Wednesday, November 29, 2006

My Operation

So long time not blog huh? Considering my normal blogging obssessive ways!

But as a lot of people out there know already I had an operation (in fact a week ago today)and I have been recovering over the last week or so (my final day off is tommorrow).

Well last Wednesday I had to get up bright and early to be out at Kenepuru Hospital in Porirua at 8am and seriously a big hug out to Ange who took the day off work to take me, mum and Rich all the way out to Kenepuru Hospital and back again!

The operation itself wasn't actually too bad - the general anesthetic wasn't that fun - I didn't mind going under that much it was just when I woke up I was really groggy and over the following few days my brain didn't seem to be working too well and I kept on forgetting simple things or saying the same thing to Rich or mum more than one...nevermind...I think my brain is back to normal now...

The good news is that when the Doctors did do the operation they did find out that I have endometriosis which, while it isn't awesome as it is going to be something I will have to live with and manage for the rest of my life, I AM glad that I finally know what is wrong with me for certain and I can begin to deal with it. I will join the local Endometriosis group in the new year but there doesn't seem like much point in doing this right now as it's only a couple of weeks before Rich and I will be taking off for our Christmas adventures.

It has been good to have some time off work though I have to say. Originally I was meant to go back to work on Monday but I got some extra time off work because I just wasn't feeling up to it (you'll be surprised just how much you use your stomach muscles when you're unable to use them!!).

But I really have to say a big thanks to Rich for just being so awesome through this whole drama and also my mum for staying with me for most of last week (I think I would have gone totally and completely MENTAL if I didn't have someone to talk to last week) also want to say a big thanks to all my friends who have come and visit me and also sent me or bought around flowers, food and presents...it has been fantastic (almost like a pre-christmas christmas).

Anyway the bottom line is that the news I recieved was the best news I could recieve in the circumstances - for the first time in a very LONG time I am feeling optimistic about the future!!

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Careful what you put on your lips!!

I'm not sure if this is totally true or not but worth thinking about...

Recently a lipstick brand called "Red Earth" decreased their prices from $67 to $9.90. It contained lead. Lead is a chemical which causes cancer. The lipstick Brands that contain lead are:

1. CHRISTIAN DIOR
2. LANCOME
3. CLINIQUE
4. Y.S.L
5. ESTEE LAUDER
6. SHISEIDO
7. RED EARTH (Lip Gloss)
8. CHANEL (Lip Conditioner)
9. MARKET AMERICA-MOTNES LIPSTICK.

The higher the lead content, the greater the chance of causing cancer.
After doing a test on lipsticks, it was found that theY.S.L.lipstic contained the most amount of lead. Watch out for those lipsticks which are supposed to stay longer. If your lipstick stays longer, it is because of the higher content of lead.

Here is the test you can do yourself:

1. Put some lipstick on your hand.

2. Use a Gold ring to scratch on the lipstick.

3. If the lipstick colour changes to black, then you know the lipstick contains lead.

Please send this information to all your girlfriends, wives and female family members.

This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Jo & Andre's Welly visit

Our friends Jo & Andre came and visited this weekend - it was so cool to see them after so long and catch up with all the Htown gossip:)

Here's some photo's taken over coffee at Expressoholic.


Monday, November 20, 2006

Jess' Birthday!

Friday night was Jess' birthday which included yummy Greek food at Theo's Greek Taverna (plus dancing on barrels!!) followed by a yummy cake with purple icing made by Jess' Dad for dessert:)

Then - after I got home I got a text from Jess to say she and Andrew had just go engaged - so good news all around:) Congrats to them both:D







Friday, November 17, 2006

The Dentist

I had my first dentist appointment yesterday - it wasn't as bad as I thought (although it was just fillings at this stage and no teeth pulled).

But one thing I am really stoked about is that the dentist fixed my front tooth that has had a chip in in since I was in university - it looks really good - you can't even tell it's not even my real tooth - stoked!

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Island Bay Daywalk Photo's

On Sunday Rich & I went on a daywalk - but I hadn't had time to put these up till now and here they are:D










Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Happy Birthday Jess

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Jess!

