Yes, after twenty-six years I am finally going to be moving out in December. Robin got the phone call from the agent this morning advising that we had got the property we were looking for... the first one we applied for!
It's great news all round and I'm looking forward to a little more physical freedom, but a little less financial freedom. There's heaps to do yet, like locate furniture from three different addresses, change the post, get the 'net connected, utilities, and buy some whitegoods. It's all a bit full-on, a little scary (first time out of home) and really exciting at the same time. Which is probably why I can't sleep and its 4am.
Anyway, I'm still more excited than anything. Hoorah!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
QF571 SYD-PER
Flying home from Sydney on Friday afternoon, Row 27B, I sit behind a lady and her daughter who looks to be about 6 years old. The flight attendants are being nazis again about iPods, headphones and anything electronic again, so for the sake of not being told off, I leave my headphones in the case for the taxi out to the runway.
We take off to the North and as the plane soars into the sky a few moments later I see the little girl pointing out of the window to say, "Mummy, mummy! That looks like Google Earth" to which mum replies, "That's because it IS the Earth, sweetie".
It's a worrying world that kids are growing up in!
We take off to the North and as the plane soars into the sky a few moments later I see the little girl pointing out of the window to say, "Mummy, mummy! That looks like Google Earth" to which mum replies, "That's because it IS the Earth, sweetie".
It's a worrying world that kids are growing up in!
Back to Bondi
Bondi isn't the same place it used to be...
It's actually nicer.
When I was growing up on the east coast of Australia, Bondi was a slum. It was crap. Nobody really wanted to live there, it was just a haven for hippies a surfer dudes to get high and hit the beach.
Like most urbanisation, Bondi has been transformed. There are still a few rickety beach apartments, some rusty shacks and mouldy houses, but for the most of it, Bondi has nice new apartments, rows of shops, trendy cafe's and pubs. I really enjoyed being there.
At first I was afraid that going there would make me sad, especially to see some landmark realestate being developed (I had family that lived there) but I enjoyed the experience. The only thing I didn't have time to do was go for a swim!
It's actually nicer.
When I was growing up on the east coast of Australia, Bondi was a slum. It was crap. Nobody really wanted to live there, it was just a haven for hippies a surfer dudes to get high and hit the beach.
Like most urbanisation, Bondi has been transformed. There are still a few rickety beach apartments, some rusty shacks and mouldy houses, but for the most of it, Bondi has nice new apartments, rows of shops, trendy cafe's and pubs. I really enjoyed being there.
At first I was afraid that going there would make me sad, especially to see some landmark realestate being developed (I had family that lived there) but I enjoyed the experience. The only thing I didn't have time to do was go for a swim!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
River Cruise, Sydney
As a part of the 1st International Future Mining Conference and Exhibition 2008, the delegates were treated to a river cruise and dinner in Sydney Harbour. Not too much to report on the night itself other than the cruise was nice and the food was alright. The views were pretty awesome though!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
They're Everywhere!
Here's a little something that Al bought me this morning before we jumped on the plane to Sydney. Apparently this is a collector's edition! Awesome!
Coogee Beach, New South Wales
Is pretty miserable right now actually. I'm at the Medina Executive Apartments, about a block off the beachfront. It has been raining all afternoon and it is also quite windy. I'm here for the Future Mining 2008 Conference and Exhibition at the University of New South Wales. Hoping to learn heaps more about the future of automation in mining, this time from an academic's point of view.
This evening, I headed out to dinner with Al. We did a lap of the main street and ended up with two nice looking restaurants. One was "In the mood for Thai" and the other was "Churrasco". Both looked pretty good but there was a more funky vibe and more people at Churrasco so in we went! Churrasco is a Brazilian BBQ restaurant where different cuts of meat (and other things like seasoned mozzarella, cheese bread and sliced sausage) come out and you basically eat until you can't eat anymore!
I love trying something new when I travel and this place was certainly something! Having chorizo, parmesan beef, eye fillet, scotch fillet, chicken and pork sausages, roast lamb... all coming out at our heart's content! You get a little coaster with a red side and a green side, so the waiters walking around with the food know if you want anything coming past. Green means "yes, offer me food!" while red means "i'm having a rest" or "i'm done!".
I'm also looking forward to scoping out Coogee during the daytime (if there's time on Friday). Perhaps do some shopping and sight-seeing. Maybe even help Al with the bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon he got from the flight over from Perth! Hope to take some photos tomorrow too.
This evening, I headed out to dinner with Al. We did a lap of the main street and ended up with two nice looking restaurants. One was "In the mood for Thai" and the other was "Churrasco". Both looked pretty good but there was a more funky vibe and more people at Churrasco so in we went! Churrasco is a Brazilian BBQ restaurant where different cuts of meat (and other things like seasoned mozzarella, cheese bread and sliced sausage) come out and you basically eat until you can't eat anymore!
