tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14336345362810155092024-03-05T21:49:57.027+11:00The Australian JournalLibby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.comBlogger285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-19789489279384096662022-01-01T23:12:00.003+11:002022-01-01T23:12:50.213+11:00And Just Like That - Women in their 50s are grandmothers who are obsolete<p>Five weeks ago, Sex and the City reboot, ...And Just Like That was released around the world to mixed reviews.</p><p>Aside from Big (Chris Noth) being written out in the first episode of the ten part series, Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) refusing to participate and Stanford (Willie Garson) being suddenly written out due to the actor's untimely passing I want to talk about the representation of different groups walking amongst us.</p><p><b>Charlotte and Harry's non-binary child</b></p><p>When Charlotte finally got pregnant she had a daughter named Rose, who now goes by the name Rock and is questioning their gender. As you would expect, Charlotte will always love her children no matter what happens to them. She will never desert them and she'll support them. She met with the school in the fifth episode and it felt like the story was glossed over. If this was back in the original series, Charlotte would've talked to Samantha and asked for her advice. She also would have talked to Rose/Rock to find out more. The storyline feels extremely rushed as if the writers are trying to cram too much into the show.</p><p><b> Steve's hearing loss</b></p><p>Steve Brady is the same age as Miranda, so he is in his 50s. According to Forbes, the average age of first time hearing aid wearers is 70. Even if you account for the fact that Steve owns a bar, you wouldn't expect him to start wearing hearing aids this young. It's as if the writers of the show want to age the 50 something cast before their time and are writing them as if they should be in rest homes. </p><p><b>Miranda's alcoholism</b></p><p>Miranda has always had her issues and struggled in her marriage to Steve, since the very first time they met in Sex and the City but after the first movie it was implied that they had worked through their issues. Maybe they hadn't though. Maybe Miranda had been looking for an out for a while and during the pandemic she started drinking. As she said in episode five, "we all drunk in the pandemic and didn't stop". I have no doubt that is true. Some people did drink. Me, I ate during the pandemic because I couldn't go to the gym but that got fixed as soon as gyms reopened. Miranda's alcoholism was glossed over. I haven't known anyone who experiences alcoholism but I think it would take more than a month to notice that someone has an issue with alcohol.</p><p><b>Miranda and Che</b></p><p>It's one thing to be unhappy in your marriage but Miranda had such an issue with Steve's cheating in the first Sex and the City movie that her cheating with Che is out of character. Yes, it was always going to happen but it doesn't fit the character's back story. If she was unhappy in the marriage she could've at least divorced Steve first. Steve still could've been in the reboot with them sharing custody of Brady. There should have been more of a build up to it rather than it happening suddenly. <br /></p><p><b>Carrie's hip surgery</b></p><p>And this is the storyline that really grated on my nerves. The one that got under my skin that I found quite offensive. Of course everyone ages and of course some people have physical issues but the way the show is carrying on you would think that the cast are all one foot in the grave and you would think that women become pathetic old ladies the moment we reach our 50s. Women over 25 have a hard enough time as it is without a show treating us as though we're invalids after 50. It goes against the tone of the original show. There is no way that Carrie would act like an old lady in her 50s. Even though she enjoyed married life until Big's death she would still be getting out there but instead she's feeling sorry for herself and acting way older than she actually is.</p><p><b>Samantha Jones</b></p><p>Samantha Jones was always older than the rest of the characters. I think she had a decade on them. In the first movie she talked about how much she loves Botox and in the second one she was on hormone replace pills to fight the signs of aging. Aside from her views on aging, which is that it's just a number (which it is) her presence is missed from the show. She was always open with her sexuality and loving men. She was accepting of others. She never judged Carrie for cheating on Aidan with Big or for being the other woman. She'd know how to deal with Miranda's alcoholism and Charlotte's child's gender doubts. It's become very clear that Samantha was actually the glue that held the group together and that without her the friendships don't really have a solid foundation.</p><p>I do hope that the show is renewed for a second season despite the allegations against Chris Noth, who to my knowledge has not even been charged with these alleged offences but if it is I really hope that Kim Cattrall can mend her feud with Sarah Jessica Parker. The show badly needs Samantha. Anthony Marentino however has been bumped up to a core cast member and that is a very welcome addition. He always stole the show in whatever scene he was in.</p><p> Finally, I want to reiterate that if the show is renewed the writers need to stop treating women as if they're invalids the moment they hit 50. When Samantha went through her cancer battle in season 6 of Sex and the City she still rocked trendy wigs and wasn't afraid to party. She didn't let her birthday dictate who she was.</p><p>Of course time has passed but that doesn't mean the women should be treated as though they're one foot in the grave. <br /></p>Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-64982303185542386532021-05-13T23:57:00.002+10:002021-05-13T23:57:44.420+10:00The Australian government is right on its border protection policy<p>As you know, after 13 years of waiting and working my ass off, I finally got Australian citizenship a week ago. When I wasn't an Australian citizen I always shared the same point of view as the Australian government, that if you aren't an Australian citizen you don't deserve the same rights as an Australian citizen. </p><p>Sure, don't get me wrong. It annoyed me that I couldn't vote or join a political party and it was frustrating that I was still referred to as a New Zealander. Until 2016 it frustrated me that there was no pathway unless I retrained or married an Australian citizen but I never wanted to get citizenship based on who I was married to. I wanted to get it on my own merits. In 2016 when the new pathway was announced I did everything in my power to qualify for the Skilled Migration 189 NZ Stream and secured that visa before waiting another year to get my Australian citizenship.</p><p>Anyway, now that you know how I got my Australian citizenship I want to talk tonight about how the vast majority of New Zealand citizens do not take up Australian citizenship. Based on estimates that have been calculated using information from the Department of Home Affairs I have concluded that only about 1% of NZ citizens living in Australia apply for the 189 permanent visa and about the same number apply for Australian citizenship. The chances are high therefore that if you become a permanent resident you are doing so with the intention to become an Australian citizen.</p><p>Now let's talk for a minute about what Australian citizenship actually means because I don't actually think people understand. Yes, of course it means that you are recognised as being a member of the Australian community and yes you can participate in politics, get government help when in financial or other trouble, but there are also intangible benefits to holding Australian citizenship.</p><p>The first, and biggest one is a total sense of belonging. When your application for citizenship is approved the Australian government is saying that they accept you as an Australian. They're saying we've got your back. They're saying you're one of us. They're saying you're home and that you can stay permanently without any risk of deportation. They're putting their trust in you.</p><p>So my question is, why do NZ citizens who do not hold Australian citizenship feel that they can dictate to the Australian government and the Australian community how they should be treated? The reality is that a lot of New Zealand citizens whinging about the rules arrived before 2016 and they have had ample opportunity to naturalise as an Australian citizen but they chose not to. The ones who arrived before 2001 are even worse because they have a much easier process to go through than post 2001 arrivals. It just doesn't make sense to me that people expect the Australian government to go out of their way when they've refused to make a commitment to Australia and become an Australian citizen.</p><p>For people who've arrived after 2016 I can understand and the 189 NZ stream should be expanded to include post February 2016 NZ citizen arrivals. I can't see any reason why NZ citizens who arrived after that date and would otherwise qualify should be excluded just because of the date they arrived.</p><p>I do however see the point to the Australian government not backing down on deporting NZ criminals. It's not just NZ criminals who get deported. Any criminals get deported. I know someone who was a Scottish citizen who overstayed by a couple of days several years ago and she was banned from entering Australia. I'm unsure how long she was banned for. My point is that the Australian government is not unfairly discriminating against NZ citizens.</p><p>The government is actually saying: if you want to be treated as an Australian citizen you need to become one, otherwise you're a New Zealand citizen who is visiting Australia, and that's the other thing. Australia is actually very welcoming to NZ citizens. NZ citizens have a free pass to enter Australia whereas those on other passports do not.</p><p>The Australian government is right on its treatment of New Zealand citizens and if people really do consider Australia home then they need to become an Australian citizen. They can't have it both ways, with one foot in and one foot out. The NZ government also should not be interfering in Australia's border protection policy. The fact is they are trying to undermine the value of Australian citizenship and they are being disrespectful of Australia's generosity in even letting NZ citizens come over to Australia without having to apply for a skilled visa.</p><p>It's time the NZ government and public looked at it from the view of Australians and new Australian citizens.<br /></p>Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-23564359132764940172021-05-09T16:48:00.005+10:002021-05-09T17:00:35.384+10:00Living the dream: My journey to Australian citizenship<p>Let's talk about immigration. There's a misconception in the media that life is easy for people who emigrate to a new country. Common statements that are made are things like they commit crime, they clog our prisons, they steal our jobs and they rely on the welfare system. These statements couldn't be further from the truth and in today's blog I want to share the story of my journey to Australian citizenship which was finalised on Thursday afternoon and bear in mind that being an NZ citizen I already had an advantage because I could just get a plane and live on a temporary working visa (this is a subject for another blog) unlike people from other nations who couldn't necessarily gain entry to Australia.<br /></p><p>So it's 2008 and I've just finished my undergraduate degree at university - a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Politics and a minor in Film, TV and Media Studies. I had been thinking of moving to Sydney for two years - Sydney because it's a lot like Auckland - It has a sky tower (Sydney Tower) and it has a harbour bridge (the Coat hanger). Two of my friends from uni also moved to Sydney so after two years of deliberation I took the plunge and moved to Sydney. I lived in King's Cross from April until June and in that time was working for the NSW Department of Housing - now FACS) and I had a second part time job in the evenings as well. I missed my friends though so I moved back to Auckland but I always had the intention to move back to Sydney. When I was back in Auckland I started my post graduate studies in Communications.<br /></p><p>I spent about 18 months in Auckland and then in December of 2009 I moved back after two of my other friends moved to Sydney. This time around I stayed for nine months but hated my job so I went back to Auckland to complete my Post Graduate Diploma in Communications. I stayed for a few months from August 2010 until December 2010 when I moved back to Sydney where I stayed until April 2011.</p><p>I stayed in Auckland until December 2013. The reason that time was so long was because I wound up getting a job I really loved that I didn't want to leave but when the company announced their intention to close the department I worked in that was my opportunity to come back to Sydney which had always been my goal.</p><p>I arrived back in Sydney on the 24th of December 2013 at about 6pm. I'm in communications and the work here has been incredibly unstable and after several casual jobs I had a really good job I liked but it didn't work out so I left that job in November of 2015. Luckily a couple of friends let me stay with them but it was only for a short time. Fortunately I had another friend who let me stay with them and I lived there for a few years. That was only supposed to be for a month but I really liked it there in Redfern so I stayed. </p><p>In February of 2016, then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and then New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced a <a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189/new-zealand" target="_blank">new skilled migration pathway specifically for NZ citizens living in Australia</a>. Under that pathway you had to earn a minimum of $53,900AUD plus super for four years prior to applying which I knew I probably wasn't going to do for that financial year.</p><p>I decided to earn money freelancing but due to some unfortunate circumstances the work dried up so I needed to go back to working for other people. Of course, a lot of employers in Sydney are incredibly dodgy and look for a scapegoat, or the work is good but it's contract work so it has an expiration date and means that the job hunt must continue. There were periods where if it hadn't been for friends giving me a place to stay I would've been homeless. It is because of this generosity that I was able to get Australian citizenship after 13 years and 28 days, which included 7 months and 1 day of processing time.</p><p>What a lot of people don't realise when you emigrate to a new country is that it's not actually necessarily smooth sailing. It took me FOUR attempts to emigrate to Australia before I was able to successfully do it. During that time there was a lot of uncertainty with casual or contract jobs and some periods in between. There were times where I had to freelance and was working 16 hours a day to earn enough money to qualify for the skilled visa pathway that Malcolm Turnbull and John Key introduced. There were periods where I couldn't pay rent. There were periods where I didn't know where my next pay was coming from. There were periods of so much uncertainty. So much uncertainty because when you move to a new country you're on your own. You're in a weird limbo land where you're still legally recognised by your old country but you're not yet recognised by your new country.</p><p>It's very hard for migrants in a new country. This could be why only 3.4% of the world's population have emigrated from their country of birth. 3.4% of the world's population is 272 million. The rest of the 9 billion people in the world live in their country of birth.</p><p>I was thinking about it a couple of days ago since becoming an Australian citizen, and the reality is, most immigrants struggle. You're away from your friends and family. You're away from your support networks and you're basically on your own. I think that's actually why we see so many immigrants setting up their own businesses. They simply have to in order to survive. I did it myself, and even today while I still work a casual job and hunt for a permanent job in the Australian Federal Government, I have my freelance writing business and I am hoping to build that up.</p><p>Instead of saying immigrants should go back home (and I've been guilty of this myself) take the time to find out their story and learn about why they decided to move to a new country because immigration is not as clear cut as people think it is. It takes a lot of hard work and determination. This blog is just a short snapshot of what goes into getting citizenship in a new country, and for me, it took 13 years and 28 days plus a lot of uncertainty and struggles along the way.</p><p>It is for that reason I am not just proud to call myself Australian, I am proud that I achieved something that not many people do. I successfully emigrated to a new country after multiple attempts. I'm very proud of that achievement in fact because along the way I had no idea if it was going to happen and in 2008 when I first decided I wanted Australian citizenship there was no pathway for me other than through marriage but I didn't want to get Australian citizenship based on who I married. I wanted to get it because of how hard I hard worked for it, and I did. There is a huge amount of satisfaction in being able to say that I achieved what I always set out to achieve - something that only 3.4% of the world's population achieve, and legally being recognised as an Australian by the government.<br /></p><p>The other reason for this blog is to show that when things seem impossible you should never lose faith that if you persist you will get what you want and you will achieve your dream. My dream was to be an Australian citizen and I am.<br /></p>Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-86594747274788779382021-05-08T01:16:00.003+10:002021-05-08T01:17:52.822+10:00Pros and cons of naturalising in a new country<p>Over the last few months while I was waiting for my Australian citizenship I had a few conversations with people about naturalising after acquiring permanent residency in a country that you emigrated to. I had wondered why some people don't naturalise prior to this because the New Zealand media often publishes and broadcasts stories about New Zealand citizens being ineligible for Australian government assistance, the right to vote, and being at risk if they commit a crime that carries a prison sentence of more than 12 months. </p><p>It truly seems bizarre to me that someone would move to a new country and not intend to naturalise. I had planned to naturalise as an Australian citizen since I first moved here 13 years and 29 days ago. It was always my intention. </p><p>This blog today is going to assess all points of view- why some people do naturalise, why some don't and why you should naturalise in a new country.