Writing a blog

Writing content for blogs can be time consuming but also rewarding, unfortunately, we have had an extremely difficult year personally, so I have not put a lot of time into my blog or any of my ventures.

I have however been writing an absolute ton of blog posts for our main business, Central Avenue Homes.

We have just renewed our website and created a new logo, so to get things moving, I have been creating blog posts for our new website.

Hopefully, our new website will be up and running fully in the very near future, so I can concentrate on this blog.

Please check out our new website and logo and let me know what you think..

Reliable Custom Home Builder in Perth

I’ve also spent a fair bit of time on Pinterest creating boards for our clients and other people who might find inspiration for decorating or when designing their new come.

 

Casual Friday

Some companies allow employees to wear casual dress on Fridays. While not all companies allow it, it is becoming a growing trend.

If your workplace offers casual Friday, it can be something to look forward to at the end of the week. Not knowing what to wear and how to dress for it can sometimes make it more of a headache than a bonus.

If an outfit is something you would wear to the beach or an outfit that you would wear to a night club is something that would not necessarily be considered suitable to wear to the office. Leggings without a long top covering your bottom is NOT acceptable  as a work outfit.

 Some Ideas

• Read your employment agreement or company policies to find out what is and isn’t acceptable attire for casual Friday. Follow the guidelines closely, you don’t want to risk your reputation or your job on something as trivial as the clothing that you wear.
•  Ask other workers for some ideas of what they wear, especially someone who has worked for the company for a reasonable length of time
•  It’s a good idea to stay professional and respectful even if it’s casual Friday. You don’t want to dress too casual, however, you can wear less formal clothes, but you still want to retain a level of professionalism.
• Most companies will allow jeans and T shirts, and generally both men and women care wear these items and still look professional. You can also choose a casual skirt, however ensure that you don’t wear anything shorter than an 2.5cm or an inch above the knee. Ballet flats or low heels are also always considered appropriate. Men don’t necessarily have to Tuck their shirts in, as even a nice looking T shirt can look neat and tidy, shoes should always be worn by men, NOT thongs, loafers, deckies (deck shoes) or lace up leather shoes, even a decent pair of joggers can look professional, but leave the old rotten joggers at home.
• If there is ever a possibility to be called in to meet a client or attend a business meeting, ensure that you keep a change of outfit suitable for the occasion, eg. Swap the t shirt with a blouse, and even a pair of jeans can look professional and if you do need to change clothes for whatever other reason, you will be prepared by bringing corporate / professional clothes to change into in an emergency.

A Capsule Wardrobing is fantastic for travel packing.

Packing for travel can be a nightmare.

Using a Capsule Wardrobe is fantastic for travel packing and once you’ve traveled with a capsule wardrobe, you will never go back.

Capsule wardrobe Courtesy Polyvore.

Follow these simple guidelines to create a simple travel capsule wardrobe.

Always try to chose neutral colours in both tops and bottoms, sort the bottoms first as they are the easiest to work with. When selecting your capsule items,  ensure that each item you chose goes with every other item, eg. ever bottom must go with every top, that way you can maximise the amount of outfits that you can create.

When choosing accessories, ensure that all pieces that you select will go with each top, this also maximizes the use of each item.

Depending on the type of travel you are doing, if you have any formal outings planned, ensure that you include at least 1 pair of evening bottoms either a skirt or trousers and a pair of shoes suitable for evening wear.  Even T-shirts can be dressed up to be worn for an evening function with lovely scarves and costume jewellery.

Just with this simple capsule wardrobe , there are 56 basic outfits, add the accessories, tie the scarves differently and you can create a multitude of outfits.

I recently spent a week in Thailand, and for the first time, I followed my own rules and packed a capsule wardrobe.

The girls decided that we wanted to dress up for dinner each night, so my simple answer was to take a black top and 3/4 pants, each night I was able to wear the same top and pants and rinse them after dinner each night, and to make the outfit different for each night I changed my accessories, I made sure that each of the necklaces was a long one, the length of the necklace is the thing that makes the difference, they were bold and all different colours, I also included drop earrings and bangles to complete the accessories.

 

 

 

No sleeves in ladies tops?? What to wear to cover up

A question I am often asked, is “Why do shops sell ladies tops and dressessleeveless?”

I believe that the reason they do this is to save money. I am sure that ladies would quite happily pay a little more to have sleeves in their dresses or tops.