I love trying something new when I travel and this place was certainly something! Having chorizo, parmesan beef, eye fillet, scotch fillet, chicken and pork sausages, roast lamb... all coming out at our heart's content! You get a little coaster with a red side and a green side, so the waiters walking around with the food know if you want anything coming past. Green means "yes, offer me food!" while red means "i'm having a rest" or "i'm done!".
I'm also looking forward to scoping out Coogee during the daytime (if there's time on Friday). Perhaps do some shopping and sight-seeing. Maybe even help Al with the bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon he got from the flight over from Perth! Hope to take some photos tomorrow too.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Day 12 of Movember
Thanks to Hornet for taking me over the $100 mark for Movember 2008. You legend! Come on you rats, donate now!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Fuel Economics
When the Australian Dollar was close to one US Dollar and oil was fetching USD 90 a barrel, the price of petrol at the bowser in Western Australia was over $1.50 per litre.
So why has fuel gotten cheaper when the dollar slump has matched the slump in oil prices? Shouldn't fuel still be at $1.50?
Why can't I find any articles about fuel dipping to $1.26? No praises for the cost of living going down? No report on Today Tonight? Why HAS it gone down?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset about it. I just haven't heard any positive response about it either. As soon at it starts going up again the pissing and moaning will start again.
So, how much more would it cost me to run a V12 over a V8?
BMW 850i (E31)
So why has fuel gotten cheaper when the dollar slump has matched the slump in oil prices? Shouldn't fuel still be at $1.50?
Why can't I find any articles about fuel dipping to $1.26? No praises for the cost of living going down? No report on Today Tonight? Why HAS it gone down?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset about it. I just haven't heard any positive response about it either. As soon at it starts going up again the pissing and moaning will start again.
So, how much more would it cost me to run a V12 over a V8?
BMW 850i (E31)
Graduates
This evening, Robin and I graduated from our Beginners Swedish class! YEY!
We finished the ten week course with fika. I enjoyed dill chips (haven't eaten them since I was in Sweden in March), cinnamon scrolls, donuts, coffee and lots of other sweets. I'm still burping up dill and it's awesome.
We both got a "Diplom" from the Svenska Skolan and even that is pretty impressive. I will have to scan it in when I pick it up from Robin's house.
I'm, really looking forward to enrolling next year (in February) for the Intermediate course and learning lots more over the summer break leading up to the start of semester.
We finished the ten week course with fika. I enjoyed dill chips (haven't eaten them since I was in Sweden in March), cinnamon scrolls, donuts, coffee and lots of other sweets. I'm still burping up dill and it's awesome.
We both got a "Diplom" from the Svenska Skolan and even that is pretty impressive. I will have to scan it in when I pick it up from Robin's house.
I'm, really looking forward to enrolling next year (in February) for the Intermediate course and learning lots more over the summer break leading up to the start of semester.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Day Two of "No Chocolate" for Movember 2008!
Yes, that's right! I have given up Chocolate for Movember. Show your support and donate now!
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Movember 2008
Movember (the month formerly known as November) is an annual charity event held during November.
At the start of Movember guys register with a clean shaven face. The Movember participants, known as Mo Bros, have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their Mo, raising money along the way to benefit men's health - specifically prostate cancer and male depression.
Movember culminates at the end of the month at official Gala Partés, Mo-Office and Mo-Town parties where Tom Selleck and Borat look-a-likes battle it out for their chance to be the Man of Movember.
While growing a Mo is left to the guys, Mo Sistas (ladies who support their guys or just love Mo's!) form an important part of Movember by recruiting Mo Bros, helping to raise funds and attending the highly anticipated Gala Partés.
But it' s not all fun and games, so why the extreme behavior?
Which ever way we look at it, men are far less healthy than women. The average life expectancy for men is five years less than for women.
At the start of Movember guys register with a clean shaven face. The Movember participants, known as Mo Bros, have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their Mo, raising money along the way to benefit men's health - specifically prostate cancer and male depression.
Movember culminates at the end of the month at official Gala Partés, Mo-Office and Mo-Town parties where Tom Selleck and Borat look-a-likes battle it out for their chance to be the Man of Movember.
While growing a Mo is left to the guys, Mo Sistas (ladies who support their guys or just love Mo's!) form an important part of Movember by recruiting Mo Bros, helping to raise funds and attending the highly anticipated Gala Partés.
But it' s not all fun and games, so why the extreme behavior?
Which ever way we look at it, men are far less healthy than women. The average life expectancy for men is five years less than for women.
The obvious question is why?
Men lack awareness about the very real health issues they face. There is an attitude that they have to be tough - "a real man" - and are reluctant to see a doctor about an illness or go for regular medical checks.
Movember aims to change these attitudes and make men's health fun by putting the Mo back on the face of fashion and in the process raise some serious funds for key men's health issues, including:
Prostate Cancer: because every year 2,900 Australian men die from prostate cancer and over 18,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Find out more HERE
Depression in Men: because one in six men experience depression at any given time but most don't seek help. Find out more HERE
Donate now!
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