What leaders are made of

After a weekend meeting with a group of some 300 people in what could be summarised as an organisation's business meeting, I have come to the conclusion that I can never be a leader because of a flaw I possess - the inability to see the good in everyone.

There were much discussion that resulted from a variety of reports that were presented by the leaders during the meeting. People were questioning decisions made and being critical of a variety of things. On top of that, there were those who were also trying to provide suggestions as to how to run the organisation better. And it was because of these interactions that I have decided that I will never be a leader.

Instead of being defensive about the criticism, these leaders took it with grace and humility.

Instead of retorting what sounded like a stupid remark with sarcasm, these leaders responded with dignity and understanding.

Instead of laughing in the face of what seemed like crazy suggestions, these leaders saw the passion and reasoning behind them.

For the best part of the time, the response of these leaders actually managed to placate everyone, even if they were sitting on opposite sides. The leaders appeared calm and collected, never getting frustrated, annoyed or dismissive.

And that's why, I can never be a leader.

And if you've read this far, care to give me a scoop please? You don't have to sign up to anything or give away your email address. More info here. Thanks!

Please help me win

Update: I forgot to mention that giving of scoops can be done once every day until the competition ends (October 14), so if you feel generous, giving of scoops every day will be immensely appreciated.

Seems like my all-time favourite ice-cream company Ben & Jerry’s have just started a competition that I really want to win (grand prize = trip to Vermont, Ben & Jerry's HQ!!).

The only catch is that the competition requires friends of the contestant to give them “scoops” and I don't have any friends! Ok, I do, but I'm still low on scoops.

So I need help. If you are reading this, you are morally obliged (ok, you're not, but it would be nice if you did) to click this link - http://www.voyagetovermont.com.au/profile/2458abff - and when it brings you to a web page, click on the “give me a scoop” button.

The more scoops I get, the closer I get to being ranked #1, which means the closer I get to winning! You don’t have to sign up to anything, give out your email address or anything. You just have to click that one button.

Please?

Stripey baby set

I promise, this will be the last baby set in the seemingly unending baby sets that I've been making.

Well, until the next order comes along I suppose.

Clay face mask

The bottom left package in orange and green was sitting on my desk when I arrived at work this morning, surprisingly bigger, heavier and chunkier than I thought.

Well, actually, I lie. The package was in a brown paper envelope. It wasn't only after I ripped open the envelope that I saw the package. But I digress.

In the package lay my "reef red clay mask" bought from New Earth Soaps. No special significance as to why I bought from them, besides the fact that I was looking for a face mask, wanted something "handmade" and sold near where I lived. A browse on (I heart) etsy resulted in discovering them.

So apparently, the mask "will give your skin the wonderful glow of health and well being. It’s high iron content and essential minerals help to replenish and regenerate the epidermis of the skin to create soft and healthy glowing skin."

In all honesty, I don't actually know if things like face masks work or do anything to increase the health and well-being of one's skin. But what I do know is that it just makes one feel oh-so-pampered, especially when soaking in the bath, while reading a good book!

Orange marble baby set

After the yellow baby set, we now move on to the orange marble baby set. The hat pattern is the same, although the booties pattern is slightly modified and done in the round instead (minimal seaming!) and so is done in stocking stitch instead of garter stitch.

And I actually found buttons that matched the yarn perfectly! What are the chances?

Booties pattern here (Ravelry download).

Armageddon

What is probably the funniest phone call I have ever received:

Caller: Hi, I'm calling about an article that you guys published. I would like several copies of it.

Me: Sure, what is it?

Caller: The title is Armageddon (sounds like something we would publish) and it is written by Bruce Willis.

Me: (are you for real?) Er, you sure it was written by Bruce Willis? Not perhaps Bruce Manners?

Caller: Nope, I'm sure it's Bruce Willis. W-i-l-l-i-s.

Me: Maybe if you can tell me what's on the cover, I can locate the article?

Caller: Yes, it's got a picture of two men and a lady.

Me: (this does not sound like our magazine. We only usually feature one person on the cover) Do you know who they are?

Caller: No, that's what I'm calling to find out. I want 1000 copies to give away.

Me: You sure it's Signs of the Times magazine?

Caller: No.

Me: What does it say on the front of the magazine?

Caller: Armageddon. It's got two men and a lady on it.

You mean this "magazine"?????????

Yellow baby set

I first made this set in pink (booties and hat) and was recently asked by a friend to repeat it as a gift to her friend's baby.

