Many people will be travelling at this time of year, be it for business or personal reasons. Many costs can be offset if you can find the right deals. If you are looking for car rental deals at this time, the deals on the site feature a discount rate of $20.99 per day, $1 car rental from Florida to Chicago and a $25 discount on your next car hire booking. Another deal requires you to share your feedback of the car hire experience to receive one free rental day certificate for use on the next car hire purchase. Perhaps the most significant discount is the offer of 50% off Luxury and Convertible car hire. It can often be a good idea to join a frequent renters program, increasing the number of deals and discounts you can receive.



This post brought to you by Advantage Rent a Car

My Ebay purchase update is as follows:

#1 KABUKI Brush Goat Makeup Beauty Tool



I am still waiting for this one. Perhaps it's coming from the same remote place as the Newsboy cap. There's nothing worse than having all this mineral makeup to try out, and nothing with which to apply it!


#2 Brown Cords



No surprises here. See my post on my corduroy obsession below...
Apparently the seller of this item has encountered some kind of problem with sending the cords to me. The internet she was using has been playing up. She remarked that it was "thanks to Telstra". Oh ho! So I'm not the only one! It's not that I'm in a hurry or anything, it's just that my black pair of cords has developed a slight patch of wear. I have rectified the situation with an iron and some of those stick-on repair patches. I surprised myself by ironing quite well - I forgot I could do such domestically complex tasks! :-)

technorati tags: ebay shop shopping clothing telstra

For this particular jacket I paid $35.55 - more than my usual outlay but it was worth it!

Some of you are probably starting to think "this girl has a corduroy problem". Well yes. I do. I'm obsessed with corduroy. It's comfy and warm and I like the look of it. I like cardigans too! Oh my...granny fashion!! Well not really if you consider that Roger Federer likes a cardy, the 90s practically started the cardigan revolution and... I'd rather wear this stuff than the spray on jeans and stupid high fringes that are apparently in fashion right now. Is it Lindsay Lohan's fault? Amy Winehouse? Actually Amy Winehouse is responsible for most of the hairdos I saw last Saturday night. Kind of a beehive-meets-rats-nest revolution.

It's quite fun to put together a look out of clothes that appear to fly in the face of fashion. Some people have an unnatural phobia of cardigans (Kath Lockett - you know who you are!)

How far can you skate on the edge of fashion? Braces? Eek! If you can pull that one off I'll give you a medal. Gumboots? Overalls? Mercy!

One thing that I believe you cannot integrate into mainstream fashion is the tracksuit. Or tracky dacks as we say in Australia. Tracksuits have 3 purposes in my opinion:

1. Running/exercising/walking outdoors and generally looking like a healthy person and making everyone else feel guilty

2. Those times when you really can't be bothered changing and you run into the video store/supermarket - but you still look like you have been to the gym so you are still making everyone feel unhealthy!

3. Lounging around like a sloth with a motivation problem. Nobody can see you (except perhaps the pizza delivery person and then you are definitely going running tomorrow!)


There are, in my opinion no other options. I consider the following to be crimes against fashion when it comes to tracky dacks:

1. Wearing the tracky dacks with dress shoes. NO!!! If you're not wearing runners then you are in fashion limbo! Are you exercising or are you going casual? YOU CAN'T DO BOTH!!

2. Trying to "dress up" tracky dacks with any kind of jewellry. Let me say this slowly. This is Eastern Melbourne. YOU-ARE-NOT-IN-THE-HOOD. Put down the bling and move away from the tracky dacks.

3. White tracky dacks with black knickers. Oh so wrong.

It makes one wonder what constitutes fashion. Perhaps it's finding a look that is unique or makes people take notice.

Perhaps it's decided by a bunch of strange people in celebrity land. Perhaps they sit in a room and say "Cone bras. Let's put one on Madonna and see if it'll catch on."

I think it's about finding your own individual style. Whatever that is. If it's comfortable, and makes you feel like "you", then you're probably on the right track. Fashions change, hairstyles change, but a photo taken in a "fad" year is forever!

technorati tags: fashion corduroy cardigan tracksuit pants

Prescription glasses can be expensive to buy through conventional methods. The people at zennioptical.com have come up with a novel way to sell prescription glasses for less over the internet. The idea intrigued me as a concept - it may be right for you, it may not be the right choice for everyone. It appears to work like this: Firstly you must have a prescription for eyeglasses to shop on the site. This seems to make sense, as it would be quite dangerous for people to buy and wear glasses not designed for their specific eye conditions. You fill out your prescription details when ordering your chosen frames - be it sunglasses, rimmed or rimless glasses. Perhaps a pair like these:



Some of the glasses start from $8 and depending on your prescription, can cost as little as under $25!


