Kitty

I'm a dog person, not a cat person but can tolerate them if they have a good personality.

A ginger cat (female mind you) adopted us as its new owners about a month ago. No warning or anything, just showed up on our doorstep one day and has been here ever since.

We're pretty sure it has its set house rounds as most cats do, and actually belong to the neighbours across the road. They don't seem to really care on her whereabouts though, but I guess she can always go back home when she wants to.

What I think has happened is that she has been neglected, not fed etc (she is abit on the thin side) so has made the decision to find a new home. She is a pretty little thing with no blemishes (I'd say pedigree but apparently pedigree ginger cats are all male?)  and has already demonstrated her ability to catch mice under our house.

Guess it's not a bad thing then.

Note: generic image only and not indicative of the actual Kitty.

Diets

That 2 week reprieve from work went all too quickly!
Back on my 2nd week and catching up on the latest news on the web in our country.

There is a news article that supposedly says that the people of our nation are eating themselves to death, with approx 1/3 of our meals being fast food and takeaways.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/doctors-weigh-in-you-are-what-you-eat-and-australias-killing-itself/story-e6frfro0-1226220222732

Looking also at the recommended daily intake of all food groups has led me to do a comparison of the typical Aussie diet and the diet of that of my latest overseas trip- Nippon.

Wholegrains and Cereals

Aussie:
A simple breakfast of the average Aussie man/woman at home before heading to work or dropping the kids off at school would be a bowl of cereal, maybe a slice or two of toast with Vegemite, jam or whatever takes their fancy.

If you wanted to go all out and have a hearty Aussie breakfast (or truckers brekky), this would usually consist of toast, bacon, eggs, sausages, grilled tomato, hash brown, steak and/or pancakes. (Grease, grease and more grease)

Nippon:
We experienced different sorts of breakfast on our trip. Nowadays the working Japanese has a simple breakfast consisting of toast, a boiled egg and a coffee at home. If you were to eat out, the fast food on offer (other than Maccas) would be a bowl of sauteed beef and onions over rice, nigiri sushi or danish, croquettes or sausages in a bread roll from the numerous convenience stores.

Fruit & Vegetables
Aussie:
We are meant to have 2 serves of fruit and 5 serves of vegetables per day. In reality most of us only consume half (if that) of this. The majority of times I find myself having fruit is as an occasional snack (morning or afternoon tea), but that is only if I can not tempt myself to reach for that packet of chips or crackers. Veggies though, we usually have as a side, amongst other carbs and put meat at the centre of our meals. I'd like to try and change that.

Nippon:
I didn't have much fruit over there, but in saying that though there was no shortage of it being offered as part of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Fruit was even available for purchase on the side of the road with a honesty purchase system. Even if you purchased a bento box (lunch box of a variety of sushi, seafood, egg) there was always a piece of fruit included to finish off. Much of the desserts are also fruit-based, if not otherwise just garnish over something abit more sweeter but not as sweet as Western desserts.

Unlike us, the Japanese put much more emphasis on vegetables. Every meal has either pickled veggies, boiled veggies, or came with a fair share of veggies with only minimal seafood and meat. (hard-core carnivores will weep). But...........................all meals were surprisingly filling even for a standard carnivore like me. I think I ate the equivalent of about 1 whole cabbage over the course of the trip.

Meats and Meat Alternatives

Aussie:
As mentioned before, we pride on our meat, whether red, white or multicoloured. Serious meat-eaters will devour a hunk of steak in moments and then have veggies as the side dish which if they don't finish they don't care. As long as all the meat is finished we are satisfied. Meat is cheaper here than in Nippon which is why we have so much more of it in our meals.

Nippon:
Meat (especially red and white meat like chicken and pork) is quite expensive there, hence it takes a backseat at most meals and allows veggies and rice to take over. There is nothing bad about this, except you might crave a big juicy steak sooner or later, which you can freely have, but your food budget will go out the window. Seafood on the other hand is pretty popular considering it is readily available.

Dairy Products

Aussie:
Milk and cheese are pretty popular choices here. Whether its part of breakfast, cooking or simply putting on a party spread there will always be dairy evident in many foods we eat.

