Un’stralian

There are many times, ok most of the time that I hate being categorised as Gen Y. But by being born in 1983, I don’t really have a say in it. Being Australian on the other hand is something I am quite proud of. A Gen Y-er in the lucky Country, well I really am lucky.

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.

Would you marry George?

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?!

How old is too old to have a baby?

Today www.ninemsn.com.au reports: A 59-year-old British woman hopes to become a mum for the second time after a London-based fertility clinic agreed to offer her IVF treatment to help her conceive. Susan Tollefsen, who turns 60 in October, is the oldest person to be offered fertility treatment by a British clinic in a move which overturns guidelines on treating women aged over 50.

“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?