Unfortunately, as we age, gravity steps in and all of our lovely taught bits DROP, including our arms.  We all tend to want to cover up the tops of our arms as we are no longer happy to show them off.

There are some beautiful sleeveless tops that most older (mature) women will not buy just because there are no sleeves in them.

Picture Courtesy of Polyvore

There are not an awful lot of options to cover up ladies arms. Shrugs, sheer or mesh blouses, mesh Tshirts, and little short sleeve cardigans

Picture Courtesy of Polyvore

When will manufacturers and suppliers change their thinking about what the consumers want?

When I have a sleeveless top, I will generally wear a shrug, little bolero or a mesh wrap, I would love to go without, but unfortunately, gravity has affected me as well.

Picture Courtesy of Polyvore

It is important that only you decide what you wear and at what age — it is an individual decision about what is comfortable for you and whether you like the look. Of course, we should all have a comfortable relationship with our bodies and let it have some freedom to be what is. There’s nothing wrong with being a little critical and in control when it comes to showing off your bits.

 

Here are some tips for wearing tanks or sleeveless tops if you don’t want to show them off

 

1. If you have to wear a sleeveless top or dress – make sure it is to die for — wrap a beautiful, silky scarf around your shoulders.
2. Layer, layer, layer, wear a meshy or transparent stretchy shirt with sleeves under the dress or top, (the only negative with this is that it looks as though you have worn a shirt underneath as a last minute thought.
3.Wear a chiffon or sheer blouse open and over the top of the dress or top
4.Wear a short sleeve cardigan that you can just hang casually over your shoulders if it gets too warm.
5.Wear a bolero

 

Don’t forget that when you are adding a cover for your arms that you are wearing the colour some where else otherwise there is nothing to anchor the colour and it will just look as though you have thrown it on without any thought to what you are wearing.

 

 

Today’s funny Tuesday 20th August 2013

A woman goes to the Doctor in Glasgow, worried about her husband’s temper and threatening manner.

The Doc asks: “What’s the problem, Janet?”

The woman says: “Weeell Doctor Cameron, I dinae know what to do. Every time ma hubbie comes home drunk, he threatens to slap me aroon’.”

The Doctor says: “Aye, well… I have a real good cure for that. When your husband arrives home intoxicated, just take a wee glass of water and start swishing it in your mouth. Just swish and swish but don’t swallow it until he goes to bed and is sound asleep.”

Two weeks later she comes back to the doctor looking fresh and reborn. She says: “Doctor that was brilliant! Evrae time ma hubbie came home drunk, I swished with water. I swished an’ swished, and he didnae touch me even once! Tell me Doc…wha’s the secret? How’s the water do that?”

The Doctor says: “Janet, it’s really nae big secret. The water does bugger all – it’s keeping your mouth shut that does the trick…”

 

Today’s funny Saturday 17th August 2013

2 bin bags

A little old lady is walking down the street dragging two large plastic bin bags behind her.

One of the bags rips, and every once in a while a £20 bill falls out onto the sidewalk.

Noticing this, a policeman stops her, and says, ‘Ma’am, there are £20 bills falling out of your bag.’

‘Oh, really? Deary me!’ says the little old lady. ‘I’d better go back, and see if I can find them. Thanks for telling me…’

‘Well, now, not so fast,’ says the cop. ‘How did you get all that money? You didn’t steal it, did you?’

‘Oh, no’, says the little old lady.

‘You see, my back yard is right next to the football stadium car parking.

On game days, a lot of fans come and pee through the fence into my flower garden.

So, I stand behind the fence with my hedge clippers.

Each time some guy sticks his thing through the fence, I say, ‘£20 or off it comes.’

‘Well, that seems only fair.’ laughs the cop. ‘OK? Good luck! Oh, by the way, what’s in the other bag?’

‘Well, you know’, says the little old lady, ‘not everybody pays.’

 

How to wear the Feminine Trench

Trench coats can be very feminine, the shape, colour and fit can all make a  difference.

Who says that trench coats need to be tan or black.

.

A trench worn over a pair of black leggings can make a very feminine outftit, take the trench off and if you have a decent length top over the leggings, and you have another outfit.

Ways to dress up a ladies trench.

Dress up a pair of jeans . One simple way to wear a trench coat is over jeans and a T-shirt. However, you should consider the length of your trench  Knee-length women’s trench coats look great with jeans, but if you wear heels or boots with a longer trench coat it will help you look taller. If you are petite, trench coats that fall past your knees will overshadow your body and make you look even shorter.

