This is Australia calling - Gordon's 2014 Eurovision preview

Eurovision blasts onto our screens this week and features a glut of melodic merriment especially if you are into cakes and long ballady type songs that try to evoke some sort of gut wrenching reaction. 

Whether that gut reaction is a vomitous or sheer splendour sensation depends upon your musical taste. 

But one thing you can be guaranteed is Eurovision 2014 has every genre covered including a stunning entry from The Netherlands.

So belt up and get ready for Gordon's Eurovision 2014 preview and my heavily anticipated winner prediction.

It must be noted my predictions are so accurate that if you are tipped to win by yours truly you may as well start gorging yourself on Danish ice cream and start reflecting on what could have been.

As a guide of my cunning prediction prowess, I predicted Emmelie de Forest to finish 10th last year, instead she bolted home leaving my prediction in the dust, #awkward.

A month ago, I thought France's Twin Twin with ‘Moustashe’ had it in the bag and it was just a formality before they won. ‘Moustache’ is a captivating mix of modern pop, and powerful lyrics under the guise of quirky staging and delivery. If they don’t win, I am sure the song will become the anthem for Movember later this year.

But with the release of the Eurovision 2014 compilation and a couple of listens through the entire album, I think there are a few countries that could take home the glittering prize in 2014.

Overall you could be mistaken for feeling this year is decidedly dull and middle of the road with many countries going for a ‘safe’ ballad and big vocal, which means when a country stands out, they stand out big time.

Two just stand outs are Malta and the host countries neighbour, The Netherlands.

Malta’s ‘Coming Home’ taps right into the new pop meets folk genre and will definitely get feet tapping whilst The Netherlands effortlessly transport listeners to a country genre with a beautifully created song called ‘Calm after the storm’.

Other countries to watch, especially taking into account the notorious voting block patterns are Greece and Estonia with couple of dance floor smashes. But with the trouble between Russia and the Ukraine this year the ‘eastern block’ maybe slightly weaker.

Also, look out too for the bilingual offering from Israel with ‘Same heart’. This rock meets pop song is delivered with passion and throaty skill. Italy too is one of my complete favourites.

Countries who totally missed the mark include some of my favourite places to visit like Iceland and the ‘busty’ broads from Poland. Both countries appear to be way off brief for my liking and will be there to just make up the numbers.

The fact that I haven’t spoke about the UK’s entry ‘Children of the Universe’ probably means a) it could be a potential winner or b) means the UK are again lucky to make it straight through to the grand final and will come closer to 24 instead of number one.

One of the big questions is can Denmark go back-to-back and my answer is definitely maybe.

Basim has a Bruno Mars-esk type sound and his catchy ‘Cliché Love Song’ will at the very least stir the crowd into a frenzy of flag waving – regardless of your colours.

Gordon’s 2014 Eurovision predictions:

Douze points Moustache, Twin Twin – France

Dix points Calm After The Storm, The Common Linnets – The Netherlands

Huit points Coming Home, Firelight – Malta

Sept points Amazing, Tanja – Estonia

Six points Same Heart, Mej Finegold – Israel

Cinq points La Mitta Citta, Emma – Italy

Quatre points Rise Up, Freaky Fortune featuring RiskyKidd - Greece

Trois points Cliché Love Song, Basim– Denmark

Deux points Hunter of stars, Sebalter – Switzerland 

 Un point Undo, Sanna Neilsen – Sweden

The rest…..

11. To the sky – FY R Macedonia

12. Something Better – Finland

13. Dancing in the rain – Spain
14. Children of the universe – UK
15. Miracle – Romania
16. Running – Hungary
17. Cake to Bake – Latvia
18. Not Alone – Armenia
19. Quero Ser Tua – Portugal
20. Is it right – Germany
21. Mother – Belgium
22. Maybe – San Marino
23. Silent Storm – Norway
24. Tick Tock – Ukraine
25. Moj Svijet – Montenegro
26. Start a fire – Azerbaijan
27. Heartbeat – Ireland
28. Round and Round – Slovenia
29. Attention – Lithuania
30. Shine – Russia
31. Rise like a phoenix – Austria
32. Cheesecake – Belarus
33. We are Slavic – Poland
34. One night’s Anger – Albania
35. Wild Soul – Moldova
36. Three minutes to Earth – Georgia
37. No Prejudice – Iceland 

PS - Europe is in for a massive treat when Australian, yes Australian superstar Jessica Mauboy sings during the semi final. Go Jess!

