Queensland adventures

3 premieres this week

As the name suggests, it's been a week of firsts.

The first first was my first graduation ceremony where I got to wear my full regalia as a Doctor of Philosophy - you know, a proper doctor. Because of QUT's mid year intake, we have 2 graduations a year ... a smaller one now and a whopping one at the end of the year. There was a great deal of cap doffing, a couple of stumbles and no falls (although I'm secretly baracking for a full sprawl at some stage). Although it was a long ceremony (Penelope Wensley - Governor of QLD sure knows how to drag out an address!), it was in fact quite nice to see the successes of the degree. Most of the students that I deal with on a daily basis, have problems that they want solved, excuses as to why they didn't do what they were asked to do and tears rolling down their cheeks (See? I'm striking fear into the hearts of thousands of QLD nursing students).  With a couple of exceptions and where I found myself muttering to myself under my breath "how in the hell did they pass those other subjects??? I thought they'd fail for sure!" it was really good to see these now young nurses pass into the profession. There was still the small issue of my mortar board vs tudor cap for PhDs that was commented numerously throughout the evening. "I thought Doctors of Philosophy wore the floppy cap?", to which I replied haughtily "Well, in the tradition of Oxford University I wear the mortar board - a more appropriate and accurate representation of the conferring of the degree. Don't you feel a little silly in that bonnet?" Even I wasn't buying it. I want a floppy hat and think that I'm just going to buy the bloody thing. Who's going to know???? Addit: I'm including my keynote address from my graduation party here. I'd like to (re)draw your attention to slide 9 (page 2) to indicate my shirtiness about this fact ... Download Graduation keynote address 2010

The second first this week was my first rental income from Cook St. There's a bit more money coming in now, and, I can seriously look for a more permanent address. I've switched from thinking that I might sublet a larger place to a post grad student or professional of some sort, to being more comfortable with the idea of just living on my own with my cat and my things. I'll keep you posted as to where I end up, but it's going to be sooner rather than later as the current living arrangements are getting tighter and tighter. Ellen's daughter Amy (a medical student at Melbourne University) has left the house and started he uni semester again in Melbourne (most important point here) which is great, because she's a carbon copy of Ellen including the OCD cleaning tendencies. But Ellen's estranged husband has come to live here from China and is staying indefinitely until he either finds work and stays in Australia, or goes back to China again, jobless. It's just getting a bit much and I can't really be bothered dealing with it all again. Not to worry. The place has served it's purpose. I've been comfortable and safe and there's plenty of room for me to put my stuff. But I don't have my cat, Ellen's washing machine is doing very interesting things to my washing and I want out now. I've got several people on the job for me looking for properties that will suit my needs. It'll come.

The third first was my seeing The Idea of North's album launch last night at the Powerhouse ... http://www.idea.com.au/ ... a truly amazing acapella group that I have been following for some years now and who never disappoint. They were particularly spectacular this time around though. The development of new work for them has charged them all up again and their arrangement of "It don't mean a thing" and a variety of Aretha Franklin numbers left me with goosebumps all over. I'm off to buy their album today (they ran out of albums for sale last night because those greedy Adelaide audiences the night before had bought too many copies!!!) and to wallow in the wonder that is this group. If you get the chance to see them, buy tickets for everyone that you know. You leave their performances happy, whistling and being so awe inspired by the amazing Australian talent that we have.

Okey dokey, I think that's it for the moment. I'm off to shop, wash and whistle my way through the day. I hope all is well in your sphere of influence.

All my love to you :-)

Naomi

It's official - I'm now a capitalist

Cook Street has been rented! A 12 month committment from a recently divorced fellow who is interested in repainting the place himself if I give him a weeks' free rent. Given that it was going to cost several thousand to have the same done myself - sure. You can do that, no problems. And then I'll have a rental income of my very own! How exciting is this (doesn't take much to keep me happy does it)? What this does mean is that I can look for a more permanent address up here rather than the share accommodation that I'm in currently. While there is definitely nothing wrong with the room, the bathroom or the location of my current address, I'd be much happier with my own things around me - familiar and comfortable and the way that I'd like it.

Although nothing has been said by the lady that I am living with (Ellen) I think I am wearing out my welcome. Ok, that doesn't make much sense given that I pay her weekly for the use of the place, but the tambre of the (would you call it a) relationship has shifted and I feel that she'd be happier with a different tenant. It's such tiny stuff, and Ellen won't actually say anything to me about any of it because she dislikes confrontation even more than I do (big call!). For example, I wash up the utensils that I have used to cook my dinner including some of her plates/bowls and leave them to dry on the dishrack (the whole having to hand wash them is a little odd given that her house is equipped with a dishwasher that is currently used as a storage cupboard because she doesn't know or want to know how to use it). I pack them away the following morning after they have dried. But Ellen has recently taken to hand drying all of her crockery and cutlery and putting them away immediately. When I realised that this was what was happening, I asked her if she'd prefer me to dry them on the night of - I was of course happy to do this. "No no" she said and virtually ran out of the room. And the practice continues. Or that she vacuums incessantly at perculiar times. I'm talking about 0600hrs most mornings, usually at 0530hrs on weekends and directly after I have left the kitchen from cooking (I'm not that messy!!!). When I ask her what it is that she wants me to do to help around the place, I again get the "No no"/running out of the room combo. Or that my chineese cooking rice wine that I use for my stir fry's when I do them has magically moved from "my" cupboard to hers. A non chinese can't use chineese cooking wine right? While I am of course happy to support peoples' personal development in relation to dealing with/managing social circumstances, this is all becoming a little trying. But putting it in perspective, I'm safe, still payed up in terms of board and will move soon after I get my first pile (well it's a bit ambitious to call it a pile - more like an installment I suppose) of rental income.

I'm looking at somewhere today that I hope will fit the bill. Wish me luck!!!

Here's hoping that all is well in your sphere of influence.

All my love,

Naomi

ADDIT: To let all know, the vacuuming didn't start until 0730hrs ... Holy mackaral!