Spork!

It's only a black, plastic spork. But it is indeed a spork.

Happy days.

And now, I return to packing. What does one take to Germany and England for Summer months? Apparently the relatives are saying it's been 12 degrees where they are in the UK and I'm like, "What?! It's nearly Winter here and 20 degrees!"

At least the camera case is packed.

The 21st Century is when it all changes...

In the words of Owen Newitt of The Vicar of Dibley, "Well, bugger me!"

Last night I saw ads on Channel 10 with a rather familiar face.

It was Captain Jack Harkness, that voraciously bi, time-traveling minx!

Those of you who've watched Dr Who would know who he is and how he ties into the story there. Dr Who has been on the ABC here in Australia, though, and I was really hoping they'd be the ones who'd be showing Torchwood - it would make more sense, really. Particularly since there are so many elements to the whole Torchwood Institute that really need a prior viewing on the past two series of Dr Who to make the most sense out of them (eg: battle of Canary Wharf, why Torchwood exists, etc).

But still, the series is rather good, even if it did make me want to do bodily harm to the character of Owen by the end of it. So if you're feeling like some nerdy goodness, definitely watch it :)

Of Joe Hockey, WorkChoices and Prettiness

Yesterday I was surprised to see Joe Hockey, Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, admitting that they "bungled" their industrial relations overhaul by not being careful about key aspects of the "WorkChoices" laws. Even more surprised to hear him say that the reason Julia Gillard, shadow minister for the same portfolio, is more popular because she's "prettier" than he is, as I heard on the news this morning.

Rather peculiar, and can we move on from how female politicians look or how many kids they have to what policies they present now please? If our politics were based purely on looks, I don't think John Howard would have been Prime Minister for quite so long - not with those eyebrows at least. But while on the topic of looks, Joe Hockey is rather cuddly-cute...

So it should be that we're looking fairly and squarely at "WorkChoices," which are seeming more and more like "WorkInflictions" when you hear more and more stories about rights of workers being abused by employers around Australia, with penalty rates being stripped, along with other employment conditions you'd think would be pretty standard to have included in any job - things like overtime, meal allowances, public holiday loading...

Also don't understand how making the laws more fair or getting rid of them would root the economy beyond repair as the government is saying would happen if Labor repeals the laws. It seems silly, seeing how it would really just take worker's rights back to around 2004 or so, not send our nation hurtling back into the middle ages - although I'm sure the way the government of the day handles thing does have an impact on the economy, surely so does the global economy, exports, imports, employment levels, natural resources, etc. The changes the government itself is introducing to its IR laws apparently aren't impressing many people anyways.

All that comes after the PM saying the other day that the current government is facing "annihilation" at the coming election, which was surprisingly frank. Although I think it comes mostly as an attempt to grab the underdog status and try to make voters think voting for the Liberals would be a good idea because of how long they've served us. His point that after 11 years of the Liberals leading the nation, Australians are looking for a change is right, has some merit though.

Personally, I used to be a supporter of the Liberals back in the day. But over the years I've drifted significantly toward the Labor party, although I haven't always liked their leaders (prime example being one Latham, Mark). This has occurred because I don't believe the Liberal government is doing the right thing in the areas of education, health care, social justice, the environment and so on and so I'm optimistically hoping Labor can provide real alternatives on these things.

In the past, Labor's looked strong in polls leading up to elections and still been thrashed.

Of course there was some news about the way Australians seem to be wanting the current government out on its ear come the election on the news this morning. I believe it was Tony Abbott, Federal health minister and roasaries vs ovaries debate-stirrer-upper extraordinaire, who was saying something about how disasterous a change of government would be if Australians chose to elect Kevin Rudd. We've had changes of government before and somehow the country hasn't fallen in a screaming heap, so I think that sort of line of argument is rather ridiculous. "The risk of Rudd" to Australia's economic prosperity and future seems a fatuous argument.

But then, I'm a person who works with words, not money, so who knows.