Happy Birthday to you

Pay Equality Closer!

From the NZ Herald on Saturday

Pay equality in young women's grasp

Saturday November 11, 2006By Simon Collins

Young New Zealand women are closing the income gap, earning almost as much as their male colleagues.

Women's average hourly wages are now just 3.7 per cent behind men's for those aged 30-34, while women aged 20-29 briefly earned more than men the same age three years ago, Statistics New Zealand figures show.

Men are still well ahead in all older age groups up to 65. But young women are reaping the benefits of performing better than young men in education.

In 37 per cent of working-age couples women now earn at least as much as their partners, up from 20 per cent 20 years ago. In 2001, women and men were in the same income bracket in 22 per cent of couples, up from 13 per cent in 1986, while in 15 per cent the woman was in a higher income bracket, up from 7 per cent.

Women's Affairs Minister Lianne Dalziel said the trend looked "positive" and tied in with a closing of the overall gap between women's and men's hourly earnings.

"It means that the gender pay gap is something that we may be able to see disappear," she said.
But the vice-president of the Father and Child Society, Massey University economist Stuart Birks, warned of the problem of men falling behind.

"Shouldn't we be worried that we are sowing the seeds of another problem in 20 years' time?" he asked.

Council of Trade Unions vice-president Helen Kelly said the equality among young workers might be a result of all young workers being on low wages.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Xmas Holidays

Rich and I have now got our leave all sorted for our xmas holidays - so I will be leaving Wellington on the 15 December and Rich the 16 December. I'm going directly to Auckland so I will have to let Marth know when I'm turing up today!!

We'll then be spending time with people in Hamilton and our families in Tauranga and Taranaki.

We bought all our flights yesterday - now only have to sort out a bit of accomodation here and and there and all our bus tickets.

I can hardly wait for xmas holidays!!

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Hats, Hats, Hats!!

Last night was Mella's "Horrible Hat's Housewarming" - so here's some photo's of us in our horrible (and not so horrible) hats!




Friday, November 10, 2006

Badges Badges Badges

Well - even though I won't be able to attend the "Reclaim the Night" march anymore because my operation is due the day before...grrr...I have decided to keep on helping with the planning and preparation.

I decided to keep on helping out because -

A) I really do like planning/organising things
B) I've been helping out for so long - it seems stupied to pull out now
C) I like hanging out with the organising group

So last night Jaimee and I headed up to 128 to make badges - making badges totally rocks!! I want a badge maker!

We made a whole bunch of RTN and general feminist badges - it was so much fun - I totally can't wait to make badges again.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

The big day for my operation has been set!

Today I got a ring from the hospital - my operation has been set for the 22 November - Thank God for that!!

I've now arranged for leave from work and phoned my mum to let her know when the operation will be so she can come down and do all of those mum type things that you need when you're sick.

So I am feeling really glad I am going to have my operation and work out whether I have endometriosis or something else and start to deal with it a bit better than I have been lately!!

So I am relieved but nervous too....

The only problem is that my operation is going to be on 22nd November and Reclaim the Night is going to be on the 23rd - so I won't be able to go on the March - which is such a bummer. But I guess the important thing is I will be able to find out for sure what is wrong and deal with it.

I can always go to Reclaim the Night next year but it's still disappointing.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Ladyfest 2006

Ladyfest 2006 is going to be held on 1st, 2nd & 3rd of December this year with gigs and markets!!

Yah I can hardly wait - now all I have to do is find some people willing to come along to some events with me!

Here's the myspace for Ladyfest Wellington

http://www.myspace.com/ladyfest_wellington

Equality?

From the Dom Post Yesterday

Highlighting the wage gap 07 November 2006

LANE NICHOLS Kiwi women slogging it out in female-dominated jobs earn around a third less than men with similar experience in traditionally masculine careers, a new report reveals.

Experienced female caregivers, cafe workers and retail assistants could earn an extra $15,000 a year on average if they switched to predominantly male trades such as building, plumbing or engineering.

The findings have caught the attention of the Equal Employment Opportunities commissioner and sparked concerns about gender-based occupational segregation in this country.

