I'm not entirely sure I like change. Sometimes things seem to go really well and you're perfectly happy and content with life. Then BAM something comes along and changes everything. And then you end up floundering confused, wondering what the hell happened. Needless to say this rather unwelcome change is followed by negative emotion and the unanswerable question...Why me? On the other hand I suppose some change is good...like self-improvement changes. Like winning the lotto? lol Yeah I'd welcome that change...
Still change is inevitable. Everything changes every single day. Appearances, relationships, environment... Can't quite control it. I guess life would be pretty boring if everything stayed the same. It would be nice if one could control change though aye? I guess if you are able to control the changes in your life you'd be happier since people tend to be more content and happy when they are in control. Which makes sense really since you make the choices that decide your life rather than being controlled by fate. Argh if only I had more control over my life at the moment!
Tuesday, 30 January 2007
Monday, 29 January 2007
Broken Promises Empty Words
Promises are really meaningless words until one backs them with action. It's saddening to know how easily they're broken or how much hope a person can place in them...even the slightest promises. Funny how you never realise how much you treasure a promise over the tiniest issue until you realise it was just empty words.
Making a promise (implied or otherwise) may mean little to you, but so much to the other. And breaking it without reasonable justification, even the tiniest simplest promise, would that not therefore signify that the one you've made a promise to means so little to you that you could not attempt to fulfil your promise to the best of your abilities?
I'll admit I've broken my share of little promises...without actually considering if I've hurt the other. Strange that I've never really thought about it till now, considering that I've been hurt several times by unfulfilled promises and empty words. So from now on I'm gonna try and keep all my promises...especially the little ones. It's really the small things that count the most after all. If some promises are too hard to keep or if you are unsure of your ability to keep them, do yourself and the other person a favour...don't make promises you can't or are unwilling to keep.
Of course, as with all things, special circumstances apply. Nothing is absolute after all save death (and even that is debatable, but we shall not go there...). Still, for those looking at self-reflection and character improvement, might be a good idea to consider what promises you're making in your life and whether or not you're keeping them.
Making a promise (implied or otherwise) may mean little to you, but so much to the other. And breaking it without reasonable justification, even the tiniest simplest promise, would that not therefore signify that the one you've made a promise to means so little to you that you could not attempt to fulfil your promise to the best of your abilities?
I'll admit I've broken my share of little promises...without actually considering if I've hurt the other. Strange that I've never really thought about it till now, considering that I've been hurt several times by unfulfilled promises and empty words. So from now on I'm gonna try and keep all my promises...especially the little ones. It's really the small things that count the most after all. If some promises are too hard to keep or if you are unsure of your ability to keep them, do yourself and the other person a favour...don't make promises you can't or are unwilling to keep.
Of course, as with all things, special circumstances apply. Nothing is absolute after all save death (and even that is debatable, but we shall not go there...). Still, for those looking at self-reflection and character improvement, might be a good idea to consider what promises you're making in your life and whether or not you're keeping them.
Saturday, 27 January 2007
Escape
The great thing about living in NZ is that one can easily find somewhere peaceful to spend time with oneself. All you need to do is hop into the car and start driving...eventually you'll end up somewhere quiet with hills and a great view of the ocean. It helps if it's fine day too, although the view is great regardless.
So I found myself driving all the way round the harbour up to Port Chalmers. Never been there before so I was quite surprised to see that it's a kinda historical town coz apparently the first settlers in Dunedin landed there. And I discovered Dunedin has a maritime museum although I wasn't in the mood to go in, I reckon I'll probably drive up there again sometime and have a look.
Being the hilliest place in NZ, Dunedin has a couple of lookout points and Flagstaff Point in Port Chalmers overlooks the entire Otago harbour whereby straight ahead is where the harbour joins the ocean. I spent about 2 hours there in the quiet not thinking and left in a more peaceful and less upsetting state of mind. I highly recommend taking time out to not think...it's a very useful activity for preservation of sanity lol.
So I found myself driving all the way round the harbour up to Port Chalmers. Never been there before so I was quite surprised to see that it's a kinda historical town coz apparently the first settlers in Dunedin landed there. And I discovered Dunedin has a maritime museum although I wasn't in the mood to go in, I reckon I'll probably drive up there again sometime and have a look.
