Photos

MSO SIDNEY MYER BOWL CONCERT
21 February 2007


Flick and me

Normal me and Jen

Silly me and Jenny!

MSO at the Bowl

The city with clouds

O-WEEK MENTOR CAMP
Camp Rumbug, Foster North
24-25 February 2007


Arom, Smita and me

'Down...in the Rumbug!'

Me and Renee

Beach at Waratah Bay

COMMENCEMENT DINNER
28 February 2007



Sally-Anne, me and Jac

3E buddies, me and Renee

me, Helen and Ace

Musos: Casey and me :)

Tim and me

Dhiraj, me and Kevin

Me and Malcolm (he's actually Scottish!)

Jenny and me

'Siblings' Ben and me (ooh, look, we both have our eyes closed!)

Me and Penny

Nicole and me

Scary Pete and me

Me and Jess

Dhiraj's eye, Zaal and me

1st week at uni

I officially had 8 hours of uni this week. Haha. Although I spent about 9 hours at uni yesterday.
So, contact hours clearly does not equate to how long one spends at university.

Mentor/O-Week/detox camp was at Camp Rumbug at Foster North, near Wilson's Prom.
It was a very pretty location. It was great to get to know some freshers better. Plus, it was fantastic to hang out, do not very much, sleep and watch movies! (All for the three hour drive each way!)
Unfortunately, the camp didn't have enough blankets for us all. So I huddled in my three layers of clothing under two blankets through a cold night....and went to the beach the next morning (which was very nice...I hardly ever go to the beach at home, particularly only living two kilometres from it!)...and subsequently got sick! Yep, fresher flu morphed into senior flu......it only took one day!

So, uni has gone pretty well.
Highlights have included rehearsals with Andrew.
The story here is that I accompanied him for the showcase concert class yesterday. He played the 3rd movt of the Gordan Jacob horn concerto, which is amazingly hard yet so fun. The piano part is ridiculously hard (Apparently Dean Sky-Lucas said that it was the hardest piece he had all year, in one year. Great...I started with it...!) Andrew played well, me not as well! But it stuck, which was good. Geoff was taking the class, which was a good and bad thing. But the class all in all was an amazing class.
After Concert Class, we had a MSS Welcome Back lunch which involved setting up, doling out pizza, beer and cruisers and signing people up for the MSS.

If you haven't joined the MSS, please do! If you are Student Union member, it doesn't cost you anything! If you aren't, it will only set you back $5, which I guarantee you will recover in one pizza lunch! Perks of joining the MSS include social events, pizza/other food events, cheaper tickets to Music Ball, academic representation. Stuff like that. And $5 isn't very much.
And if you have the rationale, "Well, I didn't have to have to pay anything before, and now I have to, and will get the same things", you are wrong! Because from now on, if you aren't an MSS member, you won't have access to our functions (or will at a higher price).

Other highlights include having Tuesday off due to no tutes running in the first week.
As well as walking into my Techs 2-1 lecture and having to say hi to so many awesome people! :) Lots of friends in this class, so that's really awesome!
Furthermore, I have some friends in my Inter Micro class, despite the lecturer not being thoroughly interesting (although today's lecture material was interesting).
Plus, Caroline replied to my text/email about lessons; we're starting next week, and hopefully I'll have lots to do then!
Also, Commencement Dinner was on Wednesday night. We spoon-banged the first two freshers who scored (much fun, the spoon-banging, not the scoring...!), we dressed up, we partayed. Photos to come in a little while. I surprised myself with a major scholarship! Hehe. Who would have known. To tell you the truth, I wasn't expecting anything because my grades for second semester weren't that crash hot (as recounted here). But alas, I kinda was in a general disarray of bemusement at myself as I walked up the aisle of Eakins Hall....!

It has been great getting back to uni to see all the familiar music faces. :)
Plus, it's not just music faces that I'm seeing now...it's also Commerce, other Queeners, and even some med kids! It's fantastic. :) I love it when I can go to uni, walk through to my class/other committment etc. and actually have to stop and say hi to people! I was standing outside the main library on Monday, waiting for a few friends, and seriously, about four friends passed by and I had to talk to them all..! It's a wonderful feeling :) I love having friends, and I thank God every day for them, for making my life a happier time :D

Alas, I shall post photos soon, and should get back to study...!

oops, i failed to mention all this..!