</p><p><b>Identity</b></p><p>Some people do not naturalise in a new country because they don't want to forgo their original nationality and they feel that doing so could diminish their identity but that's not the case at all. Most countries around the world allow dual or multiple citizenship so there is no need to renounce your original citizenship. You can be a citizen of more than one country and it doesn't diminish your identity at all.</p><p><b>Cost</b></p><p>Acquiring citizenship in a new country costs thousands of dollars and therefore it's something that you'd only do if you really wanted to. The price for permanent residency is often a few thousand dollars and if you don't see the value in holding citizenship then it's not a cost most people would want to pay. Then there is the cost of citizenship after that. It can be upwards of $10,000 if a family is applying and a few thousand dollars for an individual.</p><p><b>Paperwork</b></p><p>When you apply for permanent residency the process is relatively simple and straight forward depending on the visa that you are applying for. You may need to submit 20 documents. When it comes to citizenship the process is much longer. In Australia it can take people several years to obtain citizenship after applying and even a simple application may require 50 supporting documents in addition to the application form itself. </p><p><b>Ineligibility</b></p><p>This is a big one. When you're a permanent resident you must satisfy certain conditions before applying for citizenship such as being resident in a country without breaks for a period of time. You must also satisfy identity and character requirements. You must also qualify for a permanent visa. If you do not qualify for a permanent visa then you will never qualify for citizenship. Some nations around the world have reciprocal agreements for example, NZ and Australia have an agreement that allows citizens of each nation to travel freely. Of course, what a lot of people don't realise is that NZ citizens going to Australia do so on a temporary visa. It is effectively a working holiday visa and does not lead to citizenship. There are however other ways to get permanent residency in Australia - The 189 skilled migration NZ stream visa, the partner visa or citizenship by descent if one of your parents was an Australian permanent resident or Australian citizen.</p><p>So now that I've talked about the things that may prohibit you from getting citizenship in a new nation I want to talk about why people should take out citizenship.</p><p><b>Being recognised as one of the nation's people</b></p><p>This is a really big one. When you naturalise, your new country has said, "yes, you're one of us" and you actually belong to that nation. You are no longer a visitor. You are one of their people. You've assimilated into the community. A lot of people have this misconception, myself included until I went through the process, that citizenship is easy to obtain. It's not easy to obtain, and that's in countries that have comparatively "soft" immigration policies. It often takes years of hard work, years of struggle, years of waiting to qualify, a lot of money, time on a permanent visa and then the wait while your citizenship application is processed. It's not an easy process at all and not everyone qualifies for citizenship, even if they did obtain permanent residency, for example, in Australia, you cannot get citizenship if you have a traffic offence because it is technically a crime and you will have a record. Getting citizenship means you are no longer a visitor.</p><p><b>Opportunities open up</b></p><p>Some nations allow permanent residents to hold public office and to vote in elections, but others do not. Citizenship means you can apply for jobs in the public sector, stand for parliament and vote in elections. It means you can participate as a full member of the community and that you get to enjoy the freedoms that every other citizen does.</p><p><b>Consular assistance</b></p><p>If you are in trouble overseas then it makes sense to get assistance from the country that you live in, so it is essential that you take up citizenship. If you don't then it could mean that your old country has to help you which may mean you struggle to get back to the country that you live in, and that could be a foreign affairs nightmare for authorities and yourself. Getting citizenship in the country you live in means you will never have to worry about that.<b> </b></p><p>There are of course other advantages to naturalising in a new country but there are too many to write about here. Citizenship is extremely important, even if there's a possiblity you may move out of the country in a few years time. You never know what could happen and it is better to get it while you are still young and healthy because to get permanent residency you do have to pass a health test in addition to the character requirements.</p><p>And on that note, I gained my Australian citizenship on the 6th of May 2021 and I am now officially and legally Australian. I had been approved on the 19th of April and then had to wait for the final step which was making the Australian citizenship pledge (a requirement of the Citizenship Act 2007), and it definitely makes a difference, even though I had always identified as Australian, but now it's legal. I will be renouncing my New Zealand citizenship within the next few months, but my thoughts on dual citizenship are a subject for another blog.<br /></p>Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-73012277588901526532021-04-17T23:09:00.007+10:002021-04-17T23:13:40.040+10:00Australian citizenship processing times<p>It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog, and I actually started writing this blog on the 11th of October 2020, so that means there was 7 months of inactivity. This post lay dormant for 7 months before I decided to come back to it, and that actually reflects the topic that I”m writing about today - the slow processing of Australian citizenship applications.<br /></p><p>The processing time for Australian citizenship is anywhere from 3 months to 3 years. There’s no logic behind how the Department of Home Affairs processes citizenship applications. They say on their website that they’re processed in the order that they’re received and while that may be true to an extent, I think there’s more to it that the general public doesn’t know but Home Affairs will never reveal that information. </p><p>An Australian citizenship applicant can’t even get information on their citizenship application without submitting a freedom of information (FOI) request which takes 30 days to process. </p><p>There are however forums online where citizenship applicants can post and discuss the process (yes, I’m a member of one of them). That’s how I actually found out that it’s possible to submit an FOI to find out what’s happening with your citizenship application. </p><p>As I mentioned, I first applied on the 5th of October 2020 and other than a couple of automated checks on the 8th of October 2020 my application lay dormant until the 18th of March 2021. Approximately two weeks later on the 8th of April 2021 I had received my citizenship test invitation. It was set for the 30th of April 2021 but I’d read about being able to reschedule for an earlier time if a slot was available so I did exactly that. I rescheduled for the 9th of April 2021 and got 100% in the citizenship test. I don’t remember what questions were asked but I do know it was very easy and that I was in and out of the Home Affairs office within 20 minutes. Your identity is verified and a couple of questions are asked before you’re allowed to sit the test and then afterwards you’re given a piece of paper congratulating you for passing the test and that processing will continue. </p><p>I’ve hated waiting since I first applied, actually I’ve hated waiting for my Australian citizenship since I first moved here on the 8th of April 2008. Yes, you will notice it was exactly 13 years to the day that I got my citizenship test. The processing times are anywhere from 14 months to 19 months and currently there are approximately 146,000 people in the queue. When I applied back in October it was 156,000. I’m not sure if COVID has had a bearing on the numbers but they’re out of control and people should not have to wait so long for citizenship. </p><p>The current rate to apply for Australian citizenship is a measly $285. It should be much higher. It should actually be closer to $1000. $285 is too low and could be a factor in why the citizenship queue has blown out from 30,000 under Tony Abbott to 146,000 under Scott Morrison. I think increasing the fee to $1000 would improve the legitimacy of applications and it would also allow the Department of Home Affairs the chance to invest more in citizenship officers. I’ve done the calculations and they’d be able to hire about 500 new staff members if it increased this month. They only actually need 100 staff members to clear the backlog within a reasonable time (though 6 months time to get the test is actually one of the better timeframes I’ve known of, some people wait three years which is excessive), but the wait for approval could be another 6 months on its own and then I have to wait another 3-4 months due to the City of Sydney Council’s current backlog. </p><p>I don’t think I’ll have to wait that long but it’s starting to drive me crazy (this is not helped by the fact that my apartment looks directly onto the citizenship office - it's 1km exactly from my apartment). When I received the email for the citizenship test appointment it wasn’t on my mind at that particular point in time and I was busy with acting (the one time I wasn't thinking about it so I was shocked to receive it) but given I’m much closer to Australian citizenship I’m checking the Immi portal obsessively now.<br /></p><p>It would be more reasonable if the time from citizenship application lodgement to the ceremony was 6-8 months rather than 14-19 months (though that does depend on how often you travel overseas and the documents you supply - I supplied 39 documents and added an extra 10 documents this week for a total of 49 documents because one additional document was requested at the citizenship interview. The application form itself is 21 pages as well. That is for a simple citizenship application. I can’t imagine how many pages it is for a complicated application. </p><p>Anyway, it would be reasonable if it was say 3 months to get your citizenship appointment then no more than a month for approval and then no more than 2 months for your ceremony. The process needs to be more streamlined with case officers allocated applications from certain countries, and people should have the option to pay an extra fee for prioritisation if they want. Yes, a lot would take up this option but if it was say $500-$1000 extra for priority processing it would be okay. There’s priority processing for visas and for an Australian passport so why not for citizenship? Why should people be prevented from paying the government extra money for faster processing? </p><p>In my research on forums (and let’s be honest, I’m trying to distract myself by reading about citizenship and I like hearing about other people’s stories) the fact is that some migrants are disingenuous. By that I mean they do not plan to live in Australia long term, but the majority of applicants, such as myself are putting their lives on hold while they wait for approval. For example, when your citizenship application is being processed by the department you can’t leave the country after your test. Legally you can of course BUT, if you do then you will be pushed to the back of the queue and given how many are in the queue it’s just not worth the risk. </p><p>So some people might wonder why citizenship is so important if you can live indefinitely in a country. </p><p>There are so many reasons and these are just a few.</p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Belonging.</li><li>Carrying an Australian passport.</li><li>Applying for public sector jobs.</li><li>Standing for parliament.</li><li>Voting.</li></ol><p>When you become a citizen of a nation you are officially part of that nation and pledge your allegiance. In Australia you do not actually become a citizen until you say the pledge at the ceremony, which you can do under God, but it is not mandatory. If you are already a citizen you can reaffirm your commitment to Australia at a citizenship ceremony however it has no legal standing. A lot of people don't realise but while you're in the process of waiting for citizenship you're in this weird limbo land where you legally belong to your country of birth but you don't legally belong to your new country.<br /></p><p>As a citizen you have the right to carry an Australian passport. This means that you are recognised overseas as being Australian and if you were stranded overseas the Australian government would help you. You would be recognised as one of its people and if you’ve built a life who wouldn’t want that. </p><p>You can apply for public sector jobs which can open up opportunities and advance your career. It also gives you the chance to give back to the Australian public.</p><p>Standing for parliament at local, state or federal level becomes an option when you’re a citizen. You must be enrolled to vote and on the electoral roll to stand for parliament. Permanent residents have no democratic voice (unless you write to MPs or complain to government departments - I’ve actually never written so many letters to MPs as when I haven’t had the right to vote).</p><p>And that brings me to the most important reason to become a citizen. You have the right to vote. You have a voice. I have missed two federal elections, two state elections and one local council election. I need my citizenship to be approved in the next few weeks to vote in this year’s Sydney City Council election. Given the time between approval and the ceremony if I’m not approved this month then I run the risk of missing out on voting in this year’s Sydney City Council election and I am at risk of missing next year’s Federal election however the chances are very slim that I will not be able to vote by then. Political participation and the importance of voting is another blog post all together though.</p><p>And that concludes my rant about the Australian citizenship processing times, and much like the Australian government, I took my sweet little time in writing this post.<br /></p>Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-15888912894554869742019-08-25T03:54:00.002+10:002019-08-25T03:54:24.901+10:00Album review: Taylor Swift LoverOkay, I know that my last three blogs, including this one have been about Taylor Swift, and I swear that my blog is not actually a Taylor Swift blog. I just can't help that she is where I'm drawing inspiration from right now.<br />
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A couple of months ago when The Archer was released I ripped into it as per my last blog post. I said it was a terrible song and that Taylor was codependent and needed to get a grip. Okay see here's the thing. I'd just been rejected by a guy a short time before and I was kind of bruised from that so I didn't want to admit that I was actually kind of gutted about it and Taylor just reminded me of that. It was also a bit slow for my liking.<br />
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However, now it's one of my favourite tracks on the album. I love the slow pacing of it and I love it lyrically, but also, why does it even have to be about a guy? What's to say it's not about career goals and aspirations? The lyrics, "easy they come/easy they go/help me hold onto you/who could ever leave me/but who could ever stay?"<br />
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That could easily be about your dreams. It's all about interpretation. Of course, I'm certain it is about a new love, probably Joe Alwyn, but it could honestly be about anything such as self belief. The song is what you make it. Taylor's vocal range and sincerity in the song really shines through. It is absolutely a stand out on the album.<br />
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Another stand out is Paper Rings. She reminds me of Avril Lavigne in the song but I also love the concept of, "I like shiny things/but I'd marry you with paper rings". It's so sweet that you can't help but fall in love with it and it has a great beat.<br />
<br />
Now Cornelia Street is about a place that you love and will always remember. In Taylor's case it's Cornelia Street. In my case it's Onslow Road, Mount Eden. That place is one of my favourite places. The beat, lyrics and mixing of this song could have easily been on her album 1989. It's a soft song that's rather reflective and clear she wants to hold onto what she has in her life right now.<br />
<br />
Soon you'll get better with the Dixie Chicks is a raw song about Taylor Swift's mother Andrea's battle with cancer. It's stripped back with light guitar strings. I understand that lots of people have written positive reviews about the song but I just don't like it. I like that it's accoustic. I don't like it lyrically. It doesn't really fit on the album and it's just a depressing song. I'm not a fan of it. I personally would've left it off the album.<br />
<br />
Then there are the two songs, Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince; and You Need to Calm Down, which reviewers are trying to make political tunes. I don't know about you but I don't like when singers get political in their music. I immediately tune out. That said, I do like You Need to Calm Down but I could do without the political commentary. Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince also could've easily been on 1989 as well.<br />
<br />
I'm an actress, writer and singer and of course I have political opinions and leanings but I keep my performing, writing and my politics separate even though I studied politics at uni. I don't like that the media is pressuring Taylor to talk about politics. We pay her to sing and write music, not to offer political commentary. Green Day did that with their album American Idiot though but again, music can be universal so songs are open to interpretation and I loved that album when it was released.<br />
<br />
