Kit has Not healthy eating

I am eating Cheetos cheese and bacon balls out of a bowl with a spoon.

Another foot

For those of you keeping score overseas, we've had another foot wash up on shore.

Eugene - Even on Easy, Tool is hard

So Nick just got the band pack for Guitar Hero World Tour and he's solidly going at the drums since setting it up this evening.

I gave it a go but, alas, was not the natural I'd assumed I be.

Anyway, played a 90's medley of Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr and... someone else, first before entering the cheat to unlock all the songs. Played another set including a Tool song and just could not handle it even on Easy. Obviously all that punching of things has reduced my finger dexterity.

C'est la vie.

YL - Fall Out Boy!

Yay! Kim & I are going to Fall Out Boy on Feb 21 08. Woot! My first live rock concert! We are standing (ok dancing/singing/screaming/jumping). I am too excited for words! Here is Thanks for the Memories which some may remember from karaoke.

Becstarr : The sesame fields of Redfern

Last week I found a jar of poppy seeds and a packet of black sesame seeds (for sushi) that had been taken over by moths. I decided to give them a chance at life and rather than compost them, I scattered the lot along the backyard path - currently just dirt and stepping stones. Yesterday morning I went out and found a forest of enthusiastic green shoots arising!

I am having wild dreams of wading through a field of flowers on the way out to get the washing.... go little seeds go!

David - Yay Obama

So... Euphoria is the order of the day. Frankly I am going to thank the deity of my choice that there is a faint sliver of a hope that someone has been elected to the Presidency of the United States that stands a chance of looking at things from a new angle. Something this country really needs.

This does of course mean I am off to the temple to sacrifice a bull to the great god Augustus... these things do of course have to be done in style!

Tancred - Indecision 2008, don't fuck this up America!

Well today is the day, Indecision 2008. For us in the UK it will probably be decided about 04:00GMT so we get to wake up tomorrow and see the damage :(

Other issues to watch include proposition 8 in California, prop 2 in Florida and prop 102 in Arizona. (all about marriage discrimination and teh gays *sigh*). Arkansas has a proposition to allow only heterosexual married couples adopting or being foster parents.

In California Prop 5 calls for rehab and not prison for non-violent drug offenders. Prop 5 also wants on the spot fines and not arrest for small amounts of cannabis.

I found Ballotpedia rather interesting/disturbing to see just how many things Americans will be voting on.

YL - mental transit

From one locale and language to another, I leave my woven dreams embodied in the idea of a holiday to return to my reality which glares at me from Monday. Then I make new dreams again. Lento lento. Will the others fade?

falsedan - where did all this come from

I have internet and new computer and lounge chair and a severe case of carpal tunnel syndrome. Aija is addicted to Family Guy!

Ben - Nearly there

I had a look today at how much work I have to get done by the end of semester, and how much time I have to do it in. I find that the amount of time I have is more than adequate. Something is seriously wrong here.

Kit faces the traumatic unreality

It seems that in my absence things have changed. There are now two coffee trucks tempting people at work, not just one. I had 457 unread emails when I first arrived this morning. They are still unread

Anna : Interwoven ...

I live, I breathe, I Interwoven. Building test site for Arts Faculty. Finish, submit, take, approve. The harder I work the sooner I don't have to do it anymore. Let it be done! Let it be over!

Becstarr : Peer assessments

Busy time at work as marking gets underway for essays and group assignment and people start asking me about how in the LMS to mark, release said marks, offer peer assessment of group members' contribution to projects, give feedback on the unit or on the unit's site, etc.

The peer assessment stuff is big at the moment, which pleases me, because I remember how incredibly frustrating it was to do group work and have no avenue for comeback to freeriders in the group who didn't turn up to a single group meeting or write a line of code (this was in Comp Sci) and still got the same mark as the rest of us. Utterly unfair!

