Listening: 'Catch my disease' by Ben Lee

Pretty foggy this morning. Wished I brought my camera out but my shots would be blurred with the lack of lighting. Left the house at 6.20am, and wow. The fog just creates this beauty and yet eerie feeling which created a wow for me. The fog's slightly better than what we experienced in Mount Lofty. You can look down the quiet side streets off the main road. You have no idea what's there, just fog covering up with a street lamp glowing at the end. Just amazing. I did the whole looking back thing when I walked down the side street to the swimming academy. Can't see what's ahead, can't see what's behind. I could talk about this fog all day but I'll move on.

Surprised that it was really crowded in the pool today. I took an extra 20 minutes cos I shared a lane with this lady whom I meet all the time. I usually wait after a lap to see how far she is before I could start a lap. Then a flipper joined my lane after she left. First time I met a flipper who flips with a huge splash. I've seen people do it with the minimum splash but she's just flipping up splashes. So thankful for the guy leaving an empty lane for me. I pretty much knocked myself out when I came home to sleep. I couldn't get up at all. Had to force myself out of bed for lunch.

School's started. Been good yet worried again whether I'll be able to cope this semester. I had the unlucky second semester of year one last year where I had a teacher say nice stuff and then, gives you a bad grade. Pretty sick of that. So I'm hoping I'll be able to cope this semester. Theory...essays. I got a teacher who is trying-to-hold-the-bitch-inside for tut. And there I was, crossing my fingers to get the cool lecturer who just swears quite abit for a teacher.

Been to the dentist. This dentist is super nice and smiling alot, maybe he could sense that I need the surgery as soon as there is an available date. I've seen the X rays myself and saw the wisdom tooth hiding inside. It's so growing the wrong way and it's in bad shape. I'm just freaking scared for surgery though it's in October. He made a comment when he saw my front tooth. 'Did i get into a fight or what?' *taps nose* The worse news was that I had to fast 5 hours before. You're talking to a girl who eats like every 3-4 hours and that is gonna be torture. Eating schnitzels the day before. Another thing I worry is that whether it might affect my uni work. I'm bound to get homework and if I'm gonna stay in bed all day for 2 1/2 days, that'll suck. I'll see how that will work out. But still want to skip Stuart's lecture!!

Pics that Zeren (97%) and I (3%) took. Pretty proud of his work. First time with a film camera and black and white too. Just need to work on focusing and getting used to making adjustments before shooting. I really want to continue working with black and white film once I get the 'ok' from Toby that I can use the school lab to do the developing myself instead of going all the way to Atkins. Expensive place.

Hot Chocolate at chocolate bean

At the botanical gardens (me!)

Tapirs

Zeren (me!)

Feeding the roos at Cleland

Tree Kangaroo I think ... or not

Black swan

Undercover path at the zoo

Me shooting at the zoo

Tullie. She was on tv not long ago (me!)

Both of us just couldn't be bothered with each other...

... before zeren caught us making out. Kidding!!

Listening: 'Return to me' by Matthew Ryan

Hey all, sorry for the long absence. Firstly, I got The Deathly Hollows next to me. Guess that's the beauty of preordering at a really small Angus and Robertson in Unley. Didn't queue at all. Just walked up to a counter in the late morning. State your name and there you go. Like the aussies say, 'too easy, mate!' I just need more books to read.

Just on thursday, I went out with Renee, Suzy and Nick to watch Harry Potter's latest movie. It was alright, missed alot of stuff from the book ... Guess that's the disadvantage of reading the book first. But good fun of meeting up with them before uni starts.

Yesterday I had the task of making onion soup. Saw the recipe on tv and I started to crave for it so I decided to make it! So I sat down in front of the tv with 1kg of brown onions. Peeling and chopping. I handled it pretty well. Eyes burnt but no tears!!



And here's the result

Bread was slowly absorbing the soup

It's alright I guess. Could have put in more beef stock.

