Where it's at: October 2015.

When the blogging mojo has left the building, there is only one thing a girl can do.
Steal ideas from Woogsworld.
So here goes, for October 2015 this is the lay of the land at Casa Huey.

Making : Lunches for school every night and not once stressing about them in the morning as we do the run/dance/shuffle out the door to school.

Cooking : Whatever is on the menu from Hello Fresh. I keep meaning to tell you all about this. I don't meal plan or shop for our evening meal anymore. No mumma got time for that. Instead, all the fresh food and the recipe cards are delivered to me on a Monday and we eat what they tell us to cook for the rest of the week

Drinking : not enough water.

Reading:  'My Grammar and I (or is that and me)' because there will forever be things in the English language that I have to check, especially when I write for work projects.

Wanting: This dress to wear to a ball in a couple of weeks, but it's SOLD OUT already. booohooo.

Looking: forward to the future with happiness.

Playing: Itunes Radio and listening to random songs like Lenny Kravitz...cos it aint over til it's oooooveeeerrrrrr.

Deciding: That getting a cleaner is no longer to be discussed, it is to be organised.

Wishing: Probably for too much, but mainly for will power. 

Enjoying: The Sun. Some days I think I am like a plant that only survives in the tropics. I need sunshine 

Wondering: What will happen to all those people fleeing Syria. 

Loving: How happy Arabella has been after her Day Camps at school. 

Pondering: Blog writing, how I miss it, how it's a very selfish past time, but one I want to find time to do more of again and that perhaps I should do my write everyday in May again - but you know, not in May, but in November, or maybe December.

Considering: Getting Christmas shopping done before the end of November.

Buying: Not the dress I want, because it's still not available

Watching: SUITS - I even had to pay for Netflix as I am totally addicted. You all probably watched it years ago, but I am just catching up. So happy to have found this show.

Hoping: my family continue with good health. Always.

Cringing: At my white legs.

Questioning: If I can write a blog at work and then come home and write another one.

Smelling: Fresh sheets, dried in the sun. No dryer will ever beat that smell

Wearing: Not that dress.

Noticing: That I don't seem to care about kids messy bedrooms so much anymore.

Knowing: I am not going to have Christmas sorted by November.

Thinking: About the idea of swimming lessons for myself.

Admiring: The Doers. I always love those people, the ones who just get everything done.

Disliking: Like and Share to Win Posts on Facebook. 

Opening: Too many packets of chocolate

Giggling: At my kids stories. 

Feeling: Better

Snacking: Too often.

Hearing: Different podcasts. It's good to randomly listen to things that I would never usually hear. Apparently it makes me smarter. 

Needing: A cleaner

I cut a few out, no point leaving them in when I had nothing to really say. 

Have you watched Suits? Were you able to stop at just one episode per day? 

*Random photo of Marty the sheep, just because we love him. A lot. 

Modern History Repeats

Back in the day, women were not treated as equals (Ha! As if they are now.) If you found yourself unmarried, widowed, single parenting, well, you didn't have a great future ahead. Times were going to be tough for you.

But of course women are a resourceful lot and they never just sat down and did nothing. They used the resources they had to provide products and services where there were gaps in the community. What does this mean? It means that they took in washing and ironing and sat at home with their babies at their feet and cleaned other peoples dirty undies. It means they cooked meals, looked after kids, and those that had a spare room would rent that room out. Often they provided cheap rooms for travellers or single people looking for work.

After WW2, it was more common for apartments and flats to be built so the boarding house was not needed so much. Women soon started to get a little bit of money until they could support themselves, both the supply and demand went down and it was rare when I grew up to know any women renting rooms out to travellers.

But here we are 60 years later.

And my Mum takes me to a function hosted by AirBnB. Mum has a house that's too big for just her and it needs people to share it's history. She listed it on AirBnB and was first to reply to an invitation to go and meet other hosts and speak with the AirBnB team. While I was there I chatted with a stack of people who were just so generous in nature. It's a whole new community of people who want to meet people from all over the world. People who want to share their homes and their lives and then shout out the benefits of what they are doing and encourage everyone else to join in too.



They had great ideas, they provided encouragement and so many of them were single women. Not particularly those in tough times, but women who had a home that had space to be shared. They talked about what they did to ensure they felt safe, they laughed about the oddities of some guests and the things that all guests were really looking for. Do you know what it was, the thing that guests from all over the world want...it's a good mattress and good linen. They don't care so much about the size of the room or the size of the TV. It's all about a comfy bed, a place they can get a good sleep to ensure they are rested for whatever they want to do the next day.