This post brought to you by zennioptical.com

Today I received my Musq mineral makeup samplers. The price was $12 and postage was free. When they arrived I was surprised how small the samples were. Each colour testing sachet appears to have enough mineral makeup to cover my nose - maybe. But according to the enclosed leaflet, the mineral makeup is concentrated and each bag is said to hold enough for 2 light applications for the entire face. I will test most of the colours, except perhaps "Waikiki". My colour is possibly somewhere between "Sorrento" and "Maldives" but "Rajasthan" and "Amazon" are not out of the question.

One of the biggest challenges I have found when choosing makeup is that I have yellow undertones in my skin and most, if not practically all makeup appears to be made for people with pink undertones. It will be interesting to find out if this is the solution for me. I may not recognise myself after this test!!

Tips:

* Ensure that moisturiser is fully absorbed and dry before applying mineral makeup so as not to create a patchy effect

* Apply with a "kabuki brush" in order to achieve coverage of large areas

TIP: Do not necessarily buy the first expensive brush you find. Prices ranged from around $60 (?!?! sixty dollars for a makeup brush?!?!) down to $5-$10, which is the range I have settled in. I have read a range of reviews on these more expensive "mineral makeup brand name" brushes and the reviews are disappointing. I will try the cheap brush, if it packs up I will have lost $10 rather than $60, as some shoppers have complained to have lost with overpriced brushes that reportedly shed "like a cat".

* Do not apply too thickly or the colour will appear distorted

* Apply very thinly at first, then add a little extra over imperfections.


I have been researching mineral makeup ingredients on various websites and according to the information I have ascertained, Musq seems to have the best ingredients.

Mineral Makeup Ingredients to Avoid:

Talc - may clog pores

FD&C and DC colours - possible irritants

bismuth oxychloride - creates heaviness / caked look and tends to "slide off" after hours of wear and is a possible irritant







Now I'm just waiting for my "KABUKI Brush Goat Makeup Beauty Tool". Sounds exciting, yes? I presume this Ebay description means that it is made from goat hair, not a makeup brush specifically for use on goats. Not that goats don't need pampering just like everyone else.

technorati tags: mineral makeup musq kabuki brush

Buy leading cosmetics brands at reduced prices. Free shipping anywhere in the world.

If I can do this, so can you.

It works like this - you submit your article to Digg, choose a category, etc.

When the submission has been successful, switch to the front page of Digg and click "upcoming".

Press Alt+PrtScn

You have just captured yourself on the front page of Digg.

For example, here is my front page Digg story - "Chinglish Delivery" - it made it to the front page around 4pm today.


How long did my article stay there?

About 10.5 seconds.



P.S. Please Digg me for being a smartarse.

technorati tags: digg front page

I thought I'd mention my top 10 Entrecard Droppers here and give them a little linky love xox

Dropper # of drops Lapidary Queen Wannabees 28 cheapdanny 24 UnderHeavens! 19 Heart of Wisdom Homeschool 14 Lap Band Progress 13 MamaFlo's Place 10 Heart at Home Homeschool 10 IXELA 10 THE PAPER VISION 10 j o s h u a o n g y s 9

Thanks guys! I've received 69 drops today. I think I'm going cross-eyed from dropping Entrecards and leaving comments. I've discovered heaps of new blogs - some funny and some giving me some new savings ideas. Some just make me wonder (you know who you are).

I will list my top droppers from time to time to show all you lovely people how much I appreciate the droppings! I mean drops!

:-)

technorati tags: Entrecard drop top droppers

I have been desperately searching for cherry tomatoes for a salad I am making. For some reason the tomato gods are against me this week - my first foray into cherry tomato picking at the local supermarket turned up blue molded, fuzzy, smelly, watery tomatoes. I understand that the US is going through a difficult time in terms of tomatoes - perhaps it's contagious!

Finally, after my efforts turned up nothing but mank, I decided to try the local greengrocer. Who better to guide me in the direction of crisp, ripe, fragrant tomatoes.

I reached the counter and there they were in front of me...cherry tomato heaven.



I looked up at the lady in the greengrocer for some kind of affirmation.

"Very good." She said. "Very fresh. Beautiful."

And they did look good under those fluorescent lights, all shiny and red.

