Bubbling away: house prices a matter of perspective

Chris Zappone

October 28, 2010 - 10:17AM

The great Australian house bubble debate opened another chapter today, with a local bank and an overseas investor voicing conflicting views about the direction of the nation's house prices.

“We believe the Australian housing market does not represent a speculative bubble,” Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said in a report that examined the issue. “While we accept that housing is relatively expensive, issues about prices, incomes and affordability are more complex than the simple measures used to show over-valuation.”

The strongest evidence against an asset bubble in the housing market was the performance of the market in the period 2008-09, Westpac said. But the combined pressure of rising interest rates, a material tightening in credit availability because of the credit crunch, moderate joblessness, and eroding sentiment on house prices failed to prick a pre-existing bubble.

“That markets recorded only a mild price correction and a comparatively benign rise in mortgage arrears argues strongly against the existence of a bubble at the time,” Mr Evans said.

The average capital city house price fell as much as 5.5 per cent in the year to March 2009, before rocketing up by double digits to record 18.4 per cent growth in the year to June quarter.

Yet, even as Westpac dismissed a housing bubble, US investment fund manager Jeremy Grantham of  Boston-based GMO reiterated his belief, first published in July, that Australia does indeed face such a bubble.

“I happily concede that the UK and Australian housing events are not your usual bubbles,” he said in a note to investors. “Australia, though, does pass one bubble test spectacularly: we have always found that pointing out a bubble – particularly a housing bubble – is very upsetting,” he said.

He noted that Australians “violently object” to the notion their houses, “which have doubled in value in 8 years and quadrupled in 21, are in a bubble”.

At the heart of the debate was the actual cost of housing in Australia relative to incomes.

Mr Grantham said the average Sydney house buyer must pay 7.5 times their income to purchase the property.
Westpac in its report disputed the price-income ratio of 7, saying that 40 per cent of Sydneysiders lived in units.

“For Sydney, a price-to-income ratio based on the median detached house price and median income at the state level would have given a reading of 8.3 in 2007-08 but a ratio based on the median unit price and median income at the capital city level gives a ratio of 5.0,” Westpac said.

Generally, the cost of finances had dropped overall since the early 1980s as interest rates had trended lower. Dual income households also aided Australians’ ability to pay more for a house.

Westpac believes Australia’s real home price-to-income ratio for all dwellings in all regions is closer to 4.3.

The report said Australia’s high house prices are a consequence of a shortfall in business construction, rather than speculative activity.

“Affordability may have deteriorated, but it still appears to be predominantly those that can ‘afford’ market pricing that are entering the market,” the report said.

Mr Grantham said that in Australia “the normal capitalist response of supply to higher prices failed” contributing to a housing bubble. He noted Australia’s two decades without a recession, the commodities export boom, as well as the first-home buyers’ grant boost, had also contributed to the run-up in prices.

“But does anyone think that bubbles occur without a cause?” Mr Grantham said. “They always need two catalysts: a near-perfect economic situation and accommodating monetary conditions.
“The key question to ask is: Can a new cohort of young buyers afford to buy starter houses in your city at normal mortgage rates and normal down payment conditions?” Mr Grantham said. “If not, the game is over and we are just waiting for the ref to blow the whistle.”

The Westpac report downplayed the effect of the Reserve Bank’s sharp rate cuts, and the first-home buyers’ grant boost in averting deeper house prices in 2008-09.

“The notion that aggressive rate cuts and first-home buyer incentives could have ‘rescued’ a falling market just as the bubble was bursting is not compelling,” said Mr Evans. “As seen during both the ‘dot-com’ and US housing market collapses, policy is usually powerless to arrest an unwinding speculative price bubble.”

The RBA cut 4.25 percentage points from the cash rate between September 2008 and April 2009, in order to spur borrowing in the economy. In October 2008, the federal government enacted a boost to first-home Buyers, increasing the grant three-fold to $21,000 for new houses until the end of 2009.

Westpac holds the second-most mortgages of any bank in Australia. Its housing bubble report comes weeks after the Commonwealth Bank launched a road-show to reassure international investors’ about the sustainability of Australia’s housing market.

Rumours have circulated in recent months that US hedge funds have been betting Australian banks would suffer losses related to the Australian housing market, which accounts for about 60 per cent of the collective loan book of the major banks.