Nippon:
Things such as cheese and cow's milk are hardly used in Japanese food with the exception for maybe  some desserts, however I must say I was abit surprised to see cheese still readily available on the grocery shelves. Most foods are soy-based which satisfies all lactose-intolerant people. Tofu is a very popular choice.

Sugars and Fats

Aussie:
Lastly, we love our fatty and sweet goodness. Be it savoury snacks and lavish/decadent desserts we probably eat waaaaaaay too much sugar and bad fats, but it tastes sooooo good!!! (Just have to get on that bike and ride to Perth and back to work it all off)

Nippon:
Desserts are also sweet but not as sweet as the Western palate. Those that love their thickly -rich chocolate mud cakes and sweet pavlovas will be disappointed with their desserts. I much prefer their desserts to be honest. Most are custard or fruit-based or contain red beans, sago, jelly and glutinious rice. However, I did stumble across a macaron tower in one of the big underground malls.....

Merry Christmas to all.

Thank You

Just thought I'd like to thank anyone that actually reads my blog, and I do apologise for not updating it as much as I would like. Honestly though, even if no-one actually reads this I really don't mind. Although I do appreciate the occasional comments :D

At times I really don't have much to say or have anything exciting to share so would rather say nothing at all.

I am very blessed to still have an active social life 'offline' so to speak. That is, socialising outside of areas like Facebook, Twitter, Google+?? (out of those 3 I really only use Facebook)

For the next 2 weeks I'll be gallavating around a foreign country and would like to go back to having a holiday where I don't need to keep everyone up to date on my travels. To immerse yourself into a foreign culture and trying to avoid visiting overcrowded tourist attractions and head off the beaten track is my aim this time round.

Only 1 month til Christmas!!!!

Passing On

My Grandad-in-law (Husband's grandfather) passed away a week ago.
It never occurred to me that he was the closest Grandad I ever had- will miss him, but we will celebrate his life and the wonderful times we had with him at a memorial service tomorrow.

Death is not something people like to discuss. But as I talk with more and more people, the evolving thoughts about it is that 'it just happens' and there is nothing we can do about it. We just follow the process of mourning, grief, remembrance and then say a final farewell before we go back to our usual daily routine.

For some, especially when death comes to those that are young, it is difficult to say goodbye entirely. The concept of injustice creeps in but that is a topic for discussion at a later time. In situations like my grandad-in-law who lived to a good ripe age of 89, it is sort of expected but then the shock of the sudden departure still creates some grief.

It's times like these that I think death should be discussed, however difficult the topic may be.
People ask questions about what happens to life after death, whether there is a heaven and hell and reflect on the 'good things' that person has done which then guarantees them a place in heaven.

I hope from my past blog posts that people realise that I do not agree with that last sentence. I believe that heaven and hell is real. There cannot be a heaven without a hell and vice versa. Heaven is a place where God dwells for all eternity. Hell is the place where God is absent.

There is nothing (whether good or not) that we can boast about that will allow us into heaven. I believe that God as our Creator through his love has given us the following choice: To accept Him as Lord and Saviour, or to reject Him completely. There is no sitting on the fence with this option. Whatever choice we decide on, God will grant it accordingly.

To accept Him as Lord and Saviour means to confess that we by nature, are condemned to death because of our wickedness and sin. That person confesses and believes that through the death and rising from the dead of Jesus Christ (the Son of God) they are now forgiven, accepted by God and believe that they will spend all eternity in heaven with God. Through this belief they live life for God and put Him first in their lives. This by no means says that they are no longer wicked and no longer sin, but rather they recognise their sins/struggles and turn to God to teach them how to resist and ultimately change. For these, death is only the beginning of a eternity with God.
To reject Him is to not acknowledge God of what He is or His existence. It is to live life for oneself completely, making our own choices and satisfying our own desires. It means that life is lived with no regrets. When the time comes to be accountable for those choices that were made, the reliance on getting to heaven is based on the good things they have done. The fact that the life that was lived
rejected God and His existence, then their future is eternal separation from God.

Here's something worth reading also.