The Wages and Costs of Education and Training report was compiled by the Ministry of Women's Affairs to assess the financial reward associated with certain gender-specific careers for female job seekers.

Women's Affairs Minister Lianne Dalziel said the findings showed wages for qualified, experienced staff were around 45 per cent higher in male dominated trade-related occupations than in traditionally female jobs.

But that was not necessarily obvious to someone deciding on a career path as starting rates tended to be similar.

Researchers surveyed 115 organisations across 14 work-based training sectors, comparing wages, qualification requirement and training costs.

Male-dominated careers surveyed in the report included building, painting, bricklaying, mechanics, engineering and plumbing. Training costs in these fields were usually paid by employers.

Traditionally female occupations were hairdressing, travel agents, caregivers, beauty therapists, cafe workers, retail assistants and administrators. The workers usually paid for their own training.

On average, a qualified person with five years' experience in a female-dominated trade earned $34,000 a year based on a median hourly rate of $16.50.

A man with similar experience working in a predominantly male trade earned $50,000 a year – or $24 an hour.

Hairdressers and travel agents were exceptions. Both had the highest reported earnings of the 14 trades thanks to a hefty commission component.

Ms Dalziel said recent data showed the pay gap between men and women was reducing, but women's median hourly earnings still lagged 12 per cent behind men's.

"This is the kind of information I believe all young people should know about before they make the decision about what field to enter."

Equal Employment Opportunities commissioner Judy McGregor said the findings were concerning, though not a surprise.

There was a mistaken belief that women were not concerned about money when choosing a profession.

Young female job seekers needed better information about career prospects and pay, she said.
The ministry plans further work to assess whether young people will use the report's findings when choosing a career and whether the modern apprenticeship scheme is accessible to women. It will also look at whether gender-based occupational segregation has any economic impacts.

From the Herald


Government braced for claims after equal pay review

Tuesday November 7, 2006By Mike Houlahan

The Government could be addressing its first pay-equity claims by the middle of next year, with the Cabinet agreeing terms of reference for pay and employment equity reviews.

The public service, health and education sectors will all be subject to a review designed to ensure occupations that are dominated by women see those workers earn fair pay and have equal employment opportunities.

Despite equal pay law being on the books since 1972, in March 2005 women's average hourly earnings were 86.4 per cent of men's.

"The aim is to have a process and remedy which is sustainable, so that in a decade we could say we don't have a pay and employment equity gap in New Zealand," Labour Minister Ruth Dyson said yesterday.

"Whether that's delivered or not is yet to be seen. It's a new process."

Before a pay equity or equal employment opportunity claim is lodged, a template which tests each occupation's job size and remuneration against a comparable occupation must be completed.

A review will then be carried out before a claim is lodged.

Depending on the review's findings, workers such as teachers, secretaries, librarians, dental therapists and nurses may find their wages boosted.

"I don't imagine the pay gap is going to be huge in a number of occupations," Ms Dyson said. "I do think the employment equity issues are ones we have to get our heads around better and which employers will have to work hard to deliver on.

"You can fix a pay gap with a one-off wage increase, but that doesn't mean it's going to be sustained. If you change the workplace so that female staff are better valued for their contribution, then it will be sustainable."

Ms Dyson expected to see some definite claims on the table by the middle or third quarter of next year.

She said there had been "huge understanding and support" from the relevant government departments and agencies, from the State Services Commission, District Health Boards, and school trustees.

Council of Trade Unions vice-president Helen Kelly said with pay equity claims resolved women would look at the state as a preferred employer, boosting the need for private sector to move in step

Sunday, November 05, 2006

The weekend so far....

So what have I done with my weekend so far....on Friday night we went out to the Lighthouse Cinema in Petone to watch "Kenny" - which was a bit long winded but a pretty damn funny Aussie film and if you like toilet humour you would be in absolute heaven if you liked toilet humour....plus it had some pretty good one liners and "Kenny" himself did make an appearance after the end of the film. After the film we went out for some dinner...mmm...middle eastern food.