Spruce up a dress. Dresses, with slim, straight lines, will benefit from a trench with a belt, it will add shape. You can wear a cropped or shorter trench with your dress, but you will need to wear heels or boots to elongate your body.

Wear a trench over a knit dress. Ladies’ trench coats can look stuffy and formal if worn over straight fabrics. To mix things up a bit, layer a belted trench over a knee-length knit dress, tights or leggings and boots and wear it open. The contrasting textures will look fabulous together.

Show off your skirt. A pencil skirt and dressy feminine blouse creates a feminine touch of style with a ladies’ trench that falls to or just above the hem of the skirt. Add heels and elegant jewellery to the outfit and you’ll look stunning for either a day at the office or an evening out with friends. You can also wear a belted trench coat over a fuller skirt and heels.

Make your trench look more casual. To avoid making your ladies’ trench look so formal, wear it over lightweight pants, a shirt, with a cardigan and flats or ankle boots and a colourful scarf.

Today’s Funny Friday 9th August 2013

Subject: Fw: The Hypnotist at a Senior Home
The Hypnotist at a Senior Home
It was entertainment night at the senior citizens’ center.

After the community sing along led by Alice at the piano, it was time for the star of the show- Claude the Hypnotist!

Claude explained that he was going to put the whole audience into a trance.

“Yes, each and every one of you and all at the same time.” said Claude.

The excited chatter dropped to silence as Claude carefully withdrew from his waistcoat pocket; a beautiful antique gold pocket watch and chain.

“I want you to keep your eyes on this watch” said Claude, holding the watch high for all to see.

“It is a very special and valuable watch that has been in my family for six generations” said Claude.

He began to swing the watch gently back and forth while quietly chanting

“Watch the watch — Watch the watch —-Watch the watch”

The audience became mesmerized as the watch swayed back and forth.

The lights were twinkling as they were reflected from its gleaming surfaces.

A hundred and fifty pairs of eyes followed the movements of the gently swaying watch.

They were hypnotized.

And then, suddenly, the chain broke!!!

The beautiful watch fell to the stage and burst apart on impact”

“SHIT” said Claude.

It took them three days to clean the Senior Citizens ‘ Center and Claude was never invited there again.

 

Today’s funny Sunday 28th July 2013

A fart it is a  pleasant thing, It gives the belly ease,
It warms the bed  in winter,  And suffocates  the fleas.
A fart can be  quiet, A fart can be  loud,
Some leave a  powerful, Poisonous cloud
A fart can be  short, Or a fart can be  long,
Some farts have  been known to sound like a  song……
A fart can create  A most curious  medley,
A fart can be  harmless, Or silent , and  deadly.
A fart might not  smell, While others are  vile,
A fart may pass  quickly, Or linger a  while……
A fart can occur  In a number of  places,
And leave every  one there, With strange  looks on their faces.
From wide-open  prairie, To small  elevators,
A fart will find  all of Us sooner or  later.
But farts are all  bad, Is simply not  true-
We must never  forget……. Sweet old farts  like you!

 

NOT SO FUNNY – I had a sod of a day – MYOB SUPPORT WORSE THAN USELESS

To say I had a sod of a day is putting it extremely politely. in fact, I had a sod of a week. First thing Monday morning 3.55am

first i ws trying to do the payment summaries for the staff (group certificates) and after printing them all creating the disc to go to the tax department i started to fold them ready for the envelopes when I found that there was NO tax paid showing on the form.

I just bout spat!!

What do I do now? so I logged on to the MYOB help chat line that I have paid over $7oo for in May 2013 only to find a message on the side of the screen about NO TOTAL TAX WITHHELD ON PAYMENT SUMMARIES.

THE SCREEN HAS CHANGED TODAY AND THEY HAVE ADDED MORE MISSING INFO!!!  WOULDN’T YOU THINK SOMEONE WOULD CHECK THE PROGRAM BEFORE LOADING IT ESPECIALLY AT THIS BUSY TIME OF YEAR

BLOODY USELESS

Following is my chat with the support people yesterday, please excuse all spelling and typos as the longer this went on the angrier I was getting. I was actually on the chat for over 2 1/2 hours waiting and still my problem was not sorted. I have logged on to the chat again today, as the instructions in link that they suggest does NOT EXIST!!!