When outside in the daylight, I noticed a strange phenomenon. Tiny hairs were growing from almost every pore of every tomato. (do tomatoes have pores?) Perhaps it's just lint, I thought. Then I took a closer look later on. It was definitely hair, not lint. I had just bought a bunch of hairy tomatoes. Perhaps they were ok, perhaps this stuff was external and would come off. So I opened the cling film wrapper.

Whiff!!!



If you know the smell of rotten tomatoes, you will know what I was smelling. No fresh tomato could smell like this. But still, I found myself vainly sniffing for a hint of freshness underneath the stink to no avail.

Rule #1 when buying tomatoes - Smell them. If they are covered with cling wrap, be suspicious, try and sniff them anyway. If you can't get in to smell them, move on. It is too easy to disguise stinky tomatoes under plastic.

Rule #2 - Check for hairs.

technorati tags: tomatoes shopping grocery

Sometimes after one of those stressful weeks you just feel like relaxing in your very own bathroom. It's a retreat in which you can soak off the stresses of the day or rejuvenate yourself for a special night out. But there's only one problem. What if your bathroom sucks? I've seen my fair share of mouldy, ratty, leaky bathrooms and quite frankly they could have done with a little help from these guys.



Better Bathrooms has a range of Bathroom Suites for all kinds of bathrooms. The site features claw footed baths (my favourite!), spas/luxury baths, showers and bathroom furniture such as mirrors and basins, even bidets! They have a nationwide delivery service throughout the UK with 3-5 working days for standard delivery for stock items, 7-14 working days for out of stock items. Delivery charges are cheaper for combined orders and the delivery charge can vary between delivery destinations from mainland England to further afield. The delivery page explains in clear diagrams the process of ordering to the point of the item arriving on your doorstop. Better Bathrooms are open 9:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday in Wigan and Lancashire and you can purchase a 120-page full colour brochure from the website.

Many people have an idea of what they want their perfect bathroom to look like. Mine involves a freestanding bath, lots of storage space for towels and a large enclosed shower area. And lots of room for tealight candles! All that's needed now are the bath salts!


This post brought to you by BetterBathrooms

I ordered this laptop stand somewhere around the 20th of May 2008. After much waiting, on the 24th June it finally arrived. It came from China and apparently the Olympics were holding up the postage?!

My favourite feature of this laptop stand is the wording on the packaging.

It sounds like some kind of poem or affirmation. It reminds me of the Irish blessing/saying:

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
The sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

I love this blessing, it's very positive and uplifting.


I'm still trying to work out this one:


I think it means catch the screen before your hands get tired or you'll get a sore back.



Yes, I suppose some instructions can be convoluted.

No using beyond the purpose? It sounds like some sort of cult law.

Don't put the notebook down until you have assured it that everything will be ok.

I'd suggest not jamming the finger at any time, let alone when the angles are altered or adjusted.

Please shopping using? Er...Don't log on to Ebay unless the surface is stable. You could end up bidding on gold bullion by accident.

I'm getting a bit nervous about these unassured situations. You've already reassured the laptop and given it a hug. What more do they want? Also that falling part sounds a bit dangerous.

Long-time placing is prohibited? Who's going to arrest me? Now I'm really scared.

I promise I will not use in the airflow and dusty circumstance. As soon as I can figure out what that means.

Can't wait to see what happens when I open it.

technorati tags: chinglish laptop stand shopping

The science of pinhole glasses as a way to improve your vision is debated in many circles, with advocates for and against the scientific merit of such a device. However the principle of a pinhole is solidly based. It is true that if you are without your glasses, you can make a hole in a piece of paper and look through it to see more clearly. The pinhole camera is based on a similar principle, using the pinhole as a lens to record an image.

Pinhole glasses are said to clear vision by reducing refractive errors. There are a number of claims on the site regarding myopia and various other conditions. It must be made clear that the glasses are generally designed for people with low refractory errors, that is those with lens requirements of less than 6 diopters. For those with lens requirements greater than 6 diopters, it is important to check with your specialist.

The pinholes in these glasses are said to act like a lens, bringing fuzzy images into focus. These pinhole glasses, also known as stenopeic glasses are made to be used while reading or working at a computer to clear vision and reduce eye strain.

These are glasses promoted to be worn in place of prescription glasses, while reading or doing stationary tasks. The glasses also shield peripheral vision quite dramatically so these glasses should not be used while driving a car or operating machinery. The glasses are for stationary viewing only.

