Tearful Goodbye

I attended my uncle's funeral which was held today at Pinnaroo. It was a lovely service, but if I hear Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On again I will smash something!

Being an ex SAS man, there were a lot of Vietnam veterans and other soldiers (some still serving) there.

I had forgotten some of the funnier things he used to do like mow his front lawn in his speedo's so as to give the women in the neighbourhood a thrill (his words, not mine) or even to mow the next-door-neighbours lawn because it hadn't been done properly.

After the service, we all headed down to Campbell Barracks, where the wake was held in a reception hall and fulfilled his wish for it to be a bloody good party.

Family Health Crisis Cont.

You may recall from my previous post that my uncle was receiving treatment for an inoperable brain tumour.

Sadly, we have just found out that he died earlier this evening. His funeral will be later this week.

It feels as though, ever since my Grandma died, our family only gets together at funerals. Whereas before she died, we used to get together at Christmas, her birthday and Mother's Day.

It's sad really...

Random Facts 16

1. In France, it is illegal for a person to kiss another on railways.


2. A person uses approximately 57 sheets of toilet paper each day.


3. An office desk has 400 times more bacteria than a toilet.


4. The blue whale weighs 50 tonnes at birth, and as much as 150 tonnes fully grown.


5. Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.


6. The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred & Wilma Flintstone.


7. Men can read smaller print than women. Women can hear better.


8. Graffiti is the Italian word for ‘scratched drawings’.


9. Daily, the human race grown by about 214,000 people.


10. A firefly is a type of beetle.

Back At Work

After a month off, it was really hard to go back to work today and it was utter chaos! It feels like I was never gone.

The only time I got a break off the phones was when I had my tea or lunch break - the calls were non-stop the whole day. I even resorted to going and sitting in a toilet cubicle for 5 minutes, just to get some peace and quiet.

Random Facts 15

1. You share your birthday with at least nine million other people around the world.
2. Longest recorded female legs are 126cm – as tall as an average 10-year-old.
3. Australia is the only country that is also a continent.
4. Honey is the only food that does not spoil.
5. A horse can sleep standing up.
6. The hyoid bone in the throat is the only bone in the human body not joined to another.
7. The number 4 is the only number in the English language that has the same number of letters in it’s name as it’s meaning.
8. The only lizard that has a voice is a gecko.
9. In one day, the human brain generates more electrical impulses than all the telephones in the world put together.
10. Rats can go without water longer than camels.

Movie Review: Fantastic Four Rise Of The Silver Surfer

Another day, another movie. This time I watched the first movie so that I could follow the second. Chris Evans is a bit of alright and is the only thing that really makes the movie worth watching. Jessica Alba's character's eye colour changes from her natural brown in the first movie to blue in the second which looks really freaky with her much blonder hair from first to second movie.

Plot: The Fantastic Four, meets their greatest challenge yet as The Silver Surfer comes to Earth to prepare it for destruction. As the Silver Surfer races around the globe wreaking havoc, Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben must unravel the mystery of the Silver Surfer and confront the surprising return of their mortal enemy, Dr. Doom, before all hope is lost.

Movie Review: Ocean's 13

I've been putting off seeing this movie, because I wanted to watch the first 2 again before seeing this, but as it is at the end of it's run, I took the plunge and took myself off to see it.

Plot: When one of their own, Reuben Tishkoff builds a hotel with known casino owner Willy Banks, the last thing he ever wanted was to get cut out of the deal personally by the loathsome Banks. Banks' attitude even goes so far as to finding the amusement in Tishkoff's misfortune when the double cross lands Reuben in the hospital.

However, Danny and his crew won't stand for Banks and what he's done to a friend. Uniting with their old enemy Benedict, who himself has a vendetta against Banks, the crew is out to pull off a major plan. One that will unfold on the night Banks' newest hot spot opens up, when the crew is out to bankrupt one of the city's most despised businessmen.

They're not in this for the money, but for the revenge.

Book Review: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows

For the last 2 books, I have lined up to be one of the first to get the books, and this year was no different. When the last book came out, I had been out the night before and was coming home at around 2 in the morning and seriously considered camping out to be one of the first in line, but it was way too cold and my bed was calling me.

Also for the last 2 books, I have started reading it as soon as I got home and not put it down until I finished it. I read it all today.

I won't spoil it for those who haven't finished it, but I will say a few favourite characters die and I will admit I bawled my eyes out when they did.

It is an excellent book. I definitely wasn't disappointed!

DVD Reviews: Dreamgirls

I have been waiting for this one to come out on dvd for ages.

I followed the season of American Idol when Jennifer Hudson was in it, and was blown away by her performance in this. She absolutely deserved the Oscar!

Plot: Effie White, Deena Jones, and Lorrell Robinson - three friends from Chicago - are a promising singing trio called The Dreamettes. Accompanied by their songwriter C.C. White (Effie's brother), they travel to New York to compete in a talent show at the Apollo Theatre.

Although the girls lose this first bid for fame, their talent attracts an ambitious manager by the name of Curtis Taylor, Jr., who uses unscrupulous tactics to move the girls from backup singers of superstar James "Thunder" Early to superstars of their own.

Curtis reshapes the group to "crossover" from R & B to the lucrative pop music scene. Lead singer Effie gets replaced by the more attractive Deena and is eventually dropped from the trio.

The group evolves into a more sophisticated group, The Dreams, with a lighter sound and chic look. They successfully attract a "whiter" audience and The Dreams rise to international stardom. The money, fame, and adulation, however, doesn't bring them happiness.

A Better Place

You may recall from a previous post that a friend from work was gravely ill. Quite a few people from all different departments at work all chipped in and raised nearly $3000 to get him back home to Tasmania. It was just amazing to know that so many people cared.

Sadly, I found out today that he passed away last night.

It makes you appreciate how precious life is and how quickly it can change.

Ross, I'm gonna miss you shaving your head or dying it in St Kilda colours for the footy, and your infectious laugh.

Even though you're gone, it doesn't mean you can't keep kicking St Kilda up the arse, cheering them to the Grand Final!