Afterglow and It's Nice to Have a Friend remind me of pre Red era Taylor. She shows her more sensitive side. In Afterglow she returns to Back to December where she's apologising to a former love. The song is like many on her album with sound effects of an echo. It's Nice to Have a Friend feels a little bit playful and cheerful, like she could easily be in high school singing it and the first lyrics are: "school bell rings/walk me home". This song could easily be about her mother, or her best friend Abigail who she met early in high school. I like that she is thankful in this song and lighthearted in her approach.<br />
<br />
Now to talk about Me! This song was first released when I was into the guy who rejected me so I was optimistic about it, but then for a while I couldn't listen to it. Now that time has passed I completely relate to Taylor "I know that I went psycho on the phone/I never leave well enough alone". That is totally me. I do that, but then she sings, "Meeeeeeeee/I'm the only one of me/baby that's the fun of me" and now I would sing that song as a "your loss." When Taylor first released it she said the song was exactly that. It was supposed to be an uplifting song and it really is.<br />
<br />
The title track Lover refers to previous songs and has a country vibe about it. It's clearly about her love of three years, British actor Joe Alwyn and how she'd do anything for him. I like the song, but being single with no love interests on the horizon (outside of pure fantasies) I can't listen to the song right now. When there is a new love interest, it will be high on the playlist.<br />
<br />
The fourth track, The Man is a follow up to Blank Space where she's sick of everyone criticising her for having lots of relationships and she sings about how if she was a man then she'd be the man and everyone would lover her like they do Leo Di Caprio. The pace picks up and it has a strong drum beat.<br />
<br />
The album's final track is more of a ballad where Taylor is again, taking responsibility for how she's been in previous relationships and singing that she doesn't, "want to look at anything else" now that she's seen "daylight". It might be another song to Joe Alwyn but it's also about how she's made peace with what people have said about her in the past. I'm sure we can all relate to being judged by others, or feeling judged. She seems to have made peace with it, but that appears to be because she's with Joe. It's an optimistic song and she seems very thankful for what the future holds.<br />
<br />
High on the playlist like, I Forgot That You Existed. This is 100% my favourite song on the song. Anyone who has been wronged by a friend, former lover or anyone else will love this song. It's a follow up to Bad Blood except she simply doesn't care anymore, "I forgot that you existed/and I thought that it would kill me/but it didn't/and it was so nice/and it was so peaceful and quiet/it isn't love/it isn't hate/it's just indifferent."<br />
<br />
The song is basically a "I would've done anything for you but you showed your true colours and now I don't care about you". It's the ultimate indifferent song. The beat of the song is pretty peaceful and nice to listen to. It really is one of those songs you can just listen to on repeat when you've been wronged by someone.<br />
<br />
It's a song where Taylor takes back the power after the Reputation era and is leaving the past behind. It's a great opener for the album and really does set the tone that she's a lover not a fighter and doesn't have time to negativity.<br />
<br />
Even the cover art shows that she is a lover. It may not be intentional but the Lover cover art is very similar to Katy Perry's Teenage Dream. She reportedly had a falling out with Katy Perry for a few years but Katy appeared in her You Need to Calm Down music video so Taylor and Katy are friends again, or at least on speaking terms.<br />
<br />
Overall this is a great return to the spotlight for Taylor and it's great that she's back to positivity after the dark Reputation era. I loved Reputation but it was very dark, at least by Taylor standards anyway.<br />
<br />
The best tracks on the album: I Forgot That You Existed, The Archer, Paper Rings, Cornelia Street, Afterglow, Me!, It's Nice to Have a Friend and Daylight.<br />
<br />
I give the album a 4.5 out of 5 and I know I won't be the only one at her Lover Tour but I plan to be in the front row at her show. <br />
<br />Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-75225518486287846862019-07-24T12:21:00.000+10:002019-07-24T12:32:14.041+10:00Taylor Swift's new song lyrics irritate the hell out of me and here's why<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’m a huge Taylor Swift fan. I’ve been a fan of her music
since she released Everything has changed with Ed Sheeran. There was just
something about those lyrics and the songs, I knew you were trouble and We are
never getting back together that really connected with me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve been a loyal fan since. I went to the 1989 World Tour
(and it’s because of Taylor Swift that I’m still living in Sydney – there was
something she said during the concert that connected with me) and the
Reputation World Tour.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I buy her music as soon as it comes out and I can identify
with most of the lyrics.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">She’s just begun releasing singles for her seventh album,
Lover. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I loved the first single, Me! Where she teamed up with Panic
At The Disco’s Brendon Urie) and sung a song about how awesome she was. That
song was great. It was upbeat and a song about anyone who has ever doubted
themselves. It was a self affirming song and the positivity was welcome.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Her second single, You need to calm down completely missed
the mark for me. It was a political song and that’s all I’m saying on the
matter. Musicians and politics should not mix.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But her third single, The archer is such a depressing song
and I’m not a fan. I mean it’s Taylor Swift so I’ve got it on repeat but that’s
also because I’m writing this blog about it, so I kind of have to listen to it
multiple times to really get the point and say everything I want to say.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Anyway, there’s a few lyrics in this song that really irritate
the hell out of me.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I want to preface this by saying that a couple of months ago
I was shot down by a guy I really liked and I’m only just getting over that so
I’m all, “I’m great on my own and I’m awesome,” which is why I can identify
with the lyrics to Me! I was trying to find specific lyrics I could identify
with but the whole song describes how I feel right now.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The archer on the other hand is such a needy, desperate,
clingy, co-dependant, whingy, whiney, depressing, wallowing song. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I want to draw attention to some specific lyrics:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>Easy they come, easy they go</em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>I jump off the train, I ride off alone</em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>I never grew up, it’s getting so old</em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>Help me hold onto you</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em><br /></em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The issue with these lyrics is that Taylor is saying she needs someone
else to be happy and that she can’t handle being alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">She’s also whining about never growing up, though I do appreciate the
reference to her earlier song, Never grow up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Why does she need to hold onto someone? Why can’t she be happy on her
own? Why can’t she find happiness in other things?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Then there’s the self pity in the next lyrics:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>And I cut off my nose just to spite my face</em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>Then I hate my reflection for years and years</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em><br /></em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">These lyrics are awful. Talk about low self-esteem and negativity. That’s
just blaming herself for things that have happened and that’s ridiculous. She
shouldn’t hate herself. Nobody should hate themselves and nobody should feel
sorry for themselves. It’s not healthy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But the lyric that really grates on my nerves:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>All the king’s horses, all the king’s men</em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>Couldn’t put me together again</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em><br /></em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Why does she even need someone to put her together again? She can put
herself back together. She shouldn’t need anyone else to do that for her. She
should be strong enough on her own. This song is awful lyrically.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’m sure at some point I’ll like the lyrics of this song, but right now
I don’t. I’m really disappointed in the weakness and co-dependency shown in
this song. I just want to knock some sense into her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And on that note I’m going to listen to Me! Because I’d rather celebrate
self love than wallowing and self pity. And of course I'll be buying the album as soon as it's out but this song annoys me.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">P.S. It wasn't intentional to have two blogs in a row about Taylor Swift's new music.</span></div>
Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-61801187528614207022019-04-27T23:38:00.003+10:002019-04-27T23:38:53.707+10:00Taylor Swift's new song and thoughts on loveTaylor Swift is one of the most polarising artists of our time. One minute everyone loves her and can't get enough of her. The next they're crtiicising her and saying her music is trash.<br />
<br />
The tabloids are at it again this week now that she has released the lead single, Me! off her seventh, yet to be named album. She teamed up with Panic at the Disco's Brendon Urie.<br />
<br />
The general gist is that Taylor's new single isn't up to her usual standard and that she's sold herself short. She's also been accused of writing for teenagers.<br />
<br />
Firstly, even if she has written for teenagers how is that a bad thing and why are people talking negatively about her for writing for teenagers? Are teenagers not allowed opinions? Do their feelings not matter? Why are people looking down on teenagers? If we're not teenagers now then most of us were teenagers once and I don't know about you but when I was a teenager I was all about the crushes on the boys and I was all about the love and romance. I was the type of girl who wrote boys notes in primary school, intermediate and high school. There were so many crushes and crushes are fun.<br />
<br />
I'm getting a little sidetracked here. Anyway, back to Taylor Swift's song. I've seen some commentary that the lyrics are lame and that it's a break up song. That's not at all how I interpret it. Now call me an optimist and a believer in love but I reckon it's a song about being crazy about someone and even though they have faults you just want to be with them.<br />
<br />
This is clear in the lines:<br />
<br />
"And you're the kind of guy the ladies want" and "you're the only one of you."<br />
<br />
It's also about how nobody will ever like someone as much as you. Again, this is evidenced in the lines, "I promise that you'll never find another like....." and "I never wanna see you walk away."<br />
<br />
I'm truly dumbfounded as to how anyone can think this is a break up song. If anything it's a song about how no relationship is perfect but how no matter what happens you want to make it work.<br />
<br />
That sort of brings me to my next point which is about relationships in general. I have a lot of friends who are always worried about getting hurt and worried that a relationship won't pan out. You know what I have to say to that? What if it DOES work? What if you do get your happy ending? What if you're not alone in your feelings? As a character in the TV show Friends once said, it only has to happen once. You only need to have a relationship work once, and as Rachel said in Series 5, "people love being told when someone loves them." Rachel had blind faith that she should tell Ross how she felt. Of course he didn't reciprocate (until later on and then she "got off the plane" in the series finale in season 10), but has anyone ever been rude when someone shows their heart? The answer is no because even if they don't feel the same, they're still going to appreciate it. They'll appreciate it because it takes bravery and courage to put your heart on the line.<br />
<br />
People shouldn't be so cynical about relationships. They should trust that things will work. Why do people always expect the worst? Why not expect the best? What if the best DOES happen? What if you do get what you want?<br />
<br />
I'm gonna leave you with this thought: you've gotta be in it to win it. It only needs to work out once. In a world of 7 billion people, how could it NOT work out once? How could people not find love? It's all around us if you really believe in it and again, as the TV show Friends says, "it only has to work once."Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-20478600837652431062019-04-21T02:06:00.000+10:002019-04-21T02:12:55.631+10:00Delete dating apps and become the person you want to dateIsn't it a fascinating concept? People actually sign up to dating websites or dating apps searching for love. They basically have a sign on their foreheads saying, "hey I'm desperate, love me, love me. I need love.'<br />
<br />
In what world did it become okay to do things so unnaturally? When did people stop having the faith that things would happen organically? Why did they stop believing that love would come into their life at exactly the right time?<br />
<br />
I don't want to sound all new age but surely, love will come into your life when it's the right time and surely love will come into your life when, as cliched as it sounds you stop looking for it and become happy in who you are.<br />
<br />
So what does that actually look like? Well, being happy in who you are means you can take it either way. It means that you're honestly okay if you're single forever or if you end up meeting The One.<br />
<br />
Of course, that's easier said than done but here's the thing about people who are comfortable in themselves. They have their own interests. They have their own life. They have a great job. They're happy in themselves. They're not worried about whether or not someone else loves them because they love themselves. That's not to say they're egotistical. It just means they have self respect and that they know what they want.<br />
<br />
Now I'm sure that everyone can relate to having dated a lot of incompatible people on dating sites and apps. There'll be the ones where you just have no connection, the one where you feel something but there's that niggling self doubt (more about that later), the ones who lie to you and string you along like a puppet. There'll be the ones who are insanely into you but who you don't feel the same way about. Now, I don't like the quote TV shows, actually that's a lie, I do. There's a couple of episodes of How I Met Your Mother where Ted is so close to giving up on love.<br />
<br />
In season 4's episode, As fast as she can, Ted is destitute and so fed up. He has recently bumped into Stella who says to him, she's getting there as fast as she can. Ted being Ted he acknowledges that comment but he doesn't really believe it.<br />
<br />
Then in season 8 he dates the last ever woman before he meets The Mother. The last ever woman was Jeanette Peterson who was mentally unhinged. I'm sure we've all dated someone who is mentally unhinged. Interestingly he says after she's chucked his stuff out of the apartment that he's done with dating and that he's ready to settle down.<br />
<br />
Within a few months he then met The Mother.<br />
<br />
To quote Ted Mosby, before you can attract love into your life, you have to become the person you would want to date. You have to love yourself before you can love anyone else and before anyone else can love you. It could be that like Ted you scream at the universe that you're done with dating or that you're sick of being disrespected and want more. Or it could be that you follow some other path.<br />
<br />
In other words the basic essence of this blog is that you can't go out searching for love. You have to let it find you, and it will find you. At the right time. When you're ready for it and often when you've given up and you're certain it's not out there. If love was easy to find we simply wouldn't value it. It comes into our lives when we will value it and when we won't take it for granted. It's like that movie, How to lose a guy in ten days with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. There's a quote early on in the movie that diamonds are valued because they're scarce. If love was around every corner it wouldn't be valued because it would be just like a bus. There'd be another in five minutes, but it's not like that. It could be months or years between loves. <br />
<br />
But one other thing is for sure. It's not on dating apps and nor should it be.. It's so unnatural and fake when you think about it. People post a few pictures of themselves and a short bio with info they want the world to see. That's not how you find love. That's how you attract other desperate people.<br />
<br />
The best way to find love is to love yourself and to be genuinely happy in yourself. It's to have your own life and to not need someone else to share it with. When you're in that place you'll effectively be a complete person and that is so much more attractive than someone who is seeking love.<br />
<br />
So please, delete Tinder and other apps. They're just fake. You can't find true love on apps. It exists where you least expect it and it will come along when you least expect it. You just have to shift it out of your mind and not need it.<br />
<br />
