« October 2007 | Main | December 2007 »
November 30, 2007
Move in progress...
It's all becoming very serious with my little flat full of boxes for shipping to the UK. I am enjoying the fact that Australia Post charge approximately A$380 for one x 20kg box (the BW size - about a foot long and just under a foot high) and it takes 2-3 weeks to get there, where it costs A$480 to send *six* cartons (about a foot long and about 2 feet high) and it takes a maximum of 12 weeks to get there. Not surprisingly, I think I can do without my things for 12 weeks. Besides anything else, it means I will not have to cart them around once they've arrived in the UK, because they'll be delivered to my permanent address in London and not my temporary address.
So unless you want something to arrive before Christmas, anyone wanting to send bulk goods overseas, I recommend my providers, LuggageLine for your shipping!
Posted by jj at 2:15 PM | Comments (0)
November 26, 2007
My Next Adventure
Well this has been a VERY long time coming, but I am finally ready to divulge the news that I am shortly to leave Australia to go and work in the UK for a couple of years.
I depart on 11 December from Brisbane, leaving behind some of the most fabulous friends, clients and experiences of my life. I have been very happy here in beautiful Brisbane and I plan to return here some years hence. But for now I am keen to pursue new challenges in marketing and IT consultancies on the other side of the globe, and to foster new projects that will see benefits for the community and hopefully Australia in the longer term.
I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been part of my life here in Brisbane, and to wish you all my very best for the future. Of course I will stay in touch, and I will return, but you have all in your own way assisted in delivering some of the happiest memories of my life. And I'm deeply grateful to you all.
I'll be having a mass farewell party in Brisbane somewhere in town on Saturday 8th December. I haven't worked out how it's going to work yet but I plan to do absolutely no preparation as I am madly trying to get things done before I leave. I suspect I will just pick a location and hang there for a few hours on the day, and those who are free to come and say goodbye are welcome to drop by for a drink and a toast to all the great times we've had. It will probably be 3pm - 7 or 8ish, as I will need to spend the morning transferring much of my remaining short-term stored goods to long term storage or to cartons for shipping to the motherland. But after that it will be all about the partying.
So THANK YOU BRISBANE for six wonderful years. And thank you all for being my companions on this, my next adventure.
Posted by jj at 1:36 PM | Comments (1)
November 25, 2007
Who will lead the Opposition?
It seems increasingly clear that Peter Costello will face an uphill battle to maintain his position as the 'natural successor' to John Howard. And Malcolm Turnbull's clear victory in the seat of Wentworth is certainly placing him at the front of a very short line to the leadership of the Liberal Party after Howard's retirement.
Okay I'm going to be honest here. I have a great deal of respect for both Peter Costello and Malcolm Turnbull. (I have very little respect for Joe Hockey, the other contender.) I disagree with their politics, but both Costello and Turnbull have stuck to their sometimes unpopular positions on issues, in a manner that Howard never did. And of course, Turnbull led the campaign I so passionately supported in 1999 for an Australian Republic.
But what's interesting about all the candidates for leadership of the Liberal Party is how differently they view issues when compared with John Howard. On climate change, causes and responses to inflation, on indigenous issues and on the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan - not to mention the notion of an Australian Republic - Costello and Turnbull have much more small 'l' liberal views than the uber-conservative Howard.
Rudd's dominance in Government will probably never be so profound as it is after the 2007 election. And in spite of polls and public opinion against Costello, the likelihood is that the public will look upon his and his colleagues' progressive policies as being reasonable three years down the track. My feeling is that either Costello or Turnbull would be a formidable opponent to the Rudd Government. And I look upon their ascendance with some trepidation.
EDIT: And after the announcement of Costello's retirement from politics, it looks like it will be Turnbull to lead the Liberals (Brendan Nelson and Tony Abbott are probably not appropriate and Joe Hockey seems highly unlikely).
Posted by jj at 8:38 AM | Comments (0)
Channel 7: A Blight on Journalistic Impartiality
It may be the only news service on Sunday morning prior to 9am, but Channel 7's Weekend Sunrise is the WORST television news in the history of poor attempts at journalism. Full of Liberal Party hacks, this morning's news has been characterised by sour grapes commentary and hero-worship of John Howard, who incidentally thoroughly deserves to lose his seat after taking his electorate, his party and the people of Australia for granted. Open about the fact that the Channel 7 on-air staff spent the previous evening with their mates in the Liberal Party, the program is a disgrace to the notion of journalistic impartiality.
