Hands up who enjoys a trip to the movies?

Excellent.

Leave your hand up if you also like a choc top and tub of popcorn to enjoy the cinema experience with.

Awesome.

Hands up if you think the movies are an expensive outing.

Yep, ah huh… gotta agree with you there * nodding in agreement feverishly *

That’s why Boredom Busters has our movie tickets at discounted rates. Lay-by your movie tickets or buy them outright, you’re still saving up to 30% when you order from us.  All day, every day. 30% cheaper than the cinemas are we.

All of your favourite and local cinemas are here ready for you to lay-by today - Event (Greater Union), Reading, Hoyts, Village, IMAX, to your local independant cinemas like Dendy, Ritz, Palace & the outdoor Moonlight cinemas.  Want to go Gold Class? Yep, we have that covered as well.

Our movie tickets are able to be redeemed online - it’s an easy process according to our customer Sharon Behan and her experiences with Event cinemas using our tickets. From the cinema website you simply select your tickets and then click on the redeem your tickets/vouchers button and enter the 3 digit PIN located next to the barcode. You then choose your seats and print your receipt. The cinema may charge a small additional booking fee but you are still saving!

So that said, there’s no excuse to not purchase your movie tickets from us. Oh that is unless you don’t like to save 30% on your movie ticket prices then go right ahead you have your reason. Valid but full of logic? hmmm think not.

Now we will tease you with some of the movies coming out this year. Have a look at our listing and see for yourself what you would like to go and see.  Then you can start to pay for your movie tickets with a simple lay-by order of the cinema of your choice.  Truly, its’ that easy folks.

Oh and final sales pitch… order any or as many as you like, lay-by for as little or as long as you like, as always with Boredom Busters - the choice is yours and yours only.

OK so here’s just some of what’s coming out to a cinema near you in 2012.

February 2012 - The Artist, Any Questions for Ben? Chronicle, The Vow, My week with Marilyn,

March 2012 - A little bit of heaven, 50/50, 21 Jump Street, The Lorax, Wrath of the Titans,

April 2012 - American Reunion, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Wish you were here, Movie 43, Scary Movie 5, The Avengers

May 2012 - Men in Black III, What to expect when you’re expecting

July 2012 - Ice Age - Continental Drift, The Dark Knight Rises,

August 2012 - The Bourne Legacy, The Expendables 2

September 2012 - Madagascar 3 - Europes Most Wanted,

November 2012 - Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn Part 2

December 2012 - The Great Gatsby, Les Miserables.

So that’s just a snitch of what is coming on at the big screen. So get onto our movie section and lay-by today your movie tickets.

The kids are back at school. Happy days (except if you’re a teacher or worse, my kids teachers * evil laugh * ) 

We survived the school holidays. Considering the weather was mostly so crap here in Sydney that was a bonus. Thought the kids would have gone stir crazy by the end with the endless rain we had but then again, they were quite eager to return to school. Hmmm…

So onwards we go with another school term and before we know it, Easter will be here and another round of holidays.  Time is right to start planning for the next holidays - what do you want to do that you didn’t do these school holidays? Gosh the kids still have plenty on their wish list that wasn’t done these holidays, no doubt we will attack the list with gusto then.  A friend recently commented that she thought my holidays was well organised and structured, not so. I leave a lot of room for spontaneity but a lot of the fun things is left up to the kids to decide what they want to do, I just organise it with our own tickets lay-by and with what time we have to work it in the schedule, that’s about it.  Again, I’ve witnessed friends paying for their spontaneity via their beloved credit cards or then scrimping and trying to get by with their budget meals as they’ve done their doe at the school holiday entertainment and then whinging about the cost of it all. What’s the saying again about leading that horse to water? Oh well. Their problem not mine!

Right, back to the coalface, filling up that water trough for the horses and savouring that serenity until time for school pick up!

Loads happening as we count down the sleeps until Christmas 2011.  If you are looking for Carols by Candlelight events in the lead up to Christmas, why not see what’s on offer around Australia this week.

ACT - Canberra’s 67th annual Carols by Candlelight is on again Wednesday 14 December 2011 at Stage 88, Commonwealth Park from 7pm.