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/categories/dont-waste-your-life

Whales

We have the privilege of living in a place ruled by democracy; a place where you can experience multiculturalism without even leaving the country.

It's also a place where during the right time of year you can go whale watching- only an hour's drive from home to the coast.

After living in this country all my life, as a belated birthday present..................I shall be going whale-watching for the very first time.

Very excited about this- hope that the weather clears up to be a beautiful spring day, for us to enjoy these big, beautiful, graceful creatures of the sea.

Was abit skeptical until now

I think I've just experienced my first ever migraine.
It's been a week now and it comes and goes. When the pain comes it is quite potent.

I'd always been skeptical of migraines and their existence but now after some medical advice and experiencing it first-hand, I can deny no longer- it really does exist.

I've heard other opinions that such symptoms are simply hypochondria, but when you feel that much pain all of a sudden on a semi-regular basis is hard to ignore.

Selfishness vs Selflessness

These 2 words, although only containing a difference of 3 letters in spelling have such different meanings entirely.

One denotes having an exclusive concern about oneself vs the other that exhibits little or no concern for oneself. News reports are forever providing explanation of this trend of selfishness as the current generation's personalities but I think the society as a whole is affected by this.

When presented with options or choices to make, our first reaction is 'What's in it for me?' or 'Which option will benefit me the best?' To take it further, we fail to plan ahead and live in the 'here and now' with instant gratification driving lives and choices.

We blame our busy lives on being time-poor- but is it really that simple?

This is no different in the Christian life. We make excuses to not pray, read Scripture, go to church even and give financially to those that ask without expecting anything in return. But somenow, we always manage to find time watching podcasts, playing games on our smartphones, going out for coffee, having dinner parties, playing sport, playing computer games, watching TV, pretty much anything that is considered 'more fun' than spending time with our Lord.

I blogged previously about what KP Yohannan said with regards with financial giving amongst the fellowship of the church and how many churches including my own, are very materialistic in the way we think and don't give generously because we prefer to keep the majority of the things we think we own back to the Lord for His use. Classic example would be providing free food to a church full of wealthy people and families, rather than giving the free food to people just down the road that really need it.

"We do not own ourselves; we are owned by God," said John Piper in his Don't Waste Your Life messages. The ultimate act of selflessness and the greatest gift to ever be freely given to those who believe, is the gift of forgiveness, unconditional love and acceptance into eternal life with God through sending His Son to be punished, die and condemned with all the wickedness of the world laid upon Him.

We have no right to claim we deserve to be loved and accepted by God based on what we do and who we are.

GFA Audio Book

During a recent 4 hour return car trip from camp to a wedding and back again, we listened to the audio version of the free Gospel for Asia book 'Revolution in World Missions'.

Written by Dr KP Yohannan, it chronicles his journey from a remote Indian village where he grew up, to be convicted of native missionary work and thus establish what is now known as the 'Gospel for Asia' missionary organisation. (or GFA).

The world generally knows about World Vision sponsorship. The Christian network knows about Compassion and TEAR sponsorships and community projects. There is nothing wrong with supporting these, but GFA offers something uniquely different.

Rather than sending people from developed countries into developing countries to do social and community projects or even evangelism amongst the local people, GFA's focus is on training people from within those countries to preach and teach Scripture,. They are then sent back to their homeland to undertake this ministry, as they have the unique advantage of already understanding the culture, the language and the people they serve.

One chapter in the free book described how when KP was visiting many churches in the US to generate support to establish this organisation and to support missionary work in general, one quote he wrote stood out for me:

(paraphrased)

"I'd be drumming up financial support for missionary work amongst the churches and their leadership team. They would happily offer donations of various amounts, but when I was invited afterwards to a dinner function with them, the amount of money they spent on the dinner alone was so much more than what they gave financially towards the missionary cause. This made me sick and wonder "are we as a society so materialistically-driven that we act as if we give generously, but in reality only give a small portion of what we think is generous and keep the rest for ourselves?"

All Day Brekkies

I cannot resist all day brekkies if the opportunity allows me.
In saying that though, there aren't alot of places that offer this on their menus where the brekky is actually so good you have to make a return trip. Better still, become a regular.

