Hello all.
Welcome to the Best and Worst of the Week. This post is relatively self-explanatory – the Mamamia team throw over to you guys and you can share all your Bests, Worsts and Things on Your Mind. Tell us about whatever comes to your head.
I’ll kick off the conversation with my thoughts.
Best: This week I have had a few amazing bests. For the past couple of days, I have been completing work experience with Mamamia (for the third time) and let me tell you, it’s incredible. INCREDIBLE.
Learning about the intense amount of thought, arrangement and fun which goes behind each post and entire website is fascinating. Just wow.
My other best was watching how beautiful the celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life was, in South Africa. Instead of mourning the death of such a great figure, internationally, his life was celebrated and I think that’s pretty remarkable.
Worst: Since I’m in Sydney (I normally live in Brisbane) and am doing work experience with Mamamia – it’s hard to have a worst.
Though, it’s quite disgusting to see the comments by popstar, Justin Bieber labeling a girl a “beached whale”. Really? It becomes tiresome that someone who acts in the manner he does, still manages to sell tickets and make the news. He doesn’t deserve the adoration he gets.
Top Comments
Worst: My name was called out for that "I wake up with Today" competition. I WAS watching and my phone WAS connected and had GREAT signal strength. The phone didn't ring! On the TV a recorded message said "Your call could not be connected" so they rang someone else!
Struggling on the pension to raise my two boys and missing out on something good like this has been hard to deal with. Money is always short, so I pay my bills first and food second. There's nothing left to treat my boys.
Best: My youngest son got Dux of his primary school this week! So proud of him! Eldest son got heaps of distinctions at Uni this year too! They are awesome human beings, respectful and loving sons, and...well...maybe I shouldn't have complained above, as I'm so lucky to be their Mum!
Ohhh I saw that!! You poor thing :( :(
OMM: I'm thinking of changing my last name by deed poll (or whatever it's called these days). I've been divorced for 8 years but kept my married name - mostly because I wanted the same surname as my kids - but they are getting older so it matters less now.
The surname I am choosing is Kennedy - it's easy to pronounce as I'm a teacher and that's important, it goes well with my first name and I've always loved JFK - it's a classic surname in my opinion.
I don't want to revert to my birth name as I dislike it - so was just after some advice.
Has anyone ever done this and is it complicated?
Yes, I did it and have never looked back. I chose my surname for reasons similar to yours, easy to spell/ pronounce, a classic, goes well with my first name, plus it is of the same origins as my birth surname. Feels weird to think of having my birth surname now.
However, I did it in the late 1990s, and while the change via deed poll itself was simple, it was probably a bit of an easier time as I was still young, and had just finished uni, and the internet wasn't really a constant 'thing' and so tied up to identity as it is now.
My advice would be to quickly get onto as many changes (in order of the main and official IDs) as you can early on: i.e., driver's license, all banking (including any store cards), employer, ATO, bills, Medicare, insurers, shares/ finance, will, doctors, kids' school, vet, passport. Make a list of who needs to know before you do the change, then get just onto it in a chunk. Christmas/new year break is a good time to make the list, maybe do the change mid January and then get busy updating!
PS universities usually can give you a transcript or degree issued in your new name with proof, but you'll have to pay, of course... in case you need it.
Thanks!!! That's such good advice - I've just written your list. I didn't know universities can re-issue degrees - fantastic!
You've been a huge help.
It's really easy. You just have to get your identification witnessed by a JP and send it to them with the money. I did it a few months ago.