How Does I Life Good?

It's been an interesting few weeks...

I've finally got the internet, my visa, the reference letters (for my security license) and my assignments nearly in order...looking forward to this week coming; license -finally- getting issued, interview with QHSS (the security company), and hopefully...hopefully...start work on Friday or Saturday...

Unfortunately, Grace and I broke up...long story, not something that I'm going to get into with too much details...I'm good, had a few chats to Grace about it...and I just hope that she's ok too...it was a bit of an overreaction, I think, but that's life...but she is still a friend, and we still see each other every other day at uni...but I do miss her...and still feel for her...in a big way...

*Sigh* Cooking is going full steam ahead...been cooking quite a bit actually...lets see now, so far, in the last two weeks, I've cooked:

• Satay Chicken
• Teriyaki Chicken
• Coca Cola Pork Belly
• Honey Soy Chicken with Thin Hokkien Noodles and Shredded Egg Omelette
  
• Spinach and Feta Tortellini (from a packet) with a Chorizo and Capsicum Sauce
• Beef Ravioli (again, from a packet) with a Garlicly Tomato Sauce (simply sinful it is...)
• Baked Rice with Chicken, Mushroom and Capsicum

I've also begun another dish, but grew lazy (and missed the time), so, white sauce with mozz and tuna is ready to be poured over pasta and baked with a potato crust...tomorrow or Wed I guess...

Not much, I know, but not doing too badly I don't think....made them large enough to have at least 3 serves for each batch, so there's 21 meals there...and on top of that, I don't eat every meal at home (I do splurge every now and then, like Saturday night for dinner...300g "petit" rump, medium well, with pepper sauce and steak chips...good stuff that...), and I do also have the odd meal at the university Brasserie, or just skip a meal...but oh well, that happens....

I'm thinking I might do something similar to the baked rice for this Friday coming...the university is hosting a group of West Papuan school teachers who are working on their English and all that, and my Friday night class is having them in to have a bit of a chat and all...and everyone's bringing in a plate too to share....so I might just do that....hmm...or salt and pepper chicken drumletts, quick, easy, and ovenable...

*Yawn* I might go catch some zzzz's...getting a tad sleepy...

So, be safe...

N

Did You Know Bunnies Are Born Pink?

Funny comment from Grace, bless her...she hasn't slept in a couple of days pending the completion of two assignments, and I managed to talk her into coming out for a little while to the Pig for a few drinks...she had just finished her first term of her first semester in her first year at uni...so, out she came, picked me up from uni, and off we went...$60 later, we're finally in Maroochydore...and she starts falling asleep because of lack of sleep from the past few days....I was trying to give her sleep creds, but I think she would understand that I kinda needed to keep what few I had for the next few weeks...

As for Midget, I'm out of here in the morning...and I'm bringing him to Tenancy Tribunal...bugger this, he's just pissing me off...he talked to Kuang saying that he didn't want someone who wasn't communicating with him to leave the house...so technically he's evicted me before the 19th...but, I've got my rights, but just in case, I'm moving my stuff out and storing it at Lee's place until I get back in from Bathurst...and hopefully by then I've found a place to live too...the uni's been great in helping me out, especially in advocacy...this will happen...this will be messy, but this is warranted...man, I've been here seven weeks, and I'm already rocking the boat...but it's going to be well worth it...

As for my medical, I only had to pay $800!!!!! YAY!!! I asked the doctor why I needed to pay the $1700, and, while the reason was valid (because the reports could be subpoenaed, he would have had to close his practice down for the day, and he mostly did WorkCover stuff anyhow...), he decided to make it $300 for my consult, and $500 for the report...so, all's good...:P

*Sigh* I just said catcha later to Grace...and I already miss her....I know I did something that she didn't like tonight, but at least she's now home safer than what she could have been...and for that, I'm sorry...I think I'm falling for her in a big way...and becoming all musshy too...hehe...she, I can honestly say is a pretty stable thing, for the moment anyhow, and I hope that she can be for a while more....I think there's definitely something there..........

I better get some sleep on...got to pack my stuff up and move out by 1100...and fly to Syd at 1600...

Be safe, and miss you G...

N

VTA...

Variation To Assessment...first one....and it's a doozie...