Being the hilliest place in NZ, Dunedin has a couple of lookout points and Flagstaff Point in Port Chalmers overlooks the entire Otago harbour whereby straight ahead is where the harbour joins the ocean. I spent about 2 hours there in the quiet not thinking and left in a more peaceful and less upsetting state of mind. I highly recommend taking time out to not think...it's a very useful activity for preservation of sanity lol.
Friday, 26 January 2007
Finally A Real Summer Day
Yes after days of gloomy weather we finally had sun and warm weather a few days back. Living in Dunedin, one must grasp every opportunity to soak up the sun's rays. Hence my sister, Lucy (ex-flatmate), Garth (current flatmate), and I found ourselves on the beach in the afternoon.
The sand was really nice (think white, fine, soft and warm)...the kind that makes me wanna roll around in it lol. The water as expected was freezing, but at least the sun was there to make up for it so it wasn't too cold splashing around. I really wouldn't go swimming in it though...although I guess it wouldn't have made that much difference seeing as to how we ended up having water fights and getting wet anyway.
Garth being Garth just had to try and toss us into the water. Didn't help that he's much stronger, fitter and faster (it's all that cricket training)...and could easily pick us up despite all our wriggling and struggling. It's appalling to know that some guy can easily sling you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes...a rather undignified position and none too comfortable too! His only saving grace is that while he carted us all the way to the edge of the water, he didn't actually toss us in. And probably the fact that we drove his car to get to the beach helped...lol
Unfortunately this is Dunedin and as expected sunny warm days are a rarity so since then we haven't had nice days. In fact yesterday was cold, rainy and miserable... Well, so much for the fine weather predicted by the weatherman (who is never accurate) for the week.
The sand was really nice (think white, fine, soft and warm)...the kind that makes me wanna roll around in it lol. The water as expected was freezing, but at least the sun was there to make up for it so it wasn't too cold splashing around. I really wouldn't go swimming in it though...although I guess it wouldn't have made that much difference seeing as to how we ended up having water fights and getting wet anyway.
Garth being Garth just had to try and toss us into the water. Didn't help that he's much stronger, fitter and faster (it's all that cricket training)...and could easily pick us up despite all our wriggling and struggling. It's appalling to know that some guy can easily sling you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes...a rather undignified position and none too comfortable too! His only saving grace is that while he carted us all the way to the edge of the water, he didn't actually toss us in. And probably the fact that we drove his car to get to the beach helped...lol
Unfortunately this is Dunedin and as expected sunny warm days are a rarity so since then we haven't had nice days. In fact yesterday was cold, rainy and miserable... Well, so much for the fine weather predicted by the weatherman (who is never accurate) for the week.
Monday, 15 January 2007
And then there were Three...
One of our flatmates for this year moved in recently into the nicest room in the flat. Nicest coz it was recently renovated by the landlords. It's not a very big room though so I guess its "new-ness" makes up for its lack of size, seeing as to how we'reall paying the same amount for rent. He's been pretty cool so far and friendly and easy to talk to. He's a sports person and plays cricket very regularly and hopes to make the Otago team...and I muz say he definitely is a determined fellow. Presently he is still training and playing cricket with a broken foot and yet-to-be-fully-healed fractured ribs. How he manages to run with a broken foot I have no idea. Even better would be how he has managed to conceal the fact that he has a broken foot from the coaches. And he hasn't even been to the doctor...
Anyway I am glad to say that after 3 years I finally sorta get cricket. After many failed attempts by various mates to explain de game to me, our new flatmate has succeeded somewhat. It still doesn't change the fact that cricket goes way too slowly and long for my liking though lol. Nope, can't make a cricket fan outta me...even if cricket is our other national sport.
It's gonna be a pretty exciting sports year with the cricket world cup on and then the rugby world cup. Looks like the tv is gonna get plenty of use this year 8). I'm looking forward to seeing the All Blacks get the cup (which really rightfully belongs with us...after all we have the world's best rugby team...lol). 8p
Anyway I am glad to say that after 3 years I finally sorta get cricket. After many failed attempts by various mates to explain de game to me, our new flatmate has succeeded somewhat. It still doesn't change the fact that cricket goes way too slowly and long for my liking though lol. Nope, can't make a cricket fan outta me...even if cricket is our other national sport.
