Have you ever wondered why you look at the clock when you wake in the dead of night?

I try not to, I really do but when I’ve been lying in bed for what seems like an eternity being very still, quiet and getting very frustrated, sometimes I just can’t help it, I look.

I think that you look maybe so you can martyr yourself later the next day or to preempt and justify why you look like crap.

Best Friend – “Gee you look tired”

Me – “ Yeah I woke up at 4.30am and couldn’t get back to sleep, then the husband woke up, then the baby was due to wake up and then, well it just wasn’t worth going back to sleep.”

Later in the day….

Me to Hubby – “I’m absolutely shattered I’ve been awake since 4.30am this morning, couldn’t get back to sleep.”

Are we hoping for the sympathy vote? Maybe we want them to cut us a little slack when they get home for the witching hour.

Or are we just asking for a little empathy for the million and one things you decided you needed to sort out in your head when you woke up worrying at 4.30am.

I’m not sure but one things for sure, I hope I sleep well tonight!

1.  Choose a domain name  You need to choose a name obviously!  Do you want to branded based on the names you were born with or do you want people to look for you blog name, or business name or industry? What will be easy for people to search on the internet to find you quickly?  Is it a combination of some of the above?  I spent months, no years trying to rebrand myself and in the end I went for a combination of my name and my industry.  Try out some of your domain names examples on friends, google what others in your industry are called, check out industry body contacts databases for examples.  When you do pick a domain name, ask yourself if it’s easily understood on the phone, otherwise you’ll spend a lot of time spelling it out to people.
2. Find out if the domain name you want is available.  So you want to register littlelamb.com, you can check if it’s available on one of the many sites that register domains like godaddy.com, crazydomains.com.au and hostgator.com.  Check if it’s available by typing it into their domain search bar (located in different places on different sites).  If the domain name you want is Australian ie littlelamb.com.au you can do it through american sites like godaddy.com but it is a little bit more fiddly. You can’t go through their simple online process  you’ll have to email them directly and sort it out.  Easier to go with an australian company if you want to register an australian domain name.
3. Register the domain nameTo get the domain name little lamb register it with one of the companies that you have carefully researched. I use godaddy.com but there are lots of others. Ask friends and do your research, you’ll save cash.  My first registered domain name cost me more than $100 per year.   I didn’t do any research and went with the recommendation from one friend.  Now after learning a lot more about it from sites like thecreativepenn.com and www.entrepreneurs-journey.com, I pay around $15 per year to register my domain name.  Even less if I register for a number of years in advance.
4. Get hosting Now that you have your domain name you need to get online and into cyberspace, to do that you’ll need to get hosting for your website and email.  More on that in Part 2!

“Why did they take our baby?” by Caroline Overton

The Weekend Australian’s Article on baby Bella back in November 2010, was disturbing.

Journalist Caroline Overington told the story of two loving parents who decided against risky surgery on their baby.   Bella was made a ward of the state, had the operations and went into foster care.  She was then adopted out by her foster parents, severing any hope of contact with her natural parents until she comes of age.  This was despite the fact that all along her natural parents fought for her return.

As a parent and a mother the story sent shivers down my spine and I felt compelled to give feedback on the article.

The reader response to the story was overwhelming and The Weekend Australian Magazine published mine and six other responses on their feedback page.

Below is the article link and feedback.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/give-us-back-our-baby/story-e6frg8h6-1225945289205

If I said Twitter/flash fiction, SMS novel, wiki or stanza would I be speaking another language to you?

Well get learning writers, because these new languages are here to stay and author/blogger Joanna Penn tells the story in Module 1 of her Author 2.0 online course.

Cross media platforms are opening up new worlds to authors and turning their stories into three-dimensional creations.

As I delved into this module , the traditionalist in me wanted to reject the cross media worlds that authors are creating and that readers can be part of, contribute to and enjoy.

But the struggling for direction writer in me was stronger than the traditionalist and I got excited about these new directions.

Authors can add value to their printed text by using all sorts of new media streams like podcasts, youtube clips, videos, websites and on line alternate realities as well as a myriad of new ways to publish fiction.

Paper novels are so yesterday, now there are Twitter, Flash, Wiki, Blog and mobile phone novels to consider.

When I finally get around to writing my psychological thriller, romance, or historical fiction, so many tools will be available to me.

I’ll create blogs for my protagonist, websites for their favourite places, and many more online clues to value add to the readers experience.

As well as that I’ll invite my readers to become part of my story just like J. C Hutchins does.

I will make readers a member of the communities my characters lives in.

They will create material, images and insights that will become part of the characters world.

And once I’ve done all of that and gathered a following of thousands, I’lll have learnt a new language and become part of the cross media revolution forever.

