First Test of the Year

I've just come back from my first test of the year.  This week is only the 4th week in but the only study I did for it was about half an hour before bed last night.  This one was on microbiology and included things like how they multiply, different types, energy sources and reproduction techniques.  Once again speaking to some of the other people who took the exam makes me think I could have done better although I'll just have to wait and see when the results come out.

Coke

The price of coke went up in the uni vending machines today.  Before it was $2.40 for a 600mL and now there has been a massive jump up to $2.80.  It may sound small but for a student it is a massive rise.  Looks like it's being priced out of my market.

Library Shelver Interview

I've just come back from an interview to become a shelver at the USC library. I applied for it last week and didn’t really expect to hear anything back from them. After all, you look at the pay scales and see that people under 21 will get paid $10 an hour while those over 21 get pad $20. There are thousands of kids under 21 at the uni so I’m sure that a lot of them applied for the position. That was why I was surprised to get the call. It’s only 4 – 8 hours a week but it would be great if I got it. There is only one position and 200 people applied. Out of that I believe that they interviewed around 15. I went for the interview where they told me what they expected and asked me a couple of questions about how I would conduct myself if I was working there. Then there was a shelving test where I had to put a load of books in order and remove those that were for the reserved section. That’s where I always get worried. They were timing it so I had to be quick but I also had to stick them in the correct order. I think I did it okay although I only checked once. I know it’s easier to say but it was an interview and I felt nervous as I had to do it in a really fast time. Fingers crossed though! Now I just have to wait and see.

NB - I’ve just found out I didn’t get the position. I was told that I interviewed very well but made two mistakes with the shelving and only scored 28 out of 30. There was someone else who put everything in its place correctly so they were offered the position. Never mind… looks like it did come down to me.

Starting Class

My classes have now all started. I’m doing four all up, Environmental Planning and Law, Justice and the Australian Legal System, Health Promotion Needs Assessment and Planning, and Microbiology. They are all pretty heavy going and it seems like there will be a lot more work with these subjects than there was with some of the ones I did last semester. So far the planning subject is the most confusing one. I’ve been to two lectures and a tutorial and so far haven’t understood a word. It seems the subject, from what I gather by speaking to others taking the class, is about the merits of the planning system and how it tries to allow for both environmentally sustainable development and development that is environmentally sustainable. Believe me these are two totally different things despite sounding almost identical. If you read the definitions of the planning act they actually have these listed as two separate ideas or concepts. As I say, it’s quite confusing.

Back to Varsity

I’ve now been back in Varsity Apartments for a week after leaving for the holiday break last year. Uni started this week and so I’ve been heading to the lectures and tutorials of my new subjects. The return back to study has been quite uneventful. This semester I’m taking four different subjects. Environmental Planning and Law, Justice and the Australian Legal System, Health Promotion Planning and Assessment and Microbiology. Even though the first week has just finished, both of the lectures for my legal subjects were pretty heavy going. Even more so than microbiology. Acts and legislation isn’t that exciting at the best of times. The lectures consisted of the teacher explaining different sections of the planning act or how legislation gives power to enforcement agencies, however, if the words ‘where possible’ or ‘when possible’ are in there, a loophole exists that any solicitor or lawyer can get out of. This year I’m sure will be tougher than the last so I’m going to have to buckle down. I won’t be able to leave any until a couple of days before. Now I’ve just got to put my mind to it.

Laura and Paul's Wedding

Laura and Paul are now married and I went to their wedding as a groomsman.  I flew straight to Melbourne from Alice Springs a couple of days before the event.  Those days were pretty busy.  There were a few hiccups along the way but it all worked out well.  The wedding was held at a the registry offices with the reception at the grand Windsor Hotel a short walk from the registry offices. The day went off without a hitch and before you knew it we were outside on the steps getting our photographs taken.  The reception meal was quite grand but very tasty.  Before I knew it the day was over.  The next day Laura and Paul left for their honeymoon in Tasmania and Mum, Dad and me drove back to Brisbane via Bega, which is on the south coast of New South Wales, to visit Lewis.

Lake Broadwater

For the last couple of days I've been out at Lake Broadwater looking for Pale-headed snakes. That was the main species that Stewart wanted to see so I thought I'd tag along and see what I could see. It's quite fun going out there and finding things that most people will never get the chance to see. We went out there with Lee who is also interested in reptiles. After getting out there and then setting up camp we headed out to the northern part of the lake to see what we could find doing a bit of spotlighting. We were looking for pale-headed snakes which go out hunting on trees around the area at night. After 3 hours of spotlighting we'd only managed to find geckos and frogs. There wasn't a snake in sight. After a walking for what seemed an age Lee and I got bored with out findings and convinced Stewart (quite easily) to go out for a drive and see what we can find. I've found that that is the best way to find reptiles. We were on the road for about 5 minutes when we came upon our first snake. It was crossing the road and heading towards the lake. Stewart was pretty excited when he jumped out and found that it was a pale-headed snake. Unfortunatly though that was to be our only snake of the night. Around 11 o'clock we headed back to camp happy with our find. The next day consisted of an early morning due to the many cockatoos that were flying around the camp site. Their screeching lasted from just before dawn which is around 5 o'clock until around 8 o'clock. By that time it was pretty warm and they all left the camp site to look for a shady spot and probably rest their voices for the afternoon performance and the next morning.

On the second day we found a lace monitor, bearded dragon, a couple more geckos, skinks and frogs and killed about 10 000 mosquitos that seemed to be drawn towards us when ever we stepped into a shady area. That night we went out for a drive but because it got quite cool at night there was nothing other than a few frogs out. Even so it was a good trip out there as we found the pale-headed snake that we wanted to see although only managed to see a dead grey snake that had been killed on the road. Unfortunalty the one that was hit was gravid and so had about 8 little babies scattered around and coming out of her. It was not a pretty sight. The next day we drove straight home as I had to be back in the afternoon.

New Years 2009

It’s new years day today. The first day of another year. Another year of unchanging days. The same monotonous things will be happening as they did all last year and the year before that. I seem to say that every year. This year I’m going to have to really try and change things!

Christmas 2008

Christmas has now come and gone for another year. This year was another quiet one as Mum had to work in the afternoon. Even so, in the morning we had a breakfast/brunch after opening the presents under the tree and then watched a few videos in the afternoon. It was a good day.

Sea Otters gambolling in the wild, wild surf

I must say that I’ve read some weird books in my time but I’ve just finished reading one that must take the cake. I started reading the novel two days ago and have just finished reading the 260 or so pages of the oddest storey I’ve read (including those with characters such as Orks or Wizards)! This story by John Bennett involved a 16 year old kid who’s just sat his ‘A’ levels. He finds an odd plastic statue in a 99p shop. The statue, a balding man shagging a pink, glittery otter, intrigues him so much that he flies around the world trying to find out why it was made. It was written the way a 16 year old would speak so it took a little getting used to, even more than the implausible and ridiculous journey he goes on. The book was total crap, but the odd thing was that I couldn’t stop reading it. Sea Otters gambolling in the wild, wild surf certainly makes me think though. It would be great to just get up one morning and head away from everything on some pointless quest. Maybe I just need a holiday!