Will be back soon... Been a CraZy WeEk!

Brisbane

Our prayers go out to you all.

May God be with you in these dire times.

Hang in there and stay strong.

(picture extracted from the New York Times)

Please help

If you have not read about it in the papers, or heard about it in the news. Australia, specifically the state of Victory, has been battling with a raging out of control bush fire that has taken almost 200 lives and destroyed hundreds of home. I am not really aware of the history of bush fire Australia had suffered through the years, but they tell us this one is bad. Really bad.

It is almost unbearable watching the news. Scenes of the aftermath of the devastating fire makes my heart ache. I cannot, not even for a split second, imagine the pain and grieve of those who have lost a love one, a home, a 2nd or 3rd love one. Or more. Their memories, their town, their lives. And it happened so quickly too. For many, it only took a weekend.

The fires are still burning.

The Australian Red Cross is collecting donations to help the many affected by this tragedy. To make a contribution via phone, call 1800 811 700. To do it online. Click Australian Red Cross.

Go Bald

Admittedly, I am not an advert reading of Kenny Sia's blog, a very popular blogger in Malaysia. However, I do occasionally drop by for a quick read because I find his entries great for light reading, funny, and from the heart.

I found out today that he is doing a fund raiser for cancer awareness for children. He calls it the "Go Bald, Give Hope" appeal.

The fund raiser jump started to a good start with many donating in the early days. However, the time is now quickly drawing near to the end and it is simply just not enough. I have decided to make a donation and ask that you join in too. You don't have to give much, but in the words of Kenny, "The amount you contribute may not be much on its own alone, but when pooled together it will be big enough to change people’s lives".



So pop on by and make a donation today. Just 5 more days left!

Baby Center

If you are a new mother, pregnant or trying to get pregnant. You need to sign on to this website.

Let me introduce you to Baby Center. It is a great site jam packed with heaps of information about everything relating to pregnency. From popular baby names, to creating your pregnency calender, to online discussion groups, breastfeeding solutions, to ovulation calculator. They even have interesting write ups for the keen new daddy! This site has it all.

And the best feature I love about it is that it gives you a week by week update of your baby's development from week 1 to to 3 years!!

To register. Click here.

The site is supported by Johnson & Johnson.

Baby Bonds Competition

Just for fun, I signed Annabel up for 2008 Baby Bonds competition. The competition was held at Bondi Westfield mid last week, from 9am to midday. My folks heard of it and decided to tag along for support. We arrived at around 10am and found a long queue. A very looOOOoooOOoong queue, where the starting point stretches WAY OUTSIDE the mall onto the streets. Australia's first asian bonds baby Annabel was not meant to be.


So off to the beaches we headed. We ate Doyles fish and chips by the foreshore, stroll by Watson Bay and played with seagulls (by pretending to feed them.. hehe). It turned out to be a great day spent out with the parents and the Bonds wannabe baby.


For those who missed out on the event, there is an online competition where you could load your bubbie's picture onto their website. The winner would be the one with the most votes. I just couldn't be bothered. But if you can, click here.

Live Earth

Last weekend was quite an exciting one for several countries world wide. Why? Well because it was the inaugural concert debut linking 7 – continent concert series of more than 100 artists across countries like the United States, Japan, Australia, The United Kingdom, China, Germany and many more.

Live Earth is part of a global movement in an effort to bring light and media attention to the climate crisis the world is facing (even more so this millennium). It kicked started on the 7th of July (07/07/07) and the event had been a tremendous success (read more).

Australia was the first to kick of the global party and has performances from a line up of:


John Butler Trio

Eskimo Joe

Crowded House

Missy Higgins

Sneaky Sound System

The concert, though a huge success, will be to no avail if it’s all dusted and forgotten. We all could continue to play a role in reducing the greenhouse effect simply by inculcating little habits into our lives. Examples are switching off unneeded lights, installing energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps, switching to a GreenPower electricity contract (where possible). If you don't have a dual-flush toilet, a toilet flush regulator can do the trick. Taking shorter showers. Don’t let the tap run if you are not using the water. And the list goes on (more tips here).

Every little effort helps. But despite the multitude of human achievements and what we can aim for collectively, I’m also reminded and humbled of how dependent we all are on the creator of this earth of ours. Without his intervention for rain or for dryer weather in flood stricken regions, no amount of human efforts can ever control this huge natural force we call our climate. So let’s all be reminded that despite our efforts, the real solution really comes from the one who has made our planet from the very beginning.

ps: If you haven’t watched the concert, you could watch it on line here (here) or (here).

Don't forget to shop at Woolly's tomorrow!

Click here to find out more.

Woolworths National Drought Action Day

"SYDNEY: 22 December 2006 – As part of a wider commitment to supporting Australian rural communities, on January 23, 2007, Woolworths will donate its entire supermarkets profits from all Australia Woolworths & safeway supermarkets, for the day to the Country Women's Association and research into sustainable farming practices."

I could not even start to imagine how hard it must be for the farming community out there facing this never ceasing drought year after year. I have been hearing about it on the news since I moved to Sydney 3 years ago. And it had only gotten worse since.

Me, a little unassuming city folk, and my shinny shopping trolley, air-conditioned well-stocked supermarkets does forget so easily the struggles these farmers face day on day. The devastation of a year’s hard work because a harvest is lost due to unpredictable and uncontrollable climate changes. The frustration and despair that must accompany such a disaster.

My prayers go out to all these unsung heroes in various droughts stricken parts of Australia. Whom despite all odds, are still hanging in there and never seized to give up hope. For keeping my local fresh corner shop stocked and preserving the farming way of life.

A BIG thank you from a little city pumpkin dweller!

You know where I’ll be this 23rd! It may not be much as an individual, but together, I’m sure it will make a difference.
So don't forget your shopping list!!

To find out more. Click here.