My first Australian Tax Return
Yeap it's that time of the year and I am attempting to complete and lodge my tax form before the expiry date .. yikes!!! Well, I have procrastinated long enough.. haha.. It is slightly different than the form back home, so I need to really sit down and read the guide booklet. Which is not what I am doing at the moment- I am reading the guide book while writing this and watching TV.. haha.. talking about multi-tasking!! Ohh.... the guide says that if you engage a tax agent to lodge your tax return, you can claim the fee charged to you - now isn't that great! Ok more pages to read. I guess I will return to my reading and complete this later :-)
Sunday, 30 September 2007
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Tonight..
Psst..I went gambling at Burswood Casino :-) There were lot's of people there, I think it's like that every night. Probably some people are there every night, seasoned gamblers :-) Some played big, some played small. Me? I played small .. haha.. not being a cheapskate, but hey money is hard to come by ;-) Anyway, I played the Mr Cashman machine and won some money too, not much. I think I put in $4 and got $8 back. Not bad for a first timer. I didn't make big bets, Mr Cashman was only 2 cents per game so when I put in $2 I got to play many games. I did get many free games though. Played another machine, but don't remember the name coz I lost some money there.. hehe.. The trick is, apparently, to make big bets then the winning would be big too! Well, that's only logical isn't it? All in all, I changed $20 and got back $7, so it was OK. Anyway, not a bad try at gambling, though I don't see it as something I would do as a pastime :-)
pssst... As a club member, coffee/tea is free so even if you don't win, you still get free beverage!!!
Psst..I went gambling at Burswood Casino :-) There were lot's of people there, I think it's like that every night. Probably some people are there every night, seasoned gamblers :-) Some played big, some played small. Me? I played small .. haha.. not being a cheapskate, but hey money is hard to come by ;-) Anyway, I played the Mr Cashman machine and won some money too, not much. I think I put in $4 and got $8 back. Not bad for a first timer. I didn't make big bets, Mr Cashman was only 2 cents per game so when I put in $2 I got to play many games. I did get many free games though. Played another machine, but don't remember the name coz I lost some money there.. hehe.. The trick is, apparently, to make big bets then the winning would be big too! Well, that's only logical isn't it? All in all, I changed $20 and got back $7, so it was OK. Anyway, not a bad try at gambling, though I don't see it as something I would do as a pastime :-)
pssst... As a club member, coffee/tea is free so even if you don't win, you still get free beverage!!!
Thursday, 27 September 2007
Deep within a forest, at the summit of a volcano, exists an extraordinary world—a world where something else is possible. A world called Varekai....
And so the story began, and what an amazing 2 hour entertainment it was, where audiences were brought into a world of sounds and colours. The costumes were fabulous, the sound system was pretty amazing for a show in a tent. The acrobatic movements were out of this world. I wish I could take some pics and show you all, but unfortunately it is not allowed :-( The only complaint is that the seats were not very comfortable..haha.. and you don't really know what they were singing about. I thought that they were using french, but my friend said it was actually gibberish! haha.. BUt there were bits and pieces of logical language, like 'sorry mate' or 'la lune' .. :-) There were also merchandise for sale, and of course they were expensive. The cheapest would be the key ring, but I didn't get any. Perhaps I will just keep the ticket :-) Not cheap too, $89!! BUT.. I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't indulged himself in this kaleidoscopic world of colours populated by magical creatures. It is indeed a show worth watching.
Varekei
And so the story began, and what an amazing 2 hour entertainment it was, where audiences were brought into a world of sounds and colours. The costumes were fabulous, the sound system was pretty amazing for a show in a tent. The acrobatic movements were out of this world. I wish I could take some pics and show you all, but unfortunately it is not allowed :-( The only complaint is that the seats were not very comfortable..haha.. and you don't really know what they were singing about. I thought that they were using french, but my friend said it was actually gibberish! haha.. BUt there were bits and pieces of logical language, like 'sorry mate' or 'la lune' .. :-) There were also merchandise for sale, and of course they were expensive. The cheapest would be the key ring, but I didn't get any. Perhaps I will just keep the ticket :-) Not cheap too, $89!! BUT.. I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't indulged himself in this kaleidoscopic world of colours populated by magical creatures. It is indeed a show worth watching.
Varekei
Monday, 24 September 2007
Sunday, 23 September 2007
It's been a beautiful weekend. Took a walk down the river yesterday and it was beautiful. Water was calm and captivating. It was very therapeutic, listening to the silent waters. From the park I could see many boats on the river, a man kayaking. At the restaurant, guests were arriving for a wedding dinner. At the park, there were people sitting down reading, kids on their bicycle, men playing footy, people walking their dog. I also took a walk down Mathilda Bay, and it was as beautiful as ever. There were not that many people there, perhaps there would be more today. Being in Mathilda Bay brought back many sweet memories, one I will cherish forever.