So, two days before I left, I went to the AYO concert at the Perth Concert Hall, which was part of the Perth International Arts Festival (which opened two days before that).
I've heard so much about AYO and the National Music Camp, and Cameron Hill was the soloist with AYO (playing the Stravinsky violin concerto) that it was so worth paying however much the tickets were!
What an amazing sound.
They played Shostakovich's Festive Overture Op. 96 (we played this in the Combined Anglican Schools Orchestra one year, it's such a fantastic piece!), Cameron played the Stravinskly, and then the second half was Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, selections from Suite 1 and 2.
It was a wonderful concert.
And such a sight..! Cameron, the orchestra, and conductor...(where to begin with all that..?!)
It was awesome to see some Melbourne Con people - it was kinda weird, because I was at home, in Perth, and there they were, but I knew them from Melbourne...how odd! But very cool.
Thanks to Beat for organising tickets - thanks for coming with me and all :D

The Prokofiev was pretty cool (even though all of it was actually really cool, just that this piece gets special mention, because..well, I'll explain...).
There were two bits that were especially funky....
1) There was one particular moment where I suddenly noticed the horns had lifted their instruments such that they managed to get better projection. Totally cool.
2) Another particular moment had the orchestra playing in rhythmic unison of dramatic force, except for the horns, who, all five of them, stood up to play this awesome (equally dramatic) melody in unison! Wonderful :)

And more about concerting...
I went to the MSO concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl last night with a few MSS committee members and a bunch of con freshers. It was part of the activities that MSS was running and it was a good way to introduce freshers to seeing more concerts, and for them to write concert reports! (which we could sign off on..!) It turned out to be lots of fun, with some old friends, some new friends, and meeting some other old friends who met us there, whom I didn't even know were coming! But lots of fun. There were quite a few "Do I know you?"'s around, from past times in country Victorian towns..! :) Very funny and very cool.....there was one guy, a pianist, from Bought, and I was like, "I know people who used to live in Bought!", including Sam. And this guy knows Sam - their sisters were very good friends! This pianist was just so cute hehe :P

Anyway, so it was a good concert :) Well, apart from you know, about 10 000 in the crowd, a picnic atmosphere (not a bad thing, but I guess that attracts a different audience demographic to the concert hall), threatening clouds and a weird sound system...! But it was an enjoyable time. I got to meet con freshers (as well as today, on Mentor Day, though only four rocked up, but they were nice!) and hang out with them and get to know them a bit :) Very fun!

So, today was Mentor Day at uni. In the morning, we had training. Which was good, and most amusing at times. I didn't realise how many in-jokes we have..! But what fun it is!
Bought M&Ms, still have some, but all my other friends have probably been the biggest consumers of them, probably after me haha :P
Ran into quite a few people at the Con, which was lots of fun!
The Monday 10am tute has basically filled up - by far, we are the most popular class the quickest..!
Also went around uni today, in the break between training and the actual Mentoring time (I was at uni all day today..!) and checked out the Clubs and Societies stalls and tents on campus. Saw a few more friends around, signed up for CU (the $2 fee...!) as well as for a few things like 85 Broads (no charge, very good!). So I think I had a fairly successful day, although I was (and am!) INCREDIBLY tired.., probably because I didn't have an afternoon nap at all haha.

Anyway, there will be a few photos from MSO (very few....didn't take any of the fireworks because my camera batteries ran out...)

ITunes Shuffle!

Go to your music player of choice and put it on shuffle.
Say the following questions aloud, and press play.
Use the song titles that come up to answer each question.
NO CHEATING.

How does the world see me?
Artist: The Cat Empire
Song: Sly
Comment: Hahahahahaha. Really?!?!?!?!? Hahahahah.

Will I have a happy life?
Artist: Hillsong
Song: Track 13. (I don't actually know the title)
Comment: Awesome. Any Hillsong song for this question has to be good for this question! The lyrics have, "Your breath of life sets me free." "Now I'm free to dance again." Sound positive!

What do people really think of me?
Artist: Anthony Newley
Song: Pure Imagination (from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)
Comment: Haha. Cool!

How can I make myself happy?
Artist: Klaus Bedalt
Song: One Last Shot (from Pirates of the Carribbean)
Comment: Is this to do with one last chance..? Or pirates? Arrr....good orchestral music though!

What should I do with my life?
Artist: Disney
Song: Colours of the Wind (from Pocohantas)
Comment: Is this, what, accept everybody..?!

What is some good advice for me?
Artist: Switchfoot
Song: Under the Floor
Comment: Does that even make sense?!

What do I think my current theme song is?
Artist: Guy Sebastien
Song: i 4 u
Comment: Random, and funny

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Artist: Queen Latifah
Song: When You're Good to Mama (from Chicago)
Comment: Hahahahaha. Does this mean I'm a matriarchal figure..?!