It sounds counter intuitive but it just can't be forced and that's what dating apps do. They try and force it. It's not a genuine connection. Genuine connections are found elsewhere. And when you do find a genuine connection there won't be any self doubt. As cryptic as it sounds you'll just know. You'll just feel it. It will be different to anything you've ever experienced before. You have to let it happen naturally.Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-56310000305173373942019-03-25T01:08:00.006+11:002019-03-25T01:11:30.710+11:00Concert review: Bryan Adams, ICC, Sydney, 24th March 2019A while ago I saw that long time Canadian pop/rock singer, Bryan Adams would be touring Australia. One of my favourite songs is Summer of 69, which is about sex by the way. As you'd expect because I go to a lot of concerts I bought a ticket to his show at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Sydney.<br />
<br />
Before every concert I always look online for the setlist and to see who the opening artist is. Opening for Bryan was Australian singer, Mahalia Barnes, the daughter of rocker Jimmy Barnes who was in Cold Chisel and has a solo "singing" career. I use quotation marks because Jimmy cannot sing, but more about that later.<br />
<br />
Mahalia opened and she was one of the better support acts I've heard. That was until she turned political and referenced yesterday's state election. She complained about the lockout laws and basically indicated that people shouldn't support the Liberal National Party. Two things:<br />
<br />
1 - Live music still exists.<br />
2 - Artists shouldn't turn political because it's really alienating. Not everyone is left wing. Some people are right wing.<br />
<br />
I will briefly talk about the lockout laws though. Generally speaking the lockout laws have become a Labor, Green, Keep Sydney Open and Liberal Democratic Party issue. If the lockout laws are ever to be reversed then Labor and the Green Party need to stop using it as a policy platform. I'm right wing and I'm against the lockout laws but when Labor and the Green Party make it a policy platform they alienate and exclude right wingers from the debate.<br />
<br />
I could write an entire blog on how the lockout laws have killed Sydney's music scene and how the majority shouldn't be punished for a couple of tragic deaths, but that's not what this blog is about.<br />
<br />
This blog is about Bryan Adams' tour to Australia and New Zealand.<br />
<br />
You may or may not know that following the Christchurch Mosque Massacre he cancelled his show schedule for March 17th at Hagley Park, close to where the Mosque shooting took place. He has said in interviews that he was traumatised.<br />
<br />
The tour was in support of his new album, Shine a Light and he dedicated the title track to all New Zealanders. Shine a Light had been written with Ed Sheeran. The dedication was possibly the best moment of the show. As I've written in previous blogs, I always love when artists talk to the audience and make it personal. That's exactly what he did, and it was really great to see that he was personally impacted by the Christchurch massacre, great to see in the sense that he actually cared. I love when artists care about world events. This may be a contradiction, but Bryan Adams didn't make it political at all. He just said that it had been a "traumatic experience" and left it at that.<br />
<br />
Afterwards he sung Heaven, which has been covered by numerous artists including DJ Sammy, which until tonight was the only version I was familiar with. I had no idea Bryan Adams had sung the song originally. The original is fantastic if you haven't heard it. <br />
<br />
Another highlight of the show was when he sung his biggest song, Summer of 69 and a short time later When you're gone which he had originally recorded with the Spice Girls singer, Melanie Chisolm in 1998.<br />
<br />
I haven't been hugely familiar with Bryan's music and like I say, I was only there for two songs, but I also discovered his song, 18 til I die. Lyrically this is a fantastic song that is basically about being young at heart. I absolutely loved it.<br />
<br />
The purpose of a tour is to promote your music that people may not know about and Bryan Adams succeeded in that.<br />
<br />
He did make one mistake though which was in the encore which came after a main setlist of 22 songs, bringing the total to about 28 songs. He invited Jimmy Barnes to the stage to sing with him. I don't know what song they were trying to sing but Jimmy Barnes absolutely wrecked it. Jimmy Barnes has an awful gravelly voice and I wouldn't even say he sings. How he's had a long standing rock career is beyond me when his voice was pure torture to listen to.<br />
<br />
I lasted about 2 minutes before I had to walk out. His voice was that bad and I was not impressed. I missed the final two songs of the encore so about five minutes all up. That's no big deal as I'd heard all the songs I wanted to.<br />
<br />
There was one funny moment where Bryan sung a song, I'll always be right there, with Keith Scott on guitar. He restarted the song a couple of times, and the second time he said, "fucking hell" but it was funny because he incorporated it into the melody when he went back into the song because saying, "I can't say 'fucking hell' in the middle of a love song". It was one of those moments where you had to be there.<br />
<br />
So other than Mahalia Barnes being political and other than Bryan Adams inviting Jimmy Barnes to the stage for the encore it was a great show and I loved his dedication to Christchurch.<br />
<br />
The security at the ICC was also lacking compared to other times I've been. There was no bag check and given the recent events in Christchurch I wasn't impressed with that either. I hope the ICC ramps up their security for future shows.<br />
<br />
I also could have done with side big screens because the stage lights did block some of my view and I couldn't really see Bryan's face. I can't blame the venue for that though as I'd chosen a cheap seat for this concert. <br />
<br />
I'd give it a 4/5.Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-43552724065967757182019-03-19T23:20:00.003+11:002019-03-19T23:37:50.595+11:00That time I spoke to Jacinda about a massacre back in 2012The year was 2012. I was doing my post grad in Communications at Auckland University of Technology. My specialisation was Journalism. I was also working as a media monitor/content writer. On the side I volunteered for the student magazine, Debate as a columnist and article writer. I had a regular dating column called It's in his kiss, which was based on Carrie Bradshaw's Sex and the City. I've always had an interest in the serious issues though so I wrote serious articles. I wrote articles about crime, Kyle Sandilands and I also had a How to guide.<br />
<br />
After the Colorado cinema shootings in July 2012 I was fascinated because unlike the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, the Colorado cinema shooter hadn't turned the gun on himself.<br />
<br />
I was going to write an article that centred around the mental health of mass murderers, why they do it in the first place, why some choose to end their own life and why some choose not to. For that article I had planned to interview a few pyschologists and I also chose to interview then NZ Labour list MP, Jacinda Ardern. I emailed Jacinda's office and she personally replied and I may be wrong but I think I set up the interview for 3 or 4pm on a Thursday afternoon. I then created my list of questions.<br />
<br />
I asked her about the Orlando shooting, what action she would like to see taken and a couple of other things that I genuinely do not recall. If memory serves me right though, we did talk about mental health and we did talk about prevention. I recall her being very compassionate and kind.<br />
<br />
This was evidenced in the interview when my building had a fire alarm. She offered to end the interview and continue it later but I didn't want to do that so once the beeping had stopped we carried on with it.<br />
<br />
After I interviewed her I also interviewed an Australian psychologist by the name of Susan. I don't recall what she said either but I don't recall her being as warm as Jacinda was.<br />
<br />
Jacinda really seemed to care about people and their mental health.<br />
<br />
That has been displayed this week in response to the Christchurch Mosque Shooting that occurred on Friday. She has been so kind and caring towards the families of the victims, the entire Muslim community and NZers in general.<br />
<br />
I think I steered clear of questions about guns and wanted to focus on
the tougher issue because at the time I remember thinking that to ban
guns would just be to put a band aid on the wound and that it wouldn't
actually solve anything. I have since changed my tune but realistically,
in an ideal world I'd like to see gun ownership cut and people given
better access to mental health support services. On that note, I really
hope that the paramedics and other first responders on Friday are
receiving adequate medical attention. <br />
<br />
Although nobody would ever wish an event like this on their worst enemy, if there's any world leader you'd want in your corner it's Jacinda and throughout the years she's always been a very kind, caring and considerate person.<br />
<br />
There's no real point of this blog. I guess I'm just a little spooked out that I interviewed her about a massacre back in 2012 not even knowing back then that she would be Prime Minister of New Zealand or that she would be the one who would be the face of the nation dealing with such an atrocity.<br />
<br />
I would be lying if I said I asked her what she'd do if it ever happened in New Zealand because to be honest, I don't think the thought even crossed my mind. I think I really wanted to get her views on the linkages between mental health and massacres.<br />
<br />
I also guess I'm talking about it because although I want the assailant to receive the death penalty, I do want to understand what can drive a person, anyone to such a henious crime. How can someone be so angry and evil that they don't think what they're doing is wrong? Back in 2012 neither Jacinda nor I had the answer and sadly that's the case today. I do agree with her that a little kindness goes a long way. Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-78895305966188071342019-03-15T22:32:00.003+11:002019-03-15T22:42:19.182+11:00NZ terror attack: peace not war shall be our boastHere's a blog I had hoped I would never be writing. I suspected it would happen at some point, that eventually there would be a terrorist attack in New Zealand. I certainly didn't think it would happen in Christchurch of all places.<br />
<br />
I was at work when the news started coming in. A friend sent me a message on Facebook saying: "Shooting in CHCH at the Mosque. 6 dead. Check stuff".<br />
<br />
When I read that phrase I was shocked and immediately check the news. Given I am a writer and studied journalism at university I always like to verify information.<br />
<br />
Anyway, it was true. There was an unfolding situation at a Mosque in CHCH. That ended up being much worse than first suspected. I listened to the radio all day for updates while working.<br />
<br />
Throughout the day the death toll kept on rising and then around 6pm, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed a death toll of 40. That number would later rise to 49 where it has been for the last few hours, however there are still 48 in hospital.<br />
<br />
Newstalk ZB's coverage was brilliant today and it is very clear that New Zealanders are feeling the pain today over this terrorist attack. It's the worst terrorist attack to ever happen in NZ. To put it into context, 49 dying in NZ in a terrorist attack is the equivalent of 2600 in America. That means it's the equivalent of the 9/11 twin tower attacks.<br />
<br />
The really sad part is that it was an Australian who carried out this senseless attack on innocent people. Nobody has the right to take another person's life and nobody has the right to get violent with other people. The Australian who allegedly carried out these attacks released a manifesto online stating the reasons and the basic gist is that they wanted to stop invasion of Western nations.<br />
<br />
I don't want to focus on them too much but it seems hypocritical because they went to New Zealand specifically to carry out this henious terrorist attack against innocent people. While details have not yet been released, children are amongst the dead.<br />
<br />
Instead, what I want to focus on in this blog is how to stop terrorist attacks in the future because nobody should ever feel unsafe where they live, let alone in a place of worship. They should feel safe to go about their daily business.<br />
<br />
Hate is what caused this crime and to prevent further crimes, hate is not the answer despite what some people are saying on social media. The best answer to prevent crime is to show compassion and love towards other people. Tolerance will stop these attacks.<br />
<br />
Terrorists, regardless of what side they represent want to create division but instead, people need to all stand together and unite. They need to show they won't be broken and that they will not perpetuate hate.<br />
<br />
Anyone who is suffering mental health issues (sociopathy and psychopathy included) needs to receive help for their issues and they need help so that they don't senselessly murder people, although this is much worse than murder. This was outright terrorism.<br />
<br />
Another question that has to be asked is how the assailants got the guns to carry out these crimes. NZ is supposed to be like Australia, with tough gun laws yet somehow the assailant was able to get enough guns and ammunition to kill innocent people.<br />
<br />
What's even more confusing is why the assailant has only been charged with murder. This crime extended beyond murder and was a terrorist attack.<br />
<br />
I don't believe in the death penalty. I never will believe in the death penalty. I have however said previously that when it comes to treason and terrorism I make an exception and I stand by that. In this particular case, the assailant, whether they acted alone or with others, does not deserve to live. According to media reports, four suspects are in police custody.<br />
<br />
The attack was senseless and served absolutely no purpose. <br />
<br />
The really sad part is that New Zealanders and Australians are supposed to be family and yet an Australian specifically targeted New Zealand. They specifically targeted a quiet city that's already been through a lot with the Christchurch earthquakes from which it hasn't yet recovered and I can only hope that Cantabrians will be offered emotional and mental health support.<br />
<br />
The attack doesn't make sense. That's not to say that all Australians are like this because they're not. The vast majority of Australians are friendly, welcoming, peaceful and would never carry out a terrorist attack. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has condemned the attack, as has NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and NZ Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. Mr Peters has also indicated that NZ's national security will be looked at in due course.<br />
<br />
It would be so easy to blame all white people for this attack, but I have to raise the point, when a Muslim carries out a terrorist attack that's exactly what happens, some people blame all Muslims but the reality there are only a small minority of Muslims who are terrorists.<br />
<br />
It would also be so easy to blame all white Christians for this attack but the vast majority have also condemned this senseless attack. <br />
<br />
I've read part of the assailant's manifesto (I couldn't read the rest because it was too disturbing) and the general gist was that they hated Muslims, hated immigration and wanted to reclaim their land (hypocritical given they targeted a country they're not even from) which indicates fear. A culture of fear does not help anyone.<br />
<br />
Fear is what terrorists want.<br />
<br />
The best answer and the best response to terrorist attacks is simply to be tolerant of other people. If someone isn't hurting you, what do their beliefs actually matter? It's not like they're actually hurting you.<br />
<br />
So I would have to draw words from the NZ National Anthem because it feels appropriate today.<br />
<br />
<i>In the bonds of love we meet.</i><br />
<i>Hear our voices, we entreat.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Men of every creed and race</i><br />
<i>Gather here before Thy face</i><br />
<i>Asking thee to bless this place</i><br />
<br />
<i>From dissension, envy, hate,</i><br />
<i>and corruption guard our state</i><br />
<br />
<i>Peace, not war, shall be our boast</i><br />
<i>But should foes assail our coast</i><br />
<i>Make us then a mighty host</i><br />
<br />
Instead of hating Australians, white Christians, Muslims, immigration etc, people need to come together to keep the peace and be more tolerant.<br />
<i> </i><br />
Hate, anger and fear is what caused this attack. Love is the antedote to it. Only when we treat others with respect will senseless terrorist attacks stop.<br />
<br />
And to close this blog, I'm going to leave you with the extended version of the New Zealand National Anthem.<br />
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<br />Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-6914310983859332662019-02-16T01:02:00.000+11:002019-02-16T01:02:10.223+11:00Concert review - Nickelback - Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney - 15th February 2019I go to a lot of concerts. It averages one a month, however this month it's more like one a week. These are all of this year's concerts:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Lily Allen (that was last week on the 5th of February)</li>
<li>Nickelback tonight</li>
<li>Red Hot Chili Peppers next Tuesday the 19th of February</li>
<li>Beth Hart next Friday the 22nd of February</li>
<li>Hanson the 5th of March</li>
<li>Kylie Minogue the 6th of March</li>
<li>Bryan Adams the 24th of March </li>
</ul>
I then have a bit of a gap without concerts before the following:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Maren Morris the 22nd of August</li>
<li>Julia Michaels the 5th of September</li>
</ul>
Then there is nothing until next year:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Elton John on the 7th of Janaury</li>
</ul>
Tonight was of course Nickelback and as a longstanding fan there was a lot of anticipation. That anticipation was brought about for two reasons.<br />
<br />
