august

The weather is definitely starting to turn.... only two of the last 10 days have been miserable... blue sky's and sunshine abounds :) Bring on summer.

It was Nigel's 40th Birthday on Friday. Happy Birthday Nigel! Hope you had a good one.

Went to Alice's jewelry exhibition the other night, and saw Jaan play with Cookie Baker tonight, gee they're a creative couple. What else have I been upto? Communist Party at Chris's house a little while back... some pretty interesting costumes there; I never knew Danish people or Santa Claus were commies.

Once the weather has become a little nicer we're gonna have a bit of a house party... in the meantime I've got to work on my ping pong and foosball skills so i can kick everyone's arse. Have started decorating my room, need to take some more photos to stick up on the wall.

Life's been pretty good of late. It's amazing how much surroundings effect state of mind. Have been spending more time at home than I ever could have imagined...it's a great place to not spend money which suits me well, and it's also just fantastic to chill, which also suits me well.

Went to Flinders Uni the other day to find out more on the Grad Dip Psychology. It sounds great and I would most likely get in with no problems...only thing is it's a full fee-paying course. Have so far avoided finding out exactly how much these fees are, but probably should very soon! I'm also planning to find out if I can take part in a research program on Early Intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders... its probably best I mention it on here and people can chase me up on it in case I never get around to it :)

That's enough from me for now. Very bland and unemotional post, but it's 2.30am and i'm tired and grumpy with a cold so you'll just have to put up with it.

What I'm listening to at the moment: Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks.
He's a strange, strange man. Amazing poet. Genius? I dunno...

fresh faces

Well I've moved house again. I'm starting to wonder if I have house commitment problems as this is my eighth house in 3 years! That said I know this one will be different... I looked hard for a house that I could afford, had friendly and stable housemates, was in a great location and was clean and stylish. The result: my new house in North Adelaide! The housemates are great...relaxed and friendly... that's them above... (left to right) George, Eric, Claire and Damien. They house is great... big old bluestone cottage looking onto the Parklands, massive 'family area', foosball table, ping pong, darts and a backyard that I think will be fantastic for BBQs once it gets a little warmer.

What I'm listening to at the moment: Real Love by Regina Spektor, for the Amnesty Internation CD 'Make Some Noise; Save Darfur'.

new starts

I start my new job today! Well it's the same job but in a different department. It'll be much more independant work and I'll get a company car to drive around... yay!

I saw Adelle off at the airport a few days ago... she's on her way to live in London town... I'm trying to deal with my jealousy, but mainly I'm pretty darn excited for her because I know she is going to have an absolute blast over there, and the city will absolutely love her.

Have been bad and haven't gone to swing much lately. It's so hard to follow any routine with such random shifts all the time... plus it's so cold that I just want to huddle up in front of the heater every night and retain my fat storage. There was however a lovely ball on the other night at the Estonian Hall which I went along to with Kyra... was great to get out there and dance like a crazy person for a bit! Reminder to self: actually go to swing classes so I don't feel like such an idiot at socials.

it's been a while

OK what have I been up to in the last few months?

I've changed jobs and direction quite a lot in the last few months. Have finished my job at UniSA and started a casual position at Minda, an organisation in Adelaide that supports people with intellectual disabilities in various different ways. I'm loving it so far, SO pleased to be away from a desk and out working with people. Am starting to look at various uni degrees to see how I'd like to specialise... the thought of going back to uni is dreadful but I'm really keen to take up a challenge and get some skills that can really help people with disabilities. At the moment I'm considering behavioural science (psychology) and maybe specialising in early intervention. Who knows though! I'm so knew to the industry...

This new job and studying at TAFE have taken up most of my time lately, so I haven't done much. I went away to Innes National Park FINALLY last month... I've been dreaming of hanging out there since I was in the UK. We stayed in the Engineers Lodge which was lovely, and drank too much mulled wine made by my crazy french housemates.

The other thing I did since the last post (which was a long time ago) was go to the Great Escape Festival over the easter long weekend. I helped out at the Australian Orangutan Project tent with my friend Lucky and his girlfriend Sophie and sister Ruwandi. I had a fantastic time camping there for 5 days... it rained the whole time but our spirit stayed (reasonably) high, and I think we ended up making an OK amount of money. I managed to get a high-five from the Magic Numbers which was pretty exciting... well actually Scarlett the orangutan got the high five, I just got their attention. Besides the Magic Numbers I discovered a fantastic Sydney band called The Bird, a funky band called Blue King Brown, and of course biggies like Wolfmother, Gomez and Ben Kweller.

Here's a lovely pic taken by Ruwandi of Soph, Me and Lucky hanging out with Scarlett and Jaxon the orangutans at the AOP tent. You can find some fantastic photos by Lucky the photographer on his mullotgod.org page.

I don't really have any more news right now. A lot of people are heading off to the UK in the next few months and I'm starting to get itchy feet again, but I need to be in Australia for at least another year so I'm trying to calm the itch!

If anyone's still reading this blog thanks for coming by!

More updates once I've done something!

xx

surf & sun

This is a surfer I was watching at Sawtell, a beach near Coffs Harbour in central New South Wales.

I'm on the way back to Sydney tomorrow morning, am catching up with Lucky & co, will be running the Australian Orangutan Project stall at the The Great Escape festival.

Will write about it when I get back...

where life is at

I've been back in Adelaide for several months now, life's been surprisingly good! Moved out, now live with 1 aussie guy, 1 french guy, 1 french girl and 1 british guy in a sharehouse in Thebarton, a suburb right next to the city. I have a massive 'studio' above the garage all to myself! :)

I've had the same job since I got back, working at a university in town, trying to estsablish connections between a particular school and industry. At times it can be interesting but as a whole I'm very keen to get out of the office!!!

Have signed up with TAFE (Technical & Further Education college) doing Disability Studies, and will soon be leaving my job... woo hoo!

I'm at Dad's house at Coff's Harbour (between Brisbane & Sydney) for a bit of a catch up and mini-holiday.

This is a really quick post but we're about to canoe up a river, so I'd better run.

Thoughts for my studies - utilising specialist communication skills - obsessive compulsive disorder - maybe I should interview someone? See how it affects their lives & others, and how professionals recommend victims and loved ones should deal with it. How much should it take over people's lives? Should it be controlled?

think we missed spring...

For those of you in Edinburgh who thought we had a hot summer... you should try our spring!

Check this out:




















What I'm listening to (excessively) at the moment: Beck, The Information