What song will play at my funeral?
Artist: Andrea Bocelli
Song: Cujus animam
Comment: It'd probably help if I knew the English translation. But sorry, although it's pretty, I think I'll have something else...

What type of men do you like?
Artist: Gavin De Graw
Song: Meaning
Comment: What does this mean? I want meaning in relationships..?!

What is my day going to be like?
Artist: Guy Sebastien
Song: Fiend for You
Comment: Don't know what that means...

Why am I here?
Artist: Jimmy Barnes
Song: Working Class Man
Comment: Haha....with a Protestant work ethic..?!?!

What will people remember me for?
Artist: Rockapella
Song: Save Tonight
Comment: Meh, don't get it...

What song will be stuck in my head tomorrow?
Artist: MercyMe
Song: Undone
Comment: This is a great album!

Are there people outside waiting to take me away?
Artist: Guy Sebastien (why are there so many by him..?!?! What happened to my favourite artists?!?!)
Song: Out With My Baby
Comment: Erm....perhaps..?

What will this year be all about?
Artist: Andrea Bocelli
Song: La Gioconda: Cielo E Mar!
Comment: Yep, some sort of English translation would be nice...but perhaps the exclamation mark at the end of the title indicates some sort of spectacular thing!

And another one....

Opening Credits:
MADS Crew: Credits. Makes sense, but not really. So let's try again...
Hillsong: King of Love

Waking Up:
Gavin De Graw: Chemical Party

First Day At School:
Harry Connick Jr.: Love for Sale

Puppy Love:
The Corrs: Miracle

Fight Song:
Vanessa Carlton: Wanted (oh, topical..?!)

Breaking Up:
Andrea Bocelli: Tosca: Recondita Armonia (would make sense in English...whatever it is..)

Prom:
The Corrs: Heaven Knows

Life is Good:
Miles Davis & John Coltrane: Live in New York (not actually the title. Let's try again..)
Van Morrison: Georgia on my Mind

Driving:
Grandaddy: Crystal Lake

Flashback:
Frank Sinatra: L.A. is my Lady

True Love:
Doris Day: Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera) [oh no, am I settling for less..?!]

Wedding:
The Key Sessions Quartet: Cry Me a River. (HAHAHAHHAHAHA!)

Moment of Triumph:
Bach's Cello Suite No. 1, Prelude

Death Scene:
Lauryn Hill: Can't Take My Eyes off You. (Hahahaha. Who..?!)

Funeral Song:
Andrea Bocelli: Ave Maria (the Schubert one) [Beautiful choice!)

End Credits:
Jackie de Shannon: What the World Needs Now is Love (hahahha. Yep, after I die, yes...and it's a good credits song. But random!)

Holiday Classes!

Thanks to Gowri for this fun email :)

NEW EVENING CLASSES FOR MEN!!! ALL ARE WELCOME!

Evening classes for men. Starting this month! Note: due to the
complexity and level of difficulty of their contents, each course will accept a
maximum of eight participants each.


Topic 1. How to fill ice-cube trays. Step by step with slide presentation.
Topic 2. Toilet paper rolls: do they grow on the holders? Round-table discussion.
Topic 3. Differences between the laundry basket and the floor.
Pictures and explanatory graphics.
Topic 4. The after-dinner dishes and silverware: can they levitate and fly into the kitchen sink? Example on video.
Topic 5. Loss of identity: losing the remote to your significant other. Helpline and support groups.
Topic 6. Learning how to find things, starting with looking in the right place instead of turning the house upside down while screaming. Open forum.
Topic 7. Health watch: bringing her flowers is not harmful to your health. Grapics and audio tape.
Topic 8. Real men ask for directions when lost. Real-life testimonials.
Topic 9. Is it genetically impossible to sit quietly as she parallel
parks? Driving simulation.
Topic 10. Learning to live: basic differences between mother and wife. Online class and role-playing.
Topic 11. How to be the ideal shopping companion. Relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques.
Topic 12. How to fight cerebral atrophy: remembering birthdays, anniversaries, other important dates and calling when you're going to be late. Cerebral shock therapy sessions and full lobotomies offered.


Upon completion of the course, diplomas will be issued. Register now!