It's gonna be a pretty exciting sports year with the cricket world cup on and then the rugby world cup. Looks like the tv is gonna get plenty of use this year 8). I'm looking forward to seeing the All Blacks get the cup (which really rightfully belongs with us...after all we have the world's best rugby team...lol). 8p
Thursday, 4 January 2007
Situation Update
Ok here's an update on the current situation in good old Dunedin. We actually are having a summer day today (finally!)...sun, a couple of clouds, bright blue sky...
The state of things in the flat are however not so ideal. We still have no phone line so thank goodness for cell phones. Naturally we have no internet connection either and probably won't get any till Feb or something the way things are going coz we can't find an ISP that suits us as yet. I've taken to running over to my friend's flat where he has the whole flat to himself (coz everyone else is away for summer) and internet connection, which he has kindly agreed to let me use 8)
My room in the flat is still a furniture warehouse as renovations are going on in the flat and all rooms including the lounge are filled (we presently have a double bed sitting in the lounge). So I can't move my ex-flatmate's stuff out and shall (annoyingly) have to wait till she gets back to do something about it. Therefore I'm currently sleeping in my sister's room on the mattress/couch amidst unpacked boxes and furniture.
The good thing is I can get pretty close to the heater being on the floor. Typical of Dunedin we have cold nights and it probably doesn't help that the flat is over 100 years old and there are cracks and holes whereby the cold air can sneak in. According to documentation the flat was built in the 1890s and the landlords while renovating 2 of the rooms found 4 pretty mint copies of a Christian weekly newsletter dating back to 1902, 1903 and 1904. There's some thought of giving it to the museum but presently it's sitting on the table in the corridor. My sister suspects that the piping hasn't been changed since then and therefore the water smells funny, but nobody has died from it yet so I reckon the piping must still be good.
The flat has a great view of the city and you can see the harbour too since we're on a hill. I'll try and post some photos sometime when I get round to it lol. The great thing is that there's nothing to block the view really. We could clearly see the fireworks display in the Octagon (and hear the people singing) on New Year's Eve. Guy Fawkes is gonna be awesome...as long as they dun decide to implement the ban on fireworks they were talking about putting on last year after the many fires started as a result during the Guy Fawkes period. I reckon we would prob be able to see Carisbrook as well...
Me, well I'm down with the usual cold I get whenever I return to Dunedin from wherever. I'm still unemployed and looking for a job and there's still stuff to be done to settle into 2007. On the bright side I was given a cash award by the Uni for good grades for last year which would come in handy for paying rent 8)...but it doesn't come in till May 8(. Still any income is good aye? In the meantime I really have to do something about my not-so-fantastic financial situation...
The state of things in the flat are however not so ideal. We still have no phone line so thank goodness for cell phones. Naturally we have no internet connection either and probably won't get any till Feb or something the way things are going coz we can't find an ISP that suits us as yet. I've taken to running over to my friend's flat where he has the whole flat to himself (coz everyone else is away for summer) and internet connection, which he has kindly agreed to let me use 8)
My room in the flat is still a furniture warehouse as renovations are going on in the flat and all rooms including the lounge are filled (we presently have a double bed sitting in the lounge). So I can't move my ex-flatmate's stuff out and shall (annoyingly) have to wait till she gets back to do something about it. Therefore I'm currently sleeping in my sister's room on the mattress/couch amidst unpacked boxes and furniture.
The good thing is I can get pretty close to the heater being on the floor. Typical of Dunedin we have cold nights and it probably doesn't help that the flat is over 100 years old and there are cracks and holes whereby the cold air can sneak in. According to documentation the flat was built in the 1890s and the landlords while renovating 2 of the rooms found 4 pretty mint copies of a Christian weekly newsletter dating back to 1902, 1903 and 1904. There's some thought of giving it to the museum but presently it's sitting on the table in the corridor. My sister suspects that the piping hasn't been changed since then and therefore the water smells funny, but nobody has died from it yet so I reckon the piping must still be good.