Given the colouring of the baby, I thought a pale yellow would be a better match and have had to make it slightly bigger as well as the child is older.

A really enjoyable knit the second time round, and I think I'm also mastering the art of seaming.

I must try to use the leaf in the hat in something else some time.

Lattice scarf

I love mixed media creations where you make something with unexpected materials, so when I came across the lattice stitch knitting pattern, I immediately knew I just had to use it to insert some ribbons.

I bought the yarn ages ago when I first learned how to knit and could not really think of something to knit it with. However, I thought it was perfect for this use. The yarn is a thick and thin and the texture really lent itself to the scarf. I especially love just how soft, warm and light it is. And of course, being in black means it practically matches everything!

You can own this scarf!

Fear

I am convinced that the older you get, the more you start fearing things. This is not about phobias like spiders, the dark or ghosts, but things like falling over and hurting yourself.

As a child, I don't ever recall fear stopping me from running at top speed, hurtling towards a goal, trying a new sport or climbing up a high vantage point (I grew up in Singapore, we don't have that many trees to climb).

My knees were constantly scabby from falling over. I would cry from the pain, scratch the wound, pick at the scab, and then forget to learn my lesson and start running all over the place again.

Fast forward a few years and suddenly fear sets in. I bungee-jumped when I was 18, but I can assure you there was not so much courage there as a fear and general wonderment as to why I had even wanted to do something like launch myself out of a crane several hundred kilometres up in the air only secured by a giant rubber band.

I have never had a fear of heights but today, I hesitate to walk to the edge of a cliff with a sheer drop and being on a tall building sometimes makes me feel like visiting the toilet in a hurry. And when it came to my skydiving experience, that first step off the plane was probably one of the scariest thing I had ever done.

And over the last few years as I'm trying to master the art of snowboarding, the simple fear of falling over and hurting myself has prevented me from snowboarding properly.

How is it that fear sets in when we get older? Do we get "wiser"? Do our bones get more fragile? Do we become wusses?

Is it why Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (Mark 10:15), because as we get older, we actually "fear" the kingdom of God and what it actually means?

Of interviews and transcribing

Since starting work with Signs of the Times, I've had a lot more opportunities to do more in-depth/longer interviews, most of which are also done via the phone.

With people speaking faster than I can write/type, the easiest solution is to simply record the interview. You place it in front of the speaker, hit record and then you can relax, listen to what the person have to say and think about what question you'll ask next. No more furious scribbling and fear of missing anything.

The only problem with that is the need to transcribe your interviews afterwards. An hour-long interview takes at least two hours to transcribe because of all the pauses you have to do to make sure you've typed everything in. And really, by the end of the interview, all you want to do is write the article, not transcribe it.

But I think the worst thing about transcribing an interview is when you've done a really bad one. Then you have to relive the experience all over again...

Thank goodness I don't have too many of those!

Well, back to transcribing now.

Winning the lottery

How many times have you wished you'd win the lottery, retire from work, move into a big house and live in luxury forever?

British man Neil Chester did but is actually (sort of) regretting it. With his winnings, he bought a £1.8 million mansion on an 7.3 hectare estate in Hampshire, installing luxuries such as an indoor pool, sauna and cinema. But it's not all roses and sunshine.

His wife says, "In a small house you are always all together. Now I have to make a point of finding them – we don't even watch TV together as we are all in different rooms."

And of course, "You don't realise how expensive running it can be, and there are rooms we never use."

It really makes the cliche "money can't buy happiness" ring true.

Too often, we dream of earning or having huge amounts of money so that we don't need to worry about life and have a great lifestyle. But a lifestyle is created from our habits, from who we are. Money cannot change that. Yes, it may make life a little easier, but I believe eventually, we'd still have the same kind of troubles if we don't change our attitudes and habits.

As for a huge house with all sorts of luxuries. Just think of the little luxuries that you've bought yourself. How often have you used that blender? How often do you soak in a bath-tub? How often have you actually sat down to watch a movie?

We're always gathering stuff in the hopes of attaining some form of satisfaction and happiness, but when we actually have the means of doing so, we realise, life hasn't actually gotten any better.

As for a huge house? It looks nice and impressive and all, but I think all the cleaning it requires will drive me insane. I can't even keep my two-bedroom apartment clean!

My first book!

Ok, it's not quite my first book in the traditional sense of the word since it's a collection of short stories, but hey, it's the first time I've been published in a book!

And this was published a few months ago. Yes, it took me that long to get it scanned and to put it up online.

You can read the story here.

And if you're interested, my (almost) complete writing portfolio can be found here.