Bottom line, we will NO LONGER be using myob, I have spoken to my accountant this morning after all of this and he said that they get so many complaints about myob

Rany: Hi, my name is Rany. How may I help you?
Lee Grainger: i REPORTED LAST jULY THAT the information required to complete the subcontractor info for the tax file required names, addresses, phones #’s etc, and i right in assuming that this has not been added to the report by MYOB, i have printed it out and it is a waste of time as it doesn’t have the info required to complete the forms?
Lee Grainger: Are you there?
Rany: do you have active cover
Lee Grainger: yes
Lee Grainger: Serial # 616075670172
Rany: have you received your compliance update
Lee Grainger: yes, my computer (IT) guy said he loaded it on Tuesday evening
Lee Grainger: ARE YOU THERE?
Lee Grainger: ARE YOU THERE?
Rany: i will need to transfer you to support
Rany has disconnected.
Rav: Hi, my name is Rav. How may I help you?
Rav: How can i help you lee?
Lee Grainger: i REPORTED LAST jULY THAT the information required to complete the subcontractor info for the tax file required names, addresses, phones #’s etc, and i right in assuming that this has not been added to the report by MYOB, i have printed it out and it is a waste of time as it doesn’t have the info required to complete the forms?
Lee Grainger: Are you there?
Rany: do you have active cover
Lee Grainger: yes
Lee Grainger: Serial # 616075670172
Rany: have you received your compliance update
Lee Grainger: yes, my computer (IT) guy said he loaded it on Tuesday evening
Lee Grainger: ARE YOU THERE?
Lee Grainger: ARE YOU THERE?
Rany: i will need to transfer you to support
Rany has disconnected.
Rav: Hi, my name is Rav. How may I help you?
i REPORTED LAST jULY THAT the information required to complete the subcontractor info for the tax file required names, addresses, phones #’s etc, and i right in assuming that this has not been added to the report by MYOB, i have printed it out and it is a waste of time as it doesn’t have the info required to complete the forms?
Lee Grainger: Has this info been added? it doesn’t appear to have changed
Rav: Okay. Now from the past conversation, i could make out that:
1. you need to make contractor payments
2.Need steps to be able to do so
correct?
Lee Grainger: I have followed the steps in MYOB, the problem is the form that i have printed does not included the infor required, it only show subcontractor name, ABN Gross amount paid and total GST has the info re the phone # addresses Contact name been added?
Rav: Yes, you just need to tick the bos that says contractor payments in the old version from the card files and then upgrade to the latest version
Rav: http://myobaustralia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/35247/kw/contractor%20payments
Lee Grainger: i don’t know what you mean!
Rav: Please follow the link and it should better guide you with step by step instructions
Rav: was there anything else i can help you with?
Lee Grainger: don;t log off yet as it is not sorted
Rav: Sorry i cant stay on for any longer, please have a read through the support note and if you still experience problems, do feel free to contact us
Rav has disconnected.

I have logged on again this morning for a chat, I waited for 10 minutes until I was chatting, I explained to him my experience from yesterday, i had to ask twice was he there, this was after 40 minutes.

He then said after all this time that he would have to transfer me to his technical people, and I am still waiting. at 9.09am.

At 9.15am Libby came on the line!

Well funny that, they sent me the wrong link!!!

she sent me the correct link, however that link is not going to help either!! Are these people DUMB!!!

