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Month: November 2010

  • November 16, 2010

    Overshadowed

    Photo taken from Wellington Botanic Garden loo...

    Image via Wikipedia

    Every so often the possibility of spending some time in Australia rears its head in conversation. (Edited to add: And talk about timing – yesterday I found out a friend is moving to Perth this month…)

    As Dita De Boni points out, “Both my sisters live across the ditch and seem to have a never-ending array of incentives to lie back and think of the country’s future tax payers.”

    It’s so true. The $5k-plus baby bonus (I suppose that would sweeten the agony of labour?). And apparently T’s aunts get lump sums for their kids at Christmas.

    Add to that 9 per cent super and warmer weather, and no wonder so many Kiwis have made the leap.

    Then again, cars are expensive over there. And working in the mines does not appeal. (Of course, there are plenty of nonlabour jobs too, but mining and trucking are where the demand seems to be.) T hates the heat, and Australia in general – he takes pride in assuring me they really are as rude as people say. (Amanda, however, was lovely in person!)

    I kind of hate myself for even writing this, because I’m quite honestly exhausted with the NZ/Australia debate. Sick of surveys and colour pieces on those who’ve defected; sick of business analyses talking about “catching up with Australia” and our “low productivity”; sick of the polarising views (you’re either a fool for staying or you’re a fool for going). And given my job, I’m exposed to quite a lot of this. Heck, just recently local media picked up on a story about homeless Kiwis being flown back from Melbourne. That’s some major WTF-ery there.

    The truth is, we’re always going to be overshadowed by our bigger cousin – the one with mineral riches, the one who brought us Neighbours and Home and Away, the one that’s about eleventy million times larger in every way. It’s like we have an identity crisis – we latch on to any mention of us “punching above our weight”, as validation of our worth and existence from other countries.

    The worst thing is, we’re even fighting amongst ourselves. Lonely Planet recently named Wellington the coolest little capital, and before long, we were all scrapping about whether the title was deserved and generally playing true to the Jafa stereotype.

    Can’t we just accept us for what we are? I’ve come to accept myself for who I am – something I think all women struggle with – and now I wish my country could do the same. I’m going to do my bit by minimalising all bitching about how expensive Auckland is, at least until summer ends and I have nothing good left to say about it…

  • November 14, 2010

    Go and read this book. Immediately

    I must confess that I have long had an aversion to short stories. I quickly become immersed in the world of my characters. I quickly form attachments to these almost-real people, and to their welfare. I loathe ambiguity, and hate being left hanging. Short stories, therefore, have always been avoided.

    The Thing Around Your Neck changed all that. This is the most beautiful, heartbreaking collection of stories I have read in a long time – if not ever. Exploring themes of family, guilt, loneliness, fear, obligation, culture, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie contrasts life in Nigeria with life in the West through a rich cast of (mostly) female narrators, strong, fully fleshed out figures who live life for the most part with what they’re given, because in Africa, to dictate your own life is almost unheard of.

    If like me your world history knowledge, particularly of Africa, is pitiful, you’ll gain so much from her sketches of life in the dusty harmattan, her descriptions of simple food and rich spices, the unfamiliar, many-syllabled names a western tongue trips over.

    I came away feeling the richer for having read it and being a part of those characters’ lives for that brief period. That’s all I could ask for, really.

    And if you want to add me on Goodreads, I am, as always, eemusings.

  • November 13, 2010

    Link love (Powered by pesto and all things peanut)

    I’m curious. Who has any of the below in their house?

    – “Good silverware/china” – bonus points if it’s in a display cupboard
    – Liquor cabinet
    – Coat closet
    – Actual dining room

    Growing up, we had none of those. Imagine my surprise as I got older and saw how a lot of people lived.

    Anyway!

    MONEY

    Young And Thrifty admits to her Groupon addiction and is putting herself on a withdrawal plan (and if you’re going to Hawaii, check out her post on the Go Oahu card).

