Battered by a Cyclone!

plus how to start a TikTok shop

It was starting to look very dark over the CBD!

Battered by Cyclone Alfred?

Well it’s certainly been an interesting week here in Brisbane, Australia.

Cyclone Alfred started brewing at the beginning of the week—coincidentally just as I came down with a brutal, COVID-esque flu. One minute, I was planning my week, and the next, I was stocking up on tissues and soup while Queensland’s towns & cities were clearing the supermarket shelves of everything but tins of chickpeas, garlic, and UHT milk.

The build-up was pretty intense. Businesses shut their doors, shopfronts were boarded up, and the streets went eerily quiet as everyone battened down the hatches. For days, we watched as the cyclone inched closer, teasing us with its unpredictability, shifting slightly this way and that, keeping everyone guessing.

And then… well, it kind of fizzled.

Instead of an apocalyptic storm, Alfred hit the coast with a bit of bluster and a lot of rain, knocking out the power for a lot of homes along the coast. I woke to pretty strong winds in the early hours of Saturday morning, but other than that, rain, rain & more rain!

As someone commented on my FB updates, it’s good that nature slowed down and more damage didn’t occur, especially to the homes & businesses right in the firing line on the coastal areas.

For me, I’ll be keeping dry, nursing this flu, and waiting for the sun to make a comeback. Hope you’ve had a slightly less eventful week wherever you are!

A WEEK IN THE LIFE

As I said above, this week, I’ve been battling the flu while waiting out an impending cyclone. And while I’d rather not repeat the experience, it gave me one huge realisation: We shouldn’t wait for life to force us to stop before we take the time to reassess where we’re headed.

In this week’s post, I’m talking about storms—both literal and metaphorical—and why it’s so important to take control of your own path.

Read it here:

SIDE HUSTLE HIGHLIGHT

Start a TikTok Shop & Sell Trending Products

TikTok isn’t just for watching funny videos anymore—it’s one of the biggest e-commerce platforms right now, and you can make serious money selling trending products with TikTok Shop.

With zero upfront inventory costs, you can sell viral products (like beauty gadgets, fitness accessories, or home essentials) directly inside the TikTok app. The best part? You don’t need your own products—you can sell items from other suppliers and earn commissions.

This week’s guide covers how to launch a TikTok Shop and start selling, even if you’re brand new to e-commerce.

You’ll learn:


📲 How to set up your TikTok Shop account step by step.
📦 Where to find trending products that are already selling well.
📈 How to create short, high-converting videos that drive sales.
💰 The best ways to earn through TikTok’s affiliate program (even if you don’t want to sell your own products).

TikTok is revolutionizing online shopping—now’s the perfect time to jump in!

Download your quick start guide and dive in to TikTok!

INTERESTING RESOURCE

If you love the idea of unique, off-the-beaten-path adventures, this might be one to check out! 

I just came across Fencox, a company offering small-group tours to incredible destinations like Vietnam, Bhutan, the Silk Road, Iran, and more. Their itineraries look amazing, packed with cultural experiences, history, and adventure, and I’ll definitely be considering joining some in the future to meet new people and explore these fascinating places.

I haven’t travelled with them myself yet (and I couldn’t find any reviews), but they’re a sister company to Patch Adventures, which has great feedback.

(Please note: I have no association or affiliation with this company, and this is not a personal recommendation, just an interesting resource I thought might be worth sharing for fellow 50+ travellers!)

THIS WEEK’S TOP READS

In honour of Cyclone Alfred…

What is the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded?

Pic for display purposes only

To find out the correct answer, select your preferred option below

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That’s All Folks!

That’s it from me this week.

It’s still very wet and windy here, so I’m off to hunker down for the next few days while things calm down.

Have an amazing week and as always get out there and make it happen!

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