The Economist magazine this week said that Australia, on a "fair value" basis, has the most overvalued housing market in the world. It determines fair value by comparing the ratio of house prices to rents against a long-run average.

Global investors provide 30 cents for every dollar lent by Australia’s major banks, according to the Australian Bankers’ Association.

czappone@fairfax.com.au


http://www.watoday.com.au/business/bubbling-away-house-prices-a-matter-of-perspective-20101028-174n0.html

Latest Book REVIEW "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson

I have a full understanding why this has been a popular book. The way the characters have been written into this book is amazing. You will find that there are plenty of characters and heaps going on the whole time. I have not finished the book just yet. However it is one that I have had troubles putting down to actually do some work. Ssshhh Don't tell Blake that I read for an hour or so during work time yesterday.

I am only half way through the book but I have to say that I know my rating is going to be high on this book. I have been so lucky to read so many great books recently. I have the next two books that have been put out and I can't wait to tell  you what I think of them. I am going to miss reading these types of books when I head back to university next year. However I will have some very interesting things to tell you about when I start back. Some of the subjects are very interesting as I will be starting Law next year.

Glam Bangkok by Kristie Kellahan

Luxe for less in Bangers
Go way, way above the noise, the crowds and the grime of Bangkok's busy streets to discover some of the most glam hotels, bars, restaurants and shops in the world ... at a fraction of what you'd pay anywhere else in the world. These rooftop bars in the sky, sexy five-star hotels and international restaurants have put Bangkok on the top of Travel + Leisure's list of World's Best Cities, as voted by readers.

Shop
Some travellers love that sweltering open-air market/squawking chooks/haggling over fake designer gear in sticky-hot malls scene. And if that floats your boat, you'll be in shopping bliss in Bangkok with a trip to the Chatuchak Market or Pratunam Mall, which I like to think of as Paddy's Market on speed.
Call me a tourist or a spoiled expat, but I prefer a more refined, elegant, ahem air-conditioned shopping experience. Like many things in Thailand's capital, you can have a world-class shopping experience at a much lower price than you'd pay elsewhere.

Head first for Gaysorn Plaza, generally considered to be the classiest lifestyle mall in the city. The Gucci, Prada, Dior and Louis Vuitton hubs may be beyond your means, but the end-of-season sales here can produce phenomenal savings, plus the Gaysorn Tourist Privilege Card gives a 5 to 20 percent discount at most stores. Combine it with a strong exchange rate, and you're ready for a shopping spree worth getting out of bed for.

Nearby CentralWorld shopping complex reopened at the end of September, following extensive renovations to repair the damage inflicted by marauding Red Shirt protesters in May. In typical Thai fashion, the billionaire owners of the centre shrugged their shoulders, muttered mai pen rai (never mind) and rebuilt better than before.

To attract new business and fill cash registers that were left empty by the months of closure, there are now specials and promotions galore. The department stores are one-stop-shop retail therapy delights. Thai designers are also well-represented, including Senada, Boudoir, Kloset, Painkiller and Missile. For a quirky break from the heat and chaos, look out for the massive indoor ice-skating rink.

Stay
When you can book a three-star hotel room for $20 per night in Bangkok, why would you pay more? Because you worship at the altar of luxury … and you've cottoned on to the fact that Thailand boasts some of the most luxurious hotels in the world, at some of the lowest prices. If ever there was a city to indulge your Mary Millionaire fantasies, this is it.
Take, for example, the 4.5-star Sofitel Bangkok Silom. A prime location, French sophistication, ridiculously comfortable beds, and all the spoils you'd expect from the renowned brand. A recent search on Expedia.com.au turned up rooms for $100 per night, or about one-quarter of what you'd expect to pay for a comparable Sofitel room in other world capitals.

Why pinch pennies in Europe when you can live like a king or queen in Thailand? The Tower Club at Lebua pulls out all stops to cosset and vanish away the cares of its guests. Soaring views from the balconies, huge suites, exclusive access to the Tower Club lounge for complimentary daily high tea, free wi-fi, gratis in-room movies on demand, a gluttonous brekky buffet spread, limo transfers to the airport … the jammy list goes on. Suites were going for just $180 a night on Expedia.com.au when we checked, making this an affordable holiday splurge.

