Free Basketballs for Kids in need
October 31, 2008
One of Zulu’s Community long time supporters, who wishes to remain nameless - (but let’s just call him Michael) has generously donated 50 Basketballs to Zulu’s Community left over from a promotion.
Basketballs for kids in need
“Michael” and Zulu’s Community would like to donate these basketballs to projects or organisations that support children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds - either in Australia or overseas. So, If know of or a re connected to a project or cause who would LOVE to have some of these basketballs, please send me an email and tell me about your organisation and your kids. First in - best dressed!
- Limit of 10 balls per organisation - they are flat and need to be inflated.
- Collect from Balmain by Friday 14 November
Sue’s AMAZING Winged creature photos
September 30, 2008
Check out these photos that I took in PNG and Lao!
Orange Dragonfly - Lao -July 2008
Moth and fly - can you see the fly? Hidden Valley, PNG - September 2008
Red Dragonfly - Lao - July 2008
ORDER your 100% Soy Candles with spice and soul NOW in time for Christmas!
September 29, 2008
Zulu Candles for Community is a brand new initiative by Zulu’s Community - offering you the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and spicy fragrance of burning candles made out of 100% natural soy wax, and contributing to some very special community innitiatives in the Congo.
Choose from our specially selected range of 100% natural Soy candles scented with Spiced Orange or Cinnamon Spice and give your friends, family and clients a gift that will be appreciated and loved for its beauty, simplicity and supports the principles of good health, sustainable living and giving back to our communities.
WHY SOY CANDLES? -The benefits are CLEAR
Improve your own environment by Saying NO to toxic, chemical and environmentally UNFRIENDLY paraffin wax candles and choosing 100% natural soy -click here to read more about the pros of soy and the cons of paraffin
Proudly supporting Communities in the Congo
Zulu’s Community aims to raise $2000 from the sale of this special range of 100% natural soy candles with $1.50 from every item purchased from the spice and soul range donated to Lucy’s Congo Canoe Challenge 2008, helping communities in the Congo in Africa - find out more
The spice and soul range of 100% natural Soy Candles
Candles will be made to order and are 100% natural and made exclusively for Zulu. Choose from Spiced Orange or Cinnamon spice fragranced candles in three beautiful styles.
Mosaic Candles $28.50 + GST includes $1.50 donation
Comes in Heart Throb Red, Pearl or Clear.
Burns for 38 hours and come in a refillable glass mosaic holder or reuse with a tealight
Can come individually packaged and ready to give
Melt your heart & tea light candle gift pack
$18.50 + GST includes $1.50 donation
6 Tea lights and 5melts in a lovely pack.
Tea lights burn for 6 hours and melts last for ages in your oil burner
Melt your heart and Tea Light takeaway packs
6 melts come in a pretty take away pack $10.00 + GST
9 unscented Tea lights in a pretty take away pack $13.50 + GST
YOUR ORDER - Click here for the order form
EARLY BIRD ORDERS - ORDER BEFORE 15 OCTOBER RECEIVE A ZULU GIFT.
- The earlier you order - the sooner we will make your candles - the faster you can receive them!
- Last orders are to be received by 15TH November 2008
- Your orders will be confirmed back to you and invoiced before we make them.
- The unit price includes a $1.50 donation to charity and will be paid by Zulu Communication to our chosen charity in one lump sum
PICK UP ARRANGEMENTS OR DELIVERY CHARGES
- We will confirm your delivery charges or pick up arrangements according to your order.
- Last delivery date is 5 December 2008
BUSINESS, BULK & CORPORATE ORDERS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL PRICING OPTIONS. CONTACT Sue on 02 98108187 TO DISCUSS YOUR NEEDS.
Crossing the swollen Mumeng River on the way to Hidden Valley
September 27, 2008
Here’s the story about crossing the Mumeng River in Papua New Guinea.
- Watching the morning river crossing is a major spectator sport for the villagers
During my September trip to PNG and on one of our travel days - we were on the road at 7:30am to travel the 3-4 hours of mountain roads up to one of our mine sites - Hidden Valley.
The journey promised to be exciting and the day long - as we planned to visit two sites this day - which required us to cross the swollen Mumeng River about an hour out of town.
It had been raining hard all night and steadily spitting with rain in the morning as we left Lae.
As we crossed over the bridges on the way - we felt that it was a fair expectation that the river would be up and this major crossing where there was no bridge.
Arriving at Mumeng
When we arrived at 9:00am- we joined a queue of 4WDs and trucks on our side of the river - and got out to survey the scene. We watched the trucks and vehicles crossing and decided to give it a go and fang it across the river.
Hairy scarey or WHAT! We crossed - went up to Hidden Valley mine site - and were back on the nose of 2pm - racing the rain clouds in the mountain - to cross back over before the afternoon rains from the mountains made it to this part of the river, making the crossing impossible.
- The big diggers are trying to build up the bed of the river so that the vehicles can cross
Surveying the scene and deciding whether to cross
- I stepped the wrong way - ended up ankle deep in mud - and entertained the locals….
