P & O; now this is how to holiday! (this is one of their advertising slogans)

Well I’m not actually sure of that as this is my first ever cruise, so I will fill you in on my experience on my return. Though I am pretty sure I will have a ball.

I’m sitting in a Brisbane Cafe waiting to board the Pacific Sun for a 14 day cruise around New Zealand. As my flight to Brisbane was early this morning I was the second person to check in for the cruise.
How absolutely wonderful to actually have a holiday (annual leave)!

I can’t wait to check out the onboard gym, casino, dance classes, performances and much more. I also have my travel sickness tablets ready just in case.

I have already met a June and Terry from Mount Perry. June thought I worked on the cruise and was a gym instructor! Ha ha must be my addidas shorts and joggers that threw her!

I’m still waiting for my friend that used to work with me in Darwin, I  havn’t seen this lady for about eight years. Let’s hope we are fun roomies!
She is bringing me a lai and skirt for our Hawiian night an I have a Cowboy hat and shirt for our Western night!!

Hhhhmmmm not seeing any HOT single middle aged men around!

Not sure when my next story will be……..stay tunned.

From the earliest white settlement at the end of the 18th century, Australians have striven to celebrate a national day, and in so doing, define what it means to be Australian. January 26 1788 has traditionally marked the landing of Captain Arthur Phillip at Port Jackson in present-day Sydney, thereby claiming Australia for the British Empire. Early settlers, perhaps naturally, marked the anniversary.

Australia Day has evolved from a small commemorative New South Wales holiday into a major national celebration. Though it has often been criticised, it remains the most inclusive celebration of a national day in Australia, expressing the national diversity which has become such an important part of the Australian national character.

Australia Day today celebrates diversity and tolerance in Australian society. Whereas once it celebrated the staunchly British nature of Australian society (or was disparaged for this approach), it now embraces multicultural Australia, including all ethnic backgrounds, racial differences and political viewpoints.

What a pleasure to be able to converse with Mr Lawrence Springborg MP last night, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the LNP. Earlier in the week I had received an invitation from our local LNP member Mr Ted Sorensen to join local candidate colleagues for drinks with their special guest Mr Springborg at the Wheelhouse Restaurant in Hervey Bay. He had flown in earlier in the day in his helicopter and was staying the night at the Mantra.

Lawrence was easy to talk to and well articulated, some of the different things we discussed in conversation were:

Pure Blonde low carb beer and calorie counting -
“Calories aren’t bad it’s the carbs that kill you, if you don’t burn the carbs they turn into fat. One must cut out cabs at night. Carbs are killers!”

What was Lawrence drinking?
“Apple juice, low GI”

Why did he have writing on the palm of his hand and not a notebook like myself?
“That is my notebook I write on my hand all the time.”

What do you think of the recession?
“Big excuse for why Rudd failed”

What do you think of the Traveston Dam issue?
LNP would not go ahead with the Traveston Dam, not now, now ever.

What did he think of “The Biggest Loser”, reality TV show?
I don’t watch it but my wife and daughter love it.

Do you come to Hervey Bay often?
Yes over the years my mother in law lives in Hervey Bay. I have been coming here since 1987.

Did you meet your wife in Hervey Bay?
No Brisbane….

Just after 7pm after being introduced by Steve Dixon the Wide Bay Chair for the LNP who stated, “I want to live in a Queensland I feel proud of” …then Ted Sorensen MP  who said, “I want to get our fair share of the money coming into Queensland”…..a very fit looking Mr Springborg took the stage.

He spoke about being here to support the cause of LNP Queensland and especially our Hervey Bay candidate Ted Sorensen stating he is a decent representative that doesn’t take people for granted. He is a community champion that will fight for the area and how he needs our support to get him across the line. He believes Queensland is the best state in Australia and that we can make it even better. If we support Ted and with 21 other seats elected the LNP will win for Queensland at the next election.

He also touched on how Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Premier Anna Bligh are talking people into an economic depression.  People deserve better they have been let down by 10 years of Labor Government. There is eight months till the next election.

The invitation said this is an ideal occasion for you to raise the issues that you may have concerning Hervey Bay and our State of Queensland. I really wanted to hear what the new policies for our area would be as to date I have heard nothing. How can one decide who to vote for when you don’t know what their policies are? Mr Springborg’s policies are online here but I’m eager to learn what Teds are for the Fraser Coast area…..

The Local Government Act 1993 requires a Council to prepare and adopt a corporate plan for a period of at least four years.
The plan is a high level strategic document that provides a framework for Council on the direction for the region and guides decision making and policy development.

Click here to download a draft of the Fraser Coast Regional Council Corporate Plan 2009 – 2013
 

To have your say on the Corporate Plan please click here, the closing date for submissions is Friday 30 January 2009.

The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country.’  – George W. Bush

‘If we don’t succeed, we run the risk of failure.’  – George W. Bush

‘One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is “to be prepared”.’  – George W. Bush

‘I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.’  - George W. Bush

‘The future will be better tomorrow.’ – George W. Bush

‘We’re going to have the best educated American people in the world.’  – George W. Bush

‘I stand by all the misstatements that I’ve made.’  – George W Bush

‘We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe . We are a part of Europe ‘  – George W. Bush

‘Public speaking is very easy.’ – George W. Bush

‘A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls.’  – George W. Bush

‘I have opinions of my own — strong opinions — but I don’t always agree with them.’  – George Bush

‘We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.’ – George W. Bush

‘For NASA, space is still a high priority.’  – George W. Bush

‘Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children.’  – George W. Bush

‘It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.’ – George W. Bush

For more BUSHISMS please click here

Yesterday at work I received a tip off that I may soon be receiving official news that I have finally completed my masters degree. For the past two years I have been studying a Masters of Professional Studies externally which is based on your place of employment, therefore I have been analysing the expansion of Design House. 

The Master of Professional Studies is designed to enable professionals to engage in the highest form of authentic learning: to study as they engage in real world, real time activity; and to combine their work and study in ways that lead to benefits for both the individual and the organisation….. 

I decided some preliminary celebratory drinks may be in order and hit the town. Everywhere was extremely quiet except the nightclub which was having their Official Opening! We had been informed they had renovated and the music would be suited to people of all ages so we decided to take a look.

The infamous Seven’s nightclub in Hervey Bay has been renamed to Rumaz and has new licensees, local couple Mark and Sarah from the newly formed business Coastal Security Services who have extensive experience in the security industry. I have noticed their new security officers at several venues around town and have been extremely impressed with how polite, professional and helpful they are in comparison to the norm.

 I decided to analyse my first ever Rumaz experience, based on my experience and others feedback;

Pro’s:

1. Locks on the ladies toilet doors (first time in about 10 years)
2. Larger dance floor!!!!
3. More seating and comfortable couches
4. Caught up with friends and had a nice chat with Mark & Sarah
5. Alcohol available 

Con’s:

1. $10 cover charge ($3 increase)
2. Music was absolutely crap (so bad my friend left within 20mins = loss of sales at the bar)
3. Didn’t get to dance (main reason for attending), as I don’t do drugs I’m not interested in jumping up and down on the spot to thumping music drinking only water
4. Man handled by security officer (waiting for person giving me a lift home, my drink was snatched from my hand, thrown in the bin and my upper arm grabbed and I was pulled off the chair, hhhmmmm inappropriate behaviour at any time to say the least) 

Conclusion;
If the music catered for all tastes and if I was given the option to finish or place my drink in the bin I think I would have had “an absolute ball”…… fixing the music issue would also attract larger crowds, if every patron knew they would enjoy their experience, every time, this would in turn create positive word of mouth referral……..more dancing = more drinking = more revenue……..it’s early days yet so let’s hope the perfect clubbing experience is fine tunned for Hervey Bay patrons and our tourists……!!! 

If anyone can develop a good reputation for the club and get it pumping, lets hope it will be Mark & Sarah!!!
I might wait for some positive feedback before returning…..

I get extremely irritated hearing POOR ME from people and negative excuses about exercise and life matters in general!

One must lose all negativity from their vocabulary, thinking and their life…. if something isn’t right don’t complain about it, set a plan in place to fix it or turn it into a positive.

Once again ‘Be the Best You, You can Be!”. Take the higher road, get fit, learn more, live more, love more and laugh more!!!

Once you start to change for the better friends that are negative or non supportive will drift away with contempt and you will attract a new network of positive people who appreciate you for who you are, without even realising this is happening!

A lot of people just exist in a mundane day to day routine and life passes them by.
Take control of your life, make choice’s that will take your life in a positive direction, embrace change, be assertive, plan new routine’s, gain balance and Live Your Best Life!

It’s the law of attraction; what you put out is what you get back. Be negative and you will attract negativity. Be positive and watch the positivity and good fortune that comes your way. (The Secret)

Some reading / books to help your journey…

1.         Feel the Fear . . . and Do It Anyway – by Susan Jeffers

2.         Be Your Best – by Linda Adams

3.         Life Strategies: Doing What Works, Doing What Matters – by Dr Phil

4.         The Road Less Travelled – by M.Scott Peck, M.D.

5.         The Secret – by Rhonda Byrne

(all these books will be available on Amazon or at your local book store)

Oprah says, Live Your Best Life!  But what does that mean?

To me this means;

Be the Best YOU, YOU Can Be! …and create BALANCE in all aspects of YOUR Life Journey!  (Health & Fitness, Wellness, Finances & Work, Knowledge & Education, Relationships & Spirituality)

Here’s an eye opening test to try: Click here, What’s your Real Age?

I’ve been doing a lot of work on myself over the last year and am pretty happy with my result when taking this test. I’m definitely on track; I’m six months off being my real age.  Are you? Or are you in for a big shock!
At the start of last year I think I would have been about at least 36 years of age! From reviewing my result breakdown if I changed a few things, my age may come up closer to 30 years old, younger than what I actually am.

Take the test it may shock you into finding balance in your life or changing your diet and exercise. It’s never too late to start, 12 months and you can be a whole new person.

To find out more on Living Your Best Life for 2009 go to Oprah.com where you will find all the information to get you started.

Well it was off to Bayswater Restaurant at Peppers Resort in Hervey Bay for New Years Eve with seven friends and who should we run into but the honorable Mayor of Hervey Bay, Mr Mick Kruger. We all celebrated together and had an absolute alcohol infused ball, with some serious dancing, a loud count down and fantastic fireworks as per the rest of the nation!

For some reason all the windows / doors in the main bar were closed and the temperature was close to that of a sauna. After numerous complaints from all I asked a two different staff members to open them but they wouldn’t. I therefore asked the Mayor to ask at the bar when ordering his next beverage to have the doors opened before we fainted and on returning PRESTO the doors were opened!!

How nice to have some pull around town!

Next trip to the bar the Mayor and I decided to see if we could have the lights dimmed for some serious dancing and on returning just as he sat down PRESTO the lights were dimmed and the dance floor that had been empty except for myself and a friend was suddenly full!

Next trip I should have had Mick ask if we could have FREE drinks at our table!!!

We also brought some very trendy glow sticks to raise money for Bowel Cancer, quite the fashion statement on the night!
Thanks to all it was a fabulously fun night…