I’m such a tuna girl. My mum will attest that I used to live on it. Today I had some avocado (a quarter on dietitian’s advice – keeping it yummy but not too much fat), some leftover mushrooms, the tomato was bought it a kilo bag, and the tuna in a huge box. Bargain. (Lack of feta cheese in there… boo!)

It would be even better if I had home grown tomatoes, but I’m not quite up to that as you can see:

My first tomato is nearly ripe, while the second one is only just sprouting. One day! :)

I’ve ordered my textbooks, have my unit outline for one subject – There’s close to fortnightly assessed items! This is for the first section of my mini research project… there’s a lit review due week 3! And I don’t even know my topic! *pressure*

I have my study leave mostly sorted, it looks like I’ll take fortnightly Friday mornings on study leave and a couple of hours to cover the rest of the day on flex – which I’m already starting to build!

Lots of new things this term – I’ve been allocated 7 classes at the special primary school, which will be fun and challenging – One thing I’ll have to get my head back into is mealtime management/swallowing assessments. I know it, I just haven’t done it for awhile now.

Another good thing will be getting to trial communication devices, like the DynaVox V, which is so cool for a little nerdling like me ;) I would totally get it in Pink if I ever needed one!

Actually, and I think I’ve posted about it before, one of the coolest AAC devices out there is the Proloquo2Go, a must see for you iphone nerds out there. It’s basically and iphone/itouch with voice output software built in. Perfect size!

I think I had about 8 or ten dates, which is enough for my stomach to bear.

Some were really juicy

Some had a slight aniseed flavour (don’t think it was those above though, I was getting them mixed up!)

Apparently the dates my local health food shops stocks are Iranian. They’re nice enough, but not as juicy as some of the fresh ones yesterday, or the ones from the fruit shop.

Do you eat dates? I think they’re my favourite dried fruit :)

I managed to take my lunch each day (generally involving tuna, or leftover meat, with some salad and bread) but haven’t quite come to the not buying coffee or diet coke. Each day, I’ve bought either a soy latte or a diet coke. It’s more for the break, about 3 in the afternoon I’ve needed to escape work for a wander, and have generally come back from the shop with drink in hand.

Perhaps next week, I can look at ways of getting that headspace without coming back caffeinated?

Queens University researchers have discovered the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element, Governmentium (symbol=Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant
deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.

These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called pillocks. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.

A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from 4 days to 4 years to complete. Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2 to 6 years. It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.

In fact, Governmentium’s mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that
Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass. When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium (symbol=Ad), an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium, since it has half as many pillocks but twice as many morons

Speaking of Chemistry – Rish cooked dinner tonight :)

We take safety seriously.

So the eyes then look to me. NO, it’s not my time.

Fed Square was packed on Friday night for the men’s semi-final for the tennis.

The year we were booked into Chocolate Buddha in Federation Square Melbourne. They technically don’t do a banquet, but the very attentive waitress organised one for us. She was also vey good at paying attention to those with food allergies and intolerances – including among the group MSG, peanuts and dairy.

The stated us off with the beans, which we munched away on. So much green!


The tempura was good. Not too battery or oily :)

Awesome rolls.

There were several more dished to share, and we were so stuffed! Not sure how we fitted this steak in at the end!

A few of us went off to the Mitre Tavern in Bank Place after that, rather than straight to bed – was surprised when last drinks were called at 11:20, with the staff starting to flick the lights at 11:30pm. This is Melbourne, not Newcastle :P Oh well, we were staying about 20m away, so off to bed!

I did remember to take my lunch… gotta make a dent into my tuna supply. I bought 36 tins of tuna yesterday – $1 each for Greenseas in bulk boxes of 12? Can’t say no to that! (and apparently you can earn points and win stuff with them this month too! Gotta get entering those codes!)

Drank my first diet coke in a fortnight after lunch today (What’s that I said about giving up? Hard when I have a pile of reports to get out before the end of the week and my brain isn’t warmed up yet! Maybe fish oil would better help me concentrate? And help my knees? They kept rambling an about it at the retreat.)

Was going to go do a cardio session this afternoon, but ended up in Pump class, because I forgot my earbuds. Good fun :) But things will hurt in the morning! Better get up for an early walk to warm my joints through!

Febusave is an ANZ bank led campaign to get women looking at their finances and what they could be saving towards with a little better money management. On the site they have tips and education on savings and finances. Another site they have going is SmartyPig which allows you to open a dedicated account to save towards your goal. You can make transfers, and friends and family can help you out along the way!