Long story short, today, I'm finally going for my medical (that $1700 one), have to hand in a VTA for an assignment that I haven't even started due to having to find a house...well...read here:

Priorities:

1. Organise house
   
2. Get monies - check
   
3. Apply for security license for job- check
4. Study

Man....the past few weeks have been hectic...and I've also got to wait for the tenancy people to contact me today regarding my dear friend Midget...speaking of which...he's sent me an email demanding that I acknowledge that I understand that I have to move out by the 19 April...I've been advised not to contact him or have any discussions with him until further notice by the advocate at the university....:) Yay...

Helped (I think...) Grace and Jo with their assignments...but it was more me spending time with Grace (as I think she and Jo knew)...cooked dinner for them too...so I guess it wasn't that bad...and I think Grace and myself have been invited to an 18th birthday party on 19 April...hmm...I wonder huh?! Hehe...new house...party...NO GRACE, NOTHING LIKE THAT...but you do have a place to crash if you want...if I (when I) get this place....

*Sigh* One more day till back to Bathurst...and things are moving at warp speed at the moment...

Be safe.

N

MMM...Hazelnut...

Mmm...why does Cadbury's Hazelnut Chocolate taste so good???

Was telling G this story earlier...how my love of hazelnuts started with me following my mum's dad (who passed away 28Mar97...Good Friday...) to the supermarket in Singapore when I was a lot smaller (about eightish) and yea, he was teaching me about all the different food items and everything...and took a handful of hazelnuts to try, and gave me a few to munch on too while we walked through the fresh produce...and then we walked back to the hazelnuts........I think that's where I started really liking hazelnuts...and yea...have a block of hazelnut chocolate everywhere...you can ask anyone what chocolate I eat, and if they are observant, they will realise it's hazelnut...hehe...

Well, Friday was not the last day of TAFE as I -kinda- happily found out...this definately reminded me of times in Bathurst, where there were three day duties, and we'd go out Friday and Saturday nights too...as well as work Fridays to Sundays...hehe...I'm absoloutely shattered, but it's a bit of a walk down memory lane...

Just finished two days of Queensland Ambulance Service's "Apply Basic First Aid"...it was quite interesting not "existing" in the class...I attended it for free...bored, plus, it got me away from midget...who called me Saturday...but more on him later....unfortunately...anyhow, it was a good few days, had a couple of South Africans in the class, on top of Max, Lee and "me", and yea, just had a ball...

Last night was a biggie though...on a very limited budget...but it was good...met Scott, a skin cancer doctor, and Jodie, his Pede nurse wife...which was interesting...and had drinks with some of the staff at the Pig too...Jess for one...who, (because G wasn't there with me...and felt a bit down...) I asked to rate me out of 10...I got a 9.5/10...apparently, I've got the "whole package"...intelligence, sociability, looks, and easy going.....and that if something might happen between someone and I, that that person was very lucky to have me...

So, let's see, TAFE discussed (I've actually got video from our self defence lesson, but I'm not allowed to upload it anywhere online......), Pig discussed, G to be discussed...so that leaves Midget...great...:(

So, anyhow, Midget calls me up, in the middle of class on Saturday, ya de da de da bullshit about how I said I was going to live at the house on a short term basis, which is correct, until I had to do that whole shite with the medical (which is the Friday coming...:( )...and all this and that...and what not...and that my room mate is leaving on 19 April and that the room needs to be renovated and all that...so I have to leave the house on the 19 April...! WHAT THE FUCK!? I am seriously thinking of breaking his legs....but then again...I need to use "reasonable and proportionate force to the threat being offered" under the Criminal Code Act Section 546...to "defend myself"...so, another spanner to go into the works....I'm definitely going to be having a chat to the university now, and hopefully the Australian Tax Office and Queensland Tenancy Board...needless to say, I'm pretty steamed about it....but I really have got bigger fish to fry...I'm sure the sudden appearance of certain items on his computer is enough for reasonable and proportionate force of me beating the shit out of him...with a ten pound sledgey...

Enough about the fuckhead...I've been having an absoloutely wonderful week until that point...and I hope to at least be able to salvage enough to smile again...headache, fuckwits and lack of appetite be damned...

Things, I think, are progressing with G...was looking at a picture of her earlier on my phone (that I "don't" have) where she looks absoloutely beautiful...her face is glowing, and she seems happy...well, with a comment like this:

chocolatebox>NEWSFLASH!! Men really are from mars!! says (8:32 PM):
so really I think spending ANY time with you is nice.
=)

I guess things are on the up and up...and I get to see her tomorrow morning after not seeing her over the weekend...and let me assure you...she sounds really cute when she's sleepy....hehe...no, nothing like that happened....she was nice enough, while babysitting her cousins, to give me a wake up call at 0630 this morning....after I got home and talked to her and finally went to bed at 0230....but yea...I don't think she even remembered talking to me until I confirmed it later on in the morning by sms...hehe...