Thousands of people are now using 'boarding houses' again. We just use them differently. We use them when we are the tourists and those that run them treat them like a micro business that provides them with more than just a little extra income, but also connections, community, fun and to learn about other cultures.

Last year we took a holiday to Singapore and made a great friend when we used AirBnb and now I see my Mum already meeting a whole new community of people too.

Yet, really, while we all think the whole AirBnb concept is so new, it's really not, it's just been made easier for us to go online, find a place that's perfect for us, and to book in.

Once again online technology is bringing people closer in real life.

I like it.

What makes people go to a disaster?

It's been six months since the disaster in Nepal when the earthquakes hit. The team at Care Australia were already working in Nepal but had to provide substantial emergency assistance to care for the hundreds of thousands of people who were all of a sudden without a home. Or a school, or a workplace. Or shops to buy food...

But what is it that makes someone pack up their comfortable Australian lifestyle to go and live in an area where disease and harm could come their way? These are one of the things I think of when I see the helpers on the news stories. How does one find themselves there? 

Lucky for me I was able to just ask one of the CARE Team, which is exactly what I did. 

Dee works for CARE and was in Nepal to help, so I sent her a few questions.

How is it that you find yourself in Nepal? 

As an international NGO, CARE has a presence in many countries around the world so during an emergency the CARE family really works together to support each other to make sure that we’re reaching people affected by the disaster as quickly as possible. There are people with different sets of skills throughout the global CARE network and in an emergency such as the Nepal earthquake, we bring those people together to provide some additional support. We have a great emergency HR coordinator who sits with CARE International who has been working closely with CARE Nepal since the earthquake to bring these people together. So depending on who is needed, she’ll go out to the wider CARE network to ask whether they can be seconded for the emergency response. It really is a global response – we might come from CARE Australia, CARE Myanmar, CARE Afghanistan, CARE Canada, CARE Philippines, CARE USA (and that’s just to name a few).

Can you explain what a typical day in Nepal is like for you at the moment, what activities occupy your time?

Haha! I wouldn’t say there has been a typical day. Every day is new and different. I guess most recently, I was able to go out with our WASH team in Sindupalchowk (a district in Nepal) where we’ve been working with local partners to provide water, sanitation and hygiene and also emergency shelter. When I went out with the WASH team, we were able to talk to people in the community to see how they were feeling about the emergency toilets that were recently built and how people were going with that construction. It was a really interesting day and you know the Nepalese people are a really resilient people so I was just really inspired to see their smiles and their strength. We met with one older lady who was at home while her family were out farming and she said that if her family weren’t out at work, she would have loved to have offered us lunch. That was a great day because people are still so generous and thoughtful.

Is it difficult to leave at the end of your scheduled time there? 

Yea definitely! Of course!

What is your favourite thing about working with CARE

Well many things, I think I work with a really great team both in CARE Australia but also the team in Nepal and these guys are really passionate about what we do, you know? I love that! I guess one of my favourite things is our commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. A disaster really impacts men, women, girls and boys very differently – this brings about different needs. So when we go in to an emergency response, we work with communities and local partners and local NGOs to address those different needs and we try to bring all those different voices to the table.

Would you recommend others volunteering to go and help out a country in crisis, what tips would you give those who want to be involved?

There are some really great organisations out there that provide training and opportunities to prep people who are interested in development work.

Especially for people who have a certain skill set, I would recommend getting that training and taking time out to think about how you can contribute effectively and also why you want to do it. You know, if you’re an engineer you might want to work with Engineers without Borders. If you’re a medical professional you might think about MSF (Medecin Sans Frontieres), Red R that take people from many different specialities, they also give you training about working in humanitarian emergency response and also provide safety and security training as well. CARE also has an emergency roster that you can apply for as do other NGOs because when you send someone into an emergency situation you want to make sure that you’re doing good by them as well and that they’re prepared and as experienced as they can be.

                                                         

Working in a disaster response can be draining and it’s high intensity. Right now in Nepal there are people there who have had years of experience in emergency. When you get there, you hit the ground running. It might mean that in your first day you’re out looking at emergency shelter options because you’re a shelter advisor (and in your previous life experience you’re an architect or an engineer). You’re also working with people who have had to deal with a lot and it’s really important that we can be supporting them instead of being additional burdens.

I think if you want to volunteer think about organisations that provide those opportunities and also provide opportunities for professional growth as well in a non-disaster zone. Think about programs like AVID or AVI if you’ve never ever done development or emergency work before because it’s a good platform to for lack of a better phrase “test out the waters” and see if it’s for you.

