What would life be like?

Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I hadn't met some one, or didn't know some thing. If had decided to turn left, rather than right. If I had chosen to fly west rather than north. If I had chosen to say what I thought, rather than not. What I would do If I didn't have beautiful friends who put up with me. What if I could actually ignore all those things people say that you are supposed to not worry about, but you do.

I wonder what if I had never eaten duck, or seen a television. Or what Glenferrie Road would be like without Mario’s, or Lygon Street without Italian Restaurants.....

Of key concern to me today, however, is what life would be like without Cadbury favourites. These are fantastic chocolates. Your right. They are not Haighs, nor lint, nor elephants, nor Belgium delights. However, they are tried and tested, reliable, readily available, inexpensive, and provide variety in my life when, well lets face it, there isn't much.


What would life be like without Cadbury favourites, I'm not sure. But, I am sure I don't what to know. I don't think I ever would have got through University without these. So life would obviously be different. And yes, George, I am still at Bond. This is what happens when you anticipate finishing a degree quickly, proceed to get sick halfway through, reduce your course load to part-time for a year (pathetic, I know.) So when do I finish: August. If not I will take matters into my own hands. Don't worry Mum, I'll be fine.

Perhaps when I finish University I'll find out what life is like without Cadbury. I imagine it's an American company anyway. Hopefully, increased finances shall accompany full-time employment then I can give up Cadbury and limit myself to Haighs, thereby supporting Australian made and owned. Alternatively, I could just move to Belgium.

My sworn enemy

Currently time is my enemy. There are not sufficient seconds in a minute, minutes in an hour, or hours in a day. There is simply not enough time available to complete what needs to be done. This is why I am sitting here at 3.05 am Qld time. If I didn't require sleep to function (unfortunately I am not one of those lucky people) I would probably just work for a week. Alas, it's time to go to bed. The alarm is set for a reasonable hour. Not a reasonable hour, however, considering I am going to bed now.

I often wonder why we have clocks. Why do we let them tell us what to do, when we have to do it and whether we are late or early. I would prefer to just go with the sun. The sun comes up - time to get up. The sun goes down - bed time. Pity that Queensland don't like EST, therefore there is no daylight savings. Daylight savings would have to be one of my favorite things at about summer. It's right at the top of the list, equal with; the beach, swimming, the sun, not being cold, swimming pools, hammocks.....holidays.

Rambling, like father, like daughter

You may have read the following comment. You may have not. Momentarily I was perplexed, when I read it. Then realised it was my father up to his usual antics.

Once, he read a paper I had written for a History Subject 'South-Africa Under Apartheid.' His skills with English are far better than mine, and it also helps to have 'fresh eyes' to consider something you have been looking at for two weeks straight. Anyway, Dad fixed a few commas, moved a few full stops and corrected some 'typos.' However, at the end of the paper he decided to write the comment: 'Have you read Coetzee.' Well yes of course I had but nothing said in the text was remotely relevant to the paper I had written. So I gave my father a written response, something along the lines of just because Disgrace is about South Africa and is a very interesting commentary on contemporary issues in post-apartheid society in no way is it relevant to a paper that has a word limitation of 4000. Especially when I have 5000 words and that's with removing 'the', 'forgetting' to put a space after full stops. I am obviously going to have to re-write at least half of it to bring it under, so material not related to the the topic, although interesting, should be avoided at all costs. But more to the point, did you actually read the essay? I would be interested to see how my thesis related to anything Coetzee addresses. Well I guess they have the point of commonality; that being they are both based around South Africa.

Well that was a nice little journey. If you were not aware of the ,comment to which I was referring to:
Anonymous said...
only got to 2 minutes, but your mother is singing on Sunday at the market, perhaps this will inspire something other than the dreaded carols. But then again she is doing the wedding on Saturday so I will update, either the Healesville Howlers or 'the hills are alive with the sound of log trucks and open throated two wheel road bikes' or perhaps the 'friends of the gang gang parrot' choir, sponsored by Friends of the Earth. The sound of protestors being crunched while chained to the log trucks,a new protest sound. Another possibility, the Lilydale Station and copying being the big compliment of originality plan for the Lilydale Railway Station Choir. Keep studying..."

My mother, despite what my father may appear to suggest in that comment is an amazing singer. Fantastic range and really missed her calling when deciding not to pursue this or take her position up at NIDA. My father, also thinks this, so I am not sure why his making reference to gang-gang parrots. I think the key point of this comment was that the Choir Mum recently decided to join (a very small one so she can't make a business appointment and not go as he absence is duly noted) was singing this weekend. Her debut, however, was not at the Sunday Market (that isn't for a while) rather it was at a Wedding. At the wedding they were singing a numerous pieces, including one of my favorites John Rutter's For the Beauty of the Earth. The rest was obviously commentary on what is happening up at Healesville, but so not related to my Mother's singing.