Contact your the nearest Society of Typical Men (STM)



CLASSES FOR WOMEN.. Training courses are now available for women on
the following subjects:
1. Silence, the Final Frontier: Where No Woman Has Gone Before
2. The Undiscovered Side of Banking: Making Deposits
3. Parties: Going Without New Outfits
4. Man Management: Minor Household Chores Can Wait Till After The Game
5. Bathroom Etiquette I: Men Need Space in the Bathroom Cabinet Too
6. Bathroom Etiquette II: His Razor is His
7. Communication Skills I: Tears - The Last Resort, not the First
8. Communication Skills II : Thinking Before Speaking
9. Communication Skills III: Getting What you Want Without Nagging
10. Driving a Car Safely: A Skill You CAN Acquire
11. Telephone Skills: How to Hang Up
12. Introduction to Parking
13. Advanced Parking: Backing Into a Space
14. Water Retention: Fact or Fat
15. Cooking I: Bringing Back Bacon, Eggs and Butter
16. Cooking II: Bran and Tofu are Not for Human Consumption
17. Cooking III: How not to Inflict Your Diets on Other People
18. Compliments: Accepting Them Gracefully
19. PMS: Your Problem . . . Not His
20. Dancing: Why Men Don't Like To
21. Classic Footwear: Wearing Shoes You Already Have
22. Household Dust: A Harmless Natural Occurrence Only Women Notice
23. Integrating Your Laundry: Washing It All Together
24. Oil and Petrol: Your Car Needs Both
25. TV Remotes: For Men Only
26. How to work the toilet seat: You can work it on your own, an empowerment programme

Chinese New Year

Last night was Chinese New Year eve; if you are Chinese, you know that this is a massive party! (If you're not, now you do!)
So, being away from home for my first Chinese New Year warranted a party to find to attend. And find and attend I did, getting myself invited to Xing's new apartment (Uropa, on Grattan and Swanston) for her party, which involved a lot of food, drink and med friends. Plus a few friends of friends who knew me (med, as well as a couple of music who knew me, but whom I didn't know..oops..!)
Here are the pics...

Bartender-mistress Eelin

Look at all the food!!!! (this is the 1st table)

And the 2nd one..!

Xing, Wen & me (with Tom and Kenneth)

Min, Wen, me

Eelin and me

Big group photo! [Min, Tom, Kenneth, Sam, Wen, me, Tim, Xing, Nicole, Eelin]

Ling & me

Happy New Year drinks!

The Queeners (well, technically 1 Queener, 4 Wyverns)

More Long Overdue photos!

I went over to Flick's a bit before I came back to Melbourne and we made a pizza....
















Before going in the oven.... The finished product - yum!

More photos....

My pasta:

My new room!

Photos from Australia Day 2007 Fireworks, Perth

the first

from E347, my new room!

Arrived yesterday, Flick picked me up from the airport. She brought Lauren too, which was a very nice surprise! :)
I was so worried, because the baggage handlers at Perth airport actually went on strike the day before I left, and some flights were delayed (by quite a lot) and a couple were actually cancelled altogether. I was so desparate NOT to be in that situation that I prepared a list for my mum about who to call and what to tell them if I was going to be delayed!

Alas, it was not an issue. Ok, so we left about half an hour later, but the flight was a quick three hours (compared to 3.5hrs normally, must have been a good flight path). I watched 'Flushed Away', which is a really cute animated movie (including voices done by Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet) - I'd recommend if for some cute laughs :) I unfortunately felt quite sick on the plane, not least for not sleeping too well the night before (my mum would term it 'being excited'), although she should know that I don't usually sleep well before flights (so much so that last time, I decided not to go to sleep at all..!). I even missed having ICE-CREAM!! (It was a Triple Choc Trumpet even!!! waahh..!)

Alas, we went to the Vic to pick up all my stuff...I was surprised it all fit into the car! But we slowly made our way to Queen's after being most amused by Sam and Flick kinda cleaning out the cupboard under the stairs so that they could fit their bikes in! Hehe. Flick and Loz helped me move all my stuff...thanks guys :) Sorry for the three flights of stairs...there are some perks and some definite downsides to living on the top floor!

Unfotunately, I haven't been really able to carry out this role of International Student representative to the best of my ability so far, I think. I got here much later than most of the students, so that was obviously something that should be fixed for next year. However, I will be meeting some of them at Drinks with the Master today so that should be better :)

Unfortunately, I had a fairly sleepless night last night, due to a new bed (I never sleep well on the first night in a new place, even if I'm really tired, such as yesterday) as well as a number of mozzie bites yuk :S . Oh well, hopefully tonight will be better.

Today is my uni day, so it shall be big..!

