The Month of Hairy Men

It’s that time of year again, where the men about town are slightly hairier than usual, and husbands are slightly more prickly to kiss. Well, mine is. Because last week, he announced to me that he was going to take part in Movember.

Yikes! I told him that he would be forgoing kisses for a month. If only he weren’t such a great kisser… he’s up keeping his end of the bargain far more successfully than I am. 

He started off with an incredibly creepy mo-design, but has thankfully tamed it back to a more standard-type moustache. I’m no fan, there are moments when he kind of looks like Kip to me and that more than freaks me out.

Freaky right?

Right now, he hasn’t shaved for a few days, so his ‘mo’ is kind of blended in to the rest of his facial hair. He’s threatening to tidy it up,so we’ll see how that turns out. Once it’s fully grown I’ll take a photo for you all to enjoy.

This year, Movember is supporting charities such as the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Beyond Blue, which are both worthy causes. So if you have a spare minute and a spare dollar, pop by my husband’s Mo Bro profile and sponsor his creepy facial caterpillar heroic efforts to make a difference and raise some awareness for these great charities.

And spare a thought for me… I’ll just be sitting here, waiting for December, when I can have my smooth-skinned and far-more-kissable husband back!

Our Anthem

As most would know, yesterday was ANZAC day.

Peter, Mayana and I traipsed across the road to our ANZAC park at 7am for the service that we go to each year. It's a lovely service. We both feel it's very important to attend an ANZAC service each year, I have relatives that served in wars, and have an uncle that is still currently serving as a peace keeper. Even though Mayana obviously doesn't understand what we were doing or why, we both felt that it was really important to take Mayana to a service, and instill the importance of remembering from the very beginning. I hope that Mayana will never miss a service either!

Something struck me while we were singing the National Anthem. I was suddenly saddened by the fact that we only ever seem to sing the first verse of our lovely anthem, when to me, the second verse epitomises what Australia really is about, and the third verse is... well.. wonderful! I'd be willing to bet though that half of Australia doesn't even know that there is more than one verse! So I will share them with you (from the version printed in an Australian songbook I own):

Australian's all let us rejoice
For we are young and free
We've golden soil and wealth for toil
Our home is girt by see
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare
In history's page let every stage
Advance Australia fair
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair

Beneath our radient southern cross
We'll toil with heart and hand
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned by all the lands
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair

(and my favourite verse:)
With Christ our head and cornerstone
We'll build our nation's might
Whose way and truth and light alone
Will guide our path aright
Our lives a sacrifice of love
Reflects the Master's care
With faces turned to heaven above
Advance Australia fair
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair.

Isn't it fantastic!? Don't you wish all three were used...

PS: Check out the lyrics to New Zealand's national anthem! More a prayer than an anthem- awesome!

Victoria Bushfires

I cannot even comprehend how huge this is. It all seems so foreign when you see it on TV and it's hard to assimilate the fact that it is happening in your own country. I cannot think of a more terrifying thing to go through - I can't even imagine the terror and fear you would feel. The absolute desolation of looking at what used to be your home, your street, your community - and is now nothing but char.

I can't believe some sick person/people started these things on PURPOSE! I hope that they feel guilty enough to turn themselves in. How could you live with knowing what you caused!

It is one of the most tragic things I've ever seen, absolutely heartbreaking.

Last Assignment and other ramblings

Today I have my group seminar - three of us speaking for one hour about, "writing objectives for an IEP or EAP for students with communication difficulties". Fun!!! Way to enthrall your listeners. We have some good activities for them to do so hopefully it doesn't end up too boring.

I'm excited because this is my last assignment for the year! After this I only have two online quizzes and then it's all over. Very happy Zoey here right now.

I'm sitting at the coffee stand at uni (how very Gilmore Girls of me) waiting for my group to get here for our last minute meeting. Gotta love the wireless internet and the beautiful Dell laptop with the battery that actually has a decent life!

Two guys from one of those armoured vehicles just came to stock up the ATM right near the table where I'm sitting. I wonder if I looked suspicious, I kept peering over my laptop at them. The one with his hand on his gun (!) was keeping a sharp eye on me. And I thought I looked so sweet and innocent.

Pete made me waffles for breakfast thismorning (Waffle is very happy) and I had mine with golden syrup and cream. So healthy, and so yummy. I made him coffee. I think bubby liked it all and is feeling revitalized after the few quiet days we had - I think we have had a growth spurt. I think this for two reasons: 1) My tummy is freaking huge, 2) The kicks are beginning to hurt. In a good way though, I love the movement, and Pete can feel it with his hands no worries now, as long as bubs is cooperating of course. It's really funny when bubs changes position and my tummy gets pointy bits - like last night it was sitting hard up against my left hand side and my tummy looked very lopsided. It was really hard and tight on the left hand side and squishy on the right. I'm glad we didn't stay that way for too long, I must have made it uncomfortable when I made Papa poke around to see what body part he thought was sticking out. Bub moved pretty quick, lol.

Oh, I saw on channel 7 today an ad saying that the Yank version of Kath & Kim has been given the flick! This is a very good thing, because it was C.R.A.P. The term "cringe-worthy" was invented for this show. Our real Kath and Kim must be sooooooo embarrassed. They're bringing back the REAL K&K instead. Which is very good. I think it's especially funny because after all the hype, it only lasted for two episodes! Must have had REALLY bad ratings.

In other news today, did anyone else hear about the Elite Melbourne Boys School which suspended all 120 of its year 12 students, the day before final exams begin?? People think it's an over-reaction but I think good on them for proving to these silly boys that even if they are about to leave, they still need to have responsibility for their actions and respect for the school. I mean, they were rough-housing to the point that one fella broke his leg, then when they were all called to an assembly to discuss the matter they let off fireworks before running through the school wearing only their school ties as g-strings. Noice. At least that's the gist of the story. I'm glad I wasn't there to see that. I do wonder though if it was all 120 students that were inlvolved. At least it would be easy to tell who was in on it. Ewwwww.

Anyway, this drovel has gone on for long enough... I will leave you in peace and cross my fingers that my group turns up on time. They're meant to be here in 8 minutes. We'll see.

I'm off to peruse facebook... I think Joelene has put photos up (that's just to let Mum know, get Alexie to show them to you tonight).

Later gaze...