So, I have to finish this now, G's waiting for it so she can choose to either shoot to kill or maim me for what I've said in today's post...and she's got an early morning too....while I finally get a sleep in...yay...

Be safe...and thinking of you G...

N

Behold The Wood Of The Cross...

Today's Good Friday, a day of obligation...I should be going to church...I'm seriously feeling like crap though...this bug is seriously hitting me for six, and my back and shoulder are killing me still...grrr...going to fast though until at least 1500...unless I faint before hand...

Another week down, as is nearly March...I've been up here now for five weeks...I've paid an idiot too much money for the size of my area, and I dare say he will probably be getting phone calls from the ATO and Queensland Tenancy people...problem is though, he's an accountant, so the money would probably disappear...but nothing like witnesses....hehehe *EG*

Well, I guess I can eat the last of the tuna casserole, it is three days old...and cook up some fish for tonight's dinner...make some chips from the spuds I have left...mmm...

Spent another afternoon with Grace...albeit one and a half hours in a bus that went through the university twice...hehe...I know she reads this, but it's my blog...I'm not sure what to do at the moment...there is so many things going on in my life...I found out this week that my medical appointment has been switched to 04 Apr 08...so, that's a Friday, as opposed to Monday week...so, while that gives me more time to figure out where the money's coming from, I'm also in a bit of a doozie...04 Apr is also my last day of uni before the mid semester break...I fly out for Sydney on 05 Apr...I've got one assignment due in that night for Contemp Oz, and a final class for Skills in the morning...so, I've got to skip that class again and go to this bloody doctors appointment...luckily enough, I'm going to get a medical certificate, so they can's bash me on this one...anyhow...got that security course going, and even though it's great, it's taking a toll too...then I'm now reverting back to uni too, obviously I've got to do homework for both schools, then thinking about what to cook and all that....ok, I've been bad this week, I've started going back to fast foods again too, but then again, it's so, so much easier than having to haul the shopping back home for 20 minutes and then having to prepare and cook...I mean, I love cooking, and people love my cooking, but sometimes I just want to eat, sit down and be fat......"I feel so dirty, but it felt and tasted so good...!"

So, crux of the situation; I want to be lazy...to, as I put it to someone last night, "idle by the side of the highway", for a few days (which I sort of can't due to the fact I have two assignments due in this week), just pig out on junk food, sleep, smoke, drink a few rums, but not to inebriation, and just relax...next week is the last week of the security course, so, the week after, theoretically I can be licensed and working...but not before I get my fucking visa...which is I think mid April...fuckers...I honestly wonder if I should contact the Ombudsman and say that they are charging unreasonably high prices for a simple report...it's fucking expensive for any normal person, as opposed to a uni student...and this is someone I've never met in my life too...fuck it...

Ok...I'm trying to get to this point in the blog...but I keep getting sidetracked...but it's all relevant in its little ways...

Grace...

Hell, I'm not sure what to make of what's going on at the moment...

She informed me, in the nine days we've had each others phone numbers, I've messaged her 80 times...so, I'm going to be nice, and back off...I said that I would be a friend to her, and I will be, as I normally am to a lot of people...but in doing so as well, I've gotten to know her slightly better too...and it's too early to say anything...but talking to some of the security guys and housemates, they were saying she's gorgeous and happy and all that...and to an extent, I was beginning to be seeing her as more than a friend too...but am now too realising, I've got to back off....

We had a chat on Wednesday night, and we laid out our differences and discussed the plan of action...as with all well laid plans, the moment of implementation sees that plan go straight out the window...

*Sigh* It's going to be four days...I'll let her decide what she wants to do...I know she's not good at making decisions, and if I could make certain decisions, it'll definitely be a wrong decision for someone...

Ok, self pity and confusion over...

Found out that Midget is not going to be here this weekend! Four days of peace and quiet...he's taken his kids camping, so they might be back Monday afternoon, but at least he's not fucking here this weekend...Gwen is though, but she's nice...then again, some nice people (especially when it comes to money) are totally different at the end of the experience...

I'm beginning to feel faint...I wonder if Hot Cross Buns are allowed to be used to break the fast?

Be safe.

N

This Had To Happen On A Friday...No More TGIF's

*Sigh*

What a day...phone call, phone call, phone call...

