Thank-you – This is another word that has the strength of Superman. It is such a simple word, made up of 8 letters.
It can be so powerful, it does, has and will bring tears to the recipients eyes. Now this isn’t always the case, but it cases of heightened emotions, these 8 little letters can do exactly that.
A child receiving a gift for their birthday, says thank-you in acknowledgement of the gift.
A person who receives good news, says thank-you, knowing that their prayers have been answered.
Often though, a person will not say thank-you to the person who makes the coffee, who clears the tables, or even mops the floors. These people are considered ‘invisible’. They are there to serve. Not to be acknowledged.
I find this attitude very disturbing. Just because someone is paid to do something that involves face-to-face contact in providing that service, does not that make them any different to the person behind the phone, who answers your questions?
I make a point of saying thank-you to those that ‘serve’ me – I make a point of saying thank-you to those that clear the tables. They are human just like you and me. I have taught my children to say thank-you for a service rendered, no matter how small.
My husband and I went out for dinner the other night and we sat down at the table. The meal was nice. The food was good. When the crockery was cleared from the table, both my husband and myself said thank-you and we did it together.
When the meal was finished, we said thank-you for the nice meal, please pass our compliments to the chef.
The waitress seemed a little stunned. – I can’t say I blame her, the tables around us – I don’t believe I heard the word, please or thank-you pass the lips of other diners.
It doesn’t matter if you are eating in the local café or the most expensive restaurant in your area. A good meal, just like at home needs to be acknowledged and the person who cooked it should be thanked. The person who clears the tables and the person who washes the dishes also needs to be thanked. It’s a simple word that goes so far.
Next time someone holds that door for you – say thank-you, make the giver realize that their efforts are appreciated and next time perhaps you could hold the door open for someone else.
A simple 8 letter word can mean so much.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
“A Trouble shared is a trouble halved”
Was just talking to someone about the dust storms in Sydney and realized that the reason they send shivers down my spine is that days after Ash Wednesday a dust storm rolled over Melbourne. I was a teenager at the time and was unable to get home due to the risk of fires and was staying with relatives in the ‘big smoke’ – Association by memory is probably the best way to describe it.
Just looking back over my life and the memories of said life! – and it is amazing the number of events both locally and world-wide that I have witnessed or been one of the first to know.
Ash Wednesday (1983)– couldn’t get home, had to bunk with relatives in the city. Didn’t know if family had survived, communication was jammed.
Dust Storms (1983) – was in the city when this happened and saw the clouds rolling over the top of us.
Russell Street Bombing (1986) – Was in the basement of building approx 500m from the site of the bombing. I can still ‘hear’ the recoil of the air pressure.
Hoddle Street Shootings (1987) – Drove along Hoddle street moments before the shooting, think I heard a shot, but wasn’t aware until work called and asked if I had got home okay!
World Trade Centre (USA) (2001) – I was up watching something on TV when the show was interrupted to bring live footage on that horrible horrible event. People woke up and found out about it – I didn’t sleep.
Floods (2003) – Northern Suburbs – the worst flooding in 100 years. I was watching buildings in Heidelberg be inundated.
Black Saturday (2009) – I was in the middle of it
These are the BIG events that almost everyone is aware of, if you are a resident of Victoria.
Have I had my fair share or have I had more than my fair share?
Only God knows. Simply due to the fact that people won’t talk about these sorts of events due to the flashbacks and memories. Trust me – the ONLY way to cope is to talk about them. Allows you to realize that it may not be as bad as you first thought.
Just looking back over my life and the memories of said life! – and it is amazing the number of events both locally and world-wide that I have witnessed or been one of the first to know.
Ash Wednesday (1983)– couldn’t get home, had to bunk with relatives in the city. Didn’t know if family had survived, communication was jammed.
Dust Storms (1983) – was in the city when this happened and saw the clouds rolling over the top of us.
Russell Street Bombing (1986) – Was in the basement of building approx 500m from the site of the bombing. I can still ‘hear’ the recoil of the air pressure.
Hoddle Street Shootings (1987) – Drove along Hoddle street moments before the shooting, think I heard a shot, but wasn’t aware until work called and asked if I had got home okay!
World Trade Centre (USA) (2001) – I was up watching something on TV when the show was interrupted to bring live footage on that horrible horrible event. People woke up and found out about it – I didn’t sleep.
Floods (2003) – Northern Suburbs – the worst flooding in 100 years. I was watching buildings in Heidelberg be inundated.
Black Saturday (2009) – I was in the middle of it
These are the BIG events that almost everyone is aware of, if you are a resident of Victoria.
Have I had my fair share or have I had more than my fair share?