Excellence in Mediocrity

Published in Signs of the Times, August 2010 (under a pseudonym).

Article first written here.

And if you're interested, my (almost) complete writing portfolio can be found here.

Bindi Irwin: A Grown Up Little Girl

Published in Signs of the Times, August 2010.

pdf available.

And if you're interested, my (almost) complete writing portfolio can be found here.

Flip-top mittens

Being a cold frog, I'm always extremely susceptible to the cold, particularly when it comes to my hands and feet.

I'd been using fingerless gloves for a while now because I love the ease of which I can still use my fingers for stuff. My hands feel a little claustrophobic when I'm wearing gloves and needing to do stuff.

And yet, it's not perfect. My poor little fingers still get cold. Sometimes to the point where I curl my fingers in underneath where the fingerless gloves end.

Well, gone are those days thanks to this wonderfully versatile flip-top mittens! Wear them as mittens to warm your hands when you're just walking and not needing your hands for anything. And when you need to pick something up, or actually use your fingers, pop your fingers from underneath the "hood", button the flap down and viola! Fingerless gloves!

The only downside I suppose is the fact that the thumb is not as versatile and always completely covered, but hey, unless I can be bothered to do a flip-top thing for the thumb too, I think I can live with one thumb covered.

I used the dorset buttons that I made previously and the match perfectly and beautifully!

Pattern here.

The blog that was

I've just recently changed the look of Aussie Adventures and therefore feel the need to document and archive its old design.

Thanks yellow background and pink gerbera, I did enjoy looking at you.

Time

I've been thinking a lot about time lately. It might have something to do with the fact that I'd been sick for a whole week without energy to do much. It might have to do with the fact that I've recently turned the big three-o (yes, I can hear you gasping in shock).

Have you ever been asked, "Where do you find the time to [insert appropriate activity here]?" Or perhaps you've even asked someone that question before.

In my opinion, it's mostly an unnecessary question because we all find the time to do whatever we want to do the most. It's all a matter of priority (conscious or otherwise) and preference.

Where do we find the time to watch TV? Where do we find the time to read? Where do we find the time to sleep? Where do we find the time to eat? Where do we find the time to go shopping?

It's true, some activities are more necessary than others but think about all the time that you spend doing the things you enjoy doing. Where do you find the time to do it? You just find time, don't you?

Say you enjoy watching TV. You've probably given up some time reading a book to do so.

Say you enjoy going out for walks. You've probably given up some time cleaning the house to do so.

Or take my example - I love knitting. All I've simply done is use the time where I would be sitting in a car on a long road trip doing nothing to knit. Either that or I knit furiously when I'm watching TV.

These are things that you don't actually think about. You just give up something to do something else.

But we live in a society where we're made to feel guilty that we have time to do anything. If we have time for some R&R, it's most likely because we're "lazy".

Are we really?

Do I really have to feel guilty simply because I've managed to prioritise my life and do what I enjoy doing the most? Do I have to feel bad because occasionally, I am able to do two things at once?

The next time you feel tempted to ask someone where they find the time to do something, take a moment to think: that particular person does not have your life. Which means they have very different priorities to you. Which also means they have very different interests to you. Which therefore means, while they may have found the time to do something you would actually love to do, they have essentially given up the time to do something you have actually done.

Bobble scarf

I love how this scarf twists and wind around itself, making it look like as if it's braided. It's a simple cable pattern that makes the two colours stay together but twisted. It took a while to figure it out, but once I got the hang of it, it was a really quick knit.

The only problem I have with this is that the twists don't actually stay where they're meant to sometimes and so the wrong side of the scarf shows.

Lil' headband

Just a simple little headband knitted up while I was up north in Townsville with nothing to do and a limited amount of yarn. It actually fitted surprisingly well!

Pink American shrug

I can't believe how easy the pattern is to make this shrug! It literally is simply knitting a rectangular piece in 2x2 rib for long and wide enough, sew it in the right spots and viola! A knitted item of clothing! How incredibly clever is that!

And now that I've discovered how easy it is to do that, I might have to add a sleeved version.

Knitted in 100% wool, this shrug is very warm despite weighing virtually nothing at all. In this cold weather, I like wearing it under my jacket. And when I do that, I hardly have to wear many layers because it keeps my neck and shoulders really warm. The only problem are my bare arms.

Most of the shrug was knitted up while I was in America and we were road-tripping up and down the West Coast.

My friend Jeanelle took the photos and I think she did a magnificent job, considering the subject matter!