Good news week

Disney management announced that they have decided to drop Shark's Fin Soup from the menu at Hong Kong Disneyland!

ok so i only have one piece of good news.

But I am supposed to be doing my 5, 000 word essay.

So if anyone else knows about some good news feel free to let me know.

I was thinking the other day that perhaps Australia doesn't need to bring in laws allowing employers to fire staff for not wearing make up, since Johnny is getting rid of the unfair dismissal law for some of the not so lucky. It's a strange day indeed when I agree with church leaders.

Providing the company has less than 100 employees they can fire you for whatever reason they like-make up no make up, anything they like really.

The sad thing is appears as if the law will hurt those who need it the most: unskilled labourers, many migrants, long-term unemployed, and women.

Interesting point made by Samantha King about how it is all well and good for our dear prime minister to tell women to have more babies. Not to mention the more recent not so subtle shove of women sorry single mothers back into the workplace. Then they go ahead and remove a law which could potentially mean working mothers are fired because they can't commit to meetings or working back late because of child care responsibilities, AND are unable to contest it. I can just see it now, single mother back at work part time perhaps 9-3 nice (very hard to find hours- which fit around school hours), the boss though says 'we need you to work back afterwards today'. 'Sorry I can't i have to pick up little bobby from school' - hmmmm wonder where that may lead. See here for more on how the change may affect women.

Good one Johnny!

I'm yet to meet someone who voted for the guy, well at least anyone who admits to it. But then again it could be just that my friends, fellow students, lecturers and just those in my general circles have a little more sense or perhaps just a little more compassion.

No thats not me! Its Kitty (Mr Ts friend). In fact the photo is not taken by me all, but by Mr T but well I'm too lazy to find all my Honky photos and I thought this was suitable considering...

I left Hong Kong a year ago today

leaving behind a teaching job which I loved

perhaps the cutest and certainly some of the more well behaved kids in the world

my ultra convenient apartment in Causeway Bay

far too many neon lights most of which I thankfully couldn't understand

a certain buzz

some great budget shopping places

a very nice lifestyle (eating out far too much, having my washing done for me....)

some bad bad bad pollution

crowds

walking everywhere (as opposed to driving everywhere)

some very rude people or just far too much blatant honesty (ie- 'kristy you have a pimple on your face'-ummmm yeah thanks)

way too many workaholics

some friends

and of course: My Man!

Bad news week

I must admit that lately I haven't been be very good at catching up with the latest news stories. However, via a blog and a mail list I've come across two sad stories both of which I think deserve attention.

1. Hong Kong Disneyland is due to open in the in the next few months (i will miss the opening in case you are wondering) and Disney have been under fire for their decision to serve the delicacy "Shark'sFin Soup" at wedding banquets.

The harvesting of "shark's fin" is not only horrendously cruel (the shark has its fins cut off and the body is then tossed back into the sea where it dies a slow and painful death), but it is also unsustainable as 50-100 million sharks a year are harvested. Literally dozens of shark species are facing extinction because of this ghastly practice and top marine scientists are predicting that the removal of sharks from the ocean will have dire consequences for the survival of other marine life.


2. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the US (which covers California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho and Montana) has ruled that it's legal for an employer to fire a female employee who refuses to wear makeup. More here

I drank some mulled wine and ate very little (just some fries) at the The Collingwood Children's Farm annual Winter Solstice Bonfire tonight.

So of course when I turn the corner on the way home and see the booze bus I knew straight away that I was going to be convicted for drink driving.

My heart started beating incredibly fast and I'm amazed at what went through my mind in the next a minute or two in which I drove through to the officer waiting for me at the end.

• is there any way to suddenly turn now? Without causing suspicion?
• Please wave me through-there are plenty of overs to pull over. He motions for me to go through the second last officer- bastard!
• with my small body, and only a little food I'm definitely over the limit, i should have waited longer before driving home.
• why didn't i eat more food? I am dead. I haven't even had much water. What was i thinking?
• this will mean a fine, losing my license I can't afford either, not to mention the shame. f#@*!!!!!!!!!
• is there anyway to get out of here now?- i don't think so they always fail in the movies, and then isn't even a movie
• woman officer please please please be nice to me
• waiting for the question- did you drink tonight? ready to answer just one and then hopefully she will say i will let you off this time since u are only a little over the limit and u did drink only one
• pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaseeee be nice to me
  no question just breath in to this-my heart is pounding now- so this is what anxiety feels like
• it beeps oh noooooo where is she going to direct me to now? who will i call? what will they think? I never even drink and i'm the one to be convicted of drink driving for one drink. One bloody drink.
• Who will pick me up? oh god my mother, no she will die of a heart attack. Erin? hopefully she's still awake. Please be awake Erin, or maybe I could call Marisa, or Jerome -no he is still awake but drinking too, Dan, someone else but my mother.
  
  She looks at it for what seems like forever and says 'your right to go' , what? I'm below the limit? with my heart still beating incredibly fast I drive away.

Ok Mr/Ms singapore

fess up

i'm curious- who is reading my blog from singapore?

I don't know anyone in singapore, do I?

