False Claims - Kinderjoy containing wax - This is a hoax

This warning has been circulating since 2014. It claims that :

“Kinder Joy contains wax coating which is also used in styrofoam containers. That is why Kinder Joy don’t stick to each other when eating it. Our body needs up to two days to clean the wax. Make sure you stop eating Kinder Joy. This wax can cause CANCER. Share if you care.“

Kinder Joy has a cancer-causing wax coating?

Is there any truth to these claims? First, let us break down the claims to easily digestible portions :

1. Styrofoam containers use a wax coating.
2. The same wax coating is used in Kinder Joy.
3. The wax coating prevents the chocolate from sticking to each other when you eat it.
4. Our body needs up to two days to “clean the wax”.
5. The wax can cause cancer.

Now, let’s find out what’s true and what’s false…

1. Styrofoam containers use a wax coating

False : Styrofoam, which is a type of polystyrene foam, is naturally hydrophobic. Therefore, it does not require a wax coating. Only paper cups and food containers will require a wax or polyethylene coating to make them waterproof.

2. The same wax coating is used in Kinder Joy

False : Since styrofoam containers do not use any wax coating, this claim is automatically false. But let’s forget about the first point and just find out if wax is even used in Kinder Joy. Here is the list of ingredients used in Kinder Joy (in descending order) :

SUGAR, VEGETABLE FATS (PALM, SAL), SKIMMED MILK POWDER (19.5%), FAT REDUCED COCOA POWDER (4%), WHEAT FLOUR, TOASTED WHEAT GERM, WHEAT STARCH, BARLEY MALT EXTRACT, EMULSIFIERS (LECITHINS [SOY])(0,37%)(INS 322), VEGETABLE OIL (SUNFLOWER), WHEY PROTEINS, FLAVOURINGS (ARTIFICIAL)(0,13%), RAISING AGENTS (AMMONIUM BICARBONATE (0,07%)(INS 503ii), SODIUM BICARBONATE (0,01%)(INS 500ii)), SALT.

No wax, of any kind, is listed as an ingredient but it is possible that paraffin wax may be an unlisted additive.

3. The wax coating prevents the chocolate from sticking to each other

False : Paraffin wax, as well as other kinds of food-grade waxes, are commonly added to chocolates, candy, hard cheeses and baked goods to ensure that they remain solid at room temperature and/or to give them a shine.

4. Our body needs up to two days to “clean the wax”

False : Paraffin wax, as well as other kinds of food-grade waxes, are inert and indigestible. That means whatever wax you consume will not be absorbed or change its form or chemistry. It will just pass right through your gastrointestinal tract and get excreted in your poop.

5. The wax coating causes cancer

False : Food-grade waxes have been used as food preservatives and additives for thousands of years. The most likely target of this warning is paraffin wax, which is commonly sold as baker’s wax or canning wax and have been used as a food additive since the 1930s.

There is one way paraffin wax can potentially cause cancer, but it’s not by ingesting it. A South Carolina State University experiment showed that burning paraffin wax candles for 5-6 hours in an enclosed space can produce significant amounts of harmful and potentially carcinogenic chemicals, including formaldehyde.

Summary

This warning is yet another of many fake warnings about “dangerous additives” in our food circulating on the Internet. It prays on our fear of the unknown additives in processed food. As they say – you only fear what you don’t know. But now we know that this is nothing but a bunch of baloney.

If you like this article, be sure to share it with your family and friends!

Also read : http://www.hoax-slayer.com/kinder-joy-wax-coating-cancer-warning-hoax.shtml

http://www.hoaxorfact.com/Health/kinder-joy-contains-wax-coating-that-can-cause-cancer-facts.html

False Claims - Instant Noodles Contain Wax? - Facts from Fiction

Claim- "Instant noodles contain a wax coating which is also used in the styrofoam containers. That is why instant noodles don't stick together when cooking. Our body needs up to two days to clean the wax. Makes sure you stop eating a pack of noodles for at least three days after. This wax can cause cancer. SHARE with those you care about."

Verdict- False. Variations of this claim have been circulating in various forms for more than a decade. Instant noodles contain Palm Oil, not wax, to prevent sticking. Wax would not solve the issue anyway, as wax melts at lower temperatures and would quickly melt off the noodles as they are heated. The disposable containers  that noodles come in do not use wax either, for the same reason. Polyethylene coated paper, expanded polystyrene, and polypropylene plastics are used instead to make the containers so that they are water proof.