Indulge
No-brainer question du jour: would you rather spend $70 on a thoroughly ordinary massage in a shopping centre in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane … or … splash out the same amount to be pampered at globally renowned Banyan Tree Spa? Well, duh.
Banyan Tree has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most lush hotel spa brands in the world and the Bangkok location, staffed entirely by nurturing, eager-to-please Thai therapists, is one of the best. Ushered into another world, a world where pampering and herbal tea replaces stress and bad coffee, it's entirely possible you'll forget your worries for a few hours.

A one-hour back massage costs just 1800 baht (about $65), plus tax, and includes 30 minutes of "calm time". In your post-massage euphoria you might be tempted to sign up for more treatments. We like the sound of the three-hour Soothe package: for around $200, plus tax, you'll receive a footbath, Island Dew massage, body polish, body conditioning treatment, facial, refreshments and relaxation time. Yes, please!

Eat
Yes, it's true, it is possible to eat for less than a dollar in Bangkok if you nosh on food prepared by the street vendors. Nothin' wrong with spring rolls and pad thai served up on Styrofoam plates, but if you can stretch the budget and want to avoid the risk of salmonella special, this is a great city for five-star dining at won't-break-the-bank prices.
Aussie chef David Thompson, in a move comparable to selling ice to the Eskimos, has recently opened Thai fine dining restaurant Nahm at The Metropolitan Bangkok. The smoked fish curry and nam prik have had people talking, as have Thompson's ambitious plans to bring authentic, unadulterated Thai cuisine back to the place where it all began. The original Nahm restaurant (in London at The Halkin) is Michelin-starred, with prices to match, so it's a far better value proposition to taste Thompson's deft creations in the Kingdom of Siam. Bookings highly recommended.

Drink
Hey, we don't wanna pass judgement. Some people really get a kick out of the girlie bars along Soi Cowboy, where pole dancers and "hostesses" routinely fleece willing tourists for wildly overpriced drinks and a flash of thigh. But if your tastes are more elevated, you'll want to head up high in the sky to experience the sophisticated rooftop bars Bangkok does so well.
Best of the best is Sky Bar, suspended surreally in the sky on the 63rd floor of The Dome at State Tower. The night-time views out over the city are spectacular, the cocktails faultless, the crowd a sexy mix of expats, gorgeous hi-so locals and travellers-in-the-know. Dress codes apply, so leave the Stubbies and thongs for Khao San Road. And if all that star-gazing works up an appetite, nab a table at one of the fab restaurants in the complex: Sirocco, Mezzaluna and Ocean 52.

http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/holidaytype/luxuryspa/8113282/glam-bangkok

How to advertise on Facebook

October 2010
By Nina Hendy from smartcompany.com.au



As usual, the big end of town has been the first to embrace one of the newest advertising strategies – social media advertising.

But while the radical new world of social media is drawing interest from the likes of Coca-Cola and Proctor & Gamble, SMEs are still trying to figure out exactly what the benefits are to being seen in the social media world.

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits is that social media is one of the cheapest and most targeted forms of advertising around.

“Social media advertising is pretty interesting at the moment as brands try and find their feet in this space,” Peter Noble, CEO of Melbourne digital agency Citrus says.

“Facebook is growing in significance to everyone. You’ve got to be in this space to have any chance of remaining relevant to consumers.”

It’s a sentiment shared by Tiphereth Gloria, social media strategist at legendary advertising agency George Patterson Y&R Sydney. She says social media is practically a requirement for businesses these days. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, blogs and online forums give even the smallest of businesses the opportunity to create a virtual personality and reputation seen by potentially millions of people online.

“There has been a realisation from businesses that their consumers are in this space, and that they really need to be playing more in these areas if they’re going to have any chance of remaining relevant,” Gloria says.

Kim McKay, director of Sydney specialist online PR firm Klick said small businesses are finally starting to understand digital.

“Facebook has changed a lot in the past 12 months. It’s a lot noisier because there are more businesses on there fighting to be heard, so it’s harder to cut-through, but with a smart strategy, it can be done.”

The statistics

And yet despite the opportunities social media offer, just 28% of small and medium businesses are actively using social media, investing on average 6.6 hours a week in this unique style of marketing.

The Optus Business Social Media Index revealed that more than 50% of businesses aren’t taking advantage of social media as a marketing tool to promote their business. The research, released in September in association with the Council of Small Business of Australia, found that 47% of the 380 businesses surveyed sell products or services through social media sites, with Facebook emerging as the tool of choice for 58% of sellers, followed by YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn.

