Our tolerance of "others"

Yesterday was one of those days.

Yesterday I had to go and speak with a family member of one of our fallen soldiers. Their relative had been fighting in Afghanistan when his life was cut short, trying to make a better life for the people of that country.

The reason for my visit, was not a particularly pleasant one, it was relating to that PEST of a human being (I can't call him a man, because no man would indulge himself as this person does) who has been sending letters to the families of our fallen diggers that are filled with disgraceful islamic rhetoric, trying to muddy the memory of our fallen men.

What struck me above all was the complete absence of open hate, hostility, animosity and anger of this family towards this parasite considering the filth that he has tried to make them suffer and endure with his ridiculous and offensive letters.

Australia has always welcomed everyone and anyone with open arms, regardless of colour or creed. And in doing so, a certain expectancy is placed on these people to take up the values and morals of the land and embrace them as their own. While those coming into our proud land do this, there are those, the vocal minority, who WILL not. One has to question the reason for their intention to live here.

Here we have a male person (and woman) who has come to this country, looking for solace or a new start in life because obviously he believes it to be better for him here than over there. There has been no attempt at embracing this country as his own, and when our sons, brothers, husbands and fathers, fighting for the freedom of others are cut down, instead of joining the rest of our nation in mourning the loss of our fine countrymen, he taunts them with letters filled with maliciousness and disrespect. He has lived here on our welfare. He was told to leave because of his views, and he got around that, by marrying a local girl. How does this happen?

In our laid back way, we are a tolerant nation, peace loving and above all an open nation. In being welcomed into our tolerant land, he shows nothing but intolerance towards our ways, our beliefs and our values.

How can this be acceptable??? While I will not pass comment on religion, the question must be asked, why should this man be allowed to stay?

Pets and cleaning.

Well, having just finished cleaning the house of all pet hair and dust trampled in by my two cats and 3 dogs, it struck me how much less stressful it is for us all now that I've switched my cleaning regime and shop away from my old supermarket bought cleaners, detergents and bleaches.

Animals are as sensitive to chemicals as kids and I know this because I have a lovely Russian White cross, who's deaf and super sensitive to any cleaning agents that I've used in the past. Poor little Snowflake! She would sneeze, splutter, cough and generally show her unhappiness at the fumes in the bathroom and kitchen. My other little boy, Audi, was not so bad, but still, he used to stay out of the house until he had absolutely no choice but to come in for his dinner.

To explain, the bathroom, well the bath in particular, is the their own little playground. They jump into the bath, chase a tail or two, have a little fight and then run up and down the hall and then repeat the whole circuit for hours on end.

The puppy dogs have a propensity to chewing things that they shouldn't and ignoring the toys they should be chewing! I came home one day to find one very sick puppy dog who's somehow gotten hold of some Ajax bathroom cleaner outside and demolished the bottle. One sleepless night and hefty vet bill later, all is well with the animals.

Moving away from supermarket bought chemical cleaners does not have to mean a loss in cleaning power or protection from bacteria or germs by any stretch of the imagination, you just need to find the right ones, which I know I have. They are all natural and work JUST as well if not better.

Since I've swapped shops, there are no more little coughing fits, or sneezing and runny eyes and nose from the little deaf cat, Snowflake, and Audi just hangs around when I'm cleaning now. The puppy dogs are all happy and well, even when, as Quattro has done, they get hold of the floor cleaner and chew the top off and destroy the bottle itself. No sick puppies, just a mess to clean up and a rather clean area on the ground. Not to mention that I now survive my cleaning regime without coughing and spluttering! It's not a chore anymore...... well , not so much of a chore (lets be honest.)

So if you can find cleaning products and solutions that are chemical agent free, that work, then not only are you doing your pets and yourself a dis-service, but also the environment.

Well, here I am!!

Finally!!!! Welcome to the world of blogging Em!!!

I'm not a technophobe, but ... you know, how it is. Work 5 days a week, live outside of the Sydney CBD, leave home between 5am and 6:30am every morning - depending on if I'm catching the train in or driving and if I'm going to haul my lazy ass out of bed to go to the gym or not.

Then there's the wonderful journey home... packed on the train like a can of sardines.. or better still, stuck in peak hour traffic on the way home.

But I'm HERE!!!! Hip hip hooray for me!!

Love Em
xx