ACT - Gininderra District Girl Guides Annual Family Christmas Carols will be held on the oval on Walhallow Street, Hawker from 7-9pm on Thursday 15 December 2011. BYO picnic dinner. All welcome.

NSW - Redfern - Carols on the Block 2011. Friday 16 December 2011 6-9pm. A free community event of Carol singing, prayers, BBQ and entertainment at the Block on Eveleigh Street, Redfern (opp Redfern Station)

NSW - All Saints Church, North Epping is hosting Carols on Epping Oval, Norfolk Road, North Epping on Friday 16 December 2011 from 7.30pm.  Christmas Carols, Food, drinks and glowsticks available. Carols begins at 7.30, fireworks at 9pm.

NSW - Toongabbie.  Light of the World Ministry Church, 244 Toongabbie Road, Toongabbie is having a Christmas party on Friday 16 December 2011 from 7.30pm. Free admission. Singing, carols, dancing, food and great fun.

NSW - Hurstville City Carols by Candlelight and Childrens Festival will be held on Saturday 17 December 2011 from 4.00pm at Woodville Park, Hudson and West Streets, Hurstville. Starts with fun and interactive games, food and drinks available for purchase, face painting, craft and youth activities. Concert starts at 7pm. Bring a rug to sit on and enjoy.

.NSW - Carols by Narrabeen Lake will be held on Saturday 17 December 2011 at Berry Reserve Narrabeen from 7.00pm. BBQ, drinks and Santa. BYO blanket and arrive early to get a good spot for carols. Fireworks will finish the celebrations.

. NSW - Springwood/Winmalee Community Carols will be held on Saturday 17 December 2011 at Winmalee High School from 5.30pm. Food and drinks available as well as fun and entertainment for the kids before the carols start at 8.00pm.

. NSW - Carols on the Grass, Erina will be held on Saturday 17 December 2011 at 331 Terrigal Drive, Erina. Join in for a fun carnival of carols, entertainment of face painting, jumping castles, BBQ, drinks etc

. ACT - Tuggeranong Salvation Army’s Carols in the Park (town park) on Sunday 18 December 2011. A great family event with loads of free entertainment (face painting, jumping castle, farm animals etc) fun kicks off from 5pm, carols later at 7pm.

. NSW - Merrylands Anglican Church, Denmark Street Merrylands is holding Carols on the Corner on Sunday 18 December 2011 from 5.00pm. Petting zoos, jumping castles and loads more before the carols and entertainment later. All welcome.

. NSW - WestSide Church is hosting carols at Greystanes High School, Beresford Road Greystanes on Sunday 18 December 2011 from 5.00pm. BBQ, petting zoos, face painting + loads more before the carols at 6.30pm. All welcome!

. NSW - Emu Plains Community Baptist Church, Melrose Hall, Emu Plains will be holding an indoors celebration on Sunday 18 December 2011 from 6.00pm.

NSW - Carols in the Carpark, hosted by St John’s Asquith will be held Sunday 18 December 2011 at 6 Royston Parade Asquith from 6.00pm. Live entertainment and refreshments available before the carols start at 7.30pm.

NSW - Carols in the Carpark, hosted by St Marks Anglican Church Revesby will be held Sunday 18 December 2011 at 91 The River Road, Revesby from 6.00pm. Live entertainment and refreshments available before the carols start at 7.00pm.  Will be held indoors if wet - it’s going ahead rain, hail or shine!

NSW - Bethlehem Carols in Mittagong will be held this Sunday 18 December 2011 in front of St Stephens Anglican Church, Main Street Mittagong from 7.00pm.

NSW - Pitt Town Anglican Community Church 110 Bathurst Street, Pitt Town invites you to join with them at Carols on the Lawn this Sunday 18 December 2011.  Starts at 7pm - all welcome.

It’s that wonderful time of the year when the Carols by Candlelight occur around Australia.  If you get a chance to get along with your family and friends to one of your locally run events, please do so. They’re such a wonderful evening and certainly get you in the Christmas and festive mood.

Here’s where you can get along to an event in Sydney over the next few weekends.