I think it’s so great that people are passionate and want to contribute – I mean that’s why I work for CARE but I think we always just need to be mindful about how we contribute. I would never recommend that someone packs a first aid kit and a blanket and books a flight over to any disaster response, I think you need to back up passion and experience with the right support. That’s what I had, I work with an amazing team in CARE Australia who supported me and prepped me so that I could be an effective team member in country. There’s always so much going on and it’s just as much about looking after yourself as it is about being part of a response because if you don’t have the right tools to look after yourself then you can’t be of any assistance to anybody else.

I think any natural response for many people is to want to help. We’re humans, we’re relational beings and we care about other people and that is such an important trait to have through life but I think when we do it we need to be mindful about how we go about it. And you need people to support that process as well – people who are more experienced and can be there to say “hey, are you sure you’re ready for this?”

Six months down the track there is still so much work to do to rebuild communities in Nepal, but progress is being made, monsoon season will mean people have to work in muddy wet conditions and this is sure to slow things down. Life for people in the remote villages will remain very difficult for some time yet. Plastic sheets can be the only shelter people have from the weather. 

We can't all be like Dee and catch a flight to go and help, but a couple of dollars to CARE, from all that can throw some their way, does make a difference. 

On our Bookshelf: October 2015

You've noticed haven't you? You've seen that I just barely make it back here to blog so much these days.

It kind of annoys me because I LOVE looking back on my posts and remembering our lives and the things the girls have said and done, the stuff we've done and places we've gone.

But the thing is, I just have so many books to read. This month I am doing something that I never usually do. As soon as I finished my book, I started reading it again, in the same night!

To be brutally honest, I never cry in books. Movies - all the time, I can even cry in advertising, but books not so much. Not this time.

My Grandma Sends her Regards and Apologises by Fredrik Backman.

Order it, from the shop, the library or your family for Christmas, because this is one that I won't be lending to my friends.

The story is based around seven year old Elsa and her wonderful Grandma. Grandma has lived a life that most of us can only dream of, a doctor who has travelled the world by going to disasters and helping people when no one else did/could. But in her older years, Elsa, her only grandchild, becomes her everything. How Grandma makes a world far away from the bullies and the annoying adults in Elsa's life is intertwined with a story of mystery, history, sadness and laughter.

This is the second book by Fredrik Backman, a swedish author, the first is also a best seller and currently on my list of 'want to read'.


For Big Kids

Ruby Redfort

These are not new, but Miss 9 has enjoyed getting stuck into a book with a bit more depth than her usual favourites (Weirdo, 65th Storey Treehouse, Roald Dahl).

Written by Lauren Child, if your young reader has been through Charlie and Lola, then onto Clarice Bean and is now looking for something a little more gritty, grab Ruby and try and solve the mystery as you go.

For younger school kids

An Aussie Year

Miss 6 spent last term studying all about culture, family trees and where people arrive in Australia from. We even went to the Immigration Museum and learnt about how and why people move to different countries.

At the same time,  I noticed the book 'An Aussie Year' by Tania McCartney. It's a busy book following the year of a few Australian kids. The images are colourful and each page has lots of things for young readers to scan through, to read the bits they know and guess the rest. These are the types of books that I always tell Miss 9 to read too, because I really don't like it when people leave picture books behind too early.

There is also A Scottish Year and An English Year. These books also take you through lots of the things that happen in these countries, from the eyes of a few different kids.

For all kids

The Boy who Loved the Moon

The last book that has been added to the book shelf is, The Boy who Loved the Moon, by Rino Alaimo.

This is more art than story. My kids didn't really fully understand the story line. They read it a few times and loved looking at the images. The author is an award winning artist and it's clear why this is the case. The images reflect a time of darkness (night) but it feels as though the images are lit with a real flame. This is a quality book, it would be a beautiful gift for new babies, or small kids who you want to give a lovely book to. If it was bigger and I wasn't filled with book ripping quilt, I would be pulling out the pages and framing them, adding them to the walls and shelves of our home.


There are always new books we want on our book shelves, what have you added to yours lately?

Review: Tiny Giants at IMAX

This is a sponsored post

We started the school holidays by taking off to see the film Tiny Giants. 

It was the first time that we have been to IMAX with the kids and years since I went to IMAX myself. To be honest I wasn't sure how the girls would like it. My concerns were about Tiny Giants being more documentary than Disney. 

As soon as the preview started for another movie I was lost in the magic of the new screen. 