Typically the peer assessment mark is counted for about 5% of the total unit mark. Personally I think it's fairer when it's used to modify the percentage of the group work mark you get.

Jen - sad

Found out this morning that one of the loveliest people at work (and a dear friend) passed away last night after an 18m battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 33 and her daughter just turned 2.

Kit is sad about End of the holidays

Coming to the end of my holidays in Nevada/California. Have been playing "just staying ahead" of work colleague in geocaching stakes. There is a lack of internet cafes, but quite a few free wifi spots, mainly around the Casinos (Thanks to Bec's old lifedrive). I guess all that "evilness" is good for something.

Evelyn - How I spent my lunchtime

Dan - back into the routine

Dante's back at school, and his extension classes have started again, so we're back into the weekly busy routine. Work's busy - I'm hiring again, and the next six months look ridiculously busy. On the bright side, I'm planning the family Xmas getaway (to Hawks Nest, maybe, this time).

Poor Jen spent all day ill (see her blog for more details), so the kids and I have been pottering about the house all day, actually having a quite pleasant day. Though Dante might be coming down with the lurgy (complaining of illness this evening; we'll see how he is come morning). Squishy also has a stomach bug, and has been chundering around the house.

YL -Getting old

Blargh. I am a total fish out of water. I dont understand this country at all! Up side is that I am learning Spanish and I see that they sell little packets of pot at the local bottle show in my fishing village of Horcon!

The romantic idea of spending my birthday in another country is just that - an idea. The reality is a bit different. I am now one year older in a place I cannot comprehend and no amount of Neruda poetry is going to help me now.

Guy - What a relaxing GUGS...

I didn't win even one game, so ner to people who say I always win. :-p

Jaime - Just got kicked!

I got to feel my kid kicking. I predict a strong Soccer career. Exciting times.

Shoshe - new windows!

We got new windows yesterday! It was particularly exciting because we'd been told that we wouldn't be getting them. Also, on our old windows, everything that wasn't glass was metal, meaning that there was a direct thermal contact from the outside (which last year got down to about -22C) to our attempting-to-be-cosy apartment. So the double-glazed glass part wasn't horribly cold, but the frame sure was. The new ones have plastic frames and extra-wide double glazing.

Mostly though, it's nice to not be offended by my windows' very existence. Who the fuck makes windows that have a direct thermal contact to the outside?! In a town where it gets down to -22C?!

Guy - That's not the answer I was expecting...

I ask, "So what is poverty?" hoping one person in thirty will think to say "Is it not having enough food?" However, one girl said "Oh oh, I know this! Public wealth, or the lack of it. It's when the government doesn't have enough money to build infrastructure like roads and hospitals." That's a pretty good answer for a thirteen year old.

Evelyn - Back to Scotland

Well, after having to sit on the plane for half an hour in Sydney while we waited for the bags of passengers who didn't make it through customs to be unloaded; then waiting the extra three hours for our delayed plane in Kuala Lumper; then waiting the extra four hours for the replacement connecting flight to Edinburgh - we are finally home!

Evelyn - Back to the UK

So all packed and ready for the family to pick us up for one more family brunch before heading to the airport, and then back to cold, rainy Scotland.

Evelyn - The Dumpling House that wasn't

Tancred and I met up with Jo, V and Lachlan, as well as a couple of other friends (Rachel and Maris) to eat dumplings at the supposedly great dumpling house in World Square. Turned out to be less of a dumpling house, more of a standard restaurant with less than quality service and only OK food. Fortunately, the company made up for it :)

YL - Box Wonderland

I'm channeling the "Box Wonderland" theme for my apartment. lol. There are all kinds of boxes everywhere. They seem to have multiplied like tribbles (which I also found!).

I wont get everything unpacked before I leave on Thur for South America. But over Nov/Dec it'll feel like Christmas everyday as I discover stuff I completely forgot about!

Gah must remember to do my tax before I leave ....

