Citizenship test.

So the Australian government introduced a citizenship test late last year for new immigrants.

Can you pass this version of the test? Citizenship Test - Australian Test Practice Questions

I hope this is not the proper test as I scored dismally! How would anyone coming to Australia know or remember from studying who landed on the western side of Cape York Peninsula, the northern tip of Australia, in 1606 ?

Or my personal favourites from this test:

• When did Caroline chisholm land in Australia?
• When did a popular new literature emerge in Australia?
• Which is the birth place of Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet?

I don't even know who Frank is! I consider myself educated and intelligent and have no drama answering the questions on the Practice Questions for the Australian Citizenship Test page. Fingers crossed this is closer to the type of test people are likely to have to answer as opposed to the first one.

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Wedding dresses...

Mark do not look at the links in this entry!

Psssst... This is the dress I really want for my wedding... I really, really love this dress...

Lea-Ann Belter 2007 Collection - find the design "Kaitlyn" (No. 4)

However, in the interests of budget and financial contraints tomorrow I am off for a day shopping to see if can find a cheaper dress that is on sale. Apparently all the bridal shops around town are having massive sales and the chances of getting a dress for under $500 are quite good.

So tomorrow morning I am trudging off through a few of the shops with my bridal party in tow - Josie, Donna, Col and Casey Jayne. Maybe we'll find something I am willing to settle on if the price is good enough.

I know deep down though that I really want the Lea-Ann Belter dress... But how can I justify spending $1500 on a dress know I'll only ever wear once.

I am not a big fan of shopping so this is going to be an interesting day. Wish me luck!

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Depression and cookies.

I recently read this amazing feature story by Megan Seling from The Stranger. Thanks for the link Michelle!

It touched me quite deeply. Ever since reading it I have had it in the back of my mind.

Depression is something that most of us deal with to varying levels. Turning to baking and cooking is a release for some of us. To give someone a gift of cookies, to see their faces light up at mini tartlets, to receive comments like "wow this is amazing how do you make this" or "can I have your recipe" is sometimes all that is needed to keep on trucking through your day. Sometimes it is simply easier to bake someone something than to tell them you love them - it requires less "giving of yourself".

Read this article - it is amazing: The Long Winter by Megan Seling.

"All about the time I attempted to bake 106 different kinds of Martha Stewart holiday cookies in two months. People laughed and said I was crazy. Well, I was crazy."

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