In reviewing a site featuring pinhole glasses as their main product, I was able to investigate the possible benefits of using such a device in place of regular prescription glasses. It appears that the greatest benefit to the eye while wearing pinhole glasses is the relaxation of the eye, said to benefit eye health.

The site was clear and easy to navigate, however some minor improvements could be made. In order for a website to effectively display and sell pinhole eyeglasses, I would suggest that the scans of the actual eyeglasses are made larger and clearer. Similarly, the text could be a little larger for ease of readability. It would be quite difficult for potential customers to see the image of the product, the target audience being characterized as people with eyesight problems.

Pinhole glasses are marketed as an alternative to prescription glasses, which can be expensive. The price of the glasses is $14.95 plus free shipping so the possibility to test such a product is made more accessible. As with all matters related to the medical field, if you are unsure, check with your health provider.

Well, it finally arrived. The cute newsboy cap from Ebay. Judging by the time of delivery I think it probably came from Krasnoyarsk.

It's funny, it seemed like a good idea at the time but now I have the cap I keep looking in the mirror thinking "er... does this work?" I think, judging by the amount of times I looked in the mirror over the days, the answer is probably no. It's not that I'm not a hat person, it's just that the hat is all wrong for me. You see how it looks in the picture on this mannequin? Good, yes?


I thought so. But for some strange reason in Krasnoyarsk they all have smaller heads and therefore their mannequins are smaller.

In fact this hat was so small it was sitting tightly around my head, quietly cutting off the circulation. Not only that, but the hat is asymmetrical. The left side is pinned up with a button. Cute idea, yes?

No.

Because the hat is completely black and the button is also black, it makes me look like I have it on crooked. And no matter which angle I try, it still looks like I can't centre my own cap. Imagine a baseball cap facing not forwards, not backwards, but at a 45 degree angle. I might as well leave half of my shirt untucked to match. I'll wear different socks too, while I'm at it.

Similarly, because the hat is so small (built for strange small-headed people), it rides up in the middle, making me look Scottish.




The entire hat is black, so you can't tell if there is a bobble or not. Either way, I might as well be carrying a haggis. Or a golf club...actually that doesn't sound so bad. Hmmm.. St Andrews?

Anyway, I think I'll try to locate another newsboy cap and make doubly sure this time that it doesn't have any hidden eccentricities.

technorati tags: newsboy cap ebay shopping

In relation to my earlier post, It may be that you can't afford a new car at present. I personally would be buying a used car but it is important to learn as much as you can and research the car before buying. In my earlier post I referred to new Cadillacs and the evolution of the Cadillac as an American Icon. If you are wanting to purchase a Cadillac but don't want to buy a brand new model, Used Cadillacs Harrisburg PA also sells pre-owned Cadillacs. The dealership offers a Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Program with 110+ points of inspection and the warranty covers up to 6 years or 100,000 miles from when the car was brand new. Many of the used Cadillacs on the site are from 2007 and 2006 models, the oldest models I could find were the 2004 and 2003 models. The prices range from around $9,000 to around $60,000 for the newer, AWD and more exotic models.

If you are unsure or have never bought a used car previously, the site is giving away a free report called the "Used Car Buying Guide". It is always a good idea to gather as much information as possible so you are well equipped when it comes to the time when you may wish to purchase.

This post brought to you by Used Cadillacs Harrisburg PA

On shopping at the supermarket yesterday, I discovered a disturbing number of Ardmona cans all displaying the same characteristics:

technorati tags: ardmona cans supermarket shopping

Have you noticed this? Of all the cars, there are a disproportionate number of songs written about the Cadillac. Artists from Elvis to Bo Diddley, Bruce Springsteen to Neil Young and Blondie to AC/DC have immortalised the famous car in their music. Perhaps it is because there is something inherently rock n' roll about this particular car. The Cadillac became an American icon with its famous fins, and has appeared in films such as Batman, Driving Miss Daisy, Reservoir Dogs, Goodfellas and Matrix Reloaded.

If you are a Cadillac afficionado or just want to browse around, check out the new range at New Cadillacs Harrisburg PA.



The site currently has new vehicle specials including discounts and rebates on 2007 models. The site is easy to navigate and provides useful tips and information on buying a new car. A free quick quote feature simplifies the process of estimating costs and budgeting for a new car purchase. You can also research the vehicle you choose with a nifty 360 degree interior and exterior view - this feature was my favourite! You can also customise your chosen car with a range of colours and trim. It seems the new Cadillac has evolved in recent years - the fins are gone, but the icon still lives.