Dan - busy week

It's school holidays, so we've been shuffling Dante around various activities; on Thursday evening Jen and I went out for dinner and a show (!!!). Yep, we actually got to go out by ourselves! We saw Risky Lunar Love, while Bec looked after the kids (having borrowed Dante for the afternoon for experimental education).

Friday I took the day off, flamboyantly overslept, and Dante and I went to the Olympic Aquatic Centre for a swim.

We spent today kind of exhausted and lethargic.

Evelyn - More Holidaying Goodness

Finally managed to get to the beach - went to Clovelly yesterday for a swim. Then had several meetings - for lunch/coffee/drink/dinner lined up - good day in all. Now spending the next few days with family getting ready for my parents 60th birthday celebrations

Becstarr : Pump-ing Bondi J

Dave got me a 2-week free pass to FitnessFirst so we can train together while it's school holidays. We hit Pump at Bondi Junction on Sunday and despite restricting myself to the lowest of low weights (1.25 per side on all but lunges and shoulders, on which I used only the bar), I am feeling it today. Youch!

Kit has 3.5 Days of work to go..

and then it is 1 day of packing, and 2 million years on the plane and I visit California/Nevada this time.

Postcard call! (addresses via email please)

Anna : All tomorrow's parties ...

Weekend of PARTYING DOWN like Slurms MacKenzie (the original party worm) ...

Friday = End of Term Teacher Sock Hop
Saturday = Say "HELLO!" to Tancred and Evelyn Party
Sunday = Nap-Fest! and some videos with a few friends (stuffed toys count right?)

Jaime - .... why oh why

I was horrified when this came on the TV.



Heres the wiki entry

Terrifying!

Jaime: Sick day

Last night was feeling crash hot, some stupid Canadian bug is making me feel sick. Yay, just in time for my parent's visit on Sunday. Woo!

Becstarr : Class taught!

Hooray! The first run of my new workshop "Beautifying your elearning site (WebCT CE6)" is now over. I timed it pretty well at 2hrs... but of course, there are tweaks required and that's what I'm off to do now, before tomorrow morning's run.

The workshop has been my major focus recently, but in other news, I've moved! Or rather, I'm in the process of moving - but am now resident in Redfern. Details on Hive shortly.

Ben - Exhausted

I had 5000 words worth of assignments due this week, which I just finished. Not one 5000 word assignment, that would be too easy, no, two 1500 wd essays and two 1000 wd. There is now just one short online German quiz between myself and some well-earned beer.

If I learned nothing else, I learned that that I hate referencing. Fortunately, when actually working as a primary teacher, you can steal all the ideas you want and nobody cares.

I also cooked up some homemade marscapone on Tuesday. It's very nice, and surprisingly easy to make.

YL - reno almost done

Reno almost done. Looking at moving over the long weekend. Blargh. I dont want to pack anymore! I feel like I've been packing non-stop since Sept last year. Grrr. But on the up side, the apt is looking great!

p/s : being sick is the suck. Night shifts are going well.

Dan - scootin'

Figured I try a new way of getting Dante to school on time - riding the razor scooters from Redfern up to school. Figured I'd save 5 minutes or so, and thus get to school on time. But, no dice. Not only did we get The Slowest Train Ever, once we got scooting, Dante had to stop every couple of minute for a rest or a drink or because the Moon was in the Seventh House and Jupiter was aligned with Mars.

So, we got to school late anyway, and I think taking the scooters saved us about 30 seconds. Don't think I'll bother with that plan again.

(Guy) They'll be fiiiine.... right?

The year 11s do their Preliminary HSC exam tomorrow. I'm going to be pleasantly surprised, right? Right?

Kit needs to read the fine print

I went to see Bill Bailey yesterday. Except that I thought it was at the Sydney Theatre (like last time), and not the State Theatre. I only found out after having dinner at the Lord Nelson, and with 20 minutes to go to the show. Oops!