Apparently, the performance went well.

Excitement Plus

The previous post made reference to something, other than new audience members to the blog, that excited me. I should actually qualify that and say I am very excited, lucky and incredibly grateful of the new addition to my life. No matter how hard I try, grammatically, that sentence will not work. I am probably so infactuated it is a long term relationship you are looking at here.

I was rather devastated a few weeks back, when my dearly adored Compaq computer, a rather elderly, yet cared for, laptop decided it couldn't deal with me anymore. While the relationship was good, it obviously wasn't going to stand the test of time.

It was heavy and I lagged it to uni. It was temperamental when I tried to connect to the wireless system. Introduced to the market at the time of broadband this was achievable. However, as you are aware old dogs and new tricks are seldom compatible. Nonetheless, the dear was loyal and faithful, until it had enough.

Despite it's weight, the fact it wasn't new and often looked antiquated next to some of the pocket rockets at Bond, I did care for it. Dear was incredibly useful, helpful and provided me with hours of frivolous entertainment (photos, newspapers, strawberrynet, journals, friends access to friends awake/asleep on the other side of the globe, emails, websites, shopping, downloadable post-it notes, stationary all at the click of a button.) It housed my many weeks of itunes data and the many photos I had collated over the last few years. Oh yes, and some rather useful, and important university work.

I was obviously too demanding of the dear. The signs were there, however, I turned 'a blind eye to it all.' When I couldn't put the computer on my lap, because of the heat radiating out of the bottom of it, I should have sensed something more (than the increase in temperature.) Yes, the fan had decided enough was enough. I was sad, and I must confess there were tears. These may have been shed because of the two years of law work possibly lost(haphazardly updated at random moments of frustration) and/or because of my vast music collection. Initially, it was the thought that my university work had gone, perhaps permanently, but then the realization that those musical masterpieces I had spent days, weeks and confusing and humiliated moments attempting to secure, had potentially vanished provided the catalyst for a hysterical phone call to my Mum.

The poor dear is being dealt with. Alas, our relationship is a thing of the past. I quickly recognised it was time to move on.

Now, the new MacBook has entered my life. Apparently waiting for this Mac edition was the correct thing to do. This is what my self-confessed "computer geek" friend, Lauren Ross, informed me. With the intel due core processor 2, I have the luxury of both worlds, on the one computer. I can move from my Mac to my PC (running windows) by pressing a few buttons. A whole new world is unfolding. And yes, I am doing plenty of work. After re-reading this post, perhaps too much work. I am very lucky, very appreciative, grateful and excited at this new addition to my life. Stay tuned for bigger, better and greater adventures, as I enter this new phase!

This morning

There has been a sighting; http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/comet-seen-across-Victoria/2006/11/28/1164476144999.html.

On a somewhat scarier note, I am currently sitting in the library (for a change.) I am sitting in the 'discussion area,' I have a different name for it. Across from me are two, I would presume, younger students. They may have finished school last year. They are talking about 'global warming.' Presumably, they are writing a paper or presentation. Apparently, the male thinks 'global warming' is 'the world heating up and people getting sunburnt really easily.' Well yes, but No No No. The girl thinks 'global warming' is 'pish posh.' Translated; she doesn't believe in it, or alternatively that it exists, or is taking place. Well, of course it's quite normal for there to be icebergs sightings of the south coast of New Zealand. That's only the beginning.......Oh and the person who 'doesn't like hippies' just walked past. He also told me once I looked like a person who owned cats. I am putting my headphones in now. That's enough. Thank heaven for music. I am going back to some time in the 1800s. Lovely.

I am glad I have a friend in Melbourne who deals with Robert Manne on a regular basis. I also think this gladness extends to the friends that can provide a succinct definition of global warming. Hey, they might even (for bonus points) provide you with a definition of green house gases. Better still they may provide suggestions and stimulating discussion highlighting the ways that global warming should be dealt with by inaudible, members of society, governments, multinationals..... I also am happy that I have numerous friends who have a greater grip on reality that other individuals in this world. They believe the world is bigger and better than them, that people are entitled to have different opinions and they enjoy helping and doing things for other people. Sometimes I have to remind myself how lucky I am really am!

I have received a Healesville update. The dining room at the Healesville Hotel is what the critics say, plus more. I've been to the pub 'counter meal' section, that was sufficient. There is currently a residential revolt occurring at Dowd Road. There are 'unnecessary' road expansions, and then there is town planning and VCAT.

