Australian Media

I've recently started getting into Australian media. Australian shows and print media are underrated by the slew of American broadcasting that's given to us since birth. We're force fed a constant diet of American sitcoms, movies and reality TV shows. All day, everyday, another American film is being watched, produced or directed. There's another book on the shelf set somewhere in America - even if the author is Australian or British. 

This isn't to say I don't love American shows and print media. Sometimes all I want to do is sit on the couch and watch a TV show like Dance Moms and read about a blonde cheerleader who turns out to be super nice and then gets the guy. 

But I needed a break - a CUT  in the constant media storm of American media. I have since started three Australian TV shows and I'm currently reading The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, a novel that looks into the politics regarding slapping someone else's child. It's slow going because I'm bored. It's written from 8 different viewpoints; each person has their own chapter. So far, not much has happened, but so much has. I don't want to spoil it, and I know some people who have absolutely raved about it, but so far, I don't rate it. 

Puberty Blues 

Set in the late 1970s, Puberty Blues revolves around Debbie and Sue, best friends going through the coming of age process. They have to deal with the mean girls at school, boyfriends and naff parents. There's drugs to experiment with, V plates to lose and friendship rings to obtain. These girls are pretty much us, only 30 odd years before. It's so relateable, it sometimes feels as if you're the one getting dropped or getting your period during a ballet class. Season one is 8 episodes and THE SECOND SEASON IS COMING OUT NEXT WEEK (5 days to go!!)
Please Like Me (which I have previously done a post on)
I haven't seen this in ages, on account of it being off air for a bit, but I love love this series. It's centred around Josh (Josh Thomas), and the countdown to his 21st birthday. He's joined in this charming comedy by Tom (Tom Ward), his best friend, Claire (Caitlin Stasey), John (the cavoodle) and Geoffrey, played by Wade Briggs. It's a mixture of love and happiness and sadness and twists all mixed into one television event. There's Panadol, a fancy car, sandwiches, a party, death, Bailey's and of course, the $19 sundae that started it all. It's a brilliantly put together TV series, and with the combination of Josh Thomas' British/Australian accent is the perfect series for whenever you just want to chill out (and have a few laughs). AND IT'S COMING BACK IN AUGUST, 2014!
Winners and Losers 

This Australian TV show is screened every Tuesday (AEST) on channel 7 and I absolutely love it! It's focused on 4 women who were considered 'losers' in high-school, but turn out to be winners once they attend their school reunion and end up winning the Oz Lotto afterwards. I have never seen the first four episodes, because I was (regrettably) late jumping onto the Winners and Losers boat. Bec, Frances, Sophie and Jenny are the four major characters and are supported by a wonderful cast of actors. This show is a breath of fresh air because I usually watch teenage shows, with the average age of the characters in their early 20s. These four ladies (and the rest of the cast) are older and this is refreshing! They still experience hardships and tough days, but they're more mature (most of the time anyway) in their response and it brings a new perspective to my viewing experience. 

So what are you waiting for?? Grab your lamingtons, cut a slice of pavlova, buy some Vegemite, barrack for a team and chuck a shrimp on the barbie; your Australian viewing experience awaits. 

no more friends

It's so sad when you lose a friend because you know all this stuff about them.

You know their favourite colour, what TV show they watch, who they ship, what they like reading (if at all). You know what food they hate and what people they love. You know their parents and treat their siblings like they're your own. You know their birthday and what subjects they're good at and what subjects they enjoy.

When you're not friends anymore, you know all this stuff, but you can't use iot. The day of their birthday or when you see their favourite food in the supermarket are all just memories. They're painful at frst, reminding you about what you've lost; the friendship that is now gone. Over time, they become less painful and more of 'just a memory. They're moments in your past that you've just happened to experience with another peerson; a person that is no longer an important - if at all - part of your life.

I guess you just have to let go, but it's easier said than done. It's much easier if the person you were friends with is now/was a bitch but if the (friendship) breaking-up was amicable, it's worse because it just makes you feel guilty you guys aren't friends. You go through a 'should I have tried harder and yes, I probably I should have because now it's my fault that we're not friends' stage. And then you're a little bit angry because they should have tried harder and also because you just lost a friend.

So pretty much it's all a vicious circle and hold on to your friends because they're the only ones who can tease you about who you like while simultaneously bringing up memories from 10 years ago at 1am in the morning.