Study Week (not) Much?

The week just gone was what Curtin likes to refer to as ‘Tuition-free Week’. They don’t call it ‘Holiday’ or ‘Week Off’ for a reason – you’re usually bombarded with assignments and study. Unlike some of my peers (Nishie, Priya, Phil, Ashkan – actually I think nearly everyone) I didn’t have any looming assignments to hinder the enjoyment of my week off.

So I didn’t do any uni-related work (well, I did do about 30 mins on Sunday night – but I don’t really count that). What did I do on the week break then?

1. Road Trip to Bunbury for SportsFest

2. Royal Perth Show

(That hammer game must be rigged if Ash can’t win it!)

3. Not one, but THREE birthday parties

And now there are only four weeks of teaching left … in my whole degree! Four weeks! I feel so underprepared entering the workplace with this piece of paper called a degree.

Exciting news though – Asher and I are off to Singapore and Philippines for missons after I finish exams! Woo.

Breathe.

The Lego Cradle

Works like a charm! I might mix up the colours a bit now that I know it works.

Audrey’s 21st was on Saturday night:

And I did relish the opportunity to dress up! Jono’s theme was ‘inside-out’ – pretty good idea! Although I must admit that this guy was probably the coolest:

If you can’t tell, he is dressed as a Lego block. Pretty cool indeed. I have ideas for another party like this in the future …

OH&S rebels

So we decided against waffles.

Marie: "They'll take too long"

Me: "How about pancakes?"

Marie: "Sounds good ... but how do we make them?"

Me: "On the sandwhich press?"

So we decided it was worth a shot. And what better occasion than for my 21st Birthday to have our pancake day! We've actually been planning our pancake day for like two years, but it never actually eventuated .. until today.

Talking across the bench to Nishe and Marie in Micro about our pancake party earlier in the week sparked a few people's interest - Brittany offered to bring the cake, Katie said she'd bring bananas and a few others would simply come along and help celebrate.

And dude, what a great party it was! I feel privileged that I was involved in the first party ever held in our common room. I don't think it will be the last either - other ideas such as omelettes and bacon and eggs were being thrown around. Next week we're playing board games during our Friday break.



And of course the cake:



Katie and Julie bought some new posters to decorate the common room with, and I being the tallest person in the room at the time had the kinda dangerous task of putting them up!



Patience. Love. Peace.

Summer clean

I pretty much spent all day cleaning. Uni is only a week away and I find that I'm most productive at home when everything is organised well. Otherwise by week three I have pieces of paper everywhere and never have the things I need with me.

I re-organised what was on my bookshelf - moving my books for casual reading down, in favour of having uni-related books close at hand. I filed all of my bills and documents sitting in my 'filing' pile and threw out a lot of rubbish that has been accumulating over the summer break.

The result is a nice, clean and organised workspace! I've also labelled my files and writing pads ready to start uni.



The worst thing you can ever do is to start uni unprepared! Work starts piling in from the word go and you can easily find yourself overwhelmed. It's taken me three years to realise this, so for those that have not yet had the revelation, I'm saving you some time - good preparation lays the foundation to success!

I also invested in some new equipment for Jethro - the Logitech Alto Cordless Notebook Stand to raise the height of my screen (and add a few USB ports), and the Logitech MX 1100 Wireless Laser Mouse for comfort. Both cost me a bit of money (both I got for half the RRP on the Logitech website ... score!) however, I realise that I need to make my workspace as ergonomic as possible. I spend quite a bit of time in front of my computer, and the last thing I want is an RSI when I'm older ... that could interfere with being a scientist and all! I also need to improve my posture, and I found that having Jethro flat on the desk didn't really help with that.

The invites for my 21st are all done now .. I just have to wait for RSVP's! It's really creeping up on me - only three weeks away from today.
(Drey: Yours is here, I didn't post it to Sg because it's too much effort doing the Customs Declaration!)

I was saddened to hear this week that Amanda Bennett is studying in Melbourne now .. :( We will all miss her!

Eat the right stuff.