*knock knock*

I've been away from my blog for so long now that I think the inhabitants of my little imaginary world have managed to forget me...

I think I will have to take my blog out to dinner one day and buy it roses so it isn't too angry with me.

What have I been doing? I'll probably end up deported soon... well, not really - I don't have condition 8303 on my visa and I certainly didn't break anything in yesterday's protest. Just was responsible for marching up in front as the international student officer for the state of Victoria... I'm not sure how many people were at the protest, but I think it must have been somewhere around 4-5000 easily! And to stand right in the front of that? That was FUN!

I took cool pictures... or rather, Ginny did...

The festival afterwards would have been a total disappointment except for that the suns were playing there. I made all the T-Shirts for the office bearers (Iron-ons! Did them all myself and did not sleep a wink the night before the national day of action! There's a long story behind WHY, too, but I'll get into that later.) and the fliers for the whole state branch (not just international) and Mr. President couldn't arrange a table properly. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed. By the time it got there, most of the people were already leaving... and I didn't get a chance to publicise my education conference tomorrow at all. Oh, well... lower turn-up isn't necessarily a bad thing... more intimate setting :) But it'll possibly piss off the sponsors ... hmmm...

Anyhow, all that said, I may as well get some sleep - I've got to get up early and do some crazy photocopying of conference material!

Studying/shopping

I left home carrying a HUUUUUGE bag full of my lawbooks and laptop. The intention was to plant myself somewhere and STUDY.

And guess what? Melbourne, being as fickle as it is with weather, decides that it wants to be a cold day. I was wearing a summery shirt, thinking it would get warmer from the morning. Nope.

So. Two options, waste time going home, picking up a sweater, and coming back to the city to study (I'm really bad at studying at home), or buy one quickly.

Me, quick at clothes shopping? Shit. It takes me an hour just to get over the aversion of buying anything that isn't *exactly* what I want to begin with.

But, well. I did get that sweater in the end.

Atleast I had written all my creative writing stuff before setting off on that shopping expedition, though. Although, I must admit, I was somewhat annoyed at having carried the law books around with me all over Lygon street ... then only studying for about an hour. Hmmm. Oh, well, better luck next time.

Damn Melbourne weather.

Beautiful New Year

This past week has had a special aura to it, despite a few hiccoughs here and there... I guess the new year has cast a special charm on everyone, and it seems as though nothing can really go wrong.

Walking for two and a half hours through the cold with Sarinda on Thursday didn't bother us - we were on a pilgrimage to find the Thai temple. Of course, it would have saved us that walking time had I only managed to remember the address correctly. Oops. Fifteen minutes had two hours added to it. But, as I said, we seemed to - amazingly enough - enjoy ourselves. And certainly, dinner was a big plus!

Friday night, the Melbourne University Thai Students Association threw a Sonkarn party, so of course, had to go there, after which, went to "The Castle". Pretty crappy, except I got to go crazy bopping to rave tunes for a little while. And of course, it was a big bonus bumping into Tiknee and Daryl outside.






Everyone was pretty wasted by that time, I guess...

I can't believe I watched a soccer match on Saturday night. Something must be wrong with me.

Sunday lunch... nice and easy at Lentil as Anything in Brunswick.




I worked for ages at this cafe, writing a story about a junkie Singaporean airhostess and her friends... and my god, it was terrible.

No more trying to write Singaporean slang for me.

But I revised it... I think it should be ok now... hopefully... or I'm just going to have to recycle stories for my assignment. :(

Happy Songkran!

Today it is raining - it has been since the moment I woke up this morning.

Last night I wrote a Eulogy to my grandmother - it was partly fictional, although the core facts were right. The point was, it conveyed my feelings about her.

I deleted it before I went to sleep, because now it is time to start a new year. I am going to the temple this afternoon to meditate, so that should her spirit have not yet found peace, or a new home (but I know she has - she told me so in a dream!), she will today (what better day than the first day of the new year?).

Happy Songkran!

A conversation inspired by a conversation

Dear Heart,

I know we haven't been communicating very much recently - ever since we met, you have been quite unwilling to listen to me, your mind. That's ok - I know that you are quite happy doing what you do, and I know that you would rather subject our host to the uncertainties and excitement of life than listen to me and cut a clear past for her to walk through.

This is fine.

However, it has come to my attention of late (I do follow your actions and analyse them very closely, although I am rarely allowed to participate) that you are increasingly searching for a way to anchor yourself, following your recent attachment to a certain person.

If only you would allow me to help, I believe that we could, for once, work together for the comfort of our host.

I'm hoping to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

The silent, analysing mind

**** **** **** **** **** ****

Dear Mind,

I am surprised to hear from you (but then again, most things surprise me because I don't really pay much attention), as you are right, come to think of it, we have not really spoken for a number of years. We do such different things - I make sure our host experiences a range of emotions - frustration, joys, anger, depression - all so that she might enjoy all the grains of sand beneath her feet and each trail the moon leaves her to follow at midnight. There is an urgency in life that compels me to ensure that she not waste a second of it.

But - that said - you are right. I am driven solely by compulsion, and I know, being the dominant force in our host, that she is often lead down the wrong path for lack on consideration. Through this, she learns a lot. Then again, there is only so one can learn about being wrong, and about being compulsive. Being strong and experiencing patience is an experience that I do not have the power to put her through. You are right - here we need to work together, or she won't make it through over half a year of waiting.

You must guide her firmly, whilst I must find other comforts for her.

We'll devise a plan, don't worry.

Love,

The heart.

National Exec in town

... the repurcussions are astounding...

And here I was thinking I could avoid politics for the rest of my term and just concentrate on campaigns, conference and issues.

Haven't blogged in ages... been too busy with uni and meetings since the last state executive.

Sorry, my dear blog, will give you more attention later on!

Too busy to think straight

Sidhaesh, Jeremy and Vijay's housewarming party. I sang a lot... so I didn't take too many pictures. But... definitely a successful party! Thanks guys!


Before: Vijay made lunch the day after the housewarming... (yum!) the table is covered with newspaper...
After: I thought I'd do something crazy... like paint the table.

...I can imagine you guys must be in shock at your housewarming present!


It's a shame about the video footage... can't post it on my blog - but, take my word for it - Wayne's drum solo was the best!! Sanjay never disappoints with his 'fast fingers' and J rocked the bass and went totally crazy as always! Good job!

Vijay... I'm sorry, man. I know we were talking about making you look more masculine... but you gotta help yourself, too.

Ok... so if anyone was wondering (although I know not too many NLC VIC people lead my blog... at least I don't think they do!) why I looked so stoned at State Exec the next day... The Suns didn't come on until well after midnight!

But... that said, State Exec was the best ever so far... I actually felt as though the meeting was productive, and refreshingly casual! I'm glad we've got a good feeling going in the state, at least!


Thai food and culture festival in honour of Songkran.
I went in the morning to hear the monks chant... ate lots of food. Left during the day and went home to do laundry&assignments... then back to the city again in the evening to see Wil Anderson live (sorry, no pics!). Stopped by at the Thai festival again to catch the last few songs of a Thai cover band. Not nearly as good as the CD by Armchair I'm listening to right now, though...

Aaaargh!! Uni starts again on Tuesday... assignments... meetings... normal life returning!!!