Tonight’s posting is one a little out of the ordinary, as it involves a TV Reality Show-

BIG BROTHER closed its doors for the final time tonight, wrapping up the last episode,which marked eight years of controversy, tears, shocks and laughter and plenty of fun! This year was exceptionally special, bringing a more diverse group of strangers together, then locking them away from the rest of the outside world. For one insider, it was a milestone for ALL baby boomer women across the world! Yep, the sweet 53 year old housemate, Terri [’Naughty Nanna] entered the house and with walls screaming Generation Y hormones, endured a whole eighty-five days of madness, tears, hot-flushes, roller-coaster emotions, to be  crowned BB’s 2008 winner and boy, is she so deserving of this feat! All of Australia sat on the edge of their seats in anticipation for the announcemement from Kyle & Jackie O….this year’s new hosts. The eighty-five days spent inside the mad house, with no outside connection to loved ones, TV’s, newspapers etc was indeed a test for thise remaining housemates, ages varying from the youngest, Bianca; 18, and upwards. Terri being the eldest, was bound to cop plenty from some younger members, and for the first couple of weeks, she did! Many determined NOT to have a ‘mother hen’ inside, the Y generation put her through the usual ringer any mother knows, but she never let it weigh her down, bouncing back with a feisty attitude, soon warming the cockle of their hearts.

So as the numbers decreased week-by-week, nomination after nomination, soon we were down to three! WOW! Where did that three months go??? Myself already picking favourites, when I again swore “NEVER AGAIN”…..Travis, Alice, Rory Ben and Terri. At this stage, I had clearly narrowed my choices down, guess like many others? When it was time for Travis & Alice to go, the nail-biting began! Nothing personal against Ben, he HAD to go! lol So when his name was called as third-runner-up, I leapt with joy! Here sat the final two, Terri, our 53 year old boomer and adorable Rory, the twenty year old apple of any mother’s eye, dreadlocks and all! The suspense was killing me! We met Dawson, Terri’s darling grandson and Terri’s daughter….we watched as Rory was also briefly reunited with his young brother and doting mum…the tears swelled in my heart, and eyes. This was a touching moment and I am sure not a dry eye in the entire country. As the past housemates gathered in dance, and others dropped in to catch up with the TV hosts, I anxiously washed my dishes, anything to keep me busy while we waited for the announcement from Big Brother.

Normally we see the final two inside the house, awaiting the word…..this year, our two finalists were brought out, and stood nervously before hundreds of screaming Big Brother fans while Jackie opened the envelope…..and the 2008 BIG BROTHER winner was……..TERRI!!!! Our FIRST baby boomer won 1/4 million dollars, and the hearts of Australia! I’d like to acknowledge Rory here….he was humble, polite and so excited for Terri the whole time! After all, it was Rory who predicted her win, long before this night had arrived…..CONGRATULATIONS TERRI!!

Farewell, Big Brother….

PART ONE

I am a proud Australian-I have a history that dates back to Ireland and the United Kingdom, part of five generations of women, I also have many interesting stories thanks to the incredible females who in one way or another, helped to shape my life. At the age of 18, I had a huge desire to trace my mother’s family tree and with much help from my Aunty, I was lucky enough to have gathered enough detail to start the ball rolling and today, have successfully completed my search! With the help of our Births/Deaths & Marriage office/s here in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia, the foundation was laid for a much more detailed search. Having access to the worldwide net an absolute bonus plus, taking me out of my homeland, and soon tracking down names in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Listing my relatives names and all neccessary information, many doors began opening in other directions, a surprise contact led to my meeting with a long lost ancestor from Western Australia! Enter, my cousin Bruce-He too had been doing the same family search, our paths crossing on one of the internet’s geneology websites! When I think about all the hundreds upon thousands who like us, track the hard yards to find just one snippet of information, I realise just how blessed we have been. It was through Bruce that I was able to obtain the above picture….his grandmother[seated on floor], sister to my great grandmother Lillian [see girl standing] -It truly is a small world, after all! My search unfortunately ended with the grandmother from Ireland, only due to the fact a fire apparently destroyed all public records back in the early 1900’s, so tracking down the rest of the family has come to a complete halt…..but I’m satisfied knowing we gave our research 110%…finding Great grandmother Jane Green, the 17 year old girl who was sentenced for stealing then shipped half way around the world to a convict settlement, a pretty big milestone and something which can now be passed down to my future female generations.