However, disposable containers are not all equal. Some are NOT designed to be in a microwave, as they can leach chemicals into the food that you are attempting to heat. Always read the directions on the label or container to be safe. If you're still not sure, or it doesn't specifically mention microwaving, play it safe and swap the container out for one that is microwavable. Having a few extra dirty dishes is a small price to pay to avoid being sick later on down the road.

Sources
Microwaving Food In Plastic: Safe Or Not? (health.harvard.edu)
Food Safety Of Noodle Cups (pdf) 
Snopes Instant Noodles Contain Wax
Rumor Response About Instant Noodles
Instant Noodles (Wikipedia)

ALGOA FM - Illegal Chinese fishing vessels impounded in East London

13:48 (GMT+2) Mon, 23 May 2016

Three Chinese fishing vessels have been impounded in East London harbour, for allegedly fishing illegally in South African waters.

The vessels were brought into port on Sunday night as part of a joint operation by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DAFF), the SA Maritime Safety Authority and the SA Navy.

They were escorted the DAFF vessel, Sarah Baartman, and the SA Navy ship, SAS Drakensberg.

This followed an investigation into reports that Chinese fishing trawlers were fishing illegally in South African waters.

"On 20 May 2016, just off Port Elizabeth, the joint patrol spotted two foreign fishing vessels from the automated identification system on board the Navy vessel. We established that the vessels had gear on board and we verified that they had not applied to enter into our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and that created suspicion. The seas were rough, which made it impossible for our inspectors to board the vessels. Our fishery control officers instructed the vessels through radio communication to sail to East London, but they did not cooperate," the DAFF said.

A spokesperson for the Department Bomikazi Molapo, said two vessels played cat and mouse on the high seas with the SA Navy, before they were eventually intercepted and instructed to sail to East London.

"DAFF's patrol vessel and the SA Navy vessel had to increase speed in order to intercept the foreign fishing vessels which were speeding off, but managed to intercept them. The vessels stopped and they switched off their engines.

"That continued and at about 02h00, on Sunday morning 22 May 2016, the foreign fishing vessels started their engines and within no time and with no communication with the Inspectors, they started steaming towards the east.

"The two foreign vessels were followed throughout the early hours of the morning and they were intercepted again, and fortunately this time the weather had improved and the fisheries inspectors and the SA Navy officials boarded the foreign vessels. 

"The inspections were conducted, whereby fish and gear was found on both foreign vessels, both with no permits. The vessels were again instructed to sail to the nearest port, which was East London," the statement read.

En route to East London a third Chinese fishing vessels was spotted and also instructed to sail to East London.The foreign fishing vessels were found to have the following tons of fish on board:
-- Fu Yuan Yu 7880 (36 crew) - about 340 tons of squid.
-- Fu Yang Yu 7881 (34 crew) - about 60 tons of squid.
-- Run Da 617 (26 crew) - about 200 tons of squid and other species of fish.

All the fish holding cabins have been sealed off as required by investigation standards.

As part of further investigations of the vessels, all fish will be taken out of the vessels for further identification, counting and weighing.

Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana said the capture of the vessels indicates the country's seriousness to protect its territorial and exclusive economic zone. "We cannot tolerate the plundering of our marine resources, which are a source of food security and play a huge role in realising our goals in Operation Phakisa. We are also looking into the sudden influx of these vessels in our waters ," Zokwana said.

The Principal Officer of the Centre for Fishing in East London, Thobile Gqabu, says the South African Maritime Safety Authority is conducting a survey of the vessels today.

The inspection also considers crew safety, pollution threat, vessel safety standards and all related matters in terms of International conventions as well as South African Maritime Law.DAFF and SAPS are busy with registration of the docket, after which it will be handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority.

- See more at: http://www.algoafm.co.za/article/local/77817/illegal-chinese-fishing-vessels-impounded-in-east-london#sthash.w4z9vkr6.dpuf

Putting a Stop to Kids Arguments While Crafting

This is not my posting - I found this on another blog as some help to eliminate argueing and fighting during crafts - this is always a problem when we do crafts 

Nothing like getting out the craft supplies, actually managing to get everyone to the table and *finally* starting a craft project, only to to wind up with arguing kids. Not. Fun. Here’s how Cerys, a mom to two young kids and author of the kids crafting and activity blog Rainy Day Mum, helps prevent arguments during a craft. 

