Banking jobs

Back home people used to look highly at public service and banking jobs. If you are fortunate enough to get into either one of those two professions then your job security is pretty much set for life. That’s why a lot of parents were always pushing their kids to get into these two industries. Can’t really blame them, which were how the older generations used to think back then but now we all know better.

Yuccas

Members of the Agave family, yuccas are native to southern USA and Mexico. There are around thirty species, and most have stout woody trunks, rosettes of spiky leaves and big clusters of creamy white flowers. In the wild these fascinating plants have a mutually exclusive relationship with a moth (Tegeticula spp.). They provide food for the yucca moth, and it pollinates their flowers. Most yuccas have leaves tipped with sharp spines, hence common names like Spanish bayonet, Spanish dagger and Adam's needle. Yucca elephantipes, the plant we featured on Burke's Backyard, does not have sharp leaves. This beautiful species comes from the high country of Mexico and Central America, where it has long been valued for its medicinal and culinary uses.

Chicago auto repair

Moving to Chicago is a big step but it is also a good change for the better. I am so looking forward to my new job in a new city. I decided to drive all the way there in my trusty Toyota Camry but along the way I struck a pot hole and I hope nothing’s broken in the under carriage. Because I’m new to the city it is hard for me to find a Chicago auto repair shop near where I live or near my work place.

Lucky for me a work colleague helped out referring me to his uncle’s garage which is near by. While at the auto repair shop they did a marvellous job checking my Camry thoroughly, even check engine light and the oil filters too. I think I’m going to love this city.

Red eggplants

Most people would be familiar with the large, purple-black eggplant or aubergine (Solanum melongena) which is used to make delicious recipes like ratatouille and baba ganoush. If you shop around you'll also be able to find white skinned or striped varieties, lady's fingers and the tiny pea eggplant, which is used in Asian cooking. The good news is that there are new red varieties of eggplant available, which have a better flavour than the common purple ones because they are not as acidic. They can be cut in half and put on the barbecue, or sliced thinly, fried and added to platters of antipasto.

Eggplants require a position in full sun and a long, warm growing season. In warm, frost-free zones (for example the tropical and subtropical parts of the Northern Territory and coastal areas of north Queensland) they can be grown all year round. In temperate climates (coastal and near coastal districts of southern Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia) seed can be planted from August to December. In cool to cold climates (southern Australia, mountain and frost-prone inland districts), delay planting until September and make last plantings by the end of November.

Appetite suppressant

The problem with obesity is that it’s hard to stop eating when we’re full. We tend to continue eating even though the body had enough. What we need is a good appetite suppressant so we don’t have that hunger to continue eating way over what the body needs. So I let my friend be the guinea pig and let him try out these suppressants before I do. And you know what? It really works!

Cannas

Cannas are perennials which grow from thick underground roots (or rhizomes). The flowers grow up through tightly furled leaf bases or 'false stems'. Modern canna hybrids come in four different sizes: pixie (45cm-60cm), dwarf (60cm-100cm), medium (1m-1.5m) and tall (1.5m-2m). They come in all colours except blue, green and black. The foliage may be green, blue-green, purple, burgundy, bronze or striped.

Most cannas like a sunny position, but off-white flowering varieties prefer dappled shade. They grow well in moist soil enriched with organic matter such as compost. Fertilise in late winter with a mixture of four parts blood and bone and one part sulfate of potash. Water well before and after fertilising. Cannas also respond well to applications of well-rotted cow manure.Keep plants mulched and water well, particularly during dry spells. Remove spent flower heads to maintain an attractive display. Do not cut off more than about 15cm (6"), as new flowers will be forming lower down the stem. At the end of the flowering season, cut old stems down to within 2cm (1") of the ground. Leave new young shoots - these will flower early next season. Lift and divide the clumps every three years.

Do diet pills work

I’ve tried dieting and I’ve tried exercising but I’m still struggling to shed my excess weight off my overweight body. My next step is taking diet pills and I often wonder; do diet pills work on a lazy couch potato like me? I’m not very motivated to push myself harder than what I’ve done and a magic diet pill is just what I need.

Bromeliads

These fascinating tropical American natives come in a wonderful variety of sizes, shapes and foliage colours. They seem very strange and exotic, but one of our most common fruits, the pineapple, is actually a bromeliad. Many bromeliads are epiphytes (ie they live on other plants but do not parasitise those plants), living up in the forks of tree branches and surviving mainly on the moisture and nutrients they obtain from the air. However there are bromeliads for every situation - some make very good indoor plants, while others can be quite spectacular grown in the garden.

How to get rid of dark circles

I am not a morning person; some days I wake up with dark circles around my eyes. Especially after a big night out and I found out the best way on how to get rid of dark circles around your eyes is Prototype #37-C which has a high concentration of powerful peptides. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself, I was sceptical at first but now I’m a convert.

Bottlebrushes

Bottlebrushes (Callistemon spp.) are among the hardiest of Australian native plants. They are long lived, require minimal maintenance and are almost impossible to kill. The flowers attract native birds, especially honey eaters, and reward the gardener with extraordinary amounts of colour. The original bottlebrushes available to gardeners were all bold red but flower colours now range from red to pink, mauve, cream and green.

Colon cleanser

I’m not feeling the best these few days, must be the over indulgence during the festive season. Time to detoxify I think, I need a colon cleanser to flush out all the nasties that’s built up over the last few months. I do this every few months or after I’ve been bad, you should give it a go. You’ll feel so much better afterward.

Clerodendrums

There are over 400 species of clerodendrums, including climbers, shrubs, herbaceous plants and trees, and they are mostly from warm climates. Many, like the Bleeding Heart Vine, have very showy flowers.

Clerodendrums grown in the garden like a well-drained soil, rich in organic material. They will tolerate full sun with adequate moisture but prefer partial shade. They need protection from strong winds, hot sun and frost. Indoor plants need a warm, bright spot with plenty of water in the growing season. To maintain humidity around the plant, stand the pot on a tray of moist pebbles and mist frequently. If a more compact plant is wanted, pinch out the growing tips in winter. If the plant has repeated pest problems such as scale, mealy bug or two-spotted mite, it is probably not getting enough light or is moisture stressed.

Audio video cables

Sometimes it is hard to find the right audio video cables for my home entertainment system. Like the other day I wanted to get a HDMI cable but it seems like the price of these cables can ranch from very cheap to very expensive. What is the difference between the cheap and the expensive? No one can tell me the difference because it is just down right rip off on the part of the retailers.

Coriander

Coriander grows better during the cooler months of the year. During summer, coriander plants change rapidly from leafy to seedy (this is called ‘bolting to seed’) and it’s almost impossible to have a crop on hand for use in the kitchen in the hot months. During autumn, winter and spring, however, coriander stays nicely leafy for a number of months.

Coriander likes a sunny spot, well-drained soil and a steady supply of both water and fertiliser. It grows equally well in pots or in garden beds. If using pots, use top quality potting mix and sit the pots up on pot feet, so water drains away after each watering.

Agaves

Agaves are easy to grow. They like a full sun position and a well-drained, sandy soil. In gardens they are often grown as accent, border or rockery plants. (Tip: keep species with sharp spines away from paths.) Many of the smaller agaves make excellent pot plants. If growing in a pot, use a free-draining soil mix suitable for succulents. Water established plants in summer when they are actively growing.