How exactly does this pose a threat to Australias quarantine regulations? Please tell me.........read on below 

Now how does this ......

How exactly does this dog collar pose a risk to the quarantine and import laws of Australia? Dunno, you'd have to ask AQIS ,as in their wisdom and without much explanation they deemed my package from NewZealand; which contained a custom made woven dog collar with my dogs name and breed club on it, complete with two "D" rings for sized adjustments and a brass ring for lead clip connection; as in need of being opened and inspected. I got a pamphlet that told me "OPENED FOR INSPECTION"Duh, obviously with the "passed quarantine" yellow sticker and the bad tape job resealling it. And" no items have been removed" Ahh, yeah, you would have had to remove it to inspect it, wouldn't you? Then it goes on the speel about it was "opened by Australia Post for inspection by AQIS" as the screening process using "detector dogs and x-ray machines, indicated there may have been an item of quarantine concern in your mail"
Nope, sorry guys not enough evidence of that, see there is no law about importing dog collars except used ones from OS and pinch or pronged ones to Victoria. Nothing on your websites or in any paperwork. A dog would have picked up nothing as the collar is BRAND NEW and made from webbing and an x-ray would have shown you what it was EXACTLY or at least the two "D" rings and brass ring.
So I call the AQIS mail centre and get a different story, that mail is randomly opened by AQIS ( contary to the pamphlet information"opened by Australia Post) for survey by AQIS...Not good enough, which is it? Apart from the pamphlet indicating that there should have been another brochure enclosed about what can and cannot be mailed to Australia, there was no other information, including the brochure that should have been enclosed.
The customs declaration clearly stated it was a "dog collar" the weight would have told you it was neither all metal not used primary product, a feel of the package could have told you exactly what it was without knowing. I find this invasion into ones privacy neither in the interests of Australia's protection nor in the rights of the Government nor its bodies.

Of little boys fingers and how writing should be done

Had a meeting yesterday with Mr 6's pediatric occupational therapist ( P O/T). She saw him last week at school and assessed him. ( will the "assessing" of this boy ever end?) He has the pencil grip of a 4.5 year old and has hyper extended thumbs. His thumb at the first joint bends in a "U" almost which is a sign of low muscle tone, hence he pushes harder on the pencil or crayon to attain a better grip, he writes from the elbow or the shoulder, instead of the wrist. P, the P O/T; suggested a sloped writing board for him which was implemented almost immediately. We discussed about how children are taught too early the foundations of cursive script and get hooked on the little tails they need to place on their letters instead of the basic "ball and stick" version of learning to write of yesterday. Mr 6 does not recognise where a word ends and starts when he is attempting to write, he spaces all letters at equal intervals regardless of if they are part of a new word or not. SO you have s o m e t h i ng l i k e t h i s h a p p e n i n g b u t w i t h i l l f o r m e d l e t t e r s.
Hard to read isn't it? Imagine it scrawled all over an A4 sheet.
Anyway I have some more therapies to work with him on, join the dots are a good one but not too high in the numeric range so he can concerntrate on going from dot to dot. Any activity which helps upper body strength, hanging from the trapeze, climbing, etc. Getting him to air write his letters with correct starting point and formation in the air is good for his muscles to remember the formation of the letter, using a blackboard or white board allows the wrist to have the right curve to it needed for writing skills. Holding a coin to the palm of his hand with his ring and pinkie finger helps to increase the power part of the hand ( see you learn something new everyday). Getting him to write one really well formed and correctly initiated word instead of sentence will go a long way to helping him. And surprise of all, using UNLINED, yes UNLINED paper, as children like him get caught up in the mish mash of letter formation, tails, spelling and then top it all of with trying to keep it all on a line..Well, no wonder he is struggling.
I am glad his teacher bought it up and now the therapies need to be implemented at home but the P O/T wants Mr 6's aide to work on some of them with him during literacy... We'll see. I know his teacher will attempt to incorporate as many as possible into the classroom as she can. on that note, the P O/T mentioned that she found Mr 6's teacher to be patient, in control and aware of all aspects of the classes needs; a rare find indeed. This from a professional who spends her days in various classrooms in many local schools. Kudos to you Mrs R, as the kids say "You Rock".

"Chasing Cars" Snow Patrol and Greys Anatomy

Incitive, wonderous and bonus with Greys Anatomy clip...so sad. GA season ended last night on a clincer (what's new?). Predictions for the new season.
Meridith will go back with Mc Dreamy ( Shepherd)Really, how long can they pay Chris O'D for?
Issie will get back with shithead( Kovack)
Kelly will turn out to be some sort of psycho a la the nurse in that Stephen King novel
Yang and Perfect Preston will split up