Have you noticed how 99% of the ads have been about shoving negativity about the other parties rather than actually trying to sell their own party? The only decent ads I’ve seen have been the local MP’s selling themselves and what they will do. That’s the way it should be, shouldn’t it?

I’ve noticed that over the last week particularly the frequency of the ads have increased. I had to tune in the TV last night and as I was searching through the channels there was “one of those ads” on every channel; all bad mouthing the other party.

The good news is that as of midnight Wednesday, by law the ads have to stop. So the TV can return back to normal now, at least until the next state election.

Remember to make your vote count on Saturday.

Today marks the 12 month anniversary that Jo and myself have been back in Australia. We boarded an international flight in Christchurch at 2.15pm on the 18 August 2009 bound for Queensland.

Since that date we have lived on the Gold Coast for 8 months, and then relocated back home to Perth. It hasn’t been an easy 12 months, but at least things are more settled here.

Up until a couple of weeks ago I have been in the city every day for work, just walking around delivering stuff and taking in the sights.

There’s something about the inner CBD that’s just a real buzz. People everywhere; entertainers doing their thing; I find it stimulating watching what goes on in the city.

Unfortunately I’ve now been taken out of the city as far as work goes, and am now out in the suburbs; I find the atmosphere in the suburbs is not the same as it is in the city.

I was sitting on the train coming home after being in the city, and it got me thinking that I would love to have a job that puts me in the city everyday, in some sort of business.

Many people enjoy the quieter life away from the hustle & bustle, which we did as young kids for several years, but I’m always drawn back to the city again.

Do you enjoy the busyness of the city, or do you prefer the quieter life of the suburbs?? Why not register with this blog now and leave your thoughts below.

As reported on news.com.au,

Highways were sliced into pieces, rubble piled across streets and buildings were reduced to little more than heaps of wood after the quake struck about 325km northeast of the capital Santiago.

With this huge earthquake, a Tsunami warning has also been issued for the east coast of Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Pacific Rim.

In New Zealand waves of 1.5 metres were reported. While in French Polynesia, waves between two and four meters damaged some boats but no one was hurt. A 40cm rise in sea levels at Norfolk Island was observed about 10.30am (AEST) today and a 10cm rise at Southport, in Tasmania.

While we live near the coast here on the Gold Coast, we don’t expect any major problems. Just keep out of the water. I will keep you posted.

A season of 6 test matches, 10 one day games and 3 Twenty/20 games, and the boys came away unbeaten.

In past years due to work restrictions I have only been able to watch on the weekends or evening sessions, but this year has been a little different & I have been able to watch the entire thing which I feel blessed to have been able to do that as Cricket is the one sport that I enjoy and can sit down and watch for long sessions.

I have to admit that I would like to see a team beat the Aussies, but not sure who that will be.

Australia now head to New Zealand for a tour over there; all I can say is “Look out Kiwi’s, the boys are coming”.

It is everywhere. People dress up in it, wear it on their feet, have it waving from their car aerials, door windows, and stuck to the rear windows of their cars.

Now I realize that Australia Day was only 10 days ago, and so people had all their flags out then, but that doesn’t seem to a reason to put the national flag away until next year.

In the past 2 days while being out & about in the car, I’ve seen at least a dozen cars with flags waving from various places.

Now to any born & bred Australian person this practice may seem completely normal, but for me, a born & bred New Zealander, it’s not the norm.

Back in NZ, the only time you ever see the national flag flown is at a sporting match, or the Olympic, or Commonwealth games. People in NZ don’t seem to just display the NZ flag anywhere (not that I’ve seen anyway).

I think it’s great that people are actively showing their love for their country by having their flags flying anywhere and everywhere. I call myself an Aussie now and would happily make the small investment and show my flag off. How about you?

We see the Australian flag big and small being flown from everything and anything, people dress up and buy things with Australian colours and some people even get a tattoo for the day.

For me, the 26th of January marks another memorable occasion. I arrived in Australia as a migrant, to become a permanent resident back on January 25th 2001.

Now even though it was on the 25th, Australia Day marks the anniversary that we moved from NZ.

Also, even though Jo & I spent a year in NZ, I still say we have come home to Australia, and this is home. So Australia Day 2010 marks 8 years of residency in Australia, and I look forward to many more.