Kids. Craft. Arguments. ::sigh::

Picture the scene:

It’s art and craft time in our house – a 2 year old and a 3 year old ready to go and we sit down at the table and then everything erupts as the two argue and squabble over the dot markers, the crayons that I put out and even the paper.

Now I’m normally a fairly easy going crafter with my kids but this was one thing that pushed me over the edge and I turned into Shouty Mom – you know, the one that swears that they will never craft again with the two at the same time?

 However, I’ve changed. I sat down after a particularly bad session and worked out how I could get crafting with two or more (we have crafty playdates) to work without the squabbles and arguments – or at least to greatly reduce them and believe me it is possible.

Peaceful crafting with more than one kid…

Two of everything

My top tip, and this is the only thing I do this for, is that we have at least double of everything – we have two sets of paint brushes, two sets of pens, crayons, pencils and paints.

We don’t do this for toys or equipment – normally the children need to learn how to share and work together, but my two sets of crafting equipment is due to the way that the two use them differently.

Different Ages, Different Personalities, Different Needs

J, my 3 year old, is a careful crafter.   He has gone past the splat-the-paint-on and use-the-paint-brush-like-a-fly-swat (yes we went through a phase like that…)  His pens aren’t allowed to mix and get dirty with other colours on the nibs and he loves to sharpen the pencils so he has a nice set to use.

T, the 2 year old, is the other end of the spectrum.

Her favourite colour to paint with at the moment is a purpley brown that comes from blending all of the available paints together.  This will not do AT ALL for mister Careful Crafter.

Now, I don’t always go to extremes to give them their own entire sets of art supplies – but for the most part, there is no point having them share equipment.

You can see how annoyed the 3 year would get with the way that the 2 year old paints (mind you so would I, and I have to sit on my hands as her art work turns out purpley brown yet again).

Try working on something BIGGER

We also often enjoy crafting together on bigger pieces like the Double Decker bus.  It was big enough to sit on and gave plenty of space for both children to express themselves.

Sometimes you might limit choices

In the case of the Double Decker Bus, for instance, we had separate paint dishes more for ease of reaching the paint than to stop arguments, because I only provided 1 colour which reduced the arguments over mixed up paints.

This could just mean putting out a few less supplies – especially for younger children, sometimes having less to choose from can mean less stress and thus less likelihood of erupting into argument.

Crafting with more than one child without tears is possible – just needs a little forward thinking and a bit more preparation.  Providing enough space and a separate set of equipment are the keys for us at this moment in time.  

Do you have any tips to add?

Crafts for kids

School holidays is just around the corner and I have started looking for craft ideas as we are trying to incorporate more outdoors activities and crafts this holiday since tablets and tv have taken over our household on holidays and weekends.  

So now with taking away tablets during the week, the homework and revision makes up for the time, but on weekends you only see those naughty faces when they lift their heads to say they are hungry or when the tablets go on charge.

I don't want to be a "wicked witch" and tell them they can't play on it since there is not much else to do, we don't have parks and playgrounds where we live and with the miserable weather we can't always play outside.

But in my attempt to "wean" them off the technology a bit (even if I can only get an hour a day off of it then I will call it success) I have come accross a few ideas that wouldn't hurt to share ... 

I found this on pinterest (Click the image to go to the original page for instructions)

I know my girls would love making this 

There's a whole lot more on this link https://za.pinterest.com/bob0722/children-s-holiday-crafts/

I am still laughing ...

Someone sent me this post this morning and I could not keep it to myself .... I cant remember when last I laughed so much.

