The Torkona Award.. on hold

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Hello followers..

Just wanted to let you know that the Inaugural Torkona award was such a success, I've been receiving questions of when the next one is.

Unfortunately, I cannot give you a precise time when this will be.  You will have to simply follow my blog and keep a keen eye when it is announced.

Today would have been the day the next award were to have been announced, but because of the limited time I currently have lately with the pending birth my first born, I hope that you understand my time is limited.

I want to put a lot of time and effort into each submission for the award.  Hopefully you'll understand I don't have too much time at the moment.

But don't you worry, it'll be a cracker when it comes back :-)

Here is the inaugural winner of the Torkona award and what they received.

Be on the watch for my latest baby news as well.  I will try to update when I can! You can find my last news here of why baby is a bit small

Anyway, subscribe and I promise you will see its return, in whatever form it may be!

- tork

Songs to Inspire - Song 7

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Feeling unmotivated? Need inspiration? Need to be inspired?

Inspiration comes from within, you just sometimes need to be reminded - Torkona

Every Sunday I post a song to help you find your inspiration.

This song is to help you understand it is fun to be yourself, even if you think you are just a little bit different.  Soon enough, you'll realise you are just like everybody else.

Hope it also inspires you to get up off your seat and have a little boogie :-)

 

- tork

Winner of the Inaugural Torkona Award is..

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After sifting through 18 entries of best Aussie Mummy bloggers for January 2011

Scoring each blog out of 30

• 10 possible points for writing ability
• 10 possible points for heart warming stories
• 10 possible points for a fair dinkum laugh

The winner of the Inaugural Torkona Award is

*insert drum roll here*

Romina @ Martyr-hood!!

Congratulations Romina.  Here's why she is my deserved winner for January 2011.

I am bit surprised I've actually enjoyed her blog.  I tend to find myself put a-back by writings full of swear words, but the posts for January were so well written and displayed the emotions she has been feeling very well. It was a very interesting read.  I don't think I could imagine it without all the swearing!

I especially enjoyed I think you're all fucked in the head. The title is definitely a stand out. I didn't know what to think after reading just the title. But, it is witty, well structured, heart warming and hilarious. It covers all my criteria exceptionally. It also is likely to be defining for most Aussie mums out there, but I'll let the mums be the judge of that!

The other posts are also very good for January, but that one stood out the most. So to Romina at Martyr-hood, Congratulations! Please accept this trophy as your prize.

Thank you to all that entered. Better luck next time.  Make sure you follow me via RSS subscriber, Twitter or Facebook to find out when my next award is up for grabs.

The following are 10 runners-up that only just missed out on the choccies.

Mumstrosity	http://www.mumstrosity.com/
Madmother	http://meanderingmadmother.blogspot.com/
Clairey	Claireyhewitt.blogspot.com
Veronica	http://somedaywewillsleep.com/
Taryn	http://www.tarynrucci.blogspot.com/
Parental Parody	http://parentalparody.blogspot.com/
Tat	http://muminsearch.com/
Toushka	http://www.toushkalee.com/
Glowless	http://www.wheresmyglow.com/
Farmer's Wifey	http://www.farmerswifey.com/
Dear Baby G	http://www.dearbabyg.com/

- tork

Songs to Inspire - Song 6

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Feeling unmotivated? Need inspiration? Need to be inspired?

Inspiration comes from within, you just sometimes need to be reminded - Torkona

Every Sunday I provide a song to help inspire. Today, it's me that needs the help.

I am missing my wife.  She's not with me tonight.

This is a song I chose from our wedding. I'm going to be a sap and hit play a few times on it. 

To be with you.

I hope it inspires you to not take for granted your loved ones.  Enjoy.

- tork

Baby Update - Why baby is a bit small

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This is a response to Our baby is too small for the third trimester


For the moment, I have time to update you all on baby.  I felt it important to let those know what's going on who've helped to reassure about our first baby previously.

Baby does not have enough fluid to grow.  It is compact and its little tummy isn't growing.  Wife is currently getting as much rest as possible to try and get the fluids back up.

Baby seems healthy though. Overall, baby is in the right position, it's head is the right size, it's been kicking like crazy and it's heartbeat is strong.  It just hasn't got enough fluids to grow the amount it needs to.

It will more than likely fall a bit short of the 40 weeks age.  If we even get to that close.  There is a chance we could become parents in the next few days!


I have my hopes that we are many weeks off though.  It has my strength and wife's strong will to do what it's supposed to do.


Please though, send a whisper through the air of best wishes for my baby. For now, my wife needs her rest, as do I.


- tork

Our baby is too small for the third trimester

What an emotional little day my wife and I have had!

Upon recently visiting our doctor for our latest check-up of baby, they said "Your baby has got a healthy heartbeat and your blood sugar levels are clear of anything bad.  Your iron levels are low though, so eat more red meats or take Iron supplements."

Ok all good.

"And I'd like to see you again in two more weeks as your baby is a bit too small from what it is supposed to be."

Total freak out!  Our baby is too small?  What does that mean?  Is that bad?

The wife hasn't been doing well, stressing a bit about it.  I'm not sure how well I'm holding it together either.


As first time parents, we are basically paranoid of everything.


But, we shouldn't be.  The baby has grown since last check-up, it's got a strong little ticker and has been kicking stronger each day.  It is obviously doing well, but we are still having scans to make sure everything is fine.