The flat has a great view of the city and you can see the harbour too since we're on a hill. I'll try and post some photos sometime when I get round to it lol. The great thing is that there's nothing to block the view really. We could clearly see the fireworks display in the Octagon (and hear the people singing) on New Year's Eve. Guy Fawkes is gonna be awesome...as long as they dun decide to implement the ban on fireworks they were talking about putting on last year after the many fires started as a result during the Guy Fawkes period. I reckon we would prob be able to see Carisbrook as well...
Me, well I'm down with the usual cold I get whenever I return to Dunedin from wherever. I'm still unemployed and looking for a job and there's still stuff to be done to settle into 2007. On the bright side I was given a cash award by the Uni for good grades for last year which would come in handy for paying rent 8)...but it doesn't come in till May 8(. Still any income is good aye? In the meantime I really have to do something about my not-so-fantastic financial situation...
A Random Post
I wasn't gonna post anything till later when I thought up something to write but I couldn't resist making a random post...lol.
Try this: Go to google and type in "llama" in the search field and click "I'm feeling lucky"
And play the flash that loads...it's perfect for ending the day in randomness 8p
Try this: Go to google and type in "llama" in the search field and click "I'm feeling lucky"
And play the flash that loads...it's perfect for ending the day in randomness 8p
Wednesday, 20 December 2006
Life in 2007
And here is the prediction for my "life" for 2007:
Classes
Assignments
Lab demonstrating
Assignments
Skating classes
Assignments
Skating practice
Assignments
Dance classes
Assignments
Job hunting
Assignments
Skating tests
Assignments
Dance exams
Assignments
Exams
Does anyone spot a trend here?
Classes
Assignments
Lab demonstrating
Assignments
Skating classes
Assignments
Skating practice
Assignments
Dance classes
Assignments
Job hunting
Assignments
Skating tests
Assignments
Dance exams
Assignments
Exams
Does anyone spot a trend here?
Tuesday, 19 December 2006
Holiday Takeaways
I don't like knowing upon looking back that I've frittered away my vacation time...doing nothing and accomplishing nothing. It really makes one feel rather useless. Glad to say, in the time I've been in Singapore, I've managed to "acquire" some stuff at least 8)
1. A share trading account so I can now manage my own share portfolio
2. Knowledge on property investing courtesy of my dad, having followed him around to several investment presentations
3. A first aid certificate!! After 3 long days of torture in the form of absolute boredom and me trying to keep awake during the lectures...I am now able to bandage someone up nicely (if I'm not too busy wincing over the wound)
4. And perhaps most surprising of all...a boyfriend. Yeah the days of the happy swinging single are over and I've gotten over my "wild" phase lol. Yours truly has joined the ranks of the happily in love 8). It's pretty crazy when I think about it, considering the short time we've actually known each other. It started off as a casual thing meant to end (amicably) when I left...something I would have labelled a fling and filed away as a good memory. But it became something more...sorta to be expected in a way I guess, seeing as to how my "fling" guys never last beyond 2 dates and I was seeing him way more often than that 8p. It's probably not the best of times to start a relationship given how I'm not too sure when I'll next be in Singapore... Still, we're gonna attempt the whole long distance relationship thing and see what happens 8).
Life is sweet...
1. A share trading account so I can now manage my own share portfolio
2. Knowledge on property investing courtesy of my dad, having followed him around to several investment presentations
3. A first aid certificate!! After 3 long days of torture in the form of absolute boredom and me trying to keep awake during the lectures...I am now able to bandage someone up nicely (if I'm not too busy wincing over the wound)
4. And perhaps most surprising of all...a boyfriend. Yeah the days of the happy swinging single are over and I've gotten over my "wild" phase lol. Yours truly has joined the ranks of the happily in love 8). It's pretty crazy when I think about it, considering the short time we've actually known each other. It started off as a casual thing meant to end (amicably) when I left...something I would have labelled a fling and filed away as a good memory. But it became something more...sorta to be expected in a way I guess, seeing as to how my "fling" guys never last beyond 2 dates and I was seeing him way more often than that 8p. It's probably not the best of times to start a relationship given how I'm not too sure when I'll next be in Singapore... Still, we're gonna attempt the whole long distance relationship thing and see what happens 8).