This post brought to you by Used Cadillacs Harrisburg PA

The crowds that gathered at Torrey Pines from 6am received more than just a playoff. In the words of Rocco Mediate, "they wanted a show, they got a show". The 18 hole playoff ended in a cliffhanger, forcing play to continue to the 7th hole. At the end of the first nine, Tiger was out in 35, Rocco in 37. It seemed Tiger would lead this playoff to its conclusion. At the end of the 18th, Tiger had made a 36 and Rocco had made 34. Both scores were fixed at 71, even par on this course. It seemed par was the score to beat and sure enough, par was the score that finally won, Tiger shooting 4 to Rocco's 5 on the par 4 7th hole.

When asked about his injury, Tiger simply said "I'm glad I'm done." The world's number one golfer deserves some ice and some well-earned rest. Rocco Mediate has gained a whole new legion of fans and it is likely we will see more of him after this tournament.

Meanwhile, the coverage by Ten and TenHD in Australia was truncated at best. It is not enough for golf fans to see the last putt roll to the hole. Australian viewers missed out on seeing Tiger meeting his family on the green, missing out also on the presentation and the raising of the trophy. If this were the tennis and Roger Federer was not seen holding the trophy and making a speech, there would be widespread outrage. A subtle message needs to be sent to Channel 10, ie. get your act together! If people are so desperate to see the finance report and the 78th episode of "Totally Wild", the programmers could show them on Ten Digital, while continuing the uninterrupted US Open coverage on Ten HD. It's a wonder that nobody has thought of that before. Perhaps I am a genius. More likely, golf has been largely overlooked in favour of football, rugby and cricket. It is sloppy and shows a lack of respect. Australia has a multitude of golf fans, Channel 10. Be prepared to look after them. After all, we stayed awake from 6am, 5am and 2am respectively so a few more minutes of coverage is hardly too much to ask.

~end rant.

P.S. The odd hours have messed up my circadian rhythms for at least a week now, I recall the wee hours of the morning, waiting for the golf to begin. I remember looking at my partner and giggling while he laughed back, his rabid devotion to golf mirrored in my own bloodshot eyes. It was worth every second.




Putting To Win - Tour Pro Reveals Easiest Way To Lower Scores. The Culmination Of Seven Years Work, This E-book Is Packed With Information, For Anyone Who Seriously Wants To Improve Their Golf Scores.

technorati tags: golf 18 playoff tiger woods rocco mediate US open torrey pines 2008 channelTen TenHD coverage

After catching our collective breaths from one of the most exciting golf tournaments in recent history, an incredible feat by Tiger Woods ensures that the story is not yet over for the US Open 2008.

At the beginning of the 18th hole of Round 4, Tiger's score was at even par and there was some doubt as to whether he would be able to catch Rocco Mediate's score of 1 under par. Woods began with a double bogey on the 1st and a bogey on the 2nd, upsetting the momentum gained in Round 3. He went on to bogey the 13th and 15th and it was becoming apparent he was fast running out of holes. However there was no doubt in many people's minds that Tiger would endeavor to do something special. Tiger was recovering from surgery on his left knee and the pain was visible after every swing, making it difficult to watch without wincing along with him. Tiger, however pressed on and at the 18th green holed a 12 foot putt to make an essential birdie. Now Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods are tied for the lead at the end of Round 4, forcing a playoff to decide the winner.

The unmissable 18 hole playoff will be screened tomorrow so check your local guides, these times for Australia (VIC) only:

Tuesday 17 June
Ten & Ten HD: 2 am (EST) 18 hole playoff

There seems to be no personal rivalry between the two - Tiger refers to Rocco as the "nicest guy" and Rocco has made similar comments about Tiger. Rocco is a jovial fellow, when speaking on the subject of maintaining concentration he conceded it "...was a little difficult with nutto (Tiger Woods) in front of me doing all this crazy stuff." The crazy stuff being two incredible eagles and an outrageous chip in for birdie during Round 3.

The rivalry that exists between the two must therefore be simply the desire to win. Both will try their best to take the glory, knowing that the other will pounce in the event of any mistakes made during the playoff. With history in the making and the excitement levels rising even higher, there is no more to say other than this: may the best man win.

If you missed Round 4 or wish to catch up on the highlights, check out the latest videos here:
US Open Wrapup Show



Putting To Win - Tour Pro Reveals Easiest Way To Lower Scores. The Culmination Of Seven Years Work, This E-book Is Packed With Information, For Anyone Who Seriously Wants To Improve Their Golf Scores.

technorati tags: golf 18 playoff tiger woods rocco mediate US open torrey pines 2008

This is it!!