Currently, I am a little nervous. The readership of this blog is expanding. I think this is what I wanted? However, I take forever and a day to proof read. Unfortunately, I really am a Virgo, with all this entails. I am attempting to curb perfectionist tendencies. The problem, however, is I am posting blogs that I return to re-read and find numerous errors. I don't like this. The pressure is on. I don't like forcing this expanding audience to witness my poor spelling, grammar, and editing skills.


That picture above would be the Hideout.

My world

This is my new friend. Well only a photo of what he sort of looks like. It's not my actual friend bu they are very similar. For about the last week when I've been at the hideout he has been looking at me through the window. He keeps coming back to visit. I wish I could take a photo of him, alas no camera. For those of not familiar with this member of the Kingfisher family, you can read more about him here. The scientific classification is located here. There are also lady Kookaburras, however, this one is male. Upon colonisation this bird was labeled a laughing jackass, no joke. It really has a hysterical laugh. Now its traditional name is used.

Today my friend has been sitting outside the window looking at me for the last 20 minutes. Normally he flys to a few different spots and looks for food. He focuses on the ground. I normally try to look where he is looking, for reasons later to be divulged. This time he is just looking into the window (well this is what I tell myself.) Apart from their laugh and good nature we really like these birds around here; they eat these. We think there may be a problem with the copper variety here. Accordingly, we are taking precautions. I was going to try and befriend these, Dad advised me against it. We've made sure the local hospital is well equipped to deal with any potential disaster. Apparently, this species threatened (and not just by my Mum) hence conservations efforts have been initiated. If it wasn't for some vague knowledge about eco-systems and so forth I would be saying we should kill em' all. Thankyou Mr Malcolm.


On race wear: http://blogs.theage.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/archives/2006/11/what_price_clea.html

on the weather in Melbourne:

• http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/spring-put-on-ice/2006/11/15/1163266585600.html
• http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/november-rain-hail--and-snow/2006/11/14/1163266529224.html
• http://www.theage.com.au/news/NATIONAL/Snow-predicted-in-vic-as-summer-looms/2006/11/14/1163266531578.html
• http://www.theage.com.au/news/breaking-news/snow-falls-in-parts-of-Victoria/2006/11/15/1163266596496.html
• but a few days ago this is what they had to say: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rain-welcome-but-worries-aplenty/2006/11/12/1163266413569.html

The election, yes the state election:
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/11/14/1163266550934.html
I'm actually a bit over this whole thing so that's why I haven't said too much. I am passionate about Victoria but it seems it's going to the dogs either way. Lucky it's full of great people, and some good politicians they just don't have a very loud voice, or would that be good publicists.

Stay tuned for my Mother, the spoil sport.

Some Websites

Georgie Wharton's website. I've met her. She is a fantastic artist. Check out the begining of what I predict to be an international phenomenon: www.hotcards.com.au

Oh this shop is fantastic. I can't go very often as it is addictive. Cait and Tori, this is a must for your Mum: www.zettaflorence.com.au/ . Well actually the shop is fantastic but the website is pitched at a different audience...they have the most beautiful and delightful cards, stationary, wrapping paper, magnets....but that discription just doesn't give it justice! Oh dear. It's in Brunswick Street. It's a must do in Melbourne.


something unequivocal

• www.metmuseum.org
• www.planetfurniture.com.au
• www.eco-minds.bayer.com
• www.cleanocean.org
• www.museum.vic.gov.au

and of course equivocal....

• www.perelachaise.com
• www.cia.gov
• www.sgaonline.org.au ( like the idea, but not down with the whole Gardening thing yet)
• www.kianh.org.uk (unequivocally Sarah)
• www.mcg.org.au

Back at Law School: the good, the bad and the down-right unfair

some of you were lucky, or unlucky, to view a list of the good, the bad and the down right unfair according to Emm,now back at law school. It has been removed.

In exordium

In the beginning....

In the beginning I had no idea what a blog was. This was rectified. I have vaguely grasped what constitutes a blog, I have been banned from them, criticised on them, encouraged to interact with them and the list continues....

In a vain attempt to provide and contribute to the musings, melodramas, mysteries and mutterings that take place around me I have decided to make a hesitant entry into the blogging world. My parents will be furious...I should be studying for examinations...What a fantastic way to procrastinate.

What nature the commentary on this blog take will basically be dictated by what I feel like discussing. This may be travel ideas and hints, trivia, thoughts on the day, interviews with selected people, guest appearances and comments on daily life, law school, living with my baby brother, friends, others, work, global issues and anything else that happens to infuriate, entertain or bother me. It may, however, die a dismal death and not evolve far beyond this post!