"Inspiring Journeys"

Holidays are different things to different people ....

There is the do-nothing-but-sip-cocktails-by-the-poolside holiday. Shop-shop-shop-till-you-drop holiday. Snap-snap-snap-thanking-whoever-invented-digital-cameras holiday. Eat-like-a-pig holiday. A combination of some/any/or all of the above holiday.

How about a Getting-to-know-your-inner-self holiday? Or an Eat-pray-love holiday.

Then there's the Oh-Gosh-do-we-have-to-meet-ALL-the-rellies holiday.

Hopefully-I-won't-break-my-leg adventure holiday.

Let's-get-to-know-the-natives holiday.

What else? Heaps but that's enough for now.

If you have done the eat/shop/drink till you drop vacation, want another experience but don't quite know how to go about it (because you are too busy - read: maybe even lazy? - to Google it), I say go with the experts.

Travel Corporation has launched a new brand, Inspiring Journeys, that apparently specialises in small group experiential touring in Australia.

This clip is not your average book-with-us-coz-we're-so-darn-good kind of ad. Is it clever? Not too shabby actually...

Bottom line is, you will most probably get the advice and help you need to create your holiday of a lifetime... so, no harm in giving them a go.

Rice Krispies Recipes

It all must be part of the big Kellogg's master plan...

Creating a cereal that appeals to children is all part and parcel of the business. But create a cereal that, with the wave of Mum's invisible magic wand, becomes a really yummy confection... well, that is a great way of making sure those boxes empty out quickly

Corn flakes, coco pops, rice krispies - all make rather more-ish sweets that even the big kids in all of us love.

For the children, well, what can be more fun than getting all gooey helping your yummy mummy bake.

Here's Kellogg's latest recipe for ankle biters and mums who don't mind cleaning up.

It's their version of putting some snap and crackle into Pop art and promises to be fun fun fun as they have a go at making mum's face.... or better still, dad's face.

All you will need is a box of Kelloggs Rice Krispies and your imagination. But to get you started, why not try raisins for freckles and moles, bootlace sweets for the hair, round dolly mixtures for coloured eyes, and little marshmallows or sliced almonds for big toothy grins.

You will need:
45g butter or margarine
300g (about 40) marshmallows
180g Kelloggs Rice Krispies
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
Assorted sprinkles/sweets/dried fruits/nuts

Put the butter in a large saucepan and melt over a low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until the mixture is completely melted, then remove from the heat. Next add the Rice Krispies and the vanilla and stir until well coated. Shape your mixture however you like to make some great faces. Try cutting out circles with a shape cutter or mug, or get creative with your hands. Decorate the face with whatever you fancy.

For more recipe ideas, pop into http://www.kelloggs.co.uk/whatson/ricekrispies/

have fun!

I AM BACK

Hello Blog,

Long time no see....

Are you like me? Stop doing something for a while and it's a bugger getting into the swing of things again.

Well, I am back and, hopefully, a tad inspired.

My baby girl got married, so that is definitely something to rave about.

I got to spend time with my son and daughter AT THE SAME TIME, which is the first time in a long time since I have had that pleasure. *Sigh* but they have gone back to their lives in Dubai and Perth, respectively, so have to count sleeps till I see one of them again.

Bangkok is not the place I want to be right now. While many rave about the country's first woman prime minister (and perhaps that is a good thing for the status of women in this country), I wonder ... is there any Bangkok-based foreign news journalist with the guts to ask the hard questions? to get to the real issues at stake and to give an unbiased account of them?

For Thai reporters with a smidge of ethics, life is even harder. Yes, yes, there are many who openly support the government for its policies or lack of them. But if you even dare to ask the hard questions, beware. I feel for the Channel 7 woman reporter who dared to ask a question of the PM for which she could get no answer. The fallout left her positively quaking. Implied threats from the brazen red shirts, the call for the station to sack the woman etc etc for what? For doing her job.

I had better stop before I reach a point when I cannot.

I love Thailand. I pray that the road taken now does no irreparable harm to it.

'Determined to give you expert advice.'

Some things are definitely worth repeating... like this clip that gives Aussies expert advice on property buying.

After all, what every investor, renovator, first-home buyer and young couple embarking on a journey of a lifetime needs is helpful advice and tips on putting their money where it will reap the most rewards, turning a house into a home or buying their dream home ...

Whether you are a potential property investor, first-home buyer or would-be renovator, this Commonwealth Bank-sponsored series of videos gives you loads of helpful tips and advice from people in the know.

Here, you will meet Michael who is thinking of investing in property, Nathan who must be quite excited about the thought of owning his first home and Naomi who wants to renovate. The experts range from a money magazine editor to a real estate agent to a mobile lender to a property investment solicitor to a builder and more.

Of course, each and every case is different so it is always best to carefully consider one's own circumstances and if in doubt, seek expert advice from a neutral party.

'[GALAXY Tab 10.1] Extreme Retreat - Birthday Party '

What do you get when a cross a birthday party for a six-year-old ankle-biter with an annual corporate retreat?

Watch this clip - yet another in Samsung's extreme series - to find out.

Fortunately (at least I think so), not all of us are thus financially endowed to spoil our child this rotten.

Here we have Mitch Manikowski, CEO of Manikowski Worldwide, who decides to combine his annual corporate retreat with his 6-year-old son's birthday bash. All kinds of mischief happen, including a chase by a pack of screaming children armed with plastic swords.

Apparently, the employees of Manikowski Worldwide were fortunate to have brought along the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Watch how they survive in some chaotic situations.

'Borg & McEnroe play doubles on YouTube'

The year was somewhere in the early 80s. It was early evening and I was on my way to the Oriental Hotel to attend a cocktail party.

Not just any cocktail party, mind you.

It was a toast to visiting Bjorn Borg, the enigmatic, legendary "Ice Man" of tennis. And I was sooooo excited.

After being glued to the telly for all his matches, I was going to meet him in person and he did not disappoint. I cannot for the life of me remember what we chatted about (it was brief but friendly) but who cares?

And then there's McEnroe - the brat, the bad boy of tennis, the one so many loved to hate.... at least on centre court.

This clip certainly brings back memories and it is certainly true - Alone they were good, Together they were great.

Visit http://bjornlovesjohn.com

'The Mumsnet Rules'

Ask me how I managed to end up with two gorgeous, thoughtful, loving children and for the life of me, I would not be able to tell you.

Coming from a big family (growing up with five brothers, four sisters most definitely counts as big), it was not easy for either my mother or father. Just putting food on the table, clothing and educating us was a challenge in itself. Times were hard but looking back, I have incredible memories of the simplest things making us happy.

With Allan and Aimee, things were much easier on the material side. But we all know that material things count for nought when it comes to moulding children in decent young people.

While we may have given them some guidance, rules, limits as well as hugs, cuddles and love as they were growing up, I know that who they are today stems from what they were and are inside. Lucky me.

Nowadays, there are so many help avenues available to parents along every step of the way.

There are counselling centres, self-help groups, websites as well as books galore on parenting.

The Mumsnet Rules is one such gem. This "survival guide" is filled with (according to UK celebrity Davina McCall) non-judgmental golden nuggets to empower us while making us smile.

The Mumsnet Rules is the book parents everywhere have been crying out for - provocative, funny, indispensable, inimitable, and a triumph of commonsense over hysteria.

The Mumsnet rule app is available free for iPhones and Android. Also, be sure to visit mumsnet.com on Facebook or www.mumsnet.com

Hats off to Justine Roberts, founder of mumsnet.