NSW - Toongabbie Baptist Church is having a Carols by Candlelight in the grounds of Metella Road Public School, Metella Road Toongabbie on Saturday 3 December 2011 from 4pm. Free entertainment as well as food and fireworks complete the great community event.

NSW - Carols in Boronia Park, Epping. Sunday 11 December 2011 Presented by the Churches of Epping so join the 5,000 in this fantastic celebration. Full program from 7.15pm ending with fireworks finale at 9pm.

Well today is the first day of December.  It’s also the first day of Summer (and the 20 deg temp and jumper just screams summer doesn’t it? Pass me my pina colada with the hot water bottle please!) but alas the calendar doesn’t lie and summer is officially here. Crazy weather we’re having, almost as uncertain as the stockmarkets around the world you’d say but we won’t go there, we’ll just talk about the doom and gloom that is todays weather.

Pfffft, nope forget that.

So what are your plans for summer? Hanging at home, pottering about and seeing what happens or are you off on an adventure with the family discovering the world beyond the neighbourhood?  We have nothing concrete planned as yet, I’m looking forward to just hanging around here and catching our breath for a bit and doing a bit of fun and spontaneity in there as well as catching up with family and friends on a few short road trips. That should cover us well this summer and I can’t wait! 

Hey do you remember those road trips we did as kids? The ones where your mum and dad would drag you half way round Australia to catch up with Aunty Mavis in whoop whoop and you’d spend half the trip fighting with your siblings for them encroaching on your space and we’d be stuck to the back of the car seat from the sweat and our thighs scorched from the hot metal seatbelts. The music would be playing mum and dads music and you’d be thrown a mintie or a Pascall fruit bon bon every few hours or so as you stuck your head out the window that was improvising as our air conditioning (when you weren’t stuck in traffic jams with everyone else escaping on Boxing Day). Did you have the obligatory stop off at the ‘big’ icons around Oz to break up the trips? Come to think of it I’m wondering if that was the parents bucket list being ticked off as we saw them all at various times in my family bonding? * Joke Joyce *

We had a bit of an office water cooler discussion today about holiday memories as kids and well all both of us will say is that our brothers were very mean buggers who have still left emotional scars that run deep to both us and our Barbies!

Did we as kids ever get a say in what we did on our holidays? I can’t remember whether we did or not (I remember not having a say in who’s team I was when playing back yard cricket with my brother or trecking to the Big Marino or flower expos) but granted it wasn’t all boring stuff, we actually had a lot of fun and lots of interesting times on not much money. Not that I knew that at the time.  But that’s the thing, these memories don’t have to cost you a fortune to have some of the best days and fun as a family. 

Kids of today actually do get a say in what stuff they do which is better wicket than what we ever had. To find that compromise though so that everyone’s happy can be a difficult middle ground to find.

We’re all for fun and good times and creating awesome family memories. Sometimes they can be more than just the experiences and attractions that our business offers you to lay-by and in the end these things are the ones that often get you laughing and reminiscing about certain times (yes refer back to our Barbies and brothers!)

How about these ideas to get you started?

- Picnic in the park (or at the beach or riverbed)

- Scavenger hunting (we’re talking other than the finds from the boys of your houses’ bedrooms)

- Camping out under the stars (yes you get away from those city lights folks and the stars you’ll see will amaze you), campfire with obligatory marshmallows and guitar.

- Road trip to wherever for however long you want it to be. Stop in at the little towns along the way - yes blame the kids for the toilet stop but take the time to see what these towns have to offer. Not only great value for quirky and great souvenirs but also a great country hello and old fashioned customer service.  How can that be a bad thing?

- Get on the local public transport and see where it takes you. The interesting characters you’ll meet on the bus, train, ferry etc will amaze you and if your public transport gets you to the destination without a breakdown or being late then that in itself will be an adventure.

Whatever you have planned or are dreaming of doing, remember that they can be spend free or as extravagant as you want it to be and at the end of the day, the kids are just happy that we’ve dragged ourselves out of our environment or away from the office to spend the time with them and those memories are priceless.

Have an awesome summer folks!

