Redhead74

Every town needs an Alf Stewart. Every time there is a religious cult, every time someone goes missing in the sea, everytime there is a Bush fire: Alf is johnny on the spot. What is this man's official job designation? A general lifeboat, quasi-police sergeant, medical, do-gooder, lfe saver? I hate to envision the day when Alf dies: the death ratio in Summer Bay will increase exponentially. Two other things I learnt from watching those two documentaries on Australian culture,

- there is only ever one doctor on duty in Australian societies. This poor doctor will deal with everything from, delivering babies, to AaE, as well as being a normal functioning member of Summer Bay or Ramsey Street with all the usual affairs and religious cults etc. It does not matter though because you have Alf - see above - in case of the former.

- Never go into the Bush. It will always lead to disaster, a religious cult or a fire. Just never do it.

- Summer Bay is never, that, 'summery'. It is always pissing it down with cast over skies.

- Everyone in Australia lives in each other's house, e.g. the house on the caravan site where Alf lives. They just let any passing waif n' stray live there, any young person. ''Come and join us''.

- Australian's always fuck with their theme tunes. I used to like it when Neighbours was a simple triple-time tune ''neighbours (du du du du) everybody needs good Neighbours'') then they jazzed it all up, adding Sax etc. We do not fuck with our themes. Corrie still has the exact same theme as does Eastenders. Emmerdale's was sexed up a bit but it is still largely the same. Fuckin Australians. Beat us at Cricket then fuck with our favourite themes. Cunts.

- Marilyn is a bit hot. Many a teenage boy in Britain wanked themselves silly to Marilyn - not me of course because I am not, a wanker (filthy habit old boy). But, so I have been told! Then she married Donald fuckin Fisher. Then she turned up in Emmerdale, Boycott country! Now she is back in Summer Bay and I suspect many a teenage boy will still be wanking themselves silly over her today

I've never actually watched an episode of Home and Away before but clearly this is what all British folk base their judgment of Australia on.

Gold!

My first piece of latex........

A skirt:

I suppose you don't need condoms anymore.

EDIT: Is that skirt short or above the knee? Can't tell from the photo.

It's 31cm long. If I wear it in the waist you pretty much get peeks of ass. So I'll be wearing it on the hips, obviously.

You have such good taste young lady

Thank you kindly, Mr Godber.

Len wears dresses like this at night when no one is looking

That's what you think

My first piece of latex........

A skirt:

Dress:

Dress:

Bag:

Sorry, but I couldn't own a pair of boots where the shaft is all nice and shiny but the vamp and counter are dull. Deal breaker for me. I would pull those babies out of the box and feel automatically compelled to polish them up.

Clean shoes are a must. On a related note, the cat scratched up my Wolverine 1000 miles the other night. I spent like an hour trying to buff that shit out. Little bitch.

Yeah, what a bitch.

Not sure whether to: or

Thoughts?

They're cool. My other half has the exact same pair. But the navy cotton shows dirt and dust very quickly. I keep wanting to clean them but then remember they're not my shoes. I have my own shoes to clean/polish/maintain. Priorities...........

So it turns out that I'm having a bridesmaid. Only one. I didn't want any, but realised that I'd need a few dull favours doing on the day so enlisted a reliable friend. I've decided to buy her a dress. The trouble I'm having is that she's a chunky girl, and doesn't have much of a 'shape'. She's a UK size 22, wedding season has passed and I can't find anything nice that is within my budget in her size! Aargh!

My budget is £40 max, I am almost past caring what colour it is! If anyone knows of any shops that stock that size, please link me up!

Asos have some nice options, hard to say what they'll look like on her without seeing her though http://www.asos.com/Women/Curve-Plus-Size/Dresses/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=9579#state=Rf-300%3D1993%40Rf-800%3D-1%2C40&parentID=Rf-800&pge=0&pgeSize=204&sort=3

I agree, I think asos do some fantastic pieces and the fact that they cater to 'plus' sizes, 'tall' and 'petite' is really great. I think they deserve success as they are genuinely catering to all types of women out there. I also think they offer incredible value. The quality is great and the prices are very low. It's generally my first port of call when I want something specific and I also often browse when I'm bored and end up finding something I love. I recently bought a dress on there that cost me A$31 (£16 including postage!) and it seriously looks like a similar dress from a designer store here that retails for A$380 (£204). The fabric is great, it wears well and I couldn't have even made it myself for that price.

Asos also sell higher priced brands too but I pretty much always shop from their own brand. I just don't see the need to spend more. The odd times I've actually bought something from another brand I've always had to alter it extensively to make it fit right so I don't see the point anymore. And asos brand just fits me so much better.

