A luxurious winery hotel, some very nice tastings and a platter of cheese & salami, then a slow drive back to Adelaide. Home now with three happy cats. An art show, which fitted into the last few hours before the flight. Now back to real life, and working out just how life feels without the … Continue reading Back home →

A little belt day yesterday of walking on long sandy beaches and gentle hikes on rocky islands and outcrops. This area of SA is gentle and easy to enjoy, with great food, friendly people and plenty of low key interesting activities. I worked near here 9 years ago, doing some volunteer work for an Aboriginal … Continue reading Beaches and granite islands →

Oh I enjoyed driving that car more than I expected ! very responsive and just fun. A vineyard , and realising that you’re expected to book into a wine tasting here. Oh well, they let us taste and I bought 4 bottles of a very nice Chardonnay. Down to Cape Jervis. Then to Victor Harbour … Continue reading First day zooomies →

My thesis is finally submitted! It’s been a very long path but the Master’s is finally finished. There’s a while to wait until the marks come through however I’m reasonably sure I will have passed this final hurdle. This was last night …then I collapsed. I think the next few days will be a lot … Continue reading Submitted, finally →

Last week I went to a stylist, to analyse my colour palette. This means determining g which set of colours really work well for me to wear, and Ciara used the Seasons method, where everyone fits into either warm or cool summer, autumn, winter and spring. It’s one method. I am sure there are many … Continue reading Colour & clothes →

Well the interim report has been submitted. Is it perfect ? No. Is it good enough ? Absolutely, and at 10% of the final mark I’m seeing it as more of a good start point for the final report. I was amused, looking at my desk with all the coloured pens and sticky notes. This … Continue reading Report submitted →

Not a bad way to get back to a good negroni ( a Campari based cocktail), dinner then my little flat for more writing up my interim thesis report. I’ve cooked most evenings, heated leftovers other nights and eaten breakfast (yoghurt and berries) at home, so it’s lovely to have a meal out in a … Continue reading A ferry back home from Uni →

It was a strange feeling, walking into the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Queensland (UQ) for the first time. Déjà vu, it was so reminiscent of my visit to the same place at Strathclyde University a few years ago, and the day I walked through those doors almost exactly 39 years ago. … Continue reading A student again →

I am off to Brisbane for a week of intense work on my thesis. All the interviews are finished, and the online survey was closed off today. I’m staying in a small apartment by the river, in the middle of Brisbane and working at the University most days. The Masters has been a long haul, … Continue reading Brisbane for study time →

A cool, peaceful and calm time to go for a walk around my gas plant. A strange thing to enjoy, but we’re ok to walk around the outside in normal clothes in the evening and just, well, enjoy it. Or maybe I’m just very strange, that’s quite possible. The cover photo was the first evening … Continue reading Night time →