In Ireland

I've got a week in Ireland - the land of celtic crosses, leprechauns, Riverdance, Guinness, whiskEy, shamrock... - before experiments start at ISIS. That's a few days in Dublin then on a bus to see the countryside.

Singapore's Changi Airport

I'm in transit in Singapore on my way to the UK. This is one of the better airports to be stuck in - 10 free internet computers just next to out arrival gate (vs 3 in Sydney). They might have wireless too but I didn't want to take the risk of relinquishing this computer. I'm 7 hours down, 14 hours to go.

Last days of summer

Well my visit to Sydney is almost over.

Tomorrow I'm off to England.

Rainbow

A legacy of the summer storms.

Wannabes

Lots of eager young things were dolled up for their chance to be part of the 4th installment of the Australian Big Brother. Now where's the end of the queue.....

Fried computer

The internet, telephone, computers, television and my laptop network card got fried in a crazy electrical storm yesterday. Grrr.
It turns out that our house was the worst hit. That is the lightning was closer to us than to any other house in the street.

An Early Chinese New Year

For the third year in a row, I will be spending Chinese New Year in soggy England. That's yet another year without red packets and without all the traditional New Year dishes - with the exception of Yee sang. Mum took pity on me and made yee sang for me tonight which is a chinese salad with raw salmon on top. Before you start eating everyone mixes it up with their chopsticks and says 'Lo Hei'. Its some type of good luck and prosperity thing, and kinda fun too.

Hail Storm

Last night I was woken up by hail stones, up to about 2.5cm, thundering on the roof. We'll be checking the car for dents. The damaged gum leaves left a faint scent of eucalyptus in the air.

Barista training

Simon brought his espresso machine into the office a few days ago. Since then, not only have the frontiers of science been pushed back within rm418, but the art of steaming milk has been actively pursued. Personally, I've progressed from flat flat whites to passable foamy lattes.

Science meets big business

........translator required.
It was time to come up with another hair-brained money making scheme so that meant another dinner meeting/brain storming session with entrepreneurial types at Innovation Capital. With Cameron holidaying somewhere exotic, I was chief boffin for the evening.

From King Street Wharf, the Innovation Capital offices have a beautiful view out over Darling Harbour.

At the piano

Ben spends 70% of his waking hours here.

230 days

I just had my postgraduate progress interview this morning. Ouch. Its one of the devices the university uses to get rid of students in a timely fashion, full of difficult questions like "how much of your thesis have you written?" - NONE. Brendan suggested that I finish by August - that's 230 days minus the 2 months that I'm going to spend in the UK/Chicago.

Hazy Days

Ahhh... The distinct odour of an Australian summer fills the air this evening - bushfire season has started. Should be a good sunset.

Scooped Again

Too devastated to go into detail.

Timber

When the tree surgeon came knocking at the door yesterday, Dad decided it was high time we got rid of the forest on the front lawn. After a busy day of guys scurrying up and down trees with chainsaws swinging, the front lawn is now full of wood chips. On the plus side we have a much improved view of the F3 freeway.

30 years later

Last night we celebrated QQ and Q-Niong's (my uncle and aunt's) 30th anniversary. Mum went all out an Indian dinner with no less than 13 dishs plus 4 types of desserts.

ssarah

Ku-ring-gai National Park

Today I went walking in Ku-ring-gai National Park with Xina and Suzanne. We saw a huge goanna ~ 1m long, aboriginal rock carvings, a wallaby and lots of crabs. Xina didn't think it was wise antagonise the big crab by picking it up, though the small crab with one claw missing was fair game.


In a strange coincidence I crossed paths with Jane from my business plan writing days.

Laps

I had my second swim since the Christmas break and I didn't drown! I've almost remembered how to swim again. 50 laps is pretty respectable too.

Kookaburra

This kookaburra came and sat by my window for a while.

Happy New Year 2005!!

...although apparently this year we are supposed to wish everyone a compassionate new year. A resolution for 2005? Here's one direct from the SMH (#63).

Get a PhD. Available on the internet for as little as $US100 ($130).

I've got my $130 set aside just in case things aren't looking too promising.