Becstarr : Packing

On Thursday the plan for me to move into Joel's place got a bump forward by about a month as another flatmate heads out much earlier than exected. Started packing on Sunday and am realising once again just how much Stuff I have. Luckily Karinne is in "ruthless" mode as well and is spurring me on to chuck! recycle! and generally clear the decks.

I'll move my clothes and stuff next Sunday, and the "real" move will be in a few more weeks. Meantime the hall is going to be Box Central again!

Big brother taxman

Have started doing my tax for this year, and one thing you can do now is get the etax software to pull all your bank account interests and pay details off the net. Efficient ... yet also a bit spooky.

Anna : Panic!

It's been a long week, one thing after another is going wrong and apparently all the problems have a website. The good news is that all I have to say is "Make a tag cloud!" and Eugene will do it!

YL - discovers rock climbing

I can now say I have conquered the vertical walls. (But not the upside down ones.) It so rocks! Can't wait to go again.

My arms also say owie.

Kit discovers iron, emus ... & a little science

On the weekend I bought a new iron & discovered that there is a place called "Emu Heights" at the base of the Blue Mountains. Why do the newspeople say: "at the weekend"?

In other news, the particle accelerator has been turned on, and the world has not ended.

Guy - Huh, serendipity...

I just took action against "Shine" today, and here I get home and read this.

Ben - Been a while

Hmmm, I hadn't realised how long it's been since I posted last. Well, in the last two months, I've been at Uni, I've made and consumed beer, sauerkraut and mozzarella (not at the same time) , I've pulled up noxious weeds in the bush and I won the coveted Poo Lit Surprise! award on Uncyclopedia.

Jen - Happy Father's Day

to Surly - your first one!
to Dan - your seventh!

Jen - On the mend

I believe that we may be on the mend, at long last. Fever has abated a little, but the cough persists.

So sorry we missed drinkies at Enmore Rd last night.

dan - it's official, they'll let anyone on the road

So I've been sick all week, and yesterday arvo I remembered that I'd booked my DQT for this morning, and so had to quickly read the handbook and hope that a single quick read through would enable me to pass. I had three kids jumping on me while read it. And then last night I couldn't get to sleep until 3:30am due to coughing and my general malaise. But I passed anyway, despite nearly sideswiping a virtual motorcyclist in the test.

Yay, no more P-plates for me!

Dan - another day at home

We're still all ill - fevers rampaging though the house, coughing from all and sundry, and general miserableness and crankiness. Seem to be on the mend, though. I'm almost over the fever, as is Dante. Jen and Atty are still burning up, though Elora seems mostly unaffected.

falsedan - land of milkbars and hotels

There are milkbars everywhere and every pub is actually a hotel

Dan - At Home With Boy

As Jen mentioned, Dante is down with the Dreaded Lurgy, and so I'm at home looking after a suffering boy. Suffering seems to consist of a mild fever, occasional cough, playing with his Galactic Heroes, and watching Futurama. He seems keen to get back to school tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to fix this Damned Printer.

Jen - Weekend of Blargh

Dante came down with something on Saturday afternoon - and of course I didn't believe him at first, until he threw up and had croup in the middle of the night. (The former probably brought on by the coughing combined with the chips, lollies, red cordial, jumping castle and 40 minute car ride for his cousin's birthday party.)

I was actually happy to be coming to work today. Had a pleasant morning getting ready with a quiet house (everyone else still in bed) and an enjoyable train ride. Heh!

Dan - still busy

Got interviews today, and half my candidates have dropped out. Gotten to that level of business where I'm not actually that busy because I've got so much on my plate that I don't know where to start. Hopefully things should ease off a bit next week. Now I'm off to shift furniture so I've got a table to interview people at.

Becstarr : Paid parental leave for Australians... lobbying in Canberra #1

Back from Canberra and two days of lobbying federal pollies with Unions NSW about the need to bring in a paid parental leave scheme when the Productivity Commission brings down its report around September. The model that we're proposing is pretty good, I think, and met with a pretty good response all round with those we met with in this round of lobbying. There's more to come, of course!