However, 56% of businesses don’t use social media at all, nor have any plans to start any time soon. More than 50% of businesses surveyed felt that social media was not appropriate for their industry; while 25% don’t believe there is a clear reason to invest in this area.

This is despite the fact that nearly two-thirds have an annual marketing budget of less than $10,000, and with social media marketing being one of the cheapest forms of marketing on offer.

Phil Offer, marketing director for Optus Small and Medium Businesses said social media presents a powerful opportunity for businesses to connect with prospects and customers. Yet the survey results indicate that the majority of businesses are yet to be convinced it is worth the time and investment.



Advertising on social media

One way to advertise on social media sites is to place a banner ad, which work much like advertising anywhere else on the internet. On Facebook, these ads appear on the right hand side of the page on a person’s wall.

Facebook enables you to target your ad to reach an audience defined by location, gender, likes and interests and even education and work. You can set up your own ad on the Facebook website with a few clicks of the mouse, with the site guiding you through the process step-by-step. People only pay when they choose to view your ad and you can adjust your daily budget at any time.

Kim McKay explains that Facebook gives users 100 characters to write an ad. You can also add a picture.

“With Facebook, you know where people live, if they are engaged, married, have kids and what their specific interests are, because it’s all listed on their profile. This means when you target your advertising, you know you won’t waste one single eyeball. Nothing has ever been more effective to my experience,” McKay says.

Natalie Giddings, founder of Melbourne’s Pollen Marketing recommends social media advertising to her clients.

Facebook allows a business to set a daily budget. Depending on the market you’re chasing, it can cost a business just .37c each time someone clicks on your ad, she says.

“That means that you can run a campaign with a daily budget as low as $100 and be reaching more people than you could with any other medium for that kind of money,” Giddings says.

“This sort of advertising is still pretty experimental but apart from mailing lists, no other advertising medium can be as targeted,” Giddings says.

Social influence marketing

While placing an ad is one thing, the holy grail of social media is what’s been dubbed ‘social influence marketing’, which refers to brands getting involved in the conversations in the social media space.

Gloria says businesses realise that their consumers are in this space. “Businesses are starting to understand that they need to be playing more in these social spaces. With Facebook, you only have to build your fans once. Then all it costs you is the time to update your status to be communicating with your consumers or fans,” Gloria says.

Ben Hourahine, strategy director at digital agency Amnesia Razorfish, says businesses that wish their fans a good weekend by updating their Facebook status can earn more kudos than a traditional product message. Social media works for all businesses, no matter what industry it operates in, he says.

“We view social media as earned media space rather than paid media space.”

“You have to work at it to get there, and you have to be upfront and honest to stay there. Brands need to not think about it as advertising, but as a way to connect with their consumers in a one-on-one relationship,” he says.

Reinventing the wheel

Arnott’s used social media influencing to build sales of its Wagon Wheel brand. The company was looking for a way to make the ageing icon famous again, so, with the help of ad agency George Patterson Y&R, set up a Facebook page for the historic brand, which worked to reinvigorate fans and kick started online conversations. It also created a viral campaign, which was put on Facebook, YouTube and its own website.

The additional interest in the brand helped the company secure pride of place in petrol and convenience stores, protecting a valuable sales channel for Arnott’s outside grocery. The product sold out for the first time in many years and baseline sales continue to grow.

Other social media options

Businesses should also look within their own industry for social media options to help them build their online profile. Relevant blogs, websites and online forums are worth considering. Twitter is also in the throes of introducing several advertising plans. It’s worth learning more about the site given that it has experienced startling growth, exploding to 160 million users globally in the last two years. Some larger brands have also been experimenting with Twitter, paying celebrities to ‘tweet’ messages about their products to followers.

Noble from digital agency Citrus says businesses need to take this space seriously.

“I actively encourage clients to advertise in the social media space. If you’re not taking it seriously, you’re missing out because this is the way of the future.”

