Pinky Pi - loves sparkles & numbers!

I'm running out of places to post this

2008-12-08T04:11:19Z

Grant has a job!!! ZOMG Ponies!!!

Plea

2008-10-14T03:57:37Z

Okay guys,

Grant REALLY needs a job. If anyone has contacts in Sydney, please throw them our way. We're effing desperate.

Please help us get off the lounge-room floor :)

twitter

2008-09-08T04:58:48Z

Who's got one?

He probably won't see this, but anyway...

2008-09-06T09:08:57Z

Happy 5 years bunny - it's been an adventure! xxx

Over-due Update

2008-08-22T03:54:49Z

Hi Hi Hi!

For anyone not aware - Grantypants and I are now in Sydney. I've started my job at NCHECR and Grant is frantically searching for work. In the meantime we're staying on my sister's floor in North Parramatta. 1.5hr commute anyone? Sheesh! (Not mentioning I do literally mean the floor, in a house of 7. Beating jet lag with sleep deprivation does not work people!)

Hopefully we'll be living a wee bit closer soon.

Gaspode is in quarantine, he gets out in about 3 weeks. If we don't have somewhere to live by then he'll be going up for a holiday to Noosa with Jennine (Grant's sister). So if anyone has any contacts that can get Grant a decent paying (>= $60K) job here in Sydders, please let me know! I'll make you cupcakes =D

Otherwise work is.. well work. I get to say the phrase "men who have sex with men" a LOT and my building is next to a methadone clinic. One of the crazies made my first day easier by pooping on the carpeted hallway outside my boss' office. Nothing like a big turd to distract you from first-day nerves. So many crazies.

This is cool!

2008-08-12T11:59:31Z

http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/birthdayno1

The day I was born, "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones was #1 in Aus and "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" by The Police in the UK. The day we got married it "Umbrella" By Rhianna - in Aus, UK and USA - and it didn't rain!!!

Did anyone else get anything good???

Damn damn damn!

2008-06-05T15:02:56Z

Despite upping my exercise, I have gained 1.5kg. Poo. Back to overweight on the BMI scale again. (Meanwhile - what does shin pain when jogging mean?)

Sometimes I really really REALLY hate my thyroid gland. Once upon a time I could lose 5kg in a fortnight. Now I'd be lucky to do it in 5 months. Still, all I can do is keep working at it, and I will. At least in Sydney I might be able to join a gym or pool, so that will help. Especially if we live at Homebush, I can swim in an actual Olympic pool!

On the upside in a month-ish I've gone from not being able to jog at all - and I mean not at all, to being able to at the very least jog 1.5km of a 3-5km route. They're crazy about jogging/running here. Rain, shine, rain again - there's always people out. One day I want to be like one of those crazies and be able to jog 10km non-stop. I might need a better trained dog - Gaspode's running can be a bit erratic.

5 days until I'm on a plane!

This one keeps making me laugh..

2008-06-02T14:44:32Z

It's a Pomeranian - the non-Poodle half of Gaspode :)

2 weeks to go!

2008-05-27T14:27:41Z

Oh yes indeedy, in two weeks from today I'll be catching a plane. I don't normally get excited about holidays, but I think it's different this time because not only am I looking forward to seeing everyone, I really really need to get away from England for a while :P

I received and accepted my official offer from UNSW today. As of Aug 18 I'll be PhD-ing it up in the NCHECR located at Darlinghurst. My thesis topic will be: Quantitative approaches to understanding intracellular and cellular dynamics and pathogenesis associated with Chlamydia.

Back to dirty foofies where I belong ;) I fly out from Heathrow on the 15th, so wish me luck on the jet-lag/new job mix.

Mum and Carol have arrived home in Brisbane safe and sound after their 2.5 weeks here. In the end Carol and I found some common ground (knitting), and the 3 of us girls had fun in London. Spamalot was AMAZING. The woman who played "The Lady of the Lake" won a Swedish reality t.v. show to play in the West End. She was absolutely brilliant. Her voice was HUGE, HUGE! Watch the youtube link to see what I mean.

I am taking last minute requests for "stuff" from England. So if there's something from the UK you want that you can't get in Oz, please let me know. If it's something on the pricey side I might ask you to fix me up when I get there, but if it's a Yorkie bar then I think I can cover you.

News people on campus!

2008-05-16T09:59:02Z

In other news.. Two men in campus terror arrest.
A little bit of 'excitement' at uni. Not sure how they'd manage to cause strife in the Midlands, but hey.

Gaspode's been unwell. Took him to the vet yesterday (and the day before) and should find out blood test results today. Fingers crossed it's nothing major. Meanwhile, vets in this country are crazy expensive. For one shot, one blood test and 10 min consult it cost me £172. That's $360 AUD. And he's meant to get an x-ray (under anaesthetic) as well. We literally cannot afford it until next pay, so I am hoping the blood test shows whatever is wrong. He's becoming the world's most expensive dog. At least he's well travelled I suppose :D

25 days until I get on a plane! Yays!