Life is sweet...
Wednesday, 6 December 2006
21 Years
And so I am now 21...an adult. Do I feel any different? No. I've always thought when I was a kid that when one grows up, one distinctly feels more mature and more adult-like. But I find I'm the same old me... Still I guess maturity comes with experience rather than age. It's surprising how many people in their 20s seem a lot more immature 8p. I wonder if I'd feel the same way about people in their 30s when I hit that decade...
Ok this is just about all the reflection on being another year older I can do!!! Moving on... This is pretty much the last year I'll be in Singapore as a citizen given that the citizenship would have expired by December next year, during which I'd still be in Dunedin preparing for graduation 8). Despite the friends and family I have in Singapore, NZ still feels more like home...even with its random, cold weather. When will I visit Singapore next? Who knows? But travelling is definitely in my future...and Singapore makes a great stopover (think rent-free accomodation...people to entertain... lol)! N'est-ce pas?
Ok this is just about all the reflection on being another year older I can do!!! Moving on... This is pretty much the last year I'll be in Singapore as a citizen given that the citizenship would have expired by December next year, during which I'd still be in Dunedin preparing for graduation 8). Despite the friends and family I have in Singapore, NZ still feels more like home...even with its random, cold weather. When will I visit Singapore next? Who knows? But travelling is definitely in my future...and Singapore makes a great stopover (think rent-free accomodation...people to entertain... lol)! N'est-ce pas?
Friday, 3 November 2006
Light Sounds & Flowery Bursts
Once again it's the time of the year when fireworks are legal thanks to good old Guy Fawkes. Every night now one can hear the sound of fireworks going off and see an impressive array of colours exploding in flowery bursts. Unfortunately, much as I'd like to spend all my time staring out of the window, I still have one exam to go 8(. Ah well, it's kinda hard concentrating with all the noise of fireworks going off too. Maybe I should go get myself some just to get it out of the system...
Tuesday, 31 October 2006
Paintings of the Day
Paintings of the day...by Giovanni Paolo Pannini (1691-1765)
I suppose this is a rather random post but these are 2 of my favourite paintings in the Louvre...probably coz after viewing so many paintings in the Louvre and all around Italy and France (which is pretty much everywhere or in every church at least) they all start to look the same (not to mention your eyes start crossing...). And these, well they're different. Too bad photography wasn't allowed in the room. I liked these way better than the Mona Lisa. I find it amusing that the view of modern Rome as it was back in the 1700s included the Fontana di Trevi which is really old, Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona. Still, I suppose since they appeared in the 1600s they were kinda modern...
Galerie de vues de la Rome antique (1758)
Galerie de vues de la Rome moderne (1759)I suppose this is a rather random post but these are 2 of my favourite paintings in the Louvre...probably coz after viewing so many paintings in the Louvre and all around Italy and France (which is pretty much everywhere or in every church at least) they all start to look the same (not to mention your eyes start crossing...). And these, well they're different. Too bad photography wasn't allowed in the room. I liked these way better than the Mona Lisa. I find it amusing that the view of modern Rome as it was back in the 1700s included the Fontana di Trevi which is really old, Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona. Still, I suppose since they appeared in the 1600s they were kinda modern...
Saturday, 28 October 2006
Moving Woes
I hate moving. Yet I seem to be doing it pretty much every year now and will have to move again next year. Even though I love travelling, moving is something else entirely. With travelling you live out of a suitcase. Not much to pack, easy to pack. It's just a couple of belongings after all. Moving on the other hand is essentially packing up your life into cardboard boxes and shifting said life somewhere else. There's furniture to dismantle, glassware to pack, removers to call and settle with, working out shifting schedules... It's a nightmare. Presently the flat looks like a tornado has been through it. My room has certainly seen better times, and I still have 2 exams to go.