The US Open at Torrey Pines 2008, San Diego, CA.

Finally I will see in High Definition what I have only seen previously on Playstation 2's Tiger Woods 2003! The real course at Torrey Pines.

As for those of you who live near the course, you lucky lucky ba...
...people.

The US Open will be hosted at the South Course of Torrey Pines (courtesy of Torrey Pines' official website):





















This is what the players will be faced with right from the start. Here is the layout of the first hole:

























Easy no? I'm completely sure of my ability to play this hole with no problems... as long as it's on Playstation!

It would be truly amazing to be there to watch the world's #1, #2 and #3 golfers all in the same championship. According to PGA's website, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott will be playing together in the same group on the Thursday and Friday.

My pick? I would actually love Tiger to win it but to see an Australian win the US Open would be a treat! Adam Scott is yet to smash through that glass ceiling. And let's not forget Phil Mickelson and Trevor Immelman and all the other incredible players in the field.

Most of the time I'm just happy to be watching golf, regardless who wins. But.. GO TIGER!!!




















Here are the broadcast times as of Thursday 12th June 2008. Be sure to check your local guides - these times are for Australia (VIC) only!:

Friday 13 June

Ten: 6am - 12pm (EST)
TenHD: 6am - 12pm(EST)


Saturday 14 June

Ten: 6am - 12pm (EST)
TenHD: 6am - 12pm(EST)


Sunday 15 June

Ten: 6am - 12pm (EST)
TenHD: 6am - 12pm(EST)


Monday 16 June

Ten: 6am - 11am (EST)
TenHD: 6am - 11am(EST)


If you are without a HD set top box, perhaps now would be a good time to purchase one. In the magic that is High Definition TV you can almost see the players' eyebrow hairs blowing in the breeze.

technorati tags: golf US Open Torrey Pines Tiger Woods 2008

Sometimes waiting for my items to arrive is like the play by Samuel Beckett, "Waiting For Godot". Except in the play he never turned up. Oops! Sorry - I hope I didn't spoil it for anyone.


Here is my wonderful (but still missing) newsboy cap:













It had better arrive or I will have to do an exorcism on the Ebay demon again. (see previous post)


Which will be painful.

And messy.


Speaking of Ebay, I wish to introduce a feature to the "My Ebay" section. While it is very convenient while browsing items to "Watch" an item in My Ebay, it is more complicated to stop watching the item when you decide you're not interested or the price is too high.


I suggest that Ebay introduce an "unwatch" button, a simple button that will sit next to the "watch" button in the area circled. This way you could weed out your watched items (mine often contains over 20!) and narrow them down quickly so you can do some serious bidding.

















I hope Ebay decides to take this on board. One click and people could be "watching", "unwatching" and "rewatching" in seconds. It could revolutionise Ebay! Or at least make it a bit easier for buyers to navigate in My Ebay!

technorati tags: ebay watched item myebay button

It's coming up to that time of year when we think of shopping around for fathers day gifts. In fact, there are only a few days to go! It's pretty accepted that Dad's often like beer. It's not being stereotypical, they just seem to like it. How many of your Dads drink spritzers or cosmopolitans? Hmm? Not many, I bet. I found a Beer of the month club which sounds rather exciting. Did I say it was for me or for a present? Oops. There you have it. I have a confession to make. Yes, I like beer as well. This monthly beer club offers memberships ranging from 1 month to 12 months or ongoing. You can pay by the month ($21.95) or in full, providing you with a 12-pack of 4 distinctly different beers to try. The selection of beer is screened by a panel of beer tasters to make sure you get the best tasting beer. The various types of beer sound intriguing, too. Included in the selection have weird and wonderful names like Snake River's Lager and Devil's Elbow. If you purchase a 12 month membership you will receive a $25 bonus to use for further membership or merchandise.


Mmmm. Beer. The gift that keeps on giving!






















This post brought to you by GreatClubs.com

Hee hee. Ho ho. Hoo hoo!

Following are my most recent golf purchases. I have my Wilson Sunday Bag (update: the strap broke on the first round so my partner neatly fixed it up with black gaffer tape!)

The Elsternwick On Course Golf Shop just happened to have a sale on when I needed to buy a set of clubs. The discounts are incredible.


Precept 9 Iron - $10
This is my Stuart Appleby club. Why you ask? Because he wears that Precept cap, even in Playstation games! Maybe this club will help me play like him (hee hee!)

