Next week uni starts and on the first day, I have a dental appointment. Consultation...no pulling yet! I have to pop into Atkins to collect Zeren's black and white photos. Expensive developing I'd say. If only, the labs were open in school, I would have done it for free and I could use up the gloss paper that's resting comfortably in my fridge. Excited that uni is starting. Get to see everyone...just not looking forward to theory. I hate writing essays.

Getting used to being at home without zeren now. He left on tuesday. I'd have to say that I was able to cope heaps better than last year. Was testing myself how long I can go without any emotional stuff. I think the fact that zeren left a couple of things behind helped. Like his ipod!! I freaked out and started to laugh as I start to find a shirt of his and two pairs of valuable gear on the floor. Tsk tsk...to think he packed the night before!! I'm doing fine now, no worries. (haha who cares...i found out most friends in singapore stopped reading this blog!) By the way, zeren, I want my shirt back.

Alright...more photos of this winter holiday.

Painting I did of Hilarie Burton

Here's the links to the progress work.
Progress 1
Progress 2
Progress 3
Progress 4
Progress 5


Saying a formal farewell to my beloved washing machine. Just 1 1/2 years of age. You gave up on me. How could you? I had to spend double the money on a new one that's half your size. Rest in peace, fisher and paykel! You have served me well!

Goodbye Fisher & Paykel

Hello tiny Samsung

Took zeren surfing!! Though had a couple of accidents here and there. Got bruises and a twisted wrist. Zeren's board accidentally slammed into my wrist in the water. And we saw a whale!! Too bad zeren missed it as he had to get his wallet. Dan, Nick and I got one look at it. Surfing in winter is freaking awesome except for the fact once you step into the water, you can't feel your feet at all, literally. Did one great turn. Sweet!

Waves that day

He's stoked!

Zeren, me and Nick

Pro surfer, dudes!!

Listening: 'Little Wonders' by Rob Thomas

We drove down south for a short holiday, just one night at the beach huts at Middleton. Great rates and comes with a dog called Tullie. She won us $24 in a scratchie. Sweet. Though the weather spoiled our surfing plans and I nearly got blown away again.

Beach huts at Middleton

Meet Tullie

Our hut, Brighton with Tullie, the border collie

The inside

More on the inside

Kitchen and dining

Tullie snuggles to keep me feet warm

Tullie waking zeren up

Last day with some sun after the storm

Waves the day before during the storm

Perfect set of waves the day after. Too bad Dan and Meg were at Kangaroo Island so no lessons.

Fog when driving Nick home

PS: Dog does not come with the house. It's the owner's!

Reading: 'The girl's guide to surfing' - Andrea McCloud

Hey dudes and dudettes. Been a long while and I have a perfectly good reason for that. I've got a roomie living with me for a while now and he's the handyman, computer doctor, chef on certain nights, extra blanket and boyfriend. Yup, Zeren is here. Good having him here but alittle distraction at times *quotes andre* and really hard to wake up.

Been going to places to get more winter gear for him, rented a car to go places to get stuff and see stuff. Next week we're taking a short trip down south to see if we can catch some whales and surf. Planning the trip is alittle stressful but everything worked out eventually so no more panicks. Both of us decided to try our luck on scratchies to see whether if we really have any luck at all. Shit happens alittle bit too much lately. Scratchies have double checked it too.

Managed to catch up with Munkle, Andre and Stu. Good for zeren to get to know some people here as well. Definitely have to meet up more with these guys. And yes!! I will do more painting. Sit me butt down and paint. I managed to secure a website for my portfolio. Jotted down the dentists that are possible candidates to torture me gums. Nat's planning to sell her restaurant/cafe which is a hollywood "NOOOO!!!!" All the good places are going and Nat's one of the best cooks I've known. She's gonna be opening a pub somewhere in the adelaide hills. And dad, she says when you're popping over soon, she'll get you the lamp steaks again.

Alright...more later on but pictures from the zoo. Enjoy!

Got zeren into film photography

You down there, mate?

Chilled out Meerkat

Winter makes everyone sleepy

red panda acts cute

Otter calling out for food

Otter gets serious

zeren makes a friend

Sun setting at the zoo