Shoe fashion is dead to me!

At least until next season...

You wouldn't think there could be much wrong with something like Top 100 Shoes.

Well, unless you don't like shoes, or you're a guy sans footfetish or heels aren't your thing or whatever, in which case you might rather spend the morning poking yourself with a spork than cast your eyes over said 100 shoes.

I like shoes, thus it piqued my interest. After all, I have more than 55 pairs of shoes currently (some of which really should go to the Salvos/St Vinnies). Shoes can be works of art. 100 shoes brings the possibilities of many beautiful things.

But this goes down in the "How Wrong I Was" category. I have now been witness to some of the ugliest shoes I have EVER seen, thanks to that Top 100.

Shoes that look like they would be more at home in a Dali painting, expressing his frustration about impotency and sexual disfunction. Shoes that combine elements of this, that and the other, none of which belong together. Shoes in colours I shudder at. Shoes that brought on the spontaneous urge to vomit. Shoes half-mummified. Shoes that would make Elton John go, "Oh, I say, a bit over the top...". Shoes that were flat-out revolting.

Although there were one or two (or three) cute exceptions, and a few good for curiousity's sake. And one exception to that colour thing.

But so much wrongness! Gah!

My eyes feel so violated!

Thank-you Amy!!!

Okay, so I know I said no more about the sick thing, but this is about getting well! And he's so cute. And he came with cookies and dried figs. Mmm... Again, thanks Amy!

I promise I won't write more about being ill, surgery, health issues, doctors, paying lots of money for stuff, realising being a doctor is the career path I should have chosen, etc, but I just have to say...

I thought hot doctors were a myth!

Although a friend, Deb, has had the luck of seeing one recently, I really was beginning to dispair of there being such things, at least here in Australia.

Today I had to go back to the hospital - one of the wounds is giving me grief and I've been having pain around the op site, so wanted it checked out.

The doctor was HOT!

Okay, he was probably old enough to be my dad, but he was seriously hot. And he liked my sense of humour (although maybe that was just because he found it amusing to poke my fat tummy and make me laugh...).

There should be more hot doctors.

Also, I think I have the most poked, prodded, examined and looked-at tummy in the area at the moment. But there still won't be post-surgery photos!

The Joy of Sects?

Tonight I actually watched Today/Tonight, that paragon of quality journalism *cough cough* (Side note: A Current Affair had a nice fluff-piece about Scientology - interesting to note that James Packer is reportedly into Scientology.)

It was because the doco John Sweeney had done about Scientology, Scientology and Me, was on it in full, and I was somewhat curious to see it following the shouty Scientology YouTube thing that had been on the news the other evening. Especially to find out what context it was in.

Rather peculiar, the entire thing!

Although I'm a Christian and that's vastly different to being a Scientologist, I really don't see why the Scientologists had to be so defensive about their beliefs or when questions were asked about being a "cult." You'd think that if they were open and had a bit of a laugh about the "cult" stuff, they'd have come across a lot more sanely. Or even if they'd just used the interviews to dispel some of the myths(?) about the religion and speak openly.

When people get ultra-serious, thin-lipped and angrily defensive about any subject, you kind of wonder what it is they're feeling they need to hide. I know Scientology's been called a "dangerous cult" regularly in the past and they probably are on the defensive from the out-set because of that. However, I'm sure there are a lot of people who are genuinely interested in what the belief system is of Scientology and what they have to offer in terms of spiritual experience and would have been interested in seeing what Scientologists had to say.

The creepy thing about it all was all of the "stalking" of the journalist that went on. He was half-way through an interview with a guy and the Scientologist guy, Tommy Davis, turns up, brandishing papers and going on about how the man is a pervert and degenerate and can't be trusted. Why barge in on an interview with no real purpose other than to call someone a perv?

Add to that the same Scientology guy knocking on the door of the loo when Mr Sweeney and his team were trying to have a break from being filmed by Scientology cameramen and demanding to know what they were doing... Just deeply odd.

