How to STICK IT TO THE MAN with your friends

Just yesterday the Treasurer Joe Hockey delivered a federal budget that has made many of us very angry. It is a budget that negatively impacts the most vulnerable people in our community while mining companies, defence and big business are benefiting from massive funding injections.

The abc shared this handy graphic to help us navigate the budget. 

Click here to see it. It's really worth a look.

Anyway... This whole thing has got me thinking about how I can respond to this in a way that is actually effective. Sure, I can be a click-tivist and sign every petition that pops up in my Facebook feed. I can write to the government to express my rage- a good thing to do- I'm sure they take a little bit of notice of these things.

I've decided on a different approach though... I've decided to try and identify areas where people might struggle and address them creatively... so without further ado, here are my handy hints on:

HOW TO STICK IT TO THE MAN WITH YOUR FRIENDS

1. Go out and meet your neighbours 

You never know, they might need something you have and vice-versa, therefore helping you to rely on each other rather than a system that will no longer give you a hand-up

Sharing dinner with our beautiful neighbour Mayra

2. Join or start a local food co-op 

This is a great way to meet people, get away from the supermarkets and to stop relying on "the man" for your basic needs

Or go "food rescuing"!

Or even better - GROW YOUR OWN!! 

3. Raise some chooks 

Another way of bypassing a nasty system, plus they are just delightful to have in your life. Did you know that chooks have personalities? One of ours is super adventurous and we re-named her Harriet Houdini because she could escape from any enclosure. 

4. Donate your cash to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre 

Nothing sticks it to a xenophobic government like loving those problematic "boat people"

At Light the Dark silent vigil for slain asylum seeker Reza Berati

5. Find entertainment that is FREE

Join the local library; visit your community neighbourhood house and see what they have to offer; go jogging, cycling, roller skating, climb a tree; start a book club; eat IN with your pals; hang out with some ducks!

6. Start a 'resource-share' among your friends

Why would we buy six lawn mowers when we could just share ONE?! Do you have a food dehydrator? How often do you use it really?? You're lying! Now go lend it to you pal. 

You can borrow my Vietnamese coffee filter if you like! 

7. BARTER!

Do you have a useful skill? Are you a hairdresser? Well you might need an accountant! Hey... that accountant's hair is looking a little muffin-ish... see where I'm going with this?? (side note.. MY hair is getting a little muffin-ish and I have a LOT of skills I could offer you so please get in touch if you wanna make this thing happen!)

8. Look out for the little guy

If you are a person of means who might not be affected so much by the budget cuts please don't do the whole selfish "I'm OK Jack" thing. Have a look around you. Is there a person who has lost their job due to funding cuts? (that happened to me a few years back and it hurts), is there a family that is struggling to make the $7 medical co-payment? Please stop saying "$7 isn't much!"... It's a lot when you've got nothing. If you can afford to give to a charity that helps people who are struggling please do it. Or support people directly. Offer the hand-up that the Government will no longer give vulnerable people. And please, just think before you open your mouth because the things you say can be very hurtful, disempowering and belittling. Ok? Good.

9. Have a cup of tea and relax

It will be ok folks. If we support each other we will all be fine. Individualism is lonely and SO 1990! We are in this together. 

Do you have any other tips to help us to stick it to the man?? I'd love to hear about it! 

A Post-Easter Catch Up :: A Break Down the Coast

This Easter break has been filled with the most lovely things.

Last Monday we packed up the kids and travelled just a little way down The Great Ocean Road to a seaside town called Airey's Inlet. It's about an hour and twenty out of Melbourne and is delightfully sleepy and holidayish- a little busier than normal on school holidays  but still much lesss rush rush rush than the city.

We go often, staying at my Aunty and Uncle's holiday house and this time we spent our time playing scrabble, feeding apples to the local horses, going on wild and woolly beach walks, watching movies, making and sharing jelly slice, feeding the resident king parrots and reading and crocheting by the wood fire. It really is an idyllic way to spend time and was a beautiful little pocket of quiet family time before life gears up again and term two begins.

We got home on Friday and spent the night drinking tea by the fire outside and preparing for what was to be the most hilarious easter egg hunt on Saturday morning. For the last few years John's parents have hosted the hunt in their lovely big green and leafy back yard but this year we decided we would like to have everyone come to our new(ish) house for cups of tea, hot cross buns and some chocolate-fuelled chaos. It did not disappoint!

I did my usual over catering on both hot cross buns and easter eggs (I can't help it! I'm my mother's daughter!) but no one complained, and the hunt, complete with Benny Hill background music, proved both entertaining and satisfying for kids and adults alike.  Mezz put on quite a show "dancing like no one's watching" which John, in his usual cheeky/hilarious way, filmed and shared across multiple social media platforms. I hid dozens of eggs and a few avocados for Taz & Pete's little guy who is yet to taste chocolate. The kids had a ball. The grown-ups had a ball. It was super fun.

Then to top of an already tops weekend, my mumsy came to stay last night! We did lots of normal things together like folding washing and cooking dinner but it was nicer because she was here and we could do it together. I hope she comes back soon! I love my mumsy.

Today it's back to a sort of normality. Miss 12 is back to school and I have been working and gadding about running errands but I've had my two littlest ones in tow which has been nice. Miss 7 is back to school tomorrow.

How was your Easter? Did you slow down and take a break? What was your favourite thing? Did you binge watch a TV series? OH! We finished Breaking Bad!! That's another conversation all together!

Have a tops day.

Squee!