Hobart

Mr T and I will travel to Hobart for a long weekend in 2 weeks time to celebrate his 30th birthday. Which makes it a whole year since our last holiday. If anyone has any must sees or eats please leave a comment. I haven't been since I was a child and Mr T has never been.

Yay for beautiful Weather!

I've loved the weather this weekend. It has been simply beautiful.

I didn't get a chance to go bush walking this weekend but will go next weekend providing the weather is nice again. Anyone want to join Mr T and I are welcome. We have decided to try the Kokoda Walk.

Molly enjoying the weather

Too consumer driven

I've recently had to clean out my bedroom at my mum's place and realised that I own far too much junk. So with that and lots of eco guilt, and less cash and more time I've decided to look into voluntary simplicity. According to one website, Voluntary simplicity is defined as

a growing movement of people who have realized that happiness and fulfillment do not lie in having more money, or new and bigger things, but rather in the time with loved ones and connection with community. They are questioning the consumer society's insistence that possessions, especially of the newest design and color, are the means of fulfillment, or that any material possession can possibly be "to die for."

There is a whole host of websites devoted to it like:

• An essay on it- the value of voluntary simplicity
• CompactOz is a group of people who want to make a difference through our own actions. Reducing consumption, reducing waste, recycling.
  
• Australian blog No More Stuff.
• Probably the most useful though were these words from Exploring the simple life site:

You’ve heard it before: "time is money." What we discovered is that’s not true - time is better than money!

This revelation has allowed us to be content in our work or to change that work when it no longer satisfies. It has permitted us to spend less time acquiring things and more time acquiring experiences, insights, and relationships. It has encouraged us to lend a helping hand in our community, whenever the need arises, because we can make the time to do it. It has given us freedom and control of our lives.

For some reason, it seems to us that many people have failed to grasp this simple truth. They trudge off to work every morning to put in their time at jobs they despise so they can buy things. Have you noticed? The more a person hates his or her job, the more money he or she spends on toys, time-shares, new cars, the latest trendy clothes, jewelry, etc. And the more one spends, the more one needs to hang on to that job, no matter what.

Is there a way out? We think so. If you’re already addicted to conspicuous consumption, it will take some getting used to. But it IS possible to own your own life if you are determined to do it. How? Simplify!!

I can't say that I have walked away and decided to give away all my possessions or to stop purchasing. But it has got me thinking differently about consumerism and particularly how I spent my money. Just off the top of my head I know that I probably spent too much on clothes and household stuff that I don't really need and on eating out. So instead of having lunch out this weekend we are going to pack a lunch, grab my newest book from the library and go bushwalking. Any suggestions for somewhere easy and close to Melbourne?

Maximo Park

Mr T and I saw Maximo Park on fri night. I wasn't even sure if I should go as I'm not a huge fan of their music. I think their music is so-so but decided to go since it was cheap-ish.

I'm so glad I did. It was a lot of fun thanks to both the keyboard player and lead singer. They did not stop dancing throughout the whole show. Their energy was reflected in the audience too. It was contagious, so much so that the guys in the audience were dancing more so that I have ever seen at any show before. Everyone also sung a long and loudly to most of their hits. It was such a nice change from the usual bored looking musicians that we often see. I strongly recommend going to them see if not for their music but for their stagemanship.

I hate studying and working together

In case you are wondering while my posts have been getting less regular and smaller, and less political and less foody and less everything I thought I better fill you in.

I'm back at uni and while I was there last semester I had a quite an easy semester. This one however is a different story. Three weeks into it, I'm exhausted and craving non work time. By that I mean no classes, work, homework, and other responsible things like paying bills and getting things ready for tax time. I don't know how people do work and study so well together. I get home from work pretty bloody tired most days throw that together with some exercise combined with cooking dinner and/or classes and/or homework and I just feel sorry for myself. I just crave doing anything else. I don't want to be studying anymore. I want to have a life outside work like everyone else. How does everyone do it so easily? How do people with kids juggle it all?

I haven't even started my thesis yet or another placement. It's going to get worse.

Anyway I have about 30 mins before bed time so I'm going to use them wisely and not do any more work this evening or anymore typing.

National Ride to Work Day, 17 October 2007

Be part of Australia’s biggest active workplace event on 17 October 2007. Thousands of regular and first-time riders from all states and territories will join the inaugural National Ride to Work Day.

Over 22 000 riders are expected to register for the event, with breakfast events in most city centres, over 70 regional breakfasts and thousands of workplace breakfasts around Australia. ABC Local Radio is the official radio partner in city and regional areas.

This is your opportunity to have a real impact on global warming and reap the health benefits of getting active. Research has shown that 34% of first-time riders participating in last year’s national pilot event were still riding five months later. Ride to Work Day really works!

For information, inspiration, free kits and loads of giveaways and prizes see www.ride2work.com.au.

Ok I admit I I just copied and pasted that from their website, but it's better than not posting about it at all, right?

I just registered as my workplace ride to work co-ordinator and as a rider so it will be my first time riding to work. I need to start practising soon because it will not be an easy distance for me.

Ok probably a Hoax

but just in case...

Over at Ashwin’s blog, you will find one crazy blog owner!! You can win US$2500!! To enter just copy this text and paste it in your blog!! But hurry, this competition will not last long! So get posting!

Organic buying guide

I know these lists have been posted elsewhere but if you are anything like me you forget it not long afterwards so in an attempt to remember them and at least remember where the list is I'm adding it here. I've copied the lists from Gluten Free Vegan Blog.

Mr T and I lately though have been buying almost all organic food from the vic market and it hasn't been that expensive. Around $60 a week which includes fruit, veg, grains (quinoa, couscous, rice etc), nuts, and snacks and often a bulk purchase like Mr T's latest pack of 12 cans of baked beans. Considering most people say they spend around $75-$100 a week on groceries and Mr T eats more food than anyone I've ever met I think that's pretty good.

The top foods you should buy organic because they have the greatest levels of pesticide residue - are:

1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Capsicum
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Pears
9. Grapes
10. Spinach
11. Lettuce
12. Potatoes

The top foods to buy conventional if you can’t get all organic food. These are the conventional foods with the least amount of pesticide residue are (starting with the cleanest):

1. Onions
2. Avocados
3. Sweet corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mangoes
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet peas
8. Kiwi fruit
9. Banana
10. Cabbage
11. Broccoli
12. Papaya

Ok its official

I depend on the internet a little too much. I haven't been reading Harry Potter the whole time. I finished almost a week ago, I thought it was the best one yet in case you were wondering. Shortly afterwards though my internet went down. It's been a little under a week without internet connection and it drove me crazy.

No blogging, no reading blogs, no facebook (except for a tiny bit at work), less personal email time (I did check at work).

But worst than that I actually had to dust off my yellowpages to look for phone numbers, and to check class times I actually had to call and ask and I felt like all the burning questions that I could have found with google just had to wait.

It drove me crazy!

Now I'm off too catch up on blog reading. Will blog properly soon I promise.