John Sweeney has written some thoughts post-doco that are interesting to read (Row over Scientology video). I also found this pretty interesting, in terms of the comments. There's lots of pro-Scientology stuff out there, too if you do some google or technorati hunting.

According to Sandy Smith, Panorama (and Sweeney's) boss, the church originally agreed to be involved, lined up celebrities to interview and then sent lawyers letters to request the removal of the interviews. To my mind, it would have been better to have people who are currently in the religious group and feel positive about it taking part.

I know things are edited in production and angles are taken, but the way stuff was handled by the Scientologists was really poor form. And then trying really hard to discredit the BBC doco - why?

Everyone has different attitudes about things in life, obviously, regardless of how much you try to control other's pereceptions of what you're like as a person/group/religious organisation/ business/etc. Creepy or out-right rude behaviour isn't going to endear you to many people.

I guess my thoughts about the whole thing is that Tommy Davis didn't do Scientology any favours - especially with the stalking and personal-space invading finger-pointing stuff - and it would have been interesting to hear what Scientology celebs have to say about what they believe.

That said, John Travolta's still pretty spunky.

Hmm.

What can I say about surgery other than I remember nothing. And couldn't wake up properly for hours on end afterwards. And was apparently telling everyone I loved them. Which is unusual for me.

Now I'm back to telling everyone I hate them (just kidding!), especially with how I wasn't given painkillers on being discharged. So I went for more than 24 hours without sweet, sweet drugs. Oddly enough, that was nowhere near as painful as the whole gallbladder attack kind of thing. But I like the painkiller thing now I've got it.

Had to go back to the hospital to get everything sorted out, which didn't take too long and they had Brainiac on telly. Richard Hammond... Mmm!

Now I can't eat much for the next three or so months, am only allowed to introduce tiny bits of fat into my diet a little at a time, no chocolate, no biscuits, no nothing decadant. I'm going to take a spare suitcase to Germany just for yummy things, I think.

Thanks to everyone who sent messages and so on to me over the weekend :D And the nurses and doctors were all lovely, which was great. The cuts aren't that painful and you may be surprised, but I'm not posting photos *lol* I know, bit of a difference... But surgery photos are bound to be gross!

It's not the best photo, but there... The magical new nailpolish! Although it's used on my toes. But it's pink! And shiny!

And I'm having surgery tomorrow.

Eek.

Hopefully it goes well.

If it does, there will obviously be more blogs forthcoming. If not, well... I suppose it might be quiet 'round here!

Be good, y'all ;)

What a circus.

Woke up this morning around 2.30am, sick as a dog. Managed to get back to sleep, but woke up a few more hours later and am still sick.

Ring the local doctor when the medical group opens. Go in for appointment... Wait for doctor, musing over my gladness that I hadn't managed to lose an arm or been bitten by a red-bellied black snake or something "urgent."

See the doctor. Pain, pain, pain. Doctor tells me to get to hospital ASAP and so I head home to get organised to do so. I'm nearly all the way to the hospital when my phone rings.

It's my surgeon. He tells me not to come in. Surgery will be on Friday and there's no point to me coming in early. When I'm almost there. Noice. So handy. But I know that's not his fault though. Apparently my doctor hadn't contacted him earlier or something. I mean, it's two and-a-half hours later when I get the call. Which would have been handy if I was at the hospital. Or dead in a ditch or something.

Anyways. Fortunately it's near the bus station and I can grab public transport for the return trip home. While I'm waiting I get a call from the admissions officer confirming Friday and giving me instructions for what to do, when to be there, etc.

Rather an irritating day on the whole. And in some ways, I'm now thinking, "Well, I hope that what they've said is the problem actually is the problem. I don't want to be dealing with this sort of thing overseas."

So I bought hot, metallic pink nailpolish while I was waiting to head back home. Somewhat more cheering than all the crap today's managed to provide.