A brief overview of the model for those who are interested:
* 26 weeks / 6 months of leave, in line with WHO guidelines on the minimum time a baby should be breastfed.
* Jointly funded by the government and employers:
- Govt to pay up to the federal minimum wage, and
- Top-up to the woman's normal salary (capped at about 100K) from the employer fund
* Employer fund to come from a per-employee levy of 0.9% - 1.4%.
* The employer fund works like the long-service leave fund in the building industry, which provides portable benefits for all workers in the industry, no matter which employer they're currently with.
* Small businesses who are exempt from payroll tax (around 12-15 employees as a rule of thumb) to be exempt from the levy, but their employees will still have access to the fund.
* The benefit will replace and enhance the Baby Bonus, and contributes to taxable income.
* Benefit available to all mothers / primary carers, whether they are currently in paid employment or not.
* Benefit can be claimed by either parent / partner, as long as they are designated the primary carer.

Please excuse the long post.... I could be a little overexcited! :)

Kit is disconcerted

Work people keep coming up to me and congratulating me on getting my new job. Same work, a little more money, potential for more responsibility. It's disconcerting.

YL - meaningful quote.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

- Nelson Mandela quoting Marianne Williamson.

Becstarr : Selection panel

I sat on a job selection panel for the first time this week: 7 interviews over 3 days, two by phone. It's been a very interesting process and I feel the need to sit down and re-write the interview questions - which we sweated over! - to take in what I learned in this round. The question most often misinterpreted? The one about how one has handled conflict in the workplace. I thought that was a fairly standard question, but it seemed to somewhat throw quite a number of people...

The things I'll take to my next job interview?
* State general principles, but then give specific examples of your past experiences.
* Probe first, to make sure you're answering the right question.

falsedan - fighting kangaroos

Hello dudes I am in Sydney. I had a hell of a time at customs trying to explain why exactly I have brought the weather with me.

My AU phone isn't working >:|

Off to Target to get about 9 pairs of Volleys

Jaime - Tropic Thunder

Was really good or at least I couldn't stop laughing. Robert Downey Jr. was brilliant.

Jen - scary times

Had my first experience with a pedophile today whilst at the "purple" playground with the kids (that's what Atti calls it - not the regular local park). Still shaken and freaked out. But we're all okay - the kids are none the wiser.

falsedan — hey guys

Got my lease, extracted a visa from the AU High Commission, bank finally returned my missing £700.

See youse on Friday

Hurray for days off says Kit

To avoid mondayitis, I have taken today off. I've had a nice sleep in, worked on my assignment (boo), and had some vegemite and butter on toast for lunch (thanks Shannon). Now its coffee time!

YL - life is like surfing

You wait out on the ocean facing the beach and headlands. They are your distant guides - general markers of direction. Over your shoulder, you watch for the oncoming waves. Which one will you catch? You assess them & decide. Ready, you face forward - not looking back - and start paddling. If you catch this wave, you ride it. If you miss it, you catch another one.

Life is full of opportunities & events like that I think. Some waves are bigger, some are smaller. I'm not entirely sure which wave/s I'm riding at the moment, but damn life is really good for a change. I almost can't believe it's for real.

Guy: Nerd Training

I was talking to the president of SLUGS (the Secret Ladies Underground Gaming Society) and discussing concepts of membership, how people will pay any price for Wiz-Fizz, etc., and she asked what membership numbers I was talking about. Later I described Sutekh and what it did and all the rest and she said; "Hang on, if I went to Sydney Uni right now could I join this club?" Very cute. :-)

She also said that the first time she and her friend sat down to play Bohnanza that they felt they just had to keep playing and playing.