Well this didn’t end well, read below

 
Libby (Listening)
Trending Topics
Preparing and printing payment summaries

Compliance Update – PAYG Tax Tables

No Total Tax Withheld on payment summaries

End of payroll year guide

Downloading updates from my.MYOB

Chris: Hi, my name is Chris. How may I help you?
Lee Grainger: Hello my serial # is 616075670172, please advise what the correct update 3 should be, i was on the chat for hours yesterday trying to sort a problem and it was not helped
Lee Grainger: are you there?
Chris: Hi sorry i was just looking at your account
Chris: Have you been sent the download link for 19.9?
Lee Grainger: yes and it has been upgraded, the problem is that none of the information has been updated in regards to the taxable payments, i had already done all of the info last year and printed the report early last year as i knew it was going to be an issue, however the report does not appear to have changed, i went on the link sent by the last fellow yesterday and the button to click is not on the reports screen, Furhter when i click on the supplier to record taxable payments the noted – link states that another box will come up click yes if you want to !!! this box does not come up.
Chris: Ok Lee, Im going to transfer this chat to my technical team, so we can get this resolved for you today.
Lee Grainger: thanks
Chris has disconnected.
Libby: Hi, my name is Libby. How may I help you?
Lee Grainger: can you please read this file, i don’t want to have to go through it all again,
Libby: Sure can, won’t be long 🙂
Libby: What link were you sent yesterday? Just so I am on the same page.
Lee Grainger: http://myobaustralia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/35247/kw/contractor%20payments
Libby: Can I please get you to go up to the Help menu > About AccountRight and tell me which version you are on, just to double check.
Lee Grainger: 19.9
Libby: Im really sorry you were sent the wrong support note http://myobaustralia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/34312/kw/Reporting%20of%20taxable%20payments%20v19.9 this is the correct one. Can you give this a go while I am on here to see if it solves the problem, please.
Lee Grainger: trying it now
Libby: Thanks
Lee Grainger: I have already done all of this fact sheet, as i have already explained i had done this early last year, the problem is not generating the report or adding the contractors, the problem is that the information that is printed on the report is NOT SUFFICIENT to complete the forms provided by the tax department, all that shows on the report is the ABN, supplier name, gross amount paid and total gst , the form requires PHONE # address contact name etc. MY PROBLEM IS THAT I ADVISED MYOB LAST YEAR IN JULY 2012 THAT THIS INFO IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE FORM, as the report is currently it is an absolute waste of time as i have to go back into the program to get the info required, surely it wouldn[t have taken 5 minutes to add the required info to the form, it is a data base ?
Libby: Ok one moment I am bringing the report up to see if we can customise it.
Libby: Sorry you can not customise it you will have to go back to the software to do that or print a report for the supplier with this information on it.
Lee Grainger: Please advise me how I cancel my subscription and get a refund of the money paid, I don;t think i can continue to use MYOB if I have to do most of the reports by hand?
Libby: I will just talk to my TL.
Libby: Do you have something form the ato to say this is required because it it was required we would have put it in the form.
Lee Grainger: You are Joking right?
Lee Grainger: The form asks for payees ABN, PAYEES NAME, SURNAME OR FAMILY NAME, PAYEES ADDRESS SUBURB TERRITORY POSTCODE TAX WITHHELD WHERE ABN WAS NOT QUOTED,
Lee Grainger: SORRY IS MISSED OUT ON PHONE #
Libby: Ok am just checking on somethings for you to get this solved wont be long.
Libby: Are you registered with the ATO for a business portal?
Lee Grainger: no
Lee Grainger: we tried to set it up but our server system made it too difficult
Libby: If we were then you would be able to upload the file straight to them, the file is different to the form. The form is designed for your record and you can use it to help you fill out the form.
Lee Grainger: but it doesn’t help as it doesn’t give enough information, it seems as though MYOB are trying to put the blame on me because i don’t have a portal to the ato!! not good enough, not everybody has a portal to the ato!!
Libby: No we aren’t trying to put the blame on you, I was just explain that you can do that.
Lee Grainger: so are you able to help? or can i get someone to tell me how to get the refund on the support so i can cancel,
Libby: I will jsut see about the refund for you.
Lee Grainger: thankyou

Libby: Wont be long.
Libby: I have talked to my team leader and I am sorry but we can not give you a refund because the system allows you to upload the file and the one that is printed out is for your record and the form that is printed out is for information purposes and will not provide all information to complete the required form you are talking about.
Lee Grainger: thanks for nothing, please note i am going to the media on this as what you say is just ludicrous
Lee Grainger: i should be entitled to the rest of the support not used until May 2014
Libby: I’m sorry you didn’t get the answer you wanted today but I have done as much as I can to help you. I can provide you with a report to print off to get that extra information if you like?
Lee Grainger: yes please
Libby: If you go to Reports > Card > Address that report will give that information. You can customise it and only show the people that you need.
Lee Grainger: so what you are saying is that i have to go through my list of 1000’s of suppliers, subcontractors etc to find the correct ones, tick the box to create the report
Lee Grainger: that list shows, customers, employees as well.
Libby: The other option create the taxable payments file and open it in note pad, it is quite hard to ready that way.
Lee Grainger: please find our about the refund for the additional support to 2014, i want to have a clear answer before i go to consumer protection.
Libby: Sure thing.
Libby: Will find out now for you.
Libby: We can refund you but if we do you will need to go back to v19.7
Lee Grainger: i will speak to my accountant, he wants us to move from myob anyway, so i will contact the support team again after i have spoken to him