Anyway, I'm off.....

i hate packing

yeah, i really do.
i also really hate unpacking. but maybe packing is worse, because you have a limited space to put it into. I think that's my opinion on it.
ah, the trials and tribulations of living in college, studying elsewhere etc.

alas, i have found a way to get to the airport to the vic/college. flick is picking me up, which is very kind of her...she actually starts uni the day before, but prac for her isn't on tuesday afternoons, so fancy that nice timing!

went out with xiao and steph yesterday for lunch at karrinyup. we had those crepes - yummy! steph spent heaps of $ on clothes/bags etc. we musta looked in every shoe store there was!
alas, we bumped into heaps of st mary's old girls, including some in their year (including bec and jess, a girl from my link), as well as mel b, kah lin and nat t. quirky.....! it musta been the day!

and so, i've also gotten lots of interesting emails.....
1) having drinks with the master and new (international) students on wednesday evening
2) being invited to be part of the mentor programme at qc for 1st yrs
3) hands up for passes at the reserved section of the sidney myer music bowl for the mso concerts - i've got some, but if like, the dean and staff from the con are there, i might not.....!

there is a dilemma with 2). see, the connect leaders bbq is on the friday night (camp is from friday morning/arvo - sunday arvo).
so, i need some opinions, please. any to help me decide, please help me out!
here are the facts.
Connect leaders bbq is on the friday night. i've been looking forward to this for AGES!! (ok, since, like, early Jan when tim sent the email out)
the camp involves no monetary cost to me. i'd be a senior student helping out with the mentor programme to help bridge the gap between scr and jcr. the camp is at foster north, i'd say about 3-4hrs sw of melbourne, overlooking wilson's prom. it's v. picturesque, we'll be stopping by the beach and stuff.
now, there are good things about both. but the bad thing is that i have to pick just one, and it will involve missing the other.
unless there is a way around it. if anybody can come up with a creative way to do both, please let me know, i'd be very interested in doing that!
but, you have to get back to me really soon...!

decisions, decisions.
i'm not even in victoria yet and i've already got clashes. blergh.
welcome to the everyday story.....

it's been a while

and some stuff has happened. not too exciting, just some stuff.

went to see the pursuit of happyness with my brother last week...it was good! i enjoyed it. (i won't even bother writing one of those reviews), but yeah, i'd recommend seeing it!
on sat night, we (family) went to somerville theatre, which is this outdoor theatre to see a chinese/japanese movie, 'riding alone for thousands of miles' as part of the film festival segment of the perth international arts festival. they're all foreign films and all look really interesting. it's a pity that they only rotate them every week, meaning that i haven't got a chance to see that many, but if you're around, i'd suggest checking them about.

last week, i was woken by two phone calls on two different days...
the first one was from trev, who asked me whether i was sick. i told him that "it's 9am...!". no wonder (and no, i wasn't sick). but we had a long conversation about choir, about plans for this year (musical plans no doubt) and whether i was changing my accommodation status (which i'm not)
the second one was from the vm, calling about room selections. i was v. surprised...!
and i finally got the int'l student thing organised. well, like, i got the go-ahead and will start working with admin to sort this out. have unfortunately not heard back about the ok to move in when i get to melbourne, but it's been given the green light from the vm, so hopefully it'll be ok.

i worked at the drug and alcohol office yesterday.....plain old data entry, quite boring, but ok pay.
i think my brother was a bit disappointed that i couldn't get any samples. but i told him they were the department that like, distributed those cards at primary school about, like, "what is this drug x? what are the effects of it?" etc.

also, an interesting developement...TP from jude's called up and asked if i was interested in sitting on the unichurch council. i am totally honoured by this, and am still thinking it over. however, kinda related to all of this (in how i've committed to stuff, and the activities i'm undertaking this year) is that i've quit queen's choir for this year. well, tendered my resignation (hopefully it's accepted hehe). while i love singing in the choir, i frankly don't have enough time! I really wish i had about 30hrs a day. or that sleep wasn't physically necessary.....

alas, i ramble too much.

and a desparate call for help:
is anybody available on Tuesday 13 Feb at about 3pm to pick me up from the tullamarine airport? I'm arriving at 2.30pm (scheduled) but would like to avoid paying $50 for a cab. any chance that anybody is available, please let me know, by email or sms.
many thanks. :)

lucky underwear

so, i couldn't be bothered to put the link and blah in, but apparently my lucky underwear colour is green.
like from www.blogthis.com or something like that. (don't ask me whether the link actually works or not...!)
anyway, went to aunt and uncle's place on friday night for dinner and to watch the australia day skyworks..they live facing the river, so it's like, prime position. it was pretty cool. excpet for the couple of fires at the end of the night, involving a couple of barges, including one that had spare fireworks on board.
got to use my cool new digi cam, including its sunrise/sunset setting, the dusk setting, as well as the fireworks setting. PLUS video mode (which managed to capture the end of teh fireworks, which was a cool finale, plus some of the fire hehe)

Went to friends house for dinner on sat night...played poker and was the first to exit....please remind me never to gamble with real money...i would be terrible at it. clearly watching bond is not enough to refine and hone my poker skills.