Hulle sê ‘n mens praat nie oor jou huweliks probleme met vreemdelinge nie.
So ek het besluit ek skryf maar liewers daaroor, en as hierdie storie, “soos Joost se boek” net een man kan help het ek my doel bereik. 
Elkgeval om ‘n kort storie lank te maak gaan ek by die begin, begin. 
Ek het ‘n sout van die aarde, kerk mens getrou die tipe mens met wie jy ‘n langpad kan loop, ‘n graad R onderwyseres, ‘n sagge aarde Namakwa bloeiseltjie. Min het ek geweet daai bloeisel kan verander in ‘n kaktus na 2 jaar van huwelik.
Elkgeval soos met meeste struwelinge in ‘n huwelik begin dit gewoonlik met jou vriende en my vriende. Ek kry toe mos nou gister ‘n oproep van my vetplantjie wat sê ons gaan vanaand baba kyk, nou kyk baba kyk is nie hoog op my lys van lekker dinge nie, veral nie as dit volksvreemde mense is nie.
Elkgeval ek noem toe so saggies dat ek dit nie kan maak nie en die volgende oomblik word daar ‘n selfoon in my oor neer gebliksem. 
Nou ek het nie gedink ‘n mens kan ‘n selfoon soos ‘n ou huisfoon gooi nie, maar fokweet mamma is toe so moerig ek hoor eintlik hoe tref hy die Renault se dashboard.
So besef ek mamma bestuur en praat op die selfoon en raak sommer lus en rapporteer die krimineel, maar wat ek eintlik gedink het was, wat gaan daai dashboard nie kos om reg te maak nie? Sien vorige Renault storie. 
Nou ek is ook nie ‘n week getroud nie en ken mamma se kak en stuipe, eers kry ek die “silent treatment” – sy dink dit is ‘n straf maar dit is eintlik moer rustig.
Toe dit nie werk nie, kry ek die koue skouer en die sarkasme – nou as jy regtig jou vrou wil befok maak dat sy die mure uitklim dat moet jy maak asof jy nie die sarkasme verstaan nie en neem dit ernstig op. Sy het toe gedink ek gaan ingee en saamgaan om vrede te bewaar en haar , haar sin gee, maar toe nie. Toe sy besef ek gaan nie saam nie, trek daai bo lippie styf soos iets in spasme, en jy moet weet as daai lippie styf trek, trek die ander 2 toe soos ‘n plastiek speel pop se parra.
Maar so staan ek mos nie bakhand vir die wolscooter nie en ek besluit om aan te gaan met my lewe. Terwyl sy na ‘n dag oue baba deur ‘n venster gaan kyk van mense wat ons 1 keer in 2 jaar sien. Goeie tye! 
Elkgeval sy kom toe eerste by die huis en bel om te hoor waar ek rondloop?
Ek verduidelik ek is by die winkel en kom nou! Koop nogal ewe ‘n coke en sweetie-pie vir haar om te wys ek gee om en is ‘n millennium man. “Nie dat ek bang is nie”
Elkgeval toe ek daar inkom kry ek steeds die stywe lippie, en daar is niks gemaak om te eet nie. Dit is mos die ander straf “die ek staak huiswerk omdat ek nie my sin gekry het nie”. 
Maar my hande is nie rond nie en ek maak vir myself ‘n toebroodjie. Toe sy sien die “ek staak straf” werk nie kom staan sy voor my en toe begin die kak. Die Naggg stadium, ‘n gekerm en gekla tot in alle ewigheid. Die bybel praat van ‘n vlamme hel, ek se kak storie, As daar ‘n hel is sal dit wees waar jy sit met 7 vrouens wat gelyk sanik oor hoe ‘n kak mens en man jy nou werklik is. Die ouens wat getroud is sal beter verstaan wat ek hiermee bedoel.
Maar so is ek mos nie ‘n klip nie, en raak ook moerig en sommer vinnig, en besluit maar nou sit ek my voet neer. 
Verduidelik toe vir haar dat ek nie werklik minder kan omgee oor wat haar vriende van my dink, omdat ek nie gaan goo-goo, gaa-gaa het nie. 