With this month of March centred around International Women, and their achievments, I didn’t want to bamboozle you with too much detail, so narrowed my article down to this. I could have listed all that we, as women have achived but there were way too many women and way too many categories. That has to tell you something right there! I hope you enjoy!
A woman’s place in history, dates back to 1848-
In the united States of America, there was a convention held for women to discuss their list of grievances.
This two day ’seminar’ set the programme for the rights of women in a society held by men.
There were twelve points of resolution, all calling for equal rights and treatment, for both women and men, in accordance of laws and voting.The decalaration was signed that day in history, marking the rights for women!
In 1850, they held their first National Women’s Rights Convention.
Many other events took place from that moment on, including the right to vote,a goal met by women of various States across the country-the right to serve as part of a jury,the movement formed for Black women,advocacy for better working conditions and wages,first birth control clinic,the fight against discrimination and so on.These women also formed  groups, organisations who paved the way for other arguments and challenged the governments with legal battles, always on behalf of another woman!

While all this was going on, in another part of the Globe one woman fought her own fight, a fight that would represent the International women’s day-

Who is Klara Zetkin? Well, I can tell you this feisty woman was responsible for organizing International Women’s Day way back in 1911.
Seems she got her own inspiration from what she learned of women in the workforce!
Klara was a German socialist, a woman’s advocate who managed to stir the European nations with her ideas, which lead to the socialist woman’s movement being formed.Women from all over marched in support She found more use for her voice by establishing the socialist’s newspaper, working as an editor for her paper, the Gleichheit.
The vast amount of women supporting her was nothing short of amazing! There were rallies and marches of protest all over Europe with the help and backing of femenist, Aleksandra Kollontai.
Klara spentmany of her later years in Russia and  went on to write several pieces on socialism. Her years studying Karl Marx having a definte impact on her own life and personal views.

I don’t know about my sisters, but studying past profiles of the hundreds upon thousands who made an impact in this world, has left me thinking that perhaps this IS the year we see a female as President?? If past records are anything to go by, ANYTHING is possible in this ‘would be’, predominantly ‘male’ world!

FYI: This link gives you some idea of the various events scheduled in my hometown of Sydney-

http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn/html/custom/2199-sydney-event-calendar.asp

As a writer, I am often challenged to write differently.

As a woman, and a baby boomer diva, I am now writing more on romance and was recently invited to submit a small piece I’d included in a previous book, and turn it into something more. Okay, so what is more? A novella! With so much Chick Lit buzzing about the literary scenes, my publisher and I put our thinking caps on, and decided it was high time we found out what women readers, really want in a romance book?!

Thanks to the genius of SCuppari Publishing, I have my ideas already flowing and once a few loose ends elsewhere are tied up, I will be plunging deep into the romance story, “Turning Right”-

Meanwhile, we would LOVE to gather some feedback from other women, those reading romance and longing for more! Here’s your chance, especially if you are anywhere between the ages of 35+ to surf on over to Writing Edge, and fill in the online survey! Helps us, help you! We want to deliver the kind of romance fiction older women, mature women, sassy wome want to sink their teeth into! Check it out: http://writingedgemagazine.tripod.com/id174.html

If you have any queries, or would like to submit your own little piece of romance, drop us a line at enquiries@scuppari.com or magazinestaff@bigstring.com

As deputy editor for this magazine, I am open to any new ideas so put on those thinking caps ladies, let’s inspire others!

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