Finishing Uni

It's official! I've passed my Bachelor of Science (Environment and Health) degree.

It's such a relief for it to be over and I'm very glad to see that I'd passed everything. I was worried it might be close for Health Promotion Settings as I just scraped by with the first assignment (which was worth 20%). Now I've just got to focus on my job now. I might go back to uni next year. I'd still like to study something else, maybe do a masters if I can. I'll just have to see how it goes. For now though, I'm just going to relax.

Flat Photos

The front door of my flat. Number 27 on the first floor.

The lounge area.

The Kitchen (more of a kitchette I guess).

The bedroom.

The ensuite.

The views of the range is right outside my window.

Here today, knicked tomorrow

Last night was the second night that I spent in my new place. I spend the evening cataloguing the many changes to the inspection report that the property manager did not include. I don't think that she actually inspected the flat since the last person moved in as there were some rather big changes. It was a quiet and unevenful evening. Or at least I thought it was. This morning when I left the flat I looked up at the hills. They were sparkling a burnt orange that is so common for the range. It was quite a lovely sight. My eyes moved down the range, to the stairs and I started to walk towards them. My eyes moved down to my bike. Actually, they didn't. I should say that my eyes moved down to where I'd left my bike the previous evening. My eyes moved down to where my bike should have been this morning. It wasn't there. The previous evening I'd chained the bike up to the railings. Someone had obviously been able to bust the lock on my chain and then knicked my bike. It appeared that none of the other bikes outside any of the other units had been touched. It was just mine. I'd like to say that I was suprised, outraged and offended by the theft. The truth though was that I wasn't in the least bit surprised. It was not a shock. While I was mildly annoyed it was due more to the inconvenience of having to walk to work in the hot sun. Alice Springs is no longer a safe town. I'd been hearing people tell me this ever since I'd arrived. The guy I replaced had two push bikes and one motorbike stolen in the three or so years he was in town. It was almost expected. I don't hold much hope of ever seeing it again. Not that the person who took it will probably hold on to it. They probably just took it, rode it for a short distance and then dumped it somewhere. When I bring my car out here I'll have to make sure it has full insurance. As for another bike. I won't be getting one any time soon. Instead I'm thinking that I should just buy some rollerblades instead. That way I can lock them up in my apartment at night. Welcome to Alice Springs!

From Hong to the Hills.

Today I finally moved the last of my stuff from the departmental house in Hong Street into my new flat. One suitcase, one large backpack, two small backpacks, five boxes, two crates, six plastic bags and I left the partridge in the pear tree as I couldn't be arsed carrying it up the stairs. My flat is on the first floor. It's basically one big room that is cut in two (by a wardrobe) with a bathroom off to one side. It is semi-furnished with a sofa, dining table, bed, fridge, etc. It's big enough for me although now I've got to go shopping for more things to fill it with. First on the list is a massive wide screen digital LCD television and xbox. Of course, with only a push bike to carry things on I think I might have to leave that until after Christmas when I have my car out here. Might make things a bit easier.

Little-button Quail (Turnix velox)

Button Quail, originally uploaded by Ryan McLean.

He may be have a funny hair style, but he's as cute as a button.

Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus)

Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus), originally uploaded by Ryan McLean.

It may be called horridus, but really it's quite cute.

My first day as an EHO

Today the culmination of three years of university study. Today I began my new career as an Environmental Health Officer. Actually, today was like many others that I've had in the four months or so that I've been here with the exception that I'm now responsible for sampling of vector insects in areas of high risk in Alice Springs. That basically means that I go out to the swamp and set traps for mozzies. After I'd sent them up to Darwin it was back to my usual administration role. I'll be doing the two jobs for a little while while I'm learning what I'm supposed to do as an EHO. Over the next couple of weeks I'll also be going out on inspections with the others in the office. Now for the steep learning curve, let's hope I can make it up!