Greg Norman 5 Iron - $5
I've always wanted a Greg Norman club. My partner has a Greg Norman SW ($3 at an op-shop!). I am a big fan of Greg Norman, he is an Australian (more of an international citizen now!) and a living legend. I hope to see him play more tournaments in the near future.


















PGF Spectrum Pitching Wedge - $10
This is so far my most versatile club. I use it for everything! Shots around the green, short approach shots, but I don't putt with it! Jack Nicklaus, in his book "The Best Way to Better Golf" refers to one golfer that became an expert with the Pitching Wedge almost exclusively. Perhaps I can learn from that.

















Taylor Made 6 Iron - $5

What a bargain! I know you can't normally find Taylor Made clubs for under $10 so I was extremely lucky here. Many of these clubs were recommended to me by the golf Professional from South Africa. This particular one I chose on my own. Why? I liked the heaviness of the clubhead.


















PGF Spectrum 7 Wood - $15
My saviour. If you are not quite so confident with your 3-iron, I recommend you try one of these. I used this for most of my second shots throughout the round. The distance is exciting and it is a little easier to hit than a long iron. It's also easy to for me hit a straight shot and it's nice to have the hole shortened a little bit!




















PGF Spectrum 3 Wood - $15
My other saviour. I loved using my partner's "Shark" driver but this club seems to fit me better. The length is great and it is so easy to hit the ball long and straight. It's almost as if the club was fitted for me before I bought it! (Note: I recognise the importance of club fitting and finding a club like this off the rack is no substitute for good advice from a golf professional). This club helps me to hit more fairways and get closer for my second shot. I remember searching for my ball in the fairway about a third of the distance to the hole. I heard my partner calling "it's over here!" I looked up and saw the ball over half way to the green. I had to stand back when I got to my ball just to marvel at how far I had actually hit it!!





















Wilson Green Machine
This is my ideal putter, and the one I am using at the moment - Wilson Green Machine. It is simple and easy to use. Recently I have begun to hanker for a Golden Bear putter because it is very similar. My lucky ball is a Golden Bear and I have achieved around 4 bogeys so far!

technorati tags: golf clubs shop sale bargain

If anybody has watched "Red Dwarf", you will understand the significance of this little hand puppet from Series V episode "Quarantine".

It looks cute, yes? The hand puppet is said to be exact in every way to the original. Except the original Mr Flibble was a homicidal killer penguin hand puppet with hex vision. A small detail!


The main thing to remember is that you do not argue with Mr Flibble.


"Who'd clear up the mess?"


BUY MR FLIBBLE

If you haven't seen the episode, here is the Mr Flibble scene from "Red Dwarf V - Quarantine". This my favourite Red Dwarf scene from my favourite Red Dwarf episode.

technorati tags: mr flibble puppet, red dwarf, quarantine, mr flibble, mr flibble hand puppet, scifi, scifi, mr flibble

Find Red Dwarf and other sci-fi merchandise at the BBC Shop.

The way this happened was like something out of another Stephen King book - "Needful Things", or perhaps "Rose Madder"

It was as if the book chose her.

I was walking past an op-shop when something big and white caught my eye. In the days preceding this I had wanted to find a Stephen King book to read, as I had finished "The Dead Zone" in under four days. I first read "Insomnia" ages ago and it was one of my favourites. It has been enough time that I have forgotten the details of the book although I do remember some of the story.

The book peered out at me from the front window of the op-shop. It seemed to be whispering "Buy me. Buy me." I found that I couldn't walk past the shop, even though I was in a hurry.

So I did the only thing I could do, I walked inside. The shop smelt of dust and mothballs. I asked the man "how much for the Stephen King book in the window?" He escorted me to the display and pointed at a bronze cup.

"This one?"

I was perplexed. I was sure I said 'book', what was he playing at?

Then he pointed at a set of handkerchiefs.

"This one?"

"No, this one." I put my hand on the book.

He tapped his hand on a set of glassware.

"This?"

"No, this." I kept showing him the book but it was like he couldn't see it. I thought perhaps his eyesight wasn't good.

"This one?" he put his hand on a stuffed toy.

Either that or he was having a lend of me.

"This one." I tapped the huge, hardback white book in the window for the last time. He finally got it.

"How much is it?" I asked, knowing full well I would pay whatever he said just to get out of there.

"Three dollars."

"I'll take it."

The book is amazing, very compelling and fast paced.