I call for Channels 9, 10 and 2 to offer decent news coverage on weekend mornings in response to the trash being offered on Channel 7 - even if it is only accessible via set-top box or online. A stable camera, set on a two-shot and a sole operator camera focusing on one speaker at a desk isn't a great expense in production, and there are a lot of decent quality speakers you could have on such a program. Just look what Graham Young and the folk behind the Citizen Journalism study have been able to produce on a shoestring budget over at YouDecide2007.
I also call for people to boycott Channel 7 after such an abhorrent display of sour grapes this morning. This kind of partisan programming MUST be stamped out.
Posted by jj at 7:25 AM | Comments (0)
November 24, 2007
VICTORY!
Well I called it some months ago, but it doesn't make the victory any less sweet. Thank you to all those who have contacted me tonight and kept me abridge of the news on the election and to all those who celebrated with me, the sweetest win of all. It's been more than 20 years since I've been as confident of a victory to the ALP and it's been about as long since I've been as optimistic about the policies for the future of our great country. Of course I hadn't dared to hope that Bennelong would be won, but dear God - it looks like it is!
Congrats to Kevin Rudd and his team and let's hope that Australia can move forward from this result and produce a better, fairer future for our country.
Posted by jj at 9:54 PM | Comments (2)
November 22, 2007
Blessed with friends
Too often we are inclined to focus on the things we do not have, and the things we do not like about ourselves. But every now and then something happens to remind us that we are still blessed. Tonight I was surrounded by my fellows at the Rotary Club of Fortitude Valley and our President Russell presented me with a most beautiful bouquet of yellow roses, to wish me well on my forthcoming professional adventures. I stood there surrounded by the affection and support of a group of people I hadn't even known 18 months ago, and yet who have become some of the dearest people I know, and was suddenly overwhelmed.
For anyone considering giving something back to the community and becoming a member of Rotary, I thoroughly encourage you to do so. It is a superb organisation, and the fellowship of the community to which you will become attached is truly a treasure. I would like to thank everyone at my Club for their love and support and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.
"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." - Anais Nin
Posted by jj at 7:57 PM | Comments (0)
November 17, 2007
The Federal Election is Next Week
This time next week the poll booths on the east coast will have long closed and counting will have begun in earnest. But still there is a great deal of speculation and misinformation being spouted around the potential result. For those in the know, this is a no-brainer, but ABC's Antony Green is still the most articulate and thorough of political statisticians and historians, and his 2500-word summary of the election situation and what needs to happen for either a retention or change of government next week is probably the best common-language summary. Then if you wish to hear more debate and exploration of the policy issues in the forthcoming election, perhaps you should visit YouDecide2007, the On Line Opinion and SBS joint venture, including a weekly webcast, blog and articles covering the final days.
I encourage all voters to be informed about the forthcoming election, and to post an informed vote. Frankly, I don't care how you vote. What I want to be sure of is that you are not making your decisions based on inaccurate perceptions or misinformation. Please be *sure* of what you are voting for, and don't just vote the way your parents or friends expect you to vote. Because every vote counts. And a misinformed vote can mean that the rest of us pay for your ignorance.
EDIT: Thanks to Barry for the info that YouDecide2007 is in fact a JV between On Line Opinion and SBS, not OLO and The Australian!
Posted by jj at 6:13 PM | Comments (2)
Great Moments in Cricket Commentary
[[Channel 9 plays some archive footage of Jeff Thompson bowling to Tony Greig]]
TONY GREIG: Just look at that action! You can't do anything with it. That's the best ball he ever bowled.
IAN CHAPPELL: Why did he waste it on you Tony?
Posted by jj at 9:21 AM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2007
Small miracles
There was much excitement where I am living at the moment when a little lad was too impatient for the ambulance to carry his mother to the hospital before he graced us with his presence. Before 7am, a resident in the building took less than two hours from the time she had any indication of labour until little Oliver made his appearance in the driveway of our building. When the ambulance screeched to a halt and the dog next door continued to howl in response to its sirens, the mother only just managed to make it to the entry of the building before ambulance servicemen poured out of the vehicle and after a 30 second attempt to rush the family to the hospital, they completely gave up and instead delivered a 7 pound 2 ounce boy before driving the young Mum and baby to the Royal Women's.
A very proud, but clearly weary father returned to the building with his older daughter this afternoon, deeply apologetic about having spoiled a sheet and a towel at the residence. Needless to say, the neighbours are hardly concerned.
My best are sent to little Oliver and his family. It's nice to have been even a proximate part of such a small miracle.
