The Disney Live Fab Four!

At 15 months old this is of course Sophie’s first live concert and I’m a little bit worried about how she’s going to behave, but with the all singing all dancing Disney characters up on stage, I’m sure she’ll be mesmerised from start to finish!

I remember the first Disney show I went to as a kid. My Mum and Nonna surprised my brother and I with a trip to Disney on Ice while we were in Sydney for the school holidays! It was so much fun seeing all our favourite Disney characters in real life and so big!

Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival promises to be THE event for kids this Summer holidays – a live concert experience starring their most loved characters and stars, where they can rock out to remixed songs they all know. There’s still some tickets left so be quick! Visit http://www.disney.com.au/disneylive/ for more information and ticket sales.

Stay tuned for all the goss on the live show and pics!

This morning at 6am a man died not 100m from our house. John and I were sitting on the couch, I was feeding Sophie. We heard an almighty bang. I thought a truck had overturned. John went outside to inspect and thought 2 cars had collided at the Cowper St Roundabout, on Hannell St, Wickham. On closer inspection it appears a single car sped straight through the roundabout, didn’t even break or turn, hit a tree in the middle of the roundabout and ended up facing the wrong way. The front of the car gone. Debris scattered metres from the car. The car’s battery ended up on the other side of the road, across 4 lanes of traffic. The driver, dead. My husband saw the body. Slumped in the car. Something he will never forget.

If it had have been a ‘normal’ morning, John and our dog Jack would have already left the house and would have been standing waiting to cross the road in the exact spot the car and debris ended. The thought of it makes me feel ill. I’m on the verge of tears just thinking about it. Thank God Sophie had a poo explosion and instead of setting off for their morning walk John was helping me get her changed.

Speeding along Hannell St is not uncommon. In fact most nights we hear people ‘flying’ along the road, doing burnouts around the roundabout or drag racing. At 2am in the morning, when you are trying to sleep, to say it’s frustrating is an understatement, not to mention dangerous for other road users. This morning the full dangers of speeding were in full view. Strangely and eeriely there were no skid marks. Once again I stress I’m not here to report the facts, I’m speculting. I don’t know if the driver was high on drugs, asleep, or on a suicide mission. Who knows. But with out a doubt he was speeding.

The fact that no one else was injured or killed truly is a miracle. An off duty firefighter swerved to miss being hit by the car. Had it have been a week day there may have been more cars on the road, more people crossing to go for a morning stroll along the water front. More chance of someone else being involved.

What will it take for people to realise the message is clear. And very very simple. SPEED KILLS. Drag racing at 2am in a 60km zone is not cool. Taking on a roundabout at 100km is not cool. Having the police visit parents to tell them their son has been killed in an accident. Absolutely devastating.

Something needs to be done on Hannell St. Traffic calming devices. Speed cameras. More police blitzes late at night, and in the early hours of the morning.

I’m quite surprised that a fatality in that very spot had not happened sooner. And why does something so horrific and sad have to happen before something is done.

I love where we live. It’s close to John’s work, close to friends, close to the water. And I want to stay here and raise my family without being petrified of crossing the road for fear of being hit by a hoon flying through a roundabout. I want to get a full night sleep without being woken by a car skidding because they were doing 100km in a 60km zone.

I feel compelled to do something. John spoke to one of the Cops there and he suggested writing to the Cop in charge of Highway Patrol, and the Local/State Government.

It’s not hard to obey road rules. Everyone has sped at some time or another. But after today, I can say even if someone sits on my arse I won’t be speeding for anything. It’s just not worth it. Because as we saw this morning Speed Kills. And it doesn’t just kill the person speeding. You can be an innocent driver/pedestrian obeying all the rules under the sun and be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

So before you put your foot down, just remember you’re not just endangering your own life, but all those around you too.

Without a doubt every woman has a cancer story. Whether it be her own, or that of a friend, and that is scary stuff. So in honour of #Feelthemupfriday, check your breasts, and encourage all your friends to do the same.

You can add your story to @SeraphimSP’s blog HERE and read @carolduncan’s story HERE.

You can also listen to Carol Duncan HERE talking about #Feelthemupfriday after 11am today.

I also encourage you to read an extremely moving and heartful story by Jodi HERE about losing her Mum to Breast Cancer. Be warned, take the tissues.

Happy Feel Them Up Friday everyone.

(Click image to play video.)

What do you think?

Former Test paceman Glenn McGrath – whose wife Jane died of cancer in 2008 – has been seen with his new girlfriend, Sara Leonardi, 28.

As next Monday’s Woman’s Day reveals, the pair spent Tuesday night at a Sydney restaurant.

The magazine, which has secured a photo spread of the couple, reports she is a beautiful brunette and that McGrath’s friends are delighted he has again found happiness. (Image Source).

I watched some reactions to this on TV this morning, and of course there were differing of opinions. One person was very honest saying at first they were a little shocked as it seemed quite soon, but then they realised who the hell are they to judge.

Others were worried about his children to which someone replied, the best person who knows what’s best for his kids, is Glenn himself, and I can’t imagine he’d introduce just anyone to his kids.