Franchises aside, (sorry Coffee Club), there have only been a small number of places that I've considered to be great places to visit and tuck right into a hearty savoury or sweet breakfast for morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and the occasional dinner (if the joint is open after 4:30pm).

Pandemonium Cafe

This I think is one of the great little secrets in the inner-city. Brightly decorated in retro colours, furniture and music gig posters, this cafe in a small lime green house serves fantastic brekkies ranging from the hearty truckers brekky, simple eggs on toast, sausages and eggs, bacon and eggs, omelettes, pancakes and the classic Pando's Eggs Benedict on toasted turkish/ciabatta. Also has a great drinks selection ranging from teas, coffees, milkshakes and fresh fruit juices and frappes. Caters for gluten and vegan diets too if given notice. Prices are pretty reasonable.

The Gun Shop Cafe

I haven't been here for quite awhile, mainly due to the cafe not allowing breakfast bookings on weekends, but this would be the place where I was first introduced to gourmet breakfasts. Whilst the brekky menu changes seasonally, there will always be something on the menu that will whet your appetite. Prices are on the higher side in comparison but that's what you get for a cafe that also doubles as a fine dining restaurant when the sun sets.

Red Radish Cafe

Whenever I head down the coast for some cheap retail therapy at Harbourtown, I like this place for its basic, no-nonsense breakfast fare. It is I think, one of the very few cafes in this complex that does offer more than just the usual sandwiches, open grills, muffins, coffee and cake specials, when you really feel like something more substantial to keep you going until the shops close at 5pm. Again, fairly reasonably priced.

New Farm Deli

Probably one of the original deli's that expanded into the cafe business, by allowing customers to consume the food first and then if so inclined, purchase some for home when they leave. Whilst not exactly a breakfast item, it is famous for its large bell-shaped risotto balls that will satisfy any hungry customer. There's nothing wrong with eating rice for breakfast though. My grandmother makes the best congee in the world.

New places that I would like to visit:

The Rare Pear
The Music Kafe
Campos Cafe

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week- Spring/Summer 2011/2012

Scored an invitation to the NewGen Show at RAFW in Sydney this week, courtesy of some very talented cousins of mine.

It's all abit new and strange to me really- this means I will actually have to make an effort to look fashionable and actually look like I think about what clothes I wear every single day.

No idea on trends, what to/what not to wear, have a very small supply of jewellery and accessories that any girl would shake their heads at in disbelief.

I'm a tracky-dacks, t-shirts and jeans girl................

Repeat Blog Content

Just blatantly repeating blog content as I couldn't think of making this any clearer:

A fishing we will go
A fishing we will go
Heigh Ho, the derry ho
A fishing we will go

Alternative Choice

Poor Tasmania.
Always the bridesmaid to a planned Japan trip. Didn't think this would happen in 2 years.

Hope we can eventually make it to Japan someday.

We traded the following:
- sushi
- katsu
- okonomiyaki
- sashimi
- kaiseki
- Totoro
- Mt Fuji

for these instead:
- fresh oysters shucked on same day
- homemade scones with fresh strawberry jam and whipped cream
- fresh smoked salmon
- hearing about 10 convicts that stole the last ship on the Sarah island penal settlement and sailed it all the way to Chile
- 12 km bushwalk in World Heritage National Park
- trout fishing
- Cascades brewery tour
- Mt Wellington
- Nerf Gun War in Newtown

Had enough of sensationalism

Article about the Japanese resilience in the aftermath of last week's events.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/why-quakes-leave-the-japanese-unshakeable/story-fn84naht-1226021692350

The 3rd last paragraph really hit a note for me. I really have come to dislike the way our country reports any local or world news because of this.

Observations

Some observations of recent times:

Some people have close-knit families, others do not. Those that do often spend most public holidays together each year by tradition, but sometimes wish that they could freely do something else with other people without offending their own families. If they break tradition, even in the smallest of ways, means the whole family and extended family will ignore them for the rest of the year if not longer.
For some that do not have close-knit families, often wish they did. They would like a sense of tradition in their lives where they can share and hang with their families rather than going to work or being alone every Christmas. Some will have family but can freely choose whether to see them or not, as they prefer to live as carefree and independent as possible. But at the end of the day, bitterness may still set in, even though that was the choice they made in the first place.