Posted by jj at 5:59 PM | Comments (0)
November 14, 2007
Worst advertisements ever
I had an email sent around today from a friend who was highlighting the completely appalling marketing campaign from a feminine sanitary products brand asking its customers to wish each other "a happy period". (There's so much wrong with that I don't know where to start.)
But I have to say that simply the worst campaign I've seen on Australian TV in a long time is the Sanctuary Cove advert based on a Cinderalla story. Every time I see it, I just want to vomit. Full of monied and stupid people, it claims to describe a charmed life, where at a time when working families are struggling more than ever before, it simply highlights how revolting obscene wealth can be.
Please get that ad off the air NOW. It makes me violent.
Posted by jj at 5:59 PM | Comments (2)
November 9, 2007
Cricket tickets - First in, best dressed
Two free tix for the cricket on Sunday available. You won't be sitting with me, as I am in a box, but I have two tix available. You will need to arrange to pick the tickets up from my contact (she's based in Albion) but anyone who wants them, please get in touch with me NOW. Email, phone, whatever. They're yours if you want them.
EDIT: You all missed out - they were available until 3pm when my Rotary pal, Tom, snapped them up!
Posted by jj at 1:54 PM | Comments (0)
November 7, 2007
YAY!
Happy days are here again... That is, the cricket season starts tomorrow. And the wonderful Brett Hooker (winner of the national Pearcey Award) is hosting me in his box on Sunday!!!!!!
I absolutely insist that you all get sites with roarz.com to help me thank Brett for all the great things he's done for me this year (including my own Pearcey commendation). Roarz is great value and based on open source architecture so will keep improving as time goes by. Just sign up. They're great guys and they so deserve success!
Posted by jj at 5:53 PM | Comments (0)
November 6, 2007
Larvatus Prodeo relocates
Due to some serious spamming on the usual Larvatus Prodeo site, Mark Bahnisch has reloacted the blog to a temporary home of http://larvatusprodeo.wordpress.com/ while the spammers are being throttled. Please feel free to continue all your pre-election arguments at Larvatus Prodeo's pro tempore domum!
Posted by jj at 5:57 PM | Comments (0)
Melbourne Cup
Another Melbourne Cup passes, and I managed to wind up just $0.40 down after having money on Purple Moon, Mahler and Zipping (2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively). A great ride by Michael Rodd on the New Zealand horse, Efficient, to win the Cup, and a good time was had by all!
Posted by jj at 5:50 PM | Comments (0)
November 4, 2007
Thanks and still thirtysomething...
Thanks to all those who have sent me good wishes after my Commendation at the Pearcey Awards on Thursday night and to all those who have sent birthday wishes too. Officially I'm not celebrating my birthday this year and have made the very serious request not to receive gifts (even from my family, which I am delighted to say they have respected for the most part), but it's still lovely to receive so many good wishes. It is, after all, the wishes that mean the most.
I plan to have a very low key day today with some dear friends. I'm focussing on celebrating the award and not the day, but it will still be a lovely day. And I'm looking forward to it.
Posted by jj at 7:58 AM | Comments (3)
November 1, 2007
Queensland Pearcey Awards 2007
Tonight was the Queensland Pearcey Awards and I am terribly excited to say I was awarded a Commendation as joint runner-up for the State Pearcey Award. The winner was Absolute Data Group CEO, winner of the Women in Technology Innovation Award and winner of the QBR's Women in Business Award for Technology, Tammy Halter. She's a superb industry advocate and works tirelessly to drive business to Queensland, whilst also promoting the value of an IT career among women. And her company has just been listed in the Q400 list. A well-deserved win, and I'm just blown away to have been placed in her field.
My co-runner-up was another inspiring woman, Kirsty Garrett, the Director of Valintus and former Client Executive at Fujitsu, Australia, and Vice President of Global Marketing at Mincom. Again, I'm completely in awe of Kirsty and so proud of her work.
The rest of the field of nominees for the award was incredibly intimidating - I felt I had no chance at all, but was honoured to have been nominated. Now to have received a Commendation is completely surprising and totally humbling. I'm very proud to have been among those recognised in this award and have spent my evening hugging my certificate. And how about that to have had three finalists for the award all being women? Fabulous stuff for the industry!
Thank you to the wonderful Brett Hooker for nominating me, and huge congrats also to Brett for winning the national Pearcey medal for his superb work in the industry!. Finally, a heart-felt thank you to all those at the Pearcey Foundation who work so hard to advocate the great work being done in information and communication technologies in Australia. I'm exceedingly grateful to you all and promise I will do my very best to ensure that ICTs in Australia continue to grow and flourish.
Posted by jj at 10:44 PM | Comments (6)