I am a "CRYER"

For a long time now I have spent an inordinate amount of time & money on trying to solve a problem that I have. You see when I am in a situation, I cry. And once I start I just dont stop easily. It has become almost an infatuation of mine to stop myself doing this. I find it debilitating, uncomfortable and embarassing to cry this way.

My boss rang me a little while I ago to tell me he was paying me a bonus...now most people would be thrilled and show it accordingly. Not me...what did I do...well I cried. Not just little tears but big fat ones streaming down my face and I couldnt talk very well. It was all I could do to chokingly thank him and hang up. I then got distressed (like I always do) that I hadnt been able to maintain a professional image.

I have decided though that I am a "cryer". Just going to accept it as part of the wonderful jigsaw that is me and get on with it. Life is for living and I have worried too much about being emotional. So what if it doesnt fit with the image of a high powered executive...I have never felt I am that anyway.

*******************************************************************************
Busy on the farm....Dad is flat out planting before the rain comes; new calves everywhere and Claudia and Haydn had a head on collision yesterday on their motor bikes! No human damage but the bikes dont look so good.

All the very best
Farmer Bub

Let children have a childhood

I have recently finished an excellent book, The House in Fez by Suzanna Clark - (http://riadzany.blogspot.com). In the book Suzanna highlights the issue of child labour in Morocco. I think a lot about my experiences working overseas and in particular the plight of working children in countries such as Cambodia - forced into prostitution as early as five years of age...it makes me feel physically sick to think about these issues but I know that ignoring the issue is not within me either. I worry about what I can do, how I can contribute. Raising awareness is my current answer - doesn't feel enough of an effort but it is a start.

Recent figures from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) show that:

• Globally, 1 in 6 children work
• 218 million children aged 5 - 17 are involved in child labour world wide
• 126 million children work in hazardous conditions
• The highest numbers of child labourers are in the Asia/Pacific region, where there are 122 million working children
• The highest proportion of child labourers is in Sub Saharan Africa, where 26% of children (49 million) are involved in work.

What types of jobs do children do?

PROSTITUTION
A UNICEF survey concluded that 35 percent of Cambodia's 55,000 prostitutes are children under the age of 16. You can read

"I was tricked and sold to a brothel when I was only 14. Everyday, I would have to provide services to 10 men against my will."
Srey*, a Cambodian child sex tourism survivor, spoke these words as she shared her story with an audience of high-level government representatives — members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Taskforce. Source: www.worldvision.org

CHOCOLATE
"It is estimated more than 100,000 children work in the Ivory Coast's cocoa industry under "the worst forms of child labor," and that about 10,000 are slaves.

As the Ivory Coast produces 43 per cent of the world's cocoa, it is likely almost half the chocolate products sold in Australia could be linked to child slavery." Source: www.theage.com.au

MINING
"About one million children work in mines and the number is increasing." Source: www.ilo.org
Children are involved in mining for diamonds in mines near Koidu Town, the capital of the Kono district in Sierra Leone. Other children (some as young as 6) in India are involved in cutting or polishing diamonds which are used in cheaper engagement rings. Source: www.anti-slaverysociety.addr.com

How can you help?
1. Be better informed on the issue of Child Labour - what is it; where is it happening; what industries are involved; statistics
2. You dont have to march the streets or protest but you can raise awareness by helping your friends and family understand the issue of child labour
3. You can boycott products that use child labour
4. Support organisations who support the cessation of child labour
5. Subscribe to a newsletter to keep you up to date. www.globalfundforchildren.org has an excellent one that I enjoy and share with Claudia & Haydn.

The end of my rant...
Reading The House of Fez somehow sparked within me the need to speak out about this horrible issue. Staying silent just isnt an option. My own two children enjoy the most delightful life of freedom and love and I feel a tad guilty that I have done so little to help those little ones who do not have parents/guardians that ensure they have a childhood.

I think there is nothing quite as exquisite as a flower

A missed loved and a new love

We finally got Slippery home last night after Fiji were ousted from the World Cup by Australia - only to have him go to his normal work conference now until Friday night. I think it would have been better for him not to come home at all. This sounds awful, but I just didn't expect to miss him as much as I did. With life being so busy with the current strategy I am putting together; being the only parent at home to the two kids; Claudia's medical issues' School camp; constant travel to Sydney each week - I just didnt think I would have time to miss him.

But I did and I just cant wait to have him home again. He was up last night until after midnight organising player flights back to Fiji and watching the game (again) and would you believe - he even made a good start on his trip report.

All this will settle down I know and it is a great reminder of how much we love each other.

I do have a new love though...my Nikon D90. To all you photographers out there - my apologies in advance. I am dreadful I am sure but having too much fun not to share some of my snaps. I also have a wish for Christmas - a Sigma 18-20 wide angle lens. I have had a special bag made up that will enable me to go mustering, fencing etc and safely take the camera.

The highlight of my week is no trip to Sydney this week for work and maybe not next week either!

take care
Farmer Bub

Fiji in the Quarter Final

Hi there

A very quick post...we are off to Sydney to watch Fiji play Australia tomorrow night at the Sydney Football Stadium. It is expected to be a sell out. Slippery is very nervous and like the proverbial 'mother hen' with his beloved players.

I am writing this at the Qantas lounge in Brisbane and cant upload photos but the other big news is that I have a new camera - Nikon D90. Cant wait to post some of my pics.

take care
Farmer Bub

Tired and happy

Clearance sale/farm machinery action yesterday (very very early) - Haydn fell asleep on the way home, normal but he was still eating his meat pie! Mustered breeders (cows) in the afternoon. Cranky cow (literally) nearly knocked me over. Took the kids to town to watch Fiji Vs France - had a ball sitting with the regulars. The kids loved seeing their Dad on TV.

Big news - Fiji thrashed France. I yelled so much and then the whole Saturday night crowd cheered Fiji on as well.

Today....crashed the motor-bike running the horses in. Motorbikes and me just dont go well together - like Bundaberg Rum and Orange juice - should not be mixed.Draughted (sorted them out); dipped and walked cows back to their paddock. Had the great pleasure of shovelling the pit out beside the dip (basically full of sh**t). The smell is still in my skin. Did a rubbish run for Mum, loaded and unloaded a trailer full of hay - aching arms.

Haydn has mastered the four wheel motorbike all by himself - cant stop grinning from ear to ear and he rode "Shandy" (the chestnut mare) all by himself while we mustered and turned out. Being six is really making him all grown up.