Some couples do not plan to have children, but then somehow manage to keep having children one after the other. Others plan to have children and feel truly blessed when their prayers are answered. Others plan to have children but it is disappointment after disappointment after disappointment. Then those people that have found it easy think "what can be so hard about this? I didn't find it difficult so why should they?' Those that are disappointed find it unhelpful when comments such as 'you've been married for over 10 years now, surely it must be time for you to start having kids. What's taking you so long? You better start soon otherwise it will be too late'. (OUCH!!) It's times like this that it's better to not say anything at all. 

Some people unknowingly become 'rich' due to certain circumstances arising, others still put in their lotto tickets every week to win that elusive jackpot so as to retire comfortably. Working in a finance industry it amazes me to witness that most people that religiously so to speak, put their syndicates in, often say 'when I win lotto, that will be the day I will quit my job as I will be pretty well set for the rest of my life.' Question is................. when you eventually have the money to buy and do whatever you want, will that truly please you and satisfy your needs for the rest of your life and the next?

What would happen if God decided that you were to not see your family ever again, not to have alot of money and not to have children ever?

However, what would you think if God decided that you were to not see your family ever again, not to have alot of money and not to have children ever...................because that is He had planned for you all along, and He promises that your life will be even more blessed because of it?

They who are blameless should cast the first stone

Warning: disturbing paraphrases of comments made on the internet below.

I have been quite horrified by the many comments that have been made by the Australian public towards the airing of an interview with the mother of Martin Bryant, the man who had been accused of murdering 35 people and wounding many others in Port Arthur on April 28, 1996.

Many comments have been made on the web about how both her and her son should not be alive, he is to blame for giving birth to him and that her opinion and her story should never be told because no-one else really cares about what she thinks. Other opinions state that it was disgrace to air the interview in the first place as it was insensitive towards the victims of the massacre that are still suffering as a result.
 
Is this really what our society has become? Putting our contempt for human beings in writing for the whole world to read?
 
Words are easily said but the effect of such words run far deeper than anyone can possibly imagine. We are all guilty of saying horrible things to each other (both friends and strangers) but to even say or write such horrible and awful things about someone else on the World Wide Web is just wrong.
 
Others could sum up this in 3 words: 'Tall Poppy Syndrome' which is part of the society that I live in, although I don't agree with it.
 
However, I think this goes way beyond this and is actually moving towards 'Public Degradation for One's Amusement".
 
Whilst not all of us are murderers, are we really any better than them? Are the accusations made going to 'improve' your chances of getting a VIP pass into heaven? Do comments like this mean you are a better person than anyone else?
 
Would you really be game enough to stand before God and say "God, I thank you that I am not like other people- robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or definitely not like this murderer. I donate money to charities, I help people when I'm asked to help because overall I'm a pretty good person that deserves to go to heaven because my good things outweigh the bad."
 
I pray for these people that they will realise (just like me), that I am no better than anyone else (murderers, criminals etc) and that I need forgiveness like the person who says 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner'.
 
 
 
 

How Great is Our God

I was privileged to welcome 2 new sisters in Christ last night after 6 months going through the series 'Stranger on the Road to Emmaus'.

The angels rejoice in the presence of the Lord, we rejoice with them as 2 more people have been shown the way to eternal life, have accepted that there is nothing we humans can do to be made right with God except the blood of Jesus Christ.

Courtesy of our mate Chris, sing with me:

The splendour of the the King
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice, trembles at His voice

How great is our God
Sing with me how great is our God,
And all will sing how great
How great is our God.

Age to age He stands,
And time is in His hands
The Beginning and the End, beginning and the end
The Godhead, three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb, Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God
Sing with me how great is our God,
And all will sing how great
How great is our God.

Name above all names
You are worthy of all praise
And my heart will sing
How great is our God.