I saw them back in 2006 at Auckland's Western Springs Stadium when they opened for the Rolling Stones. I thought they were very average live. I was not impressed at all.They might have been having a bad night or they've improved considerably over the last few years, which is entirely possible. I know that even a few months can make a huge difference to my performing so imagine what a few years can do to them.<br />
<br />
As I had acting practice early in the evening I missed out on the opening act but as I've previously written about I'm not a fan of opening acts, which the exception being Japanese Wallpaper who opened for Lily Allen last week so I don't think I really missed anything.<br />
<br />
Nickelback came onto the stage just before 9pm and opened with the title track from their new album, Feed the Machine.<br />
<br />
Long time fans such as myself were extremely happy when the third song was Photograph which they were keen for the audience to sing, and sing we did. That enthusiasm carried through for the next song, Far Away, a ballad from the same album, All The Right Reasons.<br />
<br />
Something In Your Moutth was a track that Chad Kroeger was very enthusiastic about , quite possibly because of the lyrics.<br />
<br />
The set list had changed between concerts so I was a caught off guard when they launched into Someday, which is one of my favourite songs and a song that I practiced singing last night. It was the highlight of the show for me and is the song that got me into Nickelback in the first place. It also has a lot of meaning for me. In the past it's been a song that has been hard to listen to but tonight I just loved every second of it and sung along.<br />
<br />
When we stand together and Gotta be somebody were two highlights for me as well. The songs had an excellent beat and lyrics as well.<br />
<br />
As with most shows, Chad brought a couple of fans on stage to sing Rockstar from All The Right Reasons. One of the fans was so uncomfortable and like a fish out of water whereas the other was right at home. It was a pretty funny moment but in all honesty I could've done without the uncomfortable fan being on stage.<br />
<br />
There were other moments when Chad and his bandmates interacted with the audience. He made a lot of jokes about his alcoholism and how everyone loves the drummer, not knowing of course that me, sitting in the stand has a major crush on him (there's just something about a lead singer) and when he talked about how he loves Sydney's weather.<br />
<br />
The final song before the encore was How you remind me and there was only a short gap before the two song encore. The concert closed on Burn It To The Ground.<br />
<br />
It may be that there's a few songs that I really love and that I feel truly connected to or it's that Chad Kroeger is incredibly hot but the show was one of the best I've been to lately.<br />
<br />
I have to give it a 4/5.<br />
<br />
Here are some photos from the show including the moment when two fans were brought on stage.<br />
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<br />Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-20828234918920376572018-12-16T17:52:00.001+11:002018-12-16T17:52:09.441+11:00Concert review: Shania Twain 14th and 15th December 2018 - Qudos Bank Arena, SydneyI've been a fan of country singer Shania Twain since I was a kid so when her Now Tour was announced earlier in the year I knew I had to get a ticket and that's exactly what I did. I immediately got an A Reserve ticket within an hour of the presale for the show on the 14th of December at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena. I wanted to be as close to the stage as possible. Say what you will, but where you are in an arena affects the enjoyment you have at a show.<br />
<br />
The day of the concert eventually came around and Shania did not disappoint at all. Her opening act was Bastian Baker who had little charisma and it was easy to see why he was only a supporting act rather than the headliner.<br />
<br />
Shania entered through the audience at the back of the arena before starting with Life's about to get good, the first single from her latest album, Now. The crowd was incredibly excited.<br />
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She introduced one of her newer hits, Poor Me, a song that had started out very angrily but changed as she went through the writing process and was now her drinking song.<br />
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Luckily the sombre mood did not last too long and it was back to the upbeat songs of the late 90s including That Don't Impress Me Much which saw her change into a leopard print gown and the graphics on the stage cubes change.<br />
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There was a Kiss Cam right after the song and at the end of it Shania kissed one member of the audience before singing a spectacular track, Any Man of Mine from her 1995 album, The Woman in Me.<br />
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The crowd joined in for the next two songs, Whose bed have your boots been under and Honey I'm home.<br />
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Again, the mood turned sombre and there was another outfit change for the track, I'm alright, which was about her divorce from Robert "Mutt" Lange.<br />
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After a brief interlude, Shania took to the second stage in the middle of the arena and was perched with just her guitar. She said it had been 21 years since the next song had been released and that everyone had been on a journey and grown up with that song. It was of course, the song that made her a superstar, "You're still the one". That was the highlight of the night for me and a very special moment. There's nothing I love more than seeing an artist up on stage with just their guitar talking about the song before they launch into the performance. I find it makes the performance much more personal than someone who just sings a song.<br />
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More Fun was a nice song but the inspiration for it was a bit cheesy and Shania talked about how Magic Mike had inspired the dance moves.<br />
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Next up was a video interlude of a few of her old songs before the 90s ballad From this moment on from Come on over.<br />
<br />The mood picked up again for I'm gonna getcha good and the stage cubes were lit up with neon writing.<br />
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She brought Bastian Baker back on stage for Party for Two and he stayed for the next song, Swinging with my eyes closed which she asked the audience to participate in.<br />
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The final song was If you're not in it for love I'm outta here which the audience sung along to.<br />
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Red Storm was played after a brief gap and then Shania came back on stage for the encore which was Man! I feel like a woman.<br />
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It was a great show.<br />
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It was so great in fact that after seeing an ad on Facebook for tickets to Saturday night's show at a heavily discounted price ($76.80 including booking fee) I had to go along.<br />
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I was delayed by public transport but my seat was even better. It was a side view which would normally put me off but I was actually right by the stage so I could see what was going on backstage. I could see the back up singers, the drummer, the dancers and the guitarists talking, taking selfies, taking photos and just taking in the surroundings. It was great to see. I could also see what was going on more clearly.<br />
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<br />
As I'd been to the show previously I could focus more on the performance rather than taking photos and videos.<br />
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I enjoyed both nights of the show and the standout moment for me both nights was when Shania sung You're still the one on the second stage and the epic costume changes and dance moves.<br />
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Shania's still got it and I give both shows 4.5/5.<br />
<br />Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-13804859495146348972018-11-08T01:04:00.002+11:002018-11-08T01:08:32.100+11:00It's time for a Celebration because Kylie is bringing her Golden Tour down under.Australian pop Queen Kylie Minogue has finally announced tour dates for Australia next year.<br />
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She will be bringing her Golden Tour down under for six shows in March.<br />
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<b>Tuesday, March 5th<br /> </b>ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney, NSW (All Ages)<br />
Tickets: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://frntr.co/Kylie19Syd&source=gmail&ust=1541670638647000&usg=AFQjCNFSA9Cm_NIvxGgEkP48apj2xTMKtQ" href="http://frntr.co/Kylie19Syd" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Ticketek</a> | Ph: 13 28 49</div>
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<b>Monday, March 11th<br /> </b>Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, SA (All Ages)<br />
Tickets: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://frntr.co/Kylie19Ade&source=gmail&ust=1541670638647000&usg=AFQjCNGvplICCHwJN2EeiNJpYKE4czTDmw" href="http://frntr.co/Kylie19Ade" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Ticketek</a> | Ph: 13 28 49</div>
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<b>Wednesday, March 13th<br /> </b>Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, VIC (All Ages)<br />
Tickets: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://frntr.co/Kylie19Melb&source=gmail&ust=1541670638647000&usg=AFQjCNGnXiJJ0dIHjL5JhKrYmsFVtRU3jQ" href="http://frntr.co/Kylie19Melb" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Ticketmaster</a> | Ph: 13 61 00</div>
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She will also be playing at the music festival A Day On The Green.</div>
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<b> </b></h3>
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<b>A Day On The Green Shows</b></h3>
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<i>With special guests Jake Shears & Hatchie<br /> (plus an additional special guest to be announced!)</i></div>
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<b>Saturday, March 9th</b><br />
Sir James Mitchell Park, Perth, WA<br />
Tickets: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://ticketmaster.com.au&source=gmail&ust=1541670638647000&usg=AFQjCNHOiXq0PlNfU3AeAnghEmt4inPiGw" href="http://ticketmaster.com.au/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Ticketmaster</a> | Ph: 13 61 00</div>
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<b>Saturday, March 16th</b><br />
Bimbadgen, Hunter Valley, NSW<br />
Tickets: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://ticketmaster.com.au&source=gmail&ust=1541670638647000&usg=AFQjCNHOiXq0PlNfU3AeAnghEmt4inPiGw" href="http://ticketmaster.com.au/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Ticketmaster</a> | Ph: 13 61 00</div>
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<b>Sunday, March 17th</b><br />
Sirromet Wines, Mt Cotton, QLD<br />
Tickets: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://ticketmaster.com.au&source=gmail&ust=1541670638647000&usg=AFQjCNHOiXq0PlNfU3AeAnghEmt4inPiGw" href="http://ticketmaster.com.au/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Ticketmaster</a> | Ph: 13 61 00</div>
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Kylie fans had better get their dancing shoes on because this is sure to be a show to remember with old classics and new music from Golden thrown in.<br />
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At this stage it looks like New Zealand fans will need to travel to Australia for the show, however with a few days between shows it's entirely possible more dates will be added later. </div>
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Pre sale tickets are on sale from Tuesday the 13th of November at 12pm AEDT, with the general on sale starting on the 19th of November at 2pm local time.<br />
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You can bet that I'll be there to see her in concert. I've been waiting a long, long, long time for this. </div>
Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-56741593841261959772018-11-04T23:32:00.002+11:002018-11-04T23:33:54.566+11:00Thoughts on Charlie Sheen following his speaking engagement at Sydney's ICC Darling Harbour TheatreSince his time on Two and a Half Men came to an abrupt end in 2012, actor Charlie Sheen has attracted mixed attention with him being dubbed one of Hollywood's bad boys.<br />
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He revealed in 2015 that he had HIV and that he was diagnosed in 2011 which may or may not have sent him into his downward spiral. He has never actually confirmed that it did, only hinted that it had.<br />
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The media was very cruel to him and mocked him and his assertations that he had tiger blood and was an Adonis who was winning at life.<br />
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He was also in the news for his relationships with his ex wives and accused of being violent and a womanising slimeball.<br />
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I can't really comment on whether or not these things are true because as anyone knows, only half the story is told by the media. I'm telling the Pro Charlie Sheen half but skimming over the details because without speaking to him directly I actually can't comment. It would just be conjecture and opinion.<br />
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Earlier in the year he announced that he would be coming downunder on a speaking tour. Given how many shows I go to, I couldn't exactly not go to it, so i bought a ticket.<br />
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Between buying the ticket and him arriving in Sydney I re-enrolled in acting classes after a five year break. I have three classes a week and then outside of that I have several rehearsals, one of which fell on the night on Charlie Sheen's engagement at the ICC in Sydney.<br />
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Fortunately, the event was held close to where acting rehearsals are. It was a five minute walk. I still thought I was going to miss out because as much as I wanted to see Charlie Sheen live, acting is way more important.<br />
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The speaking engagement started at 7:30pm so I did miss most of it but then just before 9pm decided I'd go to the final part. I caught the last half hour before going back to acting practice afterwards. As I walked in, Charlie was talking to host and well known Australian broadcasting personality, Richard Wilkins about Two and a Half Men. He said that given the chance he would return to Two and a Half Men and although he didn't explicitly say so, he indicated that he didn't like his replacement, Ashton Kutcher.<br />
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He briefly talked about his HIV diagnosis and how his mother had been there for him. Some photos of him and his family were shown on the screens in the theatre which has a capacity of 2500.<br />
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There was a brief question and answer session where Charlie answered pre-organised questions about Two and a Half Men, crazy things he'd done in a car by himself. He said something about falling asleep in a car and then being arrested. It's unknown if it was his car. That detail was left out of what he said.<br />
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He and Richard then answered a few other questions before the evening closed.<br />
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The impression I was left with from the brief half hour I was at the speaking event was that Charlie is extremely misunderstood and that he's not the bad boy that the media says he is, either that or he's learned from his mistakes and it's changed him. I also got the impression that he cares a great deal about his family whether that's his parents, his siblings or his children and grandchildren.<br />
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I don't really want to give this a rating as I was only there a short time so I'm not sure it would be fair, but I'd probably give it a 4/5 and the ICC staff were brilliant as well. They get a 5/5 which is very different to the staff at ANZ Stadium on Friday night at Taylor Swift's show.Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-51154158366258028312018-11-03T03:08:00.000+11:002018-11-03T03:15:16.102+11:00Taylor Swift - Reputation Stadium Tour - Sydney - 2nd November 2018 - ReviewI don't know where to start this blog. I guess I'll start with saying that I was really excited about seeing Taylor Swift live again. You see, I last saw her in 2015 when I was close to leaving Sydney but as a result of one of her monologues about how the audience had chosen to spend the night with her when we could have spent it anywhere else in Sydney, I decided to stay. You see, she said how great Sydney was. Now I know that she is paid to say those things but it still resonated with me and so I was excited to be seeing her again. I was so excited that I actually ended up buying a second ticket on the day that I really couldn't afford and giving the other ticket to a friend (who I later found out didn't end up going), but I knew I had to be in the A Reserve section and that I wanted to be closer. I figured I'd have a more memorable experience near the front, and well, that I certainly did. The experience is one I won't be forgetting in a hurry. It's also one that I would rather not repeat.<br />
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Like Taylor Swift I can relate to caring about one's reputation and then not caring. I can relate to people thinking one thing about you but another being true. Taylor Swift is one artist who writes music that I can relate to. She also delivers that music in a way that touches me.<br />
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I had actually decided I would only go to acting practice (rep) for a short time tonight because of Taylor Swift, so she was right. There were other places that some of us could have been. I can't speak for others in the audience but I certainly did miss being at rep, though I managed to get a short rep in prior to the show which was good.<br />
