Ask Steph

#PrintChat ... That incredible weekly event that I am thoroughly addicted For a brief overview - here's my 40 second snap of what it is ... I've listed Print Chat times for the AU and NZ cities below the video , hope to see you there !

I've been here 6 years ... I've chosen to become an Australian citizen, and now in a couple of weeks time  I will vote for the first time in federal and state elections. I've done the local elections couple of years ago. Honestly was not impressed with who won, so I moved. That was a joke, we didn't move because a labor thug won our ward, there were a lot more pressing and urgent reasons why we sold the house and moved. But yes, as you can tell, I don't have much time for the labor party.  Here's what I've learned in these 6 years ( for my fellow dual nationals ) :  1) There are many more choices than liberal or labor, the media however goes to great lengths to ensure you don't hear about them.  2) Liberals and labor stand for very little beyond points scoring and keeping power. There are very few debates of substance , and if you want to know what they stand for you're going to have to do a lot of your own leg work.  3) Labor is ...

Who would have known. I've been in Australia 6 years, long enough to acclimate and take up citizenship, and I only just saw my first real live possum in my garden this month. I have lived in fairly new residential estates up to now, and I've moved into an older more established suburb recently. Where the trees and wildlife have recovered somewhat from the trauma of installing a new suburb over an old paddock of grass or farmland.  And there they were, 2 furry strange looking buggers running up and down my fence like a double act marsupial Spider-Men. They kinda look like a cross between a kangaroo and a meerkat. But stranger looking. Two observations - first, they are a lot bigger than I thought. I've always had this impression of them as being somewhere between a small rabbit and a large rat. They were much bigger than that. Turns out, the ones I saw were bush-tail possums . Locally called Bushy's apparently .  Second - That tail is something quite impr...

So I'm going to try something new this year . I'm moving my gratitude journal online into my blog . I keep a small book next to my bed, and most evenings, I write down something that I am grateful for. It's usually one word, maybe a sentence or 2 , and sometimes a whole page. Whenever I am feeling a bit down, flattened by life, or super stressed, I read it, and remember all the things in my life that are good, and worth holding onto. So this year, I'm going to go online.

Aussie-fication. That process whereby one becomes a naturalised citizen of the Aussie Aussie Aussie , Oi Oi Oi Universe. Not to be confused with a simple citizenship ceremony. Those are so 1990 darl. I am an Aussie (with some sad but ingrained Saffer DNA , it's a tough life mate). And I almost have the certificate to prove it. Aussie-fication begins in earnest the first time you use the word mate. Sincerely and without satire, sarcasm or feeling self-conscious.

So I noticed somewhere around March or April that I've been endorsed for some of my skills- and I'm very grateful to the new contacts and ex-colleagues and friends who have taken the time to endorse me. I've also noticed - and I shall keep names out of it - that some of my skills ( which I do have) have been endorsed by people that could not possibly have experienced or witnessed those skills. Because  I know them in a completely different sphere than the skills they have now endorsed. For example. I know some SQL . I know it because I learnt it by working on an Oracle database while being a Business Analyst at Discovery Health . Unless you have worked with me at Discovery ( and even then , I did a lot of different things at Discovery Health) you wouldn't really be able to endorse my SQL skills. I also know a fair bit about databases and database management. Not all of it by direct experience mind you, but because in working with DBA's over the years I have pi...

I was asked a while back if I thought it was worth it, immigrating to Australia. I wrote back to my friends, and published a long sad story on this blog at the time. I discussed the things I missed about South Africa, and the things I really didn't miss. I discussed the reasons why I love Australia, and that ultimately, I noted that I was still in that middle ground. Unable to go back , because I couldn't, and wouldn't want to go back. And not quite yet settled enough in my new home to say that it was worth moving. It's a really unpleasant no-mans-land . And one that you really cannot relate to, or understand in the slightest unless you have been there. I am please to say however , that a mere 10 months on , and 2 months ahead of schedule , I am quite well and truly no longer on the fence.

