More companies are closing and more workers are made redundant here. People feel for the workers but
, when workers' unions ask for more salary, employers will find it difficult to stay viable. How else to give a raise other than to increase the price of their products and when price increases, their products may not be as saleable as before. Sometimes, workers just want to earn a living and remain at work for as long as he can. Unions simply make this hard to do.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Dog training ... Success!
My 7 month old pup is learning not to jump and bite me. Whenever he does that, I tell him in a calm voice 'no, don't do that'. I then folded my hands up and did not touch him at all. He looked unsure and immediately I said 'Sit'. It worked. He sat and waited for my next command. I then praised him and moved my hand to his left cheek then patted his head.
I'm so happy that it's working well this time.
I'm so happy that it's working well this time.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Summer Time
It has been rather hot for the past couple of days consecutively about 40degC or so. It was 35 degC on a night! There is some rain now which is so welcoming.
I'm thinking of heading to the beaches I had read in the Herald Sun. Dromana Beach (Mornington peninsula 70km south of Melbourne CBD), Lakes Entrance (at Gippsland Lakes' hub) 400km east of Melbourne CBD, Cowes Beach (Phillip Island, 140km southeast of Melbourne CBD), Betka Beach (Mallacoota 540km east of Melbourne CBD), and one in Great Ocean Rd, 140km of Melbourne CBD.
I also read an article on the papers by Jeff Kennett, the former premier of Victoria. He asked whether the Australians really need pay rises, that whether they think it better to try to stop the increasing cycle of demand because "every time we make a demand, you can bet your life that our costs go up accordingly."
He has a point there except I think not many people think about it that way. Not many people realise that by raising their wages, their company will have to increase its product pricing. If consumers don't purchase as many of the products, the company will suffer and may be forced to think of ways of cutting cost, one of which is to retrench its employees. Ultimately, the employee may lose his job.
I read about employees urging people to buy Australian. If the economy is not good, people will be trying to make their dollar stretch just a little. How to buy Australian if one can't afford Australian?
People need to start thinking about doing things in a better way so as to be more competitive in the global market, not by going head-on with his competitor and reducing his prices outright, but through training and learning new ways about doing things. There are innovations and new things coming up outside the country.
Investing in education and research is so important to be in the forefront. I hope more can be done because the government cannot continue to earn its revenue by imposing car park fines and property duties.
I'm thinking of heading to the beaches I had read in the Herald Sun. Dromana Beach (Mornington peninsula 70km south of Melbourne CBD), Lakes Entrance (at Gippsland Lakes' hub) 400km east of Melbourne CBD, Cowes Beach (Phillip Island, 140km southeast of Melbourne CBD), Betka Beach (Mallacoota 540km east of Melbourne CBD), and one in Great Ocean Rd, 140km of Melbourne CBD.
I also read an article on the papers by Jeff Kennett, the former premier of Victoria. He asked whether the Australians really need pay rises, that whether they think it better to try to stop the increasing cycle of demand because "every time we make a demand, you can bet your life that our costs go up accordingly."
He has a point there except I think not many people think about it that way. Not many people realise that by raising their wages, their company will have to increase its product pricing. If consumers don't purchase as many of the products, the company will suffer and may be forced to think of ways of cutting cost, one of which is to retrench its employees. Ultimately, the employee may lose his job.
I read about employees urging people to buy Australian. If the economy is not good, people will be trying to make their dollar stretch just a little. How to buy Australian if one can't afford Australian?
People need to start thinking about doing things in a better way so as to be more competitive in the global market, not by going head-on with his competitor and reducing his prices outright, but through training and learning new ways about doing things. There are innovations and new things coming up outside the country.
Investing in education and research is so important to be in the forefront. I hope more can be done because the government cannot continue to earn its revenue by imposing car park fines and property duties.
Friday, December 30, 2011
The high cost of School Books and Uniforms
It's time to buy text books and school uniforms for the kids. I can't believe I have to pay seventy dollars for a science text book!
A text book in Singapore probably costs S$13. One can buy 5 of those books.
We have to buy secondhand books which are half the price of a new book, still expensive and in such horrible condition!
I don't think it's right to have to price a text book or uniform so dear.
I don't really think the new year is exciting to look forward to. I feel for my children to have to use books that are definitely in a sorry state.
A text book in Singapore probably costs S$13. One can buy 5 of those books.
We have to buy secondhand books which are half the price of a new book, still expensive and in such horrible condition!
I don't think it's right to have to price a text book or uniform so dear.
I don't really think the new year is exciting to look forward to. I feel for my children to have to use books that are definitely in a sorry state.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Australia
We're in Australia for a while now and are more or less settled.
Many things baffle me.
Charities are everywhere. Schools seem to raise a large amount of funds. Parents must often
feel the pressure to have to contribute.
Private school fees are about A$17,000 or more per year. I can't find an all boys public school here. In Singapore, education is free, even for all boys catholic school or all girls catholic school. I wish the schools here are like that too.
Flea markets ask for a gold coin donation which is either $1 or $2. This is strange to me.
Buying a house isn't simple either. There are auctions and when the house agent say that the selling price of a house is between a range of $300000-$360000, it may not be so as the vendor wants a minimum of $390000! (what they call a vendor's bid). To me, it doesn't make sense and is dishonest. Why have the buyer think they can buy at the price range, only to be disappointed after waiting all those weeks prior to auction day.
Many things baffle me.
Charities are everywhere. Schools seem to raise a large amount of funds. Parents must often
feel the pressure to have to contribute.
Private school fees are about A$17,000 or more per year. I can't find an all boys public school here. In Singapore, education is free, even for all boys catholic school or all girls catholic school. I wish the schools here are like that too.
Flea markets ask for a gold coin donation which is either $1 or $2. This is strange to me.
Buying a house isn't simple either. There are auctions and when the house agent say that the selling price of a house is between a range of $300000-$360000, it may not be so as the vendor wants a minimum of $390000! (what they call a vendor's bid). To me, it doesn't make sense and is dishonest. Why have the buyer think they can buy at the price range, only to be disappointed after waiting all those weeks prior to auction day.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
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