I have been having fun bidding on some of the Hope from The Ashes, Charity Auctions.
I have the current highest bid in on a few items and I have been out bid on others. Win or loose I will enjoy taking part and invite every one to take a liik at the fantastic items on offer, like this
 http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Boshack-Outback-One-night-Humpy-Stay-and-Day-Tour_W0QQitemZ300394534688QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Accommodation?hash=item45f0e8d720
Boshack Outback Eco Accomodation and day trip. One night Humpy Stay and Day Tour for two children and two adults valued at $275.00, all proceeds go to the Hope From Ashes charity to assist those rebuilding their lives after the Toodyay Fires of December 2009

Hope from Ashes


Boshack Outback Eco Accommodation Boshack Eco Springs is a 250 acre property surrounded by pristine bushland, Freshwater Springs & a Lake. A tranquil place to enjoy all the activities on offer or just relax by the lake and soak in the atmosphere. We have lakeside Humpy & Safari Tent accommodation, being simple bush dwellings for a real outback adventure. A unique place for family weekends away, school camps and for the overseas traveller the authentic Australian experience. Please note: Boshack isnt just accommodation, it is an experience. If you would like to get back to the basics of life in a beautiful setting, which is solar powered, fresh gardens of organic food & simple accommodation, with little impact to the environment, then your are up for a unique adventure at Boshack. Valid to 16/7/10. Visit the website for more information about this fantastic escape in a great location. Boshack Eco Springs ( Package value $275) conditions:

• valid until 16/07/2010
• subject to availability.
  The Hope From Ashes auction will run online starting on the date of the benefit concert with new items being put up daily over the next week.  This online auction will raise awareness and funds and give people the opportunity to contribute and help Toodyay people who are rebuilding after the fire.
  
  We have tried to gather together a range of diverse and high quality items and services that in some way reflect the diversity and creativity of the Toodyay community. In finding a gift for yourself you will be giving to the Toodyay community and we hope the excitement and high energy of the auction will be uplifting and inspiring in its way.
  
  The auction has the Hope From Ashes flavour celebrating and demonstrating the generosity, positivity and support that has flowed so readily for and within the Toodyay community.
  
  As well as people from Perth many local Toodyay businesses and individuals have also contributed to the auction, some although deeply affected by the fires through loss of home or workplace. Artworks, craft items, trips away, fantastic meals and even life coaching sessions, massages, motoring items, clothing and collectors plates are just a few of the amazing items we can offer you. The list grows every day so “no napping” or you may miss a fabulous item…which is just what you need!
  
  We hope you will enjoy the items on offer and we hope you have fun whilst you bid big as we pull together to raise much needed funds for the survivors of the Toodyay Bushfires.
  
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  If you wish to make a donation in person, please use the following Bendigo Bank details. Thank you.
  Hope from Ashes
  BSB: 633 000
  Account: 139 064 364
  

I strive to find, 'Useful Stuff', to add to this blog.

These links may be useful for many of us, including me.

Caring - useful website links Listed below are other websites you may find useful:

General links

• Aged Care Australia - everything you need to know about aged care.
• Association for Children with a Disability - information, support and advocacy for children with a disability and their families in Victoria.
• Australian Sports Commission - information on participating in sport for people with a disability.
• Better Health Channel - provides free health and medical information and links to support.
• Carers Australia - information and support for carers of family members and friends.
• Commonwealth Rehabilitation Services Australia - provides vocational rehabilitation and assessment services to people with a disability, injury or health condition.
• Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres - information centres for older Australians and their families, people with special care needs and carers.
• Community portal - information, resources and support for carers.
• HEALTHInsite - information and links on important health topics.
• Helping Children with Autism - information about services and support available for children with Autism. On this website, refer to the 'Helping Children with Autism' link in 'Popular Topics'.
• Medicare - delivering health and payment programs to Australians.
• Mychild - information on early learning and care, children's health, and support for special needs.
• National Ethnic Disability Alliance - for people from non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability, their families and carers.
• Understanding money - find information that helps you to increase your financial knowledge and better manage your money.

Hearing impairment

• Australian Hearing - helps people with their hearing impairment and quality of life.
• Better Hearing Australia Inc - free, independent and professional information and advice on hearing loss and concerns.
• Deaf Sports Australia - access for deaf and hard of hearing people to sporting opportunities.

Mental health

• Auseinet - Australian network for promotion, prevention and early intervention for mental health.
• Community portal - information on depression, mental illness and support and care.
• Department of Health and Ageing - information on health and support services for mental health.
• Mental health & wellbeing - useful information on mental health with support for carers.
• Mental Health Council of Australia - promoting better mental health for all Australians.
• Mind Matters - a national mental health initiative for secondary schools.

Visual impairment

• Community portal - information, resources and support for people with vision disabilities or blindness and their carers.

The Giveaway:

In conjunction with Mummified Times Five, I am giving away up to $1000 worth of Maimeri Classico oil paints!

Each prize pack includes 10 tubes of Maimeri Classico paints valued at $9.55 each…so with free postage, that’s a prize pack valued at over $100!! And we have 10 packs to give away!!