Tips to create effective Facebook ads:

Be direct – Speak to your customers using direct and concise language. Don’t use marketing jargon and be authentic.
Keep your ads fresh – Revise your ad ever few days and swap images for new ones.
Use promotion codes – Offer exclusive discounts or offers to Facebook users through promotion codes that can be redeemed upon checkout on your site or in-store.
Include a call to action – Use a clear call to action to give users a reason to click on your ad.
Choose images wisely – Use a colourful image that stands out against Facebook’s blue and white pages and tailor the image to the demographic you are targeting.
Use dynamic keywords – Include words in your ad copy that you also have included in your keyword targeting.
Think outside the box – Put yourself in your audience’s shoes and find different ways to reach them. Don’t always go for obvious keywords.
Invest in success – Focus on your top performing ads by pausing weaker ads. Gather insights from advertising performance reports, demographic profile reports and conversion data to maximise ad performance.

Kids Toys, the cheaper are the best ones

I have two children aged six and three. Our girl Paige is eldest and Byron the youngest. We have bought and been given expensive toys but you know what I have just found this article on nine msn and they have just listed the toys that we have nearly all of and that our kids play the most with. The only toy that I could add to this collection is Thomas the Tank Engine. Our son plays with it for hours at a time.

Mr & Mrs Potato Head
Encourage you child creativity with the classic face changing spud. Swap and change body parts, facial features and accessories to make all sorts of wacky combinations and expressions
The classic mix and match spud comes with 12 parts and accessories for plenty of face changing fun. The pieces all store inside the potato body, so clean up is easy and convenient.

Slinky

Whether it's made of old fashioned metal or new fangled plastic, the slinky continues to amuse young kids. Watch as your children try, for the 10-millionth time, to send the slinky down the stairs without having to give it a prod halfway down, or as they hang onto one end, "throw" the other end and try and catch it all again neatly. Oh the hilarity.

Marbles

Remember cats-eyes, galaxies, micas and steelies? Ah, good times. They may not be high tech, but marbles will always have aplace in schools and backyards. Need to brush up on the rules to show your kids the ropes?

Cardboard Box

Never, ever throw out a large cardboard box without letting your kids have their fun with it first. It's a cubby, as car, a place to hide, a robot outfit, a boat....... and that's just for starts. While washing machine or fridge boxes are best, even a  microwave-sized box can work as a space ship, dolls house or a garage for toy cars. Did you know? The cardboard box was inducted into the national toy hall of fame in 2005.

Playdough

Even the most artistically challenged among us can handle "creative time" with playdough - after all, how hard is it to make a snake? It's not messy, keeps for ages, can be made at home. Too easy.

Etch-A-Sketch

Who knows how this magic box works? Who cares - it's just magic. Although we still haven't mastered the art of a diagonal line, the etch-a-sketch is still a family favourite. It'll also keep kids happy - for at least, oh, a few minutes - when traveling on long car trips, too.

Hula Hoop

Who doesn't have a hoop? As well as using it an attempt to trying to master the traditional hula action, kids also enjoy throwing it around like a rhythmic gymnast, using it as makeshift "reins" to pull younger siblings around, and to play over sized quoits. Did you know? The hula hoop was created in 1957, when two Californians heard that in Australia, bamboo hoops were used for exercise in schools.

A Kite

If it's a nice day with a fairly strong breeze, send your kids outside to play with their kites. Sure, the kite may spend more time being trailed along the ground behind them than actually being airborne, but they'll have a ball trying - and when it does eventually soar into the air, they'll feel like a million bucks.

For more ideas go to http://motherandbaby.ninemsn.com.au/slideshow_ajax.aspx?sectionid=75884&sectionname=toddler&subsectionid=205608&subsectionname=gallery_10classictoyseverychildshouldown

Clumping Bamboo (that's right I said clumping)

A couple of years ago my husband went to a clients place and saw he had all these different types of bamboo, Blake's comment was along the lines of they look great but they will take over in a couple of years and it'll be like a jungle. Then the client said "no they are clumping bamboos and will not run". Blake just thought yer right you silly old man. Then went about doing his work left and came home. Only to look it up and realise that the client wasn't a silly old man and was actually correct. The funny thing is when Blake told me I thought the exact same thing. "yer right you silly old man" Then I looked it up too.

After this great discovery Blake and I started finding places that sell the bamboo. We found many to be way over priced. As we live on the south side of Brisbane we went to the closest place and bought our first 2 bamboos from there and never went back. We started buying a few at a time via Bamboo Land. The people at Bamboo Land are really lovely and very helpful. http://www.bambooland.com.au We had our next lot of bamboo trucked down to us.