Watto is my hero

Thanks to Watto (and Binga), the AUS cricket team has redeemed itself (after losing the Ashes on home soil dismally) by winning the ODI series against ENG, and fittingly at the Gabba :D

Now, let's see if the stadiums in India will be ready in time for the ICC World Cup starting in a few weeks time.

Anyone have Foxtel in their house and willing for me to camp out at their place for 2.5 months?

Anti-Self Proclamation

I was one of 2,000 people that welcomed Chris Tomlin at his 1st ever concert north of the border last night.
I don't do Easterfest, Sonfest or any of those things but as my husband and many other church friends love his songs and the way he goes about his passion for music (more on that later) we made sure we were free on this Australia Day 2011 to see Chris in person for ourselves.

Now, the extent of what I knew about Chris is pretty limited and may not be anything worthy of mention (Chris would agree with this statement, again more on that later)- an American Christian songwriter that is often seen with his frequent collaborator Ps Louie Giglio, who tours with him explaining the Christian message to those that are Christian and those that are not.

Now this was the 1st ever Christian artist concert I have ever attended. With the location at what I would call a pentacostal church I had expected there to be a mosh pit of some sort and many people filled with emotion with their hands raised. I wasn't disappointed as my expectations came true somewhat (well, minus the mosh pit).

What I was disappointed with though (and this is my personal view) was the distinct difference between the two Christian bands that were playing that night.

The first band to grace the stage was the Parachute Band from NZ. Again I don't know much about them. I got the feeling that they were the 'support act' for Chris and his band, and my viewpoint of a support act is that they should usually complement what is to come from the main artist. (I say 'usually' as I'm sure this is not always the case with many artists- take U2 for example who had Jay-Z (an R & B artist) as their support act last year.)

Anyway, after listening to both Parachute Band and then Chris, these are the things I picked up on:

Parachute Band seemed very hyped up and had the characteristics of a modern Christian band with an aim to tap into the younger generation through songs that had a modern feel to it . They used language and phrases that sounded nice and used some Christian-sounding words, but didn't have as great an impact or challenge for us to see our true selves as sinful, condemned people.

Both bands did utilise passages of Scripture throughout their sets which was pleasing to see. Without Scripture, what difference would that make to any other music artist/band?

Chris was extremely humble, which is not normally seen in any music artist. And I mean.............. truly humble.

I'm not saying that he was the 'thanks but I am just doing things that I love and feel really honoured that people will listen to my music because it comes from my heart etc etc etc' type of humbleness.

The humbleness that Chris possessed was simply ' Hi, my name is Chris. I'm so happy to be here with you all tonight, singing praises to our awesome God. All of us here on this stage are just here to assist you in encountering God if you do not know Him, and to know Him better if you do. You might be here because you saw a name shining out in neon lights. I do hope that the main reason you are here tonight is because the name you see in neon lights is no other name except the name of Jesus Christ, because there is no-one else who is worthy to be praised, honoured and glorified than Him'.

That was it- no fanfare, no statements of proclaiming one-self as being gifted or special than any other person in the room. He just saw himself as a musician that through God's grace and wisdom is able to write songs that are focused purely on everything that God is- His character, His love, His mercy, His grace, His mighty deeds, His sovereignty, His justice.

We didn't leave the concert with the thought of 'How great was Chris', but most importantly 'How great is our God'.

Lost the Plot

Firstly I had a nightmare of a dream where everyone I've ever known/knew had turned against me one way or the other, as a result of a decision which I thought wasn't that big a deal ended upbeing so important and significant for everyone else that they all deserted me.

I can't remember in detail what exactly happened but it must have extremely put them off from associating with me ever again. Therefore I was ex-communicated from all society, given the mark of condemnation for everyone to see.....................kinda like Jean Valjean having to show his yellow ticket of leave so everyone would forever associate him and treat him as an outcast.

Then I came to work and a spyware virus found its way onto my server session. This was because I now had to start from scratch all over again, researching and finding all the hens weekend activities that had been carefully planned for the past year, as our hard drive has completely died so we cannot access anything.

Hello 2011!

First day back at work for the new year.
Nothing much worthy of note.

BLT January is next week which will be great as we look at Missions and Evangelism which every person who confesses Jesus as their Lord should do every day for the rest of their lives.