Shannon: Heatwave

Its been very hot lately. Today's high is supposed to be 34 degrees, which could set records for this area. All night I dreampt about Vegemite. For breakfast I had three pieces of toast with butter and vegemite and now my tummy is happy :)

Anna : Walking around like C3PO

Three days of boxing, kickboxing followed by more boxing has left me with unfortunate DOMS in my legs and on either side of my elbows. It hurts to straighten my arms and my walk has a distinctive waddle to it ...



Who said the gym was good for you??!?

Off they go

Well, despite our best efforts we did not manage to convince Evil and V to abandon plans to cycle across France and stay for the rest of the festival. Maybe it had something to do the constant rain.

Welcome to Scotland, we invented rain you know!

Anna : Over the flu, back at work

Preparing for big web meeting to explain style sheet change over to faculty staff. Still waiting on my iPhone ... come on ICT!

Jen - 11 years ago today

We had Appy-schnapps, a huge spa bath and playstation shenannigans in a fancy hotel room.

Happy 12th anniversary, Dan.

And the rain continues

So of course, when festival starts, the rain starts. Day two of almost torrential rain, we spent inside playing Carcossone before venturing out in the evening for some standup. We did manage to see a bunch of stuff - The British Amabassador's Belly Dancer (a one woman show of her life as a dancer in Uzbekistan); Kunst ist Scheisse (a very silly burlesque cabaret); Feasting on Flesh (a brilliant burlesque, cabaret, acrobatic extravaganza) and a bunch of other comedy shows.

Oh, and I finally saw the new Batman movie. How amazing was that!

Kit likes Adelaide...

I spent a long weekend in Adelaide. It's like one loooong country town. I visited the Central Market (yum), had a lot of coffee, ate a lot of cheese. Stayed at a B&B in the Barossa Valley, went walking in Kaiserstuhl park and went geocaching! I got my 50th cache in Springton ~yay me; but my "rival" at work is up to 68 ~Grr.

Guy: Top 10

In the midst of a Twilight plague the English teachers are putting together a list of the top ten books which have changed their lives, in the hope of redeeming some poor lost souls.



I thought I'd post mine;

• 1984 by George Orwell
  
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
  
• Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
  
• Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Neitzsche
  
• The Riddlemaster of Hed by Patricia McKillip
  
• Dune by Frank Herbert
  
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
  
• Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
  
• The Sandman by Neil Gaiman
  
• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
  

In all honesty the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook should be at the top of the list, but I don't think it's in the spirit of the thing.

YL - the singing doctor

Yup, that's what they call me. I got stopped and asked by random people (staff & patients) around the hospital and get asked to sing .... 0r where my violin is.

There was a letter from a patient to the ward today which said "And the singing doctor, well you're just tops" ... awwww.

Guy: How many steps?

Just went to see 39 Steps, very funny.

It's been a good year for theatre; this, Rock 'n' Roll, The Pillowman, The Great. But I'm still switching allegiance to Belvoir next year.

Festival Time Again

And so its that time that Edinburgh really comes alive. This time our esteemed visitors are Jo and V, and so what's the first show we booked for them? That's right, all male nudity!

Anna : Death of a Titan

Over the weekend our fish Chuck Norris died. He'd been poorly for a while because we don't have an effective way to keep his bowl warm during the winter months (we'd been keeping him next to the hot water heater but it didn't really help). There was talk of setting up a "Winter Holiday Exchange Program" with Joel's fish tank but he died before we could set anything up.

Peace out Mr. C

Dan - routine catastrophes

Last weekend was one of those weekends where each of the kids had a turn being not well. First was Atty, who had a convulsion on Saturday afternoon - he was out in the back yard while we were out the front, so we only discovered him afterwards. He was OK, but we're going to have to go and get the poor little guy an EEG to diagnose it.

Next up was Elora. We went out for Yum Cha on Sunday morning, and everyone was having a nice time, until she fell off her high chair while performing some daft antics while everyone was busy getting ready to leave, landed flat on her back, and winded herself. Jen quickly picked her up, and she promptly threw up (luckily, mostly on the floor, narrowly missing the people at the next table).