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Anyway, let's fast forward though shall we? I was on my way to the show and people were walking slowly. I didn't want to miss my train and I run at the gym so I weaved in and out of the pedestrian traffic at Central Station. I finally got to Olympic Park and I got to my seat at ANZ Stadium and that is when the drama began.<br />
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When I go to a concert I like to take a lot of photographs and I also like to get video. I do this for two reasons. One is because I simply like to relive the concert and the other is because I write reviews of concerts I go to. One of the major reasons I ended up buying an A Reserve ticket at the last minute was because when I went to the 1989 World Tour I had to watch on a big screen rather than watching her in real life. When you watch on the big screen the experience is completely different.<br />
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When I got to the show there was this group of four girls in front of me who were totally oblivious to the fact people were behind them. They were completely ignorant. I did what any normal person whose view was blocked would do, I stood on my seat. Now again, as I say, if I'd wanted to watch on the big screen I wouldn't have bought another ticket on the spur of the moment. I would have kept my original ticket.<br />
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Here is where the drama began even more. A mother came up to me and whinged that I was blocking her kids' view. I explained the situation and stood my ground. If someone is blocking my view then I will have no choice but to block theirs, but that isn't what bugs me really. It was her shear entitlement. She thought that just because she has kids they have the right to everything. I'm sorry but the universe does not revolve around children. It never has done and it never will do, and they are probably too young to remember anyway. I know I barely remember my first few concerts. I remember who they were, where they were and that's about it. I couldn't tell you anything else. That's not even the real issue though. She got really nasty about it and started name calling. I was polite. I explained the situation.<br />
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Later on, maybe about half an hour later, the father came over and asked me the same. He was more reasonable, but again, why would I sit down when my view of the stage was being blocked by other people? If I'd wanted to watch on the big screen I wouldn't have bought another ticket at the last second. I would've kept the cheap seat but I wanted a different experience to what I had at the 1989 World Tour where I couldn't see a thing and had to watch on the big screen.<br />
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The father was more reasonable and he kind of gave up but this is where it gets really bad. I tried to reach some type of compromise so we would both win and so that I'd be happy and they'd be happy but they weren't having it. It was their way or the highway.<br />
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They got really abusive though and their body language was absolutely appalling. I'm an actor, singer and a writer, so when someone is cold towards me I sense it. It could be one word, maybe not even a word, sometimes all it is, is a look. They got security and security was rude to me, but here's the part that really offended me and got me quite riled up and here is the part that actually ruined my night.<br />
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A group of people behind this couple and their children laughed and clapped after security forced me to sit down. Now that might seem quite minor but if you've ever been bullied then sometimes it's only a little thing that will actually trigger that memory and being laughed at and having them clap got me really upset and yeah I cried. The people sitting directly next to me though were about the same age and they were nice. They were basically on my side. You could tell that this wasn't their first concert and that they knew that some people would miss out on a view, but where they seemed to understand me was that they recognised that I'd been bullied by the parents, this random group in the vicinity as well as security and another staff member. They actually seemed to understand the situation and were nice. Just before the show started we changed seats so that I would have the aisle seat. I'll explain why this is important later.<br />
<br />
I'm not one to give up on what I want though. Anyway, Taylor Swift came on late because rain delayed the show but that was okay. I actually don't remember the first part of the show because I was fuming because of being bullied and abused by staff and customers of the stadium. A few songs into the show during Look What You Made Me Do I decided to stand on my seat because I didn't want to photograph the backs of people's heads. I wanted to photograph Taylor Swift and her dancers. The couple directly behind me glared at me and were really angry. I was willing to compromise though and just stand up when taking photos. If I'd had my way completely that would've been the entire show though, but it was what was fair. This couple didn't really fight me on it.<br />
<br />
Midway through was Shake It off when one of the other stages was used and Taylor Swift brought Charli XCX and Georgia from Broods back onto the stage. By that point it didn't matter who was standing or what they were doing. Nobody was paying attention so I staged my move and stood back on the seat because I'd be damned if I wasn't gonna get some good photos of the show that didn't involve the backs of people's heads. I positioned the seat though so it was partially in the aisle so that nobody would really be affected. I looked around a few times though and I noticed other people standing on their seats as well. I also noticed this one drunk lady yet nobody was doing anything about them, so what I want to know is the following:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Why did security think it was okay to harass me yet they ignored the others who were doing exactly the same?</li>
<li>Why didn't security tell the girls in front of me to sit down so they weren't blocking the views of other people?</li>
<li>Why did the parents think it was okay to abuse and name call?</li>
<li>Why did a random group of people think that laughing at some was okay?</li>
<li>Why do people think bullying is okay?</li>
<li>Why did the ANZ Stadium staff think it was okay to abuse me?</li>
<li>Why did the ANZ Stadium staff think that bullying was okay?</li>
<li>Why isn't there better crowd control? If people have seats then EVERYONE should be seated rather than having one rule for some people and another for others. It's as if they thought that harassing and picking on me was okay but others who were doing exactly what I was doing were allowed to.</li>
</ol>
That's not my real gripe though. Sure, I swore near the children, not at them. I want to make that very clear. I had absolutely no interaction with the children near me, just their obnoxious, rude and entitled parents. The people in my row agreed that I was being bullied by others and they tried to improve my mood but when I stew I really stew and given I'm writing this blog I'm still stewing because I don't like bullying.<br />
<br />
And that's actually my real gripe. I wasn't bullied by children. I was bullied and abused by grown adults, adults who should know better, adults who should know the meaning of the word respect, and I just wasn't shown any respect tonight by the people behind me. In fact, I'd actually go so far as to say that a vast number of people in Sydney don't even know what respect is and that they think they can mistreat people, as I was mistreated tonight. There is no excuse for laughing at someone, calling them names or abusing them and grown adults should know better. As I say, there were kids nearby and while I don't really about that, I do question what type of example the children are being set when they're around parents who think that bullying people at a concert is okay.<br />
<br />
And of all the concerts to bully someone at it was a Taylor Swift concert. Taylor herself has been bullied and she's written numerous songs about it right from Mean to Clean, Shake It Off, Look What You Made Me Do, Bad Blood, This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things and Blank Space. People should know better than to bully others and there's never going to be any justification for it.<br />
<br />
Anyway, how was the actual concert? Well, I was stewing until Shake It Off when Taylor moved to another stage. I did like the opening which was the song Reputation sung by Taylor Swift. I was definitely feeling that song. She sung a few other songs, Ready For It, I Did Something Bad, Gorgeous and a medley of Style, Love Story and You Belong With Me before Look What You Made Me Do which was when snakes really made their appearance on stage.<br />
<br />
It wasn't until she moved to one of the other stages which was in the middle of the floor that the show got really good and the crowd was very enthusiastic. She brought Charli XCX and Georgia from Broods onto the stage and they belted out the song Shake It Off. Snakes continued to feature more and she did a few songs from that position before moving back to the main stage for Don't Blame Me and the rest of the final act of the show.<br />
<br />
The final act of the show featured other songs including Long Live/New Year's Day which was sung with just her piano on the main stage before she launched into Getaway Car which had a video backdrop, Call It What You Want which was set up on stage like a castle.<br />
<br />
The show finished with We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together/This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things and there were fireworks which is very cool, especially given it rained for the majority of the show.<br />
<br />
Sadly Taylor didn't do as many monologues as in previous shows and the ones she did do were much shorter and felt a lot faker. It didn't feel like she was as genuine as she has been in the past. She also didn't dance as much as during the 1989 World Tour. She relied much more on the dancers and she was much more in her own little bubble. It didn't feel like she cared about the audience like she had previously. The only time I felt like she did care was during one of the final video features before Getaway Car which was about how she'd been around fake people who didn't truly value her.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately my opinion of the show was always going to be clouded by the bullying and abuse at the beginning of the show. I wasn't a fan of Broods. Charli XCX was good for the most part other than when she launched into a mini girl power monologue before her song Boys. I really liked her songs Break the Rules, 1999 and I Love It, which I now realise I actually have on my iPhone. I purchased Break the Rules and 1999 after the show. She had stage presence and definitely knew what she was doing. She deserved to be there.<br />
<br />
Broods were inexperienced and I didn't really like their music. Taylor Swift was polished as ever but this time I felt like she was a little too polished and a little more impersonal than during the 1989 World Tour. The other disappointing part of the show (aside from the bullying and abuse) was that there was no encore. Welcome To New York would've been a good encore. I won't criticise Taylor Swift for being late onto stage. She didn't arrive until 9:30pm when she'd been scheduled to arrive on stage at 8:50pm. She was late onto stage because the rain caused logistical issues. I had also been expecting rain since tickets went on sale on the 13th of December.<br />
<br />
It's mildly annoying though because had I known she was going to be on stage so late I could've spent longer at acting rep tonight.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I can only give the show a 3.5/5 because aside from being bullied and abused by other customers (when others were also standing on chairs, which when you think about it, really says more about the ignorance of the people in front of me and the parents and other bullies behind me) Taylor didn't seem as genuine as in previous concerts, there wasn't as much talking and there was no encore. I always look forward to an encore during concerts. In some ways, Shake It Off's performance which was in the middle would've been an excellent encore but it wouldn't have fit at the end of the show, nor would Welcome to NewYork, Mean might have though.<br />
<br />
Here are my favourite photos from the show though. Shake It Off, New Year's Day, Look What You Made Me Do and This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things were my favourite songs during the show and Shake It Off my favourite moment. It was during Shake It Off that I was able to shake off the bullies and start enjoying the show.<br />
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<br />Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-56580719400767244002018-10-29T15:17:00.002+11:002018-10-29T15:17:28.913+11:00Meghan Markle sports Karen Walker and fashionistas go nuts snapping up the itemsKaren Walker has long been one of the darlings of the New Zealand fashion industry, being worn by the likes of Lady Gaga and Kelly Osbourne plus many others. She can now add the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan to her list of admirers.<br />
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Since touching down in Oceania, Meghan has been spotted wearing several Karen Walker items.<br />
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When she touched down in Fraser Island, she wore Karen Walker's Northern Lights sunglasses in black which retail for $289.05AUD.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnUCuVox7sZVAumJQDiftR26kGmqQDJ64GCBiyeEwxToPdk9lgmcXD7rJwSYFZin6ZNOz1ybMzmAZROtAmgAIMmtYXdIp6uGHlU95rD_3C157UWIKZfyqruNxKCp5O-Rb3M_fH-tYxDQ/s1600/Meghan-Markle-Karen-Walker-Northern-Lights-Sunglasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1024" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnUCuVox7sZVAumJQDiftR26kGmqQDJ64GCBiyeEwxToPdk9lgmcXD7rJwSYFZin6ZNOz1ybMzmAZROtAmgAIMmtYXdIp6uGHlU95rD_3C157UWIKZfyqruNxKCp5O-Rb3M_fH-tYxDQ/s320/Meghan-Markle-Karen-Walker-Northern-Lights-Sunglasses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Source: https://www.popsugar.com.au/fashion/Meghan-Markle-Karen-Walker-Northern-Lights-Sunglasses-45408426 </i><br />
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In Fiji she was spotted donning Karen Walker's Temptation Studs which sell for $341.76AUD.<i><br /></i><br />
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<i>Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/fashion/108173590/meghan-markle-wears-karen-</i>walker<br />
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As she and her husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex landed in Wellington yesterday, Meghan had chosen a beautiful coat by Karen Walker. The Banks Trench retails for $975 and the New Zealand media organisations, Stuff and the NZ Herald are reporting that it is sold out. This is confirmed on the Karen Walker website. <i></i><br />
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Source: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12150655<br />
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As you'd imagine, this was a very proud moment for Karen Walker and when she was interviewed by Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking, she confirmed that the trench had sold out since the Duchess had worn it when she arrived in NZ.<br />
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She indicated that there had been a business agreement and that the brand had spoken to either Meghan or her team. Being an astute business person, Karen would not confirm any further details.<br />
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It has since been revealed that although the coat is sold out, it is available on pre order now. If you don't want to wait though then there is another alternative though and that is the Reverie Jacket which is available for $675AUD.<br />
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Source: https://www.karenwalker.com/clothing/jackets/reverie-jacket-60046/mocha<br />
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That's exactly what I have done, being a long time loyal Karen Walker customer, I have purchased the short version of the jacket.<br />
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It is so awesome that Meghan has worn Karen Walker's designs several times and the designer and her team should be extremely excited at all the worldwide publicity.<br />
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It certainly is a massive achievement and a real fashion coup given other NZ designers might have been looking for Meghan's attention.<br />
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<i> </i>Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-86488929310430698172018-10-28T15:00:00.001+11:002018-10-28T15:00:23.516+11:00Invictus Games Closing Ceremony - Sydney 2018Now I am not one for ceremony, nor am I one to support sporting events. Generally I despise things, however I am a huge fan of Prince Harry and was absolutely gutted when he married Meghan Markle (because you know, there goes my chance of being with him).<br />
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Anyway, it was announced that Prince Harry and his pregnant wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex would be touring both Australia and New Zealand for the Invictus Games which were held at Sydney's Olympic Park.<br />
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It's extremely hard to find the time to travel around the city on the off chance that one might spot the Royals so I made a decision to purchase a ticket to the Closing Ceremony of the Invictus Games, and I snapped up an amazing A reserve seat. I was in row 10 of the grandstand, seated a couple of rows behind Estonia and next to the military representatives from Australia. You can't get much better than that unless you're a VIP, which sadly, I'm not yet.<br />
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The Closing Ceremony was brilliant. It was live broadcast on the ABC and had performers including Australian singer, Colin Hay, rock group Birds of Tokyo, The Kingdom Choir and many others.<br />
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The atmosphere was absolutely incredible with speeches from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the Governor General of NSW, David Hurley and of course, the Invictus Games founder, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.<br />