Firstly it's enormous. 32 metres wide enormous.

When I chose our seats the ticket seller suggested we go towards the back as the screen is so big you don't want to be too close to the front. He was right. We were five rows from the back and they were great seats. 

The new screen is the only one of it's type in the Southern Hemisphere and it's the best type of laser screen available in the world. Tiny Giants is the first movie being played on this new screen. 

But is the movie worth it? 

YES. 

Narrated by Stephen Fry, it's a 45 minute show of the lives of two little creatures. A chipmunk and a mouse. It's told in such a way that at one point I jumped out of my seat I got such a fright. There is suspense, and you just don't know if these cute and cuddly little things will survive against the huge forces of nature. For really young viewers who don't like anything with a scary factor, this might be too much for them. But Immy is 6 years old and though she was hiding low in her seat at moments she still really enjoyed it. 

If anything, this finishes way too quickly. There was a family beside us whose children loudly proclaimed "I want more" as the credits rolled. The 3D aspect is brilliant and really makes you feel lost in the movie. 

In the past we have tried to get the kids to a movie each holidays, I'll be adding the IMAX experience into the mix on a more regular basis from now on and just like this week, finish it off with a play at the great park right beside it before walking to Lygon Street for an ice cream. 

Check the Trailer if you want to see more, or just pack the water bottle and go see it tomorrow.

Things to do in the Victorian School Holidays

It's time again, School Holidays! 

There is so much stuff to do, it's had to only pick a few so here are eight things for you and your kids to check out in Victoria during the September holidays. 

1) Tiny Giants at Imax Cinema. 

The big, SUPER, big screen is just so much better than any tv you have at home and the movie Tiny Giants is only going to be available to watch on the IMAX screen these school holidays. This movie is also going to be using the new IMAX 4K LASER DIGITAL. I don't really know what that means, but apparently it's a pretty big deal and the screen is going to be unlike any I have seen before.

2) See a Show - Lord of the Dance

WIN TICKETS HERE!

Remember the foot stomping that was Lord of the Dance? I never saw it when they were first here, but I am not missing out on their next visit to Melbourne. I am taking the kids to experience it too, well there is no way they want to miss the dancing, the acrobatics, the drama and excitement that this show looks like it's going to be. 

But you can go too, because I have some tickets for you to win. 

I have TWO Double passes to give away, valued at $179.80 each.

Tickets are for the show at the ARTS CENTRE, State Theatre on TUESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2015 at 7pm.

To enter leave a comment on facebook, or this blog post, telling me the name of your favourite concert you have ever been to. 

3) The Hawthorn Arts Centre (Town Hall)

The Hawthorn Arts Centre has a range of fun things that are fun for the kids to do a class in. There is a great range of things for kids of school age, which can be hard to find. From Cheerleading and Hip Hop classes, to circus. But my favourite is the class on creating a clay object and then bringing it to life with a small animated film. The age range for this one is 8 - 12, so I am not sure I can sneak into that one, but it could be the best $20 you spend on activities these holidays. 

Go check out all the other options on the Hawthorn Arts Centre Website.

4) Go and walk the 1000 Steps

Drive to the the Dandenongs and take the time to do the 1000 steps. 

A tribute to those who fought in WWII, the 1000 steps is a reminder of what the Kokoda trail might have been like. Except there isn't any danger, it's gorgeous, it's good for you, your body will thank you for the fresh air, for using your muscles, for feeding your mind with history. 

The 1000 steps were re-opened a couple of months ago after a big renovation. You don't have to be super fit to do this walk, take the kids and give it a go. Yes, there is a cafe too.

5. 100 Story Holiday

I love this idea! If your kids enjoy story telling and writing they will love these workshops. With a different theme each day of the week you can pick the one they like best, from Comics to Choose Your Own Adventure.  It's for the bigger kids, aged 7-12 and is $45 a session, but the funds go back in to 100 Story Building, an organisation that assists kids in the community who are struggling with literacy. 

For all the details.

6) Let the kids get crafty - 3D Adventure Scene in a Jar

This is a post from over at Be A Fun Mum. It doesn't need supervision, or hot glue guns or sparkly fabric. I think my girls will enjoy a few hours doing this one. Click over to the blog post for all the details: 

7)  Royal Melbourne Show. 

It's heaven for kids. Can be hell for parents, but hey, that's why you had kids isn't it - to be able to spend all your cash on watching them smile at the joy of a ride, or laugh at the knowing feeling of having to only pick one (maybe two) showbags from the gazillions that are there. The show also has all the animals and fireworks and crafts and foods and just so so so much stuff to check out. 

