auction or no auction

I have recently developed a fasination with rings. The kind one wears as decerations on their fingers. As this little hobby as developed so has the addiction to ebay and other local auctions. This hobby has also evolved that i am thinking about buying jewellery at these auctions and then trying to make a profit selling them on ebay.
This weekend there are two auctions on. One quite local and the other local enough. I have decided not to go to the local one because nothing there has taken my fancy to buy. Afterall if i am going to resell it, then at least i should have some kind of fancy for it, right?
The other auction has at least seven lots that i like. So was thinking i should go and have some fun if nothing. However my knowledge on hallmarks, what makes a quality ring, and telling stones apart is very limited, let alone how much these items are actually worth!
So the two delimmas i have is do i risk buying a couple of lots in the hopes that i can resell and make a profit? And where and how do i go about learning more info on these subjects? Any ideas? Is this one subject that you can self-educate on google, or does one require a little more formal education?
Would love to see what thoughts people have on this, or any advice.
Thanks

Missy

I recently wrote a short sory on my cat that i adopted from a local animal rescue group. I like what i have written so will post it here. It has been a while since posts.

Hi my name is Missy, and this is my happy adoption tail, opps sorry tale! When I first arrived at my new home I was a rescue from the pound. Apparently the girls at the vet thought I was super awesome and sent me to Forever Friends to find a nice place to snuggle down. As it would turn out my foster mum thought I was pretty awesome as well and adopted me.  I was originally called Kat but it was decided I had too much cleverness for such a little name.

When I first arrived at my new home I was not quite myself, you see I had caught the flu at the pound and well no one likes having the flu! It wasn’t long till mum discovered that I have a sensitive tummy, but that is all sorted now and I am just back to being super-duper!

I have settled into being queen of the castle. I have my precious toy mice spread around the house and I have developed a neat rotation system for them. Also when I feel like a nap I have many comfy places to chill out, including a sunny bed on top of the washing machine, many boxes scattered about the place, and my favourite, ( I am sure mum loves this one) me warming a spot in bed under the doona!  I am more than happy to help out around the place; I even helped out with removing my stiches from my tummy after I had been de-sexed. I didn’t really fancy another trip to the vet, and I did a pretty good job if I don’t say so myself. I am also a hero in mum’s eyes because I caught a mouse for her.  I got so many hugs and treats that night.  Whenever I get a tickle behind the ears I always get a chuckle. I am told I pull a funny face like a Japanese cartoon character.

I have a few party tricks; I am very good at swatting toys mid leap, and also imitating bird sounds when I stare out the window at them. I have also learnt a few tricks to get people out of bed and to come running after me for some attention. So for all the other cats reading this here are some tips:

1.       Sit on their shoulder/back while they are sleeping and purr as loud as you can. If this is not successful I usually add a sneeze, this gets mum moving pretty quickly, and it keeps the reflexes in good nick!

2.       This next strategy works best when they are just starting to wake up. Start at the far end of the corridor, and run as fast as all four paws will allow on tiles, whilst making lots of noise. And then kapow! jump straight on top of them! 

3.       I can also recommend that you try and remove earrings. I am yet to fail with this strategy

4.       The last one I discovered while on holidays at the grandparents. Just walk into the lounge and place a paw on the new couch, lots of attention guaranteed!

As you can see I am a very clever and cheeky. I have to admit my favourite time of day is when I get to snuggle on the couch, and lucky for me my mum is more than happy to oblige. She also seems to bring a new toy home after every shopping trip.   My start to life may have been a little ruff and a bit close to the knife edge when the pound sent me to be euthanized, but I think I am the luckiest of all cats. I got a mum and grandparents who think I am super, and let me get away with as much mischief as I can come up with. That’s how I got my name because I am the little “miss” of the family.

Missy

looking forward

I was talking to some co-workers the other day about an upcoming holiday that I am having. I am a little excited and have a countdown going of how many shifts I have left before I go. Everyone needs a break, whether it be 5 minutes, or 5 weeks. Personally i like to have some kind of reality break every 6 months. Being a shift worker it is good to catch up on some much needed sleep, but also having one less thing to organise and to think about.
I am not sure people understand my logic, but hey you can either live to work, or work to live. I am lucky enough to be able to do the latter. I am lucky enough to have a stable roof over my head, a warm home when it is freezing outside, and a nice safe bed.
Anyway back to the title of the post looking forward. I am one of those people that needs to be looking forward to something, hence my break i like to take every six months or so. I think if everyone has something to look forward to life can definitely be more rewarding. Even if it is something self indulgent as a holiday, or as simple as looking forward to 5 minutes on ones own to have a coffee. I am not talking about being so goal orientated that you forget to smell the roses. I believe having a goal for one self is completely therapeutic and good for ones physical and mental health. SO if you are lucky enough to have 5 spare moments in the day, use them and just breathe. Look forward to them, it may be those moments that keep you motivated to make it to the next spare moments to enjoy.
Stay cool!

happy easter

Happy easter everyone, hope you have all had a lovely time.