Well as the fete season comes to a close this weekend, we are enjoying a well earned weekend off, it’s been the first one we’ve enjoyed since mid August! No one call us in the morning please otherwise you’ll deal with an understanding answering machine!

There are a few festivals and fetes this weekend so if you’re around for these, please support these schools. 

NSW - Burwood Public School, 1 Conder Street, Burwood is holding their annual festival on Friday 25 November 2011 in the school grounds from 3-7.30pm. Always a fun event and this year is proving to be no exception. All welcome so make sure you get along and have some fun.

VIC - Clifton Hill Primary School, 185 Gold Street, Clifton Hill 3068 is having their annual school fete on Saturday 26 November 2011 from 10-4pm. Loads of fun for everyone so be part of it.

VIC - Middle Park Primary School, Mills & Richardson Streets, Middle Park is holdinga  twilight fair on Saturday 26 November from 3-8pm. Plenty of rides, loads of food and variety of activities for everyone. A great event so be part of it!

Finally, we’d like to thank you for letting us know what your school and local community has been up to, moreso this fete season so that we have been able to help spread the word to others.  In 2012 please keep on letting us know about your local fete, fair, festival or school/community event so that we can give you guys a well deserved plug.

Spring fair season is coming to a close so if you have had the chance to get out there and support a fete/fair or carnival this year, we thank you! With the current economic uncertainty it’s been a tough year for fundraising for community organisations and businesses so every little bit has helped and gone a long way. 

If you’ve taken the time to stop by one of our stalls at the fetes we thank you too!  It’s been great chatting with you and finding out your interests and bucket lists in life.  We hope to see you at one of the fetes in 2012.

Here’s what’s happening this weekend around Australia:

VIC - Diamond Creek Primary School, Clyde Street, Diamond Creek, 3089 is having a Twilight Market Night on Friday 18 November from 6-10pm. Face painting, showbags & a jumping castle for the kids as well as a variety of market stalls for the adults. Food stalls for everyone else in between.

VIC - Caufield Primary School, 724 Glenhuntly Rd, Caufield, is having their annual fete on Saturday 19 November in the school grounds.

VIC - A fair to remember - Very Special Kids 13th Annual fair is on Saturday 19 November at 321 Glenferrie Road, Malvern from 9-4pm. 100% of proceeds go to Very Special Kids It’s a shopping experience, it’s a family day out, it’s great fun and it’s for a great cause. A Fair to Remember is one day you won’t forget!

NSW - Glenfield Park Primary School, Roy Watts Road, Glenfield is holding a fair on Saturday 19 November from 9-3pm. All welcome.

NSW - Nepean Multiple Births Association is having a Multiple Market Madness day this Saturday 19 November 2011 from 11am-3pm in Glenmore Park Community Centre, Luttrell Street, Glenmore Park (next to Glenmore Park Shopping Centre).  Loads of different stalls & giftwares as well as refreshments, raffles and bargains. Gold Coin donation. 

So have you managed to get out and about in the community and been a long to a school fete this Spring? There’s loads on around Australia so get along and support these schools and community groups in their fundraising events.

If your community group or school is having a fundraising activity, let us know about it so we can let others know.  Our website and community noticeboard is the first place that stallholders check out for upcoming events to spruik their wares at so contact us at customerservice@boredombusters.com.au with your details and we’ll post it here in our blog and on our community noticeboard.

Here’s what’s happening this weekend around Australia.

NSW - Cecil Hills Public School, Leopold Place, Cecil Hills NSW is having a fair on Friday 11 November in the school grounds from 4.30-8.30pm. Be part of all the fun. Stallholder enquiries welcome on 0402812411.

NSW - North Padstow Public School, Halcyon Avenue Padstow is having a spring fair on Saturday 12 November 2011 from 10-4pm. Over 40 stalls with rides and entertainment to boot! Going to be a great day so be part of if all.

ACT - Arawang Primary School, Nemarang Cresc, Waramanga is having their Great Green Fete on Saturday 12 November 2011 from 10-2pm in the school grounds. Loads of your fete favs as well as gardening and green thinking presentations.

ACT - Kingsford Smith School, Starke Street Holt is having a fete on Saturday 12 November 2011 from 10-2pm. Come and join in the community fun.

