TV Stations – Can they ever get it right?

One thing I have found in my 35 years, is never get used to a Tv show on Australian television.  Just as you get used to something great, they take it off, for something crap.

An example of this is Channel Ten.  I am a huge Law and Order fanatic.  Love the original series, SVU and Criminal Intent.  Now SVU is showing on Thursday nights on 10 and I get my fix of Benson and Stabler ((Christopher Meloni can arrest me anyday).  Now about 6 weeks ago, maybe more, they decided to bring back the original Law and Order, show the last 3 episodes of Season 17 and then start Season 18.  Well, I was very excited about this, because my favourite and the most underated actor, on TV,  was to star in the final episode for Season 17 and join for Season 18 as Jesse L Martin’s (Det Ed Green) new partner.  His name is Jeremy Sisto and as well, as being god damm sexy, he is a brillant actor, some of you maybe familiar with his creepy portrayal on “Six Feet Under”, as Brenda’s incestous and psycho brother Billy.   Well, I was fortunate enough to catch the last episodes, saw him in the role and then at the end of the final episode they preview Season 18 and focused on Mr Sisto’s character Det Cyrus Lupo.  Below is the promo Channel Ten did for Law and Order Season 18.

 

As you can see they have made a big hoo hah about the new season and you would expect it would get a lot of people interested in watching it.  They put it on at 9.30pm, after another great show “Good News Week”, and for two weeks, we all sat back and watched the new season.  Until that stupid show, that still comes back every year started.   The one and only “BIG BROTHER”.   Now that this moronic show is back on, they have taken off, the new season of Law and Order.  After only THREE episodes.  Now I was pretty pissed off, not only did I have a chance to monopolise the TV, for a change,  but I got my weekly dose of Sisto, and some good crime solving to boot.  I rang the station and was told that the writers strike was preventing it from being shown.  

Hello, Writers strike is over!!!    What a load of crap!!!  Law and Order was of the few Tv shows that had 13 episodes already written and ready to show on TV.  So they had 13 weeks of Episodes.  They started showing these episodes in America in January.

Why start the new season, if they do not have the episodes.  Why not just say, that Big Brother was more important.  Mind you, how anyone can justify watching a pack of 20 somethings and the odd 30 something person, talking about the size of penises, how many times they can burp in one sitting, who was their first root, and then the sickening attitude when someone is evicted.  “We love you”, even though they have only just meet 3 hours before, beats me.  Yes, I am guilty of watching Big Brother in the early seasons, but now, tragic.  My husband and son still watch Friday night games and the eviction show, and sometimes Don will watch Big Brother – Big Mouth (which, ironically is the show they took Law and Order off for), as he is a big fan of boobs and but, and hopes to see some of that.  Hopefully this show will not last, like all the other spin offs of Big Brother and my beloved Law and Order will return. 

Channel Ten is not the only station doing this.  Hubby is a huge fan of “Lost”, and Channel Seven have taken that off after a few episodes.  They have replaced it with “Trinny and Susannah – Undressed”, which I might add, I would choose over Lost anyday, but my hubby loves his show, and was like me, just starting to get into it again.

That is why so many people have cable.  This way we can see all our favourite shows, without the possiblity of it being taken off.  My hubby and I have just finished watching the Season 2 finale of “Dexter”.  Now if that was on free-air tv do you think we would have gotten to Season 2, this easily.  NO. 

One day, in all of our dreams, maybe just maybe the Tv stations will get it right.  Until then, I will continue to pay my foxtel subscription, so that I can watch the shows uninterrupted.

Until next time, Ciao..

Mother’s Day

Well, today marks yet another Mother’s Day for yours truly.  I have had 10 Mother’s Day now and each one gets better and better every year.  Unfortunatly this years is a little boring, as I have 3 sick family members, including myself.  My daughter started the bug, by throwing up on the bus last Wednesday, followed by her daddy being sick all yesterday.  My son and I have been sick all morning, hubby still feels a bit under the weather, but my darling 3 year old who started all of this, is running around the house, telling everyone that she is dressed and ready to go out.  She is wearing a singlet top, denim skirt and boots (even though it is nearly winter) and is ready to party.   Mind you, the rest of us, just want to collapse in a heap.  Which is the reason for this blog.  What exactly does Mother’s day mean to everyone.  As this year, I cannot be pampered or taken out, does that make the day a disaster, I do not think so.  To me, everyday is Mother’s day.  I remember being told by my doctor, that in order to have children, I would have to be careful and plan each pregnancy.  Being an Epileptic, pregnancy can make the seizures more frequent and can also cause deformities in children, through the medication.    Well, even though none of my pregnancies were planned, and I suffered greatly through each one, would I change it.  Nah!!  One of my children was born with a condition called “Distal Arthrogryposis Type IIA” otherwise known as “Gordon Syndrome”

 ”Gordon syndrome is an extremely rare disorder that belongs to a group of genetic disorders known as the distal arthrogryposes. These disorders typically involve stiffness and impaired mobility of certain joints of the lower arms and legs (distal extremities) including the knees, elbows, wrists, and/or ankles. These joints tend to be permanently fixed in a bent or flexed position (contractures). Gordon syndrome is characterized by the permanent fixation of several fingers in a flexed position (camptodactyly), abnormal bending inward of the foot (clubfoot or talipes), and, less frequently, incomplete closure of the roof of the mouth (cleft palate). In some cases, additional abnormalities may also be present. The range and severity of symptoms may vary from case to case. Gordon syndrome is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.”