day 2- finally settling in

well day 2two with Bella is proving to be a lot better. Still only the one accident. She is eating and drinking now, which must suggest she is settling in. She even took some treats from me today. She has started playing with some of her toys. However she still hides behind the washing machine when she thinks she is alone. I guess she finds this is her safe spot. Well i guess we all have different security blankets. Other than that i am discovering she is not a cuddly cat, she is happy to weave between your ankles, and sit next to you on the couch. She hates for you to try and pick her up. Today i brought some gloves, because sooner or later i will have to put her in a carrier, and i figure they will come in handy. She discovered the bath tub this morning, and she seems to really enjoy being in it, i think she might think otherwise if it was full of water! She also did some investigating in the shower today as well. She wasn't found of the wet floor, but she dealt with it. Hopefully she will really settle in with the rest of today and tomorrow.

day 1

So yesterday i picked up a cat to start fostering, Bella. She had belonged to an older lady who had to move into a home, and could not take Bella with her. So last night was night one. Understandably she was quite skittish,hopefully those nerves will dissipate more today.I found her hiding between the washing machine and the wall this morning.  I was ecstatic when she used her litter tray. Woohoo this cat is well house trained. Well we just had our first accident. She has done a wee on one of my chairs. Luckily i can take the cushion outside, and i am now hoping the paste of bi-carb soda and vinegar are sufficient enough to get rid of the smell,and remove any stains. Fingers crossed!  Hopefully it  won't take to long to find her a new home, don't want to many of these accidents. So would love any ideas that any of you have to help settle her in, or any wee remover ideas.

Change is in the air

There is a change in the air at the moment. Well not the air, but in the seasons. The weather has suddenly changed, and i have the cold to prove it. Nothing says the seasons have changed like the cold i get every time it happens.  With the weather changing and a new season beginning, I have taken it upon myself to also instigate some more change, and have some new beginnings.
I have started going to the gym more often, i have do something with my days off. I have volunteered to be a foster carer for a local animal shelter. Not quite ready to be a pet owner again, i kind of like being able to take off with little notice or planning. I have applied for some new jobs (so that fate is resting with the HR gods!), and on a smaller much more achievable note, i have completely changed all the linen on my bed. So tonight i end the day also with something new!
Seasons change in so many ways, that perhaps a little reflection when the change is a good thing.

Charity starts at home

Today I gave to a local animal shelter that was in need of some cat food, and kitty litter. This is a group that is only recently started up in the area and is really making great progress. Unfortunately I rent, and therefore can not be a foster parent to some much needed cats and dogs. I would love to be a foster parent, I have had dogs in the past and really what better companion is there then a loyal pet? There love is unconditional, and they are always there!
Anyway so my way of helping out was to provide some necessities to help those who are fostering these kittens, before they find new homes, and hopefully best friends.
I can't solve everyone problems, and i can't help everyone who needs it. Still it is nice to help just a Little.  We can't always help in the way we want to, but there is always something to help with.

I love weekends

As far as i am concerned, it's not a weekend if you don't read a weekend paper, whilst drinking a hot beverage, in my case coffee. I use to work a lot of weekends, and it was always something i missed. So now not a weekend goes past without me doing this, even if i am working, That is what breaks are for!
We all have our little quirks, some of us are more creatures of habits than others (i am one of them). But who cares, as long as we are not having a negative effect on others.
But back to weekends, aren't they lovely, especially long weekends. Where one can get away from everyday life, schedules and appointments. Weekends are like permission to do what ever you want. It's like the universes way of saying this is your time, do what you want. If it is cleaning the house you desire, go for it. If it is putting a bum imprint on the couch after a big night, go right ahead.
I love weekends.   

Finiancial stress, smoking, and breathing

I spent ~$100 at the supermarket today. I didn't buy anything special, no meat, no cleaning products. Just fruit, veg, drinks, bathroom stuff, and the ever essential toilet paper. It defiantly was not an extravagant shop.
It seems that the cost of living goes up every time I head out to the shops. I remember the day when I could fill the car up for $30, and I am a  generation Y citizen. Now I am happy if it is under $60.
Anyway with people under more stress these days to balance the budget, food, petrol, utilities, insurance, and Julia's carbon tax (which seriously what good is that going to have?).  People may be turning to stress relief alternatives, which generally involve the term "breathe". I have to wonder these days, if people smoke cigarettes not just for the addictiveness of nicotine, but simply so the can spend five minutes every couple hours taking some deep breathes. I have read in numerous publishing (mainly the Sunday paper) the benefits of breathing and we should spend five minutes a few times a day just to breathe, even if it is just on the loo (Isn't this where everyone is able to relax?)
So my question is, smokes cost about $1 each these days. Is this money spent wisely to enable us all to breathe? Instead of money for therapist to tell us to relax dude! and if so does the calming breathing part, out weigh the inhalation of carcinogenic and stimulants?

P.S I am not a smoker.

no. 1

So this is my first blog ever. Am i the last person to start a blog?
Anyway, not really sure where this will go, but a journey starts with the first step, right?
I have found recently that my brain has been full of chatter. Having conversations with no audience. So therefore this is the first attempt to give them an audience and hopefully quiet and calm my head down. Also I guess it also allows a space for me, to be me. So lets get going........