line on passing get marked again. So its a pretty rigorous process to ensure everyone gets fairly marked. Essentially they if you fail - you REALLY fail!!

So anyways... keep your fingers crossed for me!!!

Procrastination......

2005-11-10T11:02:00.000+10:30

As I sit here at my desk, tapping away at the key board, I really should be studying. Isn't it amazing how when you should be studying, you can find absolutely anything under the sun to distract you. My house is never cleaner than when I'm studying, I'm forever eating, out shopping, or decided that yes I do need another shower.

Well this is hopefully my last exam that I need to take.... let's hope I don't procrastinate so much that I don't get any study done.

Wish me luck!!!!

Welcome

2005-11-09T16:31:00.000+10:30

Hi there and wlcome as I start my very own blog.....

I'm totally new to this so be patient. I hope you enjoy.

xxx