Ask Steph

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 many stories start with those words.  Funny stories , sad stories , tragedies ... it's hard not to add on your own leanings as you hear or read them. So much is going around about  Oscar Pistorius at the moment, opinions, strong feelings, some fanaticism on both sides of the fence. I'm not going to go through what I think, I do believe there is far too much pre-judging going on at the moment, but I will share with you something that happened to me about 4 days go, and let you draw your own conclusions. I woke up around 5:30 am , unable to sleep, it was a hot muggy night and morning ( Melbourne has been averaging the high 30's for the last week , with unbearable humidity ) . I was feeling down , as my mother's visit was coming to an end , and all of this added up to me being unable to sleep very well. It was pitch dark in our room, the blinds are flipping brilliant at blocking out almost every smidgen of ambient and street light . I got up quietly , so a...

Just recently had a fly screen door installed by Denis , from Denis Around the House. Denis is a self-employed handyman , focussing on the smaller jobs that people just don't get to when they are either super busy - or getting on a bit in age ( he likes to help out the elderly who need a bit of a hand with odd-jobs and a spot of gardening here and there) Anyway - I digress somewhat from the point - which is that I realised fairly early on after immigrating * to Melbourne that flyscreens on windows, and flyscreen doors were far more important than security bars , locks or any other security measures. Damn them flies are a nuisance ! I could swear they lie in wait by the door , and zip inside quickly in that fraction of a moment that it's open when you rush outside slamming it behind you. Our new house came with flyscreens on every "open-able" window. We specifically asked for a security/flyscreen door on the laundry - but clean forgot to get something on the b...

Over the past few years , I've seen a number of adverts,  aimed at curbing domestic and partner violence,  where the premise seems to be " lets attack what men think is Macho, and turn it on it's head " The gist of the adverts , featuring Charlize Theron in South Africa from a few years ago , to some recent ones here in Australia ,all seem to feature this general premise of " Real Men don't ..... * insert undesired behaviour here *" And "Real men do .... * insert required behaviour and attitudes here *" I have to be honest. As jarring , as the ads are to see for the first time, I think the only people they speak to are the victims of violence. They certainly don't speak to my husband, who finds them quite offensive, and he hasn't so much as raised his voice to me in the 10 years we've been together . He's just not really capable of violence against someone ( or something ) smaller and weaker than him. To imply that he ne...

Ah man ... is there any better feeling in life than learning something new , and feeling an affinity for it , like you were born to do this thing? I just discovered that I like to hit things. Inanimate things , that are shaped a bit like giant almonds and placed on my trainers hands (that's Cory Bear , personal trainer at Fenix Fitness Fountain Gate ) . I just did some boxing yesterday in my training session - first time ever , and I loved it. What an awesome way to get a cardio workout without running, jumping, rowing or cycling ? Jab, uppercut and hook. That's what I learnt yesterday - and I punched like crazy for 30 minutes . With some really tough push ups in there as well ( who would have thought that it would HARDER to do a push up with boxing gloves on ? ) It was awesome !!!! I never realised that hitting something could be so cathartic .... fabulous stuff . So looking forward to my next training session - I hope I get to hit things again ....