What we started with only a couple of years ago was a China Gold

This is one that I love because it has the Aussie colours and stands out. We planted our fist one in 2008 and from memory I think it was the end of 2008. Below I have put some pics to show the difference in each year. It is an amazing plant.

The China Gold grows to 6m high and up to 4cm columns The origin was China and it can handle temps as low as -9 degrees.

This was taken in November 2009

Again November 2009

This is Oct 2010

The top foliage is huge and you can't really see through the plant to next door, great colourful screening.

Then we also bought our first black bamboo. No I'm not being racist, it is actually the colour of Black. Just like there are black sheep, but our kids aren't allowed to sing baa baa black sheep anymore. Us Australian have gone soft.

Anyways back on topic. We also bought a Timor Black ( Bambusa Lako)

This is a great looking bamboo and looks great next to the China Gold. Timor Black's origin is Indonesia It can grow to a height of 20m and the columns can be up to 10cm, it can't withstand very cold climates if you live in an area that doesn't go below -3 degrees you should be right.

We have been able to start another plant from this one by digging up a couple of the columns with the roots and all. The Timor Black's take about a year to start to grow again using this method. So when you think that the plant is dead it normally comes back. Make sure you cut the columns off down to about 30cm long.

November 2009

Oct 2010

The next bamboo we bought is called Malay Dwarf Variegated (Bambusa Heterostachya Variegated) This is a great one to hedge and to make an area more private. Both Blake and I are used to being on land so it has been a new thing for us to be living somewhere that we can see our neighbors. We are very lucky as they are really good, but we are used to not being able to see anyone. Because of this we have been lining the whole property with bamboo. So far so good, we expect the the other side of our yard should be alot bushier this coming year. 

We have put these down the side of part of our fence line where we have a patio and require not only privacy but also a wind break. This is a thick and soft looking bamboo. It is very easy to keep smaller and hedged. It is also easier to grow on from cuttings, not all bamboo's are as easy. 

Nov 2009

Oct 2010

Oct 2010

As you can see they have grown alot and we can't wait to see the smaller gaps left filled in. We have some growing from cuttings at the moment so it should be interesting to see how they go.

You have to remember that the bamboo's when you buy them are only very small, normally a meter tall and only one little skinny shoot on them. maybe a couple of leaves. So for these plants to grow so much so quickly it's amazing. Very handle as well.

The next Bamboo that I am going to tell you about is called the Ghost Bamboo (Dendrocalamus Minor Var. Amoenus) As this bamboo grows larger it has large leaves and starts swaying and slightly drooping at the top like a cartoon ghost figure. It is fast growing like all bamboo's and gives a great amount of shade. We have it at the back of our shed to reduce the heat in summer afternoons.

The Ghost Bamboo's origin is China it is not an overly tall bamboo going to around 8m tall and the columns around 5cm, it also isn't a fan of the cold so if your place gets colder than -2 degrees you'll have to find another type of bamboo. There are plenty of different types of clumping bamboos, it's just a matter of finding what suits your area. Another interesting thing is, the further north in Queensland anyways you go the taller and thicker the bamboo seems to be.

Ghost Bamboo 1 years old

This Ghost Bamboo is 1 year old.

We have two of these out the back near out patio, this will then provide some protection not only under the patio in the middle of summer but it will grown and add shade to our house reducing the afternoon heat. The Ghost Bamboo has a white powdery type columns. It is a nice one to have if your need to block out neighbors that might be in a two story house. 

The Green Ghost (Dendrocalamus Minor) is similar to the Ghost Bamboo. It is a little larger and the columns remain much tighter clumping. This is perfect for people who need to have a smaller base but would like the shade of a larger tree. 

The Green Ghost grown to 12m and the columns are 8cm, this one can handle a little more cold down to -7 degrees, I am not sure of it's origin though. I would say as a guess it would be from China. 

This is another one that we have at the back of our shed, we have one that is a couple of years old and another that we only have had for 6 months. We are looking forward to seeing what they so this year. 