Having children is a dramatic change to your life.  For me after 35 years of doing pretty much whatever I wanted, then being committed to a tiny human being that needed me 24/7 was a big change.  It also meant that I got more creative about where I went when I wanted to get out and have a break.

When you have kids, me time can go out the window.  But it doesn’t have to.  With a little bit of research and some creativity parents can find places to go where they get some down time and the kids get some play time.

Here are some of my favourite places for down time with the kids:

Cafes. People with children know what’s it’s like to try and have a coffee in peace.  Perhaps that’s why places like Cafe 89 on Market Street in Mudgee spring up.  These guys have set up an open play pen filled with books, colouring pencils, toys and tiny people furniture.  The coffee is good and the silence from the happy children is golden!

McDonalds. Commercial but practical.  Most mcrestaurants have playgrounds where the kids can play and you can sit outside and enjoy a coffee.

Public playgrounds.  Grab a take away coffee for you and some snacks for the kids and go to one of the many gated playgrounds that are popping up all over the place.  Mudgee has Lawson’s Park, in QLD there’s the Pirate Park, Scarborough. Check with your local council for one in your area.

Indoor playcentres. Indoor play centres are great for mum’s with kids of all ages.  For around $8 you get entry to an enclosed play centre.  They usually have an under two’s and an older kids area.  While you’re there you can get a coffee and something to eat at a reasonable price, which makes up for the fact there’s generally no outside snacks allowed. In Mudgee there’s Bizzy bodz and in bigger centres like Brisbane there’s places like Little Tiggers.  They’re also great places for a rainy day, but get there early on wet weather days a lot of mums have the same idea!

Public Swimming Pools. In the warmer weather the pool can be a great place to cool off and relax.  Bring along a rug, snacks, sunscreen, hats and you’re in business.  Plenty of room to roam, swim and chill out.

That’s my top five, what are yours??

It’s official after three weeks in Mudgee I’m no longer the new girl at Playgroup.

This week Cheeky Monkey and I headed off to playgroup for the second time since we arrived in Mudgee three weeks ago.  Lo and behold one of the lovely ladies that came along had only been in town one week.

Being the new person is always a bit tough but after moving to smaller towns three times in the last six years I’ve discovered ways to ease the pain of making friends.

1. Get a job. A sure fire way to meet people in town is to get a job.  The first friends you make will be your workmates (hopefully!).  Find out what their interests and leisure activities are.   If you have a common interest tag along to their netball, gym, running etc session. Most people like to be able to introduce a new face.   Chances are your new job will also have you dealing with customers or other businesses.  Already you’ve found three sources of new friends.  What do you do if you are mum to some other cheeky monkeys…
2. Contact the human resources coodinators at your partners work.  They relocate people all the times. Chances are they can put you in touch with key community group contacts like childcare or at least point you in the right direction.
3. Join a community group.  Does the area you’ve moved to have a Lions, Scouts, or Rotary group?  Give them a call, go along to a meeting and meet the people who are part of your new community.
4. Volunteer your time at an educational institution.  Schools, daycare and kindergarten’s are always underfunded and understaffed and often on the lookout for volunteers for reading, tuckshop, workbees, fundraising and other activities.
5. Join the gym, sporting group or special interest group.  Gyms and sporting groups like netball, Rugby league, basketball are great for meeting people, keeping fit and staying sane.
6. Got kids? join a playgroup. Playgroup is an association that is in most Australian states and territories.  Some groups run a once a week session, others may run every day.  The sessions usually go for two hours and the first two times you go are free.  After that it’s $40 for the year. The not-for-profit group meet in a community buildings and some have their own dedicated centres. Parents and carers take turns coordinating weekly activates and bringing tasty treats for morning tea.
7. Utilise social networking websites.  Facebook, twitter, online forums are great places to meet people in your new area.  Search the name of your new town and see what groups come up, mothers groups, buy, swap, sell are common ones.
8. Visit you local council.  Get on line and visit your new coucil website or better still visit there office and see what information is available for newcomers.  Councils are great places for finding out about the community health centre, registering your dog and other local services.
9. Keep up-to-date with local media.  Buy the local paper, watch and listen to the local news channels, find the community noticeboards.  All of these sources will provide regular information through news stories, bulletins and information on what’s going on in your town.
10. Talk to everyone and get involved.  Have a chat standing in the bank queue, at the post office, to shop assistants and go to the local events.  You just never know where your next new friend is hiding!

After six years in the community of Tieri, we are moving to Mudgee.  The removalists are coming, the dog is organised but there’s much more to moving than that. Below are my top tips to take care of before you move.