En dat sy moet oor dit kom, of haar issues gaan afstap en my fokken uitlos. Maar fokken steeds hou sy nie op nie, en ek besluit maar nou is dit tyd om hand gemeen te raak. Nou, ek besef jy mag hulle mos nie meer slaan soos in die goeie ou dae nie, en ek bliksem toe maar ‘n bord teen die kombuis vloer neer. Man die stukke het nog nie eens gaan stil lê nie en sy gryp my beursie en pluk my 2de laaste R50 vir die maand daaruit en sê sy gaan more ‘n nuwe bord koop. Maar teen die tyd is ek al so liries befok en ek ruk sommer self my laaste R50 uit en sê sy moet maar twee koop, en ek gryp nog ‘n bord en mik-mik so na haar voete met ‘n wille swaai beweging van my arm asof ek epilepsie fake. Sy skrik en koes koes so gelyk, want sy dink hoe gaan sy vir haar vriende verduidelik ek het haar toon met ‘n bord gebreek. Maar met die wille aap dans van haar begin ek net te lag en besef hoe belaglik die hele affêre nou eintlik is.
Fokken groot fout bra, jy lag nie vir ‘n vrou wat kwaad is nie! Eers gryp sy die sleutels en gooi, maar sy mis my net net en gooi amper die agterdeur se venster uit. Toe gryp sy ‘n liter coke, ek wou nog koes maar toe tref hy my net so links onderkant my penis se voorpunt “so langs die knie”.
Sjoe! Dit was close. Maar die aanval stop toe nie daar nie en mamma storm die kombuis binne soos een van daai mal vrouens op Flavour Flave. So besef ek, maar shit, ek het myself in die kombuis vasgekeer, ‘n groot fout.
En die dag voor dit het ons Ninja Assisans gaan kyk, nog ‘n groot fout.
Ek dog sy sê dit was ‘n kak fliek, maar sy het duidelik meer aandag as ek gegee in die bioskoop. Sy trek daar los met kaal hande, maar daai arms swaai asof sy 2 ninjakas met spykers in rond slinger. Ek focus en gryp haar om die polse om die aanslag te keer, maar fok weet, sy doen daai flying- kick-back-twist-ankle-grinder move en trap my op die bors so tussen die moobs “man boobs”. So skop my so hard, laat ek hik en op my gat gaan sit. Daar lê ek in die kombuis so langs die Addis vullis blik tussen die stukke gebreekte bord wat my selektief sny soos ek probeer spartel om weg te kom van hierdie begeesterde bloeisel.
Vir ‘n oomblik is ek in skok en dit voel soos ‘n ewigheid wat ek daar lê maar 2 sekondes later sien ek hier kom sy weer, maar die keer met ‘n besem.
Wragtig ‘n fokken besem, ek het nooit gedink sy weet wat ‘n besem is nie, maar sy weet hoe om met hom te slaan.
Ek het mos nou die dag national geographic gekyk en besluit om in ‘n bondel te gaan lê en maak asof ek dood is, maar dit het nie gehelp nie ek het steeds op my moer gekry. 
As dit nie was dat sy so onfiks is nie,was ek seker nou nog op die kombuis vloer tussen die splinters besig om pak te kry soos ‘n bergie wat ‘n fiets probeer steel het.
Toe alles kalmeer het, en die hond onder die bed uitkom en die kat van die kordyn raam afklim het ons wel lekker gelag oor die mannewales en vrede gemaak. Maar ja, die storie bewys dat jy wel mans kry wat soms ‘n pakslae kry by mamma, ek het net nooit gedink ek sou een van hulle gewees het nie.  
Die blink kant van alles is dat ek nou slaap soos ‘n baba, want ek weet as daar ‘n inbreker kom gaan hy goed op sy moer kry. Hoop net hy breek eers ‘n bord.
Groete
Eerlike Smous
Ps moenie vir my vrou sê van die storie nie.