I’m sure it’s hard enough for people to lose a spouse, let alone having to do it in the very public eye. I actually think the news is great and wonderful that Glenn and his kids now seem to be in a happy place where they can invite someone else into their lives.

What do you think?

Here is the article from the front page of The Herald (Newcastle) this morning:

Hunter police seek alcohol limit after violent Australia Day

ANGRY police have vowed to push for more alcohol restrictions after Australia Day celebrations turned into the worst violence seen in Newcastle for more than a decade.

Constant brawls between drunken “ferals”, some thought to be as young as 12, pushed emergency services to the limit as Newcastle’s parks became a battle ground for alcohol-fuelled rage. John Hunter Hospital staff said the day was a “nightmare”.

The emergency ward needed extra security as even those with injuries had to be sedated and tied to beds because of their aggression.

Newcastle Ocean Baths was closed and emptied to clean up loads of broken glass dumped by drunks. Newcastle police chief Max Mitchell’s anger was palpable yesterday. He said the situations his officers had to deal were disgraceful.

“Like always, they do not know when to stop drinking and the yobbo element takes over,” Superintendent Mitchell said.

“We just had brawl after brawl after brawl. And the really unfortunate issue is that many of these [people] were under 18, and I am talking at 10pm or 11pm at night.

“I don’t understand the mentality of the kids’ parents and I am sick and tired of having to constantly deal with these people.”

Police made 10 arrests in the city but many offenders were able to escape as officers tried to control the brawls instead of taking people into custody.

About 20,000 people celebrated Australia Day in areas surrounding the Newcastle Foreshore, King Edward Park and Empire Park.

Superintendent Mitchell said he would lobby the council to change alcohol-free zones in the parks, including the 8am-8pm “window” allowing alcohol consumption in King Edward Park, where thousands of mainly teenaged drinkers gathered.

“Many of my officers have said it was the worst night they have seen in more than 10 years,” he said.

“Many others said they had never seen such attitude from young people, such abuse of alcohol and the amount of fights.”

Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate said he expected the council would support any police moves for tougher restrictions, adding it was “annoying that yobs and idiots just go mad on a day like that”.

John Hunter Hospital emergency department services manager Catherine Foster-Curry said the evening was a “nightmare”.

“From 7pm to about 5am we were faced with an endless procession of aggressive drunk young men, some with very significant injuries,” she said. “We needed security in the emergency department all night just trying to keep order.” Staff were physically and verbally abused with many patients having to be restrained and sedated so they could be treated.

(Article wesite link.)

Fed-up and disrespectful are words that come to mind, among other’s that I can’t repeat on here. I will never understand these people’s mentality that think it’s OK to abuse people, physically and verbally. Australia Day is to celebrate this great country that we live in, and for years now its just constantly escalated into a day to get totally shitfaced and cause trouble. The Australian Way? I don’t think so.

There was also a letter to the editor in today’s paper, which genuinely saddened me from a man describing his family Australia Day. Druken youths in the alcohol-free zone. Objects being thrown at Sudanese children. And this:  “Then, when we returned to our car in Stevenson Place, we found empty or part-empty beer bottles placed under the wheels of about eight cars, including our own. Across the road I heard a group of young Sudanese men who appeared to have been drinking heavily, with empty bottles around. As I stared at them, one started crossing the road towards me, walked up to our vehicle, removed the two bottles from under our wheels and walked off. My wife and I drove home shaken, disappointed and remain in a state of dismay as to what has happened to Newcastle.” Mr Blanch, Macquarie Hills (Newcastle).

Sadly Mr Blanch, I don’t think it just happened to Newcastle.

But after driving past King Edward Park (big park in Newcastle) yesterday on our way home from an Australia Day BBQ, I was ashamed to be in the ‘category’ of a Gen Y Australian.

The park was beyond dirty. There were masses of young people, and masses of rubbish. Australian flag cape wearing, beer drinking young Aussie’s who have no respect for the surrounds that they were inhabiting for the day, and no doubt thought that someone else would clean up after them.

It is these people that end up spoiling things for the rest of us. The Newcastle foreshore yesterday was an alcohol free zone “from sunset today, Monday 25 January until sunrise on Thursday 27 January” according to the council website: www.ncc.nsw.gov.au. Furthermore activities were to finish at 6pm and there were NO fireworks.

Why? Because there are people who decide that Australia Day is a great day to get, like, totally pissed, and be a public nuisance, therefore ruining it for well behaved other people to, say, have a BBQ in town on the foreshore, have a few beers, and play a bit of cricket. Aussie? Too right.

But no, you weren’t allowed to. Yep that’s right unless you were in the comfort of your own home having a BBQ, you couldn’t have a beer or an alcoholic drink of any description for that matter if you had a BBQ on the Newcastle foreshore.

I’m the first to bang on about the minority spoiling it for the majority, but after seeing the disgrace that was King Edward Park yesterday, is this getting pissed in public and carrying on business the majority? All I can say is, I really hope not.