Winter white as a ghost – I make small children cry!
September 27, 2008
I need to work on taking the glare off my very Sydney winter white skin, because on my recent trip to Lihir, I was making small children cry - mistaken as a GHOST.
I have only ever been mistaken for a “white” person once before - in Zimbabwe in Africa… and now here in PNG - it seems there is only black and white with no other shades or colours in between.
On my drive around the island of Lihir - we stopped half way around to visit a village on the beach who had just finished their church service.
I stepped out of our vehicle - and immediately spotted some children playing on the black sand beach.
I followed the kids down the beach - with my camera and was followed by more kids and we had ourselves a little photo session - most of them were fascinated!
One of the little boys in the group started to cry- and I was then told that he was scared because I am WHITE and he thinks I am a ghost. They don’t see any other people in this part of the island - so I am considered white and frightening.
Can you spot the ghost?
Here are some of the photos from my very short time with this village.
YOUR BOOBS - an issue close to my heart in OCTOBER
September 18, 2008
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - if anyone has a right to get on the Breast Cancer band waggon, it’s me.
Every October - I am faced with the issue of Breast Cancer as I remember my dear mother, Lynette - who passed away on 12 October 1993 at the age of 52 after a five-year battle with the disease.
I am considered “High Risk” for breast cancer because of my “significant family history ” with this disease . Two of my mother’s sisters have also had breast cancer, my auntie Marilyn losing her 17-year battle in 2005. Because of this history and having gone through my own breast-related issues/treatment over a period of years, I am monitored annually by the Hereditary Cancer Clinic and am part of the high-risk group the at Prince of Wales Hospital.
KEEP ABREAST OF BREAST CANCER
In particular - Women aged 50-69 should have a mammogram every two years. Just because you are not of this age group does NOT mean that you should not know what to be looking out for! To ALL women (and men too) - particularly young women who may think that Breast Cancer is not a topic they need to think about right now - please take the time to find out a bit more about this disease - that affects 1:8 women in Australia.
FREE INFORMATION POSTERS
Here are some FREE information posters that I produced for Breast Cancer Awareness month in 2007 for my client St George Private Hospital - who I thank for allowing me to use them here at Zulu.
Please do forward this post to your friends.
ALL THE VERY “BREAST” to you this month
Something funny happened on the way to New Guinea…………
August 17, 2008
Well - it wasn’t really FUNNY -HAHA. But at the end of the day - I sure had to have a sense of humour and an easy going attitude to get me through.
On route to Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea with my client early this month - a few things happened which would certainly stop most people in their tracks.
On arrival at Sydney Airport at 6:00am - I was informed that PNG’s national carrier had changed planes ( smaller plane) and that I didn’t have a seat on it. My client Marcus was already though immigration and in the Qantas Club having the ONLY real coffee we were going to get for 5 days……………………………
I was told that only after check-in closed would I know if I had a seat on the plane. There were 5 of us standing by the check-in counter in a quiet panic.
No amount of jumping up and down and panic stricken phone calls was going to make a hill of beans of difference in this situation. Long story short - we made it on the flight - getting our boarding passes one by one ( I was last) 15 minutes before the flight was scheduled to depart.
As punishment for getting on the plane - about - 20 of us didn’t receive our luggage at the other end.
So - I had arrived on a tropical island after a very long day of travel and set for 4 more days of intensive work - “sans luggage”.
Marcus had called ahead to let the crew know that I need to have in my room ” all the things that a woman needs”. They were told to prepare for a “small” woman.
When I arrived - there were indeed - all the toiletries in the world that a woman could want - AND more……….. and a pile of small clothes ( not a small pile of clothes - a pile of small clothes) on the bed. The girls had done their best at the local market.
They had also lovingly put a fruit and cheese platter in the fridge - SO thoughtful. That’s “rockstar” service if you ask me!
YOU’RE NOT SMALL……………..
Never have three words had so much impact on me - or made me laugh so much.
The first thing Tarama ( the girl whose task it was to create my room) said was - after looking me up and down :” You’re not small - they told me you were small - you’re not small”
To which I replied : ” I would have said medium myself”
I was introduced from then on as: “This is Sue. She’s NOT small”
SO here’s how it panned out:
- the clothes very thoughtfully selected for me ( from a limited local market selection mind you) and washed and ironed - would have fit a 16 year old girl - either that or I would have looked like a hooker wearing them.
- one very thoughtful staff member bought me a t-shirt and copped an absolute ribbing from the bosses for it. ( It was very sweet - you guys are SO mean)
- I was given a new pair of steel capped work boots to save killing my new leather boots on the rocky paths. TWO sizes too big tho - so I clomped around like “olive oyl” for a few days - the steel caps doing absolutely NO good if I had have tripped over and face planted the road.
- my luggage finally arrived Sydney -via Brisbane- Via Port Moresby - Via Rabaul -to Lihir afternoon of the 3rd day. I left at the break of day on day 5. Thanks Air Nugini……………………. NOT
Thanks though to NCS for such care and “rock star” treatment. I truly had a ball up on Lihir and can’t wait to come back!
