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Tehe! I love the on this day feature of my blog ... I'm sure it's far more entertaining and interesting for me than anyone else, but I love reading about what I was up to at the same time in previous years. Today, there's a post from last year about the goat that was found on the top of a building in our main street. I commented that the "fire brigade couldn't coax it down, so they ended up getting a dog catcher" ... so funny, because I now know the "dog catcher" mentioned ... he's in my SES group, team leader of the group I went up to Innisfail with. How bizarre.
I love that Flickr makes it so simple to have photos published all over the world! I've just had yet another of my photos used in a publication. This time it's the Australian WWF newsletter, and one of my pictures after Cyclone Larry. Just recently I had three photos included in a travel guide for Salzburg, and before that a photo of Brussels, and another of Santa Monica in other travel guides. There's something kind of fun about seeing your own photos in something official or commercial looking. ;)
I've also had loads of my Guide photos used lately too ... on the Christmas card last year, in the state magazine, on the Annual Report, on folders and so forth, even on the biscuit boxes this year! Yup ... if you buy a box of plain Guide biscuits in Queensland, one of my photos is on the box! Very exciting.
Meanwhile, I've been very slack at posting, and I'm more than aware ... but frantically trying to get things organised for the state magazine which has to go to print early next week, so I'm far too busy at the moment. I am however on holidays, although it doesn't really feel like it yet. Exams are over though, and I have no need to think about uni again for another 3 1/2 weeks. Very nice! The last ICT exam was incredibly dodgy, and assessed so much random nonsense that didn't have any relevance at all the unit outcomes or anything we're ever likely to know, but it was easy enough and I'm sure I did fine, so hardly worth complaining.
Last night I went to the Powerhouse with Leigh and Narelle to see Judith Lucy ... very funny, but why is it that it didn't occur to me until I was sitting in my seat ten minutes into the show that I can't stand the sound of her voice!? Really, bad timing! She's awful to listen to, despite being entertaining, and I was trapped for the duration of the show. For a while I was seriously wondering what had ever inspired me to go to the show. Not only does she whine, but the way she talks contributes half the humour ... so when the whining gets old, the humour is significantly diminished. Thankfully she got funnier, and despite the whining the show was certainly enjoyable. I think her voice is still stuck in my head though! Arghh!
Anyway, back to editing! Always so much to do.
That is what it's all about. It doesn't get any more exciting than that. Three goals in the final eight minutes ... beyond incredible. Couldn't have dared to hope for a result that good. Wow!
I drove home last night with the ridiculously fabulous feeling that I was on holidays already! I'm not exactly yet, but I kind of feel like I am. Our Psych exam yesterday morning was horrible. Basically everyone seems to be in agreement on that fact, at least. One of the worst exams I think I've had to do ... and I went into it feeling relatively prepared and perhaps not confident, but at least capable. The multiple choice questions all required thought and consideration, and there wasn't anywhere near enough time to answer the essay question. I could have done with another hour at least to make a decent attempt at responding to it. The essay question was definitely the worse ... I pity the people marking the exams.
Anyway, I survived it I guess, and while I didn't exactly finish it, at least it's over and I don't have to think about it anymore. Not too concerned anyway, as I was already sitting on 51% in the subject, so even if I only get just over half of the 40 marks the exam is worth, I may still be able to scrape a 6. Either way I'm passing the subject, so nothing really to worry about there.
After the horrible exam experience, and a chance to catch up with loads of people I hadn't seen since before prac, I then settled in to the computer lab with my science partner to work on our scary assignment due Tuesday. We worked so consciensiously all day ... it was awfully impressive!! Didn't even stop for lunch or dinner or coffee breaks or anything! Sometime after 8pm we finished up, having all but completed the assignment. Yay! All that was left to do was a bit of tidying up and making things pretty, a final proofread, and then submitting it Tuesday. Thus explaining the feeling that holidays had arrived.
After a bit of playing around this afternoon, the prettying and proofreading is now done, and all is ready to hand in. Such a relief! So now, all that's left is our ICT exam Thursday which is far from concerning me. It's only worth 30%, and I'm already sitting on 63% for the subject ... I'll study a bit on Wednesday, but I am struggling a little to find the motivation. I guess I should really ... but that's a job for another day. In the meantime, I can relax, and pretend the holidays have begun already. Lovely feeling. :) Time to start thinking about how I will fill four glorious weeks before Semester 2 begins.
Meanwhile, I'm suffering from some rather serious homesickness for London at the moment. Not sure what it is exactly ... but I'm missing the place so much right now. I was chatting to Kate earlier, and she's currently working in Notting Hill - as I type this I suspect she's probably wandering around the Science Museum with the kids she's looking after. I was listening to music earlier that reminded me of places in London. I've been chatting to friends in London all afternoon. I found myself watching videos taken in London earlier ... lots of the kids playing, some travel videos, the infamous lift adventure in Leicester Square.
I guess it's all been buildling up a bit too. I watched England play in the World Cup last night ... my support is going to have to go to England after Australia. Ooh I saw The Da Vinci Code the other night, and that certainly stirred up some homesickness. Even just seeing the red phone boxes and the met police cars had me excited. Also ran into a guy I used to work with, and he and his wife were over in London not long after I left ... so we were talking about what we all did over there. More memories. A couple of weeks ago we did First Aid training at SES ... loads of London memories came out of that. Everything seems to be reminding me of how much I miss London at the moment.
So desperately want to go over and visit everyone again. Why do flights to the other side of the world have to be so expensive? Why does Australia have to be so far from everywhere? I wonder if I can use the four glorious weeks of holidays coming up to work hard and save some money. Hmm. May be worth investigating I think. Meanwhile, I should get some sleep. Late night planned tomorrow ... hopefully heading out to watch the football somewhere a little more exciting. Lucky I don't have an exam Tuesday!