My tip - wear comfortable shoes, pack a brolly in your handbag, and get the train. Plan a rest day following.

There are too many great things to list, check them all out here.

8) Even More Ideas

Lot's of the ideas in the July post are still relevant - the Chocolate Factory is apparently tops, if you go, I'd love some of the peppermint chocolate please.




Don't forget to leave a comment if you would like to see the dance spectacular Lord of the Dance, either here of facebook is totally fine.

If you know of any other great things happening these holidays, feel free to include them in the comments too.

How to help when you don't know how to help. #6Letters

Sometimes when there are people you know who are having a shit time it can be really hard to know what to do to help.

There are the little things such as taking a meal or food, providing funds if you can or if they are needed, helping around the house and just being a good person and friend.

There is also the option of just sending a little card in the mail. A note that says nothing more then "I am thinking of you, and I hope things get better for you soon."

Often we get stuck trying to work out what to write in those cards. Well I do. I can get really caught up in how important my words need to be. It's as though my words will be the make or break point of a day. I can feel as though the right words, cleverly crafted into something inspiring and hopeful will be the cure required. Well, the truth is, my words are not a magical cure to a shit situation.

Instead, my words can fill a  very brief moment. They can be a simple reminder that my friend is not alone, even though they may feel that way. A card with your simple words can be a break in a hectic day. A break that was badly needed and might not have otherwise occurred.

I love to send cards and letters to people and also love to receive them, and if the card has arrived for no real reason, then it is even betterer and gooder then anything.

Thinking about this is a  reminder to me that it has been AGES since I did my #6letters. A project I used to share with you about sending a letter a week for six weeks, or 6 letters out in a week, or  2 letters for 3 weeks...whatever you want to do. There are no real rules, it's just a little challenge to send six handwritten notes in the mail.

Handwritten things are extra special because the receiver knows how much extra effort you have made. You have organised a card and a stamp and gone to a post box and considered your words. You have really had that person in your thoughts for more then a 'virtual hug'* on facebook.

There is nothing bad about a handwritten card.

I am going to be sending out six in the next few weeks.

If you'd like to consider doing the same, here are my top three tips.

1) Buy al the cards, or note paper, or use the pack of your kids artwork and have it ready to go.
2) Buy all the stamps at one time.
3) Don't overthink what you are going to write, it doesn't have to be an essay.


Go write, scribble, draw, doodle and send it in the post.

What makes a great presentation?

When I have to present at a conference, the preparation nearly drives me insane.

I am an anxious speaker, I am critical of myself and question why I have been asked in the first place. I wish I was more relaxed about it, but that just isn't going to be my style.

Instead I find the best way for me to get through it is to be really well prepared and not eat to much beforehand!

Last week I spent the week in Brisbane at a conference with lots of speakers, I was just one of many.

It went ok. I still used my notes like a security blanket, but apparently it didn't seem like I was totally reading from them.

I then watched lots of other presenters and used my time to think about what made a speaker someone I would like to hear again, which speakers would I recommend?

There were a few things that really stood out.

1) The best presenters were really well prepared. They had something on a screen that was more than dot points for them to read from, they had a plan to their presentation and had timed it well for their allocation.

2) Great Presenters shared real stories. They told you what had worked for them and what hadn't and they were real about it. They mentioned why things didn't work out and what they would like to do to change this or how they will do things differently next time.

3) The best speakers are generous. They give. They give of their time, just being there, as rarely do people get paid to talk at these things. They have spent a lot of time in the preparation. Then, they are generous with what they know. When attendees have paid hundreds of dollars to be at a conference they really deserve to leave having learnt a lot. It's not great when a speaker says, 'you can read my blog post about this..." or gives a little teaser and finishes with "and you can buy my book to find out how to do this". Sometimes this might be ok, but make sure you give the audience a lot too.  If a group of people have paid with their time and money to be there to listen to what you have to say, share with them what you would have liked to know.

4) Be available afterwards. People like me don't enjoy public speaking, and this includes standing up to the microphone to ask questions in other sessions, even if I have a really great one. If you have the time, be available in the breaks when delegates can approach you. I had lots of people talk to me about my presentation, it was handy for me to hear the projects my talk might inspire and I was also excited to talk more about my work, and so much more relaxed.

That's it. Those four points can be the difference in taking your presentation from ok to really marvellous.

Sorry, these tips are probably not going to help with the bit about being nervous. That's a tougher nut to crack.

Tell me what have you noticed about great public speakers?