I’m sitting here bopping away to a bit of Powderfinger on my first burnt CD on the new computer system. It’s so quick and easy, I think I can wait for the iPod a little bit longer. On the weekend I also burnt my first DVD, making Ross a copy of the NZ movie “Heavenly Creatures” which worked perfectly well, but I only had a single layer disc which meant that in playback, you can’t remove the subtitles. These were just an experiment but it seems that all is working well and I’ll be able to refine my process with a bit more experimentation. I collected the computer after my Masters class on Saturday(yes, all day from 8 till 5!) and by Sunday night had pretty much loaded everything back on including address book, favorites, various media players, bought and downloaded some anti-virus software and got my colours and settings all set up. It has two interesting bands of blue light on the front panel when it is on, so Cass has already dubbed it the “disco” computer!
This week has seen more parent nights and each night I have been at my course till 8 o’clock, so between work and study, there’s been precious little time for anything else. My course is on learning styles and the lecturer was previously a dancer in New York, so to say that kinesthetic learning style has been getting a workout is a huge understatement. We’ve been throwing sound balls, slap passing, singing and dancing: it’s really been quite bizarre. As well as this week’s lectures, we have been assigned 3 projects to complete before November, one of which has to be between 10 and 25 pages. Who said this was going to be easy?! I suppose I have to look at the slightly bright side: after completing these papers and doing a two day workshop this Friday and Saturday, I’ll have the grand total of 7 credit points, just 33 to go!
We have been getting all the semis in the football live or on minor delay, and that includes the AFL. It really is such a difference to just 3 years ago, when we were lucky if they’d play the grand final and then only with Chinese commentary. We’re very spoilt here at the moment…we just hope it will all continue. Another bit of news is that Jason’s marketplace, the fine food supermarket with a plethora of Aussie and other nationality’s delights is going to open a branch in the basement of Takashimaya department store, right here in Tienmu. This will be fantastic, although it might rule out one of our adventures: riding the scooter like madmen from the 101 building, freezer bag packed with ice and pies, in order to get them home before they de-frost.
Apart from another all Saturday workshop, this week should be a lot calmer than last. Cass continues to be very impressed with her colleague, Kristin, it is making her job so much easier. Virg’n Mary have recovered fully from their surgical traumas and also the anesthetic which slowed them down for a long time. They’re certainly back to their rampaging best now, tearing around the apartment at times, attacking toys or each other. They have imprinted on Cassy to the extent that they just follow her around like little dogs and often curl up on her lap while we’re watching telly. We’ve had a merciful “cold” snap in the last few days: it’s been raining heavily and the temperature has dropped so that we haven’t had the air conditioner on. I don’t know how long this will last; after all, it is still about 30 degrees!
Answer from last week's question: Elton John