It'll be worse next year I reckon coz I probably wouldn't be in Dunedin the year after. I shudder at the thought of having to deal with issues like storage and selling off furniture. Plus I've grown rather attached to my furniture. Nope I'm not looking forward to next year at all. 8( I wish someone would hurry up and invent a teleportation machine or something that can easily transfer stuff from one place to another in a blink. Think of all the logistical problems that could solve, not to mention making my life infinitely easier. Now where's a genie when you need one?
It'll be worse next year I reckon coz I probably wouldn't be in Dunedin the year after. I shudder at the thought of having to deal with issues like storage and selling off furniture. Plus I've grown rather attached to my furniture. Nope I'm not looking forward to next year at all. 8( I wish someone would hurry up and invent a teleportation machine or something that can easily transfer stuff from one place to another in a blink. Think of all the logistical problems that could solve, not to mention making my life infinitely easier. Now where's a genie when you need one?
Saturday, 21 October 2006
Bubbly Times
Yesterday we had a mini champagne, cheese and cracker party at our flat. The champagne was good stuff...courtesy of my flatmate's boyfriend who would never touch cheap wines. So we proceeded to get high on bubbly...and I wound up giving my flatmate's boyfriend's friend a makeover...think smokey eyes and blood red lips. All with his cooperation of course. In fact I recall that after the makeover he declared himself prettier than us chicks lol.
A couple more glasses of bubbly (encouraged by my flatmate) and he was out cold. Totally out cold. My flatmate being drunk spend half an hour screaming in his ear for him to wake up so she could drive him home. That was despite my sister and I telling her she was in no condition to drive and we wouldn't be able to move him anyway. So we left him on the couch and went off to slp.
Except that my sister hear a loud thump some time later and the guy had fallen onto the floor and hit his head on the table leg and he was shivering. So my sister got some blankets to throw over him and turned on the electric heater. For some reason he kept moving under the table (still completely unconscious) until his toe went into the heater and might have caught fire if my sister hadn't noticed and moved the heater away. I doubt that catching fire would have woken him really coz to stick a body part into the heater right onto the heating coil and not feel anything...well WWIII wouldn't have got him up. If that wasn't enough, he then proceeded to throw up while still unconscious, sending my sister into a panic coz he could choke to death. Despite her best attempts to get him to chuck in the bin he ended up chucking every where else except the bin. Ugh! Our lounge still smells a little odd currently...
Moral of the story: if ur guests are gonna get drunk and pass out, make sure they sleep over a bucket!
A couple more glasses of bubbly (encouraged by my flatmate) and he was out cold. Totally out cold. My flatmate being drunk spend half an hour screaming in his ear for him to wake up so she could drive him home. That was despite my sister and I telling her she was in no condition to drive and we wouldn't be able to move him anyway. So we left him on the couch and went off to slp.
Except that my sister hear a loud thump some time later and the guy had fallen onto the floor and hit his head on the table leg and he was shivering. So my sister got some blankets to throw over him and turned on the electric heater. For some reason he kept moving under the table (still completely unconscious) until his toe went into the heater and might have caught fire if my sister hadn't noticed and moved the heater away. I doubt that catching fire would have woken him really coz to stick a body part into the heater right onto the heating coil and not feel anything...well WWIII wouldn't have got him up. If that wasn't enough, he then proceeded to throw up while still unconscious, sending my sister into a panic coz he could choke to death. Despite her best attempts to get him to chuck in the bin he ended up chucking every where else except the bin. Ugh! Our lounge still smells a little odd currently...
Moral of the story: if ur guests are gonna get drunk and pass out, make sure they sleep over a bucket!
Tuesday, 17 October 2006
Blog Revamp II: All's Good
Yay now it works in all browsers...although it appears best in Firefox. It's a minor problem of spacing in IE & Opera though so all's good (it was a layout disaster before...) 
Right now that I've run outta excuse to procrastinate I suppose I should do some study...bother.
Right now that I've run outta excuse to procrastinate I suppose I should do some study...bother.