  This little lady or diva, has been through more than anyone can imagine.  She has had 4 operations to date.  Cleft Palate repair, left and right foot repair and left and right finger/thumb release.  She is due to have more surgery on her palate later this year, and sees 10 different specialists.  When we were having our 22 week ultrasound, the doctor picked up on abnormalities, and asked us if we wanted to abort.  We asked if any of it was intellectual and he said that all he can pick up was some physical problems.   I am only a believer in abortion if the childs quality of life is going to be zilch.  Well, this little girl arrived problems and all, but to say do we regret the last 3 1/2 years.  No.  She goes a million miles a minute.  Everyone that meets her, falls in love with her.  She walks, talks, annoys, and has such a zest for life, that you sometimes forget that she is disabled.  I will not deny that the those years have been difficult.  I suffered Post natal depression as a result of it; my husband had to give up work for 12 months, and to say that it has been very difficult on our eldest, is an understatement.  He has had to go without Mum and Dad, some nights, spend his weekends and afterschool time in hospital and being made to take a back seat in all of this.  Yes, he complains, but he is also the most helpful young man, anyone can ever meet.  He is mature beyond his years, and the only problem is has with his little sister is simply “she is so annoying, can’t she leave me alone”.  Not that the medical stuff doesn’t bother him, it does, but he knows that she cannot help it, and the fact, that she is able to get around like she does, is a miracle.

You might all say, is bringing a child into the world like this, worth it.  This whole situation has made me appreciate what is most important in this world.  Happiness.  My brother was visting from Thailand at Christmas and stayed with us.  One of the things he noticed about my family, is how relaxed we all our in each others company. Yes, we fight and I am like Lynette of Desperate Housewifes most of the time, but we do not expect the earth of each other, and it shows.   

This is my message for all the mums out there, or future mums.  Mother’s day is not about getting the best presents, or the breakfast in bed.  It is, about reflecting on how much joy our children have bought us over the years and appreciating the life we have.  I remember Mother’s day growing up in my household and heaven forbid if you did not get my mother both a Mother’s day present and birthday present (her birthday is around Mother’s Day).   Why was this so important?  I have never understood and probably never will.  I have asked her and just get the response, ” I put up with alot from you kids, I deserve a little gift”.  Since when did motherhood come with a pricetag.

So enjoy what is left of your day.  Reflect on the wonderful times, and the not so good times, and remember Motherhood is priceless.

 

Melbourne Public Transport System

This is my very first blog, and I have been introduced to this world, by my brothers.  I have a lot of grieviances and think this is a great place to air them, and hear other peoples responses.   I am a stay at home mum, that does not drive, who has a child with special needs;  a million in one medical conditions, but still manages to get ahead.  These blogs will be about everyday issues that either annoy, fascinate or bewilder me.  I hope that you will enjoy, maybe laugh, disagree or just have a read.

I am a Melbourne girl born and bred.  Spent 4 years in Qld, but ended up coming home, due to family matters.  One thing that did not change while I was away was our beloved public transport.  Queensland is not much better, but at least their trains our clean and run on time.  Please explain how (Melbournians will understand this blog more), the state government can justify, having low floor trams everywhere around Melbourne, but the hospital district, and still have those horrible smelly buses with those awful high steps.  As I am currently tackling the Victorian roads on my L’s, I still have to travel on public transport.  Every month, sometimes up to 4 times a month, my 3 year old daughter and I tackle transport into the city, so that we can attend her specialist appointments.  My daughter has a condition called Distal Arthrogryposis, but more about that in another blog, and even though she can walk, she is only able to do it, for a certain amount of time.  Therefore we always have to take her stroller, because by the time we come home she is exhausted, sore and cannot walk.  Well, do you think we can get onto public transport with ease. 

Get real!!!  

 We need to take a bus, which is sometimes low floor.  What I mean by low floor, is that they have a ramp, so that you can get on with ease.  Other times they have steps.  The bus drivers hardly ever help, they mainly sit on their fat lazy behinds and just look at you.  Then once I get her on, and the stroller, I then have 5 seconds to get her seated, before Mr bus driver takes off at 100kmh.  Last time I looked Lower Dandenong Road, did not quite look like Bathurst, or a Formula 1 circuit.  We then have a 10 mintue ride to the train station, of which we are holding on for dear life, as the driver still thinks he is is racing against Michael Schumacher.  We get to the train staion in one piece and proceed to get on the train.  This is the best part of the journey, as I have no trouble getting her on.  The only problem is that you need to get to the station 2 hours before your appointment, so that you get in their on time.  Mind you, it is only a 30 minute train ride to the city.  Once we arrive in the city, I then have to catch a tram 10 mintues up the road to the Royal Childrens Hospital.  This could be a very simple trip, instead I have to struggle to get a child and stroller onto very high steps all in a matter of 2 minutes.  All the while, people are just looking at me, some help, most do not.  10 mintues later we arrive at a destination, exhausted, hot, tired and ready to go home.  But, wait we cannot go home yet, as we have just arrived.  Later in the afternoon I have to go through it all over again, and this time with the peak hour rush.

My message here is that it is time our Premier listened to the little people.  Our system needs a major overhaul.  Having old trams running through the hospital route is stupid.   Letting the Private Bus Companies get away with bad customer service and then expecting that taking seats out of the trains will fix the problem.

Everyone needs have to be met.  The roads are too congested, because the public transport is crap.  The public transport is congested, because the roads are too congested and people think public transport is easier.  We cannot win.  Instead of spending money on overhauling the trains yards, to make them look fancier and new football stadiums.  Use it to help the everyday person.  Make it easier for us who do not drive and do not have access to a car during the day. 

I do not want to have to drive everywhere, but this why I need to get my licence.  I cannot get around anywhere without a degree of difficulty.  Why?  Ask John Brumby.

Excuse my spelling and grammer.

Sit back read, comment and enjoy