This is a bad picture as it is still coming out of the winter state, in the next couple of months it will green right up and look great. All bamboo is self mulching and requires very little maintenance. Which is great as we will rent this house out again at some point. It means that you can make sure that your tenant has privacy and also doesn't need to touch the garden. If they don't need to touch it then they won't, which in turn means that they aren't going to destroy it either.

or http://tiffany83watson.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/clumping-bamboo-thats-right-i-said-clumping/

Discounts on heaps of stuff

I had a friend of mine over here yesterday and she told me about this site where you can receive big discounts on all sorts of things. Normally I am not one to worry about discounts, but this is great it seems to cater to a large variety of people. http://www.jumponit.com/r/tiffany-watson/ So matter what you are doing in life I am sure that you would have some benefit out of this. Well if you live in Australia

Grey's Anatomy and Ramble

I have just watched season 5 of Grey’s Anatomy, what a dramatic way to end the season. I can’t believe how up setting that was, as they were two of my favorite characters.  I wasn’t going to download the next season but I suppose I have to know. Then again that's what they want isn’t it.

As far as my book review I still haven’t had a chance to finish the book. This is because of a couple of reasons. One is because it isn’t a fiction book and two I have been saying the same things to our clients since we started. So I have been more absorbed in Grey’s Anatomy. Which by the way I never wanted to be into. I knew it would cause problems with my time management.

Something I have also been wondering about I would like to know if there is such a thing as a wireless booster. I would like to improve the home wireless system so that it actually has better signal throughout the whole house. So if anyone knows of anything I would love to hear about it.

Well I had to make the decision yesterday about our camping trip. If you live in Australia right now you would know what I am talking about. This last month has been rain rain and more rain. I am over it and because of it we are now unable to go away on our camping trip. Even if it was to fine up today it’s still going to be too boggy. There is one thing that I am not a fan of and that is camping in rain and mud. I can handle it if it is only for a little bit but not from start to finish. Well that's what happened last time we went camping which was last year at Easter time. 

Rain Rain Go Away

Woke up again this morning, which is a good thing. I would be worried if I didn't. My heart was racing as I looked out the window to see sunshine, we have had most of the last month in rain and down pours. Which being a Queenslander I am not used to. I haven't been able to go for a surf in I can't remember how long. So the sun was shining, I woke up late because my brain woke up at 1am and wouldn't settle back down with all it's ideas until after 3am. When I woke Alice arrived only a couple of moments later. As I walked out of my bedroom with a freshly made cup of espresso coffee that my wonderful man made, I started to get really excited by the thought of sunshine for the rest of the day. After yoga this morning, which by the way is a great way to wake up and keep your back functioning well, I went down to the shed to do some weights. This is where I discovered that my sunshine was going to be lost.

After weights the rain started and I was very disappointed, then the sunshine just kept teasing my all afternoon, but never staying for too long.

On another note, I had a call from people at ICT Quotes, I am wondering if anyone has had any dealing with them and if so what was the experience like.

Riding Vs Book Reading

I am sorry to those of you waiting for me to finish the latest book. I have been busy and too tired when I go to bed to read, let alone understand it. I have started reading again so it won't be long now till I have finished and will let you know what I thought.

I can tell you that it has taken a turn that I wasn't expecting and telling people things that Blake and I have been telling our clients for years. He has just written it in a different way.

Bike Riding has been taking much of my time up. Nearly every morning except for when it's raining Alice and I have been riding trying to burn that fat off. I am feeling a little better within myself however I don't expect to loose any weight for a little while yet. We have been working out after the ride in our gym. I do love having a gym at home. I only realised today that we haven't doubled up on many excises in this last 10 days. It's amazing how many different things you can do with our set up.

Wednesday night Blake and I went for a ride, leaving the kids with friends of ours. It is so nice to be able to spend some time on our own again. Then last night we headed out to ride to Alice's place. The round trip was about 12.5klms so it's the largest ride I have done so far. I am looking forward to increasing it.

Next week is camping, we are all looking forward to that. It will be great to get away from everything for a few days.

Hump Day Already

Wednesday already, I can't believe it. Monday wasn't exactly a day that I was very focused on work given the weekend that I had. This weekend I am hoping will be quite and maybe achieve the things around the house that I would like to achieve.

Tuesday however was very different, while Blake went out to see a client (http://www.dasolutions.com.au) I actually managed to do a heap of coding and was even enjoying it. I do like it when you can see progress. Then after picking the kids up from school, I was lucky enough to be able to kick back have a hot bath, a vodka and lemonade and watch Grey's Anatomy on my computer. It was very peaceful. After this I thought that I better come out to the land of living. I was sorry I did. I find the kids playing in the muddy water just outside, which wouldn't normally bother me except for the fact that it wasn't the warmest and they have both been sick and still recovering. Then I also find that they have put there muddy paws all over the car and made that very dirty. gggrrr Once I had said something though they came inside and cleaned up.

