2 weeks later

So I am now at College. Living in one of the campus houses. It's 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. The 3 girls in the back half of the house ( incl. yours truly) use the back bathroom which is much smaller than the front one. BUT as we have to clean it ourselves, I can appreciate having a smaller bathroom and also a frosted shower door instead of a clear one! It's the small things to be grateful for.

Once I work out how to migrate my photos to the new MAC* I will put some photos on here. I love my room, and it has a separate study area ( what used to be the sunroom). I've rigged up my bedspread from Lombok as a curtain to cut down the light in the morning streaming in from the study. and I have some of my Balinese things in there ( a silver square offering box, some wayang kulit puppets, a couple of little batik fans all on the mantelpiece of the nonworking fireplace. It's very comfortable!

* My new MacBook Pro ( 15" screen) was delivered yesterday afternoon. So I spent last night setting it up. Haven't sync'd my photos and music on there yet or uploaded my contacts. I think I need some help and also a quick tutorial! I'm sure once I get the hang of it, I will love my Mac, just like all the other devotees.

I've been good about exercising 5-6 times per week so far ( this is week 3) and lost 1 kg already. Am also having 1/2 portions at meals and filling up on salad and fruit. I refuse to put on any weight at College this time around - in fact my goal is to lose the 6kgs that I put on when I was here 10 years ago! ( I need to lose about 10 kgs in total to be at a good height/weight range).

I survived NT Greek intensive 4 days. Am a little annoyed that I got 2 of the easy test questions wrong as I didn't read the question properly ( and I knew the answer). Thankfully none of the tests this week count towards our final grade. So hopefully lesson learnt - READ THE QUESTION!

One week later

Well. I am still on honeymoon period. IF you have access to my FB, you will have seen some beautiful pictures of Sydney and some of its suburbs.( if you aren't on FB, why not?)
Blue is my new favourite colour-the photos below were taken on 2 different days walking along the waterfront. Makes exercise uplifting to the heart as well as good for the body. I am so thankful for good pathways to walk along, great scenery to look at, riends who look after me and lend me their  car and give me things that I need for College ( sheets, blankets, powerboard). I am very blessed!

More things to be thankful for

I've been walking twice now. Once in the Shire, along a very pretty creek. and today, along the suburban strees of Naremburn. I love that there are pretty walks that make exercise seem less painful. I also appreciate nice wide, even sidewalks to walk on. And I've loved looking at all the different homes around here, each one different from it's neighbour ( I love good architecture and landscaping). And eveything is so well maintained and clean ( no potholes in the roads, clearly marked lanes that traffic obeys, no rubbish by the side of the road). The neatness and orderliness of the lower Nth Shore certianly suits my personality type:-)

Visited Greenwich Baths today ( a small secluded beach known only to a few). Too cold for me to get in the water but I enjoyed the view of beautiful Sydney Harbour on a clear blue skies day, the kids playing in the ocean and the sand, the soy cappucino. Life is good.

First weekend back

After 5.5 half years away, I'm back Down Under with just a few bits of luggage!

 Here's some of what I've appreciated and been grateful for in the last 2 days

-Hot running water from every tap

-Drinking the tap water

-Having an exhaust fan in the bathroom so bathroom doesn't get steamed up when I have a hot shower

-Lucy's lovely Serbian neighbours who included me in their Christmas lunch on Sat 7th Jan( Jana and Jordan, Serbian plum brandy, PAVLOVA and traditional Serbian fig and walnut roll for dessert)

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Drinking a proper hot chocolate at the Lindt cafe ( a small pot of melted dark choc is served with hot milk of your choice for you to doctor as you prefer- yummy and worth every calorie)

-Buying a pair of lovely red leather Mary Janes from the end of year sales IN MY SIZE

-Buying rice milk to have with breakfast and chai tea

-Sour Squirms (candy/lollies)

-Traffic that stops at pedestrian crossings so I can cross safely

-Sunsets at 8pm!!! So much more of the day to enjoy ( sunrise is 5.45am)

-Worshipping in a church building
-Home made fruit cake for morning tea
-Meeting old friends
-Soap free body wash
-New electric toothbrush