Time for a change

Hello down there!

This is me giving you a shout out from atop my greenie, peace-loving, world-saving high horse. At least it feels like that. Because I’m about to post about another cause that is close to my heart and following straight on from my water-saving post, I don’t want to bombard you with guilt. But here goes anyway…

You may or may not have seen this ad that is currently running on free-to-air channels in Australia. It’s an awareness campaign to the prevalence of factory farming of pigs and chickens in Australia. It’s an important campaign, because the majority of pork and eggs sold in Coles and Woolworths in Australia come from factory farms. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

This campaign has been timed for the run-in to Christmas, when pork products are in such high demand, in the hope Australians will start making a stand with their purchasing power and not order their Christmas hams from places that support factory farms and will buy free range eggs. A story about Animals Australia ran on 60 Minutes last Sunday, which received more than one million viewers – the consequent donations they have received have allowed them to book further airtime that will take them up to Christmas.

Many issues of animal cruelty exist in Australia, but this is one that we have a large role in helping to stop. You can donate to causes such as Animal Australia’s but you can also make choices that will go a long way to changing the attitudes of large supermarket chains. If people aren’t buying the products, they have no reason to supply them. Find out if you have suppliers near you that don’t use factory farms and shop there. It’s not possible for everyone to make these changes all at once for different reasons, but you can research what you can do and start to make the adjustments.

Pigs are more intelligent than dogs, yet pigs farmed for meat are kept in cages they can’t even stand up in or turn around in. We wouldn’t do this to a dog, so why a pig? Simply because they’re going to be eaten? They still have a life for a period of time and that life doesn’t need to be spent in pain.

I’ll stop preaching now. If you want to make a donation you can do so on the Animals Australia website www.animalsaustralia.org. There are all different levels of donation to suit everyone and there’s a wealth of information about their causes.

Slightly underappreciated

It was my general understanding that all Australians were raised with a complete respect and appreciation for water. But in this day and age, it seems to me that people just still don’t appreciate it enough. I remember at school having people come to class to educate us on our water consumption, things like turning the tap off when brushing your teeth, having shorter showers etc. Water conservation isn’t a new concept and was being preached at least 20 years ago. So why do people still take it for granted.

I see people washing dished under running water, I walk into the toilets at work and without fail there is always one toilet that is running because someone hasn’t paid attention the fact it’s not flushed properly, I still see people hosing their driveway! I fully understand why instances of ‘water rage’ have begun occurring during the summer months. It all falls under the same umbrella – some people are trying to do their bit, but it’s exasperating when you see others behaving with such disregard, it makes you feel what you’re doing is for nothing.

Australia is a dry country and is only going to become drier. I grew up in Port Macquarie, a town that has been on at least level three water restrictions for as long as I can remember. Being a holiday destination whose industry is tourism, the locals suffer as water consumption in the town increases in the warmer months with the arrival of visitors. It’s not so much of a problem anymore; everyone is used to it now: alternate watering days; bucket car washing; limited use of showers and taps at beaches or in public places. Perhaps that is why I am a little more aware of how much water I use. I just don’t understand why other people haven’t received a similar education on this, or why they haven’t heeded the message.

Dam levels around Australia aren’t at the worst they’ve been, but it’s still not encouraging reading. The current levels are:

Wivenhoe (Brissy): 72.9%
Warragamba (Syd): 56%
Canberra: 54.24%
Thomson (Melb): 38%
Hobart: 98%
Mt Bolt (Radelaide): 88%
Serpentine Pipehead (Perth): 52.3%
Darwin River: 71%

Some perspective on this. Sydney has a population of 4.4million, which is 63% of the NSW population and had a growth rate of 1.3% from 2007 to 2008. This is based on census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and I would guess doesn’t include the number of tourists that are in the city as well. So the pressure on water reserves is much greater than what the residential statistics show. When you look at Melbourne, its water levels are considerably lower than, well, anywhere else in the country, but this is a city that has just 500,000 less people than Sydney, had a growth rate of 2% from 2007 to 2008 and makes up 81% (!) of Victoria’s population. It is also the sports capital of Australia and welcomes visitors annually to, among other things, the Grand Prix, Australian Open tennis, MotoGP and Australian Masters (which drew tens of thousands of visitors last week with the appearance of Tiger Woods). Is it just me, or is harrowing to think they have dam that has water levels that rarely, if ever, reach above 40%.