Only God knows. Simply due to the fact that people won’t talk about these sorts of events due to the flashbacks and memories. Trust me – the ONLY way to cope is to talk about them. Allows you to realize that it may not be as bad as you first thought.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Weather
We curse it. We love it. We hate it. We love the sunshine, we hate the rain, we hate the sunshine, we love the rain.
The weather can do no right.
It seems no matter what the weather does it is wrong.
It rains and people complain that everything is wet and nothing dries. It rains and people say that it is ruining the outdoor events and causing traffic accidents and flooding.
If the sun is out, people complain it is too hot, people complain that it is too bright.
People are never happy with the weather.
What made me write this blog is that weather warnings have been issued nation-wide for Australia.
In February 2009 there was too much water in the Northern states and severe flooding occurred. In the Southern states it was too hot and there were massive bushfires that destroyed life and property.
El Nino is blamed for these weather patterns. Global warming is blamed for the El Nino. The blame lies with the weather so we are told.
Some people say that Mother Earth is just going through growing pains. Others are saying that we the humans are killing her.
Some say population control is the answer to everything, others say that air travel is the cause.
I don’t know about you – but I try and do my little bit for earth and for my neighborhood and my state and country. Some people call us mad, others say why bother.
The weather can not be controlled regardless of what scientists tell us.
Perhaps it is global warming, perhaps it is a thinning of the ozone layer.
Mother Earth is suffering, we all recognize that, but is it another stage of her growing up? Is this a warning of things to come?
Are we on the precipice of the decline of the human race?
The weather is nature and nature is harsh – we all know that. Perhaps now is the time to consider that the weather is not all it’s cracked up to be and perhaps it is no longer a ‘safe’ topic of conversation as it is was once considered.
The weather can do no right.
It seems no matter what the weather does it is wrong.
It rains and people complain that everything is wet and nothing dries. It rains and people say that it is ruining the outdoor events and causing traffic accidents and flooding.
If the sun is out, people complain it is too hot, people complain that it is too bright.
People are never happy with the weather.
What made me write this blog is that weather warnings have been issued nation-wide for Australia.
In February 2009 there was too much water in the Northern states and severe flooding occurred. In the Southern states it was too hot and there were massive bushfires that destroyed life and property.
El Nino is blamed for these weather patterns. Global warming is blamed for the El Nino. The blame lies with the weather so we are told.
Some people say that Mother Earth is just going through growing pains. Others are saying that we the humans are killing her.
Some say population control is the answer to everything, others say that air travel is the cause.
I don’t know about you – but I try and do my little bit for earth and for my neighborhood and my state and country. Some people call us mad, others say why bother.
The weather can not be controlled regardless of what scientists tell us.
Perhaps it is global warming, perhaps it is a thinning of the ozone layer.
Mother Earth is suffering, we all recognize that, but is it another stage of her growing up? Is this a warning of things to come?
Are we on the precipice of the decline of the human race?
The weather is nature and nature is harsh – we all know that. Perhaps now is the time to consider that the weather is not all it’s cracked up to be and perhaps it is no longer a ‘safe’ topic of conversation as it is was once considered.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
You can feel a sense of de-ja vu in the air
The wind is up - the temp is up - this is the first day of over 20'c - you can almost feel the fires in the air.
The wind is gusting at 30-40kph and outside temp is up to 24.8'c and still climbing.
This upcoming season will be worse than last, I can feel it in my bones.
I wish people would pay attention, I wish people to be accountable for their own actions. I wish people will stop assuming that the government will step in pay compensation when houses are lost.
I know that one person, was standing on his house roof, with a hose, hosing down the roof in preparation of the approaching fire and was on the phone calling the insurance company to get a cover note. FFS - why did he not have insurance prior to that day? - Thankfully his house was not burnt. - I am not sure how the insurance would have handled that one.
There are 45 days until the official fire season started - Looking at the CFA incident summary for today - I think it has already started :(
I don't want a repeat of last year - no-one does.
The wind is gusting at 30-40kph and outside temp is up to 24.8'c and still climbing.
This upcoming season will be worse than last, I can feel it in my bones.
I wish people would pay attention, I wish people to be accountable for their own actions. I wish people will stop assuming that the government will step in pay compensation when houses are lost.
I know that one person, was standing on his house roof, with a hose, hosing down the roof in preparation of the approaching fire and was on the phone calling the insurance company to get a cover note. FFS - why did he not have insurance prior to that day? - Thankfully his house was not burnt. - I am not sure how the insurance would have handled that one.
There are 45 days until the official fire season started - Looking at the CFA incident summary for today - I think it has already started :(
I don't want a repeat of last year - no-one does.
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