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The Closing Ceremony paid tribute to the competitors from the 15 participating nations and the crowd was incredibly enthusiastic, standing for all the competitors, and standing for both Prince Harry and Meghan.<br />
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Meghan spoke about resilience and not letting adversity stop you from living your life. She spoke about courage and not letting your circumstances get you down. She spoke of how she'd met with soldiers prior to meeting Prince Harry and she spoke of the general camaraderie throughout the games.<br />
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Later in the evening, Prince Harry spoke about how soldiers are the real heroes, that sportsmen aren't heroes (which I've always agreed with and said). He spoke about the importance of mental health and that people should be open and free with what they're feeling. He acknowledged his own struggle with mental illness and that people shouldn't be ashamed of what they're feeling. He said that mental health is more important even than physical health. I don't necessarily agree with this because the two go hand in hand. If you're mentally well then you'll be physically well but it also works in reverse as well.<br />
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You simply cannot have one without the other and they're both equally important. It was clear that both he, and Meghan were incredibly proud of the "mateship" to use Prince Harry's word and that they were pleased with the way all the competitors and volunteers treated eachother in the games.<br />
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The next Invictus Games are being held in 2020 in the Netherlands.<br />
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Here are a few photo highlights from the closing ceremony last night.<br />
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<br />Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-4408663550904192222018-10-24T20:54:00.002+11:002018-10-24T21:03:33.691+11:00Is it really so hard to be kind to people in politics?There is absolutely nothing wrong with ambition. Ambition should be admired and looked upon favourably. People should absolutely strive to get to the top if that's what they want, but I do have just one question. Of course, anyone who has read any blog I've written will know that when I have "just one question", it's actually more like a million questions, and some of these questions are purely rhetorical, while I do hope that I can answer some of them.<br />
<br />
To give some background, there was a leak within NZ's National Party and it basically turned into a "he said, she said" mud slinging match (that could actually be a good song come to think of it) but over time the issue grew and grew. There were allegations that the leaker was mentally unstable. Over time the leaker was revealed to be Botany MP Jami Lee Ross who, up until that moment had been an up and comer. He was number seven on the list and having known him back at uni, I had thought he'd be future Prime Minister. Of course, we now know that's not going to happen. He was expelled from the National Party. There was talk of there being a by election, but that won't happen because as he's an electorate MP he's now an independent. Whether or not he stands at the next General Election remains to be seen.<br />
<br />
The real issue though is the treatment of Jami Lee Ross by those within National, those on social media and media commentators.<br />
<br />
After the election when NZ First leader, and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, chose Labour, Jacinda Ardern said taht she hoped that she could bring kindness to politics and that's what I really want to talk about this blog today. Why can't politics be kind? Why must everyone be nasty to eachother? Why does there have to be callousness? To my knowledge, Jacinda Ardern has never ever shafted anyone to get to the top and was a reluctant leader.<br />
<br />
Over the last couple of weeks within the National Party we have seen the total opposite. Both National Party Leader Simon Bridges and Deputy Leader Paula Bennett have been nasty about Jami Lee Ross, with Paula bringing Ross' marriage and personal life into the debate. Basically it's been what I would call a smear campaign. Now I don't want to comment on whether or not Ross did in fact mistreat women in his office as allegations suggest, but the reaction to his mental health is what I do want to discuss, and the treatment of him following his admission to hospital last weekend has been quite honestly shameful. So shameful that it actually prompted the NZ Mental Health Foundation to speak out about it.<br />
<br />
Firstly, today there was a headline in the NZ Herald (and normally I read them with a grain of salt but this headline really bothered me) that said:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
National leader Simon Bridges says Jami-Lee Ross is "no longer my problem" because he is not a National MP anymore.</blockquote>
<i>Source: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12147674 </i><br />
<br />
That comment from Simon Bridges shows a few things that the National Party should be ashamed of.<br />
<i> </i><br />
<ol>
<li>It shows that he is callous and cold because he doesn't have any feeling whatsoever towards a former member of his caucus who clearly had a mental breakdown.</li>
<li>It shows little regard for those with mental health issues. If he can't offer support to a member of his caucus how can he possibly run the country?</li>
<li>What type of culture is he running in the National Party where a long standing MP with a promising future has a mental breakdown? Did he inherit the culture or did he create it? Those questions must be asked because without answers the public cannot trust the National Party.</li>
</ol>
Simon Bridges must step down as the leader of the National Party because if he's unwilling to support a former member of his caucus what will his views towards mental health in the general community be? <br />
<br />
If Simon Bridge is willing to publicly shame an MP, what will his general attitude towards bullying in the community be? Bear in mind that NZ has one of the worst rates for bullying. How are people supposed to stop bullying eachother if the MPs and supposed leaders of the nation don't set a good example?<br />
<br />
The poor behaviour from Simon Bridges doesn't stop there though. A few days ago it was reported that he had called MP Maureen Pugh a hopeless MP. What type of leader says that about a member of their team? If you expect better from your staff wouldn't you encourage them? Wouldn't you try to help them?<br />
<br />
Maureen Pugh's response has also been somewhat questionable with her saying that she is glad that Jami Lee Ross is no longer in the National Party. She has also acted poorly when saying nothing would have been better. Her comment just added fuel to the fire.<br />
<br />
Only one MP within National has actually shown any type of compassion and humanity and that's Auckland Central MP, Nikki Kaye who has never demonstrated, or shown herself to be nasty. She posted on Facebook yesterday:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Some of you have messaged me regarding what has occurred recently. It
has been a very tough time for many people. I have been shocked and
saddened by what I have heard. My thoughts are with the women who have
come forward and I know that people are working to ensure that they are
supported. I am also thinking of Jami-Lee Ross and his family at this
time. The leader has confirmed that we will get some independent advice
to make sure we have the best possible systems and processes to ensure
that people are safe and are supported.</blockquote>
Why can't others show compassion and care towards everyone involved? Why does it have to be an either/or scenario? It appears as if several people are hurting, so why can't they all be cared for?<br />
<br />
This brings me to my next point, if Simon Bridges is unwilling to care, genuinely care about a (former) member of his caucus then how can he be trusted to lead the party, let alone the country? The simple answer is that he can't be.<br />
<br />
So who should replace him?<br />
<br />
On the absolutely not list would be Judith Collins and Paula Bennett, Paula Bennett for obvious reasons and Judith Collins because although I like her strength of character, at this particular point in time she's not the right leader. National needs to show that it has heart and that it does care about the country. It needs to go back to basics and instill confidence in the public.<br />
<br />
Todd McClay who is currently Shadow Tourism Minister, Shadow Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister; and number 5 on the list, is an option. He's been quitely in the background for a few years, just getting on with the job.<br />
<br />
Then there is Amy Adams who sits at number 3 on the list and was a contender after Bill English stood down following his defeat at the last election. She is a stable MP from the South Island and Shadow Finance Minister. Although she's unlikely to ever be Prime Minister, she could be an option to bring back compassion to the party.<br />
<br />
Longer term would be Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye, MP for Hutt South Chris Bishop or MP for Pakuranga, Simeon Brown. All of these MPs have potential and are up and comers. Kaye has always been popular within the community, beating out Jacinda Ardern in Auckland Central in 2008 and 2011 before Ardern was gifted the safe seat of Mount Albert, which has been held by Labour since its inception in 1946. She could potentially be Prime Minister and she certainly wouldn't resort to nasty tactics like some other politicians have.<br />
<br />
The main thing to take away from all of this is that National has imploded and shown itself to be nasty, cold and callous. If someone has had a breakdown then the last thing you do is treat them like garbage as some of the MPs do. You offer them support and help. If National can't do that for one of their MPs how are they supposed to do that for Mental Health issues in the community? How are they supposed to care for the entire country when they can't even care for one person.<br />
<br />
So to close this blog, I'm going quote Jacinda Ardern after she became the 40th Prime Minister of NZ last year; because this is what National needs to do, they need to bring kindness back and with Simon Bridges steering the wheel that's just not going to happen. National needs a new leader, one who actually cares about the people, because as Jacinda Ardern said on Radio NZ after she became Prime Minister last year.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I want people to feel that it's open, that it's listening and
that it's going to bring kindness back...I know that will sound curious but to me if people see they have an
empathetic government...it's not about just preserving people's political careers. It's not
about power. It's about being in a position to make a difference. </blockquote>
Politicians need to set an example, and if they can't be kind to eachother, how are members of the general public supposed to be kind? Things need to change and nastiness needs to leave politics.<br />
<br />
The same could apply to Australian politics or the community in general, but that's another blog post entirely.Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-64257444467915950422018-10-21T12:51:00.000+11:002018-10-21T12:52:17.741+11:00Cher: Here we go again tour - 20th October 2018 - Qudos Bank Arena, SydneyIt's very rare that a singer will last a decade, let alone more than five decades but that's exactly what 72 year old Cher has done. Her music has stood the test of time and that's why her Here We Go Again tour has been such a huge success with extra shows being added in various cities.<br />
<br />
I originally bought a ticket to the show being held on Thursday the 18th of October but I had to give my ticket to a friend because it clashed with my new acting classes. Luckily though, tickets were heavily reduced for the show on the 20th of October so I was able to get a great B reserve ticket in the second elevation. I had a great view of the stage and could also get amazing photos and video footage which I always like to do when I'm in a concert.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to bother saying much about the support act, Andrew McClelland because he was absolutely terrible and had absolutely no stage presence. He was trying too hard and he wasn't at all natural.<br />
<br />
As with all shows, there was a short break between him and Cher. Cher took to the stage at 8:45pm and one of the best moments in the show was very early on when she delivered a 15 minute monologue about how she'd been broke, rejected by Hollywood, had piles of debts owing to her flatmate at the time and how she eventually said yes to appearing on the David Letterman Show because she needed the $28,000.<br />
<br />
The show was split into 5 acts, each representing a different era in her career, including her Sonny and Cher era with I've Got You Babe. On the screen behind Cher was footage of Sonny and you really felt like she was still had strong feelings for him.<br />
<br />
She sung the hits, Turn Back Time, All or Nothing, Strong Enough, It's in His Kiss and a few Abba; and Elvis covers.<br />
<br />
The best moment of the show came when she sung her encore of Believe. That was a moment that was so inspiring that people (myself included) were up dancing and really enjoying the moment.<br />
<br />
Aside from Cher's brilliant singing, humorous personality and hits scattered through the show, the stage and set design was incredible. There was a circus act which reminded me of Britney Spears and Pink. All the colours were reminiscent of Katy Perry's California Dreams Tour from back in 2010. That's why Cher is still relevant at 72. Even when other artists are top of the charts, she's still willing to learn and be inspired by the younger generation. Her music is also relatable, no matter what age you are. She appeals to all generations and there was something for everyone.<br />
<br />
Other than the support act and lack of reference to Sydney (and I'm clutching at straws here) I would have to give the show a 4.5/5. One of the best I've been to.Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-37252140364153600672018-09-30T00:49:00.001+10:002018-09-30T00:49:34.938+10:00Part 1: So you want to be an actorI'm not sure if I've indicated this in previous blogs but I've been trying to make it as an actor since I was eight years old, so we're talking a very, very long time.<br />
<br />
Although I say I have wanted to be an actor since I was eight years old, it probably actually started before then. My earliest memory of being interested in acting was when I was six years old and there was a school play and I wanted a lead role but I was too young so ended up being in the choir. It was for a production of Joseph and the Technicoloured Dreamcoat.<br />
<br />
But deciding I wanted to be an actor at eight years old sticks out for me as that was when I started watching Shortland Street, a New Zealand soap and I immediately decided after then that I wanted to be an actor. At the time it was because Angela Dotchin, who played receptionist and later PA, Kirsty Knight was my favourite character.<br />
<br />
Since then I took a lot of acting classes and I've been writing since then with roles as a journalist, digital marketer and content editor or writer but acting has always been in the back of my mind. I've also done singing since 2009. That's my other passion but I happen to be a better actor than I am a singer. And that's basically the purpose of this blog today, to talk a bit about why I love acting and a bit about the things that I've learned in acting classes and what steps you should take if you want to be an actor.<br />
<br />
Despite having done dozens of courses and spent thousands of dollars on acting courses as well as having done paid extra work and some short films, I've been rejected by agents, even recently though I'll be trying again. So here are some tips I would like to give you if you do want to be an actor.<br />
<br />
<b>Take as many courses as you possibly can</b><br />
<br />
As an actor training is really important and as teachers of mine have said, it's important to learn from different teachers because they all have their own technique. You might learn screen acting from one teacher but theatre from another or methods from others. You will be a stronger actor if you have more techniques to your repertoire and you'll be able to be more multifaceted than if you only have one or two. Find the best acting schools in your area and then go to them and listen to what other people say about them. If a school has a good reputation then you should go.<br />
<br />
Ideally you would do a three year acting course but if you're like me and either tried multiple times and didn't get in or you don't have the money short courses and short films are your best option. Get involved in as many productions as you possibly can.<br />
<br />
<b>Get your headshots and/or a showreel done</b><br />
<br />
Every actor is judged on their appearance. It's just the way it is. Certain people will be better at playing different characters. If you are carrying extra weight (as I was for a while) then you will be limited in the roles you can be cast for. As an actor your physicality is really important so it's good to be as fit as possible and to maintain a healthy weight. You also need to maintain a consistent weight. This is very important because when you're submitted for roles your agent will rely on your headshots. If your headshots are outdated you won't get cast and could end up with a bad reputation. Get your headshots done BEFORE you get an agent. It will make you look more professional than if you do it afterwards and it will show your possible agents that you're serious about the field. This is the minimum you need to do. Most headshot photographers will charge around $400 for your shots.<br />
<b> </b><br />
If you can though, get a showreel made up. A showreel should show your best work, so before you get it made up, be sure to rehearse rehearse rehearse. You can never rehearse too much. A showreel costs more and could potentially be around $2000, but look around for quotes.<br />
<br />
<b>Get an agent</b><br />
<br />