So why are people so careless with their water use? I’m not being a massive Greenie when I get my back up about excessive water use, it’s a serious problem and people should take it very seriously. We’re all desperate for a drop; it’s a resource we simply can’t live without, so why abuse it? In country like Australia you can’t just expect that more rain will solve the problem, we don’t always receive more rain and we are receiving it less and less. Our dams aren’t always best placed to collect that rain either. I don’t know whether other countries face a similar problem to ours in terms of water conservation and I don’t know whether they have a similar attitude to the majority of Australians. But I would hope they would, or be willing to adopt it. Enough of them visit here and it would be nice if they could respect our predicament.

To all you aggressive carrot eaters

Alf sent me this link to a story in the SMH today. Apparently a research group has found that people adopting a low-carb, high-fat/protein diet end up angrier than those who take on a low-fat, high-carb diet. Needless to say, this made Alf very happy.

You'd probably be happier if you cooked your meat too.

I think these days any fad diet can get a run, no matter how ridiculous they are. And the Atkins diet is just another of those to throw into the mix. Low-carb diets seem a quick fix to a long-term problem. You can’t avoid them forever and you shouldn’t avoid them forever. I’ve done an Atkins-type diet before and it made me miserable. I love carbs and purposely not allowing myself to have them just seemed cruel.

Meeting Alf helped me embrace them and not be afriad anymore. We by no means overdose on carbohydrates, but we would have a meal that includes pasta three or four times a week. The key to being able to do this though, is exercise. Not getting out and pounding the pavement every day, working up a massive sweat, pumping iron or anything like that, just regular exercise. A 30-minute walk in a lunchbreak, taking the stairs, not taking the lazy option. We could do more, but we get by just fine.

To read now that these test groups this study was performed on had the same weight-loss results is another plus. So I guess if you want to shed a few kegs, think about taking on a balanced diet that is low-fat (like you were always told before Jennifer Aniston became everyone’s weight-loss guru), you might just be happier in the end.

Creeping up slowly

I receive emails from a wedding website on the 4th of every month, as a little countdown and reminder of things to do.

Just in case I'd forgotten

I’ve never really taken the time to have a look at them properly or explore the website created to-do list, but today thought I’d check it out. It was a little overwhelming, as there was a list about 30 different things I should have already done and should be looking to make a move on now. I was able to mark off quite a lot of them and one some I was months ahead, which was a good feeling, but there are certain things I can sense are starting to become pressing, and when Alf finishes his exam next week we’ll have to act quick smart. His mum is already threatening to go ahead and book a photographer without our consent, and that’s probably the main thing we need to get done at this point.

It’s a strange process to go through, in that you tick one thing off and then another rears its head. I can see why some people struggle to handle the stress because it’s a never-ending stream of do this, do that. It’s all worth it in the end, but finding the time to get to places, make phone calls, try things on, can all be a bit testing. There’s still a lot Alf and I must do (as my checklist is telling me) and my time management skills need to really come into their own over the next eight months.

Maybe it’s time to create a delegation checklist and to start leaning on that maid of honour of mine…

Just to break up the text

If you didn’t see this goal from Inter Milan’s Dejan Stankovic a few weeks back, check it out. We went to the Sydney FC-Wellington Phoenix match on Sunday, and by then end, with Phoenix battling to get back in the game, Alf began the call of “Stankovic” everytime someone had the ball on the halfway line.

And that’s why we don’t discuss politics

Sometimes the simplest things really get me irritated. Like my Italian homework last night.

I’ve changed and am now doing my course through the Uni of NSW (fantastic courses for anyone interested in starting to learn a second language). Anyway, each week we’re asked to write a half page on some topic given to us by our teacher, be it from a reading or about our childhood. This week, however, he decided we’d really get into the Italian spirit and asked us to write what we thought about immigration and refugees coming to Australia, because in Italy, politics are one of the first things talked about, not one of the last, like here.