On Vox: In absentia

2008-03-31T06:43:37Z

Off to BAMC (British Applied Mathematics Colloquium) in Manchester for the week. Will probably be internet-less for until Friday. Until then, I'll be listening to people talk about maths all day in 25 minute intervals.

Bring on the knitting!

Originally posted on argylerabbit.vox.com

Tee hee hee

2008-03-06T12:09:21Z

Had to share this:

Enter the ICHC online Poker Cats Contest!

Sometimes I swear Gaspode does the same!

There are also wi-fi SD cards cards available - and I want one. Just so that I could directly upload photos to the web if I wanted.... not that I probably would. but would be handy if travelling and you wanted to save yourself buying more than one card, just take photos, upload to Flickr, wipe and restart.

But in the biggest news of the week - Olivia Antoinette Buchanan has entered the world. Born 2:01 (not sure if it was am or pm thanks to time difference) on 06/03/08. Have seen a camera pic of her and is one of the few adorable newborns I have ever seen. Not red and blotchy at all. Congratulations James and Michelle! I am dead excited for both of you and can't wait to see you all in June.

Errr - you go first

2008-02-12T13:35:03Z

Nottingham Eye
Originally uploaded by nick.bull.

This Ferris wheel randomly popped up in the middle of town the other day. It is HUGE! See the buildings in the background - they're 3/4/5 levels high. Looks super pretty at night time however, all lit up against the dark sky.

A few weeks ago this was where the outdoor ice rink was. I like that the council changes the centre of town attraction occasionally, it makes me wonder what's coming next. I'm sure I could look it up, but that'd spoil the surprise!

My latest addiction

2008-02-07T16:29:26Z

Flapjack - 19th August 2007
Originally uploaded by Gryfon.

Flapjacks - of the British variety, not the American kind (which happen to be pancakes). They're mainly oats and golden syrup and utterly delicious. You can pretend it's healthy because of the oats.

Now I just have to wait for my oven to be repaired (ha ha ha - never!) before i can make my own. Until then, I shall have to suffice with the £0.85 flapjacks from the canteen.

Happy Anniversary to me

2008-02-03T18:31:00Z

I have now officially been living in England for 6 months - not including the deportation incident. It seems like a lifetime, but so quick all at the same time.

On Friday we had the whole works when it came to weather - sun, wind, rain, sleet and snow! The snow was pretty light, but still exciting for me. We even woke up on Saturday morning to a white driveway. Here is a pic of me running around like a doofus outside my office window in the snow.

Snow at uni 3

As you can see, the ground was quite wet and the snow didn't settle. It also shouldn't surprise most people who know universities, again, the Maths building is THE most ugly one of the lot - or at least the top 3!

Yesterday we had our belated Australia Day BBQ - it was fun, but I got quite homesick preparing all the food and such. It's not quite the same when it's 0 degrees outside!

6 months down, 30 to go!

Sweeney Todd for me tonight however - oh Johnny Depp you saucy minx.

On Vox: Snow!!!

2008-02-01T15:07:28Z

Paltry phone photos to come as soon as I get home....

Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

Originally posted on argylerabbit.vox.com

Spot the Australian

2008-01-14T19:54:27Z

Snow-hunter!
Originally uploaded by argylerabbit.

It sleeted on my way home from knitting club last week - so of course when I got an sms from one the girls who lives nearby that there was 'real snow' falling in Beeston, Grant and I went looking for it......

Didn't find it though. Icy cars aplenty however!

I'm sure this is on purpose

2008-01-02T20:34:57Z

The name of the BBC weather presenter for the East Midlands (the part of England Nottingham is in) is Sara Blizzard.
Oh come on!

Meanwhile - snow is forecast tomorrow. Crappy snow - but snow all the same. I'm prepared with gumboots (or Wellies to keep the locals happy) and girly squeals of delight.

New Year, New Shmear?

2008-01-02T10:02:57Z

It looks like I'll be jumping on the same bandwagon as everyone else and try lose some extra kilos this year. Not a resolution as such, because if I tell myself I HAVE to do something, I'm destined to fail. More of a goal. Every year Grant and I make goals that we want to achieve during the year to come - and this year I am racking my brain. Other than not eating as much pudding (damn you cold weather!) of course....

What goals (other than weight loss) do other people have?

This morning on my way to work I saw 11 squirrels. 11!!! Normally I am lucky to see 2.. It was kind of odd. Especially the group of 7 that didn't even blink when I walked past.

Apparently it may snow tomorrow - fingers crossed!

It's time!

2007-12-24T14:25:15Z

It's a little after 2pm here, which means it's a little bit into Christmas Day at home.