Korea yes, Hong Kong yes, Tokyo (well in the blog world), finland (yes), wales (yes) but I don't have any connections to any blogs/people in singapore that I know of.

drop me a line-a comment- a email something

perhaps you have a blog I could read, or at least let me know how someone from singapore come across my little blog in australia-(k the blogs not in aus but you get my point).

I have amazing friends

and

I'm going to Hong Kong

I couldn't decide on a title but I figure I could have two, hell it’s my blog and I’ll cry/ title as I want to.

I made a very brave, very exciting and somewhat irresponsible decision to take a holiday to Hong Kong in a few weeks. Its brave and slightly irresponsible because I'm extremely poor and should be saving and slightly in debt and blah blah blah.

But your only young once and as it is I've been working my butt off with uni and work. I deserve a break, a reward, a chance to see the place I have been missing so much, not to mention Mr T.

Mr Ts evil boss has said no to leave (an answer only received yesterday after months of waiting), but it will be worth it to see him in the evenings. Besides I'm sure I can occupy myself during the day, hmm did some one say something about shopping?

The opportunity came through the most amazing website and my very sweet friend Emily who has very kindly allowed me to stay at her place for half a dozen nights. Which leads me to my other title: if it weren't for Emily this time and Erin last time I don't think we could ever see each other at all, well at least not the 10 day trips we can afford at the moment. So thank you, thank you, thank you!

It’s amazing how you have crappy, raining, cold days where nothing goes right then all in one evening everything changes. For some reason both Erin and I have had a great afternoon/evening after a few bad days.

Thank you universe for sending me some great news in the dry well rainy spell!

Now I actually feel motivation to finish those two assignments (one 5,000 word one) which are due the day after I leave.

Anyone have any suggestions of any unique Melbourne/Australian gifts (read: not touristy or tacky) to bring to my old HK friends?

Ok so I might be a vegan and try to be as independent as possible but I do meet one little problem:

Spiders!!!

I would call it a phobia but technically it’s not irrational since the spider may be dangerous, right?

I'm scared enough though to not be able to get close enough to remove the small ones so I rely on someone else to remove it for me. I'm not fussed if they kill it or take it outside, yes so much for trying to reduce suffering, but the way I see it its self defence. Pathetic I know!

Anyway last night I'm sitting at my computer in my room typing away at my statistics assignment about to hop into bed when I realise there is a spider on the wall above my bed. Considering it was 1.30am I had no other choice but to find some where else to sleep. I further justify to myself that my sisters bed seems like a good idea, I mean why does a teenager need a double bed anyway?

I hopped into her bed and she of course woke up, I mentioned to her there is a spider in my room, and she responded with 'ok but bring your own pillow'. So I returned with the pillow and my phone (my alarm clock) she then said to me 'give me your phone' and she placed it on the charger which is on her side of the bed.

I'm not sure which is more pathetic:

a) running to my little sister (who is 10 years younger than me)
b) her lack or response because she knows how much of a coward I am
c) her comforting me

It looks like I am FINALLY getting better. My cough which was the worst part has gone. Although i'm not sure if it was the horrible tasting Chinese herbs, antibiotics, or just the end of a virus.

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Come across Eco shout yesterday and I think i may be in luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurve.

It is still in the early stages but looks like it will be an awesome Melbourne site. I love their motto: 'the planet needs you to give a shit'.

It includes sections on 'green wash' (basically companies/brands which claim they are eco- friendly but are NOT), a green directory (with everything from eco tourism to art), and important events.

I'm really looking forward to some of their upcoming sections like: the car pool directory, online map of Melbourne (bike-centric rather than car-centric) which shows the locations of all the environment groups, markets, op-shops, vegetarian cafes and restaurants and forums including one called swapya (yes resource and skill swapping).

Its a sad day when this mug looks exactly how I feel.

I made a very silly mistake on fri night and went out to a smokey venue to see the meanies play. As a result my cold/flu/sinus infection, chest infection has deteriorated big time.

I feel like I am dying.

So much so that I started taking the evil antibiotics yesterday and I've booked in to go see a traditional Chinese doctor tomorrow.

Add to that alot of homework and me stuck at home for days= one very bored, annoyed, feeling sorry for myself me.

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Anyhoo rather than feeling anyworse for myself I figure i would try to type about something else. Considering I have been bed ridden for so long I have been catching up on some dvd watching. Here are my mini reviews:

• Japanese story: Was interesting, however the love scenes seemed very unnatural so much so that I started laughing. Huge shock half way through the film. 3/5
• Jersey girls: Ok-ish. Good for not having to think too much. 2.5/5
• Infernal Affairs (HK): I was pleasantly surprised. Really enjoyed this movie and i'm not even an action fan. The suspense was great. Can't wait to see the US version. 4/5.
• Before sunset: I can't compare it to the first because i don't remember. Good for provoking thoughts about relationships. Bad if you want some action. 3.5/5.
• The rage in the placid lake: cute. 3.5/5
• 12 nights(HK): A more realistic romantic comedy. I love the little quotes that appear throughout the film for example 'people in love are also crazy' and appreciate that it shows the truly ugly side of relationships. 4/5.