To enter, all you need to do is:

-comment on any post ON EACH of Kathy Shell’s blogs (listed in my blog side bar and below):

http://www.artslim.org/
http://www.cards-art.com/
http://www.kathy-shell.net/
http://www.doggiesblog.com/
http://www.gray-nomad.com/
http://www.bloggermuse.com/
http://www.functional-art.net/
http://www.postcards-art.com/
http://www.campfire-yarns.com/
http://www.fridgemagnetart.com/
- then go to the competition post at

http://mummifiedtimesfive.net/2010/02/01/spotlight-on-kathy-shell-giveaway/

and say why you would like to win a 10 pack of Maimeri Classico paints.

(Both steps are mandatory to be in the running to win this prize)

Giveaway finishes 15 Feb 2010

 This blog post has been illustrated by postcards from the art of Kathy Shell. These can be orderd through the artist's postcards-art web site or purchased 'direct from the artist', in her caravan awning studio

If you are a reader of my ‘gone bush’ blog, you will know that I have been testing out a Nintendo Wii, Wii sports, Wii Fit Plus and the Wii Biggest Loser program, to see if they will be suitable to use in the confined space of a caravan as a fitness gym for a pair of touring seniors.

So far, Reg and I are having a fantastic time using the programs. Reg loves the Wii Sports and as an ex bowler and golfer he is happily playing these games again in our lounge room.
When Reg starts to Wii jog, I join in and jog beside him. I pick up 1 kilo hand weights and move those in a jogging rhythm if I am going at a fast pace or I will do actual weight work out exercises with them if I jog a little slower.  These are lower weights than I regularly work out with, but I do not normally jog at the same time.

Then I usually try to beat Reg’s skiing performance and have a go at the energy burning hula-hoop, which seems far too much fun to feel like I am exercising.

Then sometimes in the afternoon, if Reg has gone to bed for a nap, I do my full body workout in the Biggest Loser program and my Biggest loser, weight loss yoga.  Both give me a fantastic work out and I end it with the cool down stretches.

As a keen fitness interested senior I am so pleased with our Nintendo Wii and I intend to make sure I use it and gain the fitness benefit from the programs I chose to go in the Wii package, I put together.

 

I can understand some of my friends choosing to have lap band surgery. 

I am finding ways, to not overeat, most of the time and I have been able to incorporate exercise into my life, so I am managing if not totally mastering, my weight.

I accept that not everyone can do this. While there are risks to any surgery, I see friends younger than I am, who could not manage their weight, being diagnosed with diabetes. I feel that lap band surgery before you get to that stage, if you’re not managing to get weight off with every other healthy method you try, might be the right option, for some people and I wish my friends who choose this path, all the very best, I know they did not rush into the decision J.

For me the risk and discomfort of the surgery is not something I want.  I know that well researched medical travel  or medical tourism as it is often called is making elective surgery more affordable but even without the high cost, I still prefer my own slow steady progress of losing weight without the surgery.

If I was not making progress, if I was still struggling to gain control and was not able to master my emotional drive to eat more than my body needs, most of the time, if I felt my weight was going to place me at sever health risk, then I too might have considered lap band surgery.  It is an individual decision not to be taken lightly and those who choose it have my support.

                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The pictures I illustrate this post with are fridge magnets from my art. You can order these through my fridge magnet art site, see the link in the side bar, or they can be purchased, ‘direct from artist’,  at our caravan awning studio, when we are on tour.


 

The Giveaway:

In conjunction with Mummified Times Five, I am giving away up to $1000 worth of Maimeri Classico oil paints!

Each prize pack includes 10 tubes of Maimeri Classico paints valued at $9.55 each…so with free postage, that’s a prize pack valued at over $100!! And we have 10 packs to give away!!

To enter, all you need to do is:

-comment on any post ON EACH of Kathy Shell’s blogs (listed in my blog side bar and below):

http://www.artslim.org/
http://www.cards-art.com/
http://www.kathy-shell.net/
http://www.doggiesblog.com/
http://www.gray-nomad.com/
http://www.bloggermuse.com/
http://www.functional-art.net/
http://www.postcards-art.com/
http://www.campfire-yarns.com/
http://www.fridgemagnetart.com/
- then go to the competition post at

http://mummifiedtimesfive.net/2010/02/01/spotlight-on-kathy-shell-giveaway/

and say why you would like to win a 10 pack of Maimeri Classico paints.

(Both steps are mandatory to be in the running to win this prize)

Giveaway finishes 15 Feb 2010

 This blog post has been illustrated by postcards from the art of Kathy Shell. These can be orderd through the artist's postcards-art web site or purchased 'direct from the artist', in her caravan awning studio

I have one sister I have not seen for so long, I have forgotten how long. It would be close to three decades ago. She is US based and one of these days I will go searching for new york hotel deals and try to track her down as she is likely to be reviewing an up market new music performance  at the same time I’ am likely to be writing up a free bush camp site in the outback.  Do you ever wonder at how different sisters can be? Do you wonder also, about, how alike, sisters are?  

My sister and I love the same arts, writing, painting, dance and music, if in different ways. 

My fridge magnets can be purchased from outside our caravan while we are on tour and by ordering through the contact page of my website.