Have a wonderful, fun, happy and safe holiday season peeps!

Love and miss you all x x x

Can I stop posing now?

2007-12-12T11:13:33Z

Can I stop posing now?
Originally uploaded by argylerabbit.

On my way to the Theoretical Mechanics Christmas party in my new offensively-green poodle dress... I love it! It does highlight just how pale I am getting, how I miss you sun!

We had a fun night, I got horribly drunk and walked around in sub-zero temperatures (in more than this I promise!). Along with my traditional roast turkey dinner was a 'pig-in-a-blanket,' i.e. a sausage wrapped in bacon. So wrong yet so good! I was even allowed to skip my supervision the next morning, lucky considering the number of Long Island Ice Teas I drank. Those things are so tasty yet dangerous.

We've also heard back from the real-estate finally, we officially allowed the animals! Not that would have stopped us anyway :)

pinky_pi @ 2007-11-30T19:12:00

2007-11-30T19:14:46Z

The thought of being here another 31 months is doing my head in.

That is all...

Except a warning that my internet connects in 20 second bursts, so I apologise for lapses in communication.

On Vox: Election day!

2007-11-23T15:28:37Z

Yay! It's now officially election day for Aussies in Oz, (not for ex-pats like us who have voted already).

MAKE SURE I WAKE UP TO A NEW GOVERNMENT PEOPLE!!!

Alas I can't watch the count on-line as I'll be in a London hotel, and normal people like me can't afford a London Hotel with internet :P

Originally posted on argylerabbit.vox.com

Yay Stuff!

2007-11-17T23:51:23Z

I have a new phone! It's purple, shiny and pretty (Sony Ericsson K770i). Plus it has Skype - so if I'm not online, I can activate it on my phone and everyone can call me for free! How sweet is that? Free calls to Oz - yes please! I don't know how it would sound my talking to a computer o.s. will sound.. Grant and I both have it - so of course we had to check we could skype each other from our mobiles. Nothing like a mini geek out.

We have also booked our tickets home for June. We leave London on the 10th June and arrive in Bris on the 12th via Hong Kong. We're going to have a mini-belated honeymoon in Hong Kong on the way back 4th-8th July, should be lots of fun. We're staying at the same hotel as we did on the big Europe trip - hello buffet of awesomeness.

Last night we went to Bandaoke - karaoke with a live band. We had such a fun time, a whole new level of karaoke goodness. Tonight we went to a play at the university - called Proof. It was a 'maths' play, but not as nerdy as it sounds..... I swear!!!

Now back to Criminal Minds and my phone :)

The year that was

2007-11-15T20:29:33Z

First of all I just wanted to say a HUGE thank-you to everyone for their birthday wishes via Facebook, sms, LJ, e-mail etc etc. It was so nice to be thought of - I felt quite loved :)

As I usually do on my birthday, I remind myself of what has happened/ I've done in the past year to reassure myself I haven't wasted my time :) So here is my yearly recap, in a rough chronological order:

Went to London/Brussels/Berlin/Munich/Rome/Pisa/Florence/Paris/London/Hong Kong again with some of closest pals. Particular highlights were Belgian waffles, a beer tour of Munich, EuroDisney, Christmas in London and a failed New Years party attempt in Hong Kong. We had lots of experiences and I wouldn't trade any of it! I am amazed we managed to stay such good friends and I love them all to pieces - I hope we can re-live it again some time... USA/Canada anyone??

Graduated Honours. OMFG that was a rough time of life - the stress effected far too many areas of my life. I will never EVER put myself through something like that again.

Scored a Fellowship to Nottingham University. The number one university for Mathematical Medicine in the world. Blows my mind that I got in really - it's good to know people in the know ;) It's quite bizarre seeing the people who write 'THE' papers and 'THE' textbooks of your field every day. They're amazingly human and normal. Well, normal for maths people.

Moved in with the in-laws...... enough said.

Got married. Well - most of you were there! It was a fun day, I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. Being in the paper the day before was quite fun - and a wonderful wedding gift of a wedding night at a fancy-schmancy hotel and having my make-up done was fabulous. We didn't do the all-out traditional thing, there was no way we could on our time/monetary budget, but it was still special.

Attempted to move countries, and got deported. Quite possibly one of the worst experiences of my life. I now have a phobia of Heathrow airport, which will make coming back from visiting Oz interesting!

Moved countries - semi successfully. I got into the UK, which was a great start. Grant followed approx a month later. We're still sorting out the small things and saving up for animals, but all in all going well. Just need some UK friends as cool as my Oz friends - that's a pretty high standard!

I'm sure there must be other things, but they're the ones that come immediately to mind.

It's starting to ice over at night and in the early mornings, so I shall have to take some photos - it's quite a strange thing to see. The English don't understand why I find it so interesting. Next weekend - London/Camden baby, YEAH! And go Labor!