Also made some muffins last week...will post photos later. They were walnut/chocolate muffins. somebody please suggest another (tasty) flavouring for me to try, because i'd like to hehe :P
Then made dinner for my brother and me, an experimental pasta dish involving chicken, spinach and cream. mmm....turned out ok, photos also to follow soon.

so, was looking at beat's photos of music camp, and am HIDEOUSLY jealous! i was talking to her yesterday, and it was so cool, like, "do you know so-and-so?" and she did! like, even from across the country. and then i was looking at her photos, and going, "hey! i know that person! i go to uni with them!" and it was really funny but totally cool.
anyway, as she suffers from camp withdrawal symptoms, hopefully this year i will develop symptoms that qualify me for camp, either the keyboard programme or the arts admin programme. both sound totally awesome, and i'd really like to go to this camp sometime...i've only ever heard good things about it!

so to my friends who are starting uni this year...i wish you could have all come to melbourne with me! but alas, 'tis not to be so! but, i hope you guys come and visit me sometime (uni-related or not), and enjoy this first yr of uni, because i think it's really awesome!
and if you want to catch up, it has to be before 13 FEBRUARY (and not 11th night, nor 9th night, because i'm going to see ayo with beat, as planned) so give me a ring or msg or something and we'll catch up!
Alas, it is TOO HOT upstairs (but thankfully cooler than last week, including several days of 40 degrees celcius and above urgh!)
adios!

phew!

I have confirmed that I'm not going to have to live
a) at another college
b) under a bridge in a cardboard box
c) anywhere else.

Phew.
I was so stressed and paranoid.

Sounds like it isn't just me who's trying to sort out where to live for 2007! Apparently this is one of those annual rushes. That's cool.

So, not much else going on.
My dad came home from overseas a few days ago. Unfortunately didn't bring back that many presents.
I'm on the verge of accepting a position as a choir conductor. Now I'm just waiting on confirmation on whether it is possible to share this role around a bit.

I'm also trying to decide my own choir options - to sing in what, to audition for what.
Do you think I'm getting in over my head?

I'm really excited about this year, there is so much to look forward to.
Lauren called last week - it was totally cool to talk to her. I think I've already posted this haha. Oh well.
My brother is working all this week, and I'm stuck at home. Blergh. :S

Have confirmation on playing the Franck with Em for this year...better practice hard, because it's really hard!

Can't wait to get back to Melbourne, for so many reasons!
In the meantime, somebody please suggest some things for me to do!

The fragility of life

Within three hours, I was jolted to the stark reminders that God works miracles, and has his own plan that sometimes isn't how we expect it or want it to be.
How black and white the comparison.

But we should remember that He's got a plan, and He knows what He's doing, even if we don't.
We can get excited about shoes, opportunities, happy times, but momentus, life-changing events often can overshadow these.
Not that getting excited is a bad thing, but we need to have perspective. From all angles, including the now.

All we can do is to do things in the both short and long term.
Is that all? Is that enough?

yay!

I think new photos worked....let's hope so anyway! Tell me what you think, comments greatly appreciated!
So, thanks Sam for the confirmation that I will have a student diary. All I hope now is that it's big enough to fit all my bits and pieces in!

I went out with Flick yesterday; we went to a really awesome pizza place in subi, and walked around subi for a while (looking at dresses and shoes and the like!) We passed by this really awesome-looking restaurant, called Rialto's (I think!) that had these funky green and clear plastic chairs outside, as well as really awesome fittings on the inside. It just looked totally cool. Then we got Cold Rock ice-cream mmm.. :) Macadamia Nut ice-cream with Picnic mix-in mm...(i like ice-cream)

Then we went to innaloo coz flick had to try find shoes for qld. And get this, yesterday was kinda expensive (well, all up in one go, which is quite unlike me, unless it's planned, like balls or something like that). I bought two pairs of shoes. Two pairs of points, no less; one pair of metallic chocolate flats, plus a pair of 'bronze snake' heels. And this gets better. They were both on sale. I expected to pay $70. But get this....
there was this offer: buy 1 pair, get the 2nd pair (of equal or lesser value) for HALF PRICE!
And as I noted, one of the pairs of shoes were actually incorrectly priced, so i ended up paying... $44.92 for TWO PAIRS OF SHOES!