I'm going to see Mark Sholtez! Yay! Ticketek opened earlier than expected - I just booked tickets ... front row! How exciting. It's been a while since I've sat front row for something. Should be fun! Also going to see Judith Lucy ... sure to be entertaining. At the Powerhouse ... always fun. Add that to Robbie and The Boy From Oz, and I'm starting to feel a bit better about the number of shows I'm seeing. Just need to keep up the habit now!
September 16 ... a little over three months and the sixth season of Gilmore Girls will be available on DVD. Terribly exciting! I have no idea what happens during Season Six, and plan on keeping it that way until my DVDs arrive and watch for myself ... so the sooner that happens the better! Can't wait to find out all the Stars Hollow news.
As usually seems to happen during exam block, I've taken to watching episodes of Gilmore Girls during study breaks ... lunch, dinner, prior to getting started for the day, after achieving a set amount of study ... any excuse really! Not sure it's an overly wise plan, each episode averaging around 43 minutes. It certainly helps with the whole relaxation goal though ... it's just always dreadfully tempting to just keep watching episode after episode. I'm now one episode off finishing the fifth season again. Not looking forward to the wait.
Okay, back to exam prep. So over this semester ... I'm ready for the holidays to be here already!
It's ridiculous how distracting a little thing like GETTING TICKETS FOR THE ROBBIE WILLIAMS CONCERT can be when one is trying so awfully conscientiously to study for exams. I'm so excited! And so completely distracted from all things study related. All I want to do is sit here listening to Robbie, while ignoring anything remotely study related. Evil study. Yay for Robbie! :)
I'm trying so hard to avoid procrastinating, and study dedicatedly (is that a word?) like I should be. I have a major exam on Saturday, and it requires serious preparation. Despite all good intentions though, it's dreadfully hard to stay on task for long periods of time. I'm trying ... and I'm really not doing too badly. I've certainly done worse in the past. But there's so much to distract me. Even listening to music is distracting me ... I seem to have become obsessed with lyrics, and ensuring my attempts to sing along are somewhat true to the song. Silly, pointless distraction. So typical of exam block.
During one such search for lyrics, I noticed this in the album booklet of the latest Jamie Cullum CD. So funny ....
'I still take the tube, because it's the easiest way to get around London,' he explains. 'But a while ago, when the special, edition of Twentysomething had just come out, I was in my local tube station standing on the platform. I was reading a book and this guy was looking at me very strangely. It turned out I was standing in front of this 15-foot advert which had the photo of me jumping over the piano. I actually said to the guy "I don't believe that's happened..." But I think that shows how clueless I am. I really think I can carry on living this totally normal life, and in the last year I think I've proved that I can.'
Okay, back to reading about multiple intelligences and individual learning and thinking differences. It's actually rather interesting ... I should be able to stay on task far better than I am. How frustrating.
I just watched the final episode of Blue Heelers. First episode I've seen since before I left for England. Rather amusing, as I barely knew any of the characters. I knew Tom obviously, and Chris, and Jonesy ... that was about it. Ooh, Falcon-Price and Draper made appearances ... too funny. And Cooper was back ... equally amusing. Everyone else was new though to me though. Seemed a bit strange to see all these strangers in a strange office wrapping things up for a show that used to be so familiar to me. The end of an era perhaps? Who'd have thought they'd make it to 12 years. 510 episodes. That's quite an achievement.
They had a bit at the end .... a compilation of memorable moments throughout the series. It brought back some memories. Gold and Fool's Gold - so exciting at the time. All the coppers I remember - although Wayne seemed to be forgotten! So sad. They showed Brady Jackson! Too funny. I've seen that episode way too many times. The shot of Williamstown at the end of tonight's episode excited me a little ... I miss that place! And I was only there in March. I have to admit, I enjoyed watching tonight, despite the unfamiliarity. I was sad to see the padlock close on the front doors. And the bit at the end ... all the scenes that were completely unfamiliar to me - I was surprised by how many I didn't recognise - almost made me regret missing so much. Still can't have been the same as the old days with Maggie and PJ, and Nick, and even Wayne!
Anyway, that's enough about that. Currently watching the football. I'm so ready for the World Cup. Well, maybe not so much the unavoidable sleep deprivation and crazy sleep patterns, but the games will be good to see regardless! I've got my shirt - "It's not soccer mate ... it's football!" - love it! Plus my lovely green Socceroos tracksuit top - very nice! Definitely looking the part of a fan. Lovely to hear all the Aussies in NL singing Waltzing Matilda. Stirring up the patriotic feelings that surfaced while I was in England. Looking forward to seeing some of the other teams play too. Thank goodness for upcoming holidays!
Speaking of which ... 11 days until my last exam is over and my mid-year break begins. Not that I'm counting. Prac has now finished ... as much as I'll miss the kids, and miss being in the school environment, I can't deny I'm glad it's over. It was more exhausting than I realised at the time, and I'm not sure it was the best prac experience I could have hoped for. Disappointed we have to wait so long for our next prac now ... we're not back out again until Semester 2 next year. Seems like an awfully long time to wait. I'd love to get back into a school again sooner than that - hopefully I'll find the time to organise something voluntary. Before I can think about that though, I have two exams to prepare for (one in particular rather scary), plus a 50% assignment to finish off. No rest for the wicked!
I think I might head to bed, and watch the rest of the game from there. Definitely need to catch up on some sleep too ... I can feel myself getting sick and run down, and clearly don't have the time for that! Need to start blogging more often again too. Shocking effort on my part. Oops! Life is always too crazy ... must cut down on commitments. Mid-year resolution perhaps (do those exist?). 'Night!!