There was one condition to this though, in order to practise our grammar, we were to offer ideas as to what Australia could do to help this situation or what we should do for these people (ie using the conditional tense). When I sat down to write this on Monday night, I struggled, mainly because I couldn’t realistically offer solutions to this problem, but I also didn’t want to completely vocalise my opinion on the topic. So I played it a bit safe, went along the lines of what you’re expected to say and kept it simple (also because it can be hard to express yourself properly in a language you’re only just learning… but I guess that’s the point of the homework exercises).

Before I left last night I had Alf cast an eye over it, just to make sure it made sense, and that was where my mistake came in. While there weren’t any arguments over my opinion or what I was saying, things became a little frustrating for me when holes and contradictions were found in my arguments. First problem was probably that I didn’t truly express what I felt in the first place, so in trying to make the point of some mystery persona, I confused myself and lost my way. But true response was to write one sentence that said, I’m not Kevin Rudd, he doesn’t seem to have the answers or solutions to this problem, and if I did, I’d be running the country, but I didn’t think that would go down so well.

So after getting dismayed at my inability to communicate properly, and with Alf telling me to just write what I think, I descended into sulking on the couch and then pointing out to Alfredo that this is the reason Australians avoid talking about politics. If it doesn’t cause arguments through differences of opinion (opinion that isn’t going to change no matter how persuasive you may be), it can cause frustration and exhaustion from trying to avoid saying the wrong thing and thus piss people off.

Alf simply explained that we were lucky in that we didn’t really have to discuss politics because our political system wasn’t in a complete shambles.

Touché.

(In following up that comment, a good article on Silvio Berlusconi in Newsweek recently. Worth a read, check it out here.)

A deep burn

I in no way condone sunburning for tanning, but this happens to everyone, every year in Australia and yesterday marked my entrance to summer. I suffered my first burn. And it was a pretty good one.

I had a quick visit to Bondi Beach yesterday with Meme, Alf’s friend from Monterotondo who arrived on Saturday morning. We had a swim (the water was freezing, but it had to be done), and then laid on the beach for about an hour or so. Yes, it was the middle of the day, so more the fool me for coming home burnt, however I did put cream on and thought our short stay may have prevented me from suffering any. I was wrong, and the pattern of my burn shows that, because I didn’t go out and do an all-over, complete body burn, but a patchy one on my back (where I missed getting the cream), my bum (around my swimmer bottoms), and the back of my legs.

Luckily for me it wasn’t so bad that it was painful, just a red burn that has thankfully quickly faded. But it was the official first burn of the summer, and I’m glad that I now have my marker to welcome the season to our shores.

Nice to have you with us, summer.

Sorry if this is becoming repetitive

It seems all I talk about at the moment is the wedding, but there’s quite a bit of organising going on at the moment, so sadly there’s not much else to report.

Alf and I booked our flights yesterday, so it’s officially locked in and holiday countdown can begin in earnest. In the end, we got quite a good deal, and while the financial crisis is having as big an impact on prices as I would have liked, we still managed to secure flights to Rome returning with a stopover at Bali (which meant booking an extra internal flight) for less than what I paid when we went there last Christmas. So not bad in the end, after some wheeling and dealing with the travel agent. It feels nice to tick another thing off the list so far out from the date.

I had originally booked flights for a higher price through a travel agent that offers a price matching guarantee. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous when doing so as the price did seem a little high, but when I questioned whether I might be able to find the flights cheaper elsewhere, I was told if I did to let them know and they match the price then knock a further $10 off. So like any streetwise consumer, I called some companies after paying a deposit to get some quotes. Not really surprisingly, I was quoted cheaper. So I emailed the agent informing him of the lower prices. I didn’t have any hard evidence of these prices, but I guess because of the specific figure he knew it was genuine and told me if he could find those prices too, we would have them with the extra cash off. He did find them (gasp!) and we were given a further $20 off each person.

So I guess you could say I was very happy with the service (despite the initial attempt to up-sell), as all this, while sounding like an ordeal, was in fact very easy to negotiate.