Last was Dante, who felt really ill while doing his homework (and was met with much parental suspicion, especially when he miraculously felt better when playing ball with Atticus, and felt ill again when instructed to sit down and finish his homework). After he went to bed he felt really ill (and seemed actually unwell), so we got the bucket ready, and settled him back down to bed. He turned out to be OK.

Apart from all that, it was actually quite a pleasant weekend, the kids were delightful and well-behaved, and we got mountains of washing and tidying done.

Becstarr : In the gutters, looking at the mulch

The weekend was filled with house planning, cleaning, organising and gardening. Joel cleared the gutters and I mulched the garden and shook down the worm farm while Lady K made curtains to help keep our precious winter warmth in.

Today was a full-on planning day at work: I facilitated two sessions before lunch (what has been / is / should be our group's function within the uni?; what are our immediate tasks and priorities over the next 3 months?). Long day of meetings, but it's definitely going to pay off.

[Guy] Gettin' there...

I had a girl thank me today. She just got a job and she said that all that interview practise we did meant that she could sit there and make shit up with ease.

Now that's an education! (No refunds.)

Also, I'm totally allowed to make a wall of Cat and Girl comics in my classroom right?

Shannon: First Day

So yesterday was the first day of my new job as Application User Support for the Office of Learning Technology, UBC. Everyone seems nice. Shiny new building with air conditioning (luxury!).

No, they didn't give me an iphone, but they did give me a shiny new macbook pro!

Dan - busybusy

Still recovering from Monday and Tuesday's barrage of "Let's change everything" meetings. Finally getting a bit organized at home, too. I've got a List now, so I'm Doing Things.

Have my iPhone now, and it's tops. I advise getting one. I also advise having work pay for it. It's great for quick pics of kids playing.

Becstarr : Semester kicks in!

This is the first week of semester and yesterday was Re-O-Day, with lots of college girls running around with glitter and goon bags, their initials (I assume) in pink zinc on their foreheads, and underwear on the outside.

The energy around the place is good, ranging from frenetic (earlier in the week) and starting to settle to Let's Get Started For Real! now.

Kit: "You would've fitted right in"

So the new starter (NS) comes back from a week off at World Youth Day shennanigans.
NS: "It was so good, the atmosphere was amazing. Did you manage to get to any of the youth day events?"
Me: "Uh, no, I didn't get a chance."
NS: "You would have fitted right in. They were all noisy, like you."
?!?!??

Becstarr : Getting stuff down on paper

Last week's headache has resolved and somehow produced excellent mental focus. AT LAST! It feels like a while since my brain has been working nicely. It's a great feeling.

YL - busy weeks

Last week, wore dresses & boots resulting in so many compliments from different people I was surprised. I think it was the boots. Really. I even made a joke with my boss. She jokingly said "you're not working fast enough". I said with as straight a face as possible, "Sorry (Boss), these boots are made for walking". Lol.

I actually work very fast & get jobs done quickly but there's a running joke now about how I'm not working fast enough & will now need a push-scooter or rollerskates to work faster. I'm now waiting for the ward to get me one when I leave. =)

Went surfing on weekend, sustained surfing related injuries, slept in, walked on beaches, watched "Surf's Up" and all I want to do is catch the next wave ... and marvelled at the wonder that is the world. This week working overtime Tue & Wed till 1030pm, then if still awake, going to karaoke with ED people, Thur dinner with the medical registrars that are changing terms, Fri probably overtime and then weekend! surfing + fishing + maybe canoeing this time! Next weekend, Gold Coast with the girls!

Oh and the violin is going beautifully at the moment. Even played on the wards for people/patient's birthday ...

Becstarr : Hopping kerbs

Feeling very triumphant about organising the very successful family picnic we had on Sunday to celebrate my brother's birthday (Tim, half of the twins).

