Highs and lows

Realised I haven't blogged in over a wk, so I suppose I should post something, even just for the sake of posting. Thought about it hard (ok, not that hard) about what actually to post, before settling down on this sort of non-descript title. It's been quite high and low in many senses. The Swans are flying high, and on track to be back into the Grand Final for the 1st time since '96; us on the verge of losing the Ashes, 1st time in 18 yrs (that can only be the lowest of lows); but then again, August is coming to an end, which can only mean my 2nd yr teaching is over and done with & I can get back to a normaler (normaler? more normal?) life/balance of uni & work. Not that I hated teaching 2nd yr. Both 1st & 2nd yrs have been quite enjoyable. But rather than spending most of my uni time doing one thing or another for the different teachings, I can now actually proscrastinate & pretend to do PhD related stuff & get the bugger finished quickly! Oh crap, there's the marking to come...!??!!

On brighter notes, it looks like WESTIR is finally moving out of the dumps of Blacktown & down to the metropole of Parramatta. Better still, it's right around the corner from where dad works - it's not even 3 minutes walk from the car park! I can only wonder if I'll ever drive again! Ok, so I will. I'm pretty sure of that. And anyways, the move (if it eventuates this time) is not going to happen until November, so there are still some more months at dear Blacktown.

Was in Audrey craving last nite, so watched My Fair Lady in almost its entirety until midnight (skipped thru most of Alfred P. Doolittle. For some reason unbeknownst to me I just don't like those scenes). Still listening to soundtrack. Maybe I'll switch to Thirsty Merc tomorrow...

Getting sleepy as I count the cost of my latest spendings - 7th pair of shoes for the yr; garden mulcher; CD storage; retro wares from op shops... zzz ... ... ZZZ ... ...

After

Mountain of boxes
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Finally, a picture of the aftermath of the FBE-BEES office move. This is the view from my corner. This lovely terrain can also be spotted from Steve's, Karin's, Claudette's, and over the dividers, Therese's and Karen's. OK, basically from everyone's except Rae's (she's in the corner & has turned the back on us. Well, has her back to us/mountain at least)

A farewell to arm(chairs)

Farewell to FBE
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

So the move finally happened last friday. For now, everyone is trying to deal with the aftermath of the move (should take pic of the mountain of boxes) & settling themselves in. But, but in between of all the packing & trucking & unpacking & furniture moving, we managed to squeeze in a little bit of drinking & cake. It was a condensed celebration really, seeing that we tried to make it a farewell to FBE plus my bday (very belated), Chris(bobby)'s bday (not as nelated), Anu's birthday (again, not so belated), and Rae's bday (a little early for this 1). The turnout was reasonably sizable, so we managed to scoff down the whole of 2 cakes in an hr. An unexpected surprise when those who knew the geographers presented us with a goody bag of, well, goodies! So now we will have to reciprocate & throw an office warming party. Hmm, when would be a gd time for that... Thinking cap back on.

Mystery of the missing thesis, solved

For long, some at the FBE (particular some geog staff & students) have been wondering the whereabouts of one bounded copy of a missing thesis - mine! From the time it was noticed missing (probably 2 yrs ago, if not longer) no one had seen the bounded (bounded only, not gagged, presumably) one, much less caressed, sniffed, or whatever that you can do to one bounded book. Out of curiosity this afternoon, I started looking around the BEES (for non-UNSW-er, BEES is now my new home. I've been booted (not quite forcibly removed) from the FBE and gone onto the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science) website. 'Twas this drive of curiosity that drove me to look at a link that took me to the Geography Honours Thesis roll. It was of course no surprise to see some familiar names - Rayner, Robinson, etc. After all, Rayner did study fish habitat (or something like that) and Robbo looked at sustainable housing (or something to that extent). Shock horror came when I saw my OWN name in that list of physical studies!?!?! And mine didn't even look anything like physical!?!?! Anyways, now that it's been located, I might find a time and take it back, by stealth of course. Now, how do I get into 508...

Before & during

BEFORE

DURING

Stay tuned for 'after' photos...

Da move

Da move
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Finally, the big day has come. Geography's day at the FBE (for the PGs at least) are finally over. On one chilly friday morning, the UNSW porters came and picked up our lives in boxes, bookcases and filing cabinets, and trucked everything up to our new home - Samuels basement. Ok, so I've lost my fantastic view of 2 walls at a corner, trading that in instead for a smaller, but more communal office. Let's hope that the list of disruptions come to an end soon (move, reorganising, reconnecting networks, Pierrick's welcome back, Pierrick's farewell, farewell to FBE, birthday parties, Gibbo's farewell, etc) and everyone can get back to their work. I know I need to!

TV-aquarium

TV-aquarium
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

For those who haven't seen. Apologies for the bad photo quality. Can never seem to photo this right...

Fishy business

Tropical tank
Originally uploaded by ragde2507.

Tank complete! Ok, so it was after yet another failed attempt of neons & danios before settling on the platys, but the tropical tank is alive again. I really shouldn't be filling the house with all these things seeing that I've taken on quite a few this Session, meaning that I'd have less time for house things. But, simply couldn't help myself. Not a very good picture of the tank, yes, I know. & the fishies are hiding a bit (forgive them, they're new to this point-&-shoot business. They are no game fish after all. Not that those would be alive enough to be tanked). It is of course where the old fish bowl used to be. That spot had been left empty since the goldfish moved into the TV (for those who haven't seen, in person or otherwise, see next blog).

Time for sleep. 1st day of teaching tomorrow arvo.

Hmm, damn good yogurt cake...