Next step will be making sure the airline looks after my dress on the way over. I won’t be letting that thing out of my sight and plan to start making arrangements with them very early in the piece. I can’t even begin to think of the heartbreak if something happened to it on the journey over. The thought almost makes me hyperventilate right now.

A general update

I’m getting lazy with this, and I apologise… kind of. But it probably wouldn’t be a true representation of who I am if I posted regularly, because losing interest and quickly finding new ventures laborious is completely who I am.

So what’s been happening. I’ve had strange facial skin diseases. Well, it’s more commonly known as dermatitis, I know it as painful because it adorned my eyelids and the corners of my eye for a full week. If you’ve ever had acid in your eyes (and I’m sure you all have, like that time you were held captive by Micronesian terrorists and they tortured you to find out where you kept all your old one and two cent pieces), it’s that kind of pain. So I’ve been convalescing. Why did I get this horrible derma breakdown? I don’t know. A prescribed cream has cleared it up, but it’s origin I put down to a combination of dehydration, dust storms, changing weather (doesn’t it always cause you trouble?), and a bit of stress. The good news is it’s all better now, hopefully never to return.

Accommodation is sorted for the wedding (see post below). Most people have booked and the rest are getting organised. So all sweet on that front too.

I’ve just looked down and noticed a healthy tan has started on my arms. I don’t condone scorching yourself in the sun and am a firm believer in suncream, but the nice weather has arrived and just having spent more time outside (like all Saturday in the park reading, delightful) and now riding to work has meant my winter pale palour has begun to turn to a healthy golden glow. It feels good.

Next week a guy from Alf’s village arrives to stay with us for a while. He’s taking the death defying plunge and boarding a plane for a country that doesn’t have common borders in Europe. Gasp. But it’ll be good for a few reasons. Alf will have a friend from Italy, who understands Italian ways and with whom he can be mystified about some Australian ways. I will be able to practice my Italian a bit more, Alf can practice his switching between Italian and English and Meme can practice his English. It’ll be one big language working bee.

And possibly the most exciting thing of all that has happened in the past week or so, not to me, but I’m still excited… My good friend Mat (Hootie to University of Canberra compatriots) was nominated for a Walkley Award for Scoop of the Year. In case you’re wondering, or if you haven’t guessed, the Walkleys are the annual awards for outstanding journalism. To be nominated for one of these is a truly great achievement and only the best can have their name mentioned in the same breath as Walkley.
Mat and another journo broke the story about the Rio Tinto execs that were detained in China and you can read the story here. Well done Hooten, truly deserved and looking forward to a celebratory glass with you at the weekend.

Ciao for now, tutti.

And… Now it feels real

A massive whoops. I wrote this a week ago and didn’t publish it. Shizen.

I wasn’t so much procrastinating, as just not finding the time to follow things up, but after an email to my sister Peta suggesting she should get in touch with where we are having the wedding about booking a room, just to let them know there are people that will be staying there, things have come along at warp speed. In the space of a few days, 15 people are now booked in to stay at Monte Pozzali, with possibly some more to come, and everyone has been hurtled into holiday planning mode.

It feels so much more real now that we are cofirming accommodation, looking for flights etc. Before it seemed like something so far away, but there’s a firmer reality to it now. I cannot wait. I wish it was so much closer. I can already see us sipping drinks outside the rooms, taking in the sun, watching the World Cup and generally enjoying life, Italian-style.

An aerial view of our wedding location. The string of buildings towards the bottom are the apartments and where many afternoon spritzers will be consumed.

The suddenness of needing to book rooms has probably been the first real stressful moment for us, although it really wasn’t that stressful. The most trying part for ourselves at the moment is deciding where we will stay. We have a few options and trying (10 months out) to know what we will want in terms of privacy is hard to say, but it’s not your typical wedding and I must keep reminding myself of that fact when making decisions. If I didn’t, I’d be much more of a dragon.

My excitement levels for our wedding are pretty high right now. I can only imagine what they will reach as the day comes nearer. I dare say I will reinvent excitement scales, adding new limits not even dreamed of before.