    Jackie at Moneycrush lists the 12 financial temptations.

    Need some inspiration to boost that bottom line? Read Get Rich Slowly’s super-guide to supercharging your income.

    Little House blogs about budgeting using dollars versus percentages.

    So apparently Kim Kardashian has launched a credit card. WTF-ery aside for the moment, I think Kevin’s take sums it up.

     

    WORK

    A guest post on Penelope Trunk about when it’s right to choose a temp job over a permanent one.

    Adam at Man vs Debt rethinks the messages he’s sending his daughter about “having” to work.

    Dollars and Deadlines explains how to simultaneously write two articles on the same topic for different markets. She also talks opportunity cost; I’ve been on both sides of the fence – set rates and per-hour rates, and it’s certainly frustrating to find your time blowing out on stories for the former.

    Ben at No Ordinary Rollercoaster interviews Rene Ross, a champion for the rights of sex workers in Halifax.

    Which office stereotype are you? Lawyer Working Girl has the answers…

    LIFE and everything else

    Teri at Your Life Sentence offers her take on Gwyneth Paltrow’s new song, Country Strong.

    So Caroline Says retells the shock of finding out that her dad proposed to her mother…without a ring!

    Geek in Heels has a guest post on moving from the suburbs and adapting to city life.

    Another awesome guest post…Not That Kind Of Girl vacates the stage temporarily to give us an insight into The Ex’s mind. AND THERE’S VIDEO!

    Hannah Katy pens a love letter with a difference.

    The Backpacking Journalist shares her experience of dining in the dark.

    Amber answers some questions about the pesco-vegetarian diet.

  • November 11, 2010

    The most natural reflex doesn’t seem to come easily to me

    I’ve been having trouble breathing lately.

    I mentioned once that I breathe really heavily (or so I’ve been told) and  I always wake up all dried out from breathing through my mouth. I get a tight chest when I sit in hot pools or spas. I also sometimes find myself mouth-breathing by default throughout the day; it’s just easier.

    I started to get a bit worried when I read the other day (unfortunately I didn’t save the link) that you should be able to keep up a conversation while you run. Er, no. If I was snailing it along with a verrrrry light jog, perhaps. But my usual pace? No fucking way.

    Not long after that, I was walking to the bus stop – it wasn’t quite dark yet, but there was certainly a bite to the air. Suddenly a tightness in the chest hit me, forcing me to resort to air-sucking like I’d just been held underwater. And it’s not the first time that’s happened, although not to the same extreme.

    Maybe I’m borderline asthmatic? Or maybe it’s my sinuses playing up more than usual. I don’t know. I’m not really too worried, but I must admit I’m starting to wonder.

  • November 10, 2010

    When schedules clash…

    “I’ll take Saturday off if you take Saturday off.”

    That’s what he said to me, after a short discussion on how we don’t have enough time to spend with each other.

    But me taking Saturday off is not the same as him taking Saturday off. Saturday is a regular working day for me, and not for him. Saturday is an 8-hour day for me, and if he chooses to work Saturday, it’s usually a 6-hour day.

    Me taking Saturday off means missing out on a day of double pay; for him, it just means giving up extra “nice to have” cash.

    Here’s a little overview of our usual working schedules and how they mesh:

    (His working hours are 6-2, but they often work til 5. 11-hour days, eek!)

    At least two weekday nights are usually a write off for me due to other commitments. He’s also usually out late one or two nights himself, often on completely different nights. The only blocks of time we really get together for sure are weekend mornings. And that’s why it bugs me when he works Saturdays.

    The job that he nearly got before this job would have seen him working the night shift, and would have actually meant more time together (four mornings a week!) Despite that, and the money, I’m kind of glad he didn’t; it would have been quite disruptive and no doubt terrible for his already irregular eating patterns. Not to mention those four mornings would be a tradeoff for basically no waking hours together on the other three days of the week.