Paige then starting cleaning the house. You know how nice it is when your 6 year old starts vacuuming the house and actually does a really good job of it. It was bliss. Then we had dinner Taco's we love taco's. One of our clients stayed and we had a really good chat. Off to bed at 11:30pm which is a little late for us.

This morning involved torture of the abs. I can tell you know it hurt.  Alice and I took our measurements however I am unsure where they are now. We both have goals so we are set. We also have each other for motivation. I tell you what though, Alice is no quitter I can't believe the stamina that girl has.

This week last week....OMG

I am going to start from Tuesday. Tuesday morning brought us some sad news that one of Paige's friends Mathew wouldn't be able to make it. Which we hope he is feeling much better and has a great first day back at school. One of her other friends though Justin, who she swears she is going to marry when she is older. He did arrive and after watching a little bit of a movie so we could finish off some work we headed into Southbank.

We headed to the Queensland Museum. Three kids all in toe, loved it. We walked around played with different things, made some things from paper (it was a stall they had there)

We finished off with that having a bite to eat before heading home. Once we had caught the train home we then took all the kids out to have a bike ride, keep them active and wear them out. That's what I say. After this it bought us to about 4pm which was time to say goodbye to Justin and get ready to head out. This was the night that I was given the biggest surprise, Alice was home. I have already written a post about that so refer to that one please.

Wednesday Morning saw us as in Alice and I up and about before 7am and going bike riding. After bike riding we did some weights. Lets see if I can loose some weight before the major summer kicks in. We also did this on Thursday and Friday had us going for a bike ride then doing some yoga. So about the weight :( I have put on 2 kgs this weekend. It doesn't really surprise me but I am currently at 71 kgs. This weekend was huge. Starting Thursday evening with a couple of drinks, followed by Friday of baking and roasting meals for a few people. This was for Alice's 21st and Matt's 24th. We had a huge roast and lots of vegetables. We also made sure the Pina Coladas were flowing most of the night.

After a great night and poor Alice not feeling the best, I know what your thinking and no she didn't spew or even drink tooooooo much. She has been coming down with something since she arrived........aaahhhh Sars. No no I am sure it's not that. We all headed to bed late enough to be tired the next morning and with a little headache, but being self induced lets not dwell on that too much, it was from a good time. 

After this it was only Saturday. Off I went with Peichen to drop off the Comedy Club tickets I had to a friend. I have heard they had a cracker of a night so I am so pleased that the tickets went to good use. I wonder if anyone else has noticed the website for The Sit Down Comedy Club's web address is actually called http://www.standup.com.au I just thought that was a little funny.

After this we had left overs and as normal I cooked way to much. This was great though, it means I don't have to use my brain at all, which still wasn't working quite right. Then after lunch we all had a snooze to recover and ready to party at the wedding.

Now for the longest night that I have had in a long long time. I really can't do it anymore and I learnt that the hard way. So the weather was kept at bay until after the ceremony had taking place which was a great thing. We venue I must say I had my doubts about, however it was a perfect spot. Everything looked great. Many of the smaller details made a large difference and they would have been things I wouldn't have even thought of doing. Haley and Josh had done a great job in preparing everything. The reception looked amazing and I think a good time was had by all.

After a 5am finish and the light in the sky starting to appear I toddled home. Blake and Paige headed down to nippers as Blake was smart and headed to bed much earlier. Nippers was called off due to bad weather and they ended up riding their bikes from Main Beach down to Surface to have breakfast. When they arrived home and Blake had taken Alice home he woke me up and I thought that it was still early, it wasn't it was 11:45am, do you know how bad it is when you find out that most of your day has gone.

We then headed off to meet up with Peter and to celebrate his late partners birthday at Daisy Hill Forest. It was a great turn out with many balloons being let go with messages to him. Unfortunately I wasn't up to staying on past this and ended up heading off home and back to bed after some lunch. Waking up again at 7pm to have dinner and straight back to bed for me will this morning.

This morning involved some bike riding and some yoga to which I was still finding it very hard to have any balance at all.