There was a picnic with free-range bbq chicken and lime & coconut macaroons, then a walk along the Bay Run and coffee at Cafe Bones. We had fun watching the dogs, and I got to try out Tim's Rather Expensive superbike, getting some coaching on how to bunny-hop kerbs. I have a bit of training to go, I think...

Anna : I got a haircut!

Not as exciting as a new baby ;)

He's here!

Baby Surly has arrived. John Haven, born 11:53am 13 July 2008, 3.775kg, 51cm.


Dan and I got to meet him this afternoon and have a lovely long cuddle. So now I've had my dose of newborn... can't wait to get some more in a day or too.

Congrats, guys!

YL - freezing cold Sydney

It's definitely heater time. Gah it's cold here AND in Coffs.

Round 1 Furniture Donation successful. More to go. If anyone wants anything ....

Haircut = great! Amazing what a new 'do can do for your sense of style.

Anna : Boorowa

G and I are taking a mini break from Sydney to avoid Catholics. Didn't work. Swarmed by World Youth Day pilgrims as we tried to leave Golburn.

Nights are being spent huddled in front of the heater listening to the sheep. I am informed this is "relaxing".

Kit: So that's the reason why!

Looking at the hole in my couch made by trying to "quick fix" a small hole, suddenly made into a big melty hole: "So *that's* why you're supposed to test in an inconspicuous place first!".

falsedan - one year

One year since I arrived in the UK and I may be signing a lease in a week or two! Also I am sick of people taking money from my bank accounts.

Blues me up!

Just booked in for my first ceroc weekender - yes three days of blues dancing focus classes, and two party nights!

Ben - Holidays!

Well prac's over. I meant to party all night last night, but it seems going to bed at ten and waking up at six is going to take some getting over. Anyway, I learned a lot and have my best report yet.

Last lot of anecdotes:

Me: Oh, that's great! Your handwriting is so much better than last time. But how do we start a sentence?
Student: Um... um...
Me: Starts with a "c".
Student: Um... actually... venomous snakes are really bad.
Me: ...They certainly are, and start your sentence with a capital letter.

Student: I'm tired today because mum bought a new computer.
Me: Oh, were you up late playing it?
Student: No! I teached mum how to use it.
Me: How old are you?
Student: (proudly) Six.

Me: Okay, D----- here's your journal. Which of your relatives' motor accidents will you be writing about today?
Student: Well, my cousin fractured his wrist on a motorbike, but I'm going to write about how my uncle cut his forehead on his car's steering wheel.
Me: Good. Remember, I want to see at least three sentences.

Kit is Worker Bee

Yesterday - Rock up: 0730. Rock out: 1830. Today? I have been responsible for generating, or the filing of at least 120 emails, and several letters setting fire to things. And probably people. Pub time!

Anna : Twilight

Muse + crappy vampire/werewolf teen-fiction = THE BOMB!

Definately "good skank" but side effects may include being late for work and forgetting important things like keys.

Womens comedy?

A friend of a friend was performing at the Stand on Sunday and so was able to let a few people in at the door, and I won tickets to tonights women comedy night. So yay to more female comics performing, a hmmm to the idea of a special womens night.

Kit - back to the grindstone

After 3 glorious days away from the office on a site visit, plus a weekend, plus an extra "mental" health day (where I had to convince some reluctant kids that they really did want to go on a bushwalk, without a geocache at the end), I'm back in the office. Argh, why is work so difficult?

Becstarr : Down by San Francisco Bay

It's our last day! We've spent time on: Golden Gate and Buena Vista Parks, a Golden Gate Bridge harbour cruise (cold enough to freeze your cheeks off!), cable cars, the Haight, Mission murals, and heaps of organic berries (so cheap here!). We're planning to check out the SFMOMA today, then an early dinner and heading off to checkin for a late flight out (22:40).

It's been wonderful but I'm so looking forward to getting home!