    Yeah, it’s a pain not having any regular days off together. It means rushed Sunday morning grocery shopping. It means sometimes coming home to a snoring boyfriend and a kitchen full of rubbish and dishes. It means no spontaneous weekend trips.

    But it’s a career move, and it means a difference of up to $10k (or more) over a year. I’m going to make the most of it while I can.

    Now, I’m sure I’m not the only one out there working conflicting/opposing schedules to their other half. How do you manage your time effectively?

  • November 9, 2010

    Car hunting: Things to look out for

    So, the car search is tentatively on.

    Here’s what we want. It will be a four-door, at least 1500cc and we’re looking to spend up to about $5k. Maybe a little more. Preferably a Toyota (Corolla, Corona). Toyotas, well, go forever.

    I suppose we might be willing to entertain the thought of another Mazda (or equivalent Ford), possibly a Nissan. We’re staying away from Hondas, Hyundais, and anything European. (I know you Yanks all seem to have a thing for Hondas, but the Dog and Lemon guide disagrees. As do I; I have observed a sharp decline in the number of old Hondas I’ve seen on the roads in the last couple of years, and that’s probably for a good – or bad, rather – reason).

    Reliability is key. Safety, not to much. In fact, Dog and Lemon deemed our current car reliable but an accident risk, simply because it was “small and light” nor did it have airbags. Which is sweet with me; the odds of being in a serious accident concern me far less than the likelihood of a breakdown.

    When it comes to narrowing the field, we’ll be looking at:

    Mileage. Obviously, the fewer the better; around 100,000km would probably be about right. Even less would be ideal. This also means we have to be hyper careful and ensure the cambelt has been changed.

    Age. The newer the better. In this price range, mid to late 90s would be realistic, bordering on hopeful. Seeing as Toyotas and Mazdas are such longlifers, they’re valued accordingly.

    Engine capacity. We don’t want anything below a 1.5l, and if we end up getting a wagon, 2l would be better. No 1.3l Corsas for us!

    Consider ease of procuring replacement parts. Ideally, a fairly common model so we can continue to visit Pickapart when things break.

    This probably goes without saying, but it needs to be a petrol car. No diesel versions for us; road taxes suck, as do emissions, and repairs should things go south.

    We’ll probably go for a private sale again, but this time we might consider dealers or auctions.

    What factors do you consider when car shopping?

  • November 8, 2010

    City livin’

    Auckland New Zealand, Skyline from Harbour

    Image via Wikipedia

    According to various Facebook apps, the cities I belong in are Beijing (wha???) and NYC (again…really? I’m a city girl, but I think the Big Apple would be too big for me).

    Which got me thinking. I alternately love and loathe Auckland. I hate the temperamental weather, drivers, traffic, crappy public transport, high cost of living. But I heart the surroundings – beach, bush, etc, and you know, when summer’s good, it’s GOOD. I love the cultural diversity, and the fact that I can get any cuisine I want (although I hear Wellington is even better in this area?), be it restaurant food or ingredients at ethnic stores.

    I know I’ll never return to live in Malaysia. And I will almost certainly settle here, because it’s where my heart is.

    But maybe that’ll change in the future. I just don’t know, and I guess I can’t say until I’ve been to more cities and countries and continents and opened my eyes up more.

    Readers, where do you think my ideal city would be? Bearing in mind I love the beach and the ocean (despite being unable to swim properly), hate the wet and cold (although I’m not fond of sweltering conditions either…somewhere mild?) don’t drive, love food of all kinds and enjoy greenery as much as concrete jungle. Based on that very limited information, I’m sure you’ll come up with some awesome places I’d never even thought of.

    What city would you love to live in?

  • November 7, 2010

    Guest post: From student to 9-5 worker

    My Cubicle @ Work

    Image by Vincent Ma via Flickr

    When I graduated last fall I was one of the very few from my class to get a job straight out of college. And while I was thankful — the money in my pockets made me grin — I wasn’t truly “happy.” I was tired all the time. I missed my friends and family that I was forced to leave behind. And that 9 to 5 schedule? Yeah— it got real monotonous real quick.