I also recently converted my manager at work who has been anti 'fast fashion' for a long time. She is really tall and has trouble buying clothes to fit her length. She kept seeing me come to work in something new every week and when I told her they did a 'tall' range she succumbed and BROWSED! The next thing she knew she had 3 dresses in the mail and when they arrived they fit her to a T. And each one like $50 a piece.

I think I need a loyalty and recruitment discount. C'mon asos, make that dirt cheap dress even cheaper.......considering your sales for the last year were just a fraction under £1 BILLION!!!!!

Just went shopping with birthday money, tried on seven different dresses and bought this http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/green-rose-v-neck-button-front-skater-dress-_321345449. It is primarily to wear on my 'hen do' (batchelorette party) which will be a very civilised dinner and drinks with five girlfriends. But I want something modest which I could wear in most situations.

Not had a green dress before. Think I'm going to wear it with vintage styled hair and makeup. Will also take me through winter and into summer again.

It's a lovely dress. Super cute.

Len, it's Dutch salted licorice.

Yes but I'm overworked as fuck at the moment and it never seems to end.

How many hours a week do you do?

Well its about 55 or so at the moment. That might not be a HUUUGE problem for some but when it's some time to travel ie. Over an hour each way, then it starts to eat into things especially given I'm studying at the moment too. It'll definitely be over 60 hours this week. It's annoying because it's been going like that for 4 months or so and we've never been given direction as to when it's gonna be all over regarding continuous improvement projects and the like.

I don't disagree with you there, and if they don't want to burn people out the management needs to be realistic as to what they can reasonably expect from their staff. But it's becoming fairly common these days so soon it will be standard to have that expectation regardless of whether you have to travel a long way or have to feed and organise kids when you get home, etc.

I still like the quilted ones, but finding them is a pain in the ass for me, and without being able to try one on in store, I'm sorta hesitant.

I wouldn't buy an expensive coat or jacket online either, there's too many aspects of fit that can be a problem. Unless it's a trusted brand and you know your size in that brand you're better paying a bit more in a store and knowing exactly what you're getting before you outlay that kind of money.

Yes but I'm overworked as fuck at the moment and it never seems to end.

How many hours a week do you do?

Lith is the resident watch expert, but I like it. Nice detail with the stitching and matching hand.

Get the watch, bag the hooray for tolerance jacket.

I still need a jacket though. Winter is coming. Any suggestions on one that would make it clear to the world that I put penis in vagina?

Barbour do some fucking awesome waxed jackets, not just the quilted ones. Unfortunately the only pics available are of models who definitely look like their penis is going into anything BUT vagina.

I'm American. Apparently I have no clue.

I meant men primarily, but I have spoken to women about how your sizes have gotten out of whack too. Like this one girl I work with says she used to be a 4 but now she's a 0 in a lot of brands when her body hasn't changed at all. And it's true, her body hasn't changed at all, I've looked closely.

Apparently it makes women feel oh so much better about themselves when they buy clothes and the number on the tiny little tag inside is as low as possible. What are they going to do in 10 years time when they want to do it again and the smallest size is already 0?

The same has happened here too. My measurements haven't changed in 20 years yet today I'm 3 sizes smaller than I was when I was 20.

Yeah, I have a Bambino. I wear it 3-4 days a week. Also bought a Tissot and a Lew & Huey. I'm liking the watch game.

I wear M shirts in the States too. That means I run into a length issue from time to time as I'm 6'2 with a long torso. Have to be careful not to shrink them at all when the fit off the rack.

Considering I just spent Sunday afternoon doing what I do Monday to Friday for a living, but for my own personal use and benefit, I definitely LOVE my job.

I just started working on an outfit for the races at the Melbourne Cup, horse racing carnival. Today was pattern making for the bodice. Still have to do the lower section and make a hat. I know exactly what I'm going to do, so it's just a matter of making it perfect.

In all truth, if I won the lottery tonight I would still get up and go to work tomorrow. Work is one of the most satisfying and important things in my life. It's not just about money, it's about personal satisfaction, accomplishment and divulging in my passion. In fact, the only thing that makes it 'work' is some of the numbskulls I have to work with. But the experience I'm gaining at someone else's expense is priceless IMO. AND I'm getting paid to do it.

I'll stick to my Levi's black denim jacket and CK leather jacket for the time being. Some of those jackets are nice, but they just aren't my style. I doubt that I could pull them off without looking like a hooray for tolerance.

You couldn't pull it off because you have no self confidence and are afraid to try anything different.

Kim! Harsh! Some of those jacket's no one but those models can pull off silly girl. xoxo

Edit: Double negative - no one but those... my grammar sucks. pfft, Still Kim, harsh on McCoy. Verbal Filter Girl!