Now I am not sure who the original author of this post is but I found these 2 links to it when I did my search to find the owner of the post ...
Eagleman6788 on WordPress
CMK Facebook page

Important things in life

Last year when I fell pregnant we started looking for medical insurance, hospital plans and also started searching for options for pension / retirement plan as well as life insurance (the whole lot).

WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!! You enter your details on this site and that site to be able to get a quote and once they have your number they just DO NOT LOSE IT. 

Repeatedly I have been phoned for the same companies over and over and the more you tell them sorry you just wanted a quote and you will let them know when you made up your mind, the more they want to talk?? They eventually annoy you so much that you think "Now if I do take this option, is this how it will be when I need to claim?"  And eventually the salesperson on the other end has helped you decide that they annoy the daylights out of you so you will rather not make use of them.

Now if you want EASY, SIMPLE, STRAIGHT FORWARD then you have to deal with iHound (I have added their banner to the bottomof this post for your convenience.)

You will find anything and everything from Car/Home Insurance, Life Insurance, Funeral Insurance, Hospital Insurance, Business Insurance and Medical & Legal Insurance and on top of that they deal with Motor Warranties and Personal Loans too.  

What a breeze it is to enter your details once, and they find the best quote for you. No entering details at each and every different Insurance company - Just once only is all it takes.

So no matter the type of insurance you are looking for ... let iHound find it for you

Blank open spaces in my mind ...

Today is one of those extremely weird days - you know those "walk out the door and double check if you remembered to put underwear on" type of days because right from the moment you woke up if felt as if something is missing or you are forgetting something and you just can't figure out what it could be.

So here goes my Blue Thursday ... Baby woke up at about 4am wanting to smile and play - clearly not tired anymore; and assuming that if he is not tired then mommy and daddy also surely can't be tired anymore.

Daddy went to make a bottle and I tried to fool him with his dummy into thinking he is drinking a bottle and should close his eyes again, but all attempts failed.  I eventually lay back in bed when he started playing with his toys and dosed off again. Clearly he did too since he was asleep when I woke up with the alarm.

Now, our kids (7, 8 and 9 years old) were all up and about already when I dragged my lazy butt out of bed and started getting dressed for work, yet in between me sorting baby, getting dressed and still having to blow my hair dry, they had not yet finished getting ready for school.

It makes me want to scream and pull my hair out when 7am you ask: "OK, everyone ready to go?"
and you get a reply "I can't find my shoes/jersey/juice bottle" etc etc
or "but I haven't had cereal yet" - when they were all sitting in front of the TV 2 minutes ago.

Well, it makes me turn into a vicious spitting cobra and then the yelling and threatening starts to leave them all behind. At 7:15 eventually everyone manages to get to the car and then we are ready to go.
By now I already know that they just ruined the quick smoke break I could have had before work if they were just 5 minutes faster.

This morning was the same as those everyday mornings with Ashleigh only brushing the parts of her hair that she can see (the back looking like rats could nest in it)
Then I went back into the house, gave my laptop to one of the other 2 to go put into the car so long, put my phone down on the table and tried helping her.

With all the motion of getting her ready, I never picked up my phone again... (I don't go anywhere without my phone) ... I had that moment of "I am forgetting something" ... I went back into the house again, checked if I had switched off the lights and went off to drop kids at school.

Just as I got out of the car at work to stick my hand in my pocket to get my phone to check if I still have time for a smoke before I go in, it dawned on me ... I left it at home ... I can't bbm my other half, I can't check up on my Hayday, and I am timeless ... I don't have a clue what time it is so there goes my smoke break. Got upstairs to the office to realise I am just on time too though, fortunately.  Yet the entire day I feel like I have lost a limb and been suffering from withdrawals.

Colleagues (Part 2) ....

So there was this issues in my previous post with a colleague who thought she would try spite me and submit leave for the same time as I did ...

Those who want to know what happened ... I stood my ground !  This morning the issue was meant to be resolved - with management present and a solution was meant to be found to accommodate both of us without the fuss as it has started really being torture coming to work.

She did not like the idea that both of us needed to submit a valid reason for "Why those dates" ... I was ready with my reasons ...

Our reservations has been made for that week.
We have already paid for our reservation and will not get refunded in full if cancelled.
That's the same week my husband has leave.
The kids will still be on their last week of school holiday.

I did not need to give me reasons as she jumped up and left the office saying she doesn't want that week anymore.  The kind of behaviour you would expect from a 5 year old.

So I am taking my leave on the days I intended and suppose I should be feeling quite stoked about it, yet I am not sure which would be more bearable :

- Working that week and taking another week and then having a better atmosphere in the office ...

- Happily take my leave but deal with a sour face all day and the miserable mood that surrounds her   when she walks in everyday

The easy part is I can do my work from another PC so I don't have to always sit there when she is there but why must I keep moving away and inconvenience myself.
Would be so much easier if she could rather ignore me and continue her day, instead of trying to make my life hell.

But in all fairness - I got granted my leave and I'm happy that the matter was resolved fair and to the point.

Colleagues that go out their way to make people miserable

I work in Admin for a retail store and I actually enjoy my work, apart from having to get out of bed in the mornings.  I don't have a nagging boss, while he knows you are doing what is expected off you, he leaves you to do your work without checking every 2 minutes if you are doing it right or doing it at all.  When you know you are trusted to work to your own pace and methods there is nothing to complain about... Or is there ???

Well ... my colleague whom I share an office with is a few years older than me and for the past 3 -4 years we never had issues or problems with each other ... until recently ... I was asked to stay in late with the one department of the store to do a stocktake.