Now, now, I don't usually buy shoes, nor do I get so excited over shoes. But I am!! and am incredibly thrilled with what I think has been one of my best buys of the season (ok, so points were in ages ago, but hey! they're both really hot pairs of shoes, so hey!)

that was my exciting news.

and that my brother also borrowed season 3 of scrubs from his friend, so we're watching them all again hehe :P good times, good times.
and my brother has actually gone to busselton/collie for the weekend because a friend of his is getting married (ooh! how exciting!) so it's just mum and me this weekend...should be interesting!
anyway, loz called today, which was totally cool. it was really awesome to catch up! and we have lots to look forward to this year, including music, CU, jude's, maybe student life...yeah, cool things!
can't wait to get back to uni.......!

huh?

alas, my photos did not come out!
how is that possible..??
oh well, they shall have to wait for another time. or i could just show you if you want to check out my cool new camera hehe :P

sorry, i don't actually like egg tarts anymore. my aunt gave me heaps of ingredients, but i'm so not going to use it all up in time, because my mum said "if you don't actually like them, please don't make lots more because then i'll have to keep eating them."
fair enough....

Photos!

Re-posted, in hope that the photos will turn out this time!

Drawing inspiration from Gina (http://dreamqueen.blogspot.com/), I decided to take some pictures (with my new digital camera, no doubt!) of me (attempting to) cook(ing)! So, here they are.... Follow in sequence... Portugese Egg/Custard Tarts

The ingredients...

Cooking the filling....

And in the oven!

Is this what it's supposed to look like...? The finished product..!!

So, as I said, I finished work on Tuesday. And I got some flowers from the Building and Tenancy Branch, where I was working. How beautiful are they?! Now of course, I have to look after the plant....(which could prove a bit more difficult than just admiring the flowers haha!) I have to say, it felt a bit weird coming home with this plant, walking through the city, through the arcades and malls, particularly when I stopped by a shop to buy a top (haha), and also as I got on the train and all, complete with flowers. :P

I've got a job lined up for this Tuesday, stuffing envelopes/packages for the main university in WA; offer letters for anticipating uni-students-to-be.
Also, I had this other random epiphany the other night...I was in bed thinking (as I do), and I thought about how awesome it was that I enjoyed the research I did about politics and music in Bulgaria. And it got me thinking about how music and politics has often been intertwined. I mean, we even learnt about it in Russia. Now, this is where the epiphany bit came in...how cool could it be to do a whole heap of reserach (even though not terribly deep, I'm afraid) about music and politics on a whole heap of countries? Particularly lesser-known ones. I was reading (very briefly) about Fado singers from Portugal. And I'm still hankering to find out for Xing why it's called Afro-Cuban music....
See, there are heaps of possibilities!

And on another note, an unshamed plug for a radio programme...
Listen next Saturday night (the 20th Jan) at 8pm on ABC Classic FM (go to www.abc.net/classic to find the local frequency guide) to listen to a broadcast of the concert from the 2007 Australian National Music Camp. This camp is something I've heard about for a while, and I wish that I'd applied this year. But alas, I'm going to try make it a resolution to apply, or at least find out more about the programme for next year. Apparently it's just such an amazing thing, and I'm sure I'll have heaps of friends who are going. If any of you guys are thinking about it, make sure you get me on your bandwagon, and bug me about it!

epiphany 1 for 2007

although I knew this well before 2007.

when i'm away, i have less stupid arguments.
sure, i get annoyed, sometimes over small petty things.
but they're definitely not as frequent as at home.
nor do they bug me as much.

this might be a gross generalisation.
but oh well.

and you know what else?
at home, there are fewer people to air it all to.

i can't wait to get back to melbourne. i miss doing something with my life.
i miss doing things that seem more meaningful.
not that family isn't, but half the time, it doesn't feel like we are.

a sad situation.

On holidays

So, I officially finished work yesterday.
I even got to go home early (obviously not being paid for it).
Managed to get my supervisor/boss/manager to consent to being a referee for me, which is good.
I got a pot plant from the B&T Branch, which was nice.
At the end, I was standing in my supervisor's/boss'/manager's office, with basically, four of my supervisors (the Director of ICS, the superviros/boss/(acting) manager, the (acting) co-ordinator of concilliation, and the co-ordinator of bonds administration) feeling a tad bit intimidated, but kinda pleased that I got to work for them all. As I said good-byes and thanks. It was kinda weird, but kinda cool.
But alas, I am going back to university soon, so that "I can get a better job.....no offence or anything." I actually said that to my supervisor/boss/manager. Who didn't take offence. He totally agreed, saying, "Well, yes, you wouldn't want to be doing that job forever, it'd drive you bonkers.' Yes, yes, it would, particularly if I had that many printing issues, or had to stuff that many envelopes...

