What are you all doing next Saturday 25 October at 11.00? Nothing? Awesome, because I am super happy to tell you that my good friend Ken Williams has published his first childrens’ book and is having a book launch! I am so excited for him, he deserves all the success that comes his way. The name of the book is “Annabel’s chewy-gooey birthday cake”

The book launch details are:

11am Saturday 25th October
Mill Park Library
394 Plenty Rd Mill Park

It’s not every day you get the chance to actually meet the author of a book that is sure to become a life long favourite of kids all over the world, let alone get a copy signed!

So let’s go! Great chance to catch up over a piece of cake and a good book.

I got this email today from my beautiful friend who I have known since I was five, so yes I can trust her. At first I thought it was a scam because it looked suss, so I texted her to see if it really was from her. “Yep,” she said “It’s worth the read”. Ok, I thought, so I did.

I don’t know if it originates from the US, but it’s worth taking note.

“WARNING FROM POLICE”

“This is the thing these days, With people out of work and needing cash.

Beware, it’s headed your way.

Just last weekend on Friday night we parked in a public parking area.
As we drove away I noticed a sticker on the rear window of the car.
When I took it off after I got home, it was a receipt for gas..
Luckily my friend told me not to stop as it could be someone waiting
For me to get out of the car..

Then we received this email yesterday:

WARNING FROM POLICE

THIS APPLIES TO BOTH WOMEN AND MEN
BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE–
NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKINGS (NOT A JOKE)
Heads up everyone! Please,
You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside.

You start the engine and shift into reverse.When you look into the rear view mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window.

So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view.
When you reach the back of your car, that is when the carjackers appear. Out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off.
They practically mow you down as they speed off in your car.

And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car.

So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, And your keys.

Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!

BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED.

If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away.

Remove the paper later. And be thankful that you read this e-mail.
I hope you will forward this to friends and family, especially to women.

A purse contains all kinds of personal information and identification
Documents, and you certainly do NOT want it to
fall into the wrong hands.”

If your kids have to use an iPad for school, be it primary or secondary school, please read this post. My son started Year 7 this year and his school requires the kids to have and use an iPad. Which is great, in theory, however have you ever tried to complete a homework assignment on it? Crazy!

I looked everywhere for an iPad case that had a keyboard attached. Not a separate keyboard that had to be lugged around separately and therefore not easily transported to school, but one attached to the iPad case. I looked at the logitech one. My daughter has a logitech one for her iPad. It’s fine for home and stuffing around, but not that great to do homework on. It is too small and cramped and does not provide appropriate protection if it is dropped – which happens, especially with boys!

The school gave us the option of buying the “Survivor Case”, which we did, not knowing any better, and hated it, $80 down the drain! No keyboard facility comes with it and so far a few kids have dropped it and the screen has smashed. I was speaking to my chiropractor who said he is seeing way too many kids with problems across their shoulders and upper back from using iPads for school, so posture is becoming a big problem, because they are hunching forward.

I was rambling on to my family about my difficulty in finding an appropriate iPad case, when my brother in law told me to check this out. It is the “Dockr with wireless bluetooth keyboard”. Well, let me tell you it has been fantastic! It has a regular size keyboard (the same size as our Mac computer). The iPad locks into place and can be adjusted to reduce glare. It has speakers so that any presentation to a class can be done via the iPad case, without having to transfer it to a usb and then onto the school system. It also has speakers so that the class can actually hear the presentation! Oh, and the speakers come in handy for playing music too! It has a battery pack which charges the iPad, for those times when our ever responsible kids forget to charge their iPad overnight, which means they can charge it while using it in class!

It also offers protection, lots of protection. My son has dropped his iPad while it was in this case, twice, on concrete, and both the iPad and the case have survived unscathed. Ticks all the boxes if you ask me. The iPad is not just an educational tool for kids, it becomes their only way of completing homework and submitting it on the school portal. This case has saved us. My son loves it and has said to me “I will never use anything else!” Heck, if it helps him do his homework with minimal whinging, then bring it on!

The colours it comes in are awesome too. I don’t know all the specs, I’m not reviewing this for money, I just want to let you know how it has helped us, and that it is worth considering. You can check it out online. The best price I have found is at http://www.gpi-international.com/dockr2-combo I think there is a promo code you can use on this site to get it even cheaper! This site actually has a link to Macworld, which has done a proper review on it.

The price is comparable to the logitech iPad case with keyboard, but offers so much more. So in terms of value for money it far surpasses the other iPad cases on the market. I know, I have researched all of them – in way too much detail!

It’s not just for kids, I have to say I love using it myself!

I was at Westfield Doncaster Shoppingtown in Melbourne yesterday, and saw a stand for it. It will be there until the end of the school holidays, just up from Mrs Fields cookies! I know you know where that is! After the school holidays it will still be available online, at the website I mentioned above.

I am forever thankful to my brother in law for bringing this to my attention and making our school work so much easier. I see it as an investment in my child’s future. We owe it to our kids to do the right thing by their health, and if we can help make homework and school a little bit more fun, then why not?