It really pains me to ask what the hell this Gen Y thing is that they think they shouldn’t have to clean up after themselves. And if the alcohol ban was all along the Newcastle foreshore then why wasn’t it extended to the park as well? Yes it would have prevented other non flag cape wearers from being able to enjoy a beer, but it sure would have prevented that disgusting disrespectful mess that SOMEONE ELSE had to clean up.

Because at the end of the day despite what some Gen Y-er’s think, getting trashed, wearing a flag as a cape, causing trouble in public and expecting other people to clean up their shit, is totally UNAUSTRALIAN.

George Clooney

No that’s not a trick question! So George Clooney thinks he would make a lousy husband. That noise you just heard, was women all over the world madly making themselves up and jumping on planes to find George and tell him he’d make a wonderful husband and they’d like to be his wife.

According to www.smh.com.au:

The Up in the Air star – who was previously married to actress Talia Balsam from 1989 to 1993 – doesn’t know how he even manages to get girlfriends because he wouldn’t date himself.

George – who is currently romancing Italian actress and presenter Elisabetta Canalis, 31 – said: “I am always working and have so many different interests outside acting. If I was my girlfriend, I wouldn’t put up with me for very long – and they don’t either!

“People are always trying to marry me off, thinking I am suffering in some way. I tried marriage – and it didn’t work. I have had long relationships with women and they get bored with me working all the time. My fear is that I would still make a lousy husband and I don’t want to put myself – or anyone else – through the pain of finding out.”

House Husband

Recently I wrote about what it means to be a good wife. You can read that HERE. So I guess we should talk about what it means to be a good husband. Being that I’m you know, a girl, which of course makes me a wife, it’s a little hard for me to say from a male point of view what it means to be a good husband. But from a wife’s point of view, I can definitely tell you what I think makes a good husband!

If we take the old fashioned route then the list would look something like this:

• Mow the lawns
• Take out the garbage
• Change light bulbs
• Move heavy things
• Fix things

You get the gist. So what happens when we take the modern day route? Well really all the above applies as well, except maybe:

• Help with the housework
• Help with the cooking
• Help with the washing
• Help with the kids (if you have them)

You know, all those things us woman bitch and moan about having to do. Oh yes, except the cooking. Hubby tends to do most of that. But I am getting better in the kitchen! On a serious note though, unlike the ‘old days’ I’d like to think that there’s none of these strictly defined roles as to what woman and men are supposed to do. Maybe more like couples work together to get stuff done, you know, like a team.

Of course we still fall into ‘roles’ within our lives, stay at home mum’s, breadwinners etc, but I don’t think it’s as stringent as it used to be.

So do you think George has a point, and that he’d make a bad husband? Maybe take out the fact that he’s the sexiest man alive, quite well off, and seems to be an all round nice kinda guy. Ok, can’t get past all that? Me, either!

What makes your husband/partner a catch? Or are you a husband/partner, who would like to share why you think you’re pretty special?!

“I’m still so full of life and healthy at 60, I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be treated,” she told The Mail on Sunday.

Hmmm, this is a tricky situation, but of course I still have an opinion! While Ms Tollefsen may still be full of life at the age of 60 and may desperately want a second child, (her first was born 2 years ago via IVF) is it the right thing to do? I personally think that she is too old. And I know I am saying that without having met her, or know anything about her health. But in reality when the child is 10 she will be 70, and when the child is finishing school at 18 she will be 78.

I hear countless stories from mum’s aged anywhere from 25 to 40 about how tiring it is to raise children, so I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to be a full time Mum at the age of 60.

Politician’s have given their opinion: Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has called for parliament to intervene and announce new laws setting an upper age limit for IVF.

“Once you pass the point of natural conception, that’s when you should stop,” she told the newspaper. We need to legislate for this because, inevitably, society will have to pick up the cost later.”

It’s so hard to not be judgemental in these situations, and I do think that a lot of where my opinion is coming from is what society views as acceptable, or see’s as the norm.

You can read the full article HERE. What do you think?

And so, this isn’t a Puff Piece about how I’ve grown old before my time, it is about the real dangers that now face people who decide to go out ‘after dark’. If you live in Newcastle you would have heard the story on what happened in Beaumont Street on Saturday morning. If you’re not a Novacastrian, in the early hours of Saturday morning a man copped a single punch to the head after which he allegedly hit the ground with a sickening thud. The victim died at the scene.

According to newspaper reports (www.theherald.com.au): The man charged with manslaughter, and two friends were shadow boxing outside the hotel when the victim, and his brother left. It appears the accused and his group then sought out the victim’s group.  And according to Police Prosecutor Will Thomas “It doesn’t appear the victim plays a significant role prior to being punched’.

When I first heard this story on Saturday morning as I drove to a friends place to feed his dog, I thought thank God we don’t go out and ‘hit the town’ anymore. But then my second thought was, but if we wanted to, we should have that choice and be able to feel safe doing so. The goings on that occur on a Friday and Saturday night are just plain scary. Look at all the crap that happens in Sydney nightlife. And now it appears Newcastle is catching up.

I don’t expect to bring our future children into a world wrapped in cotton wool where every street is like Ramsay Street. But is it too much to ask for human beings to have some common decency and realise that they’re playing with people’s lives.

People are losing their lives and it doesn’t get anymore serious than that.