ACT - St Thomas Apostle School, Boddington Cres, Kambah is having  a fete on Saturday 12 November 2011 from 10-2.30pm. Come and be part of the family friendly event - there’s plenty happenign for everyone of all ages and likes.

ACT - “RSPCA pets party” on Sunday 13 November 2011 from 10-2pm at 12 Kirkpatrick Street, Weston Creek. Bring along your furry friend for a family day out. Pet comps, entertainment, food and refreshments etc. Gold coin donation on entry.

VIC - St Therese’s School, Cnr Edward St and Florence St, Essendon is having a fete on Sunday 13 November 2011.  Be part of the fun!

Best wishes to all fundraising this weekend for a successful and profitable event!

Oh those weekends come around so quickly don’t they?

We’re in full swing of fete and fairs at present, loads happening around Australia so make sure you’ve gone to at least one fete this year and enjoyed a sausage sizzle and fresh cake and fairy floss! There’s just nothing like it is there?

Here’s what we know of community events happening this weekend:

NSW - Rydalmere Public School, Victoria Road Rydalmere is having a school fete to celebrate the BER opening on Friday 4 November in the school grounds from 2-7pm. Support this awesome little community school.

NSW - Hilltop Public School, Hilltop Road, Merrylands 2160 is having a family fun night this Friday 4 November in the school grounds from 5.30-9.30pm. Be part of the fun - loads happening, rides, craft markets and much more.

NSW - Greystanes Public School, 781 Merrylands Road, Greystanes is having a fete on Saturday 5 November 2011. Always a popular event, be sure to be part of this years fun.

NSW - Marayong Heights Public School, Guerie Street, Marayong is having their 50th Anniversary Fete on Saturday 5 November 2011 from 9-2pm. Loads to see, do and entertain you so be part of the fun!

NSW - St Monicas Primary School, Windsor Road, North Parramatta is having a car wash in the school car park on Saturday 5 November from 8-4pm. $10.00 a car. Refreshments also available for purchase.

VIC - Huntingtower Primary School, 77 Waimarie Drive, Mt Waverley is having their annual school fete on Saturday 5 November 2011 from 10-4pm. Come and enjoy a great day out!

Well another weekend has arrived and mother nature appears to have kept her end of the deal as well. So this weekend don’t be spooked by the weather forecast, get out there and get amongst the various community events happening.

 We’re going to be at the Toongabbie West PS 3rd Annual Halloween Carnival from 3pm tomorrow so if you are looking for a great community event and you’re nearby, come along and be part of all the fun. We’re also sponsoring the fancy dress competition, our friend Mr Martin Bean is doing the judging so dress up and be part of the Halloween fun!

With Mr Bean & Teddy at 2010 Halloween Carnival

Here’s what else is on around Australia this weekend…

NSW - Denistone East Primary School, Lovell Road, Denistone is having a fete this afternoon, Friday 28 October in their school grounds. 

NSW - Bethany Primary, 34-38 William Howell Drive, Glenmore Park is having their annual fun fair tonight with all the fun starting from 1.30pm until 7.30. Loads to see, do, eat and enjoy!

NSW - Toongabbie West Public School, Ballandella Road, Toongabbie NSW 2146 will be holding their 3rd annual Halloween Carnival in the school grounds on Saturday 29 October 2011 from 3-8pm.  Rides, craft and food stalls, live entertainment and much more. Get along and be part of the fun and this popular community event.

NSW - Metella Road Public School, Metella Road Toongabbie is having their bi-annual Big Day Out on Saturday 29 October 2011 from 10-2pm. Get in on the action!

NSW - Kellyville Public School, 35a Windsor Rd Kellyville is having their Spring Fair on Saturday 29 October 2011 from 11-3pm. Be part of the fun.

NSW - Oakhill Primary School, Cnr David Rd and Oakhill Drv  Castle Hill is having a family fun day on Sunday 30 October 2011 from 10-4pm. Rides, craft, plaster painting, sports auction, food stalls & café and much more!

And remember folks for a listing of other events coming up around Australia, why not check out our community noticeboard!