    Let me be the first to say that the transition from college student to the working life can be difficult. But it’s different for everyone. While some can adapt more quickly, others linger in that weird limbo stage of being a half-grown up, half-student. But there are some ways to make the transition a little easier. Below are some points recent grads need to watch out for and some ways to deal if you’re caught between both the student and professional world.

    Rigid Schedule
    In college most students tailor their class schedules to meet their own personal needs. (Ed – I missed out on this, and resent it! Damn you AUT and your inflexible Communications courses.) You’re not a morning person? No problem. You can simply take a class in the afternoon. You like to have lots of breaks to take naps? No problem. You can spread your classes sporadically throughout the day. The point is, students are used to doing things on their own time and to their own liking. Once you enter the professional world however, this changes. You will have a strict schedule of how long your lunch break is and when you need to arrive to work. And don’t think that if you arrive to work just a few minutes late that your boss will let it slide like your professor—you could be “written up” for your infraction. Too many and you can get fired.

    Get Some Sleep
    So why were you late in the first place? Did you stay up till 4am drinking beers with your buddies or lose track of time tuning-in on the Family Guy marathon? In college you may have been able to stay awake till all odd hours of the night and stagger into class in your pajamas the next morning, but you can’t do this in the professional world. You need to be able to present yourself in a professional manner everyday and must come to work energised and clear-headed so that you can focus and do what your bosses are paying you to do—your job.

    How are you going to successfully accomplish your tasks at hand if you’re falling asleep at your desk? Do your best to get the standard 6 to 8 hours of sleep. It might be difficult at first but try to make set a sleep schedule. For example, you go to bed at midnight and wake up at 7am everyday. If you are a heavy sleeper, by all means set more than one alarm to get yourself going in the morning. But chances are if you stick with your schedule your body will build an eternal alarm clock and you will start waking up on time on your own.

    Eat Right
    Even if you do get an adequate amount of sleep, sometimes your body can get tired because you are dehydrated or you are not nourishing your body with the proper nutrients and vitamins. With that said, you collegiate diet of Ramen Noodles and boxed macaroni and cheese needs to go. If you don’t have time to cook, try to make smart food choices when going out to eat, loading up on energising fruits and veggies such as apples, pears and dark leafy greens such as broccoli and spinach. Avoid dehydrating drinks such as soda and alcohol and consume more water.

    Make New Friends
    Part of the reason the transition is so hard is because you miss your college friends. While this can make things difficult you can always make new friends. A good place to start is at the workplace. Your coworkers are the ones who will not only make coming to work every day more pleasant but will give you praise for your achievements and promotions and will encourage you to stay strong if times get rough.

    Have Fun
    Remember that just because you may feel like you’re a 40-year-old because your new schedule forces you to go to bed by midnight that doesn’t mean that you are. You’re young and it’s important that you still find time to have fun. There is no rule that says you can’t continue to do the things you found enjoyable in college such as dancing, drinking or playing video games till 5 a.m. Just try to save these activities for the weekend so that it does not interfere with work.

    This guest post is contributed by Kate Willson, who writes about top online colleges.

  • November 6, 2010

    Link love (Powered by barbecues, fireworks and surprisingly sweet treats)

    Snapshots of the past two weeks:

    Day trip up to Mangawhai beach...

    Getting busy in the kitchen...Eggplant pizza with leftover roast stuffing, plus the usual toppings

    Blueberry and cream cheese muffins

    and to the links…

    WORK

    Carol Tice offers advice on how to snag lucrative writing clients.

    Shopaholly blogs on dealing with rejection (the girl has only ever missed on two job interviews! Cripes).

    Girl Normal offers a peek into her office’s take on workplace safety.

    MONEY

    Punch Debt eats some humble pie after getting a little perspective on how good he has it compared to others, something I definitely feel from time to time.