The irony is the title: Insomnia. When I read it last night I fell asleep immediately!

technorati tags: stephen king book insomnia shopping

For some reason it has become increasingly difficult to find a Sunday Bag in Australia. Unfortunate, as these bags can be used for the driving range and proper rounds of golf, not just par 3s. At present I do not have fourteen clubs so I have no need for a large bag. Sunday Bags can be carried easily and are convenient for walking the course without a buggy.

The Sunday Bag also has a rich history, as this Art Deco representation of St Andrew shows. The larger stand-alone bags seem to have become more popular but some (like myself!) prefer the Sunday Bag for convenience.




















The Sunday Bags vary in price and features. Here are a few examples:

Women's Mulholland Sunday Bag Endurance $599.00
All leather, holds up to 10 clubs
















Clearly, this is a top of the range, quality leather item. This actually reminds me of expensive luggage. The kind you would be scared to run over cobblestones or gutters. Impractical for my own purposes but perhaps more suited to someone with a warm car and golf cart.

Golf is a messy game - the last few times I have played I ended up with soaked feet, socks and shoes, muddy cuffs on my jeans and a rogue splash of mud on my cheek that I didn't notice until I entered the bathrooms at the 19th hole. Another memorable time was when nobody graced the golf course except for my partner and me. Why? Because rain, hail and lightning were forecast. We knew this, but our enthusiasm overpowered the weather. I remember teeing off on the second tee with hailstones the size of marbles peppering the back of my head. The second green was so covered with hail that it was completely white. Do you know, it's actually surprisingly easy to putt over hail. Or it was that day, anyway!

When we returned the pro shop, we met a golf professional who is a childhood friend of Trevor Immelman, winner of the green jacket at the 2008 US Masters at Augusta. He gave me some advice he learned in South Africa. "If there is lightning and thunder, put your bag under a tree, get away from the water and lie down flat in the middle of the fairway." Good advice.

Or you could do what we actually did when the thunder and lightning rolled in. Just played faster.



Palm Springs Sunday Bag $14.99-$39.00
















2 way divider. Web handle for carrying short distances. 2-point adjustable single harness strap. Balls/Accessories pocket plus a full-length clothing pocket. The bag doesn't specify how many clubs the bags will hold but one would assume it to be around 7-10. Comes in five colours.



Nike Skinny Range Bag $49.95 -$69.95
















Three pockets, holds around 7 clubs. Lightweight and compact. Fits a substantial number of clubs despite the small size.



Titleist X80 Carry Bag $49.95-$59.95





















The bag features 2-point adjustable sling, 7.5" molded top with divider, Velour lined zippered accessory pocket and pen holder, amongst other things.


Personally, I had a hankering for a Wilson Sunday bag to match my Wilson Staff cap (see previous post "my new favourite accessory"). For some reason when I tried Ebay, the only Sunday Bags available were from the US. I was in a hurry because I wanted to play the following week and I didn't want to hire clubs and a buggy again. I just had to put faith in US mail.

Fortunately I found the perfect match in Maryland:

























Wilson Deluxe Sunday Golf Bag in black. Light weight, weighs less than a pound. Convenient zippered pouch for balls and accessories. Adjustible shoulder strap. Easily holds up to 7 clubs.

Price: wouldjabelieve... $23.50 (including postage)

And my wonderful seller sent the bag First Class mail, allowing it to arrive on the Tuesday before my round.

No more club hire for me!!

technorati tags: golf wilson sunday bag

Has this ever happened to you? You're about to sit down to dinner or settle in to watch a TV program and the phone rings. But it's not friends or family. It's one of THOSE calls. The faceless, survey taking, dinner interrupting sources of constant annoyance. Sometimes you wish you could find out who they are. You're left asking Who Called Me? But there is no answer.

You may have even gone to the trouble to put yourself on a No Call List. Still, some callers persist and you can't find them. Some people receive prank calls, which can be disturbing. Especially if they are invisible, anonymous. You have no recourse. Or do you?

Wouldn't it be great if you could strengthen your privacy against these calls? "Who Just Called Here" has a reverse phone lookup service, which is especially useful for businesses that can't afford to miss one call from a client. As a further measure, it also offers privacy protection to block your private details from data collection services.


This post brought to you by WhoJustCalledHere?

While researching and shopping around for a pager service I decided to visit the Telstra site. I tried to find "pager" with the search function but couldn't get any sensible results. Then I tried "paging". Considering the fun I have had in dealing with Telstra in the past, I found the result for my misspelled search quite amusing...














hee hee!

technorati tags: telstra phone pager