On Monday, after work, my brother and mum picked me up and we went to our aunt and uncle's place to get some final instructions about taking care of their apartment and the like. Then we went out for dinner at a Vietnamese place, which was really yummy! (Okay, so some stuf, I probably didn't need to know what it was, but oh well...)

My flight to Melbourne has been booked already, leaving at about 9am on Tuesday 13th February, will be looking for somebody to hopefully pick me up, but I guess I'll send an email out later...I'll think about it later...

So, my aunt has set me the task of making Portugese custard/egg tarts...I think I'll make a little trial batch this afternoon, and inspired by Gina (http://dreamqueen.blogspot.com), I shall take photos of my culilnary experiment.

Gosh, I kinda miss work already....there now remains little reason for me to get up in the mornings, although I do like sleeping in past 6.30am, I'll tell you that!

On Saturday, we (mum and I) went out for lunch at The Pines Buffet (at Observation City, in Scarborough) with Flick and her mum. It was really nice to catch up with them! I drove (haha..) although it wasn't too bad! (Flick reckons it was quite good, actually!) Stayed for lunch for a while, talked for ages. Then decided to try go dress-shopping and went to Claremont. Unfortunately, the previous Thursday, I had tried on three dresses, but they unfortunately didn't fit in all the right places, or weren't the right colour. Pooh. And in Claremont, I was quite unfortunate too, because they didn't fit right either. Double pooh. I'm still looking though! I have to have a dress.....see, I figured that perhaps I would take cues from Gilmore Girls, because they dress so well. And they're cute! Haha.

So, I also made a list of New Years Resolutions. Perhaps I'll post them later...

Am trying to figure out my uni timetable....have got most of it down-pat, and will be looking to sign up the entire Techs class (if they consent!) to a similar tute time. Whaddaya know, Monday 10am of 2006 was amazing :P
Anyway...I think I'm off to bake this arvo, and to basically mooch around. I unfortunately don't have a car this afternoon, so will be unable to meet Jac. Which is a pity, because she's flying out tomorrow! If I don't see her, I'm really really sorry!!!!

Ooh, and my brother and I went to see the Bond movie yesterday (yep, Tuesdays for $8, that is cheap here..!). It was good. I kinda understand what they mean by Daniel Craig being the new Bond and the whole 'women want their man looking like that'. Not that I necessarily agree with it, but, wow, he is an attractive man! Haha.

Okay, I'm done.....

feeling a bit poorer..

Why?
Because I worked so that I could earn, so that I could buy stuff.
And I did!

I bought Switchfoot's new album, 'Oh! Gravity' on Saturday, which was on sale, so it only set me back $21.21. Pretty good, considering it's a new album and all!
Can't wait for them to come back to Australia - I know I'm anticipating it eagerly!

This was after Friday and having lunch with our rellies on Saturday.
I got sent home a bit early on Friday, because there really wasn't any more work to do. Meh smeh.
My mum got a bit of a shock when I told her I was coming home then.
We went shopping at Harbour Town on Friday night. It was quite tiring, to tell you the truth. I tried on lots and lots of clothes, but there was something wrong with most of them (ie. they didn't fit in all the right places etc) but I did end up buying a skirt. :)
Unfortunately, that was our only purchase, apart from mum's first Subway experience.

So, on Saturday, I slept in :)
But not too much, because we had lunch with my aunt and uncle and cousin at 12, at their place.
My cousin (one of them) left for London on Saturday night, so it was the last chance we had to spend with him for a while. He's going to be working in London, and living with his sister so I can't wait till I get the chance to go visit them!
It was really nice - we had dim sum; who knew there could be so much food? And it was all really really yummy!

Anyway..........
yeah, so not much REALLY happened......

except for my massive purchase of a DIGITAL CAMERA yesterday!
Yup, I've been looking for one for ages...and I really wanted to buy one for myself, after promising that it'd be one of the first things I buy after I work and save up.
We went to Harvey Norman, where they're having this massive sale. It's a Nikon camera, 3x zoom, i think 4 megapixels (about average, I guess!), came with the battery charger for the 2 Ni-MH batteries it gave me. It's got video record function, with sound. Also bought a memory card, 512mb; got the total set for $213, which I think is a great bargain. Also considering that the camera was on sale, and originally cost $298. I was actually looking at another camera, but decided against it (Canon powershot) because it was a tad bulky, and would have cost me more to get all the stuff.

And that's really why I'm feeling a bit poorer. I spent $213 all in one go. I don't think I've done anything like that before... oops!
Oh well, I'm quite excited with my new toy! So cool photos, here I come! Hehe :P

back to work tomorrow.....