Firstly, thanks so much to those of you who commented on the August $50 giveaway post. It was really great to hear about some good things that are happening to people around the world. It’s easy to get caught up in the down side of life, particularly in hard times, so let me use this opportunity to say never forget to count your blessings.

The Winners:

The winners were chosen using randomly (as promised!) using random.org.

The winner of $50 cash via paypal was Greg from LiveFitBlog.com.
The winner of one month’s free advertising was Tom from Real Liberal Christian Church.

Congratulations guys, thanks for taking the time to comment. If you’ve tuned in to this post specifically to check if you were a winner, unless I named you above… sorry! You can click away now if you feel like it…

Related posts:

1. August $50 giveaway
2. On religion and man-made belief: “my last prayer”
3. Blatantly Honest Responses to ‘Giving Up on Life’
4. A life of Passion

 
I’ve lived all my life in Australia, and I’m proud and excited to say Happy Australia Day! for January 26th. Australia day is the national day of Australia, and commemorates the arrival of the first fleet in 1788 and the subsequent founding of Australia as a nation. (As if you didn’t know that!)

credit: RyanCarr

credit: Lutherankorean

Australia Day is an official public holiday in all the states and territories of Australia (woo!). It’s marked by the Order of Australia and Australian of the Year awards, and there’s a Prime Ministerial address thrown in for good measure.

Most people around the country get pretty excited by Australia day, and celebrate by doing those things that make us true Aussies – barbecues, ice-cold beer, cricket on the beach, and dressing down in singlets and thongs.

credit: Foraggio Fotographic

credit: *D a r i n k a*

This quote from an australia day celebration page pretty much sums it up:

Australia Day is all about celebrating the birth of our great nation and appreciating our freedoms and way of life, right?
 
Nah, who are we kidding. Australia Day is really all about lying on a beach in your boardies with a beer in one hand and a snag in the other, while you listen to the cricket on the radio…

credit: Ernst Moeksis

credit: Sir Mervs

credit: aussiegall

Aussies are loud yet laid back, passionate and patriotic, can be incredibly sarcastic and poke fun at people, but do it (and receive it) in the spirit of having fun and enjoying life. Above all we have an incredibly strong sense of mateship and looking out for each other.

Happy Australia day, fellow Aussies!

Related posts:

1. Get excited about life!
2. Go on, motivate me!
3. Make money doing what you love – really?
4. One minute you’re sitting on a park bench…