Blog Revamp: Warning Only Works in Firefox
I've just spent the last 6 hours giving my blog a new look...(talk about procrastination what am I doing? I've an exam in 3 days!!!) Anyway I thought the old colour scheme was pretty bad. I've no idea what I was thinking when I picked those colours the last time!! Ugh! Now my blog looks much better...I mean the colours aren't as random as they were the last time...and I like my header. I used photos from my days in Europe 8). I must say I'm getting the hang of css since it took me less time to design the blog than it did de last time.
Oh fantastic...argh!!! My new design only works on In Firefox. It doesn't display correctly in IE or Opera! *sob* Bother...anyone have any ideas on how to fix it?
Oh fantastic...argh!!! My new design only works on In Firefox. It doesn't display correctly in IE or Opera! *sob* Bother...anyone have any ideas on how to fix it?
Tuesday, 10 October 2006
Strange Weather
Honestly I dun think I've ever come across stranger weather than here in Dunedin. I woke up this morning to heavy snowfall. Hey it's spring you aren't supposed to have snow in the middle of spring! If that wasn't weird enough, after about an hour or so of snow, the weather realised it was spring and poof! It became sunny again. Then as if the weather couldn't make up its mind, a quarter of an hour later it decided to snow again...heavily (think overcast sky, strong wind and swirling snow). Then sun (blue sky, a few white fluffy clouds here and there)...and barely half an hour later sleet, then rain, then sun, then hail....well you get the idea.
Basically we've been alternating between snow, sun, rain and hail and it's kinda driving me nuts. I realise though that this may also perhaps be due to the fact that I'm supposed to be studying for upcoming exams and somehow have barely gotten a start on that. Still you've gotta admit...it's some pretty crazy weather...and it's pretty obvious I'm procrastinating again. *sigh*
Basically we've been alternating between snow, sun, rain and hail and it's kinda driving me nuts. I realise though that this may also perhaps be due to the fact that I'm supposed to be studying for upcoming exams and somehow have barely gotten a start on that. Still you've gotta admit...it's some pretty crazy weather...and it's pretty obvious I'm procrastinating again. *sigh*
Thursday, 5 October 2006
Psyc BBQ
To commemorate the end of a year's worth of PSYC 300 level honours seminars, one of the professors threw a BBQ at his place. His place is quite well-known in the department...mostly coz a murder was committed in one of the bedrooms. And the murderer wasn't just anyone...he happened to be the department head of psychiatric medicine who murdered his wife by poisoning her and being really stupid about it. For example, he actually lectured his students on how to murder someone by administering drugs that give the symptoms of natural diseases. In any case the place was massive, and my professor runs it as a B&B...he puts the guests in the bedroom where the murder happened but naturally doesn't tell the guests that. The bathroom is fantastic though...it's totally carpeted with a jaccuzi.
It was certainly a night of learning...all the gossip in the psyc department and stories of past events. According to the head of the psyc department (as one professor told us) said that the staff of the psyc department are so much more fun when they're bad.
For instance the lecturers used to form a band and had annual concerts. It's kinda hard to picture some of them in a band, but apparently they did actually make large profits from concerts. Unfortunately the band broke up after a disastrous concert where few people turned up...which was expected given that for some reason the organisers decided to hold it around the end of the year on the same night a big rugby game was on. Well nothing gets between a kiwi and his rugby.
Our other professor told us of the costume party the psyc department used to hold and who liked to wear what. Apparently she used to dress as a pregnant nun and another lecturer used to go in mini-skirts, fishnet stockings and thigh high boots (think skanky). We spent quite some time trying to convince them they should revive these traditions....it's much more fun than trying to pay attention to a lecture on attention!
Speaking of paying attention, the professors confess that the lecturer who organises department seminars falls asleep in every one of them. He said the guy sits beside him everytime and falls asleep on his shoulder and drools...lol Really unfair I reckon, since they make us go and we don't get to fall asleep since we're required to summit a report on it. 8(
Anyway I'm gonna be looking at the psyc department thru new eyes from now on...
It was certainly a night of learning...all the gossip in the psyc department and stories of past events. According to the head of the psyc department (as one professor told us) said that the staff of the psyc department are so much more fun when they're bad.