It started with HSA. "Hi, my name is Nicholas Newn, and I was wondering about not needing to do that medical. It's going to cost me $2200 up front." "Oh, gee, we didn't know it would cost that much." "Yup, it does, because I need to see a psychotherapist or a psychaiatrist, as opposed to a psychologist, which I can just go see at the university. I can even get my old team and GP to fax you certified copies of my reports for assessment. They're within 2 years. I bet I could even do a telephone interview with my old case officer and he'll write a report for you. My appointment is only at the end of March, and even then, you'll only get the report maybe mid or end of April." "Ok, I'll call you back in a bit after I talk to the senior medical officer."

-A short while later-

"Hi, Nick? This is HSA. Yea, I had a chat to the SMO, and unfortunately, we need a current report. I'm really, really sorry." "Ok. Well, is there any other option for me?" "Unfortunately not." "Ok. Bye."

Immigration, after the arbitrary wait period. "Hi, my name is Nicholas Newn, and I tried calling my case officer, but the number's been disconnected." "Ok, just give me your personal details, and I'll get your information on screen." "Is it possible for me to talk to the case officer?" "Please hold........................unfortunately, he's unable to take your call at the moment, but did leave a message for you that he's still waiting on the medical report for you before he can assess your visa." "Well, the medical report is going to cost me $2200, and won't be in until mid or late April." "If that's the case, we'll wait for it. You're currently on a Class C Bridging Visa, so that will be valid until your student visa is approved." "Right then. Can I apply for a working visa so that I can at least have prove of income to then try to negotiate with the doctors for a payment plan?" "Unfortunately, since you're on a Class C, you can't apply for a new work visa. If you were on a Class A, you could have still continued to work." "What are my options then?" "None. Is there anything else I can help you with?" "No, that's all, thanks."

Called the university after that to keep them in the loop of what's going on. "Hi, can I please speak to Melissa?" "Hi Nick. Ok, so what's going on?" "Well, I still have to do that medical. Now, just a question, my Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), what is the difference between the one here at the uni and the one I currently have with Medibank Private?" "Nothing really, but we offer it for free here at the uni." "Oh. That's good. Uh, is it possible for me to transfer providers? Then I can go and apply for a refund from Medibank Private, and hopefully get back $700." "Well, you are on a bridging visa, but then again, you wouldn't be at uni if you didn't fulfill the requirements, so I guess you are eligible for the uni provided cover." "Sweet. Ok then, I'll be in on Monday to finish the application process. Have a good weekend!"

After one hour (the time it took me to make those phone calls, not reading about it) finally something went in my way...little victories all around...

Cooked up beef stroganoff tonight, with peppers as additional veges, and got Kuang to make up some butter and paprika rice. He did alright, and since I just walked into the door from my Contemporary Oz class, Nami had some too, and they were, "Pass, pass, good, good..." So, looks like I passed in my beef strog recipe...:)

So, anyhow, class...missed this morning's class, had a bit of a stomach flu, was not good...enough of that though, Contemporary Oz was so much better. Rob did a great job as the first presentation, on "What is Australia's Image?" as well as a guest lecturer...who's doing her PhD from CSU Wagga...and it was another good class....oh, also, the first thing that they said when I walked in..."Did you bring cheesecake?" Hehe...

So, Grace's blog's backlinked on the right there, I'm now watching 'King Kong' on TV, and talking to Grace too on MSN, so I'll bid you faredewell for the mo...going to have a hell of a week ahead too, so I might try to have an early (er) night that normal...practical training tomorrow and Sunday...and Lee said that he'll be picking me up earlier because he's got to go in to work before we go to TAFE...

N

I'm Falling In Love...

...With Microsoft Office OneNote...

This has got to be one of the greatest note taking programs available. If only I had a TabletPC, things would be so much different. No more paper notebooks, and I can just print off my notes if I wanted a hard copy, or email it to lecturers, or use the notes and research I've found in my assignments.........the possibilities are endless...:)

If you are not familiar with OneNote, click the title...

In other news, this morning was bucketing down with rain...it was heavy, heavy stuff. The back yard had about an inch of water in the lower areas, and most of it was submerged. All fun and games. It's actually becoming sunny now, a bit windy, but at least it's not raining anymore; I'd have to change the name of the blog to "Cheesecake In A Rainy Land"...

One of the simplest things I've made up thus far is the tomato and BBQ sauce marinade...it's great, and the sweetness really came out in the lamb I had last night for dinner...tom and BBQ sauce, garlic, some herbs, salt and pepper, and brown sugar...marinaded for 3 hours, and that's it...was really impressed with it...

