Wednesday, October 23, 2002

Time for a Super-Happy-Mega Update!

I'm back from week long visit of irrigation areas and the irrigation industry. It was a lot of fun, very interesting and very informative, but by God I was glad it was over by the end. I was prepared to bludgeon to death with a blunt instrument almost every other person on the trip. Once again, my hatred of people in general has been reinforced. Let's face it, people suck.

Anyway, for this trip we made our way down to Shepparton to examine water use efficiency in the Goulburn-Broken catchment area. We spoke to a wide range of people including state government statutory authorities, local landholders, land care groups and local industry. Half of us also spent a day over the border in Finley, NSW to see how they do things there (Hint: very differently). All in all, I learnt a lot about water use, and how much this drought really is making people suffer, and how much it costs financially.

Still waiting for the third unexpected emailer. Come on you slack bastard...

I spent last Saturday checking out 2-bdrm units for me and the girl to live in next year when she moves down. Unlike last time I looked, I saw quite a few nice places. Unfortunately, they're now all gone or are available now, which doesn't suit me at all. I need places available soon, not now. I can't afford all the extra rent otherwise. The real estate agent I spoke to today (who works for the nice people at Independent Real Estate) was very helpful and helped tee up a viewing of a place that doesn't come on the market until the end of November. This place is nice, and I hope after I see it from the inside it'll prove to be even nicer. Fingers crossed, I may have next year's accommodation sorted very soon.

The Underworld CD is definitely most fantastically awesome. It's even better the second and third times around. Buy it. Trust me. Of course, if you are familiar with my taste in music, you may want to have a test listen first :)

Got a third "piece" (copped a bit of flak for calling an instrumental a song - apparently a song must have words - whatever) up for anyone's listening pleasure. It's a 60sec work in progress. Sweet Helena

It's not much right now, but I plan to gradually work on it and make it an entire piece.

Sunday, October 13, 2002

Another busy but unremarkable week. I've had to finish up a lot of things at work because I'll be away for the next week, visiting various irrigation industries and related government bodies on a work-related research trip. It promises to be a lot of fun and I'm definitely looking forward to it.

It's been a week for unexpected emails. Both were pleasant surprises and were from people I wasn't expecting to hear from. Since these things usually happen in threes, I'm curious as to who will be the third emailer.

Bought the new Underworld CD today. Haven't listened to all of it yet, but what I have heard is most fantastically awesome. Highly recommended.

Wednesday, October 09, 2002

Man, what a weekend. You can forget about Friday night or all Saturday as I didn't do much. My Saturday night was spent watching two hours of The X-Files. Woo. I've got to slow down before I give myself a heart attack.

Anyway, very very early Sunday morning I boarded a bus full of my soccer team mates and we cruised up to Wollongong to play the Warilla Wanderers in something of a regional derby (Warilla Wanderers are associated with the Spanish club in Wollongong).

The bus trip was fun. The game not so much. It was hot (hot for a Canberran anyway), I got very little match time and we lost 4-2 after leading 2-1 and outplaying the opposition for most of the much.

After the match, we had dinner at the Spanish club. However, the food was crap and I didn't eat much of it. On the other hand, the alcohol was very cheap ($2.70 for a bourbon and coke) and I drank my share. In fact, I drank a lot of people's share. Having said that, I did very well and didn't pull up too badly the next day, which is more than I can say about some others. Some people were extraordinarily smashed to pieces. Made me look like an angel in comparison.

Might not sound like much, but it was still stacks of fun. Unfortunately, we didn't reach Canberra until about 7pm on Monday so I'm still recovering from it all.

Was worth it though.