Love and Other Drugs

Some things simply remain anchored in your memory - like Jake Gyllenhaal as Jack Twist in Brokeback Mountain.

Perhaps now as Jamie Randall, a salesman and notorious ladies man, he will be able to break away from that (some would say) controversial role.

Jamie has found that he can sell anything to anyone, that is until he meets his match in Maggie Murdoch (Anne Hathaway) who just isn't buying.

Love and Other Drugs will come to Australia on December 16 so make a date with a best friend. I suppose this would qualify as a chick flick...

All I want for Christmas ...

I am torn.

It was going to be a boring Christmas in Bangkok, where the new year is a blast but Christmas is more of a food & beverage extravaganza at the cirty's hotels and eateries.

Then I bit the bullet and decided to remain a tad longer in Perth, to spend the Yuletide holidays with my darling Aimee, who is doing her darndest to make sure I have a great Christmas.

Then my much-loved Allan asks me to spend Christmas with him in Singapore! He has decided to escape the drudgery of Dubai to visit Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

I so would love to see him - haven't done so since March! And he too spoils me rotten.

But to fork out more than $1,000 for a five-day trip is just obscene, even if I'm not the one doing the paying.

*sigh*

So, it's Perth for Christmas, with Aimee and a house decorated to the rafters - and I know I will enjoy every minute, even though half of me will be in Singapore in spirit.

All I really want for Christmas is to have both my children with me ....

Who is the Westfield Insider?

If Westfield has its way, before too long Alyce will be a household word when it comes to retail therapy. This lucky duck is the Westfield Insider, a plum $100,000-a-year role to entice shoppers of all ages to make Westfield their second home.

What makes a good shopper? Sniffing out the best deals, making the most of our shopping dollars, and mixing and matching - turning ordinary pieces into memorable ensembles.

Anything else?

"I Spy - Letter "K" - The Natural Confectionery Co.'

Harley-Davidson: Judgement Day

There's something about a Harley that just turns grown men into little boys with their big toys...

Who would have thought that this motorcycle manufacturer, which was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the early years of the 20th century (just a bit of trivia), survived the Great Depression and withstood a barrage of competition from those competitive Japanese, would evolve into a household name and the dream ride for countless men of all ages?

Well, if you have always aspired to own one, now's your chance ..... and it may not cost you a cent.

Over 48 days, 58 Harley dealers will customise 48 new forty-eight bikes. You get to choose the best bike. The 49th day will be Judgement Day, when the winner of a new forty-eight will be announced.

Oh yes, and it's fair game for everyone, men and women alike. Go for it!

Of naked figs and Sundays sunny side up...

Perth is just the place for a lazy Sunday breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Imagine seated on a verandah on a sun-swept day with splendid views of the open sea, waves churning away creating the perfect conditions for avid wind-surfers.

And minutes later, the most eye-pleasing palate tempters being placed on the table in front of you by a naked (not nude) figger.

The place? The Naked Fig by the sea in Swanbourne.

Families with children scampering about on the restaurant's lawns, couples, mates - they were all there, many for a late breakfast and many more (like us) for lunch.

It was my first visit and I found it all so pleasant - from the ambience, to the food (worth writing home about), to the friendly staff, who really looked like they enjoyed being there.

Stu opted for (surprise surprise) a steak sandwich, Aimee had the Poor Boy salad and moi pigged out on a blue cheese tart with salad, PLUS potatoes with chorizos (the name escapes me).

To wash it all down, I (with Stu's help) thoroughly enjoyed a bottle of Amberley sauvignon blanc.

Next time you're in Perth (or if you are in Perth, the next time you fancy a meal out), head on over to the Naked Fig or one of its other two sister restaurants - also named after the cheeky fig.

Becoming the Westfield Insider

Alyce Cowell must be in seventh heaven in her new role as the Westfield Insider, who is also supposed to be Australia's savviest shopper.

That's all well and good, and it is always nice to see someone rewarded or do well.

She is obviously in for the ride of her life and if she is truly savvy, she will make the most of this one year. Memories galore just waiting to be cherished.

Well done Alyce. You go girl....

Who is the Westfield Insider?

After a hectic journey and the help of voters, Westfield now has its own Insider.

Alyce Cowell beat a field of 1,400 contestants and nudged out the other two finalists, Brooke and Samnang, for this plush role that will rake in $100,000 for the year. And one can hardly call it a job - more like being paid for a passion. Lucky lucky girl.

See What You Love, Love What You See

I love Australia.

They do so many clever things here - plus the weather is wonderful, food is fantastic, the wines are "constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy", and the people are a potpourri of characters and moods from around the world.

Imagine turning a simple attempt to get people to get eye tests into a feel-good video clip using blimps and people of all ages with great smiles on their dials. The mood is so Australian.

Good on ya OPSM.

Be Part of the New York City Seen

I love perfumes and body scents. In fact, we women (or most of we women) love collecting pretty bottles filled with scents that have been created to tantalise, tease, torment ... or simply help us smell nice.

I have lovely Diors, Oscar de la Renta, Chanel that I actually acquired while shopping at Bloomingdales and Macy's in New York more than 10 years ago. And they still smell soooo good.

At first glance, "Be Part of the New York City Seen" is a typical girl meets boy girl likes boy etc etc. But, as the makers planned, it is a rather clever way to promote .... fragrances?? Playboy fragrances, for him and her, to be exact.


Hmmmmmm.... got to go. More scents to savour.

'Mattessons Fridge Raiders Interactive Free Running YouTube Game'

What on earth is in the case? Perhaps some of Mattesons concoctions, like Cajun jambalaya? Must be pretty ravenous to go to these lengths or Mattesons must truly be yummy.

I thought this was pretty clever, to get younger people interested in a brand, why not create a game?

So go for it guys....

Hackers should get a life

You hear about them, you watch movies about them, you read about them and the worms and viruses they spitefully unleash on the cyber world, you may have idle chatter with friends about them. But you never for a single moment believe that you would be a target for them.

Darn hackers - movies usually depict these nerds bent over a keyboard, obsessively click click clicking away, accessing the most restricted sites, emptying bank accounts, setting in motion chains of events that could end in catastrophes and, sometimes in real life do.

Is anyone safe from these single-minded soulless beings?

Certainly not I, as I have been hacked.

More precisely, my gmail and Facebook accounts. Gmail contained lots of personal contact with family and friends but nothing of importance to anyone but me. Facebook had all my games, which I have labored hard to get to the levels I am at!!!! LOL

It was here in the morning and gone in the evening.

I was baffled and just kept trying to log in to FB, which kept telling me "this email address is not linked to any account....." So, I tried gmail and, heck, it told me either username or password was wrong.

Then it hit me (yes, I can be a tad slow at (rare) times). A bloody hacker has done this.

Two days later, I reclaimed my gmail account. By the way, IDs etc are not proof of ownership of the account; you have to prove you are the rightful owner by providing information about your account e.g. frequently used email addresses (because they come up as soon as you key in a few letters, we tend to become lazy about remembering them or storing them away in a pin dot of our brain).

All this happened on November 2. To date, Facebook has yet to give me back my account, which is really frustrating. My crops have died, my food is spoilt, I have failed to complete missions. A total disaster.

Come on Facebook, get your act together and give me back what is mine and mine alone.

As for those darn hackers, I wish they would get a life and let us get on with ours.