Cheers

When it comes to Google traffic, my limited SEO knowledge tells me its usually better when the link is one way as opposed to an exchange and in fact Google tends to lend less credibility to an exchange ( I guess because they are used to them now)

I just found your site and love the name, the concept and your writing. I’m a displaced Brit but my hubby is a displaced African, from Kenya, he’s white though:) We both love Africa and hope to go there again with our kids some day. I worked in Zimbabwe for a year and we traveled lots, Africa is definitely a special place, we miss it.

Anyway, you and I are both now Aussie bloggers trying to improve people’s lives. I’m in the Sunshine Coast, QLD. I wonder where in Australia you are and if you’d like to do a link exchange?

All the best and keep up the great work.

Often when someone is having a “rant” about things I have a tendency to just glaze over and not really listen. From my observations a lot of other males also have this tendency. What I’ve found works well sometimes is to really listen and ask relevant questions that bring the “rant” to a higher level. Questions like why do you think people behave in that way? It can turn things into more of a philosophical discussion rather than just a series of complaints.

I should add I’m far from being an expert on the topic. This is just something I’ve tried and found it can work quite well.

you said “if you are open and receptive you can actually steer the conversation to the lovely things you want to hear about without making the “complaining woman” feel that she has not been heard.”

This is a great piece of advice that has made many a conversation more enjoyable for me and as far as I can tell the women I was talking to.