The water, the boats, the people - it was good. Spring is indeed here.
The water, the boats, the people - it was good. Spring is indeed here.
Friday, 21 September 2007
Dilemma...dilemma...
When you are a late starter like me (in this country I mean), how do you ensure that you have enough saved up by the time you retire. I guess it's a good thing that the retirement age is 65, at least I still have about 25 years of working life. When you have a job, the advice is 'Invest in super'.Question is, would I be able to accumulate enough super to guarantee a good retirement? And with the dream of owning a car, a house and still have enough to ensure a good and comfortable retirement, it doesn't look as if it will be a comfortable 25 years. .. yikes!!In the booming state of WA the cost of housing is atrocious. An average price for a 2 bedroom house is about $300 odd thousand, while the price of a unit is more expensive. You could still find a townhouse for $290 000 in suburbs such as Glendalough, which is not too bad considering the location. But if you want to buy a bigger house, then you are looking at houses ranging $400k - 1/2 mil. Disheartening isn't it?? But still, with the reserve bank threatening interest rate rise every couple of months, it doesn't give one a pretty good assurance that owning a house is affordable, let alone desirable. Then there's the strata fees and council fees, the insurance - the bills are just endless. For an average income earner like myself, just the thought of it is enough to make me scared. I mean how could I afford a $300 000 + house??? Is it possible? The first step would be to save a down payment. Then find a housing loan with the best interest rate. An alternative to that would be to rent. A smart person would say if you could own, why rent? Which is true. Put the rent money into a house and at the end of the day you will have a house. But then again, $380 000 is a lot of money! I want a house with a patio, so that I could sit on my patio sipping my coffee and watching the sun goes down. It would be great if it were by the sea, then I could enjoy the sound of the waves and the beautiful sea. For that I have just upgraded my dream house to 1/2 mil $$$!!!! Ok, ok... maybe a small house with a patio :-) I suppose if one wants it enough one will find a way. If one job is not enough, then find a part time job, or two. Or find a job that pays more :-) So perhaps in the next 25 years I won't have a very comfortable life, I won't be able to go anywhere I want, buy whatever I want, and it's OK. Life is meant to be challenging, and we are meant to face them, head on. It won't be easy but it is "do-able" :-)
Orrrrr... if every effort fails and nothing materialises, the last alternative would be - buy lotto everyday and pray fervently that you will win big bucks! Haha...
When you are a late starter like me (in this country I mean), how do you ensure that you have enough saved up by the time you retire. I guess it's a good thing that the retirement age is 65, at least I still have about 25 years of working life. When you have a job, the advice is 'Invest in super'.Question is, would I be able to accumulate enough super to guarantee a good retirement? And with the dream of owning a car, a house and still have enough to ensure a good and comfortable retirement, it doesn't look as if it will be a comfortable 25 years. .. yikes!!In the booming state of WA the cost of housing is atrocious. An average price for a 2 bedroom house is about $300 odd thousand, while the price of a unit is more expensive. You could still find a townhouse for $290 000 in suburbs such as Glendalough, which is not too bad considering the location. But if you want to buy a bigger house, then you are looking at houses ranging $400k - 1/2 mil. Disheartening isn't it?? But still, with the reserve bank threatening interest rate rise every couple of months, it doesn't give one a pretty good assurance that owning a house is affordable, let alone desirable. Then there's the strata fees and council fees, the insurance - the bills are just endless. For an average income earner like myself, just the thought of it is enough to make me scared. I mean how could I afford a $300 000 + house??? Is it possible? The first step would be to save a down payment. Then find a housing loan with the best interest rate. An alternative to that would be to rent. A smart person would say if you could own, why rent? Which is true. Put the rent money into a house and at the end of the day you will have a house. But then again, $380 000 is a lot of money! I want a house with a patio, so that I could sit on my patio sipping my coffee and watching the sun goes down. It would be great if it were by the sea, then I could enjoy the sound of the waves and the beautiful sea. For that I have just upgraded my dream house to 1/2 mil $$$!!!! Ok, ok... maybe a small house with a patio :-) I suppose if one wants it enough one will find a way. If one job is not enough, then find a part time job, or two. Or find a job that pays more :-) So perhaps in the next 25 years I won't have a very comfortable life, I won't be able to go anywhere I want, buy whatever I want, and it's OK. Life is meant to be challenging, and we are meant to face them, head on. It won't be easy but it is "do-able" :-)
Orrrrr... if every effort fails and nothing materialises, the last alternative would be - buy lotto everyday and pray fervently that you will win big bucks! Haha...
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