*bounce*
Hurrah! It is a Good Mail Day today - not only two letters from home, but a CD of photos and a bar of 99% Michel Cluizel chocolate (thanks belinda_egtdbp! thanks mawaridi! *hug*) and my new bankcard arrived. I also forgot to mention that while I was away, winikoff's MIV DVD arrived, yippee!!
My computer at my new office is still not fixed (network problems), so I'm "working" from home... that is, I seem to be posting to LJ. See, THIS is why I want to work in my office! The department freely permits (to the point of encouraging, almost) research staff to work from home as much as they like, but although I would have rejoiced in this for my old job in Melbourne, here it makes just as much sense to go in to work: my office is only just across the road (so it's like walking to the other end of the house), it's more spacious and comfortable (and better heated) than my room where I'd otherwise be working, I can make tea in the staffroom, and my officemate is friendly and good company. It figures that just when I don't want to work from home, I get a job that allows it liberally... but I'm not complaining. Except about the fact that my computer doesn't work yet.
Most of last week was spent enjoying my new-found financial freedom (in anticipation of getting paid... which might be unwise!) and hanging out with friends. I had my first ever "dinner party" on Friday night: I made sushi, demiurgician cooked pad thai, we heated up lots of mini spring rolls and made interesting boozy drinks, and then people brought extra food and drink so we had a most impressive spread. One lesson is that I do need to invest in some real crockery and cutlery; luckily Tara and Andy saved the day by bringing plastic cups, plates and forks, or we would have been eating with our fingers out of the saucepans and drinking from the bottle! But it was an excellent night.
Weekend was relaxing and lots of fun, as a result of which I got no work done whatsoever on my essays... meep. Must put in some quality time this week (and stop posting to LJ!) It looks like I will not be home for Xmas after all, as I have 25,000 words of essays due mid-January and really can't afford the time off. However, I am likely to come home for a couple of weeks after that, which means I may be able to make a brief appearance at AIV! as well as catch up with all of you back home.
Hope everyone is well, happy and enjoying the start of Melbourne summer. I haven't read my f-list properly in about a week, so if I've missed anything really important, please drop me an email (or even better write to me!) and let me know. Hugs to all!!
ETA: There is nothing to make one feel more warmfuzzy, nostalgic, a little homesick but happy, than reading a letter from home and paging through photos of all your friends at various fun events whilst nibbling on delicious dark chocolate. I love you guys :)
My computer at my new office is still not fixed (network problems), so I'm "working" from home... that is, I seem to be posting to LJ. See, THIS is why I want to work in my office! The department freely permits (to the point of encouraging, almost) research staff to work from home as much as they like, but although I would have rejoiced in this for my old job in Melbourne, here it makes just as much sense to go in to work: my office is only just across the road (so it's like walking to the other end of the house), it's more spacious and comfortable (and better heated) than my room where I'd otherwise be working, I can make tea in the staffroom, and my officemate is friendly and good company. It figures that just when I don't want to work from home, I get a job that allows it liberally... but I'm not complaining. Except about the fact that my computer doesn't work yet.
Most of last week was spent enjoying my new-found financial freedom (in anticipation of getting paid... which might be unwise!) and hanging out with friends. I had my first ever "dinner party" on Friday night: I made sushi, demiurgician cooked pad thai, we heated up lots of mini spring rolls and made interesting boozy drinks, and then people brought extra food and drink so we had a most impressive spread. One lesson is that I do need to invest in some real crockery and cutlery; luckily Tara and Andy saved the day by bringing plastic cups, plates and forks, or we would have been eating with our fingers out of the saucepans and drinking from the bottle! But it was an excellent night.
Weekend was relaxing and lots of fun, as a result of which I got no work done whatsoever on my essays... meep. Must put in some quality time this week (and stop posting to LJ!) It looks like I will not be home for Xmas after all, as I have 25,000 words of essays due mid-January and really can't afford the time off. However, I am likely to come home for a couple of weeks after that, which means I may be able to make a brief appearance at AIV! as well as catch up with all of you back home.
Hope everyone is well, happy and enjoying the start of Melbourne summer. I haven't read my f-list properly in about a week, so if I've missed anything really important, please drop me an email (or even better write to me!) and let me know. Hugs to all!!
ETA: There is nothing to make one feel more warmfuzzy, nostalgic, a little homesick but happy, than reading a letter from home and paging through photos of all your friends at various fun events whilst nibbling on delicious dark chocolate. I love you guys :)