Ohh, it's the old skull and crossbones stockings taking over the world trick, eh?

Wintery weather means... (drum roll please, Raoul) ...time to break out the stockings. And so far, I've gotten loads of people commenting on how great they look. Happy days! Although this morning an old guy stared at them with mild puzzled horror as if he honestly believed my stockings were planning on single-leggedly take over the world.

Sometimes it's just fun to have quirky accessories. In addition to these little babies, I've also got red-back spider print stockings (which make everyone say "Ooh, you've got spiders on you!" like they're the first to say it) and some of the stripy black and white ones.

A girl can never have too many oddities, really, when it comes to accessories. And that is probably the most important fashion advice I have to impart at the moment. Apart from noting that it's never a good look to wear underwear over outerwear. It might look passable on superheroes, but it's never gonna work for a guy wandering around Newcastle with boxers over his jeans.

Overboard on Children?

I cannot believe that the fertility (or not) of women in politics is an issue.

Yet yesterday, Senator Bill Heffernan decided to stand by comments he made last year about Julia Gillard being "barren" and somehow believes he's right to say it about her because as a leader "You've got to understand your community. . . . One of the great understandings in a community is family and the relationship between mum, dads and a bucket of nappies."

I love the idea that there can be a mum and dads in a family - what would be handier than three or four husbands? But never mind that.

Maybe I'm just being optimistic, but I think Heffernan's really the one who's out of touch (I'd hate to think there's a lot of Australians out there who think the same about being "barren"). The latest figures show that there are 1,962,100 lone-person households in Australia today, compared to 1,798,400 houses occupied by couples living with children. The growth in the trend of living alone has been driven by people under the age of 35, although there's still a somewhat significant portion of alone-dwellers who are in the 65+ group. Almost a quarter of people living alone had never been married and were not in a defacto relationship.*

Not having squeezed offspring forth from your loins doesn't make you a lesser person, and I think in many ways, comments about "barrenness" and how women who haven't had children aren't capable of tying their shoelaces let alone being a deputy leader in a political party are highly insulting to all women. And yet there are probably a lot of people out there who'll nod their heads in agreement with what Heffernan's said instead of thinking to themselves, "Good Lord, what is this uncouth man saying and why doesn't he return post-haste to the rock he apparently belongs under?!"

The merits of women in politics sadly still seem to be based solely on their attributes as women, rather than their abilities. Looks, dress sense, family, how many young'uns they've popped out, what their weight is, whether or not they have fruit in their fruit bowls in the kitchen... It's insane, to say the least, and makes me sad that women are still being judged as objects, particularly by people who have a say in how our nation's run.

"Oh the naughty scamp!" seems to be the likely response from Libs who have possibly a modicum of decency, and Labor leader Kevin Rudd and frontbencher Jenny Macklin are saying an apology should be forthcoming. Perhaps an apology to priests could also be chucked in, seeing how Heffernan says of them, "like the rest of us, wake up with a horn at four in the morning." Or if not to priests, at least to people who had to read that quote and are blessed/cursed with having a vivid imagination.

Anyway. If there are people out there who really think Julia Gillard's childless state makes her less of a leader, I think it really reflects more on their own problems than anyone else's. Unfortunately, Heffernan making stupid comments and maintaining them rather than apologising or extracting himself from the 1850s probably encourages these people in their thinking that childless women are some variety of threat to society.

But then again, according to the writer of the letter to the editor that makes me want to scream the most today in the SMH, daring to get up the duff while you're working is something that means women shouldn't be employed - he'll never employ a woman of childbearing age (what about with childbearing hips?) if Labor wins the election and makes changes to the Industrial Relations laws. Possibly he thinks they should be locked in a cupboard somewhere. Hopefully his wife, if he has one, reads it and gives him a good dressing down when he gets home.

Update: The Heff has made an apology for his comments, even going so far as to say what he'd said was "totally inappropriate."

* The Power of 1, Katherine Fleming, The Bulletin, April 10, 2007.