Sorry Adrift, but I've spent so many pages in the McCoy Style and Advice thread (I think that thread hit 200 pages) giving that guy advice on what he should do to find a girl that might love and might love him for the long haul (along with many other regulars here) and we all came to the same conclusion: this guy doesn't want our help or advice, because he won't take it. He just wants everyone to focus on him and give him attention. We all gave up in the end. He started that thread with ultra insecure behaviour and wearing his Levi's, CK leather jacket and cowboy boots (which I have no problem with), but after nigh 200 pages he was still doing EXACTLY the same thing relationship-wise and still wearing his Levi's, leather jacket and cowboy boots. So I see and hear nothing new here. I guess I've become McCoy-cynical.

On topic: actually anyone who understands British style can easily pull off those jackets. I see jackets like that frequently here in Australia, I myself have 2. Mags will wear it with aplomb because he already gets that look. As would several other posters here. It's not generally a look that many Americans associate with because it is so different from the vernacular style of dressing in the US, but there are a few US brands (such as J Crew, Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren) who emulate that style rather well.

I'll stick to my Levi's black denim jacket and CK leather jacket for the time being. Some of those jackets are nice, but they just aren't my style. I doubt that I could pull them off without looking like a hooray for tolerance.

You couldn't pull it off because you have no self confidence and are afraid to try anything different.

Yeah, the key is to get on the echinacea as soon as the first hint of a symptom appears. Leave it half a day and it's too late. I was lucky, I felt the sore throat coming in the evening, whereas sometimes if you wake up with it it's already too late to stop it.

I really don't get why Barbour don't have an online shop and why they only sell within the UK? It's weird. It's really strange how some companies haven't got up to speed with the concept of worldwide shipping. Asos are selling Barbour but only within the UK.

I looked on the Barbour website and like this jacket the best from what they have currently:

Mags, I might be too late here but I like the third jacket and the last one. The second last one is just boring IMO.

I beat a cold last weekend. I felt a sore throat coming on, immediately took some echinacea drops, followed by tea with lemon and honey and gargled antiseptic mouthwash. Went to bed. Sore throat was still there the next day so I took the echinacea 3 times (morning, noon and evening) and drank a fair amount of water and by lunchtime the sore throat had gone and the usual symptoms of a runny nose, etc never eventuated. I've felt fine ever since.

Our system is completely different than most here, by the look of it. Three days a month ? I don't get that at all. We just stay at home when we're sick (except if we're selfemployed or a teacher), we get a note from the doctor, hand it in at work and still get paid. That could be no days or three or five months. Taking a day off is completely different than taking sick leave.

We don't need a note from a doctor either.

It's all about trust and respect.

My boss trusts that I'm staying home for a reason, and that I'm caught up on my work.

I don't think I'd work for a place that didn't have that level of respect between staff.

It's nothing to do with trust and respect. What happens when you are seriously ill and are off for several weeks or months even ? Or are you just talking about taking one day off ?

Exactly. The irony of that is that when someone is seriously ill is when they actually need the peace of mind that they still have an income to pay the bills (that don't go away when you're sick) and also a job to come back to when they have recovered. But weeks or months off is enough to make a small business in a struggling economy come undone. It's a different story in a corporate environment, but work for a small business and it's a different story.

Here in Australia we get 2 weeks of sick leave (for a full time employee) which is carried over from year to year if it is unused. All the more reason to not take days off unless you are actually sick. If you become seriously ill and need the time off then you have it. I'd much prefer to have that peace of mind than use the time doing inconsequential things that I will easily forget after the fact. One of my colleagues is currently battling bowel cancer but since she frequently took days off sick I doubt she has accrued enough to cover her over this period. Perhaps she has always been an unhealthy person, but it really makes you wonder, and is quite an eye opener.

Thank God for our system then. I have friends who had to battle cancer at a very young age, when they were in their 20s. No way could they have accrued enough in that time, having only graduated shortly before. I usually hate having to pay so much taxes when they're so badly used and I hate that some people abuse the system, but I'm quite proud to have such a social security system.

Social security systems are tricky though and geography is a major factor in why they vary a lot. When I lived in Singapore I paid 10% tax and it was a country with extremely high social provision. For instance, 90% of the population live in subsidised housing. That is extraordinary considering the amount of taxation they have. But it all comes down to geography, it is such a small country that they have very little expenditure on roads and infrastructure. By the same token, they also have little in terms of unemployment benefits and state provided higher education, because they believe that the family structure will provide those things. Anyway, look at Australia and as we are geographically so large and spread out we end up paying an exorbitant amount of our tax towards infrastructure (not to mention unemployment and education). I think the systems that have been in place in Europe in the post war era have been incredibly impressive, but unfortunately in the long term are not sustainable. I remember major protests in France after attempted changes to the standard working week. Globalisation is changing the face of everything, whether we like it or not.