As a South African, it's really easy to take for granted the number of Public Holidays that the country has. Sometimes it can seem like they all blur into this mass of unproductive hours that cost the country time and money. For me, it has taken an immigration, and watching an ANZAC Day Parade to fully appreciate the meaning behind the holidays in South Africa. We don't make a big deal out of the holidays in South Africa.  Freedom Day, coming up now on Saturday the 27th April is a celebration of our first democratic and fair elections. Do we really feel that celebration ? Is it just another Braai Day , or long weekend? Why do we not make a massive deal out of our bloodless revolution? I watched the ANZAC Parade today , in my small town , about an hour's drive out of the Melbourne City Centre. It was in no way , as massive as the Melbourne City ANZAC service and Parade where thousands of people line the streets of the city to watch thousands of Veterans, the curren...

So sometimes I am just blown away by random statistics. And sometimes , I am just blown away by the seemingly random, but actually good to know little factoids that feature in my line of work. Like the fact that there are just on 23 million small businesses in America 1 -  a small business being one that employs between 0 and 20 people. I would assume 0 means it's just the owner by his lonesome doing the work, otherwise, is Casper helping out ? This number blows my mind because I currently live in a country with a total population not far off that number. In fact the statisticians officially predicted we'd be over the 23 million mark at 9:57 pm last night . or so I am told by the news media. And I come from a country ( South Africa) with a population just shy of double that amount - South Africa was at 51 million people as at the 2011 census. Where 12 million people in total live in Gauteng, which is the financial hub and powerhouse of the country. And here's Am...

I am a very happy person this week. This week has landed me 2 exceptional experiences - both of which are firmly cementing in my mind that coming to live, and work in Australia was the best decision we made. I cannot wait to apply for citizenship. Don't get me wrong - my heart aches endlessly for my family and friends back in South Africa, I will miss and lament those gorgeous African Highveld thunderstorms and sunsets . I just cannot get away from our enormous good fortune in this wonderful country though. Firstly - I've had some really good news about being accepted into a program called GAP - sponsored in the most part by the State Government of Victoria . Which helps businesses to identify marketing opportunities and do research into the American or Chinese markets. Second - I've had the unforeseen pleasure of applying for an American visa as a result of the first bit of good news - and was cheerfully surprised at how streamlined the process is . Entirely online...

Amazing how when you think your life is boring that the Universe, Murphy or whatever higher power mythology you subscribe to suddenly takes things into a different direction.

Just one small tip for a newly arrived immigrant to Australia : start making friends early on . Go out and meet people, join clubs , find a hobby , chat to the people that you meet through other people. Chat with the Mums at your kids school. Rugby tackle the lady who drops off your post if you have to. You will need them. Women need a gaggle of helpers when they get a haircut . Particularly dramatic changes from very long to short. It's a traumatic thing. What we don't need is a husband who tells us it will make us look fatter than what we already are. Seriously.

So here I am - 3 weeks into the new me , exercising under supervision , feeling like a million bucks , and 'BANG' it hits me . A sore back . Some referred pain down my leg, and numb tingly toes when I stretch my hamstring.  To say that I am not a happy camper , would be like saying a few drops of rain is not hurricane . It's an inane, obvious , understatement which cannot possibly tell the full story of my disappointment and frustration. Now those of you who follow my facebook posts , will know that I suffered some back issues late last year , which took me a few months to get over . You may also know that the doctor put me onto heavy doses of vitamin D for my back aches . (As a side note , you should google back pain ,  vitamin D, and Saudi Arabia - it's a very interesting read. ) On with my story - the vitamin D did not help - and once I started with the numbness in my toes and feet , I scooted off to the doctor poste haste for a follow up. After having a CT ...

This weekend has been dedicated to getting the final touches on my guest room , in preparation for my in-laws who arrive in a week's time to visit from South Africa. Part of that process has involved finally unpacking the last of the boxes that we brought with us from South Africa over 2 years ago. And putting all my curtains into the car to go and drop off at a charity somewhere during the week. So here's some things you don't think about when leaving South Africa. Getting rid of perfectly good things that you don't need any more, and finding someone to give them to. No problem in South Africa , something of a conundrum here in Oz.