I hope little bubs will be okay.  These are moments every parents dread, even though I know there is probably no reason too.


Have you been through something similar?  Love to know!


- tork

(see post on our birth for how we went at Finally, I am a Dad. Our first born birth story).

Songs to Inspire - Song 5

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Feeling unmotivated? Need inspiration? Need to be inspired?

Inspiration comes from within, you just sometimes need to be reminded - Torkona

If you are a regular reader of mine, by now you've probably realised that every Sunday I put up a song to get you going, to help inspire.  If you enjoy them, be sure to return as many sunday's as you can. I will be uploading one every week on a Sunday.

Today is a special song.  With Valetine's Day coming up, this song is very appropriate.  This is one of the songs I selected for my wife during our wedding.  It inspires me show I care and to be brave and belt out some loud singing around the house. 

I hope it inspires you to tell someone this Valentines day that you love them, be it your wife, husband, father, mother, sister, dog, Peter Andre.. Who ever it is, don't hold it back.

Enjoy!

A Dad Poem - Evening Rest

Dad Poem - from the words of a Father

The quiet lay in wait
The ancient still behind
The air breezes swiftly through the pages of your mind

And the coolness hits your back
With the gentleness of care
Such crisp and calming feelings dance around you in the air

When evening turns to night
And the day has surely past
Comes fleeting thoughts of nothing to chill and rest at last

Now put you down to lay
Close your eyes if you please
And drift away to nothing on this warm summer breeze

Torkona

Tony Abbott vs Mark Riley and Channel 7 - Shit Happens

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Boy, what a day.  Have we all heard about the latest political row over here in Aussie land between a high profile journalist and the leader of the Opposition?

Well, let me sum it up as quick as I can.

• A serving Australian soldier sadly died at war
• Tony Abbott chatted to an American soldier on all mistakes occuring in the battle where Australian soldier has unfortunately died
• He used the sentence 'shit happens' referring to all the mistakes
• When confronted on this reply by journalist Mark Riley, he gave a stern response of silence

That's it really really summised.  Here's my opinion.  What a massive load of bollocks.

1. Mark Riley and channel 7 should never have brought this situation to the light of day as they did. They should have known the circus that has occurred would occur.
2. The poor family have been through enough. It doesn't matter if Mr Abbott has done the wrong thing or not. They have been put through the ringer again because of this 'news' story.
3. Tony Abbott's response was clearly and extremely taken out of context by Mark Riley and channel 7. Disgusting.
4. Tony Abbott (when confronted by Mark Riley) was at first clear and concise that he would never disrespect an Aussie soldier, especially ones unfortunately losing their life at war. He soon enough lost his composure however with stupid silence. A possible leader of our country should be clever enough to respond to a journo's questions.
5. If I were in Mr Abbotts shoes, I would have done the same thing, and that is freak out and more than likely stand and shake as he did.  Not good enough for a future leader though, that's for sure.

Love to know what you think.  But what a total shambles. I didn't want to bring more attention to the issue with a post, but I've been pissed off all day about it.

A life has been lost and I feel Channel 7 have resorted to the low of lows.  Think of the overall picture!  Yes, it might be something newsworthy, but was it worth it?

Are you happy putting a grieving family back into the limelight?

It doesn't matter who is in the wrong.  Tony Abbott, Mark Riley or Channel 7. The most important thing is that family and doing everything everyone can do to help them.

Please support our troops.  I wish them all safety to be back home soon.

Here's Channel Seven's report

Here's Channel Nine's report

- tork

Duty Calls - A parody to first person shooter games

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I found this little gem and thought it too good to NOT post it.

If you've ever played a first person shooter game and found it the same old thing, you'll love this video as much as I did.

First person shooters are becoming boring.  I'm hoping someone changes it up soon. Perhaps Duke Nukem Forever when it comes out?


Anyway, enjoy!

- tork

Organisation Skills of an Expectant Father

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Hello Strangers.  I've been well overdue for a post so I wanted to let you know just what has been happening.

I would like to let you know exactly how organised an expectant father like me can be.  

See, we currently are having some problems with our house.  We need work done on getting something fixed ASAP.  With a currently pregnant wife due in approximately 12 weeks, I said "Don't you worry hun, I will organise them.  You have a relaxing day at work and make us some dollars and I will take the day off to watch the contractors".

This may sound bad, sending my pregnant wife off to work.  However, she still wants her independence, as well as plenty of dollars for when bubs arrives.

So, low and behold, my superb organisational skills has organised the workers to come on a Monday.  A three day weekend for some rest for the soon to be daddy as well.

And, with a lucky coincidence, the Superbowl XLV just happens to land on the exact same day!  Wow, what a stroke of luck!

So a note to all those expectant fathers out there; don't forget to take some time off for yourselves.  You've got just as much to worry about with a newborn as does the mother.  Take some time off and try to perhaps land it on the same day as a major sporting event.  Also try and work it around other reasons (ie. house work needs to be done).  This will keep you in the good books for everyone.

No one will notice you ulterior motives, just like mine ;-)

- tork

PS. Go Steelers!

Songs to Inspire - Song 4

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Feeling unmotivated? Need inspiration? Need to be inspired?

Inspiration comes from within, you sometimes just need to be reminded - Torkona

John Farnham.  Perhaps Australia's most popular male singer. His songs are Anthems for Australia.  Here's one to get you up and going, from a previous concert.

- tork