If you don't like people using sick days they are entitled to, work in the US somewhere without sick leave, people will show up, sick or not. Enjoy working with them.

That's a major, major pet peeve of mine. I tell my coworkers, if you're sick stay the hell home. Don't come into work infecting everyone else.

I'm one of those people who comes in no matter what is ailing me. I've taken 1 sick day at my current job in the last 5 years.

I have 5 weeks PTO (paid time off) that can be used as personal/sick/vacation days. My mindset is that I'm not using my time off to lay in bed if I can get up and drive myself to work. At my previous job we were given a certain amount of actual sick days that we could carry over every year if unused. I was more apt to call in sick at my prior job because of that, and even then I rarely took the time off. I've gone to work with bronchitis, fevers, nausea, etc. I'm not looking to infect anyone and I'll warn people to stay away.

It's not just all about not wanting to take the days off, it's also about having a strong work ethic. I have a job that needs to get done, and yes, there are people who can cover my desk and assist with a few things while I'm out, but no one does my job the way I do. That's how I feel anyway. I'd rather give it my best 50% on my worst days than not give anything at all if I can help it.

My employer's time off policy is similar, 35 paid days that includes vacation/sick days/mandatory holidays. I completely understand why you'd prefer to use your paid days off for something fun or for an obligation rather than to just lie in bed all day sick, but don't you understand how selfish that is to put coworkers at risk just because you don't want to use up your paid time off days?

Unless you are the only person stationed in your room at work, and nobody has to go in the room you're stationed, and you have a private copier/printer/bathroom, and you don't go in any other room in the building, and you don't touch any door handle that other employees have to touch, and you don't touch any keyboards that anyone else has to touch, you WILL be spreading viruses to coworkers. It is the worst feeling to be forced to work in a room with a sick coworker, trapped in an area where you're forced to breathe air that has been filled with germs from constant sneezing and coughing while being forced to touch things that have been touched by the hands of an ill worker.

And how productive do you think you really are when you're sick? It no doubt takes twice as long to do your work while sick, with a much higher probability of errors. And you do realize that you're not gaining anything by dragging yourself into work, because your illness is likely to last much longer by doing so. If you were to stay home and get the rest, meds and treatment required to get better, you're likely to recover much faster. So what's better: 3-5 consecutive days at 50%, or one day of missed work and then you're back to nearly 100%?

We usually agree on many things, but I can't disagree with you more on this subject.

Do you sterilise all the money you handle? Do you wash your hands immediately after touching ANYTHING in a public place? Do you hold your breath or not inhale when you are on public transport, or waiting in a queue at a shop/bank.......because in all seriousness that is what you would have to do to properly avoid contracting a cold infection. Your work colleagues comprise only a relatively small number of people that you come into contact with on a daily basis. And really, it's a cold, not mad cow disease or SARS.

I lived in Singapore during the outbreak of SARS and I didn't change one thing I did. Despite the hysteria that was breaking out around the world there was really very little to be alarmed about. I flew on aeroplanes frequently at the time and the airport had installed some heavy duty temperature sensors that every passenger had to pass through. If a passenger registered a temperature they were monitored for cause of that temperature before being allowed into the general community. Basically, there was no drama, no mass death toll. No one was hibernating at home. They just went about their business and heeded good hygiene which is common sense.

Our system is completely different than most here, by the look of it. Three days a month ? I don't get that at all. We just stay at home when we're sick (except if we're selfemployed or a teacher), we get a note from the doctor, hand it in at work and still get paid. That could be no days or three or five months. Taking a day off is completely different than taking sick leave.

We don't need a note from a doctor either.

It's all about trust and respect.

My boss trusts that I'm staying home for a reason, and that I'm caught up on my work.

I don't think I'd work for a place that didn't have that level of respect between staff.

It's nothing to do with trust and respect. What happens when you are seriously ill and are off for several weeks or months even ? Or are you just talking about taking one day off ?

Exactly. The irony of that is that when someone is seriously ill is when they actually need the peace of mind that they still have an income to pay the bills (that don't go away when you're sick) and also a job to come back to when they have recovered. But weeks or months off is enough to make a small business in a struggling economy come undone. It's a different story in a corporate environment, but work for a small business and it's a different story.

Here in Australia we get 2 weeks of sick leave (for a full time employee) which is carried over from year to year if it is unused. All the more reason to not take days off unless you are actually sick. If you become seriously ill and need the time off then you have it. I'd much prefer to have that peace of mind than use the time doing inconsequential things that I will easily forget after the fact. One of my colleagues is currently battling bowel cancer but since she frequently took days off sick I doubt she has accrued enough to cover her over this period. Perhaps she has always been an unhealthy person, but it really makes you wonder, and is quite an eye opener.