I'm going to have to give those guys in immigration and HSA a phone call tomorrow...all today's been doing so far is transcribing notes to OneNote...

Boring, I'm sure...

Also, there's links on the righthand side of the screen to some of my friends that have blogs themselves. Fiona's currently on exchange in Finland, and from what I'm hearing, she's having a great time up there...then there's Rhi, who I haven't spoken to in a while, but she's still a mate of mine from a long time ago, so swing by her blog and see her artwork; she is very talented. Steph is a girl from Brunei who's currently studying in Melbourne. Her blog's password protected, but I'll see if you guys can figure out how to get it; the clues are all in the writing. And lastly, Steve, mate of mine from Bathurst, he's moving to Canada soon to be with Karyn, and they're both great people...

N

New Layouts, New Titles

So, anyhow, following earlier rant RE Fuckwit, I went and made breakfast...muesli and toast...not the greatest Sunday brunch, but enough for the time being...and my dear friend was trying to ask me, oh what am I doing today? Fair one, mum never brought up rude children, so I said, probably some notes, maybe get some reading done, laze about a tad, it's Sunday after all, and the weather's shite...

So, anyhow, the conversation got to what I was doing at university (again, the condescending starts), and one of the courses I do is called "Contemporary Australia". He did a similar course a few years ago at a different place (or so he says), and was like oh yea, your English has to be good enough (!?!?) to pass the essays and have a good command of speech and all that blah blah blah blah...I stopped him and explained that we were discussing child abuse in the NT, and is it right for us (meaning "Australia") to deny the aboriginals access to their welfare payments if it means stopping the child abuse? Quite obviously it's a fluid discussion that we have in class, so I won't write anymore about it here on pain that it might be taken in the wrong light, but rest assured, the conversation can get heated at times, but civil to be understood by a casual bystander...just as in any spirited debate at around 2000hrs on a Friday night...:)

At this point, his jaw was on the ground, and was trying to defend that I had to do an English level test, at which point I said that my presentation and class discussion topic (I have to speak and present for three minutes, then lead a class discussion for 15 minutes, unmoderated by the teacher unless it's looking like I'm going to get killed) was "Should Australia have free trade with South East Asia and the Pacific?", and that my essay proposal was "Australia's social security system is a failure".

And I walked away with my toast and muesli.......

In other news, I've gotten the link to Mike and my sis' dinner reception located with this post...this is a continuation to the video on my YouTube site...I've already ripped the video, and will upload it later...

Also, to clarify something that I forgot to say in my earlier post RE the psych evaluation, the documentation is time sensitive. It has to be at the HSA doctor by at least Wednesday next week, so, four days, so that they can send the recommendation to the Immigration department by Monday 24 March, which is 35 working days of the life of my visa. Unfortunately, my first consultation (if I wish to accept it) is 31 March...a bit useless isn't it?

N

Caution, Bad Words Ahead...Lots Of Em...

-WARNING: Contents of this post are harsh and brutal...don't like it, fuck off-

This is fucking bullshit...

It's 1005 on a Sunday, there's intermittent rain and sun periods (so much for going to the beach), and I'm here updating my blog layout and all the rigmarole, and I can hear my landlord in the room next to mine discussing the following...

The installation of six...count them, SIX...bunk beds into this house in the next few weeks...there's already SEVEN of us here in the house on a week to week basis, not including the landlord and his two children (bringing the total to TEN!)...in a FOUR bedroom house...this is seriously fucked up....and I'M FUCKING STUCK HERE!

Regarding my post yesterday after my rueful absence, I still stand by my comments that the occupants of the house (during the week) are a great bunch, well, except one guy, but he's just strange to everyone (there's always one in the group....and it was normally me...hehe), but now, with this bloody, money grubbing, dogs vomit, imbecile of a man being my landlord, I'm in a tight spot.

TL:DR, Housemates Good, Landlord Fucking Shortarsed Greedy Condescending Idiot.

That's another thing that rattles my bones about him, he's bloody condescending....I really hate it when people talk down to me...and he's a bloody idiot...in the space of a conversation, with someone who's a prospective house occupant (after Earl left...more about him later), he asked me SIX times what my job was in the house (which is cleaning the toilet...everyone in the house is assigned jobs); even the person looked at his strangely, as in, "Dumb fuck, I know that Nick's cleaning the toilet, as probably does everyone else in the fucking house, so shut the fuck up..."