What am I saving for? Flights to Germany this Summer!

(no idea what airline I’m going)

Rish has a conference, so why not tag along and see some of the country? :) I haven’t been there yet, so many things to see and do! (and save for!) I actually won’t be saving for the flights themselves, as they’ll go on my credit card as soon as I confirm my dates, and I have the cash to pay that off… more i’m saving for is for spending money, accommodation and so on.

It will be a nice way to finish my uni semester – it starts back next week, and will go through til mid May. I have my own conference to go to (back to Melbourne!).

Wish me luck? I’ll try to let you know how I’ve gone ;)

Scored myself the exit row window, with noone in the centre seat on the way down to Melbourne on Friday morning. Sweet! Quick on and off with only my hand luggage, too ;)

Apparently Qantas are trying to increase their recycling on planes, collecting the bottles separate to the food and other rubbish now. Got a juice and some Kez’s cookies on the way down. I ate the Honey and Macadamia one, and alas threw away the chocolate.

The return flight last night was packed, with very little time for the dinner service. Lucky for me, I’d requested a Vegan meal, so as to avoid the cheese and other potential things that wouldn’t agree with me.

I scored a roast Mediterranean vege sandwich on 9 grain, and a cute little Quinoa flour cake. And was served before my row mates who suffered through their ham and cheese on dry brown bread with a minny toblerone. No wine service on the weekend CityFlyers, so I stuck with the water.

The boys cooked up a storm..

I wore Australian-made – Cue dress, and not Oz made but still Aussie as THONGS!

Fed the Swans

The kids REALLY struggled with their ice creams. She ended up dropping half the choc topping on the ground :(

I got a little sunburned, mostly where I didn’t get enough sunscreen around and under the straps on my dress. High high UV that day… so hard to stay cool!

Finished the day with a run around the bridges with Rish. 5k, and back under 30mins (29:49)! Even with the wind. eeps.

With the wind farm in the distance. Gorgeous.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row

We repotted the garden on the weekend, added some fertilizers, and away we go!

Strawberry plant

Basil and Tomato

Saturday Dinner.

Of course, it’s even better to get Rish out on the BBQ :) That’s where salmon, steaks and sausages come in!

Enjoyed a few glasses of wine… retoxing a little after my week away ;) The wine’s a sparkling sav blanc, and the strawberries tasted awesome after soaking in it ;) Picked those up for less than $2 a punnet at Aldi.

Last night I made the cherry tomato and feta tarts from the Golden Door cookbook :) Once I figured out defrosting the pastry they were nice and simple. Next step will be finding a place to buy frozen egg white here in Canberra so Rish doesn’t have to get through so many yolks!

Post-gym smoothie. :) Frozen berries, Ladybird Soy Protein, So Good, Jalna Greek yoghurt and ice.

A week of eating delicious and healthy food, having spa treatments and waking at six for Tai Chi and a brisk 5.4km walk before breakfast :)

Loved it.

Yes, I bought the cookbook. I have also not had caffeine (including diet coke!) since the maccas stop on the drive up…

The rest of my pics are here at Flickr. Maybe if I cut out the diet cokes and coffees, I can afford to go back next year? :p

Contraband Items
Mobile phones (for use in your room only)
Alcohol
Tobacco
Drugs (not prescription)
Food (they will feed me there, don’t worry!)
Sweets
Coffee/Tea

See you on the other side!

And I can’t believe I’m putting this here :p
India Foxtrot Yankee Oscar Uniform Charlie Alpha November Uniform November Delta Echo Romeo Sierra Tango Alpha November Delta Tango Hotel India Sierra, Charlie Oscar Papa Yankee Alpha November Delta Papa Alpha Sierra Tango Echo India Tango Tango Oscar Yankee Oscar Uniform Romeo Lima India Victor Echo Juliet Oscar Uniform Romeo November Alpha Lima/Bravo Lima Oscar Golf.0:) Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Mike Echo Mike Echo.

There’s something about St Kilda, and making yourself ill on creamy cakes.

A slightly overcast day, but gorgeous!

I really like the millions of years you can see in the lines on the rocks and cliff faces. I never quite “got it” when it came to the rock layers in highschool geology, but I love to see it, and try to contemplate the time frames!

Another awesome part is the erosion and the caves:

Make that another “Awesome place in Australia” that I’ve now seen :) Getting there!