    Well-Heeled asks how much you spend on dating. (The list is exhausting, but as many singles pointed out, a lot of those expenses, like clothes, are thing you’d buy nonetheless.)

    Small Steps for Big Change learns some lessons from watching Say Yes to the Dress.

    Ashley reminds us that no matter how you got into debt (she accumulated it through education), it doesn’t matter – the key is getting out and staying out.

    Meg at World of Wealth muses on the amount of cash involved in the charity industry, and asks if your spending is in line with your values – since I’ve started earning a fulltime wage and tracking everything closely, I’m happy to say mine, more or less, reflects what’s important to me. Er, namely food. And concerts. And holidays/travel.

    FOOD

    I’ve never made doughnuts, but Rina’s recipe is now next on my list (which is growing faster than I can ever hope to cross things off.)

    Followed by these buckeyes, via Smitten Kitchen.

    Closet Cooking whips up a pepper, feta and quinoa salad just BURSTING with colour.

    This Delish Living chicken almondine bake sounds suitably scrumptious.

    Knife skills are pretty important basic skill to get right. I don’t think I can unlearn the bad habits I’ve made up, but this Stoneoup post and video helped…

    LIFE

    Kiwi transplants Franci and family, the Aliens in the Apple, reflect on the time they’ve spent in NYC so far and adjusting to their new life.

    Random, but I just had to share: Little House on the Southern Prairie has super useful advice on using cloth nappies!

    The maternal thread continues…Geek in Heels shares her thoughts on parenthood, now that she’s been a mother for just over a month.

    Amanda asks if you tend to vote for a candidate or a party. Or do you not vote at all?

    At Stratejoy, selfconfessed perfectionist Alisha explains how she combats her worst habit.

    Carrie Actually explains how to get the most out of Goodreads. Which reminds me, I’ve been slack…

  • November 4, 2010

    October roundup

    These roundups include mine/joint expenses, but not any of T’s blow money, which also includes any work lunches and the odd work expense.

    Clothes and grooming – Mostly my new Trilogy Everything Balm – a godsend and my new holy grail of skincare. Packed with natural oils (including rosehip), it’s totally transformed my parched skin. It’s also good for the rest of the body – dry spots, eczema etc. I’ve heard people compare it to Elizabeth Arden eight-hour cream, even.

    Debt repayments – T trucking along with repaying me, albeit slowly as his hours fluctuated this month.

    Dining and bars – A little higher than usual; we had some wicked Indian food at Diwali, dumplings and soup at hidden gem/diamond in the rough New Flavour restaurant; wonton soup when I was sick; and other miscellany.

    Entertainment – Two ridiculously overpriced drinks at Vector Arena on Metallica night, our Fatso subscription, and a rogue $20 withdrawal I can’t quite place.

    Groceries – We shop on weekends. It was a five weekend month. Amazingly, we’re right on target taking that into consideration.

    Holidays – T’s charter fishing trip I booked for his birthday.

    Home expenses – Replacing our TV/laptop.

    Mystery shopping – This month included purchases of a meal and drinks out and a long necklace from Max (reimbursed, obviously).

    Savings – as usual, only counts T’s and “extra” savings on my part, not regular savings (44% of my net, woot!)

    T fun – Xbox subscription, which had to be paid by credit card.

    Utilities – ever so slightly lower than usual thanks to our AECT dividend which was credited to our power account, but almost made up for by higher cellphone/Sky TV bills.

    Vehicle and transport – $100 new car battery, $101.40 bus, leaving less than $200 on gas which is nothing short of primo.

    So far, frugal November isn’t off to the best start. We’re talking $50 on clothes – I found the perfect pair of summer sandals, and T has to buy some shirts for work. Also, our quarterly contents insurance payment is due. It also looks like some car expenses will be rearing their ugly head – necessary but painful.

    Still, who can dwell on the negative when the weather is this glorious???

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