Helpful links to online marketing resources

Some helpful online resources to help maximise your online communications.

Sensis 'Yellow Social Media Report' - What Australia people and businesses are doing with their social media.

Why should keywords be the foundation to your marketing? Keyword outline by Hubspot 

Looking for a App building company? Choose from these App building companies

Adobe 2013 Mobile Consumer Survey

Not sure what LMAO means? Try this internet slang dictionary

How much is a website visitor worth? Read How to calculate the value of your website traffic 

Schedule your social media with this Hubspot Social Media Publishing Schedule

Schedule your blog content with the Hubspot Blog Editorial Calendar Template

When is the best time to send email marketing? MailChimp data provides and insight

Fast Company article on 10 Surprising social media statistics.

Create creative looping videos and capitalise on visual content with Vine

Wearable technology. The latest gadgets from the recent London Wearable Technology Show

Need a catchy headline with your keywords? Portent's online content maker. 

Why do people follow brands on Facebook?

Keyword and search engine statistics.

Use Google Hangouts to broadcast messages or events.

Why email marketing is till king 

Mind blowing statistics about the importance of video content 

Updated rules for running Facebook competitions

5 social media metrics your CEO actually cares about

News Apps for a new device. How will Apps for Google Glass change the way you engage with customers? The revolution is already beginning in Melbourne Australia.

Technological and social media adoption

Check out this link:

Technology adoption

and video from Erik Qualman from Socialnomics to get an insight into how quickly the technological landscape is changing.

Apple - iPad Air - TV Ad - Your Verse

Walter Mitty On The Favourites List

I have a new film on my favourites list – welcome aboard, ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ (WM).

Having seen previews and mixed reviews of WM, I came into the theatre thinking this is not your usual Ben Stiller movie, for me that means the not stop hilarity of Zoolander, and Meet the Fockers and although not in the same vein, WM entertains and inspires.

This film is SO beautiful, the cinematography stuns with panoramas of Greenland and Iceland that will leave you breathless. Among the many scenes that stood out for me was the simple juxtaposition of the red Air Greenland Airplane set against the stark rugged terrain of the Greenland landscape. This scene left me wanting to leave the everyday behind and to follow my dream and take the next Air Greenland flight to Nuuk.

Every scene in the movie was beautifully crafted and the reason is Ben Stiller himself as he also produced and directed the film. He made ordinary city scapes take on a new deeper meaning which added to the perfectly balanced script and great cast. The cherry on the cake for me is WM still has dashes of classic Stiller humour, like the ‘Benjiman Buttonie’ scene on the porch with his gorgeous co-star Kirsten Wiig. I did LOL.

An added bonus is WM also features a brief but classic cameos by Sean Penn and Shirley Maclaine. And like all classic films with the laughter there is a tear, and the final scene is like reading the final line of a exquisite piece of poetry – and for me, that did bring a little tear.

Is it because of my love of everything Ben Stiller, his humour, my fond memories of Iceland and my yearning to visit the Himalayas and Greenland that I rate this movie so highly, probably yes, but I think I won’t be the only one who will be adding WM to their favourites list J

Now to download the awesome sound track!

5/5 A must see

FREE Christmas event in Robina Varsity: Lights on the Lake

Local businesses and community groups are putting on a free Christmas community event this Saturday 14 December 2013 at Sports House .

Organised by Varsity Lakes Community Limited and Varsity Lakes Community Bank, the ‘Lights on the Lake’ event is funded by local business and volunteers at no cost to Gold Coast ratepayers.