Although you can get some work through sites like Showcast and Starnow, you need an agent. Agents have industry contacts and can get you auditions for roles that aren't widely advertised. Because they know casting directors well they know what each one is looking for and will only put you forward for roles you are suitable for.<br />
<b> </b><br />
Although you may want to sign up with a top agent you're going to need to look around for an agent that is at the level you are at. That may mean going with an agent that only does commercials or extra work initially. Be aware though that extra work will not help you become an actor. Only courses and unpaid acting will help you with that. Get involved in community theatre or another acting group if you can do so.<br />
<b></b><br />
There are so many other things you need to consider if you do want to be an actor including your physicality, techniques, communication, listening and script analysis and this will be covered in the next blog.<br />
<br />
Before I close this blog though, I want to say that if you are considering becoming an actor then you should definitely enrol in short courses at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) in Kensington, Sydney, NSW, Australia. They offer a range of programs from one day short courses through to their three year bachelor degree programs. All comments in this blog are my own opinions and I have not been paid for this review. My opinions are based on genuine experiences.<br />
<br />
I also want to add that f you want to be an actor and you love acting, it's a passion that will never go away. You may take breaks from it but it's something that you'll always be interested in and always return to. I did a course today and have another three coming up and I honestly cannot wait. As an actor you can always learn more skills and develop your craft.<br />
<br />Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-80379234513079675292018-09-25T23:36:00.004+10:002018-09-25T23:36:49.641+10:00The truth about dermal fillers: What to expect when you get them for the first timeSo before I got Botox I said I would never ever get dermal fillers, and before I first got Botox back in July I was only open to the idea. It wasn't something I would definitely do. I didn't actually have a strong opinion on it either way. It was probably one of those things I was open to but didn't actually know a lot about.<br /><br />I did however know that I was opposed to dermal fillers and thought that anyone who got them was an absolute idiot and that there was no real point to them. Again, I simply didn't know a lot about them.<br />
<br />Based on my previous opinions and the opinions of people around me, I would say that most people are the same and that for some reason people don't know a lot about cosmetic injectibles and that they are still taboo. Although the internet typically has a lot of information available, there is no singular reason as to why injectibles are still considered taboo but one theme that often comes up is that it contradicts feminism. The thinking is that if you get injectibles you're not happy in your own skin and that you're conforming to society's expectations to look a certain way.<br />
<br />
Anyway, after a few sessions of Botox I decided I would take the plunge at get dermal fillers. Basically Botox is great for dynamic lines caused by expression, whereas fillers need to be used to the static lines that are caused by the skin drying out.<br />
<br />
So what was it like to get dermal fillers injected for the first time tonight?<br /><br />Well, I'd watched a lot of videos on YouTube of people having dermal fillers injected and I have to say that the YouTube videos make the procedure look a lot more scary than it actually is.<br />
<br />
If you've had Botox then you'pre already familiar and experienced in having injections in the face it's not that much of a transition. The only real difference is that instead of it being over and done with in 10 minutes it will take half an hour.<br />
<br />
First, your nurse or doctor if you've opted to see a doctor will tell you to sit down on the bed in the room and you'll lean back. When you're leaning back and relaxing they'll wipe your face with antiseptic and prepare the syringes for injection and then mark the places on your face that will be injected. Instead of it involving a quick prick like Botox the syringe will be in the part of the face that's being injected for a little bit longer. The nurse or doctor will also massage in the filler so that it spreads and is evenly spread. They'll inject a few spots to get the best possible result.<br />
<br />
It's really quite painless because the dermal filler, I was injected with Juvederm Voluma has a numbing agent so it won't hurt at all.<br />
<br />
When it's over you'll see the results immediately and they'll last anywhere from six months to two years so you'll need to get top ups after that. Fillers are like Botox, the more you have them, the longer they'll last. They also add moisture back to your skin that has previously been lost due to sun damage and aging.<br />
<br />
Obviously because your face has been injected and massage there will be some bruising. That is to be expected and is a normal part of the experience. Your skin will also be a bit tender but that should only last a couple of days.<br />
<br />To sum up I would highly recommend dermal fillers if you want to add life to your face and look more youthful. Be aware that you will need to have multiple sessions. The average amount for each person will be 3-6mls and that will ensure you have th best possible result.<br />
<br />
As you get older your skin in other areas also dries out so that means your lips will dry out as well, so if that is the case then you should also consider lip fillers. Like Botox and dermal fillers you can choose the number of mls/syringes based on the result you want. I haven't yet had my lips done, but if/when I get them done, that will simply be for moisture so I would only go for 1ml. Anything else would look ridiculous.<br />
<br />
As I've said in previous blog posts it's really important that you choose a cosmetic specialist who is trained and qualified in cosmetic injectibles and can give you a professional and natural look.Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-85395228540568028142018-09-15T17:43:00.004+10:002018-09-15T17:47:25.336+10:00Advice if you're considering dermal fillersI first blogged about Botox in mid July and had my first Botox treatment on the 21st of July. As I've mentioned in previous blogs I started with my forehead and the sides of my eyes. Two weeks later I had my bunny lines done and a top up on my forehead and sides of my eyes. My next treatment was above my lips, some more in my forehead, my bunny lines and the sides of my eyes. <br />
<br />
It was during the last consultation that I talked about having dermal fillers done to smooth and reduce the dark circles under my eyes. I had originally planned to have those done today but wasn't 100% sure and baasically I hadn't done enough research to proceed with them, so today I only had more Botox done.<br />
<br />
Today's Botox session completed the Botox that I needed in my face so now I'm onto fillers and there are a few things I'd like to talk about in the lead up to my first fillers session.<br />
<br />
The first thing you need to know is that there are many different brands of fillers and they all have different effects. Don't be fooled by the cheaper ones. The cheaper ones do not work as well as the more expensive ones and will only have a superficial impact. If you want a long lasting impact, then it's recommended that you choose the more expensive one (I would like to name it but due to Australian TGA guidelines and legislation, I actually can't - but there is enough information online that you'll be able to figure it out).<br />
<br />
When your'e starting out with fillers for under the eyes then it's actually best to get them injected into your cheeks or at least that is what has been recommended for me personally. Everyone is different. Some articles and blogs online also recommend that you start with a small amount and then progress from there to a bigger amount, or have it topped up if you need to. This is what I've done with Botox. I've had four Botox treatments across my face totalling $1201.10 and that should cover me for the next six months but it's really hard to know because I thought the last treatment I had two weeks ago would be enough but it actually wasn't and I had to have a major top up today.<br />
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So anyway, now that I'm moving onto dermal fillers another thing to note is that it is more expensive than Botox. Each Botox treatment I've had has cost me an average of $200 - $350. Fillers are $650 for the premium brand.<br />
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I can't comment on what fillers can do for your face until I've had them but what I can say is that since I've had Botox friends have commented on my face. Now granted I've always had a great face, but Botox has really improved it dramatically and people have commented on it. They have also commented on the general change in my personality. This could be a result of losing weight prior to having Botox and then colouring my hair. it's hard to know, but the general idea is that Botox really does improve your mood and it has been reported that it reduces depression in people.<br />
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Anyway, I will keep you posted on what my thoughts after having the fillers are but so far I'm thinking I'm just going to go with 1ml as an entry point and then if I need to increase that later on that's what I'll do like I've done with Botox. Getting fillers is a huge decision and not one I've taken lightly at all which is probably partially why I didn't end up going ahead with the treatment today. The filler brand that was recommended to me today as well lasts for two years so I'll let you do your research and find out what brand that is.<br />
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My regular skin specialist was away today as well so I needed to see someone else and while I'm willing to have someone else do my Botox injections, I'd rather have someone I know well do my filler injections as it seems different to having Botox done and takes a little bit longer. Botox is basically over and done with in five minutes.<br />
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I know I've blogged about this before as well, but nothing beats the feeling of knowing that your face is free from lines and wrinkles and it's really cool because I never really had frown lines to begin with. I guess I just don't frown, either that or unlike other people I hadn't developed those lines. My eyes are a different story though. I am very very expressive with my eyes so that's where most of my lines are, hence I've needed to focus on them.<br />
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Now, in concluding, here are five tips that I want to leave you with before you do have fillers:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Choose a skin specialist you trust and feel comfortable with. Think about it this way, you're having your face injected. It's really important that you trust your skin specialist. That might mean you go to a small clinic or it may mean you stick with a major chain. I've gone with a major chain personally and other than today I stick with the same specialist as I trust and have rapport with her.</li>
<li>Start small. If you're not sure what you'll think of the treatment, start small. You can always have more injected later.</li>
<li>Be aware that the treatment will hurt slightly (I have had Botox above my lips and that is the most painful along with the bunny lines, it's only a short term sting but it does hurt and your eyes may water like mine do) and go to your happy place. Remember to breathe.</li>
<li>Listen to your skin specialist. You may do a lot of research on your own online and that's great that you do but it's important to listen to your skin specialist. They are a professional, and they know what they're doing so listen to them and trust them.</li>
<li>Cheapest isn't always best, just like you're best going with the more expensive filler brand, it's also worth paying more for a reputable skin clinic.</li>
</ol>
I'll keep you posted on what I think of fillers and will post another blog once I have had my fillers on the 6th of October.<br />
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Please note: Any opinions shared in this blog are the thoughts of the writer online and do not constitute medical advice. Please consult your medical professional for a tailored package. Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433634536281015509.post-55056181950734102362018-08-26T00:16:00.002+10:002018-08-26T00:21:01.105+10:00Dear Sydney: We need to talkDear Sydney,<br />
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We need to talk. I know, you've received a lot of these letters from people saying the same thing and I swore a while ago that they were idiots. I swore I would never write a letter like this to you but lately Sydney, I feel like we're in a lot of trouble. I feel like we've been in a relationship for the last ten years and right now all you're doing is taking without giving.<br />
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You know we've been here before. You know that we've broken up a few times. Back in 2008 I accidentally moved to you. How does a person accidentally move? Well basically in 2006 the idea was put into my head and then two years later, after someone I know was murdered and a couple of people I knew moved to Sydney I thought, sure, why not. I'll move to Sydney and I did. I spent four months in King's Cross and it was great but it was missing one thing. It was missing my friends and I had a horrible employer with a toxic culture so I left you. I said I'd be back though.<br />
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18 months later back in December 2009 I decided I wanted to give you another chance as my friends had moved to Sydney and I was glad we were back together Sydney. I was stoked. We were together longer this time around but I wasn't getting where I wanted with work and the money was average, and once again, I missed my friends. By August 2010 they'd left and Sydney isn't the easiest place to make new friends in.<br />
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I spent four months back in Auckland, yes you'll have noticed there's a pattern. It's like you're the abusive boyfriend that's so captivating that I'm so drawn to and so attracted to and Auckland is the faithful husband (and funnily I actually did marry Auckland on January 20th 2006 at Cafe Cima on High Street in Auckland City, I lost our marriage license though) but I wasn't feeling it, so a few months later I went back to Sydney.<br />
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This time I did things differently.<br />
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I went back with a job lined up and another friend had also moved to Sydney but we fell out so once again I was on the outer. Long story short, that job wasn't for me and then I had a bad run so once again, I went back to Auckland.<br />
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Auckland was okay to me. I had a job I loved in Auckland but the department started announcing redundancies so I knew it was time to get back to you and I started applying for jobs. In the end I got a job offer but it fell through so I had to stay in Auckland. Luckily I'd been with my employer for nearly three years so when I asked for a transfer to Sydney the answer was yes and so I moved back. That was Christmas Eve 2013 and I felt like I'd come home. I was relieved to be back living in you Sydney.<br />
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But over the last few years you've shown yourself to be cold and heartless. You may know to party on New Year's Eve and you may have awesome beaches and a harbour, but when it comes to character and soul Sydney, sadly, you have none. At first I thought it was just one of my friends (yes one of the few friends I've made here) but it's not. It's YOU Sydney. You're the problem. You're the one who is cold. You're the one who doesn't care about people. You're the one who chews them up and spits them out. You're the one who abuses everyone who lives in you.<br />
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And well Sydney, I hate saying this because I still love you but part of me really wants to break up with you and get back together with Auckland. Auckland's not perfect, not by a long shot and there are still a lot of things I love about you Sydney but you just have no heart. You're not happy. I've spoken to a few Aucklanders over the last couple of weeks and I've been amazed at the warmth and friendliness they've shown. They actually smile. They actually laugh. They're human. You're not.<br />
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I get that you're international and you want to be the best, but it is actually possible to be the best and to have a heart, but you don't seem to understand that Sydney.<br />
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Then there's the guys. I dated a lot of guys in Auckland and I mean A LOT, and I never struck what I've struck here. Now I may be pickier but Auckland guys don't expect you to drop everything and they actually make an effort. They actually care. They're not arrogant and don't get me wrong Sydney, arrogance can be appealing in a lot of ways. It's one of the reasons I love you but lately it's starting to become more like abuse.<br />
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You haven't given me any good memories that don't involve my friends from Auckland and you haven't shown me any warmth. <br />
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I don't want to break up with you Sydney. I do still love you and I know you have a lot to offer but unless you make some changes then I'm going to have to break up with you because this isn't good for me. I need a city that's always there for me, that I can trust and Auckland has always shown himself to be trustworthy. Even though I often break up with Auckland he's always willing to take me back and right now he and I are talking about getting back together. We're just working out whether or not we want to give eachother another chance.<br />
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So Sydney, what I'm saying I guess is this, you need to make some changes and be kinder and more human or we're going to have to break up.Libby Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11374648084903012503noreply@blogger.com0