I am not one to sugar coat the truth. Preetika was a beautiful & kind person, the type anyone is happy to call their friend and I will always remember her smile & her laugh. Part of me is sad that she has left this life because I will never see her again. Being the oldest in her family, she had to put off her dreams while helping to provide for her siblings. She was recently married and had finally begun to peruse her dreams and desires only to be cut short because of reckless driving. I do take comfort in knowing she has gone to a place of peace; and that her soul will one day return to continue learning all her life lesions.

With Love, light & peace.

Goodbye Pritika, be well.

Clariti/ ANCONS was my first full time job after leaving school and spending 8 years (and 1 month) in this organisation I will definitely be sad when it is gone. If there was one thing My time in Fiji taught me, it is that times will always change. Work mates & friends will come and go; so it is important to enjoy every moment of life for exactly what it is.  Lets see where life takes me now. :-)

There have been articles about the purchase published in ARN and AustralianIT.

Now my friend my not need anything that I can provide for that 30 min, so I would give him something worth 30 min of my time. If I give him a 6-pack of beer, he can only use that item for what it is. If I were to give him cash, he could exchange that for anything he really needs. And this is the same principle “work” was founded with; an employer gives the people who provide effort & energy to the company money so that they can go out and buy what they need. We are paid for this reason and not because we are doing something we don’t enjoy.

Trent Hamm over at The Simple Dollar has written a very good article on the connection between money, time and happiness. Two lines that really stood out to me were:

…”What has been forgotten, though, is that you’re spending your day in misery just so you can ride in a luxury car during the commute.”

“You arrive home to a gorgeous home in the suburbs, but you’re too exhausted to enjoy it.”…

Thanks to James for pointing out this excellent article. When you have a few min spare, have a read and think about why you go to work and how you spend your energy.

Rosie, Ratty and I attended the Million Paw Walk for the second time since returning to Australia. We ended up tagging along with the AVIS (and budget) team from the Brisbane Airport. I would just like to mention that the smaller dogs, were the only ones to complete the 5km track while the larger dogs piked out and ONLY did the 3km track.

It was loads of fun and good exercise PLUS it helps support the wonderful work done by the RSPCA for animals great and small all over Queensland and Australia. A special mention should go out Koko who completed the track for the first time this year and was very, Very well behaved. :)

For more pictures check out the photo gallery

Here is a nice shot of the crew

Almost makes you want to cry… what was $5’500 worth of laptop is now being broken up and sold for spare parts. :-( Of course, all of Toshiba’s new laptops don’t work with your TWO old docking stations; add them to the pile.

So if anyone needs spare parts for an old Toshiba Tecra S1, browse on over to ebay and pick up a bargain… :-)

I really have to stop doing this, it can’t be good for the bike.

Channel 10 has a great video about a primary school in the US that has made it mandatory for any kids starting grade 5 to have a Tablet for use in classes. Check it out http://on10.net/Blogs/laura/1582/

We rescently recieved a powerpoint with advice on how to avoid death and other painfull things if were ever caught in a hotel fire. (But any large unfamiliar building will do). The key points that I found very interesting were: 

• The obvious ‘Get down low & go go go, feel the door for heat before opening, stuff wet towel at base of door’ 
• When you get to your floor/ room take time to find the EXIT. Is it Left or Right? Trace the number of steps to the door (you can’t see through smoke)
• Take a torch with you when you travel (I do this generaly but leave it where you can reach quickly)
• When your in your room, leave the key near the door. You need to be able to get it in a hurry and possibly get back into your room again if the exit door is blocked
• Leave at the first sign of smoke or alarm
• Don’t be afraid to call the fire department

If you are stuck in your room: 

• Some bathrooms have exhaust fans, use it
• If you do leave when there is smoke, take a wet towel with you and if necessary wrap around your head.
• Opening the window can let smoke out. If the fire is below you, it will only let smoke in so don’t break the glass
• Try to phone reception or let someone know where you are or hang a sheet outside your window
• Fill the bath with water (not for you), can be used to bail on the door/ walls even if the plumbing stops working
• A wet bed/ dresser can be used against the door or walls to keep the fire at bay for a while…
• If you jump out of a 3rd/ 4th story window you probably won’t survive

I hope never to use this but I know from now on whenever I enter an unknown building I will be looking for the exit and what is the quickest way to get there.

Just in case you want to read the full thing, you can access the file here -> Escape Plan for Hotel Fire

Maybe one day this is all we will need to email, phone & listen to music.