And your reward is…………… A CHICKEN!
August 17, 2008
One of the most heartwarming experiences during my recent trip with my client NCS to their flag-ship camp operation on Lihir Island in Papua New Guinea, was being an observer at their monthly staff meeting.
Gathered together were perhaps 250 local workers who were on shift at that time to, amongst other things - find out who the employee of the month award winners were…………………………
STAFF CHICKEN AWARDS
That’s right - the employees of the month win a chicken!
The staff chicken awards are a serious incentive and reward program - not a joke! Most local employees live in village environment where food and supplies have to stretch across many people. A chicken reward is JUST what the “doctor ordered”!
I’ve never seen people so proud and happy to receive a chicken, and it’s so very, very simple, appropriate, relevant, meaningful, practical AND appreciated!
Giving: Zulu regularly gives special gourmet sauce as a gift - and most people receive a funky Zulu pen - and although small and low-priced items, both have big impact and is sincerely appreciated and remembered by all those who receive it!
Receiving: I often receive movie vouchers and scratchies, and one of Zulu’s associates has given gifts of LARGE boxes of handmade, delicious gourmet chocolates for successful referrals. I LOVE IT! One gift helps me switch off and be entertained, one gift could make me rich and one gift is sure to keep me happy during my 3:00pm slump!
So what works and what doesn’t work?
- What do you give as acknowledgements, incentives and rewards to your client or staff?
- What kinds of things have you received from your clients, associates or employers?
- Does the value of the spend need to equate to or reflect the level of appreciation?
I’d love to know what you think! Leave a comment on by blog!!
PS: The chickens are frozen by the way…. not live……………………..
Great little book on Confidence
July 22, 2008
I found this little gem on my travels.
a Thousand Paths to confidence by David Baird - ISBN978-1-84601-206-8
Here’s one little gem:
“Every moment of our life is absolutely precious and is not to be wasted in self-doubt. The wish to be confident and to live life with confidence is the vital first step. If you are prepared to take it, congratulate yourself - you have begun your journey on the path to confidence”.
I will share the other 999 paths to confidence as we go along. If you can’t wait - try and grab yourself a copy!
There is also “a thousand paths to creativity” by David Baird that is also worth seeking out… cover looks the same - just say’s creativity and not confidence.
My pre-emptive strike on becoming a PDA addict
July 8, 2008
Ok - so this morning - the eve of my long anticipated holiday - I am eagerly awaiting the (late) delivery of my new mobile phone.
I use the word mobile phone loosley- because that’s only one of its functions.
I have recently "persuaded" myself to embrace technology - step up - and get a "smart phone" / PDA device.
I’ve been holding back for a while now. I see a lot of my friends in and out of business glued to these devices and SWEAR that I don’t want to go there. I don’t want to be addicted to a small, small screen or fixated on hearing the "beep" notification that some more spam has been delivered to my inbox.
So why did I get it?
Is it peer pressure, shame or envy that has prompted this new embrace of the technology age? It’s a bit of "all of the above" - as well as the need to be a bit more accessible as I’m out of the office a whole lot more.
I really only intend to use this new device as a phone with the capability of doing OTHER things…………occasionally. I do want to still be able to have a conversation - business or social - without being distracted by the potential of being contacted by someone else by email. I still want the people and the business that I do face to face to take priority.
So - here’s my tetative pre-emptive strike on the PDA - a contract to me to ensure I don’t become addicted and antisocial with over use. I’ll let you borrow some of these rules too if you like!
- Avoid pulling out the "device" at dinner with friends - unless that is we’re seaching for something on the internet that’s relevant to the conversation. Furvative glances every 5 seconds is a bit off- putting and not a good tactic for engaging in meaningful face to face interaction.
- No PDA at the movies - the worst use I’ve seen has been constant SMS and email checking at the movies. I mean - WHY BOTHER going to the movies if you can’t separate yourself from the small screen to enjoy the big screen?
- No games on the PDA - I don’t play games on screen - usually. In the 80’s I was addicted to the arcade game Galaga (showing my age again - but who WASN’T loving Galaga in the 80’s??) I have no Wii, Nintendo, Xbox or whatever (maybe I don’t know what I’m missing) And I do prefer good oldfashioned card games, scrabble, backgammon and playing Poker - around a table with friends on a Saturday night!!
- No checking email in the early AMs - chances are the only email I’ll be getting at the "witching hour" when I have insomnia - is SPAM.
- No sending email in the early AMs - when you have insomnia - and the evil monkey on your back is messing with your head - this is NOT the right time to send emails……….. for SO many reasons
- NO PDA while driving - it’s tempting - I know - to respond to texts and emails while driving - but hey - it’s REALLY not safe.
This is all academic -until I recieve the thing and work out a) how to use it and b) get data turned on and actually start using it. I’ll keep you posted on progress - or not!