Now to jump back a few steps and give you some background ... I do not suck up, never have and never will, I don't beg and I treat my boss and the management staff at the same level as the other staff ... don't get me wrong - I'm not disrespectful to them, I just treat all staff as equals and with the respect I was brought up to show.  So whether you are management or the cleaning staff, you will get the same greeting when I get to work and when I leave and I am not too good to help the staff with a "lower status" - yet I am also not a pushover to those with "higher status" ... you get the picture ???

So when my boss walks into the door and I might be busy sending an sms or something - i do not drop my phone, jump up and salute ... I look up and I greet and continue what I am doing. If I hide that I'm sending an sms in work time it makes me a liar and a fake and I ain't no liar or fake.  I show openly when I take a minute to do personal things.

Everyone around me now, they jump up and I think they try hard not to jump up and down to try pretend they are happy he is there.  Like I said, he is not nagging and the typical boss so whether there or not, things are the same, you do your work and make sure when he asks for something then it is always up to date.  That strategy has never let me down.

When they see him all try act as if they were sooooo extremely busy and its like kindergarden kids telling their teacher what they did for the day to impress .. I did this filing today and I did this and that ... and they make sure that he HAS TO SEE how busy they are.

I know I don't have too much work - It is enough to keep me busy at a steady pace and still have time to break my eyes away from the screen for 5-10 minutes every hour and still have everything finished a while before hometime.  In my opinion, he knows what work each one does and I am sure he knows who is not really working - so what does it help faking it.

Now my colleague is one of those - if he is here she hits the extra hours like you wont believe because she has "just too much work for one day" - LMFAO - I often on her off days finish all her work by 9am (the amount of work never changes except for start of month on the 1st of each month - it is the exact same amount of sheets every single day).  And on the first of the month the only difference is that you print 3 of each instead of 1 of each ... whooooaaaahhh ... way too much work for some.

So now to get back to my story - I was asked to come in with the one department to assist with a end of month stocktake for the specific department as that department manager was off sick. And that started a war ... she was not asked ... now I am seeing myself as better than her because I didn't ask for help.  To end off that part of it, I am now her worst enemy.

This happened nearly 3 weeks ago and she still doesn't let go of the attitude about it.  The atmosphere in our office can be cut with a knife - it is unbearable.  Worst of it is that there is no grown up way about it.  I booked my leave about a month and a half ago ... now she wants her leave at the same time I am taking mine but she makes it now my fault for not "asking her first" on what days she wanted to take leave.  Oh, I wish she could just Grow up !!!!

The leave issue has just made everything even worse - she refuses to change her date and neither will I (maybe childish of me too, but we have already booked our holiday accommodation and my husband booked his leave for same days and if we have to change then other managers have to change who already had their family book leave to fit in with theirs - so swapping weeks would make it difficult for at least 4 or 5 people and costing me the loss of our booking).

Only alternative is that we don't go on holiday together as a family and he takes kids on holiday alone - or I stand my ground and let this spiteful woman change her date

Crazy weekend

I am completely and utterly exhausted after the past weekend.
We went through to East London on saturday to visit my parents and my hubby's parents and came back up Sunday.

Firstly it was a major rush to try get to everyone since we only got there late in the afternoon ... stopped at my parents and grandmother first since the girls wanted to stay there for the night. Baby was in a terrible mood and screamt non-stop the entire time we were there (a first for him since he hardly ever cries and never like that)
We ended up only staying about an hour as we then needed to go past a chemist and get something to help calm him down, With him being only 4 months old its quite a story when they can't tell you what hurts.

So we left for the chemist and he fell asleep on the way - then stopped at Amalinda Spar (if you ever want to buy baking supplies, go look there) they are cheaper than most of the other places selling baking supplies. I had to go get a cake board and some goodies to do Cameron's 8th birthday cake - which didnt come out all that bad.

When we got to my hubby's parents baby was starting to get settled from the meds he was given and was quiet as long as he can see mommy and daddy.  Soon as we tried to escape the room he screamed again. It was torture !!! Especially when you have prepared yourself for quite a big task ahead - the cake is supposed to look like an army encampment !!! Needless to say - I was stressing about time as I knew I had to start it early so that I still have time to go buy a shop made one if all fails.