‘Lights on the Lakes’ will feature, activities for the kids, music, food and drink stalls and of course a visit by Santa as well as fireworks.

‘Lights on the Lake’ will also feature the announcement of the winner of the ‘Varsity in Lights’ competition – a month long competition awarded to the best decorated shop front window in the Varsity Central area.

Varsity Lakes Community Bank Director and Organising Committee Spokesperson Mr Gordon Watson said, “This is the inaugural ‘Lights on the Lake’ event which we hope to grow over the next few years. The committee is dedicated to creating events that bring locals together and attracts people to our area; events like other successful initiatives the Varsity Vibe and Varsity in Lights.”

“Best of all, ‘Lights on the Lake’ is a great way to celebrate the diversity of the Robina Varsity area. We have such a diverse and vibrant community who love where they live and ‘Lights on the Lake’ is a reason to bring the community together,” Mr Watson adds.

The event details are:

What: ‘Lights on the Lake’
When: Saturday 14 December 2013
Time: from 5.00pm – 9.00pm
Where: Sports House Christine Ave, Varsity Lakes
Bring: A rug and other comforts you may desire
RSVP: by ‘Liking’ the Varsity Lakes Events page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VarsityLakesEvents

The Robina Lions Club will also be selling their delicious Christmas cakes and puddings at the event, so if you haven't grabbed one yet, you will be able to on the night.

This is a grass roots event and sharing this event with other locals on social media or other online channels would be warmly welcomed.

Climbathon, Sabah, Malaysia - Challenge complete!

Words cannot describe the feeling of elation as I crossed the finish line in the 2013 Malaysian Climbathon at Mount Kinabalu in Sabah last month.

Without doubt this event lives up to its reputation as the world's toughest challenge and the reason is quite simple; you can read all the blogs, look at all the maps, and train your guts out for an event like this, but it is not until you are actually in this incredible mountain's presence and on your way that you have any idea of just how tough this challenge is.

The pain burning in your legs from ascending what is the tallest mountain in South East Asia acted as a constant reminder of my vulnerability and my insanity.

Half way into the race I found myself asking why did I think a new 40 year old without a track record of running in mountains, could have thought he was up to the challenge. And to top things off just as you put in place mental coping mechanisms so you can manage the pain, your lungs are slowly gripped by thinning oxygen and the effects of altitude.

That said, I do love a challenge, and to be honest there was one point between Layang Layang Hut and Mesilau Nature Resort I thought I can't take anymore, and tried to justify pulling out as at least having a go.

Click here for the race map.

But, just like Dori did in the movie Finding Nemo, I started saying to myself just keep going, one step at a time, or in this case one muddy, slippery, rocky, treacherous step at a time, because I knew if I could make the Nature Reserve, even though my legs had been punished and were stinging from the steep inclines, I would be able to run the rest of the 10km home. And as it turned out, I did and in a pretty good time for me, considering...

The added incentive for me to finish the race was Geoff at the finish line - I had dragged him all the way to the darkest jungles of Borneo for my 40th birthday and the least I could do is finish the race! The other reason was of course the money which we had raised for the Robina Lions Club and the Lions Club Prostate Cancer Research.

And as each remaining kilometre became less and less my sense of completing the challenge become overwhelming.  Even though I finished quite sometime after the winners, the locals were out in force cheering on every competitor and at every turn the event organisers were on hand with leg sprays and water and words of encouragement - which let me tell you means a lot when you are in a world of pain.

 I did shed a bit of a tear at the finish line but I was so proud of myself for sticking it out and rising to the challenge.

Of the over 570 competitors across the weekend only 393 completed this intense race.

I managed to fall across the line in 61st position in the Men's Veteran category in 5 hours and 2  minutes and we ended up raising $720.00 for the Robina Lions Club which is great.

So all in all, I had the best 40th birthday. And the added bonus is we met some wonderful new friends from around the world too! One of which (Irene) came 5th in the Veteran Women's and took home prize money!

This event makes Tough Mudder look like a bridal waltz so if you are looking for a real challenge, you have to get into Climbathon 2014!