Post-Christmas Sales

WOOOOOO!!!

There's a mad-cap shopping buzz all over Australia. (As well as the rest of the world)
Post-Christmas Shopping!! WOOO!!

I went shopping on Christmas eve and on the 27th, 28th and 29th! (I would go on Boxing Day as well but unfortunately I live in Adelaide and most shops were closed. MEH. )

And I went shopping today too! :D
I must sound like a crazed shopaholic.. but who am I to deny this?

However, I'm a rather cautious spender despite getting all glaze-eyed whenever I see a bargain. It's because I am unemployed at the moment. Boo.

But anyway, I don't really like the style of clothes here and I find the shoes rather boring so it's not often something catches my eye. Sigh.

So I've bought things that I've been wanting to get and managed to snag a couple of items on sale.

The best bargain I grabbed was a FCUK cap for only $10!

A cute vest for $15 (or was it $10?)

An adorable jewelry box for $4.95

Two pairs of black leggings for $8.99

A gorgeous eyeshadow palette for $4.95I love white eyeshadows; they are so awesome to brighten and open up your eyes.

It seems like quite a fair number of items but for 5 whole days of shopping, it's pretty pathetic.
I'm quite disappointed that I didn't manage to score some hot new heels.

But I'm glad I didn't splurge too much this holiday season *prances*
Though, the same cannot be said for the amount of food I've been indulging on *pats happy tummy*

Old men and food

So I was walking along, enjoying the sounds pumping from my mp3 player when I spotted this old man with a receeding hairline and white hair, outside of his barber shop.

He was looking up at a threatening gray sky but as I approached him, he noticed me.
He bid me good day with a slow smile. "Come, come," he mumbled as he beckoned me to follow him.

Puzzled, I stopped and watched him enter his barber shop and fumbled for something on a desk near the door. At one point, I was beginning to worry. Was he going to stab me? (There have been recent three cases of stabbing going on in Adelaide, so you should forgive me for thinking that.)

With a big smile, he pulled out a massive bundle of what looked like baby apricots?!!



Eh? (O__o)


I was horrified as he shoved them to me, "Take, take!"

"No, I can't that's too much!" I said, thinking about how I was going to go shopping with all these fruit in my hands. There wasn't even a bag!

He nodded and started peeling away the branches and leaves, "Take, take."


-___________-

So I thanked him and went my way, trying not to drop any from my two hands.
Unfortunately, I have no idea what they are (or if they are edible for that matter) or how I was going shopping.

So I threw them away in the end.
I don't mean to be disrespectful but I had to go shopping and carrying some books back home. There was just no way I could do that with them fruits in me hands.



I just wonder why I encounter such things?
Probably a year ago, this old man handed me a pumpkin.
It ended up in my tummy :)

Perhaps I look starved?

It is done.

It's all over.
Done.

Surprisingly the seminar I had to give yesterday went well :)
I am extremely relieved. (Despite not being able to answer some questions correctly and getting flustered for a bit)

Locky and I had a practice run on Monday in front of the other lab members and our supervisors.
Unfortunately, I didn't do really well that day, particularly with the questions so you can't blame me for being extremely anxious the whole day and not being able to sleep well. It was haunting me! In addition, Dr. John Hayball (our Honours course coordinator) insisted that we arrived by 8.15am to load our talks into the computer so I had a mere three hours of restless sleep before the presentation.

It was great to see everyone again, although we were all feeling a bit sick and anxious.
Well, at least I was. I tried to eat a banana, which I usually devour (Love banananaaas! Happy fruit/herb) but I had no appetite. It tasted terrible but I had to eat something or my brain will be deprived of sugaaaaar.

Fortunately I was the first to present at 9am :)
The academic staff turnup was quite poor. There were several students coming and out, families as naturally, lab members for support as well as examiners who were there to question us and grade our presentation. I think at least 30 people attended my seminar.

While I was presenting, Andrew (my supervisor) kept nodding encouragingly at me which was great but sometimes distracted me a wee bit. Hehe.
Surprisingly, 20 minutes went by really quickly.

Fortunately for me, my examiners (this chick with a British accent and a chinese man) were really nice to me. They didn't probe me or ask any tricky questions. Other audience members asked uncomplicated questions as well. So yay for me!

Some examiners were a little mean as they persistantly asked difficult questions. Most of us managed to answer questions well, so it was all good. It wasn't like our examiners were out to get us or anything. But it's often hard to think that way, especially when you're put on the spot light. For me, it was a horrid 10 minutes of vulnerability.

In all, everyone's talk went well. One of my examiners sought Hayball to ask for my contact details. Turns out, he's interested in taking me in as a PhD student.
This to me, was a surprise. Flattering but unexpected.

Hayball thinks I should consider it. Long said I should go for it.
And my supervisor Andrew said I shouldn't.
We both know how difficult Honours was for me. I struggled.
To be honest, I don't think I've got what it takes to do the same thing for three/four years.

Andrew advised me to take a year off and if I wanted to do a PhD, he would be more than happy to take me under his wing. He's awesooome, isn't he?
I'm truly thankful for the wonderful people I've worked with. The people in the lab were a bunch of supportive, intelligent and genuinely lovely people.
After our seminars, they took us to the pub to toast us. And we're going to have a lunch gathering on Thursday as well to celebrate.


I can't believe a year just went by. The past several months were just emotionally draining.
There were days when I felt like I couldn't go on. I cried endlessly. I panicked every couple hours. Conjuring sentences took me ages, making me feel it was almost impossible to complete my writing. It was not a pretty sight.

But I've done it.
It's all over.

It's time to move on to the next phase of my life!



PS: I may be getting a bunneh!! Hehee!! :D

O__O

Completion of honours in less than 12 hours.

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.

.

.

.

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*silent scream*

Butterflies

In less than a month, I will have written a thesis.

A thesis that will be read and graded by individuals who expertise in the field of bone cancer.
I will be required to present my work in a seminar in front of an audience consisting of academic staff, my examiners, professors and students.

My work will be bound into a book and copies stored away into the library of my university.
Whether it'll be worth a First-Class or not.. by one way or another it will happen.

I cannot express the amount of pressure, anxiety and stress that has plagued me for the past month and continues to do so.
I lack quality sleep due to the constant nightmares and vivid dreams.

Time just slips by my fingers, making it feel like it will be an eternity before my thesis writing is complete.


I complain and lament about the amount of work. But mostly because I lack a lot of things.
The lack of sleep. The lack of determination. The lack of confidence in myself. The lack of the social life that I love and dearly miss.

And when I think to myself, everyone lacks something. Each and everyone of us use it as an excuse.

Sure, I don't interact with people as much as I used to.
So now, I am unhappy and can't write as well.
Boo Hoo.
But does it make a difference if I do? Or is it just as an excuse because I am afraid of reality?

I am aware that certain things that greatly affects the outcome, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Just like the "butterfly effect".
But surely, there must be ways to overcome the battle you're facing?
Perhaps it's not as bad as you think it is.
It's all about perception.


So I've got to think positively and know that I will get through this.
Because I AM capable of doing so.

Wish me luck!