Yesterday Jess and I went for a walk along the waterfront in the morning and then went out to Westfield to do some shopping(man did we do some walking yesterday!!) - I hadn't been out there for ages and I managed to get quite a few christmas presents for the family and also a new top, some costume jewellery and also the new Mint Chicks CD that I have been wanting FOREVER - I'm listening to it right now!

Last night Rich and I went out to dinner at the Holy Cow in Kelburn which was really cool - It was one of those places that we always walk past and say "we should go there" but never do because it's not in town - but we finally got there and the food was good...mmm...to finish off the night we went up to the botanical gardens and watched all the fireworks which were absolutely beautiful - I loved watching them - it just makes you feel like a little kid in awe to see them again because they are just so big and beautiful.

Anyhoo - I gotta go and have a shower - we are heading off for a walk somewhere this morning...not quite sure where yet...

Friday, November 03, 2006

Thank God it's Friday!!

Finally Friday at last - this seems like it has been a REALLY long week!!

Tonight we're off to the movies with Jess & Andrew to see "Kenny" an Aussie comedy - looks pretty funny actually.

I am so hoping the weather will say good this weekend so that Rich and I can go for a day walk on Sunday - I really need to get out in nature and have some fresh air!!

Thursday, November 02, 2006

White Ribbon Day - 25 November

Here's a worthwhile event which is on at about the same time as Reclaim the Night - White Ribbon Day - which is a day to raise awareness of and stop violence against Women and Children.

http://www.nzfamilies.org.nz/white-ribbon.php

I would really like to do the self defence workshop - going to see if I can get some of my posse together to do this!

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Can the world get more insane - what are toy makers thinking?

Outcry over tots' pole-dancing kit

28 October 2006

By DAVID BRAITHWAITE

Sydney Morning Herald

A "sexy" pole-dancing kit has been pulled from the toys and games section of a website run by Britain's biggest retailer after protests from outraged parents.

The Peekaboo pole-dancing kit, which has a "sexy garter" to help "unleash the sex kitten inside" was sold in Tesco Direct's toys and games section, The Daily Mail reported.

"Soon you'll be flaunting it to the world and earning a fortune in Peekaboo Dance Dollars," its blurb reads.

"Unleash the sex kitten inside... simply extend the Peekaboo pole inside the tube, slip on the sexy tunes and away you go!"

The £50 ($NZ145) kit includes a 2.6-metre chrome pole, a "sexy dance garter" and a DVD demonstrating suggestive dance moves, the report said.

However, family campaigners slammed the kit's status as a toy, saying it would "destroy children's lives".

"It is an open invitation to turn the youngest children on to sexual behaviour," Dr Adrian Rogers of the Family First group told The Daily Mail.

"This will be sold to four, five and six-year-olds. This is a most dangerous toy that will contribute towards destroying children's innocence.

"Children are being encouraged to dance round a pole, which is interpreted in the adult world as a phallic symbol.

"This should only be available to the most depraved people who want to corrupt their children."
The Daily Mail report said Tesco had removed the kit from the toys and games area of its site, but would still sell it as a "fitness accessory".

The retailer denied the pole-dancing kit was sexually oriented and it was clearly marked for adult use.

"Pole dancing is an increasing exercise craze. This item is for people who want to improve their fitness and have fun at the same time," a spokesman said.

Other British retailers had been forced to remove sexually suggestive children's products from their shelves, including padded bras with a "Little Miss Naughty" logo, the report said

It's Wednesday - Half way to the end of the week and payday!!

This week feels long already - I think this is because last week was a four day week!!

Last night I went over to Kat's to finally make Rich's (now rather beleted) birthday muffins - but they are yummy muffin's especially for muffin's from a packet!!

I just hung out with Kat whilst I waited for the muffins and she has agreed to take up a dress for me so we sorted that out and we also agreed on meeting up more regulary for craft nights - especially with Christmas coming up - I need to really begin to do some crafting things for Christmas presents.

Well I best be off and get ready for work - at least today is payday so life isn't all bad.

Happy Birthday Ally!!

It's my friend Alaina's Birthday today - Happy Birthday Ally!!

Happy Movember!!

Happy Movember - what is Movember you may ask? Well have a look at the link below!!

http://www.movember.com/nz/whatismov/