For instance the lecturers used to form a band and had annual concerts. It's kinda hard to picture some of them in a band, but apparently they did actually make large profits from concerts. Unfortunately the band broke up after a disastrous concert where few people turned up...which was expected given that for some reason the organisers decided to hold it around the end of the year on the same night a big rugby game was on. Well nothing gets between a kiwi and his rugby.
Our other professor told us of the costume party the psyc department used to hold and who liked to wear what. Apparently she used to dress as a pregnant nun and another lecturer used to go in mini-skirts, fishnet stockings and thigh high boots (think skanky). We spent quite some time trying to convince them they should revive these traditions....it's much more fun than trying to pay attention to a lecture on attention!
Speaking of paying attention, the professors confess that the lecturer who organises department seminars falls asleep in every one of them. He said the guy sits beside him everytime and falls asleep on his shoulder and drools...lol Really unfair I reckon, since they make us go and we don't get to fall asleep since we're required to summit a report on it. 8(
Anyway I'm gonna be looking at the psyc department thru new eyes from now on...
Thursday, 21 September 2006
When Do the Birds Sing?
Dunedin is now evidently in Spring. I love Spring, I really do.
We've got:
1. warmer weather (strangely warm today)
2. fresh green leaves on previously bald trees
3. cherry blossom petals showering down when the wind blows
4. colourful flowers everywhere
5. more daylight hours
But this is really paltry evidence to mark Spring's presence, what really brings home the fact that Spring is here is:
1. Hay Fever
2. Allergies
3. Everyone getting sick
4. Pollen covered car
(washing it is redundant coz it remains clean for less than a day)
Oh and this may or may not have something to do with Spring, but I've noticed the birds start singing at 3am now and sing straight all the way to 6am at least. Why do I know this? (I also know that the street sweepers start work at 5.30am and the waste management truck goes round campus at around that time too, also at that hour traffic on the road consists of taxis and huge trucks that like to speed...but that's besides the point) Coz recently I've been finding myself spending the night in campus working once again on those never ending assignments.
Oh yeah I'm really enjoying Spring...
We've got:
1. warmer weather (strangely warm today)
2. fresh green leaves on previously bald trees
3. cherry blossom petals showering down when the wind blows
4. colourful flowers everywhere
5. more daylight hours
But this is really paltry evidence to mark Spring's presence, what really brings home the fact that Spring is here is:
1. Hay Fever
2. Allergies
3. Everyone getting sick
4. Pollen covered car
(washing it is redundant coz it remains clean for less than a day)
Oh and this may or may not have something to do with Spring, but I've noticed the birds start singing at 3am now and sing straight all the way to 6am at least. Why do I know this? (I also know that the street sweepers start work at 5.30am and the waste management truck goes round campus at around that time too, also at that hour traffic on the road consists of taxis and huge trucks that like to speed...but that's besides the point) Coz recently I've been finding myself spending the night in campus working once again on those never ending assignments.
Oh yeah I'm really enjoying Spring...
Thursday, 14 September 2006
Broken Tail Light
Some idiot hit my parked car and broke my tail light the other day and then just drove off without leaving a note or something to offer to pay for damages. Luckily for me, some other nice random person saw it happen while sitting in the library and actually wrote down the license number.
The problem here is that even with the license number, a driver can be pretty hard to track down...you have to pay to get the name and address of the owner from the post shop. There isn't even a phone number you can call or an email address...funny how used to technology one can get. The amount of trouble one has to go through to get compensation makes me one very irate owner-of-a-car-with-a-broken-tail-light. I now have to write a note to this jerk...threatening a police complaint if he/she refuses to pay *evil laugh*.
Hopefully the jerk will call me soon. Moral of the story: If you hit someone have the courtesy to leave a contact number!
The problem here is that even with the license number, a driver can be pretty hard to track down...you have to pay to get the name and address of the owner from the post shop. There isn't even a phone number you can call or an email address...funny how used to technology one can get. The amount of trouble one has to go through to get compensation makes me one very irate owner-of-a-car-with-a-broken-tail-light. I now have to write a note to this jerk...threatening a police complaint if he/she refuses to pay *evil laugh*.
Hopefully the jerk will call me soon. Moral of the story: If you hit someone have the courtesy to leave a contact number!
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