Yea, if you didn't realise, I don't like him much...which bring me to another issue...one that actually popped up on Friday...

I have to get a psychologist report from here for my current mental health status to provide to Health Services Australia (HSA), which will then provide a report to the Immigration department who will then issue me with a visa. The last I checked, I believe that I'm currently of sound mind and though, not currently on any medications, prescription or otherwise, except alcohol and nicotine. Anyway, I got a letter on Friday from the psychologists with whom I've got a referral for after a hell of a lot of phonecalls and talking and organising and all that, and they're charging me...

• $500 for the consultation fee (PER VISIT)
• $1200 for the report

Both to be paid IN FULL at the time of my consult. For a 45 minute consult, per visit, over TWO visits.

THAT IS BULLSHIT. $2200. TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS. I CAN GO TO A HIGH CLASS BROTHEL, AND ENJOY MYSELF FOR ONE AND A HALF HOURS, AND PROBABLY COME OUT WITH CHANGE FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY!

They want to know my current mental health status. Yup, that's right, they can make a very, very good psych evaluation after talking to me for one and a half hours. I wonder why they didn't send Charles Manson or Ted Bundy to these guys? They must be that good at what they do...

I'm going to call Immigration and HSA and ask, is it really necessary? I can't get a job at the moment because I do not have a visa, so I can't pay for this evaluation (I'm not going to ask mum for some help for this BS), I can't get my visa without this evaluation...so, I'm stuck in an ever increasing circle of shit...well, considering I've been in worst spots, this is looking alright at the moment...but yea, bringing me back to my first section of rant for this wonderfully rainy Sunday, I can't move out unless I have a proof of income, so I'm stuck with the midget (I shall now call him Fuckwit).

TL:DR, Can't move out, no job. No job because of no visa. No visa because of no medical report. No medical report because of no job. Fucked.

Ok, enough for now...

N

A New Dawn, A New Layout

So...

I've just moved to the Sunshine Coast three weeks ago...after living in Bathurst for eight years...I've left Charles Sturt University...and am now at the University of the Sunshine Coast...

My paramedics are on hold for the time being, and I'm having to do a pathways course for six months, but I believe too that this would help me heaps...then, it's onto nursing...paramedics can wait I think...

Am I angry, happy, sad, excited? I'm a mixture of emotions; I mean, for anyone who has lived in a place for eight years after moving in, and growing into who they are there, there of course would be a sense of sadness. Well, for me there was. Bathurst was a place I called home. I lived in town longer than I lived in my own house overseas...
I was scared at the prospects of moving again. Not from one place to another within Bathurst, but to a new state, a new town, a new lifestyle. No more mainly Australians cowboys and cowgirls, ute musters, sheep, alpacas, trees, mountains, cold...I'm now a 15 minute bus trip from the beach, there are girls walking all over the place in bikinis, a lot of exchange students from Japan, Germany, Canada, USA, UK, France, Taiwan...they're from all over the place, to learn English, Business, Arts, Communications...new friends, new experiences...

But here I am.

I am now a resident of Queensland. I am now living in Queensland...although a few years early, but still, I am now here.

I live in a share house with 6 other people, who are all great people. The only person we all have problems with is the person we shouldn't have problems with...and he's increasing the rent for everyone by a bit...
For those that know, the area the size of my hallway is now the size of all I have, and I'm paying $520 for that little bit of real estate...but it's a bed, it's close to uni, and like I said, the people here are great.

I've been able to explore my cooking styles while here. One thing about Bathurst was that I was not able to really cook what I felt like cooking. I've made lamb and 3 types of mushroom noodles in a soy and sesame sauce, tariyaki beef and chicken, lightly crumbed salt, pepper and lime maki maki (a type of fish), salsa marinated beef steaks...there's just so many things that I can make to try...and if I'm not willing to cook, there's a pizza place just around the corner...normally order on Monday or Tuesday (2 for 1 offer), and the Greek Lamb pizza's pretty alright too...

But now, here I am, eating a bacon and sweet chilli chicken tender sandwich, which is going oh oh so well...hmm...if only I could find a girl, an apartment, a way to get my furniture that's still in Bathurst, and this bloody money for my visa, and things would be swell...but it doesn't have to be in that order...but it has to be done......so, let's see what happens shall we?

Oh, apart from the uni things, I'm also trying to get my security license; the TAFE here does it, but it's just not the right timing...so, going to reassess as required, and see what happens.

Right, that's about it....

N