Carrying on from my post about what I like about Australia - The chips  Oh. My. Word. Tiny little carbohydrate bombs made of heaven and rapturous wonderment. Almost every single take-away joint does an amazing packet of chips. I'm not sure what it is ;  my current working hypothesis is that Australians, through their own love of carbs, and fats have evolved a distinct set of genes that allows them to instinctively cook a perfect batch of chips time,  after time, after time. Not crisps , like Simba Chips, or Willards , or Smiths - but the hot chips in packets with a smattering of just the right amount of Salt or Aromat ( although Aromat is called Chicken Salt here in Australia - go figure) . Macca's french fries be damned, the home made jobbies are the best I have ever tasted without fail. Melbourne has awesome food and awesome coffee  I've been up north to Sydney, they have better weather. I've been up to the Gold Coast , and they have better beaches ...

I've been reading back some of my posts , and whilst none of them are untrue , I have realised that I only really blog about South Africa , when I am feeling a bit homesick. See, the thing is , when things are good, and when I am too busy to feel depressed, then nobody really get's to hear about it. I thought that it was probably a little unfair to Australia, so in this post, I will list all the reasons why I think Australia is a good place to live.

So remember how I was whining in the previous post about the dearth of amazing hairdressers in Australia? Well , it seems the Universe read my blog, and decided to show me wrong ... and am I glad it did . Cue the Hallelujah Chorus .... (press play if you'd like ...) Let me start this tale , with a bit of background and context regarding where I came from in my journey to find a new hair artiste extraordinaire  ..

WRAPPED = to wrap something up ("I wrapped the gift before I gave it to Jess for her birthday") RAPPED = to hit or smack - it mostly gets used to describe a figurative 'hitting' ( I got " rapped over the knuckles" by my Boss today )  RAPT = with wonderment and joy ("I am rapt with joy when I walk into the shops and see gluten free food")  The definitions have been added to this post on 10 October 2012 as a result of almost all people ending up on this post while searching for the correct spelling or usage of wrapped/rapped /rapt . "Wrapt" is a common misspelling of rapt , and is increasingly becoming used as an alternate spelling of wrapped. Neither are correct if you're an old fuddy duddy like me . It's wrapped , or rapt , depending on the context of your sentence.  Now - on with the original post -  I hope you will continue and read it , and enjoy it  - Steph  Australians talk a very unique brand of English -- locally...

It's a one of those rare warm days in Melbourne. Fantabulous weather for a spot of gardening - say what old chum? So - I have discovered the joys of weed-eaters. ( weed-whackers if you're American, and whirly something or other  if you're Australian) We have bought a petrol one, 2 reasons mainly , firstly the battery ones are just to piddly to handle the vicious grass we have round the side of our rental house. Durban Blue has nothing on this stuff, I'm wishing for some pansy ass African veld-grass right about now actually. And secondly because we are responsible for clearing away the weeds when construction begins on our house. Seriously. It's another one of those strange, strange things about being in Australia. Just before the building company takes possession ( as it were) of your stukkie grond . You are responsible to clear away any tall grass and weeds.

Happy new year , for anyone on my side of the date line of course ...... And for everyone else still celebrating - have a good one. And be safe . Don't drink and drive  and all that other public safety announcement stuff. Drinking excessively is a problem - Violent people get more violent. And then there are those lovely mild-mannered sweet-hearts who turn into Mr Hyde at the whiff of a vodka tonic. Not that I'm innocent of course - I have been known to partake of the fermented by-product from grapes , as well as some potato juice on occasion. And I was the quintessential student in my day - roaring it up on drinking nights , held in check only by my very short pockets, rather than any attempt to remain responsible. But I'll not bore you to death with my strong opinions on that matter - at least not today anyway. The reason